IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 3, 2008 Reutimann and Austin Score Opening Night Wins at East Bay By John Berti- Karnac.com Web Editor Tampa, FL -March 1, 2008- After a month of Winternationals competition at its finest you'd think that the regular season's opener would pale by comparison. Nothing could have been farther from the truth as the locals put on every bit the high quality show for the fans at East Bay Raceway Park Saturday night. Over 100 cars were on hand for the night's racing action in six divisions of competition necessitating a total of 14 qualifying heats to determine starting lineups for the 6 feature events. Limited Late Models Tim Gay took off from is outside pole starting position to dominate the 15 lap Limited Late Model feature. Gay lead every lap from green to checker to take the win over J.R. Prather, Jr., William Pugh, Jason Dyal and Bob Peterson. Open Wheel Modifieds Wayne Hammond and John Bradley led the field around for the start of the 15 lap Open Wheel Modified feature. At the drop of the green Bradley edged into the led. Hammond never gave up on his quest to wrestle the top spot away racing lap after lap side by side with Bradley. Bradley, however, would have just enough power down the chutes to stave off Hammond. Hammond got a good bite coming off turn two on lap 8 and got the lead going down the backstretch. The lead was short lived as he spun between turns three and four collecting Bradley. Hammond's car was towed to the pits while Bradley picked up at the rear of the field. Patience paid off for Buzzie Reutimann who was running in third just content with seeing how the action was unfolding in front of him. Now he was the race leader as the race went back to green. --Advertisement-- Reutimann was able to hold off a hard charging Scotty Williams to claim the win with Williams in for second, Bobby Dixon, took third with Jamie Burrows and Austin Sanders rounding out the top five. Street Stocks Steve Olone, a 21 year racing veteran with many wins on asphalt, won his first feature on dirt taking down the win in the 15 lap Street Stock main event. Defending Street Stock champion, Charlie Paris, Jr., led the first five laps until he spun out between turns one and two on lap 6. Olone inherited the lead on the restart and nursed home his car, which was smoking badly from the rear, for the win. Danny Hill was runnerup followed by Buck Skinner, Buck Woodhouse and Donnie Reed. Late Models Defending Late Model champion, David Schmauss shot into the early lead in the 25 lap Late Model feature. Position jockeying for second on back had the fans on the edge of their seats with Tony Payne, Marshall Austin, Jeff Mathews, and Bobby Alexander, Jr. going at it hot and heavy. Austin moved into second on a lap 4 restart at the expense of Payne. It was apparent that Austin had the fastest car on the track as he whittled down the big lead of Schmauss. Schmauss drifted up high in turns three and four on lap 12 and that was all Austin needed to take the lead. Mathews spun in turns one and two on lap 18 while running in the top five. K.D. Kelley, Josh Peacock and Bryan Bernhardt worked their way to the front. Austin begin to catch the back of the field and had to contend with getting around them. He seemed hesitant with how to best handle the situation which allowed Schmauss to close in. The more experienced Schmauss dove under Austin and a car that Austin was attempting to get by to take over the lead going down the backstretch on lap 21. Unfortunately for Schmauss the yellow flag was displayed before the lap was officially recorded when Payne spun out in turns three and four. On the restart it was Austin running first followed by Schmauss, Kelley, Alexander, Jr., and Peacock running in the top five. Austin once again pulled away from Schmauss over the remaining distance with Bernhardt driving his way up into third. Alexander, Jr. took fourth with Peacock fifth. Outlaw 4's Dorsey Strickland dashed into the lead in the 15 lap Outlaw 4's feature and proceeded to stay there over the first 13 laps. All the while Jim Coursen was working his way up through the field and was able to take the top spot away from Strickland on lap 14. Coursen cruised home to the checkers with Strickland holding on for second followed by Shane Burrows, Chad Rose and Jerry Bruce. Bombers Collin Kruse used his outside pole position to take the lead in the 15 lap Bomber feature. Kruse held onto the lead until lap 7 when Frank Miller powered his way by Kruse. Miller went on to take the checkered flag over Kruse, George Christiansen and Tommy Smith. The Limited Late Models and Open Wheel Modifieds will sit it out next week as the Limited Sprints will be making their first appearance at The Clay by the Bay for 2008. They will be joining the Late Models, Street Stocks, Outlaw 4's and Bombers on the racing card. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!