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ASCS Rebel Region 360 Sprints Provide Unbelievable Racing Action at “The Clay by the Bay”
By Scott McAllister
The “fat lady” didn’t sing for the ASCS Rebel Region 360 Sprint Series A-Main Feature event until the last lap on the final turn. Veteran sprint car driver Kenny Adams appeared to have the race in hand, dominating the 20 car field at the “Clay by the Bay” for the 25 lap feature, but as the race wound down, so did Adam’s right rear tire. The Sarasota driver Danny Martin, Jr. kept his #00 car in the hunt, and on the final lap, as Adam’s right rear began to go down, pulled underneath Adams in turn 3 and as the pair came off turn 4, with the fans on their feet, Martin edged Adams for the win. Matt Tiffany would finish 3rd and TJ Weingardner and Michael Miller would round out the top 5, while Frank Carlson picked up the win in the B-Main. Greg Leonard, Samantha Taylor and Tyler Godwin were all winners in their respective heat races.
The Limited Sprint Division was another hotly contested feature event with 17 cars in the field. “Mean” Gene Lasker from Tampa, still in pain from a wreck the previous night, was able to hang on for the win. Tim George and Greg Leonard finished 2nd and 3rd while Daniel Jones and Skeeter Kelley completed the top 5. Both Lasker and George picked up wins in the 2 heat races.
Twenty-four cars made the field the Motorstats.com Street Stock A-Main feature event. The lead switched hands several times before Tampa native and current points leader Danny Hill picked up his 1st win of the season. Donnie Reed finished 2nd, and in their usual Motorstats.com Street Stock fashion, Buck Skinner and Buck Woodhouse beat and battled their way to a 3rd and 4th place finish. Steve O’Lone finished in the 5th position. Dave Floyd, Buck Woodhouse and Danny Hill were all winners in the 3 heat races.
Jerry Bruce, Jr. picked up his 1st win of the 2008 season in the Outlaw 4’s moving him up to 3rd in the points standings. Current points leader Jim Courson and Maverick Varnadore finished 2nd and 3rd while Shane Burrows, who wowed the crowd with one of the best racing moves ever during a feature event, and Michael Gulvin rounded out the top 5. Varnadore and Burrows were winners in each of their heat races.
Fan favorite George Christianson was able to hang on for the win in the Convire 4-Cylinder Bomber division. The “Odessa Flash” picked up his 1st win of the year over Collin Kruse, DB Hogwaller, Frank Miller and Kever Raulerson all finishing 2nd through 5th. Christianson also won his heat race while Kever Raulerson picked up the checkered in his qualifying heat race.
This coming Saturday features the Late Models, Limited Late Models, the Gagels Auto Parts Open-Wheel Modifieds, Outlaw 4’s and the Convire 4-Cylinder Bombers along with Fan Participation Races. Gates open at 5:00pm, and the racing begins promptly at 6:30pm. For more information call the track office at 813-677-7223 or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
