IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 10, 2009 Taylor Top Gun at East Bay By Larry Jewett [Note: Real Racin USA broadcast the Top Gun Sprint Car Series race live on Saturday night. TO listen to the race call by Bill Green and Rick Anges, plus pre-race and post-race interviews, USE THIS LINK!] It was an open wheel extravaganza at East Bay Raceway Park as the Top Gun Sprint Car Series made its first-ever appearance, along with the return of the Florida Mini Sprint Association. The night’s action began with Street Stocks. R.W. Whitley, James Hook, and Matthew Grissom copped heat wins. The 18-car main saw Hook lead the first three laps before Grissom took over. BY the halfway mark, Gary Sheffield had moved to the front and was working on lapped traffic. A spin by George Christensen drew a caution with five to go. On the restart, Sheffield was hounded by Danny Hill, who was protecting his spot from the advance of point leader Donnie Reed. Buck Skinner dropped from the top five with engine problems with two laps left. Sheffield flashed under the white flag, but bobbled in turn two. That opened a lane for Hill, who seized it, moving out to the lead and the win. Sheffield held second, ahead of Reed, Hook, and Thomas Pratt. Florida Mini Sprint Association heats were won by point leader Tim O’Donnell and Russ Heider. The 16 cars set to run the 25 laps were composed of some veterans with plenty of East Bay experience and some seeing the track only a few times. Six time series champion Jesse Teed held the early until O’Donnell took it away. Harold Matthews, who has won three races in 2009, took the low line to second. Matthews would try to stay close on the restarts, but O’Donnell was able to power out for the win. Matthews claimed second with David Pleaugh, Heider, and Teed in the top five. The Top Gun Sprint Car Series made its first of two scheduled appearances. With strong support from the East Bay Sprints, 23 cars set up three heats, won by point leader Ryan Partin, East Bay point leader Paulie Milum, and Frank Beck. After the field’s salute to the fans, Beck spun, costing him the pole position. On the initial start, Partin spun and went to the back. New pole sitter Shane Kreidler used his good fortune to vault out into the lead. Keith Butler, from the seventh row, moved to third, taking second on lap 4. Butler’s challenge ended with mechanical issues on lap 14, giving the runner-up spot to Kurt Taylor, who was using a borrowed top wing after his airfoil was damaged in the heat. No one had anything for Kreidler on the track, but the tech man had an issue at the scales as Kreidler turned up light. That gave the win to Taylor with Milum, series regular Mike Schroder, Tim George, and Tony Agin in the top five. The Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers were 33 cars strong on the night, but the class proved to be the hard luck division. Bradley Dover toppled during the heat race, rolling three times. In the feature, Gary Killeen went over twice on the frontstretch, but the scariest moment occurred when Kyle Kruse went airborne into turn three. The drivers were assisted by the medical crew at the scene. Under green flag conditions, Kever Raulerson, Collin Kruse and Jim Baker won heats. Bubba Puyear notched his third win of the 2009 season with wild action for positions throughout the race. The Morfin family, father Roberto Sr. and son Roberto Jr., were second and third at the end of the race, which was shortened due to curfew. Raymond Vann and Baker completed the top five. Vintage Modified racing saw Jim Moore top the heat in his ’34 Ford. Lars Amundsen won the main with Moore in hot pursuit. Third place Don Land was making his first start in a race since retiring 41 years ago. The newest division, Dirt Daubers, saw a soupy track and clockwise racing for the 12-lap main, won by Tony Traina. ASA sanctioned racing resumes at East Bay Raceway Park Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 6:30pm. It will be a features only program for South Shore Auto Sales Late Models, Q Auto & Injury Attorney Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks, Outlaw 4s, and Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers plus the Fan Participation Race. For more information, call the track office at 813-677-7223 or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!