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Jeff Mathews Victorious Again in Late Models at East Bay
By Jason Loughren
6/6/09
East Bay Raceway Park kicked off the month of June with a bang as over 100 cars hit the track for an exciting night of racing action.
The Outlaw 4’s started the night off with their 15-lap feature event. It was “ladies night” in this class as Shirlene Hammond had the car to beat early. As the laps wound down she suffered what was believed to be a broken distributor, which ended her night and her chance to celebrate in victory lane.
Amanda Rogers spun early and restarted at the back of the field. She battled her way back to the top-5 and then took the lead when Hammond suffered her mechanical problem. She was able to hold off the charging Mickey Wright to take the win. The win was Rogers first feature win at East Bay. Wright finished 2nd. Stephen Hohlbaugh finished 3rd. Hammond wound up 4th. Brian Danforth rounded out the top-5. Shirlene Hammond won the heat race.
Fourteen cars started the East Bay Sprints 15-lap feature event. Series points leader Paulie Milum started on the front row and checked out on the field. Milum had the dominant car and was able to capture his 4th feature win of the season. Rich Alexander ran in the top 5 all-night and finished 2nd. Frank Beck challenged for the lead early then spun. He raced from the back of the field to take 3rd place. Kurt Taylor finished 4th. Clyde Poole rounded out the top-5. Beck and Taylor won the heats.
In the Street Stocks Buck Skinner earned his 4th feature win of the season. The early laps were marred by numerous cautions. After everything settled down there was some great racing at the front of the pack. The lead swapped numerous times between Donnie Reed and Skinner. Series points leader Reed finished 2nd. Buck Woodhouse finished in the 3rd spot. Howard Osteen raced from the back of the pack to a 4th place finish. Mathew Grissom completed the top-5. Woodhouse and Danny Hill were victorious the heat races.
It was an extended night of racing for the South Shore Auto Sales Late Models as they ran their 40-lap feature sponsored by Racecar Engineering. Jimmy Waldrop had the car to beat during a long green flag run at the start of the race. On a caution about lap 20 Waldrop suffered mechanical failure and parked his machine in the infield. That opened the door for Phillip Cobb to take the lead. Cobb was leading as the laps wound down. Jeff Mathews was on the move though; he started in the 2nd position and was near the front of the field all night. Coming to the white flag Jeff Mathews went around the inside of Cobb with a strong move in turn number three and was able to hold on take the win. It was Mathews 4th win of the season. Cobb had an excellent run and wound up in 2nd spot. Jack Nosbisch started on the pole and finished 3rd. Josh Peacock challenged for the lead early and came home 4th. Ted Erskine was the hard charger of the night as he started 20th and finished 5th. David Schmauss, Christian Augspurger and Rich Kessinger all raced into the feature via the consolation race.
In the Motorstats.com 4 cylinder bombers it appeared that Bubba Puyear won his 4th feature race of the season. Puyear was disqualified in post race technical inspection giving the win to Raymond Vann. It was the second feature win of the season for Vann. Roberto Morfin, Jr. came home 2nd. Jim Baker had a strong run and finished 3rd. Curtis Book finished 4th. Buddy Clay rounded out the top-5; it was his first top-5 of the season. Baker, Clay and Kever Raulerson won the heat races.
ASA sanctioned racing resumes at East Bay Raceway Park Saturday, June 13 2009 at 6:30pm. The Q Auto and Injury Attorneys Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheeled Modifieds, Street Stocks, motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers, Dirt Daubers and Vintage Cars will all be in action. It is also $1 beer night! For more information, call the track office at 813-677-7223 or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
