IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

September 27, 2009 Mathews Mighty in Double Win By Larry Jewett 9/26/09 Jeff Mathews added to his point leads in the South Shore Auto Sales Late Models and Gagel’s Auto Parts Open Wheel Modifieds by posting feature wins in those divisions Saturday night at East Bay Raceway Park. The Street Stocks opened the program as point leader Donnie Reed and Thomas Pratt scored heat wins. Steve O’Lone and Matthew Grissom locked into a good early race battle, but Buck Skinner was coming. Skinner grabbed the lead on lap 5 and Reed moved to third at the same time. He was able to get by O’Lone and pursue Skinner. Reed cut a tire and spun, handing second back to O’Lone. Through numerous cautions, Skinner held the point to claim his eighth win. O’Lone secured second and Grissom rallied back to third. Buck Woodhouse rallied from a start deep in the field to get fourth, ahead of Pratt Jeff Mathews added his ninth win of the season in Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds. Mathews grabbed the lead from Buzzie Reutimann, who led the early laps. Mathews kept the car on the bottom to score his victory. Reutimann was second with heat winner John Bradley, Bobby Dixon and Bruce Harvey in the top five. Mathews posted a heat win to start his night. While doing his Modified Victory Lane photos, Mathews saw the South Shore Auto Sales Late Model field gather in the backstretch. After clearing tech, he jumped into the Late Model, started on the outside of the front row and began the chase for a double feature win. It wasn’t easy as Mathews went past Jimmy Waldrop, only to find himself passed on the outside by Josh Peacock. Mathews would return the favor shortly and Peacock stayed hot on his heels. Peacock pulled off on lap 19, the victim of a flat tire. Meanwhile, Paul Gibbs was charging through the field. By the 20-lap mark, Gibbs was in the top five, but he was not done. He charged into second with two laps to go, but couldn’t catch Mathews. Gibbs started 20th in the 22-car field. The former Street Stock track champion recorded his first top-five of the year with the runner-up finish. Ted Erskine was third with Travis Varnadore and Waldrop trailing. Heats were won by David Schmauss, Peacock and Mathews. The motorstats.com 4-cylinder Bombers closed the night with a special 25-lap main. Roberto Morfin Jr. grabbed the early race lead and held off charges for several competitors. Point leader Jim Baker exited the track with a tire while running second. He returned to tag the rear of the 21-car field, but Red Vann and Kyle Eash were squaring off as the heir apparent. The matter was decided when Frank Miller came through the field to make a pass on Morfin Jr. Miller, in his first start of the year, prevailed for a stop in Victory Lane. Morfin Jr. added a second place finish to his resume. Jimmy Odell crossed third but the finish was wiped out by a tech violation. That gave third to Vann with Kyle Kruse fourth and Wayne Kissam fifth. Miller, Kruse and Raymond Vann took heat preliminaries. ASA sanctioned racing resumes at East Bay Raceway Park Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 6:30pm. The South Shore Auto Sales Late Models, Q Auto & Injury Attorney Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, and motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers will join the Outlaw 4 division, who are contesting a 25-lap main. For more information, call the track office at 813-677-7223 or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracew Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!