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| TWIN 25-Lap FEATURES DOMINATED BY LATE MODEL VETERANS | by Bill Green “From Behind The MIC!” Tampa, FL. (Mar. 20, 2004)
All Steel Buildings sponsored Twin 25-lap Late Model Features filled the exciting line-up at East Bay Raceway Park this Saturday night. The veterans of the Clay-By-The-Bay showed their experience early and left the kids scratching their heads in preparation for the later race.. All Steel Buildings Twin Feature #1 would see “The Master” Donnie Tanner lead wire to wire. In Victory Lane an excited Track Pastor, Natz Peters told the 44-year racing veteran, “It sure makes the OLD heart feel good to see you in victory Lane!” To which Donnie replied very quickly, “I’m not OLD!” Delighting the packed grandstands. “The Master went on to describe his wire-to-wire win as, “Pretty good! Little push at the end, and still had but the groove held up.”
Second went to David Schmauss, with “The Sheriff” Roger Crouse third, Jack Nosbisch, Jr. took fourth and Bobby Alexander Sr. out lasted Keith Nosbisch for the final top-5 spot. The bad news for Tanner would be the Victory Lane pill-draw for the invert, it would be a number 12, leaving Donnie’s #88 to start outside row six and putting the #8 of Ted Erskine on the pole.
Mini-Stocks found it tough to get the first 5-laps in the book, then cruised from there. Scotty Williams took the win and the hearing impaired driver would use an interpreter in Victory Lane to thank his sponsors. Second went to Chad Rose, third to Jim Courson, fourth was the 13th starting Josh Peacock and Rich Livernois got the fifth place finish.
Gagle’s Auto Parts Open Wheel Modifieds continue to pack the pit and the excitement meter as three veterans battle for the entire race for the win. Finishing on top would be veteran driver “Prime Time” Bobby Dixon for the second, class feature in a row to start the season. Second went to the leader of all but the last lap, Bruce Watkins. The tech shed was busy after this one as third place on the track went to legend Buzzie Reutimann, but post race inspection found an alteration under the hood. Fourth on the track would be Rusty Dixon, but he was found to be mufflerless in tech. So John Bradley moves up to third and Brian Dalton inherits fourth, with young Greg Reutimann going from seventh to fifth.
Limited Sprints brought the largest field of cars to the green flag they had seen in a few years, as 17 cars fired up for the 15-lap feature. Young gun Larry “Buzz” Brazil would lead this one from his fifth starting spot after lap-5 and take it right into Victory Lane. Second was “Daisy Dukes” Paulie Milum in last years “Mr. Bud” Martin Structures #00, third went to “Elvis” Clyde Poole, “Big” Tim George brought the 1-Star home fourth and Frank Beck III brought the only Mopar powered car into fifth.
All Steel Buildings Twin Feature #2 had a whole lot more drama as several yellows kept the field bunched up. Finishing in Victory Lane would be Phillip Cobb after customizing the right side of the car in a lap-1 altercation. Second went to Bobby Alexander, Sr., third was Keith Nosbisch, with Vince Muzzin coming from 17th to fourth and Jeff Mathews kicking off his Late Model debut in fine style, fifth.
Street Stocks brought 22 cars to the green, the first time and had 18 left for the restart after the front stretch may-lay. Eventual winner Danny Paris got the first win in many years for the ‘Phantom 309’ machine. Second went to Wayne Hayes, third was Mac Kersey, with Tony Jackson fourth and point leader Jack Rowland fifth.
Next week there is a Thursday practice session scheduled from 5pm till dark on March 25th and Saturday will feature “Old Time Sprints”, with the winged 360 Sprints, Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini-Stocks and the Limited Late Models return to action. We'll See You At The RACES!
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