By- Jim Rouse, Bubba Raceway Park Media
RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, 1-800-ASK GARY V-8 Thunderstocks, Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks, and a Spectator Race will all run at Bubba Raceway Park this week-end and the last 2 weeks have seen surprises throughout.
The RaceCar Engineering Late Models make their return and up front there’s no surprise- Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. is still taking the field to school. However, Richard Ferry and Bo Allen sit just behind him and could strike if misfortune hits the driver of the #21. Ferry has shown that he can beat the man who qualfied 5th in the World of Outlaws just last week-end and would love to put his #17 back in victory lane. Allen hasn’t hit the gold yet but top 5s lead to wins. Mark Whitener sits in 4th waiting patiently to make a charge as does Bryan Bernhardt who has made significant improvements throughout the past few months.
Eddie Gainey has been steady as he’s the only driver to have lead the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models points lead in 2012. He has a feature win already unlike Adam Higginbotham. The driver of the #20 has come close and the only driver stopping him now might just be 3rd place JO Nobles. Nobles has 3 wins so far and that is helping him hold Forrest Gough and David Showers off. Those 2 have been fast and could break through at any time as could any one in the field of Limited Late Models.
Chad Scranton has 3 wins. Shane Nichols just got his 2nd. Jason Gamble has 1 already. Jonathan Appleby has never won. Guess who leads the points. Appleby, 0-for-career leads Brian Mullins who is the exact same. As the winless lead the points with their very fast cars they have a mirror full of Gamble, Nichols, and Justin Durbin. Appleby watched an intense points battle last season unfold and Gamble has 1 win and 1 loss in those battles including last year’s nail biter. Mullins hasn’t chased a title before and it’s been a while for Durbin and Nichols. This one’s getting good and it’s only May but the Bubba Points System makes this one nearly a tie! Any one could win this week and bonus points could mean the world.
Buddy Pope has lost a clump of points the past 2 weeks but still holds his lead over Kyle Kruse. Kruse has been cruising but so have Shirlene Hammond, Reid Christensen, and the Staats family. A few missed races for all but Pope has put them behind the 8 ball but all can be made up in the tight divisions at Bubba Raceway Park! Pope and Hammond have stolen the show so far but any one could break through and make their season. This is the final week of racing for the Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks in the First Period of the season meaning their points will be different than the rest of the divisions until the end of May.
The Specator Race will be intense as Ford will look to stay in victory lane as GM and Chrysler Group look to steal it back as do the foreign makes. Of course, it will be tough to beat the run by the Dodge Van that made it to the Finals (a loss to a Mustang) but $250 could make it worth while. Cars to be raced must be driven to the track, have a valid registration, and the listed owner of the car MUST be present. You CAN NOT tow the vehicle to the track or trailer it.
Pits open at 4 while stands open at 5. Racing is scheduled for 7. For more information you can check out www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call the Speedway at 352-622-9400!