By- Jim Rouse, Bubba Raceway Park Media
5-12-12 The RaceCar Engineering Late Models went 25 grueling times around Bubba Raceway Park as the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunderstocks, Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks, and Spectators battled on the clay.
The Spectator Race belonged to the Sanderson family as they swept the Finals. Younger Dennis Sanderson drove his Bareta to victory over Older Dennis Sanderson who was bridesmaid again in his Dodge Van.
Limited Late Model action started strong but came to a halt on lap 2 when Adam Higginbotham spun out of turn 4 and couldn’t refire before the yellow had to be thrown. Bubba Clem restarted in the lead. Cheyanne Cox spun in turn 2 just 1 lap later putting Eddie Gainey on Clem’s rear for the restart. It cost Clem and helped Gainey take the lead. David Denson destroyed the front of his 7 machine on the backstretch on lap 5 bringing out the 3rd yellow of the night. The caution flew on lap 14 when Adam Higginbotham spun and then collected David Showers. Under yellow Bubba Clem and JO Nobles had problems giving 2nd to Forrest Gough. Gainey held on with the broken 8. Gough was 2nd, David Showers took 3rd, Nobles 4th, and Caleb McGillivray completed the top 5.
Thunderstocks went out 2nd and had an eventful feature. On lap 2 after a restart Mike Valdez passed Eddie Kilbury for the lead. Just a lap later Nevin Gainey found himself going around in turn 2. Kilbury spun on lap 4 after a strong restart after slight contact with Jonathan Appleby; Chad Scranton, Brandon Tillander, and Scott Haas were also involved. On a lap 7 restart Jonathan Appleby made the pass on Valdez for the lead that he would hold on to until the lap 10 caution for William Edwards. The final caution came out for Mike Valdez’s spin on lap 11. The final 4 were green and Appleby held on and, after he passed tech in his 69A, he finally got his first ever trophy. Shane Nichols, Jason Gamble, Justin Durbin, and John Thorpe completed the top 5.
Jack Nosbisch, Jr. ran away from the Late Model field but on lap 13 the yellow flew when Josh Peacock couldn’t peel off in his 21P when the right rear went flat. Nosbisch would restart 1st with Rich Pratt and Christian Augspurger right behind. Mark Whitener and Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. completed the top 5. Lloyd caught Nosbisch on lap 19 and they had a beautiful tussle. On lap 22 after Nosbisch made contact with the backstretch wall and knocked a wall tire off the yellow flew with Lloyd 1st; however, line-up goes to the last scored lap giving Nosbisch the lead over Lloyd and Whitener. Lloyd took the 2 to go and held on to win. Whitener gave it a go and got 2nd followed by Nosbisch, Jeff Mathews, and Christian Augspurger.
Hobby Stock action saw 7 drivers battle for glory by itself with no points on the line. Mark Maresca led the first half; Rodney Wright led the final half. They went 1-2 with Wright the winner. Mike Stalnaker went 3rd, Mick Kulak 4th, and Brian Shea completed the top 5.
Reid Christensen spun on the start of the Mini Stock feature leaving Nick Kerr and Charlie Staats up front. Kerr stole the lead and could not be caught and he took an easy win. Travis Staats beat Charlie for 2nd and Christensen wound up 4th.
Bubba Raceway Park Results (5/12)
RaceCar Engineering Late Models
1- 21 Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.
2- 58 Mark Whitener
3- 01 Jack Nosbisch
4- 33 Jeff Mathews
5- 35 Christian Augspurger
6- 0 Rich Pratt
7- 71 Bo Allen
8- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
9- 1* John Koller
10- 14 Bubba Clem
11- 17 Richard Ferry
12- 72P Len Parrish
13- 21P Josh Peacock
DNS- 02 Keith Nosbisch
Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models
1- 8 Eddie Gainey
2- 21G Forrest Gough
3- 18 David Showers
4- 18JO JO Nobles
5- 2X Caleb McGillivray
6- 5C Christian McGillivray
7- 21W Mitchell Wise
8- 96 Matt Johnson
9- 14 Bubba Clem
10- 20 Adam Higginbotham
11- 66 Ricky Land
12- 20C Cheyanne Cox
13- 7 David Denson
14- 11C Cory Hupp
15- 15 Shane Koperda
Hobby Stocks
1- 99 Rodney Wright
2- 77M Mark Maresca
3- 9 Mike Stalnaker
4- 2S Mick Kulak
5- 19 Brian Shea
6- 4C Richard Calmes, Jr.
7- 15 Hunter Gustafson
DNS- 05 Alan Lane
DNS- 57 Nevin Gainey
1-800-ASK GARY Thunderstocks
1- 69A Jonathan Appleby
2- 65 Shane Nichols
3- 21 Jason Gamble
4- 12 Justin Durbin
5- 114 John Thorpe
6- 14S James Sullivan III
7- 28 Brian Mullins
8- 34 Mark Trexler
9- 51 Chad Scranton
10- 21M David Miller, Jr.
11- 21D Willard Driggers
12- 3W Vaughn Woodall
13- 09 William Edwards
14- 1 Danny Lucero
15- 15 Mike Valdez
16- 44B Billy Baldwin
17- 5W Eddie Kilbury
18- 38 Ben Hutto
19- 60 Richard Appleby
20- 54 Nevin Gainey
21- 28E Brandon Elwood
22- 73 Brandon Tillander
23- 3 Scott Haas
24- 60D Joey Durbin
Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks
1- 75 Nick Kerr
2- 1AR Travis Staats
3- 9AR Charlie Staats
4- 30 Reid Christensen