Jim Rouse, BRP Media 11-3-12 (Ocala, FL) – The RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks, Rent-N-Roll Gladiators, and Bubba Army Figure-8 Series opened up the final month of points racing with a bang. Championships are winding down but some are just getting started.
First up were the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models who saw David “Big Chief” Showers lead lap 1 from pole. JO Nobles, however, would take the lead on lap 5 as the leaders maneuvered through lapped traffic. On lap 10 Jason Pope made contact with Matt Johnson (Johnson was being lapped) and it sent Johnson straight into the front stretch wall. Driver #96 was okay after the impact. A melee started when Cory Hupp spun in front of Billy Holmes, Shane Koperda, Cox, CJ Waldron, Carter Stokes, and Blaise Hetznecker in turn 4 on the restart. All would continue as Nobles led Showers and Forrest Gough up front. Nobles got caught in traffic but held on by a car length or so for his 11th win of 2012. David Showers finished 2nd with Ronnie Soltis 3rd. Tyler Clem took a career best 4th as he ran top 5 all day and beat Christian McGillivray who is 4 years his older.
The Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks went out 2nd and Nick Kerr was able to put on a fight with his good friend Buddy Pope. Kerr would lead from pole with Pope and Reid Christensen in tow. As the race progressed the gap fluctuated but in the end Nick Kerr took home the big win, his 3rd of 2012. Pope finished a strong 2nd while Christensen finished 3rd.
1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks entertained as the middle class and they did not disappoint. On lap 2 “Hothead” Brian Mullins lost his right rear tire while running in 3rd position. Shane Nichols would lead with James Sullivan, III and Jason Gamble behind him. On lap 12 Jason Gamble overtook Shane Nichols for the lead as Nichols went for history. The race went checkers on lap 17 with Jason Gamble and Shane Nichols tied at the line. Bubba made the decision to do a 2-lap fight between the 2 for the win. Gamble shot to the front and ended Nichols’ run of wins as he won by a car length over Nichols. Joe Boyd finished a forgotten 3rd with Mike Valdes and Rick Kilbury the top 5.
RaceCar Engineering Late Models went out 4th and with some of the heavy hitters missing it was a fresh face in Coors Light Winner’s Circle. Grand Marshal Jason told them to fire the motors for 25 high-flying laps. Bryan Bernhardt would lead lap 1 in the caution free event. As the race progressed David Gentry closed in and made the winning pass on lap 16. Bernhardt’s misfortune was not over as Richard Ferry got around for 2nd. Gentry went on to win with Ferry, Christian Augspurger, Bernhardt, and Bo Allen the top 5. In tech, however, Gentry was disqualified for illegal tires moving Ferry to P1 and Joe Kump to the top 5.
The final regular division to run was the Rent-N-Roll Gladiator division and what a show it was. Paul Ashford led lap 1 but quickly gave it to Shane Guessford for 2 laps. Steve Johnson would take it on lap 4 and held it through a lap 9 restart. The caution had come out when Guessford’s 8B caught on fire; Guessford was okay. On lap 12 Reid Christensen overtook Johnson for the lead just as Johnson’s right front wheel broke off. Christensen would take the win over Brandon Haseleu. Paul Ashford finished 3rd with David Pate and Jordan McMillon the top 5.
We ended the night with the Bubba Army Figure-8 Event. Carl McPete would start with the lead before a lap 2 caution for Charles Herne. Michael Cherry would take the lead on the restart. “The Modern Day Mishap” began on lap 3 as Jonathan Appleby fell off pace with the lead group. The field slowed on lap 7 when Neil Herne stopped in the infield section. After about 4 laps the ‘X’ became a “Dust Bowl 2000” as the cars continued around the track. Michael Cherry held on to win ahead of team-mate Carl McPete. Mason Love, Charles Herne, and William Stansbury rounded out the top 5.
Next week is Night Of A Thousands for the Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators. The Hobby Stocks join them in their season finale. We also have Carload night which means that tickets are $20 for everyone in a car (If your car has 5 seatbelts you get those 5 in for $20 total.) Remember to keep up with the latest updates on Facebook at “Bubba Raceway Park” or on Twitter at “@BubbaRacewayPrk” and you can always visit our website, www.bubbaracewaypark.com, or call us at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (11/3)
RaceCar Engineering Late Models
1- 17 Richard Ferry
2- 35 Christian Augspurger
3- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
4- 71 Bo Allen
5- J17 Joe Kump
6- 17SS Shan Smith
7- 33 Carter Stokes
8- 18 JO Nobles
9- RP1 Bug Rose
10- 1A Jim Cryer
DQ (tires)- 56 David Gentry (DSQ)
Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models
1- 18JO JO Nobles
2- 18 David Showers
3- 14D Ronnie Soltis
4- 14 Tyler Clem
5- 5C Christian McGillivray
6- 16 Blaise Hetznecker
7- 33 Carter Stokes
8- 11C Cory Hupp
9- 2X Caleb McGillivray
10- 15 Shane Koperda
11- 66 Ricky Land
12- 102 Jason Pope
13- 21 Forrest Gough
14- 7 Billy Holmes
15- 30 Joey Brinson
16- 20C Cheyanne Cox
17- 21W CJ Waldron
18- 96 Matt Johnson (DNF-crash)
1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks
1- 21 Jason Gamble (Race-Off Winner)
2- 65 Shane Nichols (Race-Off Runner-Up)
3- 83 Joe Boyd
4- 15 Mike Valdes
5- 71 Rick Kilbury
6- 93 Dean Jarvis
7- 16 Brian Schrunk
8- 49 DJ Horiski
9- 17L Ryan Lasik
10- 33F Melvin Fockler
11- 3W Donnie Ashford (DNF-crash)
12- 6 Tony Campbell (DNF-spin)
13- 28E Brandon Elwood (DNF-engine)
14- 28H Randy Harless (DNF-pulled off)
15- 69A Jonathan Appleby (DNF-wheel)
16- 3 John Thorpe (DNF-crash)
17- 14 James Sullivan, III (DNF-pulled off)
18- 28 Brian Mullins (DNF-wheel)
DQ- 33 Donnie Dobbins (DSQ)
Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks
1- 75 Nick Kerr
2- 81 Buddy Pope
3- 30 Reid Christensen
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 21 Reid Christensen
2- 3 Brandon Haseleu
3- 33 Paul Ashford
4- 69 David Pate
5- 68 Jordan McMillon
6- 83 Kody Fisher
7- 81 Steve Johnson (DNF-wheel)
8- 83N Eric Nelson
9- 1 Nick Zackery
10- 8R Nathan Rhoades (DNF- pulled off)
11- 8B Shane Guessford (DNF-fire)
DNS- 26 Mike Patton
Bubba Army Figure-8
1- 17 Michael Cherry
2- 99 Carl McPete
3- 01 Mason Love
4- 83 Charles Herne
5- 13 William Stansberry
6- 56 Jonathan Appleby
7- 09 Neil Herne (DNF-pulled off)
8- 86 Justin Meyer (DNF-flat tire)