Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- Bubba Raceway Park kicked off the 2013 season with a wild night of action that included a $3000 to win Late Model race, Hobby Stocks, the all new E-Mods, Thunder Stocks, and Gladiators. The season just started and it’s already getting intense!
Action got off quick as the Hobby Stocks put on a 20-lap thriller. Devin Walker used a solid starting spot to lead the first 3 laps but Donnie Ashford, the new driver of the Friend’s Racing #12 after Trevor Gamble’s job forced him to take a sabbatical, would steal it from “The Mayo Missile.” Jeff Sargent’s motor let go soon after and stacked the field up for another shot at the lead. Walker would fall to 3rd as Sean Monoghan got by him as well but over the next 12 laps Ashford, Walker, Hunter Gustafson, and Monoghan put on a fantastic 4-car battle. Gustafson fell off the pace on lap 15 with mechanical issues but the Gustafson Racing team is excited for the future. Ashford nearly lost it in traffic but he would not be denied victory in this one. With Ashford getting the trophy and Walker going 2nd it left Monoghan in 3rd- however, he was disqualified for technical reasons so James Erickson jumped on to the podium. Charlie Seroki finished 4th and Gustafson rounded out the top 5.
With 1 first-timer out of the way the E-Mods were brought out meaning we’d have at least 2 first-time winners! Roy Crain got the early lead and held it through a couple of cautions including a 5-car pile-up on lap 2. On the final restart of the race Crain got caught napping and Shane Nichols (yes, the Nichols who’s won Sportsman and Thunder Stock features before) took full advantage and pulled away to an easy win. In fact, Nichols won the first Sportsman race in the Modern Era too! “Sweetfeet” was followed across the line by Crain and Shane Taylor who spun twice early in the race. Shawn Taylor finished 4th and Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. completed the top 5 in the first-ever E-Mod feature.
The Late Models went 50 laps in a United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series-sanctioned event that saw Keith Nosbisch lead the first 12 laps after he set Fast Qualifying Time at a 14.429 (93.56 MPH). On lap 12, after 3 restarts in the feature, Kyle Bronson made a bold move in turn 3 as he not only overtook Nosbisch for the lead but Mark Whitener for 2nd! “Catfish” had a tire go down and an 8 car pile-up ensued as drivers tried to avoid Nosbisch. Bronson spun himself on the restart and it left 2 very strong cars outside of the top 15. To recap the lap 20 restart event, which was confirmed by video evidence, Kyle Van Sickle nudged Mark Whitener down course which cut the entire inside lane off. Though the first 2 cars made it through, every one else in the field piled into a nasty accident which nearly flipped Jason Fitzgerald’s car over. All drivers were okay but some cars were not. Drivers got the message and went 17 caution-free which allowed 23rd-place starter Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. to take the lead from Whitener on lap 30. With 5 to go Whitener slowed and allowed Austin Kirkpatrick to have 2nd to himself with Keith Nosbisch on his tail- the top 3 had all been outside of the top 20 at 1 point in the race! Lloyd pulled away but Kirkpatrick reeled him in and made the winning pass on lap 48 to go from 24th-place starting spot to win the feature after a transmission problem kept him out of heat race action. Lloyd finished 2nd with Kyle Bronson, Keith Nosbisch, and Rich Pratt the top 5. But wait! Kirkpatrick’s dream became a nightmare when he was DQ’d for having an illegal tire compound on the #11. Lloyd would inherit the win but he, too, was in err as he had 2 carburetor spacers on- 1 more than UDLMCS rules allow. So, Kyle Bronson took his Warrior to the top step and gained $3000 while Nosbisch, Pratt, Kenny Monohan, and Brandon DeWitt went home the official top-5.
The 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks took the opportunity to act respectful and they did. Taylor Gant led the opening laps but Bubba Durbin took over for the final 16. With 5 left on the board Melvin Fockler, driving for Nanny this week, brought out the only yellow when he spun the #33F. No harm was done, however, as Tony Campbell broke an axle and Jason Gamble blew his motor within 10 seconds of the spin. Jonathan Appleby’s motor also decided to let go and left just half of the original 18-car field on track! Durbin pulled away once more and claimed an easy win over Taylor Gant. Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. finished a hard-fought 3rd with Brandon Elwood and Joe Boyd a solid top-5.
Devan Pegel made the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators more exciting than he needed to when he flipped his #96 in turn 1. Pegel did a complete barrel-roll in mid-air and kept the car running when it hit the ground. Pegel would retire from the race and was okay. Robert Gullett seized his opportunity and promptly danced away from the field as Todd Roberts couldn’t catch driver #2. Roberts finished 2nd to our 4th first-timer of the night, Gullett, while Jerry Taylor finished 3rd. Josh Fincher finished a respectable 4th and Kody Fisher finished 5th in his last race as a 15-year old.
Next week we put the Crate Late Models on track for the first time without the NeSmith Late Model Series stars while the Hobby Stocks, E-Mods, and Gladiators will all return. For more information you may visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!
More Than Just An Hour Lost
By- Jim Rouse, BRP Media
3-9-13
Ocala, FL- Bubba Raceway Park kicked off the 2013 season with a wild night of action that included a $3000 to win Late Model race, Hobby Stocks, the all new E-Mods, Thunder Stocks, and Gladiators. The season just started and it’s already getting intense!
Action got off quick as the Hobby Stocks put on a 20-lap thriller. Devin Walker used a solid starting spot to lead the first 3 laps but Donnie Ashford, the new driver of the Friend’s Racing #12 after Trevor Gamble’s job forced him to take a sabbatical, would steal it from “The Mayo Missile.” Jeff Sargent’s motor let go soon after and stacked the field up for another shot at the lead. Walker would fall to 3rd as Sean Monoghan got by him as well but over the next 12 laps Ashford, Walker, Hunter Gustafson, and Monoghan put on a fantastic 4-car battle. Gustafson fell off the pace on lap 15 with mechanical issues but the Gustafson Racing team is excited for the future. Ashford nearly lost it in traffic but he would not be denied victory in this one. With Ashford getting the trophy and Walker going 2nd it left Monoghan in 3rd- however, he was disqualified for technical reasons so James Erickson jumped on to the podium. Charlie Seroki finished 4th and Gustafson rounded out the top 5.
With 1 first-timer out of the way the E-Mods were brought out meaning we’d have at least 2 first-time winners! Roy Crain got the early lead and held it through a couple of cautions including a 5-car pile-up on lap 2. On the final restart of the race Crain got caught napping and Shane Nichols (yes, the Nichols who’s won Sportsman and Thunder Stock features before) took full advantage and pulled away to an easy win. In fact, Nichols won the first Sportsman race in the Modern Era too! “Sweetfeet” was followed across the line by Crain and Shane Taylor who spun twice early in the race. Shawn Taylor finished 4th and Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. completed the top 5 in the first-ever E-Mod feature.
The Late Models went 50 laps in a United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series-sanctioned event that saw Keith Nosbisch lead the first 12 laps after he set Fast Qualifying Time at a 14.429 (93.56 MPH). On lap 12, after 3 restarts in the feature, Kyle Bronson made a bold move in turn 3 as he not only overtook Nosbisch for the lead but Mark Whitener for 2nd! “Catfish” had a tire go down and an 8 car pile-up ensued as drivers tried to avoid Nosbisch. Bronson spun himself on the restart and it left 2 very strong cars outside of the top 15. To recap the lap 20 restart event, which was confirmed by video evidence, Kyle Van Sickle nudged Mark Whitener down course which cut the entire inside lane off. Though the first 2 cars made it through, every one else in the field piled into a nasty accident which nearly flipped Jason Fitzgerald’s car over. All drivers were okay but some cars were not. Drivers got the message and went 17 caution-free which allowed 23rd-place starter Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. to take the lead from Whitener on lap 30. With 5 to go Whitener slowed and allowed Austin Kirkpatrick to have 2nd to himself with Keith Nosbisch on his tail- the top 3 had all been outside of the top 20 at 1 point in the race! Lloyd pulled away but Kirkpatrick reeled him in and made the winning pass on lap 48 to go from 24th-place starting spot to win the feature after a transmission problem kept him out of heat race action. Lloyd finished 2nd with Kyle Bronson, Keith Nosbisch, and Rich Pratt the top 5. But wait! Kirkpatrick’s dream became a nightmare when he was DQ’d for having an illegal tire compound on the #11. Lloyd would inherit the win but he, too, was in err as he had 2 carburetor spacers on- 1 more than UDLMCS rules allow. So, Kyle Bronson took his Warrior to the top step and gained $3000 while Nosbisch, Pratt, Kenny Monohan, and Brandon DeWitt went home the official top-5.
The 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks took the opportunity to act respectful and they did. Taylor Gant led the opening laps but Bubba Durbin took over for the final 16. With 5 left on the board Melvin Fockler, driving for Nanny this week, brought out the only yellow when he spun the #33F. No harm was done, however, as Tony Campbell broke an axle and Jason Gamble blew his motor within 10 seconds of the spin. Jonathan Appleby’s motor also decided to let go and left just half of the original 18-car field on track! Durbin pulled away once more and claimed an easy win over Taylor Gant. Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. finished a hard-fought 3rd with Brandon Elwood and Joe Boyd a solid top-5.
Devan Pegel made the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators more exciting than he needed to when he flipped his #96 in turn 1. Pegel did a complete barrel-roll in mid-air and kept the car running when it hit the ground. Pegel would retire from the race and was okay. Robert Gullett seized his opportunity and promptly danced away from the field as Todd Roberts couldn’t catch driver #2. Roberts finished 2nd to our 4th first-timer of the night, Gullett, while Jerry Taylor finished 3rd. Josh Fincher finished a respectable 4th and Kody Fisher finished 5th in his last race as a 15-year old.
Next week we put the Crate Late Models on track for the first time without the NeSmith Late Model Series stars while the Hobby Stocks, E-Mods, and Gladiators will all return. For more information you may visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (3/9/13)
Late Models (UDLMCS)
1- 40B Kyle Bronson
2- 02 Keith Nosbisch
3- 0 Rich Pratt
4- 311 Kenny Monohan
5- 2 Brandon DeWitt
6- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
7- 26 Adam Bedenbaugh
8- 58 Mark Whitener
9- 17H Blaise Hetznecker
10- 12 Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
11- 14 Brett Carlton
12- 35 Christian Augspurger
13- 29 Wayne Shugart
14- 14 Tyler Clem
15- 7 Billy Holmes
16- 7F Jason Fitzgerald
17- 17 Richard Ferry
18- 1* John Koller
19- 46P Darrell Padgett
20- 1A Jim Cryer
21- 17SS Shan Smith
DQ- 3K Kyle Van Sickle (Conduct)
DQ- 11 Austin Kirkpatrick (Tires)
DQ- 21 Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. (Engine)
SCR- 33 Jeff Mathews (Engine)
Hobby Stocks
1- 12 Donnie Ashford
2- 55JR Devin Walker
3- 16 James Erickson
4- 44 Charlie Seroki
5- 15 Hunter Gustafson
6- 19 Brian Shea
7- 23 Glenn Baum
8- 74 Cory Hupp
9- 12 Jerrid Bennett
10- 18 Marty Smith
11- 63S Jeff Sargent
12- 77M Mark Maresca
13- 69A Matt Kramer
DQ- 51 Sean Monghan (Car)
E-Mods
1- 65 Shane Nichols
2- 71 Roy Crain
3- 82 Shane Taylor
4- 41 Shawn Taylor
5- 59 Jeff Stalnaker, Sr.
6- 7H Charlie Howard, Jr.
7- 41 Eric Baker
8- 29 Marvin Hassell
9- 15 Swede Melgaard
10- 2 Ray Durrence, Jr.
1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks
1- 12 Bubba Durbin
2- 33 Taylor Gant
3- 9 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr.
4- 28 Brandon Elwood
5- 83 Joe Boyd
6- 66 Harold Erickson
7- 13 William Gillam
8- 73 Brandon Tillander
9- 33 Melvin Fockler
10- 7 Randy Harless
11- 6 Tony Campbell
12- 21 Jason Gamble
13- 69A Jonathan Appleby
14- 20 Eric Davis
15- 85 Chuck Cessna
SCR- 98 Derrick Snell
SCR- 23 Tom Bassett
SCR- 19 Kyle Gaulard (Damage)
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 2 Robert Gullett
2- 18 Todd Roberts
3- 31 Jerry Taylor
4- 88 Josh Fincher
5- 83 Kody Fisher
6- 96 Devan Pegel
SCR- 83S Bill Southard