March 30, 2013 – Tampa, FL – It was Easter weekend here at East Bay Raceway Park with lots of candy to be given away to kids 12 & under. Before the features were ran, a very special 2 seater ride-a-long was to be given. Ethan Deaton of Zephryhills who has Cerebral Palsy and has always wanted to get in a race car, well tonight his dream came true. Dave Schmauss was the one he wanted a ride with. Dave said it would be an honor to give this young man the ride of his life. After the five laps were complete, Dave did several 360’s and then proceeded to go around the go-kart track and spin to a complete stop. Fans cheered as Dave and Ethan would wind up in Victory Lane. Ethan said he wanted to do it again with a grin on his face from ear to ear. Everyone cheered as the two went off the track. Ethan’s mom Maria got a ride from Dave as well after the races were over and gave a thumbs up to her son as they drove back into the pits.
The first feature of the night went to the V8 Warriors. Winning their heats were Kevin Cassaday and Tim Stoffel. For the feature it was Tim Stoffel and Marco Reyes making up the front row. The first caution came out just after the first lap as Jason Manning had a right rear flat sending him to the pits and would end up thirteenth. Reyes continued to lead the field under green until the next caution on lap nine for debris in turn four. Only one more caution came out on lap eleven as Jeff Weaver spun in turn two. Reyes led the field once again under green, but on the final lap in turn four, Reyes, Bill Whitney tangled and charging from the outside was Tim Stoffel of Ft. Myers picking up his very first win ever. Finishing second was Reyes with Brain Danforth, Kevin Cassaday and Derek Gray rounding out the top five.
Next were the Florida Old Time Modifieds. Winning their heats were David Kelley and Dan Darnell. For the feature it was Mark Steve and Richard Svenson making up the front row. When the green flag dropped it was David Kelley charging up and taking the lead . The first of two cautions came out on lap two as Lars Amundsen spun in turn four then another caution came out as the second place car of Dan Darnell challenging for the lead spun in turn four and had to go to the rear of the field. With just a hand full of laps remaining Dave Kelley remained focused as Darnell charged back up thru the field to try and challenge him once again. But when the checkered waved it was Dave Kelly in Victory Lane for the first time in over 3o years. Dave drove the car the late Tommy Zwally drove and put in Victory Lane on numerous occasions. Finishing second was Dan Darnell, with Roger Herbach, Jamie Frankland and Richard Iverson rounding out the top five.
Limited Late Models were next with Roger Crouse and Tim Powers winning their heats. For the front row it was Shane Koperda and Tim Powers. Caution came out on the start of the race as several drivers got involved in an incident with Jr. Prather, Jr. getting the worst of it as he got hit from the rear and lost his fuel cell from the hits from other cars. After the fans witnessed and amazing display of fire from the fuel being burned off, the field got back under way with Crouse showing the way with Koperda right behind him. Several cautions came throughout the race but it was Crouse keeping his win streak alive winning a feature race every year he has raced at East Bay Raceway Park for over 25 years of racing. Dale Pope, Jason Russell, Waylon Haynes and Shane Koperda rounded out the top five.
Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds were next with Austin Sanders and Roger Crouse winning their heat races. It was Bobby Dixon and Tim Gay on the front row for the feature event. Tim Gay led the first lap until caution came out as Buzzie Reutimann spun in turn four. On the restart it was Tim Gay leading until Austin Sanders took over the lead on lap three. Sanders would lead the next five laps until Crouse took over the top spot. Several cautions came out until it was lap thirteen with Crouse holding on while Sanders was looking to make it two in a row. Another caution would come out but this time it was with just one lap remaining. Crouse once again was the leader with Sanders right on his back bumper. Crouse was in the same situation just a few weeks ago in the Limited Late Model feature event. When the checkered waved it was Crouse winning back to back features with Sanders finishing second with Matt Miller, Time Gay and Bill Howard rounding out the top five. When asked if Crouse had it going thru his mind about a few weeks ago, he said indeed it did on both restarts with two to go and with one to go. Crouse said he didn’t want to make the same mistake he did a few weeks ago stating in Victory Lane. He also thanked Competition 101, David and Buzzie Reutimann for helping with the school and he raced in a Beak Built David Reutimann built car. He also thanked Stewart Lycett for allowing him to race the car. It had some damage from the school and we just wanted to shake it down Crouse stated.
The final event of the night went to the Street Stocks. Winning their heat races were Jarod Gay and Hunter Gustafson. For the front row it was Mike Wilson and Gustafson. When the green dropped it was Wilson leading the until the first caution waved for the second and third place cars of Gustafson and Thomas Burnside spinning in turn two. On the restart, Wilson once again led the way and kept the lead until the checkered flag waved crossing the line first with Dennis Williams finishing second. But after tech, Wilson was deemed illegal for an unsealed crate motor and Williams for rear suspension. So that gave third place Dennis Wilson, Jr. the win once again with Eric Moon, Buck Woodhouse, Justan Rodgers and Paul Huffstutler rounding out the top five.
ASA racing continues next weekend as Late Models, East Bay Sprints, Street Stocks, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers and the V8 Warriors all return for action. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com for call 813-677-7223 for more information.