by Jim Rouse-BRP Media
Ocala, FL- The NeSmith Weekly Late Models headlined the 5th night of racing at Bubba Raceway Park while the Hobby Stocks, E-Mods, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators joined them in a fantastic night of racing.
The E-Mods kicked the night off with Shane Nichols jumping to the top from outside pole. Nichols, along with Mike Stalnaker, won their heats but had opposite nights after that. Stalnaker fell off with mechanical issues while Nichols went flag-to-flag to win his 3rd consecutive feature, this 1 caution-free. Shane Taylor, again, found himself the bridesmaid with Shawn Taylor in pursuit. Swede Melgaard finished in a strong 4th and Charlie Howard, Jr. rounded out the top 5.
Jeff Mathews took advantage of the tussle between Bryan Bernhardt and Josh Peacock and the 4-wide racing of others to jump to the lead from 4th starting spot. Austin Kirkpatrick slotted into 2nd and Dalton Meyers, a heat winner, had to battle with “Showtime” Shan Smith for 3rd. By the NeSmith Late Models running 15 caution-free laps it started the night with 35 laps of green! Kenny Monohan brought the 1st yellow out when he spun off of turn 4. Meyers spun on lap 20 and he made contact with Tyler Clem on the next lap. Mathews had to hold Kirkpatrick and Smith at bay, even through a 1-lap dash after Carter Stokes stopped with a shredded left rear. Mathews completed the task and returned to Coors Light Winner’s Circle while Kirkpatrick went back to the board. Bryan Bernhardt, the other heat winner, finished 3rd with “Showtime” and Tyler Clem rounding out the top 5.
The 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks had a rough night as Joey Durbin and heat race winner William Gillam both jump-started when given the chance to start from pole. Bubba Durbin, who had inherited the 4th starting spot, jumped up front and held on through the cluster of restarts. In just 2 laps there were 3 cautions- a spin by Jeff Stalnaker, Jr., Taylor Gant’s misfortune, and Melvin Fockler’s ride in turn 4 that ended with some Christmas card info being exchanged with Chuck Cessna. On lap 7 it was inherited pole-sitter Brandon Tillander going for the spin after having a career-night until that point. Bubba Durbin had opened up a lead on James Sullivan, III and Tillander but it all went away and Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. inherited 3rd. The timer had run out under caution meaning the next flag would end the race. That flag was the yellow after Stalnaker and Joey Durbin got together in turn 4. Bubba Durbin was able to take win #2 of 2013 over Sullivan and James Erickson. Tony Campbell had a career-night with a heat win and a 4th place finish and Jonathan Layerd finished 5th in the Tom Sheehan-owned #7.
The Hobby Stocks put on a clinic and went caution-free. Hunter Gustafson stole the lead from 3rd place starting spot and never looked back as he swept the night. The heat race winner survived, unlike Matt Kramer who is chasing him in the standings now, and took victory home over William Edwards. Gustafson and Edwards have split the last 3 features while Marty Smith awaits a trip to Coors Light Winner’s Circle. Brian Shea finished a solid 4th and Jonathan Appleby finished 5th as he pulled double-duty.
Finally, it was a double anthem in the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators as Josh Fincher, Bill Southard, Tom Sheehan, and Kyle Moore were given the task of stopping heat race winner “The British Bulldog” Stephen Frankland from making it to Coors Light Winner’s Circle. Frankland woudn’t be stopped and had a 1/3 lap lead before Kyle Moore spun into the wall on lap 8. Moore refired and finished 3rd. Frankland had Fincher all over him for the last 7 laps but swatted him away for his 1st win at the 3/8 mile track. Fincher finished 2nd with team-mate Kyle Moore in 3rd. Bill Southard finished 4th and Tom Sheehan rounded out the top 5.
Next week has been revised. It is no longer the Mike Peters Open but rather the Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Modifieds, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, Rent-N-Roll Gladiators, and the Florida Mini Sprints. For more info please continue to visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Army E-Modifieds
1- 65 Shane Nichols
2- 82 Shane Taylor
3- 41 Shawn Taylor
4- 15 Swede Melgaard
5- 7H Charlie Howard, Jr.
6- 5L Daryl Larson
7- 64 JD Gillette
8- 2B Jeff Barrett
9- 59 Mike Stalnaker
NeSmith Weekly Crate Late Models
1- 33 Jeff Mathews
2- 11 Austin Kirkpatrick
3- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
4- 17SS Shan Smith
5- 14 Tyler Clem
6- 311 Kenny Monohan
7- 33 Carter Stokes
8- 7 Billy Holmes
9- 54 Dalton Meyers
10- 21P Josh Peacock
1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks
1- 12 Bubba Durbin
2- 14 James Sullivan, III
3- 16 James Erickson
4- 6 Tony Cmapbell
5- 7 Jonathan Layerd
6- 69A Jonathan Appleby
7- 54 John Florkowski
8- 13 William Gillam
9- 85 Chuck Cessna
10- 73 Brandon Tillander
11- 9 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr.
12- 55 Joey Durbin
13- 7 James Copen
14- 33 Melvin Fockler
15- 33 Taylor Gant
16- 28 Brandon Elwood
Bubba Army Hobby Stocks
1- 15 Hunter Gustafson
2- 14 William Edwards
3- 18 Marty Smith
4- 19 Brian Shea
5- 69A Jonathan Appleby
6- 77 Matt Kramer
7- 73S Chris Sargent
8- 28 Brandon Elwood
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 7UK Stephen Frankland
2- 88 Josh Fincher
3- 87 Kyle Moore
4- 83S Bill Southard
5- 75 Tom Sheehan