MIKEY HAY WINS TUSA MOD LITE OPENER AT EAST BAY

By Charlie Brown

Gibsonton, FL – Former National Champion, Mikey Hay of Somerset, Pa. made it two for two as he captured the 20 lap TUSA Winternationals openerThursday night at East Bay Raceway Park. Hay had served notice on Wednesday night when he won the special All Star race following a night of practice.

Twenty-six cars took the green with Canada’s Chris Steele holding the lead. The yellow was quickly out as Brian Woodhall of Apollo, Pa. got around in traffic but was able to continue. On the restart a car got crossed up at the starting line triggering a multi-car crash that eliminated Jason Corless, Dallas Caldwell, James May, Paul Klager and Adam Murphy.

Hay, who had started in third, got by Ryan Charland of Stafford Springs, Conn. on the restart and immediately went to work on Steele. Hay took the top spot on lap four while Josh May of Desoto, Iowa shot from tenth to fourth and Zanesville, Ohio’s Tracy Fritter followed in fifth.

A pair of cautions on lap nine saw Donnie Ackenbrach of Seaford, Del. come to a stop and on the restart, Woodhall again found himself facing the wrong direction. Three more yellows on laps 11, 12 and 13 kept the field tightly bunched. Charland managed to get by Steele on the restart bringing Fritter with him into third.

The remainder of the race was all green and Hay would make no mistakes as he opened a comfortable lead and took the win. Fritter made a bid for second at the wire but Charland held him off to finish in the runner-up spot for the second night in a row. Fourth went to Jimmy Wills of Felton, Del. who started in 22nd and Kevin McKinney of Dover, Del. rounded out the top five.

“The cautions were killing me,” said Hay. “I’ve got an electrical issue. I was a true testament to the Evans power under the hood because I only had two cylinders from lap 10 on. I just had to make sure that I was perfect through the corners and make up as much time there.”

Heats were won by Steele, Charland, Mikey Hay, Mark Marcucci and Brandon Dennis with Eric Hay taking the consolation.

Heat 1 – Chris Steele, Landis Musser, Shawn Sliter, Donnie Ackenbrach, Eric Hay, Aaron Pendleton, Dean Provonost, Rebecca George.

Heat 2 – Ryan Charland, Josh Sliter, Erik McKinney, Dallas Caldwell, C.J. Faison, Joe Anselmo, Richard Lawson.

Heat 3 – Mikey Hay, Brian Woodhall, James Hill, Kevin McKinney, Jimmy Wills, Rick Amant, Dustin Forsburg.

Heat 4 – Mark Marcucci, Tracy Fritter, George Eglert, James May, Rick Risinger, Tyler Bradshaw, Shane Pfeuffer (DQ – light).

Heat 5 – Brandon Dennis, Josh May, Adam Murphy, Paul Klager, Tim White, Jason Corless, Jason Musser.

B-Main – Eric Hay, Jimmy Wills, Tim White, Jason Corless, Rick Amant, Shane Pfeuffer, Aaron Pendleton, Joe Anselmo, Tyler Bradshaw, Dean Provonost, Rick Risinger, Rebecca George, Richard Lawson, C.J. Faison, Dustin Forsberg, Jason Musser (DNS).

20-lap TUSA Mod Lite Feature Finish: 1. Mikey Hay; 2. Ryan Charland, 3. Tracy Fritter; 4. Jimmy Wills; 5. Kevin McKinney; 6. Shawn Sliter; 7. Chris Steele; 8. Josh May; 9. Landis Musser; 10. Eric Hay; 11. James Hill; 12. Mark Marcucci; 13. Tim White; 14. Rick Ament; 15. Donnie Ackenbrach; 16. Shane Pfeuffer; 17. Erik McKinney; 18. George Eglert; 19. Brandon Dennis; 20. Josh Sliter; 21. Brain Woodhall; 22. Adam Murphy; 23. Paul Klager; 24. James May; 25. Dallas Caldwell; 26 Jason Corless.