By Jimmy Rouse- Bubba Raceway Park Media
November 8, 2011
Round 6, the finale, of the Top Gun Sprints as well as the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series return in the Scott Thompson Memorial @ Bubba Raceway Park headline the night. Alongside will be the Barrett’s Race Cars Hobby Stocks, Amsoil V-8 Thunderstocks, and the Gladiators.
One final shot at Bubba Raceway Park for winless drivers. That means every one but Tyler Godwin and Danny Martin, Jr. Martin will look for his 5th consecutive but the field wants to end his amazing streak. Robbie Smith has been very consistent and Gene Lasker has shown speed but neither has pulled into victory lane but what better way to end the Bubba Raceway Park season than with a win?
The Scott Thompson Memorial @ Bubba Raceway Park will be a points race as well as a Sunoco UDLMCS race. Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. leads the Bubba Raceway Park standings and can eliminate the 3rd place team of Big Frog Motorsports by entering the race. Scoring 4 more points than Dillon Wood seals the deal. However, Keith Nosbisch will try to hold his lead against young driver Christian Augspurger who is also 4th in the Bubba Raceway Park standings. Bo Allen’s 71 team rounds out the top 5. Allen will give it a shot and could end up with a victory celebration. Austin Kirkpatrick, JO Nobles and Tyler Ivey have each taken a win and could do it again. Johnny Collins and Jeff Mathews complete the top 10.
For the first time in 2011 2nd place Buck Woodhouse was able to gain points on Tim Powers. However, the lead is still 104 for Powers. Powers will hope to bounce back after a disappointing 11th place finish last week-end. Kevin Durden, Joe Boyd, and Tommy Ausburn have used consistency to hold onto top 5 points positions and hope to continue the trend and hold on. Joe Belkey continues to hold onto 6th even after moving up to the Modified, but has been eliminated from championship contention in the mathematics. Mark Maresca has had an up-and-down season but holds onto 7th in the standings. Maresca hopes to take a win by season’s end. Donald Woosley has moved from 14th to 8th in 2 weeks and hopes to continue his climb up the ladder. James Erickson and Howard Osteen round out the top 10.
Jason Gamble gained back half of the deficit with a 4th place finish. Unfortunately for Gamble the lead is still 22 for Brian Shea, still winless in his sophomore season. Gordon Cade is 95 points out of 1st and will be eliminated if he doesn’t score 30 points more than Shea. The team-mates will both try to make it to victory lane and enjoy the win more than many could imagine. Vaughn Woodall and Jonathan Gillette are 4th and 5th. Both will be eliminated from championship contention if Shea takes the green flag for even a B Main. Woodall and Gillette will both try to get a victory before season’s end. John Thorpe sits 9 points out of the top 5 and hopes to take a win, and 5th, by season’s end. Chris Watson, Jonathan Appleby, Chad Scranton, and Tim Mathieu complete the top 10.
Steve Cox and Reid Christensen have fought hard all season but the 2 are split by 126 points after Christensen had cut it to 30 just a few weeks ago. With double points on the line it could give Christensen a shot or it could end his hopes for good. If Cox beats Christensen by 5 points he will clinch his first ever championship. Steve Johnson, Brandon Haseleu, and Matt Kramer round out the top 5. All 3 will attempt to take a win by season’s end. Jerry Taylor, Richard Todd, Robert Graham and Kody Fisher are all winless in 2011 and hope to get that win by season’s end. In 10th is Casey Feaster, 3 time winner, hasn’t won in the Bubba Clem Era but will try to get another win by season’s end.
Gates open at 4:30 with racing scheduled for 7. Best seats will get taken early. For more information you can check out www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call the Speedway hotline at 352-622-9400.