Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- The Crate Late Models opened their season up with a non-points race for the NeSmith Weekly Series while the E-Mods, Hobby Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators all put points and glory on the line in the second week of racing at Bubba Raceway Park.
Hobby Stock action was the opener and it started with Hunter Gustafson jumping to the lead from outside pole. Devin Walker and Donnie Ashford found themselves chasing the 15-year old driver until a lap 10 caution for James Erickson. Erickson took a wild ride as his car smacked the wall and the contact flipped his #16 right over after heavy contact with the fence. Erickson, who was 3rd at the time, got out under his own power and his only complaint was that he wrecked a beautiful racecar. The final 10 went caution-free but not drama-free as Walker, who’s feathers had been ruffled already by Gustafson, made a move that was seen differently by everyone. Regardless, Gustafson held Walker off and took home his first ever feature win and the whole family took the trip to Coors Light Winner’s Circle.
Hunter was teary-eyed, his father Chuck was speechless, and brother Chase had a grin from ear-to-ear. Walker was a frustrated 2nd and wants to go 1-spot better soon! Ashford finished 3rd to maintain a slim points lead over the teenagers while Sean Monoghan and Pat Buckley completed the top 5.
The E-Mods were much the same as pole-sitter Shane Nichols held the lead through the lap 6 caution for Kyle Arvin’s turn 2 spin. Nichols had a fierce battle with Shane Taylor around lap 13 but Taylor could not get around “Sweetfeet” Shane Nichols. “Sweetfeet” took his 2nd consecutive feature and remains the only winner in division history. Shane Taylor took home a 2nd-place finish while Swede Melgaard finished a solid 3rd. Shawn Taylor finished 4th and Roy Crain rounded out the top 5.
Our Crate Late Models opened the season up with a few young guns up front- Carter Stokes, the outside pole sitter, actually led the first 3 laps before spinning on his own after Tyler Clem brought out a caution moments earlier. Shan Smith inherited the lead but lost it as Jeff Mathews took the inside line straight to the front. After a restart for a Billy Holmes spin it was Mathews who made the mistake and let Bryan Bernhardt have the inside line and Bernhardt made the most of it as he led lap 6. Mathews took it back on lap 7 but slipped up and gave it right back to Bernhardt on lap 8. On lap 10 Mathews spun and Kenny Monohan made contact with him in turn 4. Mathews made himself work and used the rebound trail to finish 2nd in the feature because no one could catch Bryan Bernhardt. Bernhardt’s win meant that we had yet another first-time winner and a first-time points leader! Mathews fought back to 2nd with Kenny Monohan a strong 3rd, Tyler Clem an impressive 4th, and Carter Stokes a hard-fought 5th.
The Rent-N-Roll Gladiators closed the night with “The Rookie” Hayden McCormick leading. Robert Oneail and Jerry Taylor gave chase and took advantage of McCormick’s misfortune when his right rear wheel broke off with 7-to-go. Oneail inherited the lead but lost it to Taylor on the restart before his car gave out itself! Taylor took home a huge win and Josh Fincher finished a strong 2nd. Tom Sheehan finished a career-best 3rd with Bill Southard and Oneail the top 5.
Next week we get another chance to debut the all-new Bubba Army 360 Sprints. The Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Open-Wheel Modifieds will open their season up as well and they will be joined by the Hobby Stocks and the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks. For more information please visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (3/16/13)
Crate Late Models (Non-Points for NeSmith Weekly Series)
1- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
2- 33 Jeff Mathews
3- 311 Kenny Monohan
4- 14 Tyler Clem
5- 33 Carter Stokes
6- 17SS Shan Smith
7- 7 Billy Holmes
8- 45 Bobby Richardson
Hobby Stocks
1- 15 Hunter Gustafson
2- 55JR Devin Walker
3- 12 Donnie Ashford
4- 51 Sean Monoghan
5- 34 Pat Burkley
6- 54S Paul Snyder
7- 19 Brian Shea
8- 44 Charlie Seroki
9- 31A Alex Aultman
10- 16 James Erickson
11- 31 Trisha Taylor
12- 77 Matt Kramer
E-Mods
1- 65 Shane Nichols
2- 82 Shane Taylor
3- 15 Swede Melgaard
4- 41T Shawn Taylor
5- 71 Roy Crain
6- 96 Kyle Arvin
7- 2 Ray Durrence, Jr.
8- 21 Nick Zackery
9- 7H Charlie Howard, Jr.
10- 07 Jimmy Peele
11- 41 Jerol Stepp
SCR- 64 JD Gillette
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 31 Jerry Taylor
2- 88 Josh Fincher
3- 75 Tom Sheehan
4- 83S Bill Southard
5- 07 Robert Oneail
6- 9 Hayden McCormick