Jim Rouse, BRP Media (8-4-12) Ocala, FL – The Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators fought on the 1/3-mile clay oval with everything on the line while RaceCar Engineering Late Models put on a spectacular non-points event.
Hobby Stocks were first up and pole sitter Mike Stalnaker held on to lead lap 1. “The Master” had company as Eric Moon and “Ragin” Rodney Wright were eating up his rear bumper. Chris Doane would spin for the 2nd time on lap 4 with Stalnaker leading Wright and Moon. Rodney Wright led lap 7 and would complete the pass in turn 1 as Tim Gay took a shot at “The Master.” On lap 9 Rebecca Paugh found the backstretch wall right in front of the leaders which would set up a restart of the cars numbered 99-90-9-19 (Wright, Gay, Stalnaker, and Brian Shea). On lap 15 Mick Kulak made hard contact with the front stretch wall but would drive off and even continue on in the race! Meanwhile “Ragin” Rodney was left to hold off Tim Gay, Stalnaker, Shea, and Eric Moon. Time expired leaving us with 1 shot at a Green-White-Checkered. Wright would take another win with Gay, Stalnaker, Shea, and Scott Haas in tow.
The Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprints had a tough task to follow but Robbie Smith would follow no one as he led early on. On lap 3, however, he’d throw it away as he spun after jumping the burm. Tyler Godwin would inherit the lead with AJ Maddox, Danny Martin, Jr., Stephen Darvalics, and Tony Agin in the top 5. On lap 6 Brandon Grubaugh’s G6 hit turbulence and the wall would meet the right side of his car. Godwin continued to lead Maddox, Martin, Darvalics, and Ryan Partin. Partin spun on lap 15 went 180 degrees, kept in the throttle, spun another 180 and almost prevented a yellow; it would fly anyway but a good effort from “Flyin” Ryan either way. Colin Cabre would inherit 5th as the top 4 remained unchanged. On lap 19 Shane Kreidler had troubles in a 3-car battle and nearly flipped the 88K. It would fall on it’s side but landed on 2 wheels on the clay and 2 on the fence the “proper” way. Kreidler got out as soon as he could but was obviously frustrated. Tyler Godwin would take the win with AJ Maddox, Danny Martin, Jr., Matt Kurtz, and Stephen Darvalics the rest of the top 5. However, Godwin was illegal giving Maddox P1 and Cabre a top 5.
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators put on the greatest show as “Rockin” Reid Christensen completely dominated. Robert O’Neill spun from 4th on lap 2 ruining driver #1’s night. Steve Johnson would have troubles from the front half-way through the race leaving him 1 lap down. Christensen led the final 13 that went green with pole sitter “Little Big Show” Jordan McMillon 2nd, Brandon Haseleu 3rd, Bobby Graham 4th, and Shane Guessford 5th.
RaceCar Engineering Late Models, though going for no points, showed us why they are the most exciting division around. On lap 4 JO Nobles, a top 5 runner, brought the caution out as Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. dominated the race. Darrell Padgett also pitted under yellow. On lap 9 2nd place Bryan Bernhardt spun in turn 1 costing him a great race; however his disappointment was Richard Ferry’s gain as he inherited P2. Shan Smith, Jeff Mathews, and Bo Allen completed the top 5 while Professor Lloyd continued to lead. The big one happened as nearly every one (save Lloyd and Ferry) spun in turn 4 thanks to Mathews and Smith who were fighting hard for 3rd spot. The accident would force Donnie Chappell to retire from the race. Richard Ferry and Bubba Clem had contact on lap 11 which put Ferry to the tail while Clem dropped to the back in a wonderful act of sportsmanship. Not only that, but Ferry got his spot back as Clem hinted that he caused the contact. Unfortunate as Bubba threw a top 5 away but he made fans with his class. By lap 11 nearly half the field had retired from the race. Lloyd would win for the first time since mid-May with Bo Allen, Shan Smith, John Koller, and Richard Ferry the rest of the top 5.
1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks ended a fantastic night of racing with the biggest bang of all. At the beginning Mike Stalnaker and Pat Mennenga made contact which barrel-rolled the 33 twice; the accident also involved William Gillam, Brian Mullins, and Jonathan Appleby. Stalnaker climbed out and had a smile on his face by night’s end. On lap 3 after charging from 24th to 4th Jason Gamble retired with possible engine leakage. On lap 4, as they fought for the lead, Brandon Elwood and Jonathan Appleby made contact which cut Elwood’s left front and Appleby’s right front- both came out of the pits outside of the top 10. On lap 7 Appleby spun again ending his night prematurely. A race that took over 45 minutes saw just 10 laps completed. In fact, only 9 of the 22 starters finished the race! Brian “Hothead” Mullins, days after his 42nd birthday, went home with his first ever win followed by Bubba Durbin (who pitted 3 times). Billy Baldwin had a career night with a 3rd place finish. Brandon Elwood would finish 4th and William Edwards took home a solid top-5 on dirt. Baldwin, unfortunately, was disqualified moving Melvin Fockler into the top 5!
Next week the Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators fight for glory on the fastest 1/3 mile in Florida! For more info please go to
www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call the Speedway at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (8/4)
Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars
1- 3A AJ Maddox
2- 82 Danny Martin, Jr.
3- 92 Matt Kurtz
4- 24 Stephen Darvalics
5- 12 Colin Cabre
6- 22 Shawn Murray
7- 38 Tony Agin
8- 14 Ryan Partin
9- 83 Mark Ruel, Jr.
10- 5 Tim Grubaugh
11- 88 Andrew Griffin
12- 88K Shane Kreidler
13- 79 Dave Slawiak
14- 0X Phil Pettay
15- G6 Brandon Grubaugh
16- 6S Robbie Smith
17- 8 Rich Alexander
18- 0L Brandon Lineberger
DQ- 38T Tyler Godwin
RaceCar Engineering Late Models (Non-Points Event)
1- 21 Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.
2- 71 Bo Allen
3- 99 Shan Smith
4- 1* John Koller
5- 17 Richard Ferry
6- 14 Bubba Clem
7- 53 John Rankin
8- Z Tim Zackery
9- RP1 Bug Rose
10- 51 Larry Anderson
11- 11 Cory Hupp
12- 7 Billy Holmes
13- 72P Len Parrish
14- 42 Adam Bennett
15- 25 Donnie Chappell
16- 311 Kenny Monohan
17- 45 Bobby Richardson
18- 33 Jeff Mathews
19- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
20- 46P Darrell Padgett
21- 18JO JO Nobles
22- 31 Dalton Meyers
Hobby Stocks
1- 99 Rodney Wright
2- 90 Tim Gay
3- 9 Mike Stalnaker
4- 19 Brian Shea
5- 96J Scott Haas
6- 18 Eric Moon
7- 95JR Jeff Rodgers
8- 94 Robert Sirmons
9- 81 Don Woosley
10- 2S Mick Kulak
11- 1 Ricky Riley
12- 60 Matt Kramer
13- 00D Chris Doane
14- 2 Trey Isgette, III
15- 0X Trevor Gamble
16- 15 Hunter Gustafson
17- 23 Rebecca Paugh
18- 4C Richard Calmes, Jr.
DNS- 12 Kent Corbin (Driver Switch with T. Gamble)
1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks
1- 28 Brian Mullins
2- 12 Justin Durbin
3- 28E Brandon Elwood
4- 09 William Edwards
5- 33F Melvin Fockler
6- 6 Tony Campbell
7- 34 Mark Trexler
8- 12L Jim Leconte
9- 3W Eddie Woodall
10- 118 Ron Adams
11- 05 Alan Lane
12- 69A Jonathan Appleby
13- 114 John Thorpe
14- 21 Jason Gamble
15- 11 Jerrid Bennett
16- 5W Gene Hunley
17- 14 James Sullivan, III
18- 13 William Gillam
19- 3 Jeff Baer
20- 8 Pat Mennenga
21- 33 Mike Stalnaker
DNS- 73 Brandon Tillander
DNS- 29L Daniel Laird
DQ- 44B Billy Baldwin
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 17D Reid Christensen
2- 68 Jordan McMillon
3- 3 Brandon Haseleu
4- 126 Bobby Graham
5- 01 Brian Thorpe
6- 8X Shane Guessford
7- 79 Ray Hunter
8- 8B Joey Brinson
9- 7UK Stephen Frankland
10- 20 Casey Feaster
11- 30 Danny Brown
12- 81 Steve Johnson
13- 55 Jerry Taylor
14- 69 Tom Sheehan
15- 00 Connor Reutimann
16- 1 Robert O’Neill
DNS- 83 Kody Fisher