Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- With just three months left until the season ends with the Nesmith World Championships (though the second half of the Florida State Championship Races are in late December), Bubba wants to start the final third of the year off with money on the line. The Limited Late Models have $1200, Hobby Stocks have $1100 (yes, $1100), and the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks have $1000 up for grabs with NO ENTRY FEES AND NO MINIMUM CAR COUNTS. Joining them will be the Florida Mini Sprints and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators. Also, don’t forget about the practice session on Friday night!Tyler Clem, one of three winners in the Limited Late Models this year, has a 20 point advantage in the standings, but two tough races has kept Chuck Jackson closer than what Clem would like. Jackson sits just 20 back, and he has a 49 point advantage over Jason Pope for second. Tim Powers has won both events he has entered this year and Nevin Gainey has been pretty good as well with a win last week and a podium to go with it. JO Nobles hasn’t won yet, but the defending division champion can never be counted out.
Devin Walker has a nearly 300 point lead over Brian Shea after Walker went runner-up last week-end. In 17 features, we’ve had 13 different winners, nine of which are first-timers in the division at Bubba Raceway Park! Sean Monoghan is still third, but Mike Stalnaker now sits within 50 points of him. Hunter Gustafson (who, along with Stalnaker is a first-timer this year) holds on to a top five spot, but Heath Walker wants to join his boy at the top of the standings. There’s no consistency in winners, so it’s an all-out wild draw here.
The 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks have the best championship fight, but William Gillam saw his lead shrink. And grow? Brandon Elwood clawed to within 15 points, while Melvin Fockler dropped 11 points to fall to 67 out of first. Brandon Tillander and Tony Campbell round out the top five in the standings. Jeff Stalnaker, Jr., Bubba Durbin, Brandon Elwood, Mike Tovet, and Randy Strehle all have multiple wins, so look for them to battle it out for the win, but don’t count anyone out in this division.
The Rent-N-Roll Gladiators had an incredible race last week with Tyler Bryden taking his first career win at Bubba Raceway Park. Stephen Frankland has shifted his focus from the wins record to clinching the championship after his engine sounded like it went sour towards the end of last week’s event. Tom Sheehan and Bill Southard are trying to keep their heads above water in the championship fight, but Frankie is slowly drowning them as he tries to become the first foreign-born champion in the Modern Era at Bubba Raceway Park. Bryden jumped to fourth in the championship with his win, and Josh Fincher rounds out the top five.
The Florida Mini Sprints are quite impressive and will be out in force as Dirk Miller, Eddie Moss, Jr., and Nick Snyder chase a championship. Different drivers always break out with wins and plenty of different drivers are looking for that elusive first victory.
Pit gates open at 4, grandstands at 5, and racing is scheduled for 7. For more info, please visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400! Don’t miss out on some great dirt track action for the NASCAR race- it will be on in Bubba’s Pit Stop!