Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL (8-18-12) – As the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks completed their Florida State Championship the RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars, and the Hobby Stocks put on a show not soon to be forgotten.
Hobby Stocks went first and outside pole sitter Mark Maresca took a wild ride very similar to the one he took nearly a year ago only this time it was 1 roll rather than a bunch. Joe Boyd would lead early on before a lap 3 caution for Scott Haas. Haas would allow Tim Powers and Tim Gay to close in on race leader Boyd. Under caution Hunter Gustafson, who was having a strong run, was parked for not having the Raceceiver all drivers are required to have. Just 2 laps later Richard Calmes, Jr. and Mick Kulak made contact that would destroy body work on both cars. The restart saw Tim Gay and Rodney Wright, who were fighting for 3rd, make contact- Wright went around and Gay went to the tail. Trevor Gamble and Mike Stalnaker, the fight for 5th, came in hot and Gamble cut across Stalnaker’s nose and nosed the #12 into the fence. Tim Powers made the pass for the lead on lap 8 and promptly began to pull away. Powers would not look back as he took an easy win. Joe Boyd, points leader Rodney Wright, Mike Stalnaker, and Trent Wilson completed a strong top 5.
Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars went out 2nd and put on a thrilling show. Tyler Godwin would take the early lead until DJ Peeples had hard contact with the turn 4 wall. Peeples was okay. That would leave 23 laps on the board with Godwin leading Rich Alexander and Shawn Murray. On lap 9 Rich Alexander brought the caution out as he could not get off the track though he continued to roll around. Godwin still held the lead with Murray and Matt Kurtz pursuing. With just 4 to go Brandon Grubaugh spun out of turn 4 leaving Godwin, Kurtz, and Murray to fight for the win. Tyler Godwin took home a big win with Matt Kurtz 2nd. Shawn Murray took a season best 3rd while Stephen Darvalics and AJ Maddox rounded out a strong top 5.
The RaceCar Engineering Late Models went 40 laps for $3000 and Tyler Ivey led lap 1 from pole! On lap 3 Brett Carlton spun Shane Williams, driving Bubba Clem’s #14, accidentally which put the #22C to the back. Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. would pit at this time and would not return. Ivey would have to contend with Mark Whitener and Jeff Mathews on the restart and he began to pull away. On lap 15, as Whitener reeled Ivey in, Richard Ferry slowed in turn 1 and brought the caution out. The restart saw 3-wide not work out as Bryan Bernhardt made contact with the wall, bounced off, and tore the rear-end of the #14 up. Both were okay but their cars were not. A long green flag run was stopped with 9 to go after the lapped cars of Dalton Meyers and Brett Carlton made contact and spun. Ivey would have to hold Whitener and Jack Nosbisch, Jr. off with 3 miles of racing left. Ivey would take the checkers, his first at Bubba Raceway Park since May 2011, with Whitener, Mathews, Nosbisch, and DeWitt the top 5.
The Florida State Thunder Stock Championship started with Chad Scranton leading from outside pole. On lap 4 David Kinsey hit the wall and collected Tony Campbell with him. Both were okay but their cars weren’t as fortunate. On lap 8 Jason Gamble blew the motor of his T&T Automotive #21 ruining a great night for him. On a lap 15 restart Ray Wheeler and Chad Scranton made contact which cost Scranton over 10 spots as Wheeler pulled away. The race went 30 laps and Wheeler led the half that mattered as he won with severely burnt spark plugs. Brandon Elwood, Mike Stalnaker, Rick Kilbury, and Luke Sadler completed the top 5.
A big congratulations to Bubba Durbin on his big win in the Florida State Thunder Stock Championship! Next week is the First Annual Bubba Army Wiener Nationals where all proceeds from “The Long Dog Race” go to Angels Have Whiskers. RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators will take to the 1/3 mile and put on an unforgettable show as the 2nd of the 3 “Quarters” comes to a close. For more information please visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call the Speedway at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (8/18)
Florida State Thunder Stock Championship Winner: Bubba Durbin of Candler, Florida
Florida State Thunder Stock Championship Night 2
1- 27W Ray Wheeler
2- 28E Brandon Elwood
3- 9 Mike Stalnaker
4- 71 Rick Kilbury
5- 15 Luke Sadler
6- 44 Dean Jarvis
7- 39 Jason Blackmer
8- 93 Marco Reyes
9- 114 John Thorpe
10- 0 Bubba Durbin
11- 28 Brian Mullins
12- 3W Eddie Woodall
13- 60 Jonathan Appleby
14- 27 Chad Scranton
15- 73 Brandon Tillander
16- 3 Jeff Baer
17- 25 Dean Kinsey
18- 98T Mike Tovet
19- 21 Jason Gamble
20- 14 James Sullivan, III
21- 33G Taylor Gant
22- 58 David Kinsey
23- 6 Tony Campbell
24- 34 Mark Trexler
RaceCar Engineering Late Models
1- 47 Tyler Ivey
2- 58 Mark Whitener
3- 33 Jeff Mathews
4- 01 Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
5- 2 Brandon DeWitt
6- 35 Christian Augspurger
7- 71 Bo Allen
8- 7F Jason Fitzgerald
9- 17 Richard Ferry
10- 07 Doug Watson
11- 31 Dalton Meyers
12- 22C Brett Carlton
13- 45 Bobby Richardson
14- 14 Shane Williams
15- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
16- 21 Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.
17- 21M Cody Martin
DNS- 2S Keith Sterbutzel
Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars
1- 38T Tyler Godwin
2- 92 Matt Kurtz
3- 22 Shawn Murray
4- 24 Stephen Darvalics
5- 3A AJ Maddox
6- 14 Ryan Partin
7- 12 Colin Cabre
8- 6S Robbie Smith
9- 5 Tim Grubaugh
10- 88K Shane Kreidler
11- 38 Tony Agin
12- G6 Brandon Grubaugh
13- 0L Brandon Lineberger
14- 9 JR Steele
15- 8 Rich Alexander
16- 30 DJ Peeples
DNS- 83 Mark Ruel, Jr.
Hobby Stocks
1- 44 Tim Powers
2- 83 Joe Boyd
3- 99 Rodney Wright
4- 9 Mike Stalnaker
5- 64 Trent Wilson
6- 12 Trevor Gamble
7- 81 Don Woosley
8- 4C Richard Calmes, Jr.
9- 00D Chris Doane
10- 23 Don Paugh
11- 90 Tim Gay
12- 2S Mick Kulak
13- 15 Hunter Gustafson
14- 96J Scott Haas
15- 77M Mark Maresca
Florida State Thunder Stock Championship B Main
1- 58 David Kinsey (Spot 1)
2- 15 Luke Sadler (Spot 2)
3- 3 Jeff Baer (Spot 3)
4- 13 William Gillam (DNQ)
5- 34 Mark Trexler (Points Provisional)
6- 0 Bubba Durbin (Already Locked In)
DNS- 5W Nick Leconte (DNQ)
RaceCar Engineering Late Models Qualifying
2 Brandon Dewitt 17.381
71 Bo Allen 17.842
47 Tyler Ivey 17.939
21 Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. 17.958
B69 Bryan Bernhardt 18.174
07 Doug Watson 18.205
58 Mark Whitener 18.376
17 Richard Ferry 18.458
33 Jeff Mathews 18.593
7F Jason Fitzgerald 18.798
01 Jack Nosbisch, Jr. 18.917
31 Dalton Meyers 19.246
35 Christian Augspurger 19.351
21M Cody Martin 19.491
14 Shane Williams 19.499
22C Brett Carlton 19.914
45 Bobby Richardson 20.582
2 Keith Sterbutzel 22.557
Florida State Thunder Stock Championship Qualifying Session 2
44 Dean Jarvis 22.972
27W Ray Wheeler 23.058
12 Bubba Durbin 23.150
114 John Thorpe 23.438
93 Marco Reyes 23.546
71 Rick Kilbury 23.614
98T Mike Tovet 23.701
27 Chad Scranton 23.714
21 Jason Gamble 23.724
28E Brandon Elwood 24.197
13 William Gillam 24.209
5W Nick Leconte 24.222
58 Davey Kinsey 24.280
39 Jason Blackmer 24.616
9 Mike Stalnaker 24.674
34 Mark Trexler 24.739
60 Jonathan Appleby 24.834
28 Brian Mullins 24.884
15 Luke Sadler 25.000
6 Tony Campbell 25.219
3W Eddie Woodall 25.401
73 Brandon Tillander 25.846
0 Curtis Clark 25.880
3 Jeff Baer 26.331
25 Dean Kinsey 26.995
33G Taylor Gant 27.155
14 James Sullivan, III 28.517