March 26, 2011 – Roger Crouse came close the last time the Gagel’s Auto Parts Open Wheel Modifieds visited East Bay. He watched from second as 2010 division champion Austin Sanders opened the year with a win. On this night, the tables were turned as it was Crouse leading the field home. In picking up the win, Crouse has now scored a feature win at East Bay in every season since 1984, 27 consecutive years.
Crouse praised his crew and pointed out the car was for sale as a new one is being built for him and competitor Mickey Wright. Crouse’s win deadlocks the division points in the early stage since he and Sanders now each possess a first and second.
Kevin Bryant rebounded from an early race spin to claim third in his first 2011 outing. Thomas Pratt, in his first year in the division and Alex Boerner rounded out the top five. Sanders and Bryant claimed heat wins.
The Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Limited Late Models proved to be an interesting race. Three different drivers held the point with Jason Pope first at the helm. Pope lost control of the car while leading, spinning out of the lead and handing it to John Bradley. He kept the top position until a subsequent caution when a fluid leak sent him out of the contest. Tim Gay took over and stretched the lead to more than a straightaway by lap eight. It turned out to be a good thing as Gay’s engine began to give him problems with five laps to go. J.R. Prather Jr. was charging hard but ran out of time as Gay literally coasted across the finish line. By picking up the win, Gay becomes the first driver in 2011 to win features in two divisions. He won the Street stock main on March 12. Prather’s run was good enough for second with Shane Koperda, Waylon Haynes and Forrest Gough (who started last) completing the top five. Pope and Koperda started the night with heat victories.
The Street Stock feature saw heavy attrition as only three cars were running on the lead lap when the checkered flag came out. One of those cars was Jeff Rodgers who had made an earlier visit to the tail after involvement in a spin. Rodgers rallied back and made a pass from third to first on the last restart. James Hook and Billy Carlbert trailed the winner across the line. Last week’s feature winner Jarod Gay spent a lap in the infield and finished fourth, one lap down. Mike Eaton was a lap down, but claimed his first top five of the year. Rodgers and Collin Kruse won their heats.
A field of 36 Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder bombers fought for the 24 starting spots in the A main. Heats were won by Patrick Tabb, Roberto Morfin Sr. and Jacob Vann. Dalton Epps won the B main. In the 15-lap A feature, Morfin Sr. proved to be the class of the field, but he had plenty of company. Patrick Fiore was hounding Morfin to double up his win from last week, but had to settle for second. Don R. Quinn had his best finish of the year with a third. Gene Gross took home fourth with Johnnie Alexander claiming fifth.
Dan Darnell dominated the Old Time Modifieds. Janine Dixon regained the lead on the last lap from husband bill to claim the Dirt Dauber victory.
ASA sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, April 2, 2011. The program will include Late Models, East Bay Sprints, Street Stocks, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers, Dirt Daubers and Fan Participation races. For more information, go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.