March 23, 2013 – Tampa, FL Outlaw Fours, Late Models, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers returned for action as the East Bay Sprints and Fan Participation made their first appearance of the 2013 Season.
Before the feature events got under way, Fan Participation made their way onto the track and driving for the first time in his 1986 Corvette was Ronald Woodcock II facing off against Doug Johnson. Johnson got the jump with Woodcock following him. Johnson went on to win the race and went to the finals facing RJ Buchner for the 2 lap finals. Johnson took off and never looked back picking up the win. Johnson stated in Victory Lane it had been awhile but he was glad to be back out there. Johnson is also waiting to get his race car built so he can race.
First feature event of the night went to the Outlaw Fours. Winning their heats were Zach Amundsen and Stephen Hohlbaugh. For the front row of the feature it was Billy Howard and Jesse James Foster. Foster got the jump on the start leading the field for the first seven laps until Howard tangled and spun in turn two bringing out the caution. Howard would have to tag the rear of the field. Several more cautions came out with the final caution on lap thirteen with Brandon Yates spinning in turn four. That would mean it would be a tap lap dash as Foster was still leading with Hohlbaugh trying to get around him for the final two laps. When the checkered waved it was Foster making it two features in a row for the Outlaw Fours. Holbaugh, Amundsen, Howard and Dorsey Strickland, after starting last, rounded out the top five.
Next up were the Late Models. Winning their heats were Bryan Bernhardt, Dave Schmauss and Josh Peacock. For the feature event it was Veteran Jack Nosbisch, Jr. and Steven Mathis, Jr. On the start Nosbish, Jr. led the way until Mathis, Jr. got caught up and hit the wall in turn four bringing out the caution and made for a complete restart. That put last week’s feature winner Josh Peacock on the front row with Nosbisch, Jr. Nosbisch, Jr. once again led the field until another caution came out for Dalton Myers and Billy Boyd, Sr. getting together in turn one. The old saying goes, cautions breed cautions, well that’s what happened for the first half of the race. Schmauss took over the lead on lap nine from Nosbisch, Jr. and on lap thirteen Nosbisch, Jr. stopped on the front stretch bringing out a caution after running in the second position. The final caution came out on lap fifteen when Mavrick Varnadore slowed and ended his night. With just ten laps remaining, Schmauss was a man on a mission. After not picking up a win in the 2012 Season and a For Sale sign on his car, Schmauss was back in Victory Lane. After the crowd cheered him on after he stood on the side of his car, he quickly went over and pulled the For Sale sign off both sides of his car. Schmauss stated in Victory Lane if they want to buy it, they have to wait another year. He quickly thanked all the guys who have stuck behind him and his fans for believing in him. Schmauss also said that he is back and the guys better look out. Josh Peacock, Phillip Cobb, Kyle Bronson and Roger Crouse rounded out the top five.
East Bay Sprints made their first appearance of the 2013 Season with defending East Bay Sprints Champion Kerry Gilbert and Tony Agin won their heat races. For the feature it was Clint Reynolds who travels from San Antonio, TX each time the sprints race, who started on the pole with Billy Boyd, Jr. next to him. Boyd, Jr. took the green flag but on lap one, Tony Agin spun backwards into the turn three wall with no damage to the car. After a few cautions, Gilbert after running second spun in turn one ending his night handing over the second spot to Brett O’Donnell with Gene Lasker right on his tail. When the checkered waved it was Billy Boyd, Jr. picking up the win making it three years in row winning the first night of the Sprints. Gene Lasker was able to pass O’Donnell with just a few laps left picking up second with Tony Agin, O’Donnell and Jason Webster as they rounded out the top five.
Last feature went to the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. Winning their heats were Brett Calonge, Raymond Vann and John Moore. For the feature it was Richard Humfeld and Patrick Fiore, Sr. for the front row. Fiore, Sr. led the field into one and led until lap four when Raymond Vann took over the top spot. On the next lap it was Moore leading the way trying to make it two feature wins for him as well. Caution came out on lap eight when two cars tangled in turn four. Moore led the way taking the checkered flag and making it two wins already for the 2013 Season. Raymond Vann would hold onto second with Humfeld, Jason Burnside and Troy Dittebrand as they rounded out the top five.