Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- As the elementary school and preschool kids reap rewards for A/B Honor Roll, the NeSmith Crate Late Models rejoin the Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and Limited Late Models for some great racing. There will also be a Powder Puff race and a Fan Participation race.
The NeSmith Crate Late Models will return and try to keep Jeff Mathews out of Coors Light Winner’s Circle. Mathews is just six points out of the championship lead that Bryan Bernhardt holds after a win himself in the season opener. As those two duke it out up front, Tony Stewart Racing’s Developmental Driver- Tyler “Ten Means Ten” Clem- and “Showtime” Shan Smith sit just twenty-seven back of Bernhardt.
Clem continues to impress and must fight harder to impress his fellow fifth-graders. Just eight back of Clem and Smith is Richard Childress Racing Developmental Driver Carter Stokes who impressed in the common Late Model division last week-end. Experience, mixed with youth, has made the Crate Late Models a must-watch division.
The Hobby Stocks will fight once more, but with a championship battle that seems to have gotten out of hand. Devin Walker, a Lasoski Racing Developmental Driver, has a fifty-five point lead over 2011 Thunder Stock champion Brian Shea. Shea was absent last time out, but we’ve seen incredible comebacks from driver #19. Hunter Gustafson, a further forty out, was a victim of misfortune last week as his clutch failed him just three laps in. Sean Monoghan has fallen to nearly 200 back, and Matt Kramer is fifth with over 200 points to make-up. Walker will try to walk away with this, and it’s up to the others to prevent “The Mayo Missile” from wrapping it up.
Our 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks have the battle to watch as we’ve already had three first-time winners (Brandon Elwood, William Gillam, and now Jeffrey Smith) and a rookie points leader. Gillam is that rookie, as he has a twenty-three point lead over sophomore dirt-driver Elwood. Those two never get away from each other on the track, and that has kept the gap stable for the moment. Over fifty back is Tony Campbell who hopes to shake his own bad luck. In fact, Campbell bought a tire cart and joked that, with his luck, he’ll never have to use it- either way, he’ll have made a wise investment. “TC” will try to keep P3 while two drivers that have finally broken through try to prove their worth. Though both are over eighty points behind Gillam, Melvin Fockler and Brandon Tillander have put runs worthy of being within a point of him in. It’s wide open in this “class”- who wants to be the “class” of the field?
The Limited Late Models returned a couple week-ends ago, and it was Tim Powers who took the victory. Tyler Clem was his runner-up, a second consecutive P2 for Tizzy in the division, while Jason Pope finished third. Devin Walker also pulls Double Duty, and he found himself the fourth place finisher in the Limited Late Models, just ahead of Chuck Jackson. Who will step up and take this division?
Pits open at 4, stands at 5, and racing starts at 7. For all kids in elementary school and under, bring your report cards with A/B Honor Roll and you will earn a bundle of prizes, including a free kid’s coke and an autographed photo of Tyler Clem! Schools receive $4.00 from a paying adult’s ticket. For more information, and to check the schedule- including June 22nd’s Summer Spectacular and the 29th’s Mike Peters Open- please visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!