Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL – The NeSmith Crate Late Models, Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Open-Wheel Modifieds, Bubba Army Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators all tackled the 3/8 mile and it was intense for every one.
Buzzie Reutimann opened the Modifieds up with the lead but lost it to fellow heat race winner Jeff Mathews on lap 5. Reutimann actually spun on lap 8 and collected Paul Snyder which made both driver’s nights much more difficult. Cory Hupp spun on lap 16 setting up a 9-lap dash with Mathews leading team-mate Bryan Bernhardt and Chris Littrell. Mathews held his team-mate off for the win while Reutimann and Snyder rebounded to 3rd and 4th, respectively. Littrell rounded out the top 5.
Eric Moon jumped to P1 in the Hobby Stock event and held it through the lap 3 caution for a Don Woosley spin. On lap 8, Moon was overtaken by Brian Shea for the lead and retired on lap 14 after heavy contact with Jerome Dipple. James Erickson got around Shea and then they spun each other after Shea ran out of talent. In the end, Don Woosley took home a huge win simply by surviving (and making his mistake early). Erickson finished 2nd over Shea, heat race winner Rebecca Paugh, and Chuck Cessna. James Sullivan, III won the other heat.
Jeff Mathews made history in the Crate Late Model race that he started from pole in. Mathews lost his lead on lap 16 to Bryan Bernhardt, but regained it when Bernhardt made the same mistake he had made earlier. Mathews became the first driver in the Bubba Clem Era to win in 2 different disciplines on the same night. Bernhardt was twice his bridesmaid with Dalton Myers, Shan Smith, and “Cadillac” Bobby Richardson the top 5. The team-mates, Bernhardt and Tony Stewart Racing developmental driver Tyler Clem, won their heat races!
William Gillam jumped to an early lead in his Thunder Stock but gave it away on lap 4 to Brandon Elwood. Elwood gave it up a further 4 laps later and Brandon Tillander took charge! On lap 14, the Brandon’s got hooked together- literally- and fell to the tail. Randy Strehle, a heat race winner, inherited the lead but his engine went sour and gave Gillam the lead once more. Gillam wouldn’t relinquish again and became the 2nd 1st-timer of the night and also gained “MAX POINTS.” Melvin Fockler finished a solid 2nd while Elwood rebounded to 3rd. Jon Layerd finshed 4th and Chuck Cessna made it a double top 5 night.
Stephen Frankland took his 4th consecutive win in the Gladiators but it wasn’t easy. Frankland began slowing and Bill Southard nearly jumped to the lead. Frankland did hold on to tie the division record for most consecutive wins. Southard fiished 2nd, rookie driver Tyler Bryden finished a solid 3rd, and Tom Sheehan finished an outstanding 4th.
Next week the Bubba Army 360 Sprints return along with the Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Bubba Army Hobby Stocks for $750, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators. For more info please visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (5/18/13)
NeSmith Crate Late Models
1- 33 Jeff Mathews
2- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
3- 54 Dalton Myers
4- 17SS Shan Smith
5- 45 Bobby Richardson
6- 14 Tyler Clem
7- 33 Carter Stokes
8- 117 Taylor Gant
9- 7H Billy Holmes
10- 75 Tim Zackery
Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Open-Wheel Modifieds
1- 33 Jeff Mathews
2- 33L Bryan Bernhardt
3- 00 Buzzie Reutimann
4- 54 Paul Snyder
5- C00L Chris Littrell
6- 1K Scott Kurtzner
7- 331 Dalton Myers
8- 2H Cory Hupp
9- 5 Tim Grubaugh
10- 94 Jeff Bagent
11- 75 Charlie O’Neill
12- 78 Rich Pratt
13- 21 Jon Layerd
Bubba Army Hobby Stocks
1- 81 Don Woosley
2- 16 James Erickson
3- 19 Brian Shea
4- 23 Rebecca Paugh
5- 84 Chuck Cessna
6- 54 Alvin Adkison
7- 4C Richard Calmes, Jr.
8- 84 Eric Moon
9- 14 Jerome Dipple
10- 14 James Sullivan, III
SCR- 63S Jeff Sargent
1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks
1- 13 William Gillam
2- 33 Melvin Fockler
3- 28 Brandon Elwood
4- 75 Jon Layerd
5- 85 Chuck Cessna
6- 34 Shane Guessford
7- 6 Ton Campbell
8- 73 Brandon Tillander
9- 24 Randy Strehle
10- 5 Shawn Cornell
11- 98 Derrick Snell
12- 54 John Florkowski
SCR- 21 Jason Gamble
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 7UK Stephen Frankland
2- 83S Bill Southard
3- 31T Tyler Bryden
4- 75 Tom Sheehan