Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- After our second consecutive rain-out at Bubba Raceway Park, it’s getting pretty aggravating. The Bubba Army 360 Sprints will try to be the deterrent of the rain, while the Limited Late Models, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, TQ Late Models, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators have received the call as well. It’s set to be a great night of racing this Saturday!In the Bubba Army 360 Sprints, Robbie Smith holds an eight point advantage over “Capatian” Tony Agin. Both drivers are winless at the track since the reconversion to dirt in 2008, but both are very consistent. A couple more winless drivers sit within 25 of the leader in Terry Witherspoon (-22) and rookie Andy Cobb (-24). AJ Maddox completes the top five, but sits 37 back after a couple of rough finishes. Danny Martin, Jr. and Matt Kurtz have a win each in the points paying rounds, and Kurtz has a non-points win on the season.
Tyler Clem holds a 16 point advantage over Jason Pope in the Limited Late Models after three rounds, one of which was won by now-11-year-old Clem. Chuck Jackson sits a further seven back, while Tim Powers- two time winner in 2013- is fourth, 46 back. Forrest Gough continues to see wins go to the wayside with misfortunes, but it will make that win so much sweeter. We’ll see what’s in store in this wild division as they take to the track for the fourth time in 2013.
The Hobby Stocks have 17 year old Devin Walker up front with a 230 point lead over Brian Shea. Walker enters with a win on his birthday this past Saturday, while She has, unfortunately, missed the past few races. With Shea’s absence, Sean Monoghan has closed in on second and sits just 31 markers behind him. Hunter Gustafson has fallen to fourth after leading the standings in April, while Dennis Williams has fought his way into the top five from the beginning. Walker eyes his seventh win of 2013 (and fifth at Bubba Raceway Park) as he chases his father’s family mark of nine wins in a season.
As is the custom in Ocala, the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks have taken it upon themselves to have the most dramatic championship finale. From four-point wins, to not knowing the winner until the third check, it’s always a nail-biter. William Gillam sits in the vulnerable spot as he’s only got one way to go and it’s not up. Gillam has been mighty consistent and is keeping the gambling Melvin Fockler 56 back. Brandon Elwood has said he doesn’t race for points, but a 22 point gap has him thinking about rethinking that philosophy. Brandon Tillander and Tony Campbell are about 160 markers back and have pretty much put their focus towards bringing home the trophy or the steering wheel.
Stephen Frankland holds a 259 point lead as he seeks to become the oldest champion in the modern era at Bubba Raceway Park. Though the rain is hampering his chase of the record for wins, he does have the division record for wins in a season. Tom Sheehan rides second in points, 77 clear of Bill Southard. Behind them, Josh Fincher and Tyler Bryden will duke it out for fourth, but both have been mathematically eliminated from championship contention.
It’s going to be wild at Bubba Raceway Park as we wrap up August, and you don’t want to miss it! Pits open at 4, grandstands at 5, and racing is scheduled for 7. For more info, please visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!