March 31, 2012 – Tampa, Fl – Once again it looked like Mother Nature was going to be a spoiler for Saturday nights event as five classes were in action here at East Bay Raceway Park.
The first feature of the night went to the Limited Late Models. Ricky Land won the heat race and putting him on the outside pole for the feature along with Shane Koperda. On the start it was Koperda and Land side by side thru turns one and two with Land taking the early lead. On the next lap, Land slipped up high and that allowed Koperda to take the lead and never look back as he went on to win the feature. Rounding out the top five was Land, Forrest Gough, Terry Jones and Jason Russell.
Next up were the Florida Old Time Modifieds. Dan Darnell won the heat race but started in the middle of the field. Veteran Bob Fink and Tom McDonald started on the front row for the feature event. When the green flag waved, Fink took the early lead going into the first turn, but Gary Riccio came up and challenged Fink and took over the top spot going down the backstretch.
By lap three Darnell had made his presence known and took over the top spot and never looked back picking up the win for the first appearance of the Florida Old Time Modifieds. Riccio was second with McDonald, Kenny Brock and Fink rounding out the top five.
Next up were Street Stocks with Jim Baker, Tim Gay and Buck Woodhouse winning the heat races. On the front row, it was Donnie Reed and Tim Gay. Gay took the early lead, but with cars fighting for position, it was Buck Woodhouse taking the lead on lap one.
The first caution came out as Gay had some issues and took his car to the pits and later returned. Woodhouse led the field to the restart with Baker, Derek Wilson, Jr and Eric Moon all trying to chase Woodhouse down.
Several more cautions came out bunching the field up right behind Woodhouse. By lap ten, the top four were nose to tail before a caution waved on lap twelve. With just three laps left the field lined up single file with Baker, Moon, Wilson, Jr., and Roy Woodhouse as the top five.
On the final restart, Woodhouse led the field to the checkered flag picking up his first win of the 2012 Season with Baker, Moon, Wilson, Jr., and Roy Woodhouse rounding out the top five.
Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds were next with Buzzie Reutimann, Nate Bregenzer and John Inman picking up the heat wins. Inman and Bregenzer started on the front row for the feature. The green flag waved and Inman quickly led the field into turn one with the Veteran Buzzie Reutimann right on his back bumper.
The entire race Inman led the field as the race ran caution free. Lap after lap, Reutimann tried to get around Inman as they made their way thru lapped traffic, but Reutimann was not able to catch Inman as he picked up his very first win in an Open Wheel.
Inman has won a lot of go-kart races, but was very excited in Victory Lane as he held off Reutimann. He thanked his parents for helping him out week after week and the rest of his family and crews. When asked about his lucky socks, he showed them to the crowd. I won my very first race in these and they have been worn ever since. Reutimann was second along with Roger Crouse, Bruce Harvey and Bregenzer rounding out the top five.
Last feature of the night went to the wet and wild Dirt Daubers. Bill Dixon went on to pick up his second feature win with his wife Janien finishing second. Two time defending Champion Brett Phillips finished third with Henry Wylee and Chuckles Roach rounding out the top five. When in Victory Lane, Bill jokingly said his wife finished in front of the rest, but behind the best. She shook it off and said next time it could be the other way around.
ASA Racing continues next week with Late Models, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com for call 813-677-7223 for more information.