June 2, 2012 – Tampa, FL – Four divisions on hand tonight here at The Clay By The Bay. Late Models along with the Street Stocks, Outlaw Fours and Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers were all in action.
First Feature of the night belonged to the Outlaw Fours. Brandon Yates won the heat race. That put the brother and sister duo of Brandon Yates and Brittany Yates on the front row for the start of the feature. On the start it was Brittany grabbing the early lead as she led the first six laps and then spun in turn two bringing out the first caution and handing the lead over to her brother Brandon. On the restart it was Billy Howard taking over the top spot with Stephen Hohlbaugh right on his back bumper. The next caution came out on lap eight as third place Nick Hebrank spun in turn two giving Kyle Kruse the third spot. But then on lap eleven Kruse spun handing third over to Brittany Yates who made her way back thru the field. With just a few laps remaining, Howard and Hohlbaugh battled for the top spot with Howard taking the checkered flag and picking up his third feature win of the season. Holhbaugh, Brittany Yates, Kyle Worden and Kyle Kruse rounding out the top five.
Next up were the Street Stocks. Eric Moon, Matthew Grissom and Roy Woodhouse won their heat races. For the feature it was Grissom and Moon making up the front row. When the green flag waved it was Moon taking the lead. But on lap four, Grissom and Jim Baker were battling for the second position when the two touched going into turn one with Baker going high and catching the wall and slowly rolled over bringing out the red flag. Baker was ok and was able to drive his car into the pits, but was not able to return. When the race resumed, Moon was on a mission and went on to win his first back-to-back feature wins in his career here at East Bay. Grissom was second with Donnie Reed, Jeff Rodgers, and Dennis Wilson, Jr. rounding out the top five.
Next were the Late Models. Current points leader Roger Crouse and Mark Haase won their heat races. For the feature it was Mavrick Varnadore and Tommy Prince starting on the front row. Varnadore took the early lead and was catching lap cars by lap ten and had nearly a straight away lead on the field until third place Prince spun in turn two. Cobb who had won the last two features moved up into second on the restart and was looking to make it three in a row. After the second caution came out on lap twelve, it was Varnadore, Cobb and Haase your top three. When the race resumed, on lap nineteen Wallace Peacock took over second place and was catching Varnadore. With 2 laps to go, Varnadore came upon a lapped car in turn four and had to nearly stop as Peacock drove by Varnadore, but Varnadore was able to capture the top spot back and went on to win. Mavrick just graduated High School on Friday night and was all smiles in Victory Lane. Peacock finished second with Haase, Cobb and Crouse rounding out the top five.
The final feature of the night went to the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. Johnnie Alexander, Michael Hart and Red Vann won their heat races. For the feature it was Chris Morris and Bubba Puyear starting on the front row. Puyear took the early lead with Jason Burnside second and Vann third. The first caution came out when Patrick Fiore, Sr hit turn four wall and came to rest. Fiore, Sr. was fine but the car was unable to continue. Cautions came out on lap five and seven as George Ingram got spun on the front stretch and then stopped in turn four on the second caution and had to be towed off the track. On the final restart, Puyear took the lead, but on lap twelve, Vann and Puyear continued to battle as they raced side by side with Vann picking up the win by just inches over Puyear. It was Red Vann’s first win on dirt. Puyear was second with Troy Dittebrand, Robert Kissam and Richard Humfeld rounding out the top five.
ASA Racing continues next week with the East Bay Sprints, Florida Mini Sprints, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks, Outlaw Fours and Dirt Daubers. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call 813-677-7223 for more information.