Jim Rouse, BRP Media – Ocala, FL- The first Night of a Thousands of 2013 at Bubba Raceway Park will highlight 4 divisions of tough racing and will include an Easter Egg Hunt on the frontstretch. After the hunt it’ll be time for the Bubba Army Late Models, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, Rent-N-Roll Gladiators, and Florida Mini Sprints Association to hunt for Coors Light Winner’s Circle and a place in the history books.
The Bubba Army Late Models kicked the 2013 season off with a 50-lap thriller in conjunction with the UDLMCS and it was Kyle Bronson who found himself the winner. Bronson is, of course, the points leader, however, “Catfish” Keith Nosbisch is just 2 points behind him. Nosbisch won 2 races last season but they both came on Friday nights and he’ll hope to break the Saturday-night curse this week. Rich Pratt quietly finished 3rd and feels like a new driver as he enters the season. Pratt has returned to his old days and is back in the red and yellow paint scheme that he always loved. Kenny Monohan has been quick this season with 2 top-5’s at the 3/8 mile after a podium finish in his Crate Late Model. Monohan will hope to make that the rule and hold 5th-place Brandon DeWitt off both on the track and on the points board.
The 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks have always been a division in which 1 type of car- the Camaro- would carry you to championships and a few wins while the boxier Monte Carlo would grab you wins when it mattered most. That doesn’t seem so any more as the top 3 in the standings are all driving Monte Carlos and, other than Brandon Elwood’s win last week, the Camaros have been quicker. Elwood used his first-career win to jump to a 14-point lead over Harold Erickson. Erickson hopes to return to Victory Lane but championship-hopeful William Gillam sits just 7 markers behind him. Gillam hopes to join Elwood as a first-time winner as would 5th-place “Fan Favorite” Melvin Fockler. Fockler has really hit a stride in his young career as he seems to have his car set-up for his driving style. And, no division is complete without the defending champion sitting 4th in the standings, trying to ruin every one’s “Cindrella Story”- Jonathan Appleby doesn’t mind being that guy as he searches for his 7th-career points-paying win.
Jerry Taylor has also used a big win to jump to a points lead- his is 8 points and Josh Fincher is the man riding behind him. Bill Southard is in 3rd but sits 58 behind Taylor while Robert Gullett is just 1 behind Southard. “Hard Time” Todd Roberts sits 5th and hopes to grab a win in the Hatchback and show his young team-mate Devan Pegel how it’s done on the 3/8 mile of Bubba Raceway Park. Stephen Frankland has set up a challenge as has Tom Sheehan and “The Ultimate Race Fans” will try to put their number on top of the pylon.
The FMSA wil return to Bubba Raceway Park for the first time since the 2012 Winter Nationals and these drivers are ready to take the fight to the track. Dirk Miller, the points leader, will try to chase a big win down as he leads his Todd’s Tomatoes Team into Bubba Raceway Park. He’ll have to hold off John Crowder and “Young Gun” Nick Snyder both on the track and in the standings and the Moss family won’t make it much easier- Eddie Moss, Jr., the defending series champion, rides 4th and daughter Rhea Lynne is right on his tail. “Front” Paige Moss is just a few spots away in 7th and will attempt to overtake both of her relatives. Other stars include Ocala’s own Sean Babcock and “Hollywood” Scott Kreuger as well as Chase Cabre who has run all of 2 races with a wing on. For more on this series check out www.flminisprints.com.
The pits will open at 4, grandstands at 5, and racing is scheduled for 7. You won’t want to miss any of the excitement at Bubba Raceway Park but to find more information you can visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400! Get ready for some wild action at Bubba Raceway Park- it’s Night of a Thousands!