Jim Rouse – After another successful Monster Jam Summer Heat event it’s time for the clay to see race cars again. With $1000 up for grabs for each of our 5 winners it’s bound to be a good one. The Bubba Army 360 Sprints return to th 3/8 mile as do the Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Modifieds, Bubba Army Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators.
“The Jacksonville Jet” Matt Kurtz jumped out to his usual territory with an easy win last time out in the #92. Kurtz was followed across by Sport Allen and Terry Witherspoon. They sit that way in the standings as well with Kurtz at 65, Allen at 62, and Witherspoon at 59. Danny Martin, Jr. had mechanical problems that left him in the grandstands early while team-mate AJ Maddox couldn’t quite sneak into the top 3. Martin and Maddox hope to challenge in this next race and get the Edwards Concrete Team in Coors Light Winner’s Circle.
Experience is the key in the Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Modifieds as Buzzie Reutimann and Jeff Mathews are at 1 win each. Reutimann has his UNOH #00 in the points lead by 6 over Team GRT driver Ronnie Soltis. Soltis has just 6 over the Interstate Batteries-sponsored driver Scott Kurtzner in a tight battle at the front. Charlie O’Neill has his Steve Mooers-prepared #75 in 4th, just 22 back, and Jeff Mathews has his Gator Core Recycling #33 up to 5th after a big feature win. The conditions are right for a first-timer in a very tough division.
Youth, however, leads the way in the Hobby Stocks. Hunter Gustafson, the only 2-time winner this season, has the Gustafson Racing #15 3 points up on “The Mayo Missile” Devin Walker. Walker, the Champion Race Helmets driver, was able to break through and get his 1st win of the points-paying season last time out in a ‘max points’ night. The Walker’s had planned on traveling but the points race is mighty lucrative when this close after April. Matt Kramer is in 3rd after a brilliant start to his 2013 campaign. Kramer has had 2 early-race DNFs but has used consistency to stay within 13 of the leader. Brian Shea, the 2011 Thunder Stock champion, will put the pressure on the young drivers and, unlike the other 3, he has a championship trophy at home. Sitting 63 out is the Cantley Roofing #14 driver William Edwards. Edwards took a big win earlier and hopes to get back to Coors Light Winner’s Circle and jump up the pylon.
The 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks have a similar situation as non-feature winners are at the top in Tony Campbell and William Gillam. Campbell kept the Zellwood Truck Stops #6 in the lead but has just 3 over William Gillam and the JNM Ironworks team. A further 4 markers back is the Jim’s Pit BBQ driver Jonathan Appleby. Appleby has yet to win in the points season and hopes to return to Coors Light Winner’s Circle soon. James Erickson is 12 back in 4th but has also failed to get back into Coors Light Winner’s Circle in 2013. Brandon Tillander comes off of a career night in which he finished 2nd in his heat and took a career-best 5th in the feature. The ever-improving driver of the TNT Auto Works #73 has gone from flashes of brilliance to a real threat for serious points and hopes to join the long list of feature winners in the closest division at Bubba Raceway Park.
Finally, our Rent-N-Roll Gladiators have a storm brewing as Josh Fincher holds on to a 43-point lead over Jerry Taylor. Taylor has a feature win in 2013 but must chase and defend because Stephen Frankland is just 41 behind him. Frankland, the only 2-time winner this season, is coming on strong and hopes to become the $1000 winner. Bill Southard, the Crossfit #83S driver, and BK Graphics driver Kody Fisher round out the top 5 but have work to do to chase the leaders.
Racing starts at 7 with pits opening at 4 and grandstands at 5. Don’t miss a second of Night Of A Thousands! For more information, please visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!