By Jimmy Rouse, Bubba Raceway Park Media (02-12-12)

Blink your eyes. You missed it. USAC and the Florida Mini Sprints had fantastic races with one separated by less than one-tenth of a second for the win.

The Mini Sprints had some excitement right out of the gate when in heat action Sheldon Kinser, Jr., son of the former USAC champion of 1977, 1981, and 1982 that he’s named after, hit the wall and had a tumble with Rudy Nonnemacher. Both drivers were unharmed and the 2JR didn’t quite quit until it was on it’s side in the infield. On lap 3 Jody Mackenzie’s 18 fell on it’s side but Mackenzie drove it back to the pit area. Jon-are Kunstbrook, driver of the 3-wide life team car, had a bad start which brought the yellow out again. On lap 9 Eddie Moss, Jr., the winner of Thursday’s feature, spun on the back and he would go no further. David Pleaugh led them to the green as he had all night but as the field came back around Pleaugh found himself spun to the infield after contact with new leader Luke Thomas. Pete Smith hit the wall nearly simultaneously to bring the yellow out but the damage was done for Pleaugh. On lap 15 Austin Craddock went for a scary tumble down the back but driver #71 was okay. Luke Thomas from Wyoming, Delaware, made home in Florida with a checkered flag. Jim Young was a close 2nd, Gavin Thomas 3rd, Nick Snyder an impressive 4th with Andy Detton to round the top 5 out. Dirk Miller was 6th, Steve Crabtree 7th, Scott “Hollywood” Kreuger 8th, John Kahl 9th, and John Crowder was 10th.

USAC saw a few drivers break the old record of 14.366 on a 1 lap effort but Justin Grant now holds it for the next 52 weeks or so with a 14.018. Mitch Wissmiller brought the yellow out on lap 3 when he slowed with troubles on his #1 machine that ended his night 27 laps short. The race saw 17 laps of green with Grant and Bryan Clauson absolutely hounding leader Darren Hagen. On lap 20 Casey Shuman and Chase Stockton had a run-in to bring out what would ultimately be the final yellow. The last 10 laps saw Hagen vs. Clauson with Grant and Levi Jones waiting and praying. “Wild Child” showed the white from his perch in the flag stand and Clauson made his move in turn 3. Down and back up it was and at the line he found himself spinning with a left front down after contact with Hagen. The winner was….Darren Hagen by .092 to take the $5000 over Clauson who was okay after the wild finish. Grant and Jones were 3rd and 4th respectively with Thursday’s winner Damion Gardner 5th. Jon Stanbrough was 6th, Wes McIntyre 7th, Kody Swanson 8th, Tracy Hines 9th, and Bud Kaeding rounded out the top 10.

USAC and the FMSA put up a fantastic show but next Wednesday through Saturday the FMSA returns with the World of Outlaws Late Models where Darrell Lanigan will look to stay perfect against some of the best in the country at Bubba Raceway Park!

Bubba Raceway Park Results (2/12)

USAC Amsoil Sprints

1- 69OT Darren Hagen
2- 7 Bryan Clauson
3- 40 Justin Grant
4- 20 Levi Jones
5- 71 Damion Gardner
6- 21X Jon Stanbrough
7- 83 Wes McIntyre
8- 19 Kody Swanson
9- 4 Tracy Hines
10- 29 Bud Kaeding
11- 9K Kevin Thomas
12- 11 Dave Darland
13- 14 Coleman Gulick
14- 69 Brady Bacon
15- 68 Jonathan Hendrick
16- 5 Chris Windom
17- 2B Bobby East
18- 21 Casey Shuman
19- 35 Hunter Schuerenberg
20- 81 Robert Ballou
21- 32 Chase Stockton
22- 1 Mitch Wissmiller
23- 3C Kyle Cummins

Florida Mini Sprints Association

1- 1 Luke Thomas
2- 8Y Jim Young
3- 68T Gavin Thomas
4- 14S Nick Snyder
5- 6 Andy Detton
6- 68 Dirk Miller
7- 5 Steve Crabtree
8- 81 Scott Kreuger
9- 2 John Kahl
10- 30 John Crowder
11- 67 David Hall
12- 80 Randy Carrier
13- 24 Ken Penta
14- 1E Jon-are Kunstbrook
15- 71 Austin Craddock
16- 88 Rhea Lynne Moss
17- 116 David Pleaugh
18- 34 Pete Smith
19- 8 Eddie Moss, Jr.
20- 7 Jesse Teed
21- 59X Austin Jackson
22- 18 Jody Mackenzie