May 7, 2011 –A field of 21 Late Models gathered for a final tune-up before next week’s Scott Thompson Memorial event and gave the fans a thrilling event. Keith Nosbisch made his second appearance of the year count with a win in the 25-lap main.

Nosbisch took the lead from Bryan Bernhardt three laps short of the checkered flag. “He jumped the cushion,” said Nosbisch. “I got under him. We rubbed a little bit, but rubbing’s racing.”

Bernhardt had taken the lead from Cecil Martin on the fifth lap and ran strong up front. Travis Varnadore provided the first challenge. Keith Nosbisch had his hands full with Jack Nosbisch, but Jack Nosbisch developed a flat tire at the halfway point and was forced to the pits, returning at the tail. David Schmauss made a late race to get into the top five and kept a strong finish in the main.

Trailing Keith Nosbisch at the end were Berhnhardt, Schmauss, Varnadore and Doug Watson. Nosbisch, Schmauss and Steven Mathis Jr. were heat race winners. For Mathis, it was vindication as the rookie of the year candidate had a heat race win earlier this year taken away by rain.

The East Bay Sprint main saw three different drivers as leaders of the last lap. Billy Boyd Jr. had led the entire race until slapping the wall off the second turn and flipping wildly. Boyd was disappointed, but not hurt. Johnny Gilbertson inherited the lead and brought the field down to the restart, only to suffer mechanical issues in the backstretch. It allowed Kurt Taylor to sweep around for the win, his first of the year. Jimmy Ballew rebounded for second with Steve Darvalics in third. Darvalics had been running second in the early stages, spinning on lap five and going to the tail. Tim George claimed fourth with Tony Agin in fifth. Agin had to come from the rear at the start after requiring a second push. Ballew, Agin and Darvalics won the three heats.

Jeff Rodgers made it three in a row in Street Stock action. Rodgers and point leader Jarod Gay broke away from the rest of the pack, only to have a lap 7 caution tighten up the field. On the restart, the two moved out again and Gay had to chase Rodgers across the line. “I want to thank Jarod for driving a clean race.” Billy Carlbert Jr. had a third place run, followed by Roy Woodhouse and Howard Osteen. Curtis Book and Gay claimed preliminary wins.

Patrick Fiore grabbed his second feature win of the year. Jacob Vann posted his best finish of the year with a second place. Heat winner Chuck Mathias was third in the main with Charlie Paris Jr. fourth and Richard Humfeld fifth. Humfeld and Patrick Tabb joined Mathias as heat winners. George Handy won the 10-lap B main.

Bill Dixon passed his wife for the lead in the Dirt Dauber feature and gained his third win of the year. Todd Ford repeated in the Fan Participation race.

ASA sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, May 14, 2011. The program will include the Scott Thompson Memorial for Late Models, Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association, Street Stocks, Outlaw 4s, and motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers, Dirt Daubers and Fan Participation. For more information, go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.