March 16, 2013 – Tampa, FL – It was the first night for the Late Models and the V8 Warriors as the Street Stocks, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers returned for the second week in a row.
First feature of the night went to the Street Stocks. Winning heat races early on were Matthew Grissom and Jarod Gay. For the feature event it was Dennis Wilson, Jr and Matthew Grissom on the front row. On the green flag, Wilson, Jr. led the first lap until Thomas Burnside spun in turn two bringing out the first caution of the night. Four more cautions came out until on lap eight when several cars got tangled up on the backstretch with William Burnside getting the worst end of it as his left front dug into the track sending his car airborne and flipping bringing out the red. Burnside was ok but the car was not. After the green was waved again, Jarod Gay got into the back of the leader Wilson, Jr. spinning him out. Gay was charged with the spin putting him to the rear and Wilson, Jr back up front. Charging up from the fourth position was Dennis Williams. With just a few laps left, Williams passed Wilson, Jr. and crossed the finish line first. But after tech, Williams was dq’d for the wrong tires. Dennis Wilson, Jr. was deemed the winner with Jarod Gay coming back up from the back to finish second. Buck Woodhouse, Roy Woodhouse and Roberto Morfin, Sr. rounded out the top five.
Next up were the V8 Warriors for their feature event. Winning heats were Derek Gray and Bill Whitney. For the feature event it was Marco Reyes and the defending Champion Jeff Weaver on the front row. On the green flag Reyes showed the way for the first nine laps until Ron Smith got loose and collected the leader as he went by sending Reyes into the wall. That took Reyes out of contention handing the lead over to Weaver. On the restart on lap nine, Weaver showed the way until lap twelve when Danforth was able to overtake Weaver. Danforth crossed the line first, but once again after tech Danforth was dq’d for an illegal Intake Manifold. That handed over the win to Jeff Weaver with Bill Whitney, Derek Gray, Janien Dixon and Jason Manning rounding out the top five. Derek Gray picked up extra money courtesy of Alafia Marine in Gibsonton.
Third feature of the night went to the Late Models for their 25 lap feature event. Winning heats early on were Dalton Myers, Josh Peacock and defending Champion Roger Crouse. Phillip Cobb and David Schmauss made up the front row for the feature. On the original start, Schmauss got a great start over Cobb but was nullified as Myers spun and backed into turn two wall. That meant a complete restart was in order. So when the green waved again, it was Cobb this time leading the way into turn one with Schmauss right behind him. On lap four Myers and Peacock were battling for position until Myers got sideway and with nowhere to go was Kyle Bronson. Bronson ran over the front of Myers and causing him to roll over on the front stretch as the field came out of turn four. Bronson was okay but that ended his night of racing. Cobb led the way once again under the restart until lap thirteen as James Hill, Jr. spun in turn two. After running in the second position, Schmauss went in to the pits with a flat tire and would end up two laps down. Several more cautions came out until lap twenty one when Josh Peacock finally over took Cobb with Doug Watson in third. One more caution came out on lap twenty three, but when the checkered waved it was Peacock in Victory Lane. Phillip Cobb, John Koller, Doug Watson and Roger Crouse rounded out the top five.
Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds were next with Dale Kelley winning the heat race early on. For the feature it was last week’s feature winner Austin Sanders and Dale Kelley on the front row. Dale Kelley led the field into turn one with Sanders and Thomas Pratt right behind him. The first caution came out on lap two when John Gross spun in turn two lining the field for a single file restart. Green waved and Kelley led the next five laps when Thomas Pratt took over the lead with Sanders right behind him. After taking over the lead, caution waved on the next lap when Eric Purcell stopped in turn four. After the final restart, Pratt found himself in Victory Lane. After climbing out of the car, Pratt joked about being out of breath. He stated in Victory Lane he hadn’t raced since the Winternationals so he had to get back in shape laughing. Rounding out the top five were Austin Sanders, Bill Howard, Dale Kelley and Nate Bregenzer. Also picking up bonus money was Bill Howard courtesy of Boat Steering Rebuilders, LLC in Gibsonton.
Final feature of the night was the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. Winning heats early on were John Moore, Robert Gullet, Sr. and Don R. Quinn. George Handy and Brett Calonge made up the front row for the feature. On the green flag it was Calonge leading the way with last week’s feature winner John Moore right on his back bumper. On lap eight, Calonge had just a half a car’s length lead over Moore as the crossed the line. Caution came out on lap eleven as muffler was found on the track. So it would be a single file restart with just four laps remaining. On lap thirteen, Calonge and Moore battled into turn one, but it was Calonge losing a wheel ending his night. Several more cautions would wave until with just a few laps left, Robert Gullet, Sr would cross the finish line first with George Handy second, with Moore, Richard Humfeld and Jimmy Williams rounding out the top five.
ASA racing continues next weekend as the Late Models, East Bay Sprints, Outlaw Fours, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers and the popular Fan Participation are in action. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com for call 813-677-7223 for more information.
