April 6,, 2013 – Tampa, FL – It was a gorgeous Saturday night as five divisions all raced for the top prizes. Late Models, East Bay Sprints, Street Stocks, V8 Warriors and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers.
First feature of the night went to the Street Stocks. Winning their heats were Dennis Wilson, Jr. and Jeff Rodgers. For the feature on the front row was Buck Woodhouse and Jeff Rodgers. When the green waved it was Woodhouse taking the lead on lap one and then on the next lap it was Tim Gay taking over the top spot. First caution came out when Thomas Burnside spun over in turn two. On the next restart it was Terry Jones tagging the back wall ending his night. On lap seven it was Mike Whitney of Mississippi on vacation who had come to run at the same track his brother ran in the V8 Warriors, came to rest on the front stretch which also ended his night. Only a few more cautions waved until the checkered flag waved as Tim Gay picked up his second feature win of the season. Eric Moon, Dennis Wilson, Jr., Jeff Rodgers and Ronnie Whitley rounded out the top five.
Next were the V8 Warriors. Winning their heats were Brian Danforth and Marco Reyes. For the feature it was last week’s feature winner Tim Stoffell on the pole with Jason Manning along next to him. On the start Manning led the first lap around until the first caution came out on lap two as Jason Flesner spun in turn four right in front of the field with everyone able to avoid contact with him. Manning took the green once again with Reyes and Kevin Cassaday right behind him. On lap six it was Flesner once again spinning bringing out the second caution of the night. On lap eight Brian Danforth lost a wheel in turn two and then after the next restart, lap nine Jessica Robbins spun collecting Janien Dixon and Glen Keller. Dixon got the worst end of the deal hitting the front stretch wall as she did last week. On the restart it was Manning leading the way until on lap eleven he spun on his own handing the lead over to Reyes. Reyes went on to win with Stoffell, Jeff Weaver, Kevin Cassaday and Bill Whitney rounding out the top five.
Late Models were next for the 25 Lap feature event with Phillip Cobb and Mavrick Varnadore winning their heats. For the feature it was defending Champion Roger Crouse and birthday boy Mavrick Varnadore who turned 19 on Saturday making up the front row. Crouse led the first six laps until Bobby Clark spun bringing out the first caution of the race. When the race was restarted on lap ten it would be a single file restart with Crouse showing the way. On lap thirteen it was Varnadore taking the lead but Crouse would retake the lead on lap fourteen and never look back making it three feature wins in row. Crouse won the Limited Late Model and the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modified features last week. Crouse went on to thank all his sponsors for their support in Victory Lane. Maverick Varnadore, Jamie Slatton, Travis Varnadore and Matt Miller rounded out the top five.
East Bay Sprints were next with Gene Lasker and Billy Boyd, Jr. winning their heats and making up the front row for the feature. Before the race would start, Lasker and Boyd were playing cat and mouse with one another bumping the back of each other’s cars on the pace lap before the race would start. When the green dropped it was Lasker leading the field into turn one for the first lap. Then on lap two it was Boyd, Jr. taking over until Lasker retook the lead on lap eight. Boyd and Lasker would battle throughout the race until the two touched coming out of turn four sending Boyd, Jr. spinning and Lasker brushing the wall. Lasker would have to go to the pits with a right rear flat and Boyd, Jr. was able to continue. With just four laps left, that handed the lead over to Johnny Gilbertson with Kerry Gilbert second. Gilbertson crossed the finish line first but was dq’d in tech for the Wickerville being too big. That handed Kerry Gilbert his first win at East Bay. Gilbert also picked up an extra $100 courtesy of Job Site Concrete who also put up extra money for second and fourth. Alafia Marine also put up an extra $100 to the third place finisher of the feature. Jason Webster, Tim George, Billy Boyd, Jr. and Brett O’Donnell rounded out the top five.
The final event of the night went to the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. Winning their heats were John Moore and Richard Humfeld. For the feature it was Darrell Taylor and Humfeld making up the front row. Darrell Taylor took the early lead until lap two when Humfeld took over the top spot. Humfeld would then surrender the lead to John Moore who went on to pick up his third feature win of the season. Humfeld, Taylor, Patrick Tabb and Jimmy Williams rounded out the top five. Only one caution came out for the race when on lap six Bill Bill Smith hit the wall in turn two ending his night.
ASA racing continues next weekend as Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks, Outlaw Fours, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers and the Florida Old Time Modifieds all return for action. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com for call 813-677-7223 for more information.