10262013Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- A $1000 prize is on the line for any division that can reach the car count of 21 this week-end. The Limited Sprints, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, TQ Late Models, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators will all get that chance as they chase cash, points, and glory. As it is the race preceding Halloween, it is the annual Spooktacular and there will be a free haunted house, a trick-or-treat, and all kids get a free General Admission ticket!
The Limited Sprints have put on some fantastic shows since they re-debuted at Bubba Raceway Park and it’s age leading the way with Robbie Smith up 40 points on Otto Scrape in the championship. Smith continues to finish in the bridesmaid spot while third placed Mark Ruel, Jr. has a win already. Eleven year old Tyler Clem sits fourth and last time out’s winner AJ Maddox completes the top five. No repeat winners so far in 2013 (at least in the Limited Sprint division) and all but three hope it remains that way.
The Hobby Stock title fight has gotten out of hand and Devin Walker has already wrapped up the championship. The fight is still very much on for second as sixth place sits just two features behind, a very small margin. Sean Monoghan will try to grab win #1 while Mike Stalnaker knows that third placed Hunter Gustafson has moved up to the UMP Modified ranks for good and has left the position vulnerable. Brian Shea rounds out the top five in a division that has seen ten- yes, TEN- first time winners in 2013. Go ahead- name them!
The drama has unfolded in the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks as William Gillam has slipped to 57 markers behind Brandon Elwood in the championship fight. Mathematically, Melvin Fockler and Brandon Tillander are still alive in the fight, but it’s a two man battle and both will admit that they are just fighting for third (and wins, of course.) The good news for Elwood is that 57 points is extremely difficult to make up in just four nights of racing; the good news for Gillam is that in 2010, Scott Mooers was over 100 points behind with THREE races left and still pulled the title out. From the beginning it was known that the driver with the least bad luck would win the trophy and, for now, Elwood has had the least bad luck.
The TQ Late Models have put on three fantastic shows with three completely different winners. Sean Babcock, Terry Wright, and Don Strosahl, Jr. are those three winners, but John and Dalton Hopke have been impressive as well. Just like the Mini Sprints, these drivers race all out and rarely see repeat winners.
The Rent-N-Roll Gladiators have seen the championship come to a close with Stephen Frankland locking it up after his twelfth win of the season. Frankland has two races left- including the Florida State Championship race in December- to tie Keith Briggs’ Modern Era record for wins in a season at 14. Tom Sheehan has locked up second while Bill Southard, Tyler Bryden, and Jerry Taylor complete the top five.
Pit gates swing open at 4, grandstands at 5, and racing is scheduled for 7. For more info, and to check the November and December schedule, please visitwww.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400.