By- Jim Rouse, BRP Media 8-17-12 (Ocala, FL) – The Florida State Thunder Stock Championship started with a bang as the RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, and Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks joined the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks for a wonderful night of racing.
First up were the Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks and they went before the intermission. A 1 caution race happened as Reid Christensen spun in turn 2 on lap 2. That left Buddy Pope to dominate as he won by half-a-lap over Travis Staats and Charlie Staats. Christensen would finish 4th and Fisher would round out the top 5.
Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models put on a 15-lapper with Phillip Cobb the early leader. On lap 6 Billy Holmes’ #7 put oil down (see NASCAR Watkins Glen race) and the leaders slipped through it- Officials gave David Showers, Jr., the only man to lose position due to the oil, his spot back as the #118 literally did a 360 in the oil. On lap 8 Forrest Gough flipped his #21 as he had spun and David Showers, Jr., with nowhere to go, literally flipped the #21 over with the contact. Both were okay but their cars were not as fortunate. With 7 to go Phillip Cobb, JO Nobles, and David Showers would lead the field. On lap 12, as he fought for the lead, Nobles broke the driveshaft ending his night. That would allow “Big Chief” David Showers and Carter Stokes to battle on the podium. Phillip Cobb earned redemption while Stokes and Blaise Hetznecker completed the podium. “ Big Chief” and Christian McGillivray rounded out the top 5.
RaceCar Engineering Late Models went 40-laps for a $3000 payday and it was quite intense. Christian Augspurger, quick qualifier, fell out of the lead after leading lap 1 with Tyler Ivey the new leader and Jeff Mathews in 3rd. Augspurger stole the lead back on lap 3 before Bubba Clem spun 1 lap later. With 36 to go “Cheddar” would lead Jason Fitzgerald and Mark Whitener. The major news though was Jeff Mathews as he broke the left-front ending his night prematurely. “Fitz” took the lead on the restart as Whitener and Lloyd had both found the top 7. At halfway “Fitz” still led with Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. and “Cheddar” 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Brandon DeWitt slowed in turn 4 with 17 left as Jason Fitzgerald, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr., and Tyler Ivey now the top 3. Ivedent used the lap 24 restart to take the lead from Fitzgerald and he would not look back. Ivey would also have troubles with a flat tire. Up front, with 13 to go, were Ivedent Lloyd, Jr., Jason Fitzgerald, and Christian Augspurger. With 10 to go Dent’s #21 started smoking but he continued to pull away. After 2 laps it was gone and “Cheddar” took the lead with “The Magic Man” in pursuit. After Augspuger took the white flag Bobby Richardson spun in turn 2. A 1 lap dash would follow- “Cheddar” held on as “Magic Man” dove in but came up short (and actually spun out after contact with “Cheddar”) by the fender lip in the greatest finish of the season. Fitzgerald, Richard Ferry, and Jack Nosbisch, Jr. completed the top 5.
The Florida State Thunder Stock Championship started with “Shady” Grady Christian up front. Alan Lane barrel rolled the #05 but was okay. On lap 5 “Shady” Grady spun out of the lead handing it over to Davey Kinsey. On lap 32, after making it through the field again, Jason Gamble spun and would retire after contact with Jeff Baer. Chad Scranton, running 2nd at the time, began to see his motor go but stayed out until it went on lap 35. The 5 lap finish saw Kinsey lead until lap 38 when Bubba Durbin used the highline to get by him. Durbin held Kinsey off to win The First Leg of the Florida State Thunder Stock Championship with Mike Tovet, Brian Mullins, and John Thorpe the top 5.
Tomorrow night, the 18th, will see the conclusion of the Florida State Thunder Stock Championship. The RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprints, Hobby Stocks, and the Spectators will also race! Pits open at 4, stands at 5, and racing will start at 7. Contact us through www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400! Don’t miss the conclusion of the Florida State Thunder Stock Championship!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (8/17)
Florida State Thunder Stock Championship (Night 1)
1- 12 Bubba Durbin
2- 58 Davey Kinsey
3- 98T Mike Tovet
4- 28 Brian Mullins
5- 114 John Thorpe
6- 3 Jeff Baer
7- 39 Jason Blackmer
8- 27 Chad Scranton
9- 21 Jason Gamble
10- 14 James Sullivan, III
11- 15 Luke Sadler
12- 36 Grady Christian
13- 5W Nick Leconte
14- 60 JD Gillette
15- 28E Brandon Elwood
16- 27W Ray Wheeler
17- 2H Jimmy Holley
18- 69A Jonathan Appleby
19- 9 Mike Stalnaker
20- 33F Melvin Fockler
21- 73 Brandon Tillander
22- 05 Alan Lane
23- 44 Dean Jarvis
DNS- 13 William Gillam
RaceCar Engineering Late Models
1- 35 Christian Augspurger
2- 58 Mark Whitener
3- 7F Jason Fitzgerald
4- 17 Richard Ferry
5- 01 Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
6- 71 Bo Allen
7- 47 Tyler Ivey
8- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
9- 45 Bobby Richardson
10- 46P Darrell Padgett
11- 31 Dalton Meyers
12- 99 Shan Smith
13- 21M Cody Martin
14- 51 Larry Anderson
15- 14 Bubba Clem
16- 21 Ivedent Lloyd, Jr.
17- 2 Brandon DeWitt
18- 54 Matt McGillivray
19- 22C Del Powell
20- 33 Jeff Mathews
21- 07W Doug Watson
Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models
1- 11H Phillip Cobb
2- 33 Carter Stokes
3- 16 Blaise Hetznecker
4- 18 David Showers
5- 5C Christian McGillivray
6- 18JO JO Nobles
7- 118 David Showers, Jr.
8- 21 Forrest Gough
9- 7 Billy Holmes
10- 2X Caleb McGillivray
Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks
1- 81 Buddy Pope
2- 1AR Travis Staats
3- 9AR Charlie Staats
4- 30 Reid Christensen
5- 83 Kody Fisher
Florida State Thunder Stock Championship B-Main
1- 44 Dean Jarvis (Spot 1)
2- 60 JD Gillette (Spot 2)
3- 9 Mike Stalnaker (Spot 3)
4- 09 William Edwards (DNQ)
5- 13 William Gillam (Points Provisional)
DNS- 3W Eddie Woodall (DNQ)
DNS- 34 Mark Trexler (DNQ)
DNS- 0 Curtis Clark (DNQ)
Florida State Thunder Stock Championship Qualifying Session 1
28 Brian Mullins 21.259
98T Mike Tovet 21.321
58 Davey Kinsey 21.450
27W Ray Wheeler 21.463
36 Grady Christian 21.467
27 Chad Scranton 21.472
12 Bubba Durbin 21.534
15 Luke Sadler 21.575
34 Mark Trexler 21.821
69A Jonathan Appleby 21.824
21 Jason Gamble 21.847
114 John Thorpe 22.161
13 William Gillam 22.208
28E Brandon Elwood 22.213
14 James Sullivan, III 22.216
9 Pat Mennenga 22.317
39 Jason Blackmer 22.336
44 Dean Jarvis 22.517
60 JD Gillette 22.785
3W Eddie Woodall 22.865
5W Nick Leconte 22.941
2H Jimmy Holley 23.055
0 Curtis Clark 23.068
33F Melvin Fockler 23.090
73 Brandon Tillander 23.106
09 William Edwards 23.243
3 Jeff Baer 24.075
05 Alan Lane NO TIME (flat tire)
RaceCar Engineering Late Models Qualifying
35 Christian Augspurger 16.801
71 Bo Allen 16.894
7F Jason Fitzgerald 16.907
2 Brandon DeWitt 17.197
58 Mark Whitener 17.204
47 Tyler Ivey 17.374
21 Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. 17.385
99 Shan Smith 17.434
46P Darrell Padgett 17.538
07W Doug Watson 17.556
33 Jeff Mathews 17.571
14 Tyler Clem 17.978
17 Richard Ferry 18.028
31 Dalton Meyers 18.103
01 Jack Nosbisch, Jr. 18.125
B69 Bryan Bernhardt 18.177
22C Del Powell 18.413
45 Bobby Richardson 18.481
54 Matt McGillivray 18.760
21M Cody Martin 19.467
51 Larry Anderson 19.742