February 2, 2013 – Tampa, FL – It was the final night of the 3rd Annual World Street Stock Championship. Drivers from as far as Alabama came to participate in this event. After two nights of racing, the top six were locked into the 40 Lap A-Main $1,500 to win. Top six drivers locked in were Brian Morgan, Scotty Kay, Jr., Thomas Burnside, Eric Moon, Brian Hansford and Buck Woodhouse.
The night would start with three heat races. The first heat was won by Kevin Durden from Archer, FL. The second heat race was won by the defending Champion Tim Powers from Okeechobee, FL and the final heat was won by Ritchie Stephens from Salem, AL.
After the heat races were run for the Fastrak Late Models, the top six came out for their own hot lap session and would park on the front stretch to redraw from positions 1-6. The man on top of the point standings Brian Morgan had the option to go first or go last. He chose first and had a young fan come out and draw for him. The young man drew the fourth position. Next up was Scotty Kay, Jr. as he did the same but had a young lady come draw for him and she drew the sixth position. Thomas Burnside drew the pole position for the A-Main. The defending 2012 East Bay Street Stock Champion Eric Moon drew the second spot while Brian Hansford drew fifth and Buck Woodhouse drew the third spot.
Mark Whitner made it three nights in a row after winning the 40 Lap Feature Event for the Fastrack Late Models paying $3,000 to win. After Victory Lane celebrations were over it was time for the feature event for the Street Stocks. When the green flag waved it was your pole sitter leading the field of cars into turn one. But after the first lap, Ronnie Whitley slowed down in turn three to bring out the first caution. On the restart, Eugene Anderson, Jr. and Brian Morgan tangled ending Morgan’s hopes of picking of a second win. Also the leader Thomas Burnside headed to the pits and later returned. That handed the lead over to Brian Hansford.
Hansford led the field on the restart until William Burnside slowed in turn three. Then on lap three, Stephens spins and almost collects the turn two gate and had to go the rear of the field. On the restart of lap three Hansford once again led the field into one and on lap four, the 2011 Champion Calvin Cooke lost a wheel over in turn two bringing out yet another caution.
Several more cautions came out and on lap ten, once again Stephens spins again along with Jarod Gay. After several more cautions, Kevin Durden took over the lead on lap sixteen and then on the next lap, Bo Slay’s rear end broke on the front stretch and bringing out another caution.
On lap nineteen, Stephens had moved up to second and appeared to take the lead, but all for none as the caution came out and had to back to the second spot. On lap twenty one, Stephens after going to the rear twice was now the new leader with Durden on his back bumper.
On lap twenty six, Eric Moon broke and ended his night and Buck Woodhouse was the only remaining top six in the points still left in the hunt. Four more cautions would come out until the checkered flag waved with the man who traveled from Salem, AL, “The Rocketman” Ritchie Stephens won his second feature in two nights and capturing the 3rd Annual World Street Stock Championship. Crossing the line second was Hansford with Jarod Gay, Dennis William and Stephen Hohlbaugh rounding out the top five.
In Victory Lane Ritchie seemed exhausted and said that was the longest race he had run in a long time. In Victory Lane he was quick to thank fellow competitor Calvin Cooke for loaning him a motor for tonights race. “I was ready to load the car up and Calvin said no, I can change it pretty quick. We got it changed and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here right now” Ritchie also thanked LoveStuffonline.com, K&J Trucking, All Star Graphics, RE Suspensions and Rocketman Race Cars.
Rounding out the top ten were Del Powell, Jeff Rodgers, Buck Woodhouse, William Burnside and Ronnie Whitley. But after inspection, Hansford was dq’d for a brake bias adjuster. That put Kevin Durden up to tenth after hitting the wall on the front stretch just before the checkered flag.
ASA Racing continues next Wednesday night as practice for the UMP/EBRP Open Wheel Modifieds and the Team USA Mod Lite Practice is FREE Admission in the Grandstands from 6-9 pm. Then its three nights of non stop action from Feb. 7th – 9th. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call 813-677-7223 for more information.
40 Lap Feature Event Final Standings – 1. 00-Ritchie Stephens, 2. 35-Jarod Gay, 3. 24- Dennis Williams, 4. 03-Stephen Hohlbaugh, 5. 14-Del Powell, 6. 95-Jeff Rodgers, 7. 55-Buck Woodhouse, 8. 31-William Burnside, 9. 84-Ronnie Whitley, 10. 17-Kevin Durden, 11. 55R-Roy Woodhouse, 12. 13-Thomas Burnside, 13. 7-Matthew Grissom, 14. 18-Eric Moon, 15. 21a-Eugene Anderson, Jr. 16. 72-Bo Slay, 17. 21-Scotty Kay, Jr., 18. 69-Jason Harrison, 19. 99D-Terry Jones, 20. 44-Tim Powers, 21. 82-Calvin Cooke, 22. 90 Tim Gay, 23. 42-Dennis Wilson, 24. 9-Brian Morgan, 25. 30-Eddie Fitchett, 26. 2-Brian Morgan