Jim Rouse, BRP Media (Ocala, FL) – The USAC Amsoil National Sprint Cars and the Southern States Midgets Series were given the honor to complete the 26 day Bubba Army Winter Nationals and they completed it in style!
The Southern States Midgets went into the night with a tie atop the standings- Ryan Partin of Florida and Aaron Farney of Indiana both had 163 to their name! Farney won Fast Qualifier with a 16.003 and won the Heat meaning he needed only to finish 2nd to wrap up the Florida portion of the championship. Damon Fortune would jump to the lead while Farney and Partin chased just as they had done 24 hours prior. Farney took the lead for a brief moment but didn’t take it completely until lap 8. On lap 10 Partin would end his night and bring out the race’s only caution. Farney took an easy win in the race and a hard-fought championship with it. Fortune would wind up 2nd while Andy Bradley, Darrin Davis, and Partin completed the top 5.
USAC Preliminary Events started with Qualifying and it was Chase Stockon again on top with a 13.936 (96.87 MPH) which was just .117 off of Bryan Clauson’s NTR set on Thursday. Stockon would win his heat as would Chris Windom, who had flipped the night before and was using a back-up car. Landon Simon won his first career USAC Heat and Brady Bacon rounded Heat race action up with another win. Robert Ballou would win the B Main and Chris Gurley, again, used a Provisional to make the 23-car field.
The feature started with young Tyler Courtney on pole and Tracy Hines on the outside. Hines jumped to the early lead over Hunter Schuerenberg and Courtney before a lap 4 caution for a caution involving Gurley and Dallas Hewitt. A couple of cautions marred the early part of 15 laps but the real yellow flew with just 4 to go when Simon slowed right after Schuerenberg and Hines had gone at it for 5 laps. The final yellow flew with 2 to go when Justin Grant’s tire went flat while running 3rd! The top 3 during the whole race jumped at it for 2 laps but Hines held off all challengers to go flag-to-flag at Bubba Raceway Park and pick up career win #45. Tyler Courtney took a career best 2nd and Chase Stockon was a happy podium finisher in 3rd. Robert Ballou finished a solid 4th and Schuerenberg completed the top 5.
The Bubba Army Winter Nationals were a huge success and we wish all of the competitors from the NeSmith Late Models presented by CrateRacinUSA, UMP DirtCar Modifieds, UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprints, World of Outlaws Late Models, USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series, and the Southern States Midgets Series a wonderful 2013! With every series setting a new track record it shows the progress Bubba has made with the track and it’s only getting better! We hope to see you next Saturday for the regular season opener featuring the Florida Mini Sprints Association, our 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, our Scorpion Racing Products UMP Modifieds, and our brand new Bubba Army 360 Sprint Cars! For more information you can visit us at www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results (2/23/13)
USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series
Fast Qualifier: 32 Chase Stockon 13.936 (96.87 MPH)
1- 4 Tracy Hines
2- 23C Tyler Courtney
3- 32 Chase Stockon
4- 5 Robert Ballou
5- 35 Hunter Schuerenberg
6- 39 Levi Jones
7- 69 Brady Bacon
8- 71P Dave Darland
9- 30 CJ Leary
10- 20 Bryan Clauson
11- 21X Chris Windom
12- 40 Scotty Weir
13- 11 Justin Grant
14- 12 Chris Gurley
15- 41 Landon Simon
16- 11P Brady Short
17- 55 Nick Drake
18- 42G AJ Hopkins
19- 2 Shane Cottle
20- 1X Kurt Gross
21- 1M Mark Smith
22- 17R Kevin Thomas, Jr.
23- 2M Dallas Hewitt
Southern States Midgets Series
1- 15F Aaron Farney
2- 39 Damon Fortune
3- 86 Andy Bradley
4- 92 Darrin Davis
5- 14 Ryan Partin
6- 1X Scott Bradley
DNS- 11N Lance Newton