March 9, 2013 – Tampa, FL – It was opening night for the 2013 Season at East Bay Raceway Park. Over 80 cars were in attendance tonight. Fans were ready as the season kicked off with the Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks, Outlaw Fours and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers.
The first feature of the night went to the Street Stocks. Dennis Williams, Matthew Grissom and Dennis Wilson, Jr. won their heat races. For the feature it was Wilson, Jr. and Grissom making up the front row. When the green flag waved it was Wilson, Jr. leading the way until the first caution came out as Morfin, Sr. spun and bringing the field back to a complete re-start. The green waved once again and Wilson, Jr. led the way until he and Williams tangled in turn three with both cars spinning and kept going as the field avoided contact with them. On lap five it was Tim Gay taking over the top spot and never looking back as he went on to win the first feature of the 2013 Season. Justan Rodgers, Thomas Burnside, Dennis Williams and Mike Wilson rounded out the top five.
Next up were the Limited Late Models. Defending Limited Late Model Champion Shane Koperda and 2012 Late Model Champion Roger Crouse won their heat races. That also put the two defending Champions on the front row for the feature event. When the green waved for the feature, Koperda led lap one until Todd Ford had problems and ended his night short. Then on the restart, Koperda led until Waylon Haynes took over the top spot with Dalton Myers right behind him. On lap ten Myers was battling Haynes for the lead out of turn four until Myers caught the loose stuff and slide into the front stretch wall and coming to a complete stop. Myers was able to continue but had to go to the rear of the field. Then on the re-start Haynes led the way until lap thirteen when Crouse would take over the top spot until lap fourteen when Jason Pope stopped on the backstretch. That would lead to a one lap dash as Crouse was in the top spot followed by Haynes. When the green dropped, Crouse pushed high in turn one enabling Haynes to sneak under him and take over the lead and went on to win his very first feature ever. Haynes stated in Victory Lane that he was blown away and saw that Crouse had made a mistake and took clear advantage of it. Crouse, Forrest Gough, Dale Pope and Dalton Myers rounded out the top five.
Gagle’s Open Wheel Modifieds were next as Dale Kelley and Matt Miller both picked up their heat wins. For the feature it was Austin Sanders and Buzzie Reutimann making up the front row. Sanders led the first five laps until new comer Micheal Horton spun in turn two. Sanders was in the top spot with Reutimann, Pollen, Jr., Miller and Bobby Dixon the top five. Sanders led them to two more re-starts when on lap fourteen Dixon and Gross tangled in turn one making it another one lap dash to the finish. Reutimann battled hard, but it was Sanders back in Victory Lane after not getting a feature win during the 2012 Season. “I had to get into the slick part of the track because the car was so tight getting into turn one and I saw Buzzie a lap before putting his nose under me and I knew he would try it again” Sander said in Victory Lane. Reutimann, Matt Miller, Dale Kelly and David Pollen, Jr. rounded out the top five.
Next were the Outlaw Fours. Bryceton Alexanders and Billy Howard won their heat races. For the feature it was Chris Zimmeran and Jesse Foster on the front row. Foster led all fifteen times around the track with caution coming out on lap sex and J.R. Baker spun in turn two. Foster at one time before the caution had a straight away lead over the field. Foster went on to win the feature and said in Victory Lane as he was climbing out “I think I better stick to this instead of racing go-karts as he had a bad evening on Friday racing the go-karts here at East Bay Raceway Park. Bill Mort, Chris Zimmerman, Megan Meyer and Thomas Braswell rounded out the top five.
The final feature of the night went to the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. Wayne Kissam, John Moore and Raymond Vann won their heat races. For the feature it was Moore and Kissam making up the front row. When the green waved it was Moore leading the way until in turn one Christian Berger tangled with other cars and taking a hard hit as George Handy had nowhere to go. Berger was okay but ended his night for racing. Several more cautions came out until on lap five while battling for position, Raymond Rodgers Jr. took a turn for the worst and rolled over bringing out another red flag. Rodgers was okay but also ended his evening for racing. It was a single file re-start for the green flag as they ran the entire last ten laps caution free with John Moore picking up the win over second place Patrick Fiore,Sr. with Brett Calonge, Richard Humfeld and Jeremy Douglas who rounded out the top five.
ASA Racing continues next weekend with the Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks, V8 Warriors and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers are in action. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com for call 813-677-7223 for more information.