Jim Rouse, BRP Media
Ocala, FL – RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunderstocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators battled it out as June ended and the July 4th break started.
Hobby Stocks started it off as usual with Trevor Gamble the leader from pole. A lap 1 restart courtesy Richard Calmes, Jr. put “Ragin” Rodney Wright in 2nd and a very ill Mike Stalnaker in 3rd. Gamble dominated the first 8 laps but broke giving Wright the lead that he gave up on lap 10 with a cut right rear tire. Stalnaker would lead with Josh Byrd and Hunter Gustafson behind in a strong and surprising top 3.Stalnaker and Byrd fought for a few laps with Byrd making the pass on lap 12. Alvin Adkison stopped on the frontstretch setting 3 laps to go up. Byrd held the field off to beat Wright by half a car and Stalnaker. Wally Schneider and Hunter Gustafson completed the top 5.
Modifieds tried it next over 25 laps. Garret Stewart led lap 1 from the outside pole but lost it on lap 12 when Mark Whitener passed him slightly before Bubba Christian spun in turn 3. Whitener promptly pulled away as “4-Time” Jeff Mathews passed Stewart for 2nd. It all went away on lap 16 when Mathews just stopped in turn 4 after getting 90 degrees sideways leaving Whitener, Stewart, and “The Killer” Kyle Bronson (in the 66 after a heat race accident) as the top 3. Bronson the leader 1 lap later as the other 2 scrambled behind him. Whitener gathered it back and the fight was on with 4 to go as “The Gunslinger” broke in turn 4 from 3rd bringing the yellow out. Rich Pratt would inherit P3. Bronson’s right front suspension broke in turn 2 as he led taking away a massive points night but the drive was spectacular. Pratt to P2 and Dalton Lanich to 3rd. A 3 lap dash would finish it. Lanich took 2nd from Pratt before Pratt’s right front went down showing the unbelievable luck he has had at his home track. Lanich the new 2nd place man, Buzzie Reutimann 3rd. Whitener beat Lanich to the stripe as Mathews went into the wall in turn 4. Buzzie held onto 3rd with “Mr. Opportunity” Chuck Gustafson, Jr. 4th and Jason Intoppa rounded out the top 5.
Late Models put on a 25-lapper that would have to match the amazing Modifieds after a short intermission. Pole Sitter “Catfish” Keith Nosbisch led lap 1 then promptly surrendered it to Richard Ferry on lap 2 who gave it right back on lap 3. Action slowed on lap 9 when Ferry appeared to break and limped to the pits for the night. “Catfish” held the lead while Jeff Mathews and Jack Nosbisch, Jr. followed. Mathews powered by Nosbisch to take P1 while Whitener fought from 6th to 3rd in half a lap. Nosbisch got back around Whitener as Mathews pulled away. Jeff Mathews is a Late Model winner. Keith Nosbisch, Whitener, Jack Nosbisch, Jr., and Bryan Bernhardt completed the top 5.
Jonathan Appleby led all 20 laps in a blow out for the Thunderstocks. A caution for Brandon Tillander on lap 4 was the only stoppage. Brian Mullins was again P2 with “The Closer” Jason Gamble 3rd, James Sullivan, III 4th, and “Ghost Rider” John Thorpe in 5th. Appleby is the first driver this season to win back-to-back in this division.
“Terrific” Tony LaPorta and “Rockin” Reid Christensen went blow for blow over the first 12 laps for the Gladiators before Christensen dropped off pace. Brandon Haseleu struck at the right time for a runner-up finish nipping Christensen at the line. Billy Holmes finished 4th and Kody Fisher rounded out the top 5. Of course, with LaPorta and Steve Johnson in a points battle (and Johnson in need of a car after a heat race crash) Bobby Graham loaned the 126 out to Johnson for the night as most competitors at Bubba Raceway Park would do.
Bubba Raceway Park will observe the unofficial July 4 weekend by taking next week-end off allowing fans, staff, crews, and drivers a well deserved vacation. For more information including the hot July schedule check out www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call us at 352-622-9400!
Bubba Raceway Park Results
RaceCar Engineering Late Models
1- 33 Jeff Mathews
2- 02 Keith Nosbisch
3- 58 Mark Whitener
4- 01 Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
5- B69 Bryan Bernhardt
6- 35 Christian Augspurger
7- 71 Bo Allen
8- 00 Russell Brown, Jr.
9- 51 Larry Anderson
10- 33X Dalton Meyers
11- 10 Win Ingersoll
12- 72P Len Parrish
13- 17 Richard Ferry
DNS- 54 David Hite
Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Open-Wheel Modifieds
1- 58 Mark Whitener
2- 77 Dalton Lanich
3- 00 Buzzie Reutimann
4- 34 Chuck Gustafson, Jr.
5- 18 Jason Intoppa
6- 122 Ron Burgess
7- 78 Rich Pratt
8- 95 Matt McGillivray
9- 33 Jeff Mathews
10- 14 Tyler Clem
11- 54 Kevin Bryant
12- 1K Scott Kurtzner
13- 40B Kyle Bronson
14- 007 Jimmy Peele
15- 2 Garret Stewart
16- 29 Garland Spangler
17- 9S Ronnie Schron
18- 04 Bubba Christian
19- 41 Barry Sheffield
20- Z06 Larry Mott
Hobby Stocks
1- 42 Josh Byrd
2- 99 Rodney Wright
3- 9 Mike Stalnaker
4- 57 Wally Schneider
5- 15 Hunter Gustafson
6- 05 Alan Lane
7- 77M Mark Maresca
8- 81 Don Woosley
9- 4C Richard Calmes, Jr.
10- 54 Alvin Adkison
11- 2S Mick Kulak
12- 77A RJ Glazer
13- 12 Trevor Gamble
1-800-ASK GARY Thunderstocks
1- 69A Jonathan Appleby
2- 28 Brian Mullins
3- 21 Jason Gamble
4- 14 James Sullivan, III
5- 114 John Thorpe
6- 05 Alan Lane
7- 3 Jeff Baer
8- 71 Rick Kilbury
9- 2H Jimmy Holley
10- 28E Brandon Elwood
11- 15 Mike Valdes
12- 12 Jim Leconte
13- 5W Eddie Woodall
14- 49 DJ Horiski
15- 34 Mark Trexler
16- 13 William Gillam
17- 2W Nick Leconte
18- 73 Brandon Tillander
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 3T Tony LaPorta
2- 3 Brandon Haseleu
3- 17D Reid Christensen
4- 26 Billy Holmes
5- 83 Kody Fisher
6- 76 Ken Macleod
7- 69 Tom Sheehan
8- 65 John Windham
9- 31 Jerry Taylor
10- 126 Steve Johnson
11- 23 Tiffany Shaw
12- 87 John Johnson
13- 68 Jordan McMillon
14- 9 Brandon Hunter
15- 12 Joseph Tierney
DNS- 81 Bobby Graham