Tampa, FL – March 12, 2011 – It was not the first night of the season, but it was one filled with lots of action in all five classes tonight at The Clay By The Bay. Over 100 cars were on hand to race on a gorgeous night. Blue skies prevailed and engines filled the pits as fans poured in to watch their favorite driver.

The first feature of the night went to the Street Stocks. Two drivers were behind the wheels of two different cars and father and son raced against each other as well. Eric Moon was behind the wheel of the 07 car of Donnie Reed and Thomas Pratt driving his twin brothers, Clarence’s car. Tim Gay was out in the familiar ride he drove in the Inaugural World Street Stock Championship during the Winternationals. “I had to come out and show my son how it’s done as he was talking some smack earlier in the week” he stated in Victory Lane. Jarod explained his tires went away as the both laughed. I have a lot of fun racing this car, but when it’s time to run the Limited Late Model, I have to put the toy away he also stated. Tim Gay and Thomas Pratt battled most of the race with Tim crossing the line first, with Pratt finishing in second place. Third was Jarod Gay as he joined his father in celebrating the win. Eric Moon finished fourth while Buck Woodhouse rounded out the top five. Winning their heats were Jim Baker and Locke Brown.

Next up was the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds. Roger Crouse grabbed the early lead, but it was last year’s Champion, Austin Sanders picking up where he left off in 2010 as he crossed the finish line first with Crouse finishing second. Jerry Bruce, Jr took home third, while Jeff Rodgers moving up from the Street Stocks finished fourth and Thomas Braswell rounding out the top five. Sanders also won the heat race earlier.

The Late Models followed next and proved not to be denied of a great showing as the fans watched Travis Varnadore grabbed the early lead out of Turn two as he rocketed past two other drivers making it three wide for the lead. Mavrick Varnadore was right behind him running in second. After starting seventh, last year’s champion was making a run at the Varndore brothers. After several restart’s, Bryan jumped past Travis for the lead and the two battled it out to the very end. “Man I love those guys. That’s one of the reason’s I come out here to run is to race with guys like Travis and Mavrick” Bernhardt said in Victory Lance. Travis Varnadore finished second while younger brother Mavrick finished third. David Pollen, Jr had a good run finishing in the fourth spot while Dave Schmauss took home the fifth position. Winning heat races were Jeremy Simpson, Bernhardt and Phillip Cobb.

The Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bomber’s had 33 cars to try and make the A-Main. Three heats were run with the top seven advancing to the Feature. Picking up the B-Main win was Richard Humfield, while Jacob Vann and Bailey Purcell qualified as well. But it was Johnnie Alexander picking up the win in the 15 lap Feature with Darrell Taylor in second. Mathew Odell, Jason Burnside and finishing fifth after making his way into the A-Main was Richard Humfeld.

Then it was the Dirt Daubers for the final race of the night. It look like a throw back night as several of the cars had paint schemes to match Cup cars of the past. Last year’s Champion was in a throw back Tide ride. One was even painted to look like Danica Patrick’s car. But in the end, it was the Ricky Bobby look-a-like car in the winner’s circle driven by Bill Dixon. Brett Phillips finished second while Billy Carlbert, Jr finished third crossing the finishing line doing a 360 for the fan’s. Bill’s wife Janine Dixon finished fourth and Nick O’Lone came home fifth.

ASA sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, March 19, 2011. The program will include Late Models, Q Auto & Injury Limited Late Modesl, Street Stocks, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers and the Outlaw 4’s. For more information, go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.