This week-end the Top Gun Sprint Car Series will run their 2nd of 6 features at Bubba Raceway Park in 2011. Alongside the Top Gun Sprints are the UMP Open-Wheel Modifieds, Barrett’s Race Cars Hobby Stocks for $750, Gladiators, and the return of the Sportsman class!
The Top Gun Sprint Car Series returns to Bubba Raceway Park and Danny Martin is the points leader, however he is 2nd in the Bubba Raceway Park points. 
Tyler Godwin, currently 14th in the Top Gun points, is the points leader, and only feature winner, for the Top Gun Sprint Cars at Bubba Raceway Park. Tim George is 50 points behind Martin in the Top Gun points and will do all he can to make them up. Mark Ruel, Jr., Terry Witherspoon, and Jimmy Ballew, Jr. round out the top 5 in the Top Gun Sprint Cars points.
When the season started many people didn’t know that Rich Pratt would be running a Modified. After 2 wins, including the highly coveted One Last One For PJ Wiggins, he continues his climb in the rankings. Jeff Mathews, the 3-time champion, holds the lead by 8 now over team driver Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. Mathews took an early win, but Lloyd is still winless in the Modified. A close 44 behind is Jim Passino in Chuck Gustafson’s 34. Passino will be attempting to win a race, catch Mathews and Lloyd, and hold off Garret Stewart who is just 4 behind him. Dave Barber, just as the 3 right above him, is still looking for win #1 of 2011. Barber has a cushion over 6th place Rich Pratt so he can attack without too much fear of losing 5th place. Pratt, however, will look to attack and put Tom Macaloso’s 78 closer to Mathews. With 6 races left, 77 points isn’t impossible, but wins certainly help. Henry Hall and Ronnie Chance are 7th and 8th, respectively and hope to get their team owners, and themselves, a win before 2011 closes. Steve Whitener, a winner in 2011 already, is 9th and rookie Scott Mooers is 10th. Every driver has a chance for a win and sometimes the unexpected is the best choice.
Brett Barrett put up the sponsorship for the Hobby Stocks and that new chassis he’s donating will be a relief for the champion. Tim Powers, the current points leader by almost 70 points. Powers has 2 wins, 3 runner-up finishes, and a 4th place finish, an outstanding performance in any racing division. Placed upon Kevin Durden and Buck Woodhouse is the task of making up a full race on Powers. Both can do it, but will need help from the leader. Joe Belkey and Howard Osteen have both taken a white flag in 2011, but only Belkey converted it into a win. Osteen has had a great season so far and a win isn’t far away. Both will be hoping for some points this week-end, but they’re all in now. Joe Boyd, Tommy Ausburn, and Billy Carlbert, Jr. have shown that they can battle for the win, but all 3 have come up short. Consistency is the key to championships and all 3 know what the key looks like. James Erickson moved into the top 10 after last week and will hope to continue the climb. Mark Maresca rounds out the top 10. All positions and totals in this article are unofficial.
The Gladiators have had 2 drivers with multiple points wins in 2011 and they both have nicknames now. “The Dominator” Steve Cox is the points leader, the title he’s had all season, by 31 points over “The New Dominator” Reid Christensen. Christensen has 3 consecutive wins and has gained back half of the deficit in those 3 weeks. Brandon Haseleu watches from 3rd and hopes for wins and help now as he’s 141 back. Haseleu has come close, but hasn’t quite taken win #1 yet. Richard Todd and Jerry Taylor have a great battle going on for 4th and both also seek career win #1. Steve Johnson, the S&S team-mate of Cox, is 6th but 280 down. Kody Fisher is 7th and hopes to hold off hard-charging Robert Graham. Both give it their all and a new winner could visit victory lane this week-end. “The British Bulldog” Stephen Frankland is 9th and has a lot of confidence after a win at Bronson Speedway last week-end. Casey Feaster is 10th. Feaster, now driving an S&S car, almost snatched victory from Christensen, but couldn’t quite hold the 81F up front. The Gladiators will make it exciting, and a new winner could appear at any time in the season. All points in this article are unofficial.
Of course, the return of the Sportsman class means the return of drivers such as Augie Burttram, the 2010 class champion. Burttram, when asked, said his car would be there, but he would not drive it. That remains a secret. Bubba is giving the Sportsman a chance, just like with the Barrett’s Race Cars Hobby Stocks, and he wants 24 cars, but would love more. The fans will too. A Sportsman race is always exciting and the more the merrier!
Gates open at 4:30 with racing at 7. Early birds get the worm and the best seats. For more information you can check out www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call the Speedway hotline!