Feb. 2, 2012 – Tampa, FL. – The first night of the 36th Annual Winternationals kicked off tonight with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Models Series with 53 cars qualifying for the A-Main event. It was Chris Cantrell picking up the fast time of the night from group one with a time of 15.865. That time put him on the pole for the first of four heat race events. In Group #2 it was Doug Horton picking up fast time, Group 3 went to Walker Arther and Group 4 went to Doug Watson.
Next up was the 2nd Annual World Street Stock Championship. Three heat races were ran with Ritchie Stephens, Donnie Reed and Brian Hansford all picking up the wins.
Then it was four heat races for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Dennis “Rambo” Franklin won heat race number one, which put him on the pole for the A-Main event. Doug Horton won heat race number two and put him on the outside pole. David Earl Gentry and Jack Nosbisch, Jr. won heat races three and four respectively. Top four finishers in each heat event advanced to the A-Main.
Next up were two B-Mains taking the top three from each race. William Thomas and Austin Hubbard won their B-Mains. Shannon Lee and Mark Tice picked up the provisional.
It was time for the 25 lap A-Main for the Street Stocks. Twenty three cars started the feature and starting on the pole was last years $3,000 Feature Winner, Calvin Cook from Pace, FL. On the outside pole was Terry Jones. When the green flag waved, it was Cook taking the early lead. But on the next lap, Tim Powers drove his way past Cook on the outside taking over the top spot on lap one.
First caution came out on lap four when Billy Carlbert, Jr. and Ronnie Pope tangled on the front stretch. Both cars were unable to continue the race.
On the restart, Ritchie Stephens came charging from the fifth position to take over the second spot from Cook on lap nine. Cook came to a rest in turn one bringing out the second caution of the night when his left front broke ending his hopes for another feature win.
Several more cautions came out, but then on the restart on lap twelve, the field went to a single file restart. When it came to the halfway point, it was still Powers and Stephens battling lap after lap with Donnie Reed now taking over the third spot.
Caution came out once again with just three laps to go when Brian Hansford came to rest in turn two.
When the final green flag waved, it was still Powers and Stephens battling side by side for the last three laps. On the final lap, Powers seemed to go high in turn four, but kept it pointed straight and went on to win the A-Main event. Finishing second was Stephens followed by Eric Moon and Donnie Reed. Tim Gay finished in the fifth spot after starting in the sixteenth spot. Brian Morgan, Jeff Rodgers, Buck Woodhouse, Dennis Wilson and Thomas Burnside rounded out the top ten.
Then it was the final event of the night with a 40 lap A-Main Feature for the NeSmith Dirt Late Models Series. On the pole, it was Dennis “Rambo” Franklin and Doug Horton on the outside pole. Doug Horton took control when the green flag waved for the first nine laps when the first caution came out for Mark Tice as he spun in turn two. Two-time defending Late Model Track Champion Bryan Bernhardt, apparently had issues with his car and took it to the pits ending his night.
Caution came out on lap nine when Mavrick Varndore lost control and several cars tangled in turn two. Your top five were Doug Horton, Rambo Franklin, Jack Nosbisch, Jr., Chris Cantrell and Johnny Stokes.
On the restart, it was still Doug Horton showing his muscle as he continued to lead the field as he started pulling away from Franklin stretching his lead to over seven car lengths by lap eighteen. Caution came out for the fourth time when Tom Morrow spun out in turn four tightening up the field once again.
On lap twenty five, it was your leader Doug Horton blowing an engine in turn one handing over the lead to Dennis Franklin. Jack Nosbisch, Jr. was now in second with Devin Dixon in third.
The green flag waved on lap twenty eight once again. Jack Nosbisch, Jr. then takes the lead from Franklin on lap twenty nine. Caution came out once again on lap thirty one with William Thomas slowing in turn two.
On the final restart on lap thirty two, Nosbisch, Jr. continued to lead Franklin. Franklin tried lap after lap to pass Nosbisch, Jr. They were side by side with just three laps to go coming out of turn four. But when the checkered flag waved, it was Jack Nosbisch, Jr. picking up his third career win with Franklin second. Chris Cantrell, Austin Hubbard and Johnny Stokes rounded out the top five.
In Victory Lane, Nosbisch, Jr. said he was thankful they made the right choices.” I was able to put the car wherever I wanted “ he explained. “I heard his car get closer to me in the end and had to move down to protect my line.” Nosbisch, Jr. and Franklin both expressed they were pleased that they raced each other clean towards the end of the race.
ASA Racing continues tomorrow night with Night #2 of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and the World Street Stock Championship. Racing begins at 7:00 p.m. For more information, log onto the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call 813-622-7223 for more information.