By:  Jason Loughren

06/05/2010

It was another great Saturday night for racing at the Clay by the Bay.  The heat index was around 100 degrees and there were around 100 cars signed in ready to race.  With the start of June comes the summer stretch of racing where points championships can be won or lost.  There were 4 great classes of racing on hand for the festivities. 

The Outlaw 4’s hit the track first.  Billy Howard used a last lap pass to take the win from Mathew Haynes.  The win was Howard’s third win of the season.  Haynes finished 2^nd.  Jessie Brown earned his second top-5 of the season with a 3^rd place finish.  Larry Stepp and  Steven Hohlbaugh rounded out the top-5.  Howard and Chris Zimmerman won the heat race.

In the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modified 15 lap feature event John Bradley started on the front row and dominated the feature event leading from flag to flag.  The win was Bradley’s 2^nd in a row and 2^nd of the season.  Austin Sanders had a strong run and battled to a 2^nd place finish.  Roger Crouse started 3^rd and finished 3^rd.  Bobby Dixon finished 4^th.  Garret Stewart started 10^th and finished 5^th.   Sanders and Dixon were victorious in the heat races.

In the Racecar Engineering Late Models Brian Bernhardt won his second Racecar Engineering Late Model Feature event in a row.  Bernhardt started back in the 10^th place and quickly made his way using the outside line to the lead.  David Schmauss started 6^th and finished 2^nd.  Travis Varnadore started 10^th and finished 3^rd.  Steve Miller finished 4^th.    Paul Gibbs rounded out the top-5 with a strong run.  Bernhardt, Jimmy Waldrop and Schmauss won the heats.

The Motorstats.com 4 cylinder bombers were back in action after a weekend off as 28 cars took the green flag in their 15 lap feature event.   Patrick Tabb, Jr. held off Troy Dittebrand for the what appeared to be a win in exciting fashion.  Tabb, Jr. and Dittebrand were DQ’d in post race inspection for not having owner manuals with their vehicles.  The DQ’s gave the win to Mathew Odell which was his first of the year.    Kever Raulerson was a credited with 2^nd place.  Robert Purcell started 27^th and finished 3^rd.  Darrell Taylor finished 4^th.  Jimmy Odell rounded out the top-5.  Dittebrand, Darrell Taylor and Johnnie Alexander won the heat races.

Steve Ashmore won the Fan Participation Races at intermission.

ASA Sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, June 12^th, 2010 with the Racecar Engineering Late Models, East Bay Sprints, Limited Late Models, Kia of Wesley Chapel Street Stocks, Motorstats.com 4 cylinder bombers and the wet and wild Dirt Daubers.  For more information go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.

By:  Jason Loughren

05/29/2010

With dark skies looming the racing action started with the threat of the rain that many of the fans drove through to arrive at the track.  As the early part of the racing program continued on the blue sky came out and provided us with a great night for racing at East Bay Raceway Park. 

The Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds hit the track first with their 15-lap feature event.  John Bradley used an early pass to take the lead and hold on for the win.  The win was Bradley’s first win of the season in the class.  Roger Crouse ran strong and challenged for the lead but finished 2nd.  Austin Sanders started 3rd and finished 3rd.  Kevin Bryant and Shane Burrows rounded out the top-5.  Bryant was victorious in the heat race.

In the Limited Late Models Forrest Gough dominated the fifteen lap feature event  take his first win of the season.  Gough started started 6th and used an outside power move on JR Prather, Jr. to take the win.  Prather, Jr. finished 2nd.  Tommy Evonosky, Sr. finsished 3rd.  Bob Peterson started 4th and finished 4th.  Jason Pope was the mover of the evening as he started 10th and finished 5th.  Gough and Tim Powers won the heat races.

In the Precision Kia of Wesley Chapel Street Stocks Eric Moon took the win after numerous restarts.  On those restarts Moon had to hold off Donnie Reed and Thomas Pratt.  Moon was a former crew member for Donnie Reed.  Reed finished 2nd.  The points leader coming into the evening Thomas Pratt finished 3rd.  Jarod Gay and Clarence Pratt rounded out the top-5. Moon and Collin Kruse were victorious in the heats.

The Racecar Engineering Late Models were back for a 25 lap main event that saw Brian Bernhardt hold off Travis Varnadore on multiple late restarts to pick up his first feature win of the season.  Varnadore finished 2nd.   Phillip Cobb started 4th and finished 3rd.  Wallace Peacock finished 4th.  John Koller started 10th and finished 5th for his first top 10 of the season.  Berhardt and Ryan Mitchell won the heat races.

The Outlaw 4’s closed out the racing program for the night with their 15 lap feature event.  Like he did in the heat race Matthew Haynes won the feature event leading flag to flag.  Haynes was able to hold off a late charge from Billy Howard to earn the victory.  The win was Haynes’ series leading 5th of the season.  Howard finished 2nd.  Jesse Brown started 3rd and finished 3rd.  Roberto Morfin, Jr. finished 4th which was his first top 10 of the season.  Jessica Robbins rounded out the top-5.  Haynes won the heat race.

ASA Sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 with the Racecar Engineering Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modified, Outlaw 4’s, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers and the always popular Fan Participation Races.    For more information go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.

By:  Larry Jewett

5/22/2010

The East Bay Sprints faced double features which brought some exciting action as Tim George and Rocky Sullivan notched their first wins of the year. Altogether, four drivers scored first wins of the year as motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bomber winner Troy Dittebrand and Outlaw 4 winner Chris Zimmerman joined the group.

The red flag flew often on Saturday night, coming out on three occasions. Alex Boerner did a flip and a half in the Limited Late Model feature. George Handy did a half roll in a motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bomber heat. Gene Lasker flipped his Sprint while leading after contact with a lapped car.

Tim Gay doubled up in Limited Late Models with a convincing victory.  Taking the lead from polesitter John Bradley by the second lap, Gay had to hold off Forrest Gough for the victory. Trailing Gough were Jason Pope, point leader J.R. Prather Jr., and Bradley. Prather and Gough claimed heat wins.

The Outlaw 4s saw new winner Chris Zimmerman avenge some bad luck from a few weeks previous. Zimmerman went wire-to-wire, keeping point leader Matthew Haynes behind him as the two proved to be the class of the field. Amanda Rogers saw a strong run yield a third place finish, ahead of Cecil Martin and Billy Howard. Zimmerman and Brian Danforth won heats.

Thomas Pratt notched his fifth win of the 2010 season by claiming the win in the Precision Kia Street Stocks. His twin brother Clarence worked his way through the field for a career best second place finish. Thomas Pratt took the lead after early leader Eric Moon suffered a tire issue on lap 13. Buck Woodhouse scored third with Jarod Gay and James Hook fourth and fifth. Point leader Donnie Reed, who had picked up a heat win, fell out at the midpoint. John Clark took the other heat.

The East Bay Sprint make-up feature from April 17 saw 16 cars return. Former track champion Tim George powered his way to the win over point leader Gene Lasker, Billy Boyd, Danny Jones and Rocky Sullivan. In the main event, Lasker rocketed from his fourth starting spot to grab the lead in the backstretch. Lasker had checked out, but tangled with a lapped car and flipped in turn one. The mishap gave Sullivan the lead with George chomping at a chance to double up. Sullivan could not be caught with George settling for second. Tony Agin crossed third with Keith Butler charging from 16^th to fourth. Danny Jones added a second top five for the day. Clint Reynolds was disqualified for an illegal carburetor, wiping out a top five finish.

An exciting late race pass by Troy Dittebrand vaulted him from third to first and he successfully defended to gain his first win in the motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bomber main. Point leader Kever Raulerson survived some last lap tangles to cross the line second. Heat winner Darrell Taylor finished third. Early race leader Richard Humfeld scored his first top five with a fourth. Patrick Fiore rounded out the top five. Johnnie Alexander and John Detamore joined Taylor with heat wins.

Tommy Zwally put his Ford-powered 1937 Ford in front of the Florida Old Time Modified field for a 10-lap victory. Don Land prevailed in the heat.

ASA sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, May 29, 2010.  Action for Racecar Engineering Late Models, Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Auto Parts Open Wheel Modifieds, Precision Kia Street Stocks and Outlaw 4s will fill the bill. For more information, go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.

The Top Gun Sprints made their first visit of 2010 to East Bay Raceway on Saturday May 8, 2010. There were 28 cars at the track to give fans three heat races and a 25 lap feature race.

John Crowder in the 30 car had the pole with Ryan Partin in the 14 on the outside for the start of the first heat race. Ryan Partin took the lead on the start and he took the win. The 21M of Darren Miller had the pole for the start of the second heat race, but due to motor problems that put the 2 car of Rich Pratt on the pole with Clyde Poole in the 85 car on the outside. It was the 85 that made the better start and took the race lead then on came the 02 of Gene Lasker took the lead and taking the heat win. Mark Ruel Jr. in the 83 car had the pole with Keith Butler in the 19 for the start of the third and final heat race. Keith Butler took the lead, but on Lap 2 Jeanette Burnett in the 18 had a bad crash bringing out the red flag, she was ok, car not so lucky. Track crew had to repair the turn 1 gate and racing got underway again. Keith Butler held the lead for 2 more laps then the 1 of Tim George took the lead and took the heat win.

The 22 of Shawn Murray had the pole for the start of the feature race event, with the 14 of Ryan Partin alongside. After a parade lap, the race went to green and it was Gene Lasker in the 02 car that took the lead. Gene Lasker lead all of the laps till he had some problem with his car on last lap and slowed down on back stretch, and the 24 of Danny Martin went around on the outside and never looked backed and took the checkered flag, followed by Sport Allen in the 81 car was DQ in Tech, Shawn Murray in the 22 car, Tim George in the 1 car and Ryan Partin in the 14 car rounding out the top 5.

The staff and racers of the Top Gun Sprints would like to thank everyone for their support and hope to see you next race at North Florida Speedway on June 19^th.

Top Gun Sprints

East Bay Raceway, May 8, 2010

Heat #1

By:  Jason Loughren, 05/08/2010

It was a perfect Florida evening for racing as around 100 cars signed in ready to battle the fast track at the Clay by the Bay.  There were 5 classes in action including the down and dirty Top Gun Sprints and the wet and wild Dirt Daubers. 

 The Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds hit the track first with their 15-lap feature event.  Austin Sanders had the car to beat right from the drop of the green flag.  Sanders led every lap and captured his 2^nd win of the season.  The win was Sanders second feature win in a row.  Points leader John Bradley started 9^th and finished 2^nd.  Kyle Bronson finished 3^rd.  Garret Stewart and Roger Crouse rounded out the top-5.  Crouse and Stewart won the heats earlier in the evening.

 In the Precision Kia Street Stocks Thomas Pratt won his 4^th feature win of the year and 3^rd in a row after leading a majority of the laps.  Pratt started 4^th and quickly made his way to the front of the field.  Eric Moon started back in the field in the 8^th position and finished 2^nd.  Jarod Gay ran near the front of the field all night long and charted a 3^rd place finish.    Donnie Reed started 5^th and finished 4^th.  Buck Woodhouse finished 5^th.  Moon and Buck Woodhouse were victorious in the heats.

 The Top Gun Sprints made their return to the Clay by the Bay but before the racing action got under way in the drivers pulled their sprint cars onto the front stretch to sign autographs for the fans.  Even Jeanette Burnett who went for a wild ride in the heat event was on the track signing for the fans.  Once the autographs were signed and fans got to meet their favorite sprint car drivers the 25-lap feature event got underway.   Gene Lasker dominated 24 of 25 laps until it appeared that he suffered a mechanical failure in turn 2 on the final lap.  Danny Martin, Jr. running in second place at the time took the lead and led the final two turns to take the win which was his second in a row in the Top Gun Sprints.  Shawn Murray started on the pole and finished 2nd.  Tim George ran near the front all night.  Ryan Partin and Clint Reynolds rounded out the top-5.   Sport Allen was disqualified in post race inspection after it appeared  that he finished 2^nd.  Partin and Lasker and were victorious in the heat races.

 Motorstats.com 4 cylinder bombers were in action again as there were 38 vehicles entered in the event.  In the A-Main feature event Richie Acres scored his first ever win on dirt as he held off the challenge of Troy Dittebrand.  It was Acres first race ever at East Bay Raceway Park.  Dittebrand finished 2^nd.  Kever Raulerson ran in the top-5 all night and finished 3^rd.  Johnnie Alexander finished 4^th.   The mover and shaker of the night was Robert Kissam who started 24^th in the 24 car field and finished 5^th. 

 In the B-Main 14 cars started the event as Don Quinn took the win.  Roberto Morfin, Jr., Johnnie Alexander and Greg Reeves took the checkered flag in the heat events.

 Randy Tyler won the wet and wild Dirt Dauber feature event.

 ASA Sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, May 15, 2010 with the Scott Thompson Memorial-$3800.00 to win for the Racecar Engineering Late Models.  Also in action will be the Precision Kia Street Stocks, Outlaw 4’s and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers.  For more information go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.

            By:  Jason Loughren

04/24/2010

It was another awesome night for racing at the Clay by the Bay as over 100 cars hit the track for the six classes of racing with a twist.  Last week two feature events were rained out when the skies opened up for a second time after a rain delay and rendered the track lost for the evening.  Fans always know that they will get their money’s worth at East Bay Raceway Park, so when the bad weather cancelled the The Racecar Engineering Late Models and Outlaw 4’s feature events last week the solution was simple for the management at East Bay, they decided to run double features for those classes this week. 

The Race Car Engineering Late Models and Outlaw 4 make up feature events were sandwiched into the pre intermission portion of the race program.  In the Late Models Jack Nosbisch, Jr. dominated the early laps until a muffler fell of his car disqualifying him from the event.  The beneficiary of that was Josh Peacock as he took the lead and held on for the win.  The feature win was his 3^rd of the season.  Philip Cobb started 5^th and finished 2^nd.  David Schmauss had a strong run and came home third.  David Pollen and Frankie Erskine, Jr. rounded out the top-5.

Then in the completion of the Outlaw 4’s feature event Billy Howard took the win, which was his second in a row.  Matthew Haynes started 2^nd and finished 2^nd.  Keith Heard came home 3^rd.  Stephen Holhbaugh and Chris Zimmerman rounded out the top-5.

The regular feature program began with the Limited Late Models hitting the track for their 15 lap feature event.  Tim Gay started in the 5^th position and had the car to beat.  Early on in the event Philip Cobb appeared to be in control but his car was taken to the garage with a mechanical problem.  Gay was the beneficiary of Cobb’s trouble and wound up in victory lane for his first win of the season.  JR Prather Jr. finished 2^nd.  Alex Boerner started 6^th and finished 3^rd.  John Bradley and Forrest Gough rounded out the top-5.  Dan Darnell and Boerner won the heats.

The Street Stocks were up next and did not disappoint as Thomas Pratt started on the pole and led the caution filled main event from start to finish.  The win was Pratt’s second of the year.  Jeff Rodgers started 8^th and had a strong run finished 2^nd.  Buck Woodhouse ran in the top-5 all night long and finished 3^rd.  Jarod Gay and Eric Moon rounded out the top-5.  Reed, James Hook, and Buck Woodhouse were victorious in the heat events.

Another great field of Old Time Mods was on hand for their 12 lap feature event that saw an exciting battle between Lars Amundsen and Tommy Zwally as the laps wound down.  Lars Amundsen took the slim victory over Zwally.  Zwally finished 2^nd.  Bobby Bush finished 3^rd.  George Hall and Jamie Frankland rounded out the top-5.

The Race Car Engineering Late Models were back on the track for the second time of the evening with their 25 lap main event as twenty five cars took the green flag.  David Schmauss started on the pole and lead every lap until a late restart.  On the restart Bryan Bernhardt was able to gain position on Schmauss as he made the pass on the outside lane in turn 4.  Berhhardt appeared to have his first feature win of the season but was declared to be too heavy in post race technical inspection.  Schmauss was credited with the win.  Travis Varnadore ran in the top-3 all night and finished 2nd.  Roger Crouse started 6^th and finished 3rd.  Ted Erskine picked up his first top-5 of the season with a 4^th place finish. Philip Cobb rounded out the top-5. Schmauss, T. Varnadore and David Pollen won the heats.

The regularly scheduled Outlaw 4 feature event saw a great race between first and second in the points standings.  Billy Howard and Haynes battled for the early laps before Howard slipped to the middle of the pack.  Haynes was able to take the win which was his third of the season.  Chris Zimmerman finished 2^nd.  Amanda Rogers started 5^th and finished 3^rd.  Charlies Staats had a good run and wound up with a 4^th place finish.  Travis Staats started shot gun on the field and was able to finish 5^th.

DB Hogwaller won the wet and wild Dirt Dauber event in exciting fashion.

ASA Sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, May 1, 2010 with May Madness.  The Racecar Engineering Late Models, Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, and Street Stocks will all be in action. There will also be the Fan Participation Races at the intermission.  For more information go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.