Jim Rouse, BRP Media (11-24-12) Ocala, FL – The Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators wrapped up their title fights while the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks must wait another week to smell the trophy.

First up were the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators as they wrapped up the championship between Steve Johnson and Brandon Haseleu. A 10 lapper started with Reid Christensen out in front of the field as he looked for another win. Haseleu would struggle as he actually pulled off for the night early which allowed Steve Johnson to take home the title. On lap 6 David Pate smacked the outside wall out of turn 4 to bring the only caution of the race out. Steve Johnson would retire as his radiator began to steam and he knew the title was his. That left just Christensen and Stephen Frankland on track. They would finish in that order while Johnson, Pate, and Brandon Haseleu rounded out the top 5.

The 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks were up 2^nd and Bubba Durbin would lead early. A lap 5 caution for DJ Horiski’s turn 4 spin gave Brandon Elwood the shot he needed to jump to the lead. Elwood would then lead through multiple cautions, including a completely synchronized spin from Brian Mullins and Jonathan Appleby, before giving way to “IceMan” Chad Scranton with just 4 to go. Scranton took home the $1000 prize, along with his weekend sweep, while Bubba Durbin finished 2^nd. Elwood would finish a solid, yet disappointing, 3^rd with Jonathan Appleby and Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. behind him. (more…)

Jim Rouse, BRP Media (11-23-12) Ocala, FL – The points season has wound down and tomorrow is our final night of action before we confirm all but one champion. The RaceCar Engineering Late Models, in conjunction with the penultimate round of the Sunoco/Buddy’s Home Furnishings United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series, and Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars ended their seasons while the Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators put points on the board before they wrap it all up.

Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds opened the show for us. Kyle Bronson led from outside pole as he chased history but had “4-Time” Jeff Mathews behind him. “The Killer” was struggling with lapped traffic while Mathews chased him down and this all on a 10-lap green run. The green run didn’t end until lap 15 when Rich Pratt’s #78 broke and slowed right in front of a group of 4 cars. Pratt never stopped but, in the name of safety, a caution was thrown. The caution allowed Mathews and Buzzie Reutimann to take another shot at Bronson. Dalton Lanich would bring out the second caution as he tried to avoid the broken-down car of Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. As the field approached the 2-to-go sign Jeff Mathews’ #33 broke leaving Bronson to take home his 13^th win of 2012. Buzzie Reutimann finished 2nd while Garret Stewart bettered teammate Dalton Lanich for 3rd. Paul Snyder finished 5th in his debut. (more…)

Jim Rouse, BRP Media, Ocala, FL – As the most intense season in recent history winds down, we see plenty of drivers fighting over 8 championship trophies. There are still a few races to be run, however, and the Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars joined the Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators in 5 of those battles.

Hobby Stocks would take to the clay first and Mike Stalnaker led lap 1 from pole. On a restart Don Woosley, Kyle Morse, Marty Smith, and Thomas Burnside caused a 4-car pile-up in turn 1 that forced a red flag with 18-to-go. Up front it was Stalnaker upsetting the worlds of Trevor Gamble and Tim Powers. Gamble took the lead on the restart but after another caution he lost it to Tim Powers! The order after Robert Sirmons’ lap 7 spin from 4^th was Powers, Gamble, and Stalnaker. Joe Boyd blew up on lap 10 right as time expired while Mark Maresca, Chuck McHone, and Rebecca Paugh spun to avoid. (more…)

Jim Rouse, BRP Media 11-3-12 (Ocala, FL) – The RaceCar Engineering Late Models, Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks, Rent-N-Roll Gladiators, and Bubba Army Figure-8 Series opened up the final month of points racing with a bang. Championships are winding down but some are just getting started.

First up were the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models who saw David “Big Chief” Showers lead lap 1 from pole. JO Nobles, however, would take the lead on lap 5 as the leaders maneuvered through lapped traffic. On lap 10 Jason Pope made contact with Matt Johnson (Johnson was being lapped) and it sent Johnson straight into the front stretch wall. Driver #96 was okay after the impact. A melee started when Cory Hupp spun in front of Billy Holmes, Shane Koperda, Cox, CJ Waldron, Carter Stokes, and Blaise Hetznecker in turn 4 on the restart. All would continue as Nobles led Showers and Forrest Gough up front. Nobles got caught in traffic but held on by a car length or so for his 11^th win of 2012. David Showers finished 2^nd with Ronnie Soltis 3^rd. Tyler Clem took a career best 4^th as he ran top 5 all day and beat Christian McGillivray who is 4 years his older.

The Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks went out 2^nd and Nick Kerr was able to put on a fight with his good friend Buddy Pope. Kerr would lead from pole with Pope and Reid Christensen in tow. As the race progressed the gap fluctuated but in the end Nick Kerr took home the big win, his 3^rd of 2012. Pope finished a strong 2^nd while Christensen finished 3^rd. (more…)

Jim Rouse (10-29-12) Ocala, FL – This week we will see the RaceCar Engineering Late Models join the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators for some major points in tight championship battles. Also, the Figure-8 Race will take place!
Mark Whitener continued his dominance of the RaceCar Engineering Late Models at the 1/3 mile with yet another win for the entire Big Frog Motorsports team. As he closes in on a championship he will still have to fend off the challenges from Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. and Bo Allen. Others like Richard Ferry, Christian Augspurger, and Jeff Mathews have visited Coors Light Winner’s Circle in a division that seems more wide open than ever.
JO Nobles, who may pull double duty again, will have focus on his Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Model as he must continue to fend off “Big Chief” David Showers. As the #18’s battle for a championship, the youth of Carter Stokes, Christian and Caleb McGillivray, Tyler Clem, and Billy Holmes will show what their made of against some of the best drivers in Florida and anyone could end up with the trophy. (more…)