Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- The Bubba Army Late Models, in conjunction with the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series presented by Buddy’s Home Furnishings, ran a 50-lapper to honor the man who saved the 3/8 mile oval in Ocala, Florida. The Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Open-Wheel Modifieds also ran 50 laps, the Hobby Stocks and 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks both ran for $500, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators closed out the night.

UMP Modifieds opened up the night with Bryan Bernhardt leading the opening stint from Pole. Buzzie Reutimann’s night would come to an end in turn two- just three laps in- with some mechanical troubles, and Rich Pratt also came to a halt there on lap five while riding second. Tim Gay and Justin Galbreath were fighting at the tail of the field and a spin from Gay resulted in Bernhardt receiving front-end damage. Bernhardt would retire due to the damages leaving Kyle Bronson with the lead. Bronson would put his foot down and lap all the way past fourth placed Paul Snyder. Roger Crouse finished second while Jeff Mathews finished third, just in front of Bronson. Snyder was fourth and Chuck Gustafson, Jr. rounded out the top five. (more…)

Ocala, FL- The Bubba Army Late Models will race in the Third Annual Mike Peters Open at the track Peters saved in the mid-2000’s with a $5000 prize up for grabs. For the second consecutive week, it will be a United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series race. Our very own Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Open-Wheel Modifieds will run for $3000, the Hobby Stocks and 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks will fight it out for a $500 reward, and the Rent-N-Roll Gladiators will return as well.

Mike Peters, a U.S. Army veteran, is credited with the revival of Bubba Raceway Park in the mid-2000’s, and rightfully so. After putting a piloting career to the side, Peters worked tirelessly to save the oldest race track in Florida. In 2008, he did the unthinkable by throwing dirt on top of the asphalt that had been put down in the early 1990’s. Needless to say, the decision was the right one as the 3/8 mile track became the place to be for Friday night racing. In early 2011, Peters negotiated a deal with Bubba The Love Sponge and completed his role in the revival of the oldest race track in Florida. Bubba opened his reign on May 13, 2011- yes, a Friday the 13th!- with the First Annual Mike Peters Open which was won by Tyler Ivey of Talahassee, Florida. Last season, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. won the race that had been rescheduled for April. (more…)

Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL- The Bubba Army Late Models, Hobby Stocks, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, and E-Mods all put on wonderful shows that kept the fans excited throughout the night.

Bubba Christian opened up the night from pole and he led through the first few cautions for minor spins. On lap fifteen, his Uncle Grady got around him and would not look back. Plenty of restarts kept everybody close, and with five to go it looked like Tim Powers had saved his equipment for the right time, but he got shuffled to the high side and never recovered. “The Altoona Assassins” put “The Big Lake Boys” back in their spots as Grady Christian led nephew Bubba across the line in a 1-2 for the Fastech team. Powers finished third, Dennis Williams ran as hisgh as second but slipped to fourth in the final rundown, and Brian Hansford completed the top five.

The E-Mods started off with three different leaders in three laps, Shane Taylor being the first of those three. Taylor gave way to Tim Grubaugh, Jr. only for Grubaugh to let David Whitener sneak in and steal the lead. Grubaugh and Taylor put the yellow out on lap three when Grubaugh got loose and spun both drivers out of turn four. Whitener couldn’t be stopped as he won convincingly over Shane Nichols. Shane Taylor finished third, Shawn Taylor was fourth, and Daryl Larson completed the top five.

Darrell Padgett took his machine to the front for the Late Models, and he stayed there until Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. made the most of a restart to overtake Padgett on lap twelve. A few minor cautions set up a lap twenty-eight restart on which Kyle Bronson stole the lead from “The Professor.” The final caution came out with eight to go after Tyler Clem’s #14 stopped on the backstretch while he was running well inside of the top ten. Lloyd had the lead back by lap forty-four, and won the fifty lapper for his first win of 2013 on his home turf. Bronson wound up second, right in front of Jason Fitzgerald. Tyler Ivey and Padgett rounded out the top five. (more…)