Tracks | Karnac Racing News

Out of Nowhere, 16-Year-Old Erik Jones Wrestles Busch for 45th Annual Snowball Derby Crown

By Chuck Corder – The anticipation boiled inside Carol Jones.Sandwiched between fans and Escambia County’s finest, behind the track gate at Five Flags Speedway, she watched as her boy Erik Jones climbed out of his black No. 4 Super Late Model in Victory Lane and celebrated his improbable 300-lap win at the 45th annual Snowball Derby.

Carol Jones clinched her fists and grinded her teeth. Her prince, now the king of short-track racing’s heaviest crown, wrestling away the Tom Dawson trophy from NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch.

And she couldn’t get through these unfamiliar faces.

“I’m going to throw up,” she said. “This is amazing. This is unbelievable. This is the best.”

Cutting through the kindness of strangers, mother finally reached son and the two shared a lifetime of adulation.

Jones became the second consecutive 16 year old to win America’s most prestigious short-track race, a year after Chase Elliott became the event’s youngest winner.

Jones also is the first driver to win in his first Derby attempt since Gary St. Amant did it 20 years ago. (more…)

By Scott|2012-12-03T04:05:02-05:00December 3rd, 2012|5 Flags Speedway, Featured, Front Page News|Comments Off

David Reutimann Wins 50 Lap Open Wheel Modified Race At East Bay Raceway Park

December 1, 2012 – Tampa, FL – It was a night for the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds as they ran for 50 Laps paying $2,000 in the David Reutimann Foundation 50. It was also a battle to the end for the Late Models as it was their last night for the points battle. Also racing were the Florida Old Time Mods, V8 Warriors and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers.

Before the feature events were to begin, Dianne Menendez won the auction from the David Reutimann Foundation on Friday November 23^rd at the Siverado Golf & Country Club. David was the driver and when they completed the session, Dianne had a grin from ear to ear and said it was well worth it. David thanked all the fans for coming out and East Bay for putting on the Foundation 50 for the Modifieds.

First feature event of the night went to the Florida Old Time Mods. Richard Svenson and Jamie Frankland won their heat races. For the front row of the feature it was Mark Steve and Richard Svenson. Svenson led the first seven laps until Jamie Franklin took over the top spot with Roger Herbach and Dan Darnell chasing him down. Franklin went on to win the feature as they run the entire race caution free. Darnell finished second with Herbach, Rich Iverson and Svenson rounding out the top five.

Next was the David Reutimann Foundation 50 for the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds. Winning their heats were David Pollen, Jr., David Reutimann and Dalton Lanich. For the front row of the feature it was Matt Miller and Lanich. On the initial green flag in turn two, Rich Pratt and Roger Crouse tangled ending Crouse’s night. So it would be a complete restart. When the green waved again, Pollen, Jr. led the field into turn one. The first caution would come out on lap four as several drivers tangled in turn two. One car not involved in the incident was Devin Dixon. Dixon’s night ended as he headed into the pits after running in the second position. Reutimann who was third at the time moved up to second. (more…)

By Scott|2012-12-02T18:06:39-05:00December 2nd, 2012|East Bay Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News|Comments Off

L.B. Skaggs Wins Open Wheel Modified Race

Fans were not disappointed with the full night of racing action at the Punta Gorda Speedway, they saw flips, spins, wrecks and tempers flared.

The first feature up was the Perfect Pest Control Pro 4 were Kris “ the Man” Bridges jumped into the lead on lap two. While Paul Richards Jr worked his way through the field, trying to keep his winning streak alive, other drivers were trying to break that streak and take the win. Bridges had a fast car running as the leader, while Skyler Null was hooked up and chasing him down. Richards tried several times to past Null but could not, until lap thirteen when Richards gave himself a flat tire trying to pass Null. The field bunched back up for the restart and Bridges took off and Null went with him for that second spot and that is how it finished with Richards coming in third but would be D.Q.ed for unsportsmanlike conduct in the winners circle, giving third place to Ryan Collver.

T.Q. Midgets were up next and another flip over, coming out of turn four by the 7 of Jamie Barnum who was ok and walked it off down the front stretch to the pit area. The winner was young Chris Gimmler who made the pass on Mike Belusar with five to go who finished second and a hard charging Rob Kohler was third.

Becca Monopoli continued her winning streak in the Legend class when she jumped out to the lead on lap two and never looked back. Mike Verhaagh was running a strong second till something broke and forced him to the pits and bringing out the only caution on lap sixteen. That turned the second spot over to Tony Steinbuck and third went to Joey Langis. (more…)

By Scott|2012-12-02T17:55:21-05:00December 2nd, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, Punta Gorda Speedway|Comments Off

LLOYD WINS THE BATTLE, TURNER WINS THE WAR IN NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

OCALA, FL – Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL driving the Snow Brothers Special was declared the $10,000 winner in the 100-lap 8^th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race on Saturday night for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Bubba Raceway Park. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA won the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Championship.

The engine in the B&B Produce/Dave’s Towing Special driven by apparent winner Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL was disqualified by NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials for a piston violation.

The 8^th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race, the first edition held at Bubba Raceway Park, will be a memorable one for a track that provided three and four-wide close quarters racing in front of a packed house, and plenty of drama, as the fate of many drivers changed lap after lap. That included the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship battle.

Turner won the $20,000 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship in the Hedman Husler Special by ten points over two-time series champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN in the Eads Farms/Hardy & Associates Warrior. It was an up and down weekend for both drivers, as they exchanged the point lead twice during the event. (more…)

By Scott|2012-12-02T17:41:12-05:00December 2nd, 2012|Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series|Comments Off

Reutimann Will Race The FUPS Finale

The Florida United Promoters Series will hold the season finale Regal Kia-Chevy 150 on Sat. December 8th, 2012 at Auburndale Speedway. Who will take the Checkered Flag, who will win the FUPS Championship. Nascar’s David Reutimann will join the best Super Late Model Driver’s in Florida, you gotta be there for this one!

With only twenty points separating Steve Dorer and Jesse Dutilly for the championship, this race will determine who will win the 2012 FUPS Championship and claim the $5,000.00 from the points fund. Along with Dutilly and Dorer will be Jonathan Guy on his home track who sits in 3rd place in the points race. Joining the top three will be series regulars, Daniel Webster, Anthony Campi, Anthony Sergi, Kevin Macy, Joe Winchell, David Green, David King, Eddie King, and many others.

Jake Perkins the FUPS 2011 Rookie of the Year who sits 4th in the point standings will join in the hunt for his 1st win with FUPS. Perkins Motorsports will also field a second car for the return of local NASCAR racer David Reutimann. Thanks to some scheduling adjustments we were able to have David come compete with the best drivers in Florida for this event, and are expecting more teams from the north after the “Derby” added series officials. (more…)

By Scott|2012-11-30T15:19:17-05:00November 30th, 2012|Auburndale Speedway, Featured, Front Page News|Comments Off

CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE IN NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS GRAND FINALE

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The $20,000 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship is on the line between Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA and David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN in the $10,000-to-win 100-lap 8^th Annual Chevrolet Performance World Championship Race at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL this Thursday through Saturday.

The Grand Finale for the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 2012 season will take place on a level playing field, as Bubba Raceway Park is a new venue for the series. Not only is it the most prestigious race of the year for the tour, but it is also the most important. Turner heads to the unique tri-oval with a 16-point lead over Gentry.

For Turner, the road to compete for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Championship has been a long one. Known as “The Ironman” of the series, Turner has competed in 145 consecutive series events over eight seasons, or every event the series has held since its inception in 2005. He’s finished outside of the top ten in the point standings only once when he was 11^th. (more…)

By Scott|2012-11-30T14:55:29-05:00November 30th, 2012|Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series|Comments Off

FASTRAK Racing Series to Start “Decade of Grassroots SPEED” at East Bay Winternationals in 2013

Entering its 10th season of racing, “A Decade of Grassroots SPEED” the FASTRAK Racing Series announced during the “FASTRAK World Championship Weekend” in Beckley, West Virginia that it will sanction 3 nights of racing at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Florida as a part of the 37th Annual DART Winternationals. The series will make its first visits in history to Florida on Wednesday, January 30th through Saturday, February 2nd at the historic 1/3 mile oval located near Tampa, Florida. “We owe this to all of our teams. This situation came about because of them and for that we are very grateful. This is a very exciting time for us at FASTRAK as we move into our 10th Anniversary Season.” exclaimed Stan Lester of FASTRAK Companies International.

East Bay Raceway Park’s Al Varnadore stated the following in a phone interview with FASTRAK Companies PR Director Wesley Outland early Tuesday morning and backed it on the FASTRAK Weekly LIVE Radio forums Tuesday night saying. “I thoroughly believe that Pro (crate) Late Model racing on Dirt is truly going to be the next big thing as it’s already taking shape all over the country. We have had other regional crate series be a part of the Winternationals in the past but we feel that the “visionary brainchild” Stan Lester who created (crate) late model dirt racing to begin with back in 2004 has now taking the original FASTRAK Racing Series through leaps and bounds and as they launch forward to their 10 Anniversary “Decade of Grassroots SPEED” I feel is the right Series to kick off a new change to open the 37th DART Winternationals to start the 2013 season at East Bay.” (more…)

By Scott|2012-11-27T21:14:40-05:00November 27th, 2012|East Bay Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, Racing News, Upcoming Events|Comments Off

NeSmith Dirt Crate Late Model Series World Championships Hit Bubba Raceway Park

Jim Rouse (11-26-12) Ocala, FL – The World Championships for the NeSmith Late Model Series will take place at Bubba Raceway Park for the first time in it’s 8 year history and it’s their closest points battle too! Matthew Turner leads David Earl Gentry by just 16 points and Larry Harrod sits within 100 points of Turner as well. Chris Cantrell, however, leads the fight for Rookie of the Year! With a $20,000 championship up for grabs it’s gonna be tight. On Friday they will qualify around the 1/3 mile and they’ll also heat race to lock-in some spots for the 100 lap feature on Saturday. Along with the feature there will be consolation, last chance, and B Main qualifiers to complete the grid for the 8th Annual NeSmith Crate Late Model World Championships. “The Real Deal” Don O’Neal and “T-Mac” Tim McCreadie will join the likes of Gentry, Turner, and our local drivers to take home the $10,000 reward for the race!

Our very own 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks will qualify and heat race with the NeSmith Crate Late Models on Friday to set up part of the field. On Saturday there will be last chance events, consolations, B Mains, and the 50-lap feature, the longest for the division in quite some time. With $2500 to the winner, $600 for 2nd, $400 for 3rd, $300 (usual winner’s purse) for 4th, and a top 5 will reward with $250 it’s going to get wild! A top 10 will be $130 and last starter will earn $75. There is a $25 entry fee for the event. Jonathan Appleby will have control of the championship but he’s out to take 1 more win before moving on to a new challenge. The fight is on and with names like Erickson, Scranton, Stalnaker, Appleby, Durbin, Gamble, Sullivan, and Nichols all set to appear you will have to beat the best in the business to take home the trophy and the cash! (more…)

By Scott|2012-11-27T19:14:36-05:00November 27th, 2012|Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series|Comments Off

Tight Points Battle as FUPTS Prepares for Season Finale

Orlando FL 11-26-12 – The Florida United Pro-Truck series is preparing to bring down the curtain on its inaugural season this Saturday Night at Auburndale Speedway.

The points battle is a two man battle as Gerald Campbell from Sebring FL. comes in to the finale with a mere 5 point lead over Debary FL. Driver Tim Sozio for the Championship. Both drivers have had some tough luck along the way but have really worked hard and battled through to recover for this chance at a championship.

The battle for third through tenth in the points is very close and can change quite a bit in this race. Joseph Mursuli is third at 150, with Jessica Murphy 140, Mica Williams 133 rounding out the top five. Jessica Green is just 1 point out of the top 5 with 132 followed by Danny Anderson with 129, Michael Lira 126, Dylan Martin 118, Brad Bowman 112 rounding out the top 10.

This weekend will settle the championship for the first year series, and the racing will be exciting. There will be a Friday night practice session from 5-9 p.m. $15 per person includes food as well. Saturday pits will open at 12 noon, tech and tires at 12:30 p.m. and a truck only practice from 2-3 before rotating practice and Truck qualifying at 6 p.m. Racing at 7 p.m. with 50 Laps of Pro-Truck racing along with a 50 Lap Mod Mini feature along with Streetstocks, Scramblers, Mini-cups and a 35 Lap V-8 Bomber feature events as well. (more…)

By Scott|2012-11-27T00:30:51-05:00November 27th, 2012|Auburndale Speedway, Featured, Front Page News, Racing News, Upcoming Events|Comments Off

AJ Maddox Makes It Two In A Row For The Top Gun Sprints At East Bay Raceway Park

November 17, 2012 – Tampa, FL – The Top Gun Sprints returned for the final event of the 2012 Season. Along with them were the Florida Old Time Mods, Outlaw Fours and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers.

The first event of the night belonged to the Florida Old Time Mods. Tom McDonald and Dan Darnell won their heat races. For the feature event it was Mark Steve and Robert Campbell. When the green waved it was Roger Herbach charging up to take over the lead by lap one. On Lap seven, Dan Darnell came from the back of the pack to take over the lead and never looked back as they went twelve laps without a caution and Darnell picked up the win. Michael Davis, Jamie Frankland, Roger Herbach and Lars Amundsen rounded out the top five.

Next were the Outlaw Fours. Brandon Yates and Nick Hebrank won their heat races and also made up the front row for the feature. Hebrank took the lead on the first lap, but on lap four, Dorsey Strickland took over the top spot. The first caution of the race came on the next lap as Bill Mort and Hebrank tangled in turn two. The green waved again and Strickland led the field for the next five laps. On lap ten, Billy Howard made a move to try and take over the top spot in turn four. He had it just for a moment as Strickland regained the lead on the front stretch. Several more cautions came out, but when the checkered waved it was Strickland crossing the line first with Hohlbaugh second, Scotty Williams, Raymond Folwell and Brandon Yates fifth. But after tech inspections, Strickland was found illegal which handed the win over to Hohlbaugh. Moving up the top three on position and Kyle Worden now finished in the top five. (more…)

By Scott|2012-11-25T18:31:28-05:00November 25th, 2012|East Bay Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News|Comments Off