From East Bay Raceway Park
Tampa, FL – Eagle Jet Top Gun Sprints made their first appearance of the 2013 Season with 19 cars ready to battle for their feature event. Also racing tonight were the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Street Stocks and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers.
First feature of the night went to the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Street Stocks. Winning their heat races were Justan Rodgers and Buck Woodhouse and also would make up the front row for the feature event. Buck Woodhouse would lead the first three laps until caution would come out for debris on the front stretch. Woodhouse was leading with his brother Roy in second and Dennis Williams in third. When the race resumed Woodhouse would hold onto the top until several scars spun on the back stretch bringing out the caution once again. Two more cautions came out but it was Buck Woodhouse holding onto the lead with Dennis Williams trying to get around him. The final caution came out with just one lap to go when William Burnside spun in turn two. It was the green and the white flag waving together as Woodhouse went around the 1/3 mile track and picked up the win with Dennis Williams, Jarod Gay, Roy Woodhouse and Thomas Burnside rounding out the top five.
Next up were the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds. Winning the heat was Bill Howard. The feature event had Matt Miller and Dale Kelley making up the front row. On lap one it was Dale Kelley leading lap one until the very next lap when Thomas Pratt took over the top spot and never looked back as the 15 lap feature event went caution free. “Car was a little tight tonight but I wish someone had told me to slow down because I was unaware of the lead I had” stated Pratt in Victory Lane picking up his second feature of the year. Dale Kelley finished second while battling Matt Miller finished third. Austin Sanders and Tim Gay rounded out the top five.
Up next was the Eagle Jet Top Gun Sprints. Winning their heats were Danny Martin, Jr., Mark Ruel, Jr. and Tony Agin. All three drivers would be eligible for the Jeff Barfield Sweep if they won the feature event paying an extra $400 including the $1,000 to win presented by Gator Core and Go Green Auto Recycling. On the front row for the feature it was A.J. Maddox and Tony Agin. When the green waved for the start, Jimmy Ballew took a wild ride into the turn one gate splitting it in half. Jimmy was able to walk away under his own power. So after a brief 30 minute red flag, the gate was put back in place and cars were once again pushed off for a complete restart. So when the green waved again it was Tony Agin leading the first lap until caution came out for a car spinning in turn one. The green waved again and it was A.J. Maddox taking over the top spot on lap two. The red flag came out once again as Dick Byerly took a tumble over in turn two. Byerly was ok but his night ended as his car was finished for the night. The race resumed with Maddox leading till lap seven when Agin regained the lead. On lap fifteen Agin and Ruel, Jr. made slight contact as they were trying to pass a lapped car. Both cars were able to continue as the race stayed green. On lap twenty two Agin’s car was starting to smoke and Ruel, Jr. was trying to pass him. Agin would hold on and get the victory crossing the finish line first with Ruel, Jr. right behind. On the cool down lap Agin’s car went up in smoke and had to be pushed into Victory Lane. Agin came out of his car with a huge smile on his face and a sign of relief. “I have never won a Sprint Car Feature in the State of Florida until tonight” stated Agin in Victory Lane. “I have won in Texas before but never here. I’ve been trying for the last three years and finally did it tonight” he also stated. Also in Victory Lane with Tony was his son as his crew chief and his daughter as well. “It’s gonna be a happy Mother’s Day tomorrow” Tony stated. Tony also picked up the $400 Bonus winning the Jeff Barfield clean sweep by winning his heat earlier. Mark Ruel, Jr., Danny Martin, Jr., Kerry Gilbert and Matt Kurtz rounded out the top five.
The final feature of the night belonged to the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. Winning their heats were John Moore, Darrell Taylor and Jimmy Baker. For the feature event it was Robert Gullet, Sr. and Baker making up the front row. When the green waved it was Baker taking the early lead until John Moore took over the top spot on the very next lap. The first caution came out as Baker slowed and headed to the pits but returned in time before the green waved for the restart. Moore continued to lead until lap seven when the next caution came out as Robert Gullet, Sr. slowed in turn four ending his night. When the checkered waved it was John Moore picking up his fifth win out of seven races so far for the 2013 Season. Patrick Fiore, Sr., Brett Calonge, and the Morris brothers, Chris and Stephen rounded out the top five.
ASA racing continues next weekend with the return of the Late Models. Also racing next weekend will be the Limited Late Models, Outlaw Fours, Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers and the V8 Warriors. For further information, log on to www.eastbayracewaypark.com for call 813-677-7223 for more information.