Varnadore, Colding Top East Bay Winners List

Mother Nature finally cooperated for race fans to enjoy a night of exciting action at East Bay Raceway Park. A five-division program greeted the fans on Firefighter & EMT Appreciation Night.

In Micro Sprint action, Kevin Strife rebounded from a misfortunate last outing to capture his fourth feature event of the season. Strife started the night by defeating a strong field in his preliminary before repeating the feat in the feature. William Brannan topped the first heat race.

Jimmy Baker’s new Street Stock proved itself to be the class of the field in the division’s 15-lap main. The 2017 track champion finished second with the car in the first appearance earlier this year and bested that by getting the win in only the third time in the car (and second time at East Bay). Baker snatched the lead from point leader John Bradley in the early stages to hold the margin until the checkered flag. Some spirited racing could be found for third through most of the race with Thomas Pratt, Jason Pope and Bradley mixing it up. Bradley and Henry Burnside won heat races.

Dylan Colding held off the charge of point leader Joe Zuczek in the Q Auto and Injury Attorneys Sprint main. Colding’s second win didn’t come easy as a caution flag waved on lap 14, setting up a one-lap shootout. Colding was able to pull away from Zuczek for the win. Frank Beck claimed the preliminary.

The Pro Late Models faced a 30-lap main event and a field of 19 cars was on hand for the initial green. Heat winners Adam Boyd, Scotty Williams and Kenny Monahan earned starting spots in the first three positions. Before the first lap could be completed, Williams got crossed up and collected Monahan and Philip Cobb. Cobb and Williams were out of the race while Monahan brought his car to the crew in the pits to fix right front damage. Monahan was able to rejoin, but found himself at the back of the 17-car field. Travis Varnadore moved to the outside front row for the complete re-start and wasted no time shooting into the lead. Boyd gave chase, followed by Steve Mathis Jr. The leader hit lapped traffic by lap 5 when the first caution appeared. Varnadore would face subsequent challenges from Jack Nosbisch Jr., who retired after spinning to avoid Eric Moon on lap 12 and being collected in an incident. Mathis slipped by Jimmy Waldrop for second and set his sights on the leader, who had a constant challenge from backmarkers. Mathis gave it a good run inside in a race to the checkers with Varnadore holding the position.

The night concluded with Dan Darnell’s victory in the Florida Old Time Modifieds main. Darnell made it two for two by claiming the heat earlier in the night. In both cases, he had started last in the race to go from worst to first.

East Bay Raceway Park will continue action on Saturday, Sept. 22 with Late Model Sportsman, V8 Warriors, Gladiators, Street Stocks and non-wing Mini-Sprints. Hot laps begin at 6 with green flag for racing at 6:30 p.m.

MICRO SPRINTS

Feature: Kevin Strife (46), William Burnside (13), Chris Livernois Jr. (71), Jerod Meyers (0), William Brannan Jr. (17), Mike Meyers (7), Steve Diamond (9), Bruce Comer (8), Matt Wedgewood (4). DNS – Paul Seburn (23)

STREET STOCKS

Feature: Jimmy Baker (69x), Thomas Pratt (22), Jason Pope (55), John Bradley (57), Henry Burnside (31B), James McPeak (7), Allen Bailey (51), Kenny Lawrence (38), Robert Tyler (99), Justin Rodgers (95). DQ – Jesse Brown (12)

Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS SPRINTS

Feature: Dylan Colding (23D), Joe Zuczek (50), Frank Beck (89), Kurt Taylor (55), Guy Bos (3K), Mike Steinruck (44A), Johnnie Alexander (8)

PRO LATE MODELS

Feature: Travis Varnadore (95V), Steve Mathis Jr. (95), Jimmy Waldrop (9), Josh Peacock (21P), Roger Crouse (15), Andrew Hopkins (13H), Shan Smith (14), Kenny Monahan (311), Eric Moon (00), Steven Brendle (141), John Norris (87), Keven Devrieze (99), Thomas Burnside (13), TJ LaFlamboy (44), Jack Nosbisch Jr. (12), Dustin Perez (8), Adam Boyd (6), Scotty Williams (27W), Phillip Cobb (03)

FLORIDA OLD TIME MODIFIEDS

Feature: Dan Darnell (111), Gonzo Godwin (22G), Roger Herbach (4), Robert Campbell (11), Jamie Frankland (1)