Beck, Bernhardt, Cobb Among East Bay Winners

With just one week remaining on the 2018 schedule, East Bay Raceway Park provided competitors in five divisions with a final chance to visit Victory Lane since these divisions would be wrapping up their year.

Frank Beck bookended his season in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Sprints, winning the season opener almost nine months ago and making a triumphant return to the winner’s circle on this night. Beck put on a dominant performance, weaving masterfully through lapped traffic in a race that went caution-free. Beck took the lead from the start and passed up to fifth place before the checkered flag fell. Bryan Eckley, who finished second in the feature, captured his heat race earlier in the night.

Bryan Bernhardt brought his Gagel’s Open Wheel Modified home in front of the field for the eighth win of his racing season. Bernhardt, who clinched the season championship previously, stated he can’t wait for the return of competition in the 43rd annual Winternationals, where the local Modified racers provide stiff competition to UMP travelers. The Modifieds open the Winternationals with four nights of racing, starting January 23. Heat wins earlier in the night went to Eric Moon and Travis Varnadore.

Phillip Cobb offered his congratulations to unofficial point champion Forrest Gough during Cobb’s visit to Victory Lane in the Late Model Sportsman division. Cobb was able to secure the early and hold through several restarts to record his second feature in the division. Cobb was doing double duty, competing in Late Model Sportsman as well as Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds.  His heat win earlier gave him the outside pole with opening heat winner Megan Meyer joining Cobb to lead the field to the green.

Scott Bane made his third visit to the winner’s circle in the V8 Warriors main, holding off the late race challenge of 2018 point champion George Handy. Bane took the lead from Jessica Robbins on lap 2 to claim the 15-lap main. Bane and Gary Lucas shared honors as heat race winners.

Robby Hoffman held off teammate Dirk Miller through the 15-lap Mini-Sprint main. Hoffman recorded his fifth win of the year in the competitive division. Ronnie Whitley opened the night with a heat race win while Hoffmann added his name to the winner’s list with the second heat win.

East Bay Raceway Park will close the 2018 with the final event on Saturday, Dec. 15. Pro Late Models will compete in the annual Dalton Myers 54, a 54-lap challenge that brings $5,400 to the winner. The final appearance of the season for the Street Stocks, Gladiators, Micro Sprints and Florida Old Time Modifieds is also slated.

The 43rd annual Winternationals will open on January 23 with UMP/East Bay Raceway Park Modifieds headlining four nights of action that will also include Street Stock racing.

Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS SPRINTS

Feature: Frank Beck (89), Bryan Eckley (12B), Dylan Colding (23D), Justin Webster (21), Tim George (1*), Billy Bridges (21A), Kurt Taylor (55), Guy Bos (3K), Johnnie Alexander (1L), Andrew Griffin (32), Bruce Durden (17), Mike Steinruck (44A), Aileen Collins-Love (17c), Luke Hill (41)

GAGEL’S OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS

Feature: Bryan Bernhardt (B69), Travis Varnadore (205), Austin Sanders (64), Roger Crouse (15), Phillip Cobb (03), Eric Moon (18), Mavrick Varnadore (4), Drew Jackson (08), Dale Kelley (22), Shane Burrows (70B), Pat Passanise (24), Billy Howard Jr. (47). DNS – Brandon Wells (39), Keven DeVrieze (99)

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Feature: Phillip Cobb (03), Steve Mathis Jr. (29), Forrest Gough (21), Bruce Harvey (27), Waylon Haynes (11), Jonathon Thomas (823), Megan Rae Meyer (11M), Wesley Livernois (44), Buck Woodhouse (55), John Mang (X). DNS – Scotty Williams (27W)

V8 WARRIORS

Feature: Scott Bane (23B), George Handy (105), Jessica Robbins (09X), Gary Lucas (23), Jason Burnside (12J), Raymond Vann (99V), Jeff Weaver (26), Justin Meeks (10), Waylon Haynes (52), Mike Pesola (15), Mark Roadarmel Jr. (66). DNS – Michael Hart (99), Wayne Kissam (07)

MINI SPRINTS

Feature: Robby Hoffman (66), Dirk Miller (68), Steve Diamond (9D), Brad Sutton (9), Austin Craddock (17), David Hall (67), Ronnie Whitley (84), Don Quinn (33), Joe Bartow (3), Donnie Quinn (33D)