Tonight’s (March 12) racing has been cancelled due to the morning rain saturation of the grounds as well as the projected wind chills and lower temperatures creating uncomfortable conditions for the evening. The season will open next week, March 19, with 604 Late Models, Street Stocks, Outlaw 4s, Gladiators and Florida Old Time Modifieds
Crate Racin’ USA officials have completed their review of the events held at East Bay Raceway Park for 602 Sportsman competition Feb. 3-5. All competitors were found to be within the parameters of the rules and all previously reported results are now official.
Congratulations to Richie Stephens for the three wins. East Bay Raceway Park would like to thank all drivers for supporting the 2022 Winternationals and wish them best of luck in the season ahead.
The 2022 Winternationals came to a thrilling conclusion as the annual Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360s capped off five weeks of racing.
With the top six drivers locked in by virtue of points accumulated on the first two nights, there were 18 spots remaining to be filled with Saturday racing. Five heat races brought 10 more drivers with heats won by Danny Martin Jr., Carson McCarl, Davie Franek, Dale Howard, and Danny Smith. B mains were won by Max Stambaugh, Johnny Gilbertson, Brendan Mullen and Tim Shaffer.
The 40-lap A-main for the 360 Sprints took the green with Ryan Smith grabbing the early lead. Mark Smith took the point on lap 10 and would lead until lap 26 when Sam Hafertepe Jr. rebounded to the front as the field was picking its way through lapped traffic. With Hafertepe and Smith concentrating on the bottom of the race track, Terry McCarl looked to the high side for a ticket to the front. Dylan Westbrook was working the high groove as well. The action was hectic and the only thing missing was a caution flag. The yellow never appeared as the 40-lap feature took 11 minutes to complete with Hafertepe reigning victorious. The 2022 winner remarked in Victory Lane that they were unsure of how the event would turn out and were making adjustments up until being called to the track. The winner added that he has not been successful at East Bay, so it was a relief to be able to add this to his list of accomplishments.
Jeff Isabell Jr. topped the 25-lap Mod Lite feature, returning to the cockpit after sitting out last night’s event in favor of car owner Doug Williams. Isabell, who had won his heat race, came from the eighth starting position to earn the win. Rob Misener was a winner in the other heat.
East Bay Raceway Park would like to thank those who took part in the success of the 46th annual Winternationals. The 2022 regular season will open on March 12 with Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Sprints, Florida Late Models, Mod Lites, V-8 Warriors and Gladiators.
360 SPRINTS
Feature: Sam Hafertepe Jr. (15H), Mark Smith (43), Terry McCarl (24x), Ryan Smith (10x), Dylan Westbrook (47x), Danny Martin Jr. (24), Carson McCarl (27), Davie Franek (28F), A.J. Maddox (3A), Aaron Reutzel (8), Max Stambaugh (5M), Tim Shaffer (28), Dale Howard (47), Danny Smith (66), Matt Kurtz (92), Johnny Gilbertson (22), Cody Bova (20B), Chris Martin (44), Brendan Mullen (11M), Garrett Green (82), Phil Gressman (7c), Eric Riggins Jr. (47R), Zane DeVault (7D), Ricky Peterson Jr. (2P)
MOD LITES
Feature: Jeff Isabell Jr. (14), Larry Hubbard Jr. (56)< Austin Martin (97), Josh Sliter (17), Morghan Johnson (1), Brent Begolo (16), Bo Bass (41B), Sean Iftody (27), Anthony Stewart (33K), Dylan Dunn (22D), Rob Misener (6), Randy Giroux (88), Ryleigh Sliter (17x), Frank Winewski (16W), J.T. Joiner (6j), Jeff Bonnema (5B), Codey Benoit (5x), Alex Cline (07c)
| 360 Sprints – Points | |||||
| Place | Driver | # | Total | 2/17/2022 | 2/18/2022 |
| 1 | Mark Smith | 43 | 78 | 40 | 38 |
| 2 | Sam Hafertepe Jr | 15H | 68 | 38 | 30 |
| 3 | Ryan Smith | 10x | 68 | 34 | 34 |
| 4 | Aaron Reutzel | 8 | 66 | 26 | 40 |
| 5 | Dylan Westbrook | 47x | 64 | 32 | 32 |
| 6 | Terry McCarl | 24x | 60 | 36 | 24 |
| 7 | Garrett Green | 82 | 50 | 14 | 36 |
| 8 | Carson McCarl | 27 | 48 | 20 | 28 |
| 9 | Eric Riggins Jr | 47R | 45 | 30 | 15 |
| 10 | Dale Howard | 47 | 43 | 17 | 26 |
| 11 | Danny Smith | 66 | 42 | 22 | 20 |
| 12 | Danny Martin Jr | 24 | 41 | 24 | 17 |
| 13 | Aj Maddox | 3A | 39 | 28 | 11 |
| 14 | Dustin Gates | 6 | 38 | 16 | 22 |
| 15 | Tony Bruce Jr | 12H | 33 | 19 | 14 |
| 16 | Ryan Harrison | 197 | 28 | 18 | 10 |
| 17 | Christopher Thram | 24T | 26 | 21 | 5 |
| 18 | Wayne Johnson | 2c | 26 | 5 | 21 |
| 19 | Greg Wilson | 97w | 25 | 13 | 12 |
| 20 | Matt Kurtz | 92 | 24 | 5 | 19 |
| 21 | Phil Gressman | 7c | 23 | 5 | 18 |
| 22 | Chris Martin | 44 | 21 | 5 | 16 |
| 23 | Johnny Gilbertson | 22 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| 24 | Davie Franek | 28F | 20 | 11 | 9 |
| 25 | Max Stambaugh | 5m | 18 | 5 | 13 |
| 26 | Paul Colagiovanni Jr | 10 | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| 27 | Ricky Peterson Jr | 2P | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| 28 | Shone Evans | 87x | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 29 | Tim Shaffer | 28 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 30 | Aaron Jacobus | 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 31 | Andrew Jacobus | 7 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 32 | Ben Brown | 7B | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 33 | Brayden Cooley | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 34 | Brendan Mullen | 11m | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 35 | Cody Bova | 20B | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 36 | Conner Morrell | 28m | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 37 | Dallas Schott | 55 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 38 | Dan Nanticoke | 15 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 39 | Frank Neill | 88n | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 40 | Garet Williamson | 24w | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 41 | Glenn Styres | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 42 | Hayden Campbell | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 43 | Jacob Dykestra | 5D | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 44 | Jax Redline | 22J | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 45 | Liam Martin | 9 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 46 | Luke Hill | 41 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 47 | Mark Ruel Jr | 83 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 48 | Matt Tanner | 90 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 49 | Parker Evans | 61 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 50 | Scotty Milan | 97 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 51 | Shane Redline | 22x | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 52 | Shawn Murray | 92m | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 53 | Slater Helt | 22s | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 54 | Steve Diamond Jr | 9D | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 55 | Steve Glover | 121 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 56 | Whit Gastineau | 2G | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 57 | Zane Devault | 7 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Mod Lites – Points | |||||
| 1 | Cody Benoit | 5x | 74 | 40 | 34 |
| 2 | Larry Hubbard Jr | 56 | 66 | 34 | 32 |
| 3 | Josh Sliter | 17 | 60 | 24 | 36 |
| 4 | Sean Iftody | 27 | 60 | 30 | 30 |
| 5 | Randy Giroux | 88 | 59 | 19 | 40 |
| 6 | Brent Begolo | 16 | 53 | 36 | 17 |
| 7 | Rob Misener | 6 | 52 | 28 | 24 |
| 8 | Anthony Stewart | 33K | 47 | 32 | 15 |
| 9 | Jt Joiner | 6J | 46 | 20 | 26 |
| 10 | Austin Martin | 97 | 44 | 22 | 22 |
| 11 | Jeff Bonnema | 5B | 44 | 26 | 18 |
| 12 | Doug Williams | 14 | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| 13 | Jeff Isabell Jr | 14 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| 14 | Morghan Johnson | 1 | 38 | 17 | 21 |
| 15 | Bo Bass | 41B | 36 | 16 | 20 |
| 16 | Ryleigh Sliter | 17x | 34 | 21 | 13 |
| 17 | Kyle Demo | 22 | 31 | 15 | 16 |
| 18 | Dylan Dunn | 22D | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 19 | Alex Cline | 07c | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 20 | Thomas Walsh | 32T | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 21 | Frank Winewski | 16w | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 22 | Brad Harris | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The second night of the final three-night session of the 2022 Winternationals ended with a familiar face in Victory Lane as 2020 King of the 360s Aaron Reutzel picked up the win in the 25-lap main. Reutzel started in fourth, but quickly came into the top three before making the winning pass on lap 17.
Louisiana’s Dustin Gates jumped into the lead from the pole position he had earned with the most passing points, coming from tenth to second in his heat. His time at the front was brief as Reutzel claimed the point on lap 2. With Reutzel in command, the first caution flew on lap 3, bunching the field. Friday winner Mark Smith moved into second on the restart and grabbed the lead on lap 8 as the leaders hit lapped traffic. As Smith was working through the backmarkers, he bobbled off turn two, opening the door for Garrett Green to grab the lead. Smith got back in front two laps later. Reutzel committed to the top and began to chew up the ground to catch the leader. Reutzel slipped by on lap 17 and paced the field to the checkered flag ahead of Smith and Green.
The field of 24 cars consisted of 19 drivers who had been in the A-main on Thursday with five newcomers getting a shot at glory.
Heat races were won by Reutzel, Green, Carson McCarl, Ryan Harrison, Tony Bruce Jr., and Mark Smith. B main winners were Danny Martin Jr., Greg Wilson, Paul Colagiovanni Jr. and Davie Franek.
The top six drivers in the two-night point standings were locked into the Saturday A-main. Those drivers were Mark Smith, Sam Hafertepe Jr., Ryan Smith, Aaron Reutzel, Dylan Westbrook and Terry McCarl.
Randy Giroux captured the Mod Lite 20-lap feature, taking the lead near the halfway point of the 20-lap feature. Thursday winner Codey Benoit was the early leader until Giroux powered by on the outside down the backstretch. Giroux was able to build a lead, but faced familiar foes Doug Williams and Josh Sliter in his quest for victory. Williams was making his first start after travel issues prevented him from competing on Thursday.
Heat winners were Giroux, Brent Begolo and Benoit. The top six Mod Lites were also locked in. Those moving in automatically are Codey Benoit, Larry Hubbard Jr., Josh Sliter, Sean Iftody, Randy Giroux and Brent Begolo.
The King of the 360s will be crowned Saturday night as the 2022 Winternationals comes to a close. Race time is 7 p.m.
360 SPRINTS
Feature: Aaron Reutzel (8), Mark Smith (43), Garrett Green (82), Ryan Smith (10x), Dylan Westbrook (47x), Sam Hafertepe Jr. (15H), Carson McCarl (27), Dale Howard (47), Terry McCarl (24x), Dustin Gates (6), Wayne Johnson (2x), Danny Smith (66), Matt Kurtz (92), Phil Gressman (7c), Danny Martin Jr. (24), Chris Martin (44), Eric Riggins Jr. (47R), Tony Bruce Jr. (12H), Max Stambaugh (5M), Greg Wilson (97W), A.J. Maddox (3A), Ryan Harrison (197), Davey Franek (28F), Paul Colagiovanni Jr. (10)
MOD LITES
Feature: Randy Giroux (88), Doug Williams (14), Josh Sliter (17), Codey Benoit (5x), Larry Hubbard Jr. (56), Sean Iftody (27), Dylan Dunn (22D), J.T. Joiner (6J), Rob Misener (6), Austin Martin (97), Morghan Johnson (1), Bo Bass (41B), Alex Cline (07c), Jeff Bonnema (5B), Brent Begolo (16), Kyle Demo (22), Anthony Stewart (33K), Frank Wisnewski (16w), Ryleigh Sliter (17x)
Note to Drivers who competed in Winternationals during Crate Racin’ USA events.
The 604 results are now final. Checks for official finishes are being mailed no later than Saturday, Feb. 20 for those who are not regulars at East Bay. Thank you for your support and hope to see you again.
Regular/local East Bay racers in the 604 class can pick up their checks at the track office during business hours Tuesday through Friday 10-4. If you wish to have your check mailed, contact the office.
The 602 results have not been deemed official by series officials. Payout will come at a later date.
