The Late Model Sportsman class would have nine appearances on the 2019 schedule to give the competitors a chance at dethroning 2018 champion Forrest Gough.

When the season opened on March 9, Gough would pick up where he left off the previous year, recording a feature win. He would back it up the following week with his second feature win in as many tries.

As the month of March ended, it would be a new face in Victory Lane as Megan Meyer charged to the lead in the 15-lap main and no one could catch her before the checkered flag came out.

With only one schedule appearance in April and May, Gough got back on his winning ways with both of those victories giving him four wins in five tries.

A combination of Mother Nature and scheduling forced the class out of action for nearly six months. When the Late Model Sportsman were able to race on November 2, it was Waylon Haynes who saw his hard work pay off with a victory. The following week, Gough was back in Victory Lane. Bruce Harvey put his name in the record books as the month of November concluded.

The final night of racing came on December 7. Gough had already clinched the point title in the class, but added a feature win to bookend the season.

There were 26 different drivers in the class, which averaged 7.6 cars per feature event.

2019 Top Five – Late Model Sportsman

1. Forrest Gough (21) 419
2. Buck Woodhouse (55) 284
3. Tanner Cobb (03T) 207
4. Scotty Williams (27W) 195
5. Megan Meyer (11M) 127

It would be a busy year for the Pro Late Model class with several longer races and memorial races included on the 2019 schedule.

Veteran Keith Nosbisch opened up the action by triumphing in the opening program on opening night March 2. The Pro Late Models would appear three times in the month of March and the winner would be the same, but the driver finishing second was different every time.

There would be 26 cars signed in for the Donnie Tanner Memorial, which would feature a 50-lap main. Devin Dixon laid claim to the victory on April 6.

When racing returned in May, Nosbisch bested a field of 12 on Full House Night. As June opened, Travis Varnadore would notch his first win of the year, capturing the Prevatt Family Memorial before the summer break.

Pro Late Models kicked off the second half od the year with the Jack Nosbisch Memorial Twin 20s. Keith Nosbisch took both of the wins.

After a visit by the Florida Late Model Series (won by Chuck Cumby), points racing resumed with the October 5 running of the Gene Slaughter Memorial Twin 20s. Keith Nosbisch took the first feature win, then found himself winner of the second feature after the winner was disqualified.

Jeff Mathews would bring a victory to his camp on November 2, but Nosbisch would solidify his points title with his ninth feature win on November 16.

The final event of 2019, the Dalton Myers Memorial 54, saw Kyle Bronson make a triumphant return in his only 2019 appearance.

The average car count was a respectable 17.3 cars per event, including several where the car count exceeded 25. There were 49 drivers who recorded points for the 2019 season. Including the visitors for the Florida Late Models, there were 60 different Late Model drivers at East Bay during the regular season.

2019 Top 5 – Pro Late Models

1. Keith Nosbisch (02) 551
2. Phillip Cobb (03) 384
3. Travis Varnadore (95V) 382
4. Jason Russell (75R) 302
5. Jesse Brown (7) 280

2019 in Review Outlaw 4s

The 2019 schedule would include eight appearances for the Outlaw 4 class, starting with the second week of the new season.

Defending class champion Brandon Yates would roll to a win in the first outing on March 9, the start of his defense of the track title. In week 2, a new driver in the class for the season would prevail in the feature. Nick Hebrank, who had won the Street Stock on the night when Yates won the Outlaw 4 main in March, would return to the class while the engine in his Street Stock was being rebuilt. Yates would become the first (and only) multiple winner by winning his second main on May 4.

The class would have a three-month break, but Yates showed no signs of rust in returning to Victory Lane on August 31. Yates would solidify his position atop the point standings with two more wins on September 21 and November 2.

Despite his stranglehold on Victory Lane, Yates could not lock up the point championship due to consistent finishes by Eric Knight and Stephen Hohlbaugh, who were regulars in the top three. Knight would eventually break through to claim his feature win on November 16. Cecil Martin closed off the year with a feature win on the final night of the 2019 season on December 14.

There would be 19 drivers in the class in 2019 with four drivers (Hohlbaugh, Knight, Yates and Candice Kealy) recording perfect attendance. Average car count was 9.8.

2019 Top 5 – Outlaw 4s

1. Brandon Yates (53) 369
2. Eric Knight (7) 323
3. Stephen Hohlbaugh (23s) 316
4. Vernon Hart (48) 267
5. Mark Moniz (41E) 259

2019 in Review – Mod Lites

In 2020, East Bay Raceway Park offered Mod Lite competition as a regular class and the drivers responded in great number. When the first date appeared on the calendar on April 6, the pit area brimmed with talent. A field of 18 cars took the green in the 15-lap main, won by Austin Martin of Sarasota.

On each of the subsequent visits by the division, it would be Martin who would repeat the feat as feature winner. Larry Hubbard Jr. had a pair of runnerup finishes in the first two events. On June 1, there were 24 cars in the pit area.

The summer break left the division with only three shows remaining on the schedule. When the class returned on September 7, Martin picked up where he left off, recording his fourth feature win of the year. The October 5 would have a different outcome as Darren Bass powered to the front and led o the finish to record his feature win. The season closed with Martin, who had clinched the point championship just by appearing, claiming his fifth feature win of the year.

The support in the first year was noteworthy as the car count was over 15 on five of the six appearances. Average car count was 17 and there were 32 different drivers who made a visit to East Bay Raceway Park in 2019.

2019 Top 5 – Mod Lites

1. Austin Martin (97) 272
2. Brian Teeters (44T) 219
3. Larry Hubbard Jr. (56) 212
4. Bo Bass (14B) 204
5. Andrew Smith (71) 168

2019 in Review – Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Micro Sprints

After their appearance during the final week of the 2019 Winternationals, the Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Micro Sprints roared back into competition on March 9 to start the 2019 regular season. Larry Rarer, who had claimed a victory during the Winternationals, backed up the special event win by posting a decisive first victory of the racing season.

In fact, Rarer would parlay the opening win into a five-race win streak to start the year. No one was able to break the stranglehold that Rarer had on the wins as the 97Z parked in victory lane in every March, April and May event.

The long summer hiatus changed things for the class. When the division returned on September 21, it would be Jerod Meyers who would take the position in Victory Lane at the end of the event. Now competing in the #7 ride for the family race team, Meyers was joined in Victory Lane by the jubilant team from Lakeland.

Polk County would continue to occupy the cherished position as the D & D Motorsports team was finally able to get the monkey off their backs. Doug Dyal recorded his first feature win on November 2 and liked it so much that he came back to Victory Lane a week later.

The story didn’t end there and there would be another multiple winner in the class before the season ended. John Inman, in his first start of the year on November 30, successfully claimed the top spot in his 59x. The next time the division came calling, it was the final night of the year. Inman backed up his previous effort by claiming a hard-fought win to round out the year.

There were 21 drivers who competed in the Micro Sprints with an average of 10.8 cars in attendance when the group was on the schedule.

2019 Top Five – Micro Sprints

1. Larry Rarer (97z) 415
2. Paul Seburn (23) 388
3. Doug Dyal (97D) 359
4. Chris Livernois Jr. (71) 306
5. Jerod Meyers (0) 293

Results of the Dec. 14 tire sampling.

The 2019 season at East Bay Raceway came to a close with six divisions in action, headlined by the Pro Late Models competing in the 54-lap Dalton Myers Memorial. Kyle Bronson went wire-to-wire to claim the $5,400 top prize.

Heat winners Wallace Peacock, Jeff Mathews, Mavrick Varnadore and Alex Boerner would find themselves in the third and fourth rows as the heat race runners-up would claim the first four spots. Kyle Bronson would share the front row with Adam Boyd while Travis Varnadore would be inside Forrest Gough.

When the green flag flew, Bronson wasted no time asserting himself in the top spot. The green would be out for just three laps as a pair of cautions bunched the 25-car field with little change in position. It would be Boyd who would be the one in position to seek out the leader, but Bronson was able to put distance between himself and any pursuing competitor. Mavrick Varnadore and Jeff Mathews would take turns lining up behind the leader as a handful of cautions came out between laps 11 and 24. Once the race was able to stay green for a long period, Bronson displayed patience in picking spots through lap cars. At one point, the leader managed to keep five cars between himself and Mathews. The final caution came out on lap 50, but it didn’t change the narrative as Bronson secured the win. It marked a return to victory for the Dalton Myers Memorial for Bronson, who nearly claimed last year’s as well.

Juston Meeks broke through for his first feature win of the season in the V-8 Warriors. Meeks, who dropped from the previous feature last week due to fuel issues, made sure the car was in top shape for the night’s action and the determined drive brought the desired outcome. George Handy, who finished third in the main after winning a heat, claimed the track championship. Gary Lucas scored a heat win as well.

The parade of first time winners actually started in the Outlaw 4s as Cecil Martin parlayed his second row starting spot to a feature win in the 15-lap main. Martin grabbed the lead quickly at the start and kept heat winner Dorsey Strickland behind him through the majority of the chase. Heat winner Brandon Yates claimed the championship, backing up his 2018 title.

John Inman backed up his feature win earlier this year by repeating in the 12-lap Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Micro Sprint action. The feature win gave Inman a clean sweep of the night’s racing. Larry Rarer claimed the track title in the division.

Robert Kissam had been absent from Victory Lane for a long time, coming close on several occasion. For this night, as the final feature of the year, Kissam would not be denied, charging to the win.  Daniel Bowman, Dustin Wilson and Thomas Adams closed their seasons with heat race wins.

Charlie Sanders came back to Victory Lane in the Florida Old Time Modifieds, claiming his second win of the year, after Jamie Frankland bested the field in the heat.

The next auto racing action will be held in January as the 44^th annual Winternationals will kick off on January 21. The complete schedule can be found at www.ebrp.co.

Thank you for your support in 2019. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from East Bay Raceway Park

PRO LATE MODELS

Dalton Myers Memorial: Kyle Bronson (40B), Jeff Mathews (33), Steve Mathis Jr. (95), Ashton Winger (9w), Travis Varnadore (95V), Mavrick Varnadore (95M), Alex Boerner (54), Daniel Woody (29), Bill Howard (45), Raymond Folwell (3), Tod Hernandez (0), Cole Crawford (4), Jason Russell (75R), Adam Boyd (6B), Megan Meyer (11M), Keith Nosbisch (02), TJ LaFlamboy (4×4), Jesse Brown (7), Steven Brendle (141), Wallace Peacock (21P), Josh Peacock (9), Thomas Burnside (13B), Dustin Perez (8), Forrest Gough (21). DNS – Tanner Cobb (03T), Devin Dixon (313)

V-8 WARRIORS

Feature: Juston Meeks (10), Gary Lucas (23), George Handy (105), Wayne Kissam (07), Jason Burnside (12J), Kayla Handy (18), Kalen Maynard (2), Billy Smith (00), Macy Bozeman (58). DNS – Cody Gibson (189)

OUTLAW 4s

Feature: Cecil Martin (15), Dorsey Strickland (47), Brandon Yates (53), Stephen Hohlbaugh (23s), Brittany Folwell (22), Eric Knight (7), Vernon Hart (48), Mark Moniz (41E), Jake Hampton (19), James Braswell (88), Alan Weeks (5), Candice Kealy (D4R)

Q AUTO & INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS MICRO SPRINTS

Feature: John Inman (59x), Doug Dyal (97D), Paul Seburn (23), Chris Livernois Jr. (71), Corey Dyal (00D), Larry Rarer (97z), Jerod Meyers (7), JoJo Davis (27). DNS – Joe Bartow

STUDIO RED SALON GLADIATORS

Feature: Robert Kissam (911), Kyle Bowman (46k), Logan Casteel (7), Patrick Tabb (0o3), Dustin Wilson (42), Thomas Adams (T2), Tracy Maynard (62), Jeff Smith (15), Tyler Davis (1), Daniel Bowman (46), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Alyssa Grant (36g), Davey Martin (55), Derrick Edwards (17), Trevor Johnson (05), Terry Burke (16), David Zemar (13), Bailey Purcell (14). DNS – Nick McAllister (97M). DQ – Rodney Martin (21)

The Saturday night racing featured two “Topless” divisions as the competitors in the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds and Late Model Sportsman took off the roofs for a night’s action. In each division, it was a repeat winner and, since it was the last night of the season for those two classes, it was the 2019 champion parked in Victory Lane.

In the Modifieds, Bryan Bernhardt captured the lead from Drew Jackson on the fourth lap to motor on to his seventh feature win of the year. The win gave Bernhardt a repeat class championship and he announced in Victory Lane that everything was for sale for anyone interested in pursuing a racing career. Heat race wins were claimed by Dale Kelley and Austin Sanders.

Forrest Gough took home his sixth feature, racing past Megan Meyer on the third lap. Gough, who also won an earlier heat race, backed up the 2018 division title. Bruce Harvey won an earlier preliminary.

It was a repeat winner parked in Victory Lane for the Street Stock class. Tim Gay started in the second row, not a preferred starting spot, but it all worked out. Paul Davis took the early lead, only to have Gay make his way to the front on the second lap. The outcome was far from decided as two-time feature winner Thomas Pratt asserted himself as a strong challenger. Gay refused to budge, keeping the top position to the end to park in Victory Lane for the sixth time. Gay and Pratt were heat winners to start the night.

The V-8 Warrior class also had a repeat winner with Collin Kruse taking advantage of Raymond Rogers Jr.’s misfortune. Rogers looked well in command until a lap 9 caution forced a slowdown and Rogers exited the track, losing a big lead in the process. Gary Lucas inherited the lead, but it did not take long for Kruse to take command. Kruse held the top spot for the remaining three laps, scoring his second feature win. Lucas and Wayne Kissam started their night with heat wins.

Robby Hoffmann kept his perfect record intact, winning his 11^th feature of the year. Hoffmann had to hunt down early race leader Jamie Tinkham to get into position for the victory. The win in the caution-free main backed up Hoffman’s heat race win at the beginning of the night.

Kyle Bowman backed up the win of last week in the Studio Red Salon Gladiators, coming from the rear of the 14-car field to steal away the top spot on the outside pass. Tracy Maynard had the early lead, only to see Ricky Rutledge grab it away on lap 2. Rutledge would have his hands full with Daniel Bowman and while that was taking place, Kyle Bowman moved steadily through the pack. Kyle Bowman took the lead at the race’s midway point, en route to his sixth win.

The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association brought a field of 12 cars with Cush Revette Jr. claiming the Modifieds, Jimmy Miltner in the Sprints and Ted Filides in the Midgets.

The racing action continues next Saturday night with the running of the Dalton Myers Memorial, a 54-lap main event for the Pro Late Models. The program will also feature V-8 Warriors, Studio Red Salon Gladiators, Outlaw 4s, Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Micro Sprints and Florida Old Time Modifieds.

GAGEL’S OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS

Feature: Bryan Bernhardt (B69), Drew Jackson (08), Eric Moon (18), Austin Sanders (64), Dale Kelley (22), Paul Rivall (15R), Randy Shields (49), Billy Howard (47), David Pollen Jr. (88), Don Crandall (9c), Wesley Duboise (12). DNS – Scott Bane (23S)

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Feature: Forrest Gough (21), Bruce Harvey (27), Megan Rae Meyer (11M), Tim Dowling (12), Cole Crawford (4), Jesse Brown (7), Thomas Burnside (13B), Buck Woodhouse (55), T.J. LaFlamboy (4×4). DQ – Steve Mathis (95)

STREET STOCKS

Feature: Tim Gay (90), Thomas Pratt (22), Nick Hebrank (24), John Bradley (57), Paul Davis (10), Billy Barstow (56), Matt Bozeman (58), Mike Wilson (89), Mark Roadarmel Jr. (66), PeeWee Dowling (55), Henry Burnside (31), Raymond Folwell (3), Derek Gray (B75), Cody Gibson (189)

V-8 WARRIORS

Feature: Collin Kruse (92), Wayne Kissam (07), Gary Lucas (23), Kayla Handy (18), Billy Smith (00), J.D. Gillette (64), Macy Bozeman (58), Bo Anderson (95), B.J. Feiden (115), Juston Meeks (10), Raymond Rogers Jr. (48), Jason Burnside (12J), Raymond Vann (1), George Handy (105)

Q AUTO & INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS MINI-SPRINTS

Feature: Robby Hoffmann (66), Jamie Tinkham (51), Zack Amundsen (12), Bruce Comer (21), Dennis Sanchez (9s), Brad Sutton (9), JoJo Davis (7J), Mike Meyers (7)

STUDIO RED SALON GLADIATORS

Feature: Kyle Bowman (46k), Daniel Bowman (46), Rodney Martin (21), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Logan Casteel (7), Tracy Maynard (62), Thomas Adams (T2), Tyler Davis (1), Robert Kissam (911), Nick McAllister (97M), Davey Martin (55), Terry Burke (16), Patrick Tabb (03), Alyssa Grant (36g). DNS – Derrick Edwards (17), Bailey Purcell (14B)