With just under 100 cars in the pit area, fans at East Bay Raceway Park were treated to some exciting racing for the start of the month of October.

A field of 26 Pro Late Models gathered for the second annual Gene Slaughter Memorial Twin 20s, honoring the longtime track tire man. Three heat events set the field for the first 20-lapper as Tanner Cobb, Steve Mathis and Jeff Mathews prevailed in the preliminaries.

A field of 23 would gather for the first event. Phillip Cobb had the early lead, but found himself challenged by six-time feature winner Keith NOsbisch. On a lap five restart, Nosbisch was able to make his move for the lead. Things got a little hairy when the leaders hit lapped traffic on lap 10. Tommy Prince spun in the backstretch with the car of John Norris climbing onto the disabled racer. Only quick action saved leader Nosbisch from being caught up in the melee. On the restart, Tarvis Varnadore was able to shoot past three cars to move into second and begin to harass the leader. After initially slipping back, Mathews was able to work back into the conversation, passing Varnadore. At one point, Mathews slipped past the leader, but Nosbisch was able to duck down to reclaim the position and roll on to his seventh win of the year.

In the second feature, which saw 21 cars take the green, it was all about Bruce Harvey. Masterfully working his way through traffic, Harvey was able to focus on his own race and not worry about the ones trying to catch him. It proved to be the winning formula as Harvey took home his first East Bay Pro Late Model main event. Nosbisch was charging to the back bumper of the leader with two laps to go, but the steady drive by Harvey denied a repeat winner.

This night also saw the second night of the Mini Fall Brawl and the competitors in the Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Mini-Sprints responded in a resounding fashion. Last month, there were 30 cars on hand for the opening round and this time, the car count climbed to 35. The large field brought the first B main in a division since the Winternationals. Four heats were won by Dusty Cates, Robby Hoffmann, Robbie Smith and Bruce Comer. From the start, Hoffmann made a statement that would not be denied. Grabbing the lead as the field completed its first lap, Hoffmann stretched out an insurmountable lead, Despite three yellow flags bunching the field, there would be no denying Hoffmann’s return to Victory Lane, running his regular season win streak to 8 races in addition to Winternationals victories in 2019. The B main was won by Zack Amundsen, who was unable to compete in his heat race, but led the four transfers from the consy.

The evening’s activity opened with Mod Lites and the class saw a new winner in Victory Lane at the end of the 15-lap, 17 car feature. Darren Bass swept by point leader Austin Martin in heavy traffic to pull out to the top spot on lap five. Bass kept up the assault through the field and he was never challenged en route to the win. Tim McLeod and Larry Hubbard Jr. opened the night with wins in their preliminaries.

A new winner was also crowned in V-8 Warrior action as Collin Kruse took over to claim the win in the 15-lap main. Kruse and Nick Brown were respective winners of the heat race.

Point leader Matt Bozeman finally broke through to lay claim to a Street Stock feature race, taking the lead from teammate Billy Barstow early on. Bozeman also won his heat race.

Danny Bowman brought home the wins in the heat and feature for the Florida Old Time Modifieds.

Racing action resumes next week, Saturday, Oct. 12, with the BOOMTRUX.COM non-wing Top Gun Sprints (rescheduled from August 17). The Gagel’s Modifieds, Street, Stocks, V-8 Warriors, Wingless Mini-Sprints, Studio Red Salon Gladiators and Florida Old Time Modifieds join the action.

PRO LATE MODELS

Feature #1: Keith Nosbisch (02), Jeff Mathews (33), Travis Varnadore (95V), Bruce Harvey (27), Jimmy Waldrop (9), Steven Brendle (141), Thomas Burnside (13B), Waylon Haynes (11), Josh Peacock (0), Phillip Cobb (03), Daniel Woody (29), Scotty Williams (27W), Roger Crouse (15), Forrest Gough (21), Jason Russell (75R), Steve Mathis Jr. (95), Dustin {Perez (8), Tommy Price (71), John Norris (87), Jason Pope (102), Keven Devrieze (99), Billy Boyd Sr. (3), Tim Dowling (12D). DNS – Tanner Cobb (03T), Jesse Brown (7), D.J. Sanders (48)

Feature #2: Harvey, Nosbisch, Waldrop, P. Cobb, Gough, Varnadore, Mathis, Mathews, Dowling, Brendle, Devrieze, Pope, Burnside, Haynes, Boyd, Russell, Perez, Peacock, Woody, Crouse, Williams. DNS – T. Cobb, Brown, Prince, Sanders, Norris

Q AUTO & INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS MINI SPRINTS

Feature: Robby Hoffmann (66), Kenny Brewer (45), Robbie Smith (77), Austin Craddock (17), Steve Diamond (x9), Zack Amundsen (12), Jordan Feagle (26), Kevin McKenzie (7), Joe Askew (78J), Paige Moss (95), Bruce Comer (21), Jamie Tinkham (51), A.J. Parrish (88), Dirk Miller (68), Brad Sutton (9), Don Quinn (33), Rhea Lynn Moss (23), David Hall (67), Russ Heider (86), John Crowder (30), Dennis Sanchez (9s), Dusty Cates (6), Eddie Moss (30x), Zac Gorski (33G)

B Main: Amundsen, Gorski, R. Moss, Sanchez, Chris Silva (26s), Lee Gower (22x), Rob Vigh (5), Wayne Feagle (66F), Chris Diamond (9D), Ron Leonardini (4), Jake Salvati (17J), Charles Kalck (22), Donnie Quinn (33D), Mike Meyers (7M), Bailee Spitulski (29P). DNS – Joe Bartow (3)

MOD LITES
Feature: Darren Bass (14B), Brian Teeters (44T), Tim McLeod (28M), Austin Martin (97), Alex Cline (07), Larry Hubbard Jr. (56), Bo Bass (25), Andrew Smith (71), Cody Benoit (7), Russell Campbell (27), Aaron Stalling (31A), David Santee (15), Jeff Bannema (5B), Dalton Ellis (44), Brodrick Kennedy (06), Roger Wolfe (83), James McGroarty (07)

V-8 WARRIORS

Feature: Collin Kruse (92), Jason Burnside (12j), George Handy (105), Chris Zimmerman (30), Gary Lucas (23), Kevin Cassaday (7), Wayne Kissam (07), Jeff Weaver (26), Kalen Maynard (2), Nick Brown (12), Rhett Wilson (1X), Macy Bozeman (58)

STREET STOCKS

Feature: Matt Bozeman (58), Henry Burnside (31), Billy Barstow (56), Mark Roadarmel Jr. (B75), Billy Ray Johnson (59). DNS – Robert Tyler (99), Mike Wilson (89), Raymond Folwell (22)

FLORIDA OLD TIME MODS

Feature: Danny Bowman (00), Charlie Sanders (7A), Dan Darnell (111), Jamie Frankland (1). DNS – Tom McDonald (22)

For the first time in over four months, the Top Gun Sprint Series made a return to East Bay Raceway Park in front of a crowd hungry for winged Sprint action. At the end of it all, a new East Bay winner stood in Victory Lane, thanks to a late race pass that opened the door for victory.

Harley Zimmerman slipped past Brandon Grubaugh on lap 24 of the 25-lap main to secure the win. Zimmerman and Grubaugh had been locked in battle throughout most of the race, but it was a battle for second most of the time. Race leader Billy Bridges was able to keep the hard charging duo at bay through most of the contest. Grubaugh took the lead on lap 17 and held the point until Zimmerman came calling.

With his win, Zimmerman picked up an additional $300 in the Jeff & Lee Barfield Memorial Clean Sweep, a bonus offered to a heat race winner who captures the feature. AJ Maddox and Grubaugh were other heat winner

The race got off to a slow start as a multi-car crash saw the car of series point leader Keith Butler on its side before a lap was complete. Butler’s crew was able to make the repairs needed to get him back into action before losing a lap. The race was red flagged a second time when DJ Peeples experienced handling issues and a hard-charging Tim George had nowhere to go, flipping along the front stretch fence and destroying a fast race car.

The annual Gary Gay Memorial for Street Stocks drew a field of 21cars for a 25-lap main. Defending champion Tim Gay started the feature on the pole, but it was outside polesitter Tim Powers who asserted command. It was clear that Gay wanted the repeat win, but Powers would not give up the top spot. At race end, it was Thomas Pratt who had the best shot, but Powers was not to be denied, capturing his first East Bay win of 2019. Heat victories went to Gay, Pratt and Powers.

The Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Micro-Sprint main had all of the makings of business as usual as point leader Larry Rarer had worked to a comfortable lead in pursuit of his sixth straight main. With two laps remaining, a mechanical issue stymied Rarer’s bid, handing the lead to heat race winner Joe Taylor. Taylor’s luck would not be much better and an opportunity was presented to second generation racer Jerod Meyers, who would not be denied. Meyers brought home the family ride (complete with a “For Sale” sign) to score his first win of the year in a race that saw three different leaders in the last two laps.

Point leader George Handy asserted himself early to secure his fourth feature win of the year to open the Saturday program, backing up his heat win of earlier in the V-8 Warrior division.

Brandon Yates continued his dominance of the Outlaw 4 class as the defending champion rolled to his fourth straight win. Yates and Eric Knight finished on top in the heat races.

Danny Bowman closed off the action-packed night by outdueling Charlie Sanders to win the Florida Old Time Modifieds main. Tom McDonald had won the heat.

The next action for East Bay Raceway Park will take place on Saturday, October 5. Pro Late Models return for the running of the Gene Slaughter Memorial Twin 20s. Joining the action will be Street Stocks, V-8 Warriors, Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys wingless Mini-Sprints, Mod-Lites and Florida Old Time Modifieds. Race time is 6:30 p.m. at the Clay by the Bay

TOP GUN SPRINTS

Feature: Harley Zimmerman (00), Brandon Grubaugh (G6), Billy Bridges (11), Garrett Green (82), AJ Maddox (3A), Keith Butler (19), Matt Kurtz (20), Joe Zuczek (50), Johnny Alexander (3T), Luke Hill (41), Guy Bos (3K), Scott Baldwin (4), Jeff Bye (26), Chris Hahn (2), D.J. Peeples (30), Tim George (1*), Bryan Eckley (12B), Michael Steinruck (44A), Dylan Colding (23D), Frank Beck (89), Kyle Connery (91), Nathan Barouch (13), Hayden Campbell (5), Nikki Voisey (96). DNS – Bruce Durden (17D)

STREET STOCKS

Gary Gay Memorial: Tim Powers (44), Thomas Pratt (22), Tim Gay (90), Justin Rodgers (05), Robert Allen (98), Matt Bozeman (58), Jerry Bruce (35), Randy Shields (30), Billy Barstow (56), Carl Malone (7), John Bradley (57), Jeff Rodgers (95), Billy Ray Johnson (59), Mike Wilson (68), David McCormack (26), David Hildebrant (3H), Doug Johnson (09), Paul Davis (10), Henry Burnside (31), William Pugh (15), Marco Reyes (93R)

Q AUTO & INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS MICRO SPRINTS

Feature: Jerod Meyers (7), Paul Seburn (23), Joe Taylor (29), Wade Evans (27), Larry Rarer (97z), Doug Dyal (97D), Brian Baxter (98), Corey Dyal (00D), William Burnside (13), William Brannan Jr. (60), Mike Meyers (0). DNS – Chris Livernois (71)

OUTLAW 4S

Feature: Brandon Yates (53), Eric Knight (7), Stephen Hohlbaugh (23S), Vernon Hart (48), Mark Moniz (41E), Candice Kealy (D4R), Candie Wright (42), Michael Ridgeway (47), Robert Schrunk (03), Bob Fleming (88)

V-8 WARRIORS

Feature: George Handy (105), Jason Burnside (12J), Wayne Kissam (07), Juston Meeks (10), Gary Lucas (23), Macy Bozeman (58), Nate Whitehurst (07W), Mark Pickelsimer (6). DQ – Collin Kruse (92)

It is with heavy hearts that we have to say good bye to another of our racing family.  It is never easy to say goodbye to our loved ones, but to have to do it at such a young age is even harder.  Joey Vital Jr. passed away on September 6 at the age of 22.   Our prayers go out to his fiancé Brittanie Josephson and his daughter Brooklyn.   Joey was a member of the Boyd family that has always been such a big part of the racing family at East Bay.  Our thoughts and prayers are with each of them during this time.  The Celebration of Life Service for Joey will be held at the First Baptist Church of Gibsonton tomorrow, Friday, September 13^th at 2:00 PM.   The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.    Please keep the Josephson, Boyd, Vital and Burnett families in your prayers.

As the calendar tipped into September, East Bay Raceway Park saw the highest car count of the season as the six-division program brought 119 cars into the jam-packed pit area. The Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Wingless Mini-Sprints led the parade as 30 cars signed in for the first round of the Mini Fall Brawl.

The Florida Late Model Series made the first visit of the season to the Clay by the Bay. As race number five of the travelling series schedule, several series regulars made their first visit of the year, but it wasn’t obvious. Point leader Chuck Cumby showed why he holds the top spot, taking the race lead in the late stages of the 25-lap main.

Polesitter Steve Mathis would be the class of the field from the start as Bruce Harvey made a nice move coming off the fourth turn on the first lap to secure second. Harvey would prove to be the early challenger, but Mathis would maintain the point. Meanwhile, Cumby found himself just inside the top five until a restart near the halfway mark. With a powerful drive off turn two, Cumby went from fifth to directly behind Harvey. On a subsequent restart, Cumby was posted outside, but still made the pass to secure second. From there, he closed in on Mathis as leader and runner-up were hunting down lapped traffic. Mathis got caught up behind Dennis Williams and made contact which broke his momentum. Cumby seized the opportunity to grab the lead that would never be given back. Mathis, Harvey and Forrest Gough would secure heat race wins.

The Mini Fall Brawl had originally been planned for August, but weather problems forced the first round to September. The 30 cars contested four heat races, won by Robby Hoffmann, Jamie Tinkham, Austin Craddock and Jordan Feagle. The 15-lap main event saw Hoffmann dive to the bottom to take the lead on the first lap. Tinkham stayed close enough to worry the leader, but soon found himself being pestered by the likes of Zack Amundsen. Deeper in the field, Robbie Smith was making a charge and would soon find Smith in second. All of this was happening behind Hoffmann, who rolled to his seventh consecutive feature win. Hoffmann shared Victory Lane with fellow racer Dusty Cates, who served to spearhead additional sponsorships and prize money for the Mini Fall Brawl, including contingency awards and special prizes for selected spots.

Shane Burrows bypassed race leader Bryan Bernhardt to secure his first victory of the year in the Gagel’s Modified 20-lap main. Burrows was able to slip by as fending off challenges from Josh Sanford, who had a strong run going. Mavrick Varnadore put on a late race charge to move into an eventual second, but Burrows had decided the outcome by that point. Bernhardt, Roger Crouse and Travis Varnadore claimed heat races.

Point leader Austin Martin kept his record perfect by scoring his fourth feature win in as many tries. Martin started the race on the pole, a place he doesn’t particularly like to start, as he stated in Victory Lane. He felt it put him at a disadvantage to learning what the competitors were doing. Still, with his lead, he only had to worry about James McGroarty, who bypassed Martin to lead a few laps, before Martin returned the favor and regained the lead on lap 11. Brian Teeters and Larry Hubbard Jr. claimed heat wins.

V-8 Warrior action was hot and heavy from start to finish as Jason Burnside took the early lead. The leader bobbled on the second lap and then encountered some mechanical issues, exiting the race track. It gave the lead to Gary Lucas, who quickly found himself fighting to hold on with charges from Michael Hart and Raymond Vann. Eventually, it would be Vann who would take the lead and gain his first win of the year. Heat races were victories for Vann and Hart.

Point leader Daniel Bowman helped his cause with his second feature win of the 2019 season in defense of his 2018 track crown. Bowman, who had fuel pump issues with his car in last week’s races, was able to keep himself in the conversation throughout the contest. Bowman, Kyle Bowman and Tracy Maynard scored heat wins.

East Bay Raceway Park will return to action on Sept. 21 with Law Enforcement, Fireman and EMT Appreciation Night. Racing action will see Top Gun Sprints, Street Stocks (Gary Gay Memorial), Outlaw 4s, Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Micro Sprints and Florida Old Time Modifieds in action.

FLORIDA LATE MODEL SERIES

Feature: Chuck Cumby (88), Raymond Folwell (3), Steve Mathis Jr. (95), Wayne Reutimann Jr. (00), Bruce Harvey (27), Jason Pope (102), Roger Crouse (15), Tom Fiebelkorn (45T), Josh Peacocok (0), Jimmy Waldrop (9), Phillip Cobb (11), Thomas Burnside (13B), Buck Woodhouse (55), Joe Kump (15K), Dennis Williams (33), Mark Steube (10), Tanner Cobb (03T), Dustin Perez (8), Wesley Livernois (44), Scotty Williams (27W), Forrest Gough (21), Shan Smith (32)

Q AUTO & INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY MINI SPRINTS

Feature: Robby Hoffmann (66), Robbie Smith (77), Kenny Brewer (45), Zack Amundsen (12), Jamie Tinkham (51), Paige Moss (95), Steve Diamond (9d), Brad Sutton (9), Austin Craddock (17), Kevin McKenzie (7M), Dennis Sanchez (9S), Don Quinn (33), John Crowder (30), Charles Kalck (22), Bruce Comer (21), Donnie Quinn (33D), Joe Askew (78J), Russ Heider (86), Dirk Miller (68), Eddie Moss (23), Jordan Feagle (26), Cody Bryson (30X), David Hall (67), Wayne Feagle (661), Chris Diamond (9c), Mike Meyers (7). DNS – Joe Bartow (3), Dusty Cates (6), Ty Nevins (33N), Camden George (55)

GAGEL’S OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS

Feature: Shane Burrows (70B), Mavrick Varnadore (4), Josh Sanford (3), Roger Crouse (15), Bryan Bernhardt (B69), Garret Stewart (67), David Pollen Jr. (88), Seth Geary (7G), Austin Sanders (64), Frank Lewis (72L), Jerry Bourland (777), Randy Shields (69XL), Travis Varnadore (205), Buzzie Reutimann (00), Keven Devrieze (99), Dale Kelley (22), Bill Howard Jr. (47), Drew Jackson (08), Eric Moon (18)

MOD LITES
Feature: Austin Martin (97), James McGroarty (07), Bo Bass (14B), Larry Hubbard Jr. (56), Larry Hubbard III (77), Alex Cline (07c), Andrew Smith (71), Jeff Wolfe (83), Jeff Bonnema (5B), Steve Olone (20), Brian Teeters (44T), David Santee (15), Dalton Ellis (7), Brandon Archer (87A), Aaron Stalling (31A)

V-8 WARRIORS

Feature: Raymond Vann (1), Gary Lucas (23), Juston Meeks (10), George Handy (105), Wayne Kissam (07), Jessica Robbins (09), Kevin Strife (30), Kalen Maynard (2), Macy Bozeman (58), Jason Burnside (12J), Nate Whitehurst (07W). DQ – Michael Hart (99)

STUDIO RED SALON GLADIATORS

Feature: Daniel Bowman (46), Robert Kissam (911), Logan Casteel (7), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Rodney Wingate (8), Kyle Bowman (46k), Alyssa Grant (36g)Nicholas McAllister (97M), Patrick Tabb (03), Terry Burke (16), Rick Rutledge Sr. (4), Bob Zutz (47), Derrick Edwards (17), Kever Raulerson (99R), Rodney Martin (21), Davey Martin (55), Tracy Maynard (62), Johnathan Wood (56). DNS – Chase Seward (20), Rob Ramer (37), David Zemar (13).