The staff and management of East Bay Raceway Park would like to send our condolences to track photographer Mike Horne and his family on the passing of his Father In Law, John Howlett. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

The fifth night of racing action in the 2019 regular season at East Bay Raceway saw some different faces gather in Victory Lane, including two first time winners.

The crown jewel of the night was the running of the Jody Robbins Memorial for V-8 Warriors. The 25-lap main was advertised as a race that offered $400 for the winner, but local businesses and sponsors stepped up to double the top prize. Additional monies were offered for special awards.

Tommy Hill of Clewiston grabbed the lead on lap 3 from early leader Jason Burnside. Hill took advantage to move out to a steady four car length lead throughout the early stages of the main. Meanwhile, action behind the leader was intense. On lap 10, two top five cars collided, resulting in Burnside and Nick Brown headed to the rear. Gary Lucas had made his move to get to second at that point and Lucas would hold off Scott Bane for the right to chase Hill. A hard collision into the frontstretch wall by Derek Gray brought the caution back out. A few laps later, Bane was able to move to second, but hard luck hit when he spun while negotiating turn two. That mishap moved Raymond Vann into the runnerup spot from his 14^th starting position. Lucas slowed on a subsequent restart, ending his challenge and putting Burnside back into the top three. A frantic battle on the next restart shuffled the field behind Vann, who became the lone challenger for Hill. Vann could not close the gap and Hill sauntered home with the victory, his first of the season.

Vann received the prize as Hard Charger while Gray was selected for the Hard Luck Award. Hill picked up an additional $100 for leading lap 6. Hill, Kalen Maynard and Jeremy Simpson were heat winners.

Young racer Megan Rae Meyer claimed her first feature win in taking the top spot in the Late Model Sportsman 15-lapper. Meyer took the lead from early leader Tanner Cobb on the tenth lap and held off the charges of Jason Pope and Forrest Gough for her victory. Gough won the preliminary event.

Tim George ran a consistent line from start to finish in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Sprint main for the first feature in the class for 2019. The 2010-2011 track champion, who makes only occasional starts, claimed his first victory since September 17, 2016. Robbie Smith and 2018 track champion Joe Zuczek, who was honored at intermission, started their night with heat wins.

Kyle Bowman recorded his first career feature in the Studio Red Salon Gladiators, holding off older brother Daniel to claim the night’s finale. Kyle took the lead from a determined Logan Casteel and then managed to keep his brother, the two-time defending champion of the class, in a position behind him. The feature win backs up a heat race win earlier this year for Kyle. Ricky Rutledge Jr. and Daniel Bowman won heats.

It was a bit of a wild night for the Micro Sprints, who opened the program. Before a lap could be completed, two cars made contact with Jerod Meyers flipping. The driver was not injured, but the car was done for the night. In the main event, contact between Brian Baxter and Corey Dyal saw Dyal’s car do a complete flip in the air and land back on all fours. With a push from behind the car was able to continue in the feature, but dropped out a few laps later.

Larry Rarer recorded his third feature in as many tries, bringing home the 15-lap main. Rarer and William Brannan posted heat wins.

The East Bay action heads into the month of April with the headline attraction of the Donnie Tanner Memorial 50 for Pro Late Models presented by Stingray Performance. Joining the Pro Late Models will be Street Stocks, Wingless Mini-Sprints, V-8 Warriors, Studio Red Gladiators and, for the first time in 2019, Mod Lites.

V-8 WARRIORS

Jody Robbins Memorial: Tommy Hill (5H), Raymond Vann (1), Jason Burnside (12J), Jessica Robbins (09), Scott Bane (23B), George Handy (105), Jon Basquin (6B), Justin Meeks (10), Kevin Cassaday (7), Kalen Maynard (2), Nate Whitehurst (07W), Gary Lucas (23), Nick Brown (12), Keith Butler (18), Wayne Kissam (07), Jeff Edgar (98x), Jeremy Simpson (73), Derek Gray (66), Brian Danforth (55)

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Feature: Megan Rae Meyer (11M), Forrest Gough (21), Jason Pope (102), Scotty Williams (7JR), Buck Woodhouse (55), Wesley Livernois (44), Tanner Cobb (03)

Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS SPRINTS

Feature: Tim George (1*), Joe Zuczek (50), Robbie Smith (6S), Billy Bridges (11B), Andrew Griffin (32), Luke Hill (41), Brandon Grubaugh (2), Guy Bos (3K), Ed Hill (117H), Mike Steinruck (44A)

STUDIO RED GLADIATORS

Feature: Kyle Bowman (46K), Daniel Bowman (46), Logan Casteel (7), Bailey Purcell (911), Thomas Adams (T2), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Alyssa Grant (8), Robert Zutz (47), Davey Martin (55), Trevor Johnson (05), Ricky Rutledge Sr. (4), Rodney Martin (21), Fred Wilson (18), Kever Raulerson (99R). DNS – Johnathan Wood (99W), Chrissy Rutledge (36R). Tabitha Rutledge gave car #4 to Ricky Rutledge Sr.; Robert Kissam gave car #911 to Bailey Purcell

MICRO SPRINTS

Feature: Larry Rarer (97Z), William Brannan (60), Chris Livernois Jr. (17), Mike Meyers (7), Doug Dyal (97D), Paul Seburn (23), Brian Baxter (98), Wade Evans (27), Joe Bartow (3), William Burnside (13), Corey Dyal (00D). DNS – Jerod Meyers (0)

Keith Nosbisch roared to his third consecutive Pro Late Model victory while Studio Red Gladiator racer Kever Raulerson once again came from the back of the field to capture his third feature in as many weeks.

Nosbisch, who picked up a heat win to start the night, started the 30-lap main from outside row three, joined by heat winner Phillip Cobb. At the drop of the green, Travis Varnadore vaulted out front and managed to put some distance on the challengers behind. Soon, Steve Mathis Jr. would emerge to give Varnadore something to worry about, but ultimately it wouldn’t matter. As the field headed for the end of lap 5, Varnadore slowed to a stop in turn four and his race ended at the point.

Mathis took the lead that he had had momentarily before Varnadore’s troubles and set the pace. Meanwhile, it would be Nosbisch who would be doing the chasing. In just a few laps, Nosbisch was able to sweep by to grab the lead on lap 8.

Mathis wasn’t done. Three laps later, he would make the pass to get the top spot. In four laps, though, he would be looking at the rear of the Nosbisch Rocket, a view that would not change though the distance between first and second did expand. For Nosbisch, it marks the third consecutive feature win and (counting heat races) fifth consecutive victory.

In the Studio Red Salon Gladiators, the previous feature winner is destined to start at the rear. For the second time this season, that was the fate of Kever Raulerson who found a field of 16 others in front. Early race leader Dustin Wilson, celebrating his 18^th birthday, was tenacious in his defense of the top spot. Many tried, but no one was able to sneak past throughout most of the race. Meanwhile, Raulerson managed to keep his car on the absolute bottom of the track to march forward. A mid-race restart saw a four-wide position battle take shape with Raulerson shuffled back out of the top five. The remaining laps became a mission as Raulerson was able to secure positions until he closed in on Wilson. Raulerson was able to get by and hold on for his third straight win. Wilson unfortunately lost power coming to the checkered and yielded seven spots to finish outside the top five. Logan Casteel and Kyle Bowman started the night with heat wins.

Austin Sanders returned to Victory Lane with a convincing run in the Gagel’s Modifieds. Sanders had to deal with constant challenges, first from Garret Stewart and then from Billy Howard. To get to the front, Sanders used the high line, but the track changed and the veteran wisely abandoned that spot for a faster groove. Sanders grabbed the lead on lap 4 of the 15-lapper. Dale Kelley recorded the heat race win.

The Dirt’s 4 Racing Street Stocks always provide thrilling competition and tonight was no exception. East Bay 2019 feature winner Nick Hebrank opened the 20-lap main by scooting out to the lead. A lap two spin by Scotty Kay Jr. bunched the field for a restart. Tim Gay and Thomas Pratt had a nice battle for the runnerup spot behind Hebrank that eventually saw Gay prevail. Gay then moved to the lead on lap nine, but it would be short lived. Pratt took over for the first time on lap 11, becoming the third different point setter. Through subsequent restarts, Gay could not catch the leader while Scotty Kay Jr. rebounded to claim third. Results of the Dirt’s 4 Racing Street Stocks event listed are unofficial pending tire sampling.

Larry Rarer kept his perfect record intact, winning his heat and feature in the Micro Sprints. Rarer was able to get past Rich Livernois Jr on lap 2 to speed away for a convincing victory. It was Livernois’ first start in an open wheel class after competing in stock bodied cars throughout his career. He held second throughout most the race, eventually claiming third. Chris Livernois Jr. and Rarer were heat winners.

The fifth night of racing in the month of March will come next Saturday, highlighted by the 25-lap Jody Robbins Memorial for V-8 Warriors, Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Sprints will get their first opportunity of the season. Returning classes include Late Model Sportsman, Micro Sprints and Studio Red Salon Gladiators.

PRO LATE MODELS (Unofficial pending tire sampling)

Feature: Keith Nosbisch (02), Steve Mathis Jr. (95), Kenny Monahan (311), Roger Crouse (15), Megan Meyer (11M), Daniel Woody (29), John Norris (87), Jason Russell (75R), Bryce Alexander (8X), Jesse Brown (7jr), Todd Alexander (14), Dustin Perez (8), Phillip Cobb (03), Travis Varnadore (95V), Thomas Burnside (13B)

GAGEL’S MODIFIEDS

Feature: Austin Sanders (64), Bill Howard Jr. (47), Garret Stewart (67), Dale Kelley (22), Drew Jackson (08), Keven DeVrieze (99), Jim Baker (69x), Don Crandall (9c), John Zuidema (47Z). DNS – Pat Passanise (19)

DIRT’S 4 RACING STREET STOCKS (Unofficial pending tire sampling)

Feature: Thomas Pratt (22), Tim Gay (90), Scotty Kay Jr. (69), Nick Hebrank (24), Tommy Hill (1H), Justin Rodgers (95), Mike Wilson (68), Matt Bozeman (58), Billy Barstow (56), Henry Burnside (31), Allen Bailey (51), Thomas Braswell (67), Mark Roadarmel Jr. (B75)

MICRO SPRINTS

Feature: Larry Rarer (97Z), Jerod Meyers (0), Rich Livernois Jr. (17), Paul Seburn (23), Mike Meyers (7), Doug Dyal (97D), Chris Diamond (9), Joe Bartow (3), Corey Dyal (00D), William Burnside (13). DNS – Chris Livernois Jr.

STUDIO RED GLADIATORS

Feature: Kever Raulerson (99R), Bailey Purcell (14), Daniel Bowman (46), Kyle Bowman (46K), Logan Casteel (7), Robert Kissam (911), Thomas Adams (T2), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Dustin Wilson (42), Wayne Kissam (8), Trevor Johnson (05), Jamie Kennedy (18), Alyssa Grant (36G), Johnathan Wood (99W), David Wood (21W), Rodney Martin (21), Chrissy Wood (4)

Veteran racer Roger Crouse darted to the outside after an early race restart and took command of the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modified 15-lap, powering on to victory for his first East Bay Modified win in 18 months.

Early race leader Eric Moon kept his car pinned to the bottom throughout the early laps until slipping up the track on lap four. That provided the perfect chance for 2018 track champion Bryan Bernhardt, who slipped through for the lead, only to have the pass negated by a caution flag. On the restart, the pass for the lead came from the outside with Crouse making the move. From there, Crouse was never contested, keeping a steady lead over Bernhardt. Billy Howard and Bernhardt opened the night with heat victories.

Repeat winners proved to be the theme for most of the remaining classes. Forrest Gough (Late Model Sportsman), Robby Hoffmann (Mini-Sprints) and Kever Raulerson (Studio Red Salon Gladiators) all backed up wins from their division’s opening night with a second visit to the winner’s circle.

Gough had to hunt down second-generation racer Tanner Cobb and did so successfully to move out front. Heat winner Jimmy Waldrop appeared to be Gough’s biggest threat, but a mid-race incident took Waldrop out of contention. Cobb recorded his second consecutive runner-up finish.

For Hoffmann, it didn’t take long to shoot down the hopes of second generation racer Austin Craddock as Hoffmann swept to the front by the second lap. The closest pursuit came from Zach Amundsen, who turned around the misfortune of the opening night with a strong second. Hoffmann and Joe Askew opened the night with wins in the preliminary.

Raulerson capitalized on the misfortune of race leader Bailey Purcell, who tangled with lapped traffic on lap 13 of the 15-lap main. The two front runners made contact, but Raulerson was able to continue, inheriting the lead. A late race battle between Daniel Bowman and Logan Casteel resulted in Casteel, the 2018 Rookie of the Year, crossing for a career best second place. Bowman and Raulerson picked up track points for their heat wins.

Gary Lucas made a return to the winner’s circle, claiming the V-8 Warrior main event. The race was a picture of consistency for Lucas, who focused on finding the fast line and repeating it every lap. Heat winner Scott Bane was in hot pursuit, but could not sum up the power to close in on Lucas.

Dan Darnell scored the Florida Old Time Modified main after Jamie Frankland was best in the heat.

Gagel’s Modifieds

Feature: Roger Crouse (15), Bryan Bernhardt (B69), Eric Moon (18), Austin Sanders (64), Garret Stewart (67), Buzzie Reutimann (00), Drew Jackson (08), Pat Passanise (19), Jimmy Baker (69x), Keven DeVrieze (99), Jerry Bourland (777), Dale Kelley (22), Billy Howard (47). DQ – Kenny Monahan.

Late Model Sportsman

Feature: Forrest Gough (21), Tanner Cobb (03), K.D. Kelley (00), Buck Woodhouse (55), Jimmy Waldrop (9), Scotty Williams (27W)

Mini-Sprints

Feature: Robby Hoffmann (66), Zach Amundsen (12), Austin Craddock (17), Jamie Tinkham (51), Dusty Cates (6), Joe Askew (78J), Bruce Comer (21), Dirk Miller (68), David Hall (67), Brad Sutton (9), Steve Diamond (9D), Joe Bartow (3)

Studio Red Gladiators

Feature: Kever Raulerson (99R), Logan Casteel (7), Daniel Bowman (46), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Kayla Handy (8), Bailey Purcell (14), Ricky Rutledge Sr. (4), Alyssa Grant (36G), Tim Maiden (91), Trevor Johnson (05), Fred Wilson (18), Kipp Cooper (69), David Wood (21W), Patrick Fiore Sr. (3). DNS – Robert Kissam (911)

V-8 Warriors

Feature: Gary Lucas (23), Scott Bane (23B), Jason Burnside (12J), George Handy (105), Justin Meeks (10), Wayne Kissam (07), Nate Whitehurst (07W). DNS – Nick Brown.

Florida Old Time Modifieds

Feature: Dan Darnell (111), Jamie Frankland (1), David Kelley (46), Tom McDonald (22), Charlie Sanders (7A), Danny Bowman (00)

We would like to give our deepest sympathy to the family of Tom White.  Tom passed away yesterday (March 15).  Tom was a car fabricator and previous driver at several tracks.  Please keep his family in your prayers at this time.  Announcement for his service will be posted as soon as we receive it.