The second night of the 2019 season saw another five-division program with the Pro Late Models being the only class to repeat. Keith Nosbisch made it two-for-2019 as he backed up last week’s 30-lap Pro Late Model win another stop in Victory Lane Saturday night.

Nosbisch won his heat and dominated the main event, leading all 30-laps with only five cars still on the lead lap at the race’s end. “We left the car just like it was last week,” said Nosbisch in Victory Lane. “My crew isn’t here with me tonight, so I have some different help here and we got the win.”

Nosbisch was joined on the front row for the main event by Kenny Monahan, who earned the spot with a heat race win. Monahan was in contention until a spin while battling 2018 track champion Phillip Cobb for second. Cobb would go to claim second in the main with Dustin Perez scoring his second straight top five run by claiming third.

Nick Hebrank, who competed in the Outlaw 4 class in 2018, stepped into a Street Stock for the first time and made an impressive debut in winning the 15-lap main. Hebrank started last in his heat race and picked up a little experience, then capitalized on that to lead from the start. Heat race winner Mike Wilson had some early race troubles that dropped him from contention. Matt Bozeman powered past Billy Barstow for second on a lap three restart, but could not catch Hebrank.

The Late Model Sportsman opener saw 2018 champion Forrest Gough continue his winning ways. Gough, who claimed most of the late season victories in 2018, swept past early leader Tanner Cobb to claim the victory. Gough solidified his point lead for the new season with a heat win.

2019 Winternationals feature winner Larry Rarer needed every lap of the 15-lap main in the Micro Sprints to make a return to Victory Lane. William Burnside was the class of the field until Rarer was abole to chase him down in lapped traffic. Burnside held the lead as the du passed under the white flag, but Rarer ducked inside lapped traffic and gained the advantage. Heats were won by Rarer and 14-year-old Colin Strife, making his first start in a dirt track race.

Heat race winners Brandon Yates and Eric Knight battled in an even matchup throughout the 15-lap Outlaw 4 main event. Yates, who won the track championship by four points in 2018, was unable to escape the tenacious attack of Knight. The margin stayed constant lap after lap with the outcome uncertain until the checkered flag came out.

Racing resumes on Saturday, March 16 as the Gagel’s Modifieds, Late Model Sportsman, V-8 Warriors, Studio Red Salon Gladiators, Wingless Mini-Sprints and Florida Old Time Modifieds take the track. Top finishers from 2018 in Wingless Mini Sprints, Gagel’s Modifieds and Late Model Sportsman will be honored.

PRO LATE MODELS

Feature: Keith Nosbisch (02), Phillip Cobb (71), Dustin Perez (8), Jesse Brown (7jr), Thomas Burnside (13B), Bryce Alexander (8x), Jason Russell (75R), Billy Boyd Sr. (3), Keven Devrieze (99), Kenny Monahan (311), Jason Pope (102), Doug Horton (46)

STREET STOCKS

Feature: Nick Hebrank (24), Matt Bozeman (58), Billy Barstow (56), Mark Roadarmel (75B), Jerry Bruce (12), William Pugh (15), Allen Bailey (51), Thomas Braswell (67), Mike Wilson (68)

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Feature: Forrest Gough (21), Tanner Cobb (03), Daniel Woody (29), Buck Woodhouse (55)

MICRO SPRINTS

Feature: Larry Rarer (97z), William Burnside (13), William Brannan (60), Colin Strife (46), Paul Seburn (23), Mike Meyers (7), Jerod Meyers (0), Chris Livernois Jr. (71), Doug Dyal (97D), Chris Diamond (9), Corey Dyal (00D). DNS – Joe Bartow (3)

OUTLAW 4s

Feature: Brandon Yates (53), Eric Knight (7), Cecil Martin (15), Stephen Hohlbaugh (23S), Michael Ridgeway (47), Robert Schrunk (03), Trey Ford (40F), Candice Kealy (D4R), Alan Weeks (5). DNS – Christopher Thomas (27)

East Bay Raceway is pleased to be associated with Dave Poske Performance Parts in 2019

During the regular season, on weeks when East Bay is racing, the Poske location, conveniently located near the pit entrance, will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Call Allen at (304) 428-5000, Ext 107

Dave Poske Performance Parts is the 2019 parts and Sunoco race fuel supplier for East Bay Raceway Park. Please stop in and see the parts selection.  Parts can also be ordered from the Dave Poske Performance Parts headquarters location in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Check the website at www.poske.com

Here’s what’s on tap for Saturday night! More top finishers from 2018 to be honored!

After a brief hiatus following the 43^rd annual Winternationals, East Bay Raceway Park swung into action for the 2019 season. The five-division program saw many competitors utilizing the night to get back into the swing of things. New faces joined regulars in Victory Lane to get the season started.

Dale Kelley drove his new Lethal Chassis to victory in the 15-lap Gagel’s Modifieds feature event. Kelley, who competed with the new car during the 2019 Winternationals, recorded his second career main. Kelley took the lead on the initial start with the first challenge coming from heat race winner Austin Sanders. Unfortunately, Sanders spun on lap 2 an ended up falling back 10 spots. Heat race winner Garret Stewart inherited second, but Kelley was able to motor out on restarts to avoid any serious challenges throughout the race. Billy Howard Jr., who was unable to compete in his heat race, started deep in the field and moved within the top five in short order. Howard was coming on strong, but could not catch Kelley. Meanwhile, Sanders carved his way back through the field, but his challenge ran out of laps.

Keith Nosbisch ducked to the inside on lap 10 as race leader Doug Horton was pinned outside by a pair of lapped cars, putting Nosbisch up front in the 30-lap Pro Late Model main. Horton could not mount a serious challenge as Nosbisch powered on to claim the victory. In Victory Lane, Nosbisch pointed out that there were issues with the car during the heat race, but his crew was able to get the situation turned around to the Horton and 2018 track champion Phillip Cobb started their night with heat race wins.

Robby Hoffmann kept the momentum from the Winternationals as his drive to victory in the  Mini Sprints proved to be superior. Hoffmann took the lead from the start and never faced a serious challenge with only four cars on the lead lap by the end of the 15-lap main. Hoffmann had won his heat race as did Steve Diamond, who spent most of the main in second until a lap 13 incident moved him back to fourth at the finish.

Jason Burnside won his heat race, then joined the top finisher in the V-8 Warrior class of 2018 for the awards presentation. Burnside was credited with third in 2018, but he will be the point leader after one week, thanks to an impressive run in the V-8 Warrior main. Burnside joined fellow heat winner Nick Brown on the front row and managed to get in front of Brown to complete lap one. With some breathing room, Burnside focused on keeping the car in the preferred line at the bottom. Behind him, there were good position battles involving Jessica Robbins, 2018 division champion George Handy and eventually Scott Bane. None of the action would have an effect on the outcome as Burnside claimed the victory.

The Studio Red Salon Gladiators featured an exciting late race pass that changed the outcome of the race. Thomas Adams led the bulk of the contest until Kever Raulerson pulled off a lap 13 pass in the 15-lap main. Raulerson, a four-time winner in 2018, was driving a brand new car and has joined forces with fellow competitor Johnathan Wood for 2019. Defending division champion Daniel Bowman, also in a new car, and Robert Kissam won their heat races.

The action continues Saturday, March 9 as the Pro Late Models, Late Models Sportsman, Street Stocks, Outlaw 4s and Micro Sprints gather for action. The top finishers of 2018 in Street Stocks, Outlaw 4s and Micro Sprints will be honored at intermission.

PRO LATE MODELS

Feature: Keith Nosbisch (02), Doug Horton (46), Phillip Cobb (03), Dustin Perez (8), Thomas Burnside (13B), John Norris (87), Bryce Alexander (8x), Wallace Peacock (21w), Jesse Brown (7), Jason Russell (75R), Austin Keehan (110)

GAGEL’S MODIFIEDS

Feature: Dale Kelley (22), Billy Howard Jr. (47), Austin Sanders (64), Garret Stewart (67), Drew Jackson (08), Eric Moon (18), Seth Geary (7G), Buzzie Reutimann (00), Keven Devrieze (99), Pat Passanise (19), Jerry Bourland (777), Michael Cherry (17c). DNS – Don Crandall (9c)

MINI-SPRINTS

Feature: Robby Hoffmann (66), Jamie Tinkham (51), David Hall (67), Steve Diamond (9D), Austin Craddock (17), Bruce Comer (21), Brad Sutton (9), Joe Bartow (3), Ronnie Whitley (84), Dirk Miller (68), Joe Askew (78j). DNS – Zach Amundsen (12)

V-8 WARRIORS

Feature: Jason Burnside (12J), Jessica Robbins (09x), George Handy (18), Scott Bane (23B), Gary Lucas (23), Raymond Vann (1), Michael Hart (99), Wayne Kissam (07), Jeff Weaver (26), Brian Danforth (55), Nick Brown (12), Kalen Maynard (2), Collin Kruse (1K)

STUDIO RED SALON GLADIATORS

Feature: Kever Raulerson (99R), Thomas Adams (T2), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Kayla Handy (8), Patrick Fiore Sr. (3), Rodney Martin (21), Robert Kissam (911), Leon Coulter (91), Logan Casteel (7), Rick Rutledge Sr. (4), Kyle Bowman (46K), Brittany Hart (81), Zavier Safie (40), Johnathan Wood (99W), Alyssa Grant (36G), Daniel Bowman (46), Bailey Purcell (14), Fred Wilson (18), David Wood (21W). DNS – Tabitha Rutledge (124)

EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2019 BOTH BIOLOGICAL PARENTS MUST SIGN THE MINOR RELEASE FORM BEFORE A MINOR CAN RACE OR ANY MINOR CAN ENTER THE PIT AREA AS A SPECTATOR.

ANY MINOR FORM COMPLETED PRIOR TO MARCH 1^ST, 2019 IS NO LONGER VALID.

NEW FORMS MUST BE FILLED OUT, WITH BOTH BIOLOGICAL PARENT’S SIGNATURES.  NO EXCEPTIONS!!  CARDS WILL BE ISSUED ONCE COMPLETED FORMS ARE RECEIVED.  THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED IN FRONT OF AN EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK EMPLOYEE OR THE FORM ON THE WEBSITE CAN BE PRINTED OFF IN COLORED INK AND FILLED OUT COMPLETELY AND NOTARIZED.

The recent completion of the action-packed 43^rd annual Winternationals has served as the perfect opening act for the 2019 regular season, which begins Saturday, March 2 at East Bay Raceway Park.

The first night of racing will see competition in Pro Late Models, Gagel’s Modifieds, V-8 Warriors, Gladiators and wingless Mini-Sprints.

For each of the first three weeks, East Bay will be honoring the 2018 track champions and top finishers. Three classes will be feted on March 2, with the top competitors on hand to receive their awards.

Top finishers in Pro Late Models, V-8 Warrior and Gladiators will be honored.

East Bay Raceway Park will be racing on each of the FIVE Saturday nights in the month of March. Complete schedule can be found here.

Hot laps begin at 6, Racing starts at 6:30.

The race to the 2019 Championships starts Saturday! Don’t miss out!

Late race cautions have a way of sometimes rewriting stories. As Mark Smith  maintained a strong lead throughout the bulk of the 40-lap Sprint A-Main, one of those yellows was about the last thing he wanted to see. The caution came on lap 38, which put the defending King of the 360s Terry McCarl right on the tail tank. When the green came out, the duo would lock into a battle that saw McCarl sweep by and claim his fourth Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360s.

“I knew Ronald, I knew his family, his dog, his girlfriend. The year he won, he passed me and Gary Wright to get there. He was wearing the crown in the pits and I was happy for him,” said McCarl. “This race means so much to me.”

With his win, McCarl becomes the only champion to win in back-to-back seasons and has more victories than anyone else in the event.

McCarl was far from pleased when he drew a “6” as his starting position (I thought it was a “9”, he joked in Victory Lane). Now driving for Destiny Motorsports, it seems fitting that the car he drove to the win was carrying the number 4.

Former King of the 360s Jason Sides took the early lead before McCarl snatched it away on the second lap. Smith moved up to second to challenge McCarl, getting by the leader as the field faced lapped traffic. Smith worked masterfully through the lapped cars, a feat he had to do in each of the previous two nights. A lap 7 restart put a lapped car between Smith and McCarl and Smith used that chance to scoot away from contention. McCarl had his hands with the surprising charge of Matt Kurtz who had started ninth but was quickly in the top three. Also on the move was Sam Hafertepe Jr., who grabbed fourth on lap 15. Cory Eliason was back on the move to head back to the top five while Smith was biding his time up front. McCarl regained second on lap 22 and kept it when the second caution appeared on lap 24. Smith would still move out on the restart forcing McCarl into a “catch me if you can” situation. With two laps to go, problems for Mississippi’s Dale Howard brought his car to a halt and the field refiled for the restart. McCarl was determined, swinging by Smith for the lead and the eventual win.

Robby Hoffmann made a return visit to Victory Lane, capturing the Mini Sprint 25-lapper. Hoffmann got by Oklahoma racer Daison Pursley, who claimed his third top five finish of the week at the checkered flag.

Kevin Strife made it back-to-back for the Micro Sprints. The 2018 East Bay Raceway Park track champion had the lead by the third turn and was never caught on his road to the win.

The Saturday action concludes the 43^rd annual Winternationals, which began in late January. All in all, Mother Nature proved hospitable with only one show lost to rain over a four-week span.

East Bay Raceway Park will pen its regular season on Saturday, Mar. 2 with five ivisions in competition. Pro Late Models, Gagel’s Modifieds, V-8 Warriors, Gladiators and Wingless Mini-Sprints will occupy the opener.

SPRINTS

A-MAIN – Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360s

Terry McCarl (4), Mark Smith (1), Sam Hafertepe Jr. (15H), Cory Eliason (26), Matt Kurtz (92), Tim Shaffer (49x), Todd Gracey (3), Wayne Johnson (2c), Seth Bergman (23), Phil Gressman (7c), Travis Rilat (1R), Dylan Westbrook (47x), Mason Daniel (33M), Josh Baughman (17), Greg Wilson (w20), Danny Martin Jr. (24M), Dale Howard (47H), Cory Turner (13), Danny Sams III (24D), Lucas Wolfe (5W), Jason Sides (7S), Brett Wright (14B), Shawn Dancer (49), Frank Beck (89) – Sams III provisional for highest point racer that did not qualify; Beck received the local racer provisional

B-MAIN: Phil Gressman (7c), Cory Turner (13), Max Stambaugh (51), Thomas Kennedy (21k), Alex Hill (77x), Shawn Murray (22), Joey Schmidt (1S), CJ Jones (10J), Nick Snyder (116), Ricky Peterson (16B), Conner Morrell (28)

B-MAIN: Greg Wilson (w20), Shawn Dancer (49), Davie Franek (28F), Cody Bova (20B), Danny Smith (4), Frank Beck (89), Justin Webster (21), Brant O’Banion (47), Dustin Clark (16c)

B-MAIN: Dylan Westbrook (47x), Josh Baughman (17), Johnny Gilbertson (22G), Ryan Turner (91), Dustin Daggett (85), Taylor Walton (93), Dan Nanticoke (15), Frank Carlsson (20)

MINI SPRINTS

A-MAIN: Robby Hoffmann (68), Luke Thomas (97), Jim Young (8), Daison Pursley (9P), John Craddock (17), Zac Gorski (07), Steve Diamond Jr. (9), Mike Thompson (11), Russ Heider (86), Austin Craddock (17C), David Hall (67), Paige Moss (95M), Ty Nevins (33N), Jordan Feagle (26), Jim Kradel (19), Adam Barnes (64), John Crowder (30), Bruce Comer (21), Jim McNulty (52R), Michael Luckert (93), AJ Parrish (88), Ted Filides (32), Wayne Feagle (66), Eddie Moss (8G), Rhea Moss (23)

MICRO SPRINTS

A-MAIN: Kevin Strife (46), Chris Livernois (71), Jared Meyers (0), Bill Gise (111), William Brannan Jr. (60), Larry Rarer (97z), Chris Diamond (9), Mike Meyers (7). Paul Seburn (27s), Brian Baxter (98), Joe Bartow (3)

TRAFFIC ALERT!

If you are coming to East Bay from the north tonight, avoid Highway 41, which is closed at Causeway for RR work. Best way if you hit the detour, take Causeway to 78th; take 78th South to Madison, turn right on Madison to 41 and left onto 41.

Don’t let a little unplanned pop-up construction project keep you from witnessing the crowning of the King of the 360s. Race action starts at 7, so plan to spend a little more time on your trip to the track