We are proud to introduce Stingray Performance as the title sponsor for the 2019 East Bay Raceway Park WinterNationals Crate Late Model events on January 31-February 2, 2019.  This will be the ”STINGRAY PERFORMANCE PARTS CRATE LATE MODEL WINTERNATIONALS”

Stingray Performance Parts is a branch of Stingray Chevrolet in Plant City, Fl.  Located just off I-4 on Park Street.  They are a full-service GM Performance Parts dealership.  They will be stocking the GM 602 & 604 crate engines for immediate delivery.  They will also be carrying a full line of GM replacement parts for all crate engines.  They are making a commitment to service all drivers/car owners of East Bay Raceway Park for all your GM Performance Parts needs.  They will strive to get all pricing to be competitive with all other dealers.  There has been mention of a discount for all East Bay Raceway Park drivers/car owners.  More about this discount program will be announced as we get into the regular season.

With this sponsorship, we will increase the purses for Thursday night, January 31 to $2,500 to win as well as Saturday night to $5,000 to win!

We are proud to add Stingray Performance to our family of great sponsors and look forward to building a great working relationship for our racers to take advantage of for years to come!  If any racers need any parts or crate engines, please give Aaron a call at 813/359-5000 and he will do his best to get you what you need as soon as possible!

As 2018 comes to a close we reflect back on the year and remember the good and bad times that we have experienced.

We are grateful for near perfect weather for our 2018 Winternationals and the race fans that came out for those events.  We are grateful for our every week fans that show up and support East Bay.

Also as we look back we are saddened by the passing of so many of our friends this year.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those families as they begin a new year without their loved ones.

As we get ready for 2019 with our Winternationals and our regular season events, we want to thank each one of you for supporting us over the years.  We could not do this without you.  The Management and Staff here at East Bay Raceway Park want to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year!!

See you at the track!!

It took a little more time for competitors and fans alike, but the running of the annual Dalton Myers 54 for Pro Late Models was worth the wait. The event, postponed from Dec. 15 due to weather issues, brought a field of 25 Late Models with the promise of a minimum of $5,400 to the winner.
Josh Peacock grabbed the lead from the pole as the race experienced a sluggish start due to early race cautions. Peacock’s first challenger was front row mate Devin Dixon, who has scored a couple of memorial wins in 2018. Dixon was put into the unique position of challenging while also defending as Travis Varnadore asserted himself behind Dixon. Varnadore, a three-time Late Model feature winner in 2018, slipped into second on lap 9 and would provide the biggest challenge yet for the race leader. The lead duo masterfully worked lapped traffic with Varnadore closing when the opportunity would arise. A lap 29 caution thwarted the Varndore pass as well as a bid by Kyle Bronson to squeeze past Dixon. When the race resumed, the man on the move was Scott Thompson Memorial winner Ashton Winger as the Georgia teenager vaulted to second, only to see his move negated by another caution. Bronson was able to secure second place after Varnadore experienced an issue that sent him pitside, but the crew was able to put Varnadore back on the track without losing a lap. Steve Mathis Jr. would now inherit the task of haunting Bronson, who had his own agenda with Peacock still out front. On lap 46, Bronson was able to slip past Peacock, who spun a lap later, moving Mathis to second. As the field caught the two to go signal, Mathis made the decision that it was now or maybe never and made a move around Bronson. It turned out to be the winning move as Victory Lane awaited the young competitor. An emotional Victory Lane celebration included the revelation that Mathis’ mom was on hand for tonight’s event. Dixon, Peacock and Jeff Mathews won their heat events earlier in the night.
Despite this being the final night of the season, the remaining competing divisions had all secured their 2018 track champions. In Street Stocks, John Bradley cemented his championship season by adding the fifth feature win of the year. Bradley had won the earlier heat with Dirt’s 4 Racing Street Stock regular Charles Christian claiming the other preliminary.
Kevin Strife recorded his ninth feature win in Micro Sprints, dealing with the added pressure of having family members from Kentucky on hand for the show.
Two-time Gladiator class champion Daniel Bowman captured the 15-lap main for the class, further adding to a dominant year.
David Kelley scored the heat and feature in the Florida Old Time Modified action.
East Bay Raceway Park will now begin preparation for the 43rd annual Winternationals, which starts with a practice session on January 22 for Open Wheel Modifieds and Street Stocks. The action gets underway the following night with a scheduled four nights for the two divisions from Jan. 23-26. Crate Late Models and Top Gun Sprints take over on Jan. 31 for three nights of competition, joined by the Thunder Stock/ V8 Warriors. Six nights of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series racing will pit the local hotshoes again top travelers from Feb. 4 -9. The Winternationals action closes with three nights of open wheel racing that begins on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) with 360 Sprints, Mini Sprints and Micro Sprints. The final night of racing, Feb. 16, will feature the King of the 360s championship event.
PRO LATE MODELS
Dalton Myers 54 Feature – Steve Mathis Jr. (95), Kyle Bronson (40B), Ashton Winger (12), Keith Nosbisch (02), Travis Varnadore (95V), Devin Dixon (313), Andrew Hopkins (13H), Mason Massey (15), Shan Smith (32), Pete Cochran (27), John Norris (87), Josh Peacock (21P), Jeff Mathews (33), Steven Brendle (141), Will Herrington (14), Waylon Haynes (11), Mark Whitener (5), Wallace Peacock (21W), Megan Meyer (11M), Phillip Cobb (03), Kody Jett (9), Thomas Burnside (13B), Dustin Perez (8), TJ LaFlamboy (44), Dennis Williams (17JR)
STREET STOCKS
Feature: John Bradley (57), Tanner Cobb (90), Rich Livernois Jr. (71), Tommy Hill (1H), Jonathan Croson (94), Henry Burnside (31), Joshua Kuenstbeck (11K), Allen Bailey (51), Wayne Haynes (52), Jimmy Baker (69X), James McPeak (7), Robert Tyler (99), Charles Christian (04), Gary Lucas (23)
MICRO SPRINTS
Feature: Kevin Strife (46), Cliff Evans (17), William Brannan Sr. (27), Chris Diamond (9), Joe Bartow (3), William Brannan Jr. (x17)
GLADIATORS
Feature: Daniel Bowman (46), Jeff Smith (15), Kayla Handy (8), Bailey Purcell (14B), Robert Kissam (911), Daniel Casey (3D), Thomas Adams (T2), Logan Casteel (7), Trevor Johnson (05), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Michael Meeks (41), Leon Coulter (91), Johnathan Wood (99R)
FLORIDA OLD TIME MODIFIEDS
Feature: David Kelley (46), Jamie Frankland (1), Danny Bowman (00), Charlie Sanders (7A)

As we celebrate the joys of the holiday season, we pause and give thanks for the many blessings that we realize each and every day of our lives. We thank you for your continued support in 2018 and look forward to creating and sharing many memories in the days ahead.

Merry Christmas and see you for our season finale on Dec. 29

The 2018 season comes to an end at East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, December 15! It’s your last chance to see Pro Late Models, Street Stocks, Micro Sprints, Gladiators and the Florida Old Time Modifieds!

With just one week remaining on the 2018 schedule, East Bay Raceway Park provided competitors in five divisions with a final chance to visit Victory Lane since these divisions would be wrapping up their year.

Frank Beck bookended his season in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Sprints, winning the season opener almost nine months ago and making a triumphant return to the winner’s circle on this night. Beck put on a dominant performance, weaving masterfully through lapped traffic in a race that went caution-free. Beck took the lead from the start and passed up to fifth place before the checkered flag fell. Bryan Eckley, who finished second in the feature, captured his heat race earlier in the night.

Bryan Bernhardt brought his Gagel’s Open Wheel Modified home in front of the field for the eighth win of his racing season. Bernhardt, who clinched the season championship previously, stated he can’t wait for the return of competition in the 43^rd annual Winternationals, where the local Modified racers provide stiff competition to UMP travelers. The Modifieds open the Winternationals with four nights of racing, starting January 23. Heat wins earlier in the night went to Eric Moon and Travis Varnadore.

Phillip Cobb offered his congratulations to unofficial point champion Forrest Gough during Cobb’s visit to Victory Lane in the Late Model Sportsman division. Cobb was able to secure the early and hold through several restarts to record his second feature in the division. Cobb was doing double duty, competing in Late Model Sportsman as well as Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds.  His heat win earlier gave him the outside pole with opening heat winner Megan Meyer joining Cobb to lead the field to the green.

Scott Bane made his third visit to the winner’s circle in the V8 Warriors main, holding off the late race challenge of 2018 point champion George Handy. Bane took the lead from Jessica Robbins on lap 2 to claim the 15-lap main. Bane and Gary Lucas shared honors as heat race winners.

Robby Hoffman held off teammate Dirk Miller through the 15-lap Mini-Sprint main. Hoffman recorded his fifth win of the year in the competitive division. Ronnie Whitley opened the night with a heat race win while Hoffmann added his name to the winner’s list with the second heat win.

East Bay Raceway Park will close the 2018 with the final event on Saturday, Dec. 15. Pro Late Models will compete in the annual Dalton Myers 54, a 54-lap challenge that brings $5,400 to the winner. The final appearance of the season for the Street Stocks, Gladiators, Micro Sprints and Florida Old Time Modifieds is also slated.

The 43rd annual Winternationals will open on January 23 with UMP/East Bay Raceway Park Modifieds headlining four nights of action that will also include Street Stock racing.

Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS SPRINTS

Feature: Frank Beck (89), Bryan Eckley (12B), Dylan Colding (23D), Justin Webster (21), Tim George (1*), Billy Bridges (21A), Kurt Taylor (55), Guy Bos (3K), Johnnie Alexander (1L), Andrew Griffin (32), Bruce Durden (17), Mike Steinruck (44A), Aileen Collins-Love (17c), Luke Hill (41)

GAGEL’S OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS

Feature: Bryan Bernhardt (B69), Travis Varnadore (205), Austin Sanders (64), Roger Crouse (15), Phillip Cobb (03), Eric Moon (18), Mavrick Varnadore (4), Drew Jackson (08), Dale Kelley (22), Shane Burrows (70B), Pat Passanise (24), Billy Howard Jr. (47). DNS – Brandon Wells (39), Keven DeVrieze (99)

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Feature: Phillip Cobb (03), Steve Mathis Jr. (29), Forrest Gough (21), Bruce Harvey (27), Waylon Haynes (11), Jonathon Thomas (823), Megan Rae Meyer (11M), Wesley Livernois (44), Buck Woodhouse (55), John Mang (X). DNS – Scotty Williams (27W)

V8 WARRIORS

Feature: Scott Bane (23B), George Handy (105), Jessica Robbins (09X), Gary Lucas (23), Jason Burnside (12J), Raymond Vann (99V), Jeff Weaver (26), Justin Meeks (10), Waylon Haynes (52), Mike Pesola (15), Mark Roadarmel Jr. (66). DNS – Michael Hart (99), Wayne Kissam (07)

MINI SPRINTS

Feature: Robby Hoffman (66), Dirk Miller (68), Steve Diamond (9D), Brad Sutton (9), Austin Craddock (17), David Hall (67), Ronnie Whitley (84), Don Quinn (33), Joe Bartow (3), Donnie Quinn (33D)