MIKEY HAY BOUNCES BACK TO WIN FRIDAY IN TUSA MOD LITES

By Charlie Brown, 2.19.10 Tampa, FL – Mikey Hay has had a real up and down Florida trip at the TUSA Mod Lite Winter Nationals at the East Bay Raceway Park. Hay captured the All Star Race of Champions on Wednesday night only to miss qualifying for the “A” main on Thursday. Friday night, Hay rebounded taking the lead on lap three and driving to the checkered in the 20 lap main.

Tracy Fritter lead the first lap but the caution was quickly out for a spin by Lynn Knepper. On the restart Mikey Hay immediately began to pressure Fritter for the lead moving on top for lap three. Alan Knepper ran in the third spot with pole sitter Paul McGinley in fourth and Kevin McKinney in fifth.

McKinney took fourth and Thursday night’s winner, Landis Musser moved into fourth. At the halfway sign the top five were Hay, Fritter, Alan Knepper; McKinney and Musser.

Alan Knepper got out of shape and hit the inside banking ending up on two wheels and bringing out the red on lap 11. The driver was okay and able to continue. Musser grabber third on the restart but Arizona driver, Bud Grossenbacher was on the move grabbing third on lap 13.

While Hay was comfortably out front the battle raged from second on back. Musser edged Grossenbacher for second on lap 14 but Grossenbacher got the spot back just as the yellow flew for James Hill who came to a stop in the first turn.

Hay controlled the restart but the green was out for only two laps coming back out on lap 17 when Alan Knepper broke bringing out the final caution.

On the restart, Hay was able to pull away to take the win. “After last night’s luck I had to totally redeem myself,” smiled Hay in victory lane.

Steve White had worked his way into the third spot by the final restart and grabbed second from Grossenbacher with one lap to go. White finished in second with Grossenbacher third. Fourth went to Kevin McKinney and Tracy Fritter rounded out the top five.

Brandon Sturgis made it two straight in the Junior Mod Lite 12-lap feature. Brandon led wire to wire holding a comfortable lead over Nick Nash who finished in second. Third went to Stacy Roberts and Zac Weller dealt with mechanical problems all race long to finish in fourth.

RESULTS: (3 trasfer from each) Heat 1 – 1. Paul McGinley; 2. Landis Musser; 3. Mike Morrill; 4. Ryan Charland; 5. Dallas Caldwell; 6. Tim Hinneger; 7. Ken Gross; 8. Wally Billing.

Heat 2 – 1. Kevin McKinney; 2. Steve White; 3. Jimmy Wills; 4. Matt Glanden; 5. Kirk Miles; 6. Jay Dye; 7. Rick Brubacher; 8. Scott Stenzel.

Heat 3 – 1. Tracy Fritter; 2. Alan Knepper; 3. Mark Marcucci; 4. Bud Grossenbacher; 5. Lynn Knepper; 6. Dusty Masolini; 7. Tex Myers; 8. James Parker.

Heat 4 – 1. Dylan Evans; 2. Landon Cling; 3. Shawn Sliter; 4. Curt Miles, Jr.; 5. Chris Jestice; 6. Johnny Mordock; 7. Jason Musser; 8. Josh Sliter.

Heat 5 – 1. Mikey Hay; 2. George Eglert; 3. Rick Amant; 4. James Hill; 5. T.J. Williams; 6. Shane Pfeuffer; 7. Eric Hendrickson.

Heat 6 – 1. Ken Meadows; 2. Scott Tessman; 3. Matt Hay; 4. Tim White; 5. Erik McKinney; 6. Phil Asseff; 7. Bob Charland.

Junior Heat – 1. Brandon Sturgis; 2. Nick Nash; 3. Stacy Roberts; 4. Zac Weller.

1st “B” Main – 1. Bud Grossenbacher; 2. Ryan Charland; 3. James Hill; 4. Lynn Knepper; 5. Dusty Masolini; 6. Eric Hendrickson; 7. Dallas Caldwell; 8. Bob Charland; 9. Tex Myers; 10. Shane Pfeuffer; 11. T.J. Williams’ 12. Ken Gross; 13. Tim Hinneger; 14. Scott Stenzel.

2nd “B” Main – 1. Tim White; 2. Curt Miles, Jr.; 3. Erik McKinney; 4. Johnny Mordock; 5. Rick Brubacher; 6. Jason Musser; 8. James Parker; 9. Josh Sliter; 10. Jay Dye; 11. Matt Glanden; 12. Phil Asseff; 13. Kirk Miles; 14. Chris Jestice.

12-Lap Junior Feature: 1. Brandon Sturgis; 2. Nick Nash; 3. Stacy Roberts; 4. Zac Weller.

20-Lap TUSA Feature: 1. Mikey Hay; 2. Steve White; 3. Bud Grossenbacher; 4. Kevin McKinney; 5. Tracy Fritter; 6. Landis Musser; 7. Mark Marcucci; 8. Tim White; 9. Paul McGinley; 10. Dylan Evans; 11. Landon Cling; 12. Ken Meadows; 13. Erik McKinney;14. Ryan Charland; 15. Lynn Knepper; 16. George Englert; 17. Curt Miles, Jr.; 18. Jimmy Wills; 19. James Hill; 20. Mike Morrill; 21. Shawn Sliter; 22. Rick Ament; 23. Scott Tessman; 24. Alan Knepper; 25. Johnny Mordock; 26. Matt Hay.