By: Larry Jewett
9/4/2010

Double features for Racecar Engineering Late Models topped a full program as the weekly schedule kicks back in for East Bay Raceway Park. Action is scheduled every Saturday night through December 11.
In the make-up feature from July 24, 12 returned cars took the green for the 25-lapper. Point leader Bryan Bernhardt grabbed the early lead, only to see Travis Varnadore whiz by on lap 3. Varnadore was able to hold back Bernhardt to claim his first feature win of the season. David Schmauss claimed third with Mavrick Varnadore and Ted Erskine rounding out the top five.
The second feature brought 21 cars to the green, but a bad case of yellow feature hit the class. Numerous caution flags prevented the field from getting a rhythm until attrition had wiped away most of the competitors. Just like the previous race, Travis Varnadore and Bernhardt locked into an early struggle, but the wild card was Josh Peacock who didn’t run the first race. Peacock moved to the lead on lap four, leaving the others to scrap for second. It would be Varnadore who would claim the runner-up spot, ahead of Bernhardt, Frankie Erskine Jr. and Paul Gibbs.
The Precision Kia Street Stocks brought a new winner to Victory lane as Billy Carlbert Jr. masterfully held off challenges by Thomas Pratt and Donnie Reed. Pratt’s bid ended with a turn one spin while reed simply couldn’t bypass a determined Carlbert. Point leader Reed had to be satisfied with second. Garry Sheffield was strong through the middle portion of the 15-lapper and ended up second. Jarod Gay added another top five with a fourth and Eric Moon came from18th for fifth. Heats were won by Buck Woodhouse, Thomas Pratt and Dave Floyd. Floyd was unable to compete in the feature as the car broke a right front wheel crossing the finish line in the heat.
The Q Auto & Injury Attorney Limited Late Models opened with Tim Powers and Forrest Gough as heat winners. Both drivers struggled in the feature, getting caught in incidents not of their own making. Alex Boerner had the early lead, but spun collecting Gough who continued from the tail, where he was caught up in another incident. Daniel Woody inherited the lead, but spun collecting second running Tim Gay. Both went to the rear, but gay was on a mission. He managed to reach third by lap 11, then scooted past Scottie Williams and race leader John Bradley with a lap to go. Gay said in Victory lane that he knows the contact through the night bent something in the car but he was happy to be there. Tim Powers rallied from the rear to claim second, ahead of Bradley, Williams and Ricky Land.
East Bay Sprints had plenty of thrills for the near capacity crowd on hand. Early leaders Kurt Taylor and Gene Lasker made contact in the fourth turn, ending Lasker’s challenge. Taylor was able to stay in front for the rest of the laps, picking up his second win of the season. Danny Jones had the best charge to get to second with Tim George, Keith Butler and Rocky Sullivan in the top five. George and Travis Bliemeister picked up heat wins.
A field of 37 motorstats.com 4 cylinder Bombers led to three heats and two features. George Handy, Raymond Vann and Chuck Mathias were best in the heats. Jimmy Odell battled Jimmy Williams for a B main win. The A main saw two rollovers as Patrick Fiore and George Ingram went airborne in separate incidents. Both drivers were unhurt, but the cars were done for the night. In racing action, Johnnie Alexander added a second feature win to his tally, crossing ahead of Raymond Vann, Troy Dittebrand, Kever Raulerson and Thomas Burnside.
ASA sanctioned racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, September 11, 2010. Action for Racecar Engineering Late Models, Gagel’s Auto Parts Open Wheel Modifieds, Q Auto & Injury Attorney Limited Late Models, Precision Kia Street Stocks and motorstats.com 4 cylinder Bombers will fill the bill. For more information, go to www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.

Next Saturday night is Sunshine Speedway Alumni night here at The Clay By The Bay. Along with that, the Racecar Engineering Late Models make their return with Double Features. Also running that night will be the Limited Late Models, East Bay Sprints, Precision Kia Street Stocks and the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers.

Also on Thursday, Open Practice for all classes will be held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and on Friday, Double Features for Go-karts. So next weekend will be a busy weekend of racing here at East Bay Raceway Park.

Thanks and we will see you here at East Bay Raceway Park…