Martins Dominates Top Gun at East Bay

By: Larry Jewett
11/27/2010

East Bay Raceway Park hosted the season finale for the Top Gun Sprint Series and the results were similar to the track’s weekly show last week. Danny Martin notched the 25-lap main to get his eighth series win of the year.
Martin inherited the point when early race leader Tyler Godwin spun on lap 4. Martin, who started fourth, was never headed in his quest for the win. The race started with a series of yellow flags before getting things rolling. Stephen Darvalics was chasing Martin until the car slowed on lap 13. Shawn Murray, racing with a nose wing damaged during the four-wide salute, picked up second and would never relinquish it.
Sport Allen rallied from an early race spin to gather third, ahead of Jimmy Ballew and Travis Bliemiester. Godwin had rallied back to third at the finish, but failed to meet the minimum weight in tech.
Rocky Sullivan, Murray and Martin won heat races. Sullivan brought out the red flag in the feature for a flip in turn one on the seventh lap.
Tim George came into the night with a 14-point lead over 2009 series champion Ryan Partin. George finished seventh, two spots ahead of Partin in ninth to claim the series title. George had won the 2010 East Bay championship last week.
Tim Gay notched his sixth win of the year by claiming the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Limited Late Models main event. Gay, who blew a radiator hose on the last lap, cruised in ahead of John Bradley, John Gross, point leader Forrest Gough and Roger Crouse. Heats were won by Bradley and Daniel Woody.
Thomas Pratt recorded his ninth feature win of the year in the Precision Kia Street Stocks. Pratt went wire to wire to gain the win, ahead of James Hook, Donnie Reed, Eric Moon and Buck Woodhouse. Pratt and Reed bested the field in their heats.
The Florida Mini Sprint Association crowned its champion as former East Bay winner Brett O’Donnell earned the honor, but it was Pennsylvania racer Jim Young who won the 15-lap feature. Young, who blew an engine the night before, was clearly the class of the field, tuning up for his upcoming appearance during the 2011 Winternationals. Friday feature winner Gavin Thomas gave Young the best challenge, but settled for second. The rest of the top five included Eddie Moss Jr., new champion O’Donnell and Dylan Colding. Heats were won by Young, North Carolina racer Darren Hasty and 2010 Rookie of the Year Rae Moss.
A field of 35 cars presented for three heats in the motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. Heats were won by Gary Killeen, Jim Baker and Raymond Vann. A B feature, won by Brett Calonge, brought three more cars to the 24-car, 15-lap A main. Vann became a double winner, taking the feature lead from Patrick Fiore Sr. and scoring his division-best sixth win. Johnnie Alexander, last week’s feature winner Mathew Odell, Fiore and John Detamore rounded out the top five. The event was a rare start for Detamore, who is serving in the U.S. Navy, but was able to compete while home on holiday leave,.
ASA sanctiond racing returns to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday, December 4, 2010. The David Reutimann Foundation 50 for Gagel’s Auto Parts Open Wheel Modifieds sees a 50-lap $1,00-to-win main. The Q Auto & Injury Attorney Limited Late Models, Outlaw 4s, motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers and Dirt Daubers are also on the card. For more information, go to http://www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.

Story Provided to you by Florida Flag Stand