Jeff Mathews Victorious in Gagel’s Open Wheel Modified Feature Race

By Jason Loughren
9/13/08


Racing resumed at East Bay Raceway Park with 105 cars signed in ready to thunder around the Clay by the Bay. For the second week in a row after the summer battle with Mother Nature fans were treated to the great side by side racing that they have come to expect on Saturday nights in Gibsonton.

The Motorstats.com Street Stocks hit the track first for their 15-lap feature event. Buck Skinner had the car to beat all night as he quickly made his way to the lead from his 4th starting position. Skinner took the win, it was his series leading 5th of the season. Danny Hill came home 2nd. Mathew Grissom started 8th and finished 3rd. David Roberts and points leader Donnie Reed rounded out the top 5. Roberts and Skinner won the heat races.

In the Limited Late Models fans were treated to a great 3-car battle for the win. JR Prather, Jr., Forrest Gough and William Pugh ran side by side and sometimes three wide for most of the race. Prather, Jr. came out on top scoring his 2nd feature win of the season. Gough finished 2nd after an 11th place start. Pugh crossed the finish line in 3rd position. Bullet Bob Peterson was 4th. Cheryl Cochran earned her 2nd top-5 of the season with her 5th place finish. Prather, Jr. and Pugh were victorious in the heat races.



Gene Lasker has more victories in the Limited Sprints this year than any other driver in the class with four trips to victory lane. Lasker had his work cut out for him with a 9th place start in Saturday’s 15 lap feature. He wasted no time making his way to the front of the field. Rich Alexander had a strong car all night long and lead every lap until Lasker passed him on the inside coming to the white flag. Lasker made the pass and was able to hold off Alexander for his 5th feature win of the season. Alexander was 2nd. Troy Knowles started on the pole and finished 3rd. Travis Bleimeister and points leader coming into the night Tim George rounded out the top-5. Lasker and Danny Jones won the heats.

The Gagel’s Open Wheeled Modifieds saw 26 cars take the green flag for their 15-lap feature event. Jeff Mathews started in the 10th spot and battled his way to the lead, eventually taking the win. It was Mathew’s second win of the season in this class. John Bradley ran near the front of the field for the entire race and finished 2nd. Trevor Merrill started way back in the 23rd position. He passed more cars than anyone else and took home a 3rd place finish. It was Merrill’s first top-5 of the season. Alex Boerner who lead many of the early laps before Matthews passed him finished 4th. Bob Johnston finished 5th earning his first top-5 of the season. Buzzie Reutimann appeared to finish in the 2nd position but his car did not pass post race technical inspection and he was disqualified. Mathews, Wayne Hammond and Scotty Williams won the heat races.


In the Convire 4 Cylinder Bombers Kever Raulerson went to victory lane for the first time this season. Points leader Frank Miller finished 2nd. Wayne Kissam finished 3rd. Bubba Puyear and Eddie Summitt rounded out the top-5. George Christiansen and Roberto Morfin won the heat races.

ASA sanctioned racing resumes at East Bay Raceway Park Saturday, September 20th 2008 at 6:30pm . Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Motorstats.com Street Stocks, Outlaw 4’s, and Convire 4 Cylinder Bombers will all be in action. For more information call the track office at 813-677-7223 or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.