TAMPA, FL…..2/8/14…..Keith Nosbisch has been the most dominating driver in Crates this season at East Bay Raceway Park as well as being on top of his game when the Crates are front and center during the Winternationals. So, it was no surprise that the Valrico driver was in victory lane holding the $5,000 winner’s check at the end of a 50-lapper Saturday night.
“I got this Rocket chassis near the end of last year,” said Nosbisch to Chris Stepan, the announcer for the race, ”and Jimmy Dodge built me a great engine that helped me make that bold move on Josh Peacock inside turn three and pull ahead in turn four to lead the second lap. We went a little softer on our Hoosier tires, he said jokingly, and to get ready for tonight, I went to practice on a slick go-kart track this afternoon.”
Describing the track as a little rough through the middle, he admitted he had to concentrate on hitting his marks and the 11 caution flags in the first 24 laps didn’t help. But, during the second half of the race his Image Skin Care sponsored car had pretty much clear sailing. Although he seemed to slow in the closing five laps, lapped cars kept second place Doug Horton from making a serious challenge for the lead and Nosbisch had a margin of victory of 1.410 seconds at the finish.
Dalton Myers and pole sitter Josh Peacock finished in the top four, all completing the 50 lap distance. Shane Smith and David Schmauss were each one lap down and Tommy Prince was down two laps in seventh. Rounding out the top 10 it was Bill Tesh, Kyle Musselman and Kurt Waush. Heats were won by Peacock, Jack Nosbisch, Jr., and Keith Nosbisch.
Richie Stephens, “the Rocketman”, from Salem, Alabama fought hard to become the repeat winner of the World Street Stock Championship worth $1,500. He told the crowd in victory lane, “We didn’t get the word about the race until late, then we had trouble with the generator on the trailer on Thursday and couldn’t get the back door down to unload the cars.”
He said he didn’t expect the track to slick off like it did and after starting on the pole of the 20-car field, he led for 10 laps but lost the lead in turn one as both Ronnie Heard and Tim Powers got by him on lap 11. Then Powers led for seven laps while Tim Gay advanced from 19th spot up to third on lap 15. When Stephens managed to work his way back to the lead on lap 20, he was followed closely by Stephens and Gay.
The last nine laps were run caution-free and Stephens managed to cross the finish line ahead of Powers by a narrow margin of l.006 seconds with Gay in a tight third. Scotty Kay, Jr. and Thomas Hill ranked in the top five. Rounding out the top 10 it was Trent Wilson , Ronnie Heard, Thomas Burnside, William Burnside and Buck Woodhouse.
Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models arrive Sunday for practice followed six nights of racing and a live MAV-TV broadcast on Thurday.
Thanks, Jean Lynch for East Bay Raceway Park
Professional MotorSports Services
Crate Late Models 2/7/2014
A-Main:1. Keith Nosbisch (Valrico, FL), 2. Doug Horton (Wimuma, FL), 3. Dalton Myers (Riverview, FL), 4. Josh Peacock (Dover, FL), 5. Shan Smith (Dade City, FL), 6. David Schmauss (Tampa, FL), 7. Tommy Prince (Mulberry, FL), 8. Bill Tesh (Germanton, NC), 9. Kyle Musselman (Lutz, FL), 10. Kurt Waush (Shawano, WI), 11. Jack Nosbisch Jr (Riverview, FL), 12. Steve Miller (Tampa, FL), 13. Kolby Vanderbergh (Ashland, IL), 14. Mavrick Varnadore (Dover, FL), 15. Bobby Richardson (Eusts, FL), 16. Phillip Cobb (Dover, FL), 17. Derek Brown (Rural Hall, NC), 18. Megan Meyer (Tampa, FL), 19. Jamie Slatton (Thonoatasso, FL), 20. Steven Mathis Jr (Plant City, FL), 21. Bryan Bernhardt (Clearwater, FL), 22. Bob Gardner (Germantown Hills, IL), 23. David Pollen Jr. (Tampa, FL), 24. Jeremy Adamik (Leechburg, PA),
Heat Race 1:1. Josh Peacock (Dover, FL), 2. Mavrick Varnadore (Dover, FL), 3. Bobby Richardson (Eusts, FL), 4. Megan Meyer (Tampa, FL), 5. Kurt Waush (Shawano, WI), 6. Jamie Slatton (Thonoatasso, FL), 7. Bill Tesh (Germanton, NC), 8. Steve Miller (Tampa, FL),
Heat Race 2:1. Jack Nosbisch Jr (Riverview, FL), 2. Bryan Bernhardt (Clearwater, FL), 3. Phillip Cobb (Dover, FL), 4. Steven Mathis Jr (Plant City, FL), 5. Kyle Musselman (Lutz, FL), 6. Derek Brown (Rural Hall, NC), 7. David Pollen Jr. (Tampa, FL), 8. Kolby Vanderbergh (Ashland, IL),
Heat Race 3:1. Keith Nosbisch (Valrico, FL), 2. Doug Horton (Wimuma, FL), 3. Shan Smith (Dade City, FL), 4. David Schmauss (Tampa, FL), 5. Dalton Myers (Riverview, FL), 6. Bob Gardner (Germantown Hills, IL), 7. Tommy Prince (Mulberry, FL), 8. Jeremy Adamik (Leechburg, PA)
Street Stock 2/8/2014
A-Main:1. Richie Stephens (Phenix City, AL), 2. Tim Powers (Okeechobee, FL), 3. Tim Gay (Plant City, FL), 4. Scotty Kay Jr. (Loxahatchee, FL), 5. Thomas Hill (Clewiston, FL), 6. Trent Wilson (Okeechobee, FL), 7. Ronnie Heard (Valrico, Fl), 8. Thomas Burnside (Tampa, FL), 9. William Burnside (Tampa, FL), 10. Buck Woodhouse (Tampa, FL), 11. Richard Nelson (Port Charlotte, FL), 12. David McCormick (Okeechobee, FL), 13. Jeff Rodgers (Lithia, FL), 14. David Barwick II (Spring Hill, FL), 15. Del Powell (West Palm Beach, FL), 16. Justin Rodgers (Lithia, FL), 17. Chris Graebner (Bartow, FL), 18. Dennis Williams (Zephyrhills, FL), 19. Jason Harrison (Montgomery, AL), 20. Roberto Morfin (Tampa, FL),