I have to start off this entry with this; if you are a Dirt Late Model fan and do not already subscribe to Dirt On Dirt, you need to do so. Especially if you are unable to make the trip down to Florida for Speed Weeks, but still want to enjoy the racing action either the next morning, or live on a pay per view basis like they will be doing next week at Volusia.
I logged on this morning doing my best to keep my eyes off of the lead story photo in hopes that I could go to the video of Thursday night's racing without knowing who had actually won. Mission accomplished. First I watched the heat race highlights and it was obvious that the East Bay Raceway was in prime condition for racing on this night as despite the format, where the fast guys start up front, there was plenty of action with drivers using the entire width of the Clay by the Bay.
Heat race two was a fantastic battle between two youngsters as fifteen-year-old Michael Lake and sixteen-year-old Hudson O'Neal swapped the lead back and forth in thrilling fashion with Lake prevailing to earn the third starting spot for the night's feature race. Dennis Erb Jr. slipped by young O'Neal in the closing laps to take second. The third heat was a wild one as well with drivers going three-wide battling for the final transfer spot with Ricky Weiss being the prime catalyst. Announcer James Essex flat out stated "they're going to wreck," twice before Weiss spun across the race track in turn four with no contact.
The feature race was a thriller as well, something that may not have been expected with Josh Richards starting on the pole. The large crowd on hand had to be going out of their minds when Michael Lake drove around the World of Outlaws champion to take the lead following a restart and the kid showed it was no fluke as he paced the field for several laps before Don O'Neal raced by him. Lake's night came to an early end though when he and Dennis Erb Jr. tangled while racing for fourth relegating him to a DNF status.
On the restart hometown driver Kyle Bronson made a charge at O'Neal for second into turn three, but with door slammed shut he spun the car doing a 360 before being hit by Hudson O'Neal ending his night too early as well. Bronson however was given his spot back on the restart since he never stopped, another rule the the Lucas Oil series should reconsider.
In the closing laps it would be Tim McCreadie going to the front to take the win after starting in 18th while Scott Bloomquist showed that he is ready for the two Lucas Oil series point races to come here on Friday and Saturday by moving from 22nd to 7th at the checkers.
I have seen many nights like this at East Bay when I used to make the trip south annually and it was great to see one of my favorite tracks deliver in grand style once again on Thursday. For the story from one of my colleagues who is in Florida this year, check out Ed Reichert's "One Fan's Travels"
The Sprint Cars are the headliners at Volusia County this week and in Thursday's Acrtic Cat All Stars show it was David Gravel taking the win over Donny Schatz. The track looked racy early, but a line of rubber right through the middle groove developed and the drivers settled into position through the last half of the race. Have you seen the video of Joey Saldana's crash from Wednesday night? Check out the 1:53 mark of this and you will see why we are all thankful that nobody, including Saldana was injured.
The UMP Modifieds are also racing at Volusia this week with Brian Ruhlman edging out Ken Schrder for Thursday's win. And, down in Texas, the United States Modified Touring Series kicked off another tripleheader weekend with Ricky Thornton Jr. showing why he should have been the first choice at Gressel Racing.
More dirt racing down south plus Daytona swings into action this weekend.......and it will be seventy degrees here in Iowa. Amazing!
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