TAMPA, FL……2/7/15… After qualifying was completed and heat races were run on Friday night, the 50-lap feature event was set for tonight’s 50-lap $1,500 to win Street Stock Championship.
Starting on the front row for the feature it was 2 time and defending Champion Salem, Alabama’s The Rocketman Richie Stephens on the pole and Plant City’s Tim Gay on the outside front row.
When the green waved it was Stephens jumping to the early lead with Gay right on his back bumper. Gay would take over the lead on lap four and would continue to lead as he and Stephens would begin to come upon lapped traffic by lap fourteen.
Gay would continue to lead after a few quick cautions came out and on lap twenty nine Gay would split two lapped cars to try and get away from Stephens.
On lap thirty two it was fourth place Justan Rodgers who had spun which brought out the final caution.
Tim Gay would lead the field to the green as Stephens, Grady Christian, Ronnie Heard and Buck Woodhouse were all trying to catch Gay.
On the final turn it was Tim Gay winning with Stephens right behind him. Grady Christian, Tim Powers and Tommy Hill would round out the top five.
When Tim climbed out of the car in Victory Lane he said with a grin “Rocket who?” Tim said in his interview that he enjoyed racing Stephens as he was a good clean driver and he knew he had to keep it down low. The first person he thanked was his mom for coming to every race and supporting him. He thanked his crew, Bruce’s Pallets, B&M Welding and Robert Delgado for a great power plant. He said in Victory Lane “If you want a good motor go see how a Cuban builds a fast engine.”
He also thanked his new wife which he just married a few days ago and said he also misses his tire man Geno and wished he was there.
Action continues Monday night as the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series returns for a full week of non-stop action for six straight nights. For more information, visit www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call 813-677-7223.
Professional MotorSports Services
Street Stock 2/7/2015
A-Main:1. Tim Gay (Plant City, FL), 2. Richie Stephens (Salem, AL), 3. Grady Christian (Alteena, FL), 4. Tim Powers (Okeechobee, FL), 5. Tommy Hill (Clewiston, FL), 6. Ronnie Heard (Valrico, Fl), 7. Buck Woodhouse (Tampa, FL), 8. David McCormick (Okeechobee, FL), 9. David Barwick II (Spring Hill, FL), 10. Justin Rodgers (Lithia, FL), 11. Thomas Burnside (Tampa, FL), 12. William Burnside (Tampa, FL), 13. Jason Burnside (Tampa, FL), 14. Jeff Rodgers (Lithia, FL), 15. Mike Wilson (Auburndale, FL), 16. Dennis Wilson (Bradenton, FL), 17. Terry Jones (Lithin, FL), 18. Scotty Kay Jr. (Loxahatchee, FL), 19. Del Powell (West Palm Beach, FL), 20. Dennis Williams (Zephyrhills, FL), 21. Jason Harrison (Montgomery, AL)