It was back over to the left coast as the East Bay Raceway Park was running the first of two nights of an unsanctioned 410 sprint car series. The key word here is “unsanctioned” as the World of Outlaws sprint car group have a rule that states that their drivers cannot run at a non-outlaw show within 24 hours before or after a WOO program within a 250 mile radius of the previous show. We wandered into the pit area after signing in and found only 16 410 sprint cars along with 19 600 cc mini sprints in attendence. We listened in on the driver’s meeting and the race director told the drivers that back in August he had a verbal agreement with the WOO that they would waive the 24 hour rule. He was informed just recently that WOO had changed their mind and would inforce the rule. I guess that in today’s world a man’s word is not worth much. The losers here are the fans who shelled out $30 expecting to see 40 to 50 sprinters and the track who hosted the WOO in year’s past and get sand kicked in their face for trying to provide the race fan some 410 sprint car action. I attempted to verify the ruling above on the WOO web site but could not find any rule section there. That leads me to my second thought, that being how come the outlaw drivers were allowed to run with the All-Stars one night at Volusia and then run the next night with the WOO at Volusia?? Could it have been because Volusia is owned by World Racing Group which owns WOO?? Seems they are like NASCAR and change the rules when it suits them. Enough of this let’s get to the racing!!!

Time trials for the 16 sprinters got underway at 7:48 with California’s Tim Kaeding setting fast time. This was followed in short order by 3 heats for the Florida mini sprints and two heats for the 410 sprints. All qualifying was completed by 8:40. A short break followed (18 minutes) before the running of two Strawberry dashes, one for each division on hand. Then it was time for the 25 lap Florida mini sprint feature and this one turned out to be a good one. The lead was not the place to be as Connecticut driver, Lex Burritt, a two time winner already at Mototown in Connecticut, seemed to have control of this one until lap 17. Burritt lost control of his mini sprint between turns three and four and was totally sideways before regaining control and dropping to third. Young California driver, Tyler Reddick, inherited the lead and looked like a sure bet until a lap 22 restart where the #11 did not go when the green waved and he was forced to restart at the tail of the field. Myerstown PA’s Brent Marks, the Kutztown Fair Speedeway 2007 point champion, took control and held off fellow Pennsylvania driver, Ron Zerfoss, and Andrew Griffin for the win.

After victory lane ceromonies for Marks it was time for the 25 lap 410 sprint car feature with the green waving at 9:50. Fred Rahmer burst out to the early lead and midway through Danny Smith caught and passed Rahmer for the lead. Shortly thereafter Smith tangled with young Aaron Ott from Pennsylvania where lapping him causing both to spin. In some heady driving both drivers looped their sprinters around and kept going never bringing out the caution flag. Smith lost four spots slipping to fifth but the elbows were up and he regained one spot in less than a lap. He promptly dusted off Kaeding and Lance DeWease in his drive back to the front. Time ran out though with Smith about 10 car lengths behind when the checker waved at 9:58 on the non-stop feature event. Rahmer scored his first win of the year in Florida over Smith, DeWease (who has had a very good Florida tour), Kaeding and Greg Wilson. Considering they only had 16 cars the feature was pretty decent.

That’s it for another day in Florida where today’s weather forecast is not good with rain predicted for the afternoon and heavy rain scheduled for the evening hours. Until next time, keep warm and have a great day!!!