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Roby Helm
TAMPA, Fla. (February 22) - Keith Nosbisch of Valrico, FL battled through lapped traffic to take the lead and win the 40-lap NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series main event Friday night at East Bay Raceway Park driving the Miller Lite Rocket. Nosbisch took the lead from Doug Horton of Bruceton Mills, WV on lap 31, and held off a challenge from Horton with two laps to go to take the win.
Nosbisch and Horton battled side-by-side for the lead several times during the second half of the race in heavy lapped traffic keeping the crowd on their feet.
"That was an exciting race, as I would catch Doug in lapped traffic and get the inside line, and then he would come back and do the same to me," Nosbisch said. "Doug is a good driver, and I really enjoy racing like that with him side-by-side."
Horton had to settle for second in the Adams Used Auto Parts Warrior after leading laps 16 through 30. Larry Boutwell of Baker, FL finished third in the McLeod Construction TNT, and fourth went to Ryan Mitchell of Lithia, FL in the Quality Precast Rayburn. Tony Payne of Riverview, FL was fifth in the SWS First Response Warrior.
Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA drove the CSC Trailer Repair/Brindle Brothers Auto Parts GRT to a sixth-place finish, and Chris Tays of Corinth, MS took the seventh spot in the Bud Coley Trucking Rocket. Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA finished eighth in the J&J Transport Mastersbilt and took a two-point lead in the National point standings over Brindle.
Josh Peacock of Dover, FL was ninth in the Peacock Farms Warrior to win the Maximum Signs Ninth-Place Award, and Frank Ingram of Woodstock, GA rounded out the top ten in his new ride, the Dixon Hauling and Grading Rocket to pick up the Old 29 Golf Carts Tenth-Place Award.
Roger Crouse of Plant City, FL started 22nd and finished 11th to earn the Hard Charger of the Race Award, and Jason Hiett of Lincoln, AL was the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials announced on Friday that Sunoco Race Fuels will sponsor the series' Rookie of the Year Award in 2008.
When the field took the green flag, polesitter Jack Nosbisch Jr. of Riverview, FL took the lead in the Adams Used Auto Parts Rocket followed by Boutwell, Horton, Keith Nosbisch, and Wallace Peacock of Dover, FL in the Strawberry Garden, Inc. TNT. Jack Nosbisch Jr. was the fast qualifier among the 55 entrants with a lap around the 1/3-mile clay oval in 16.720 seconds.
Horton and Keith Nosbisch got by Boutwell on lap two to take over the second and third spots respectively. The first of four caution flags came out on lap 13 when Jay Blair of Angie, LA stalled the Boland Performance Trak-Star in turn four. Jack Nosbisch Jr. led Horton, Keith Nosbisch, Boutwell, Wallace Peacock, Mitchell, Brindle, and Payne down for the restart.
The caution came out and lead changed hands on lap 16 when Jack Nosbisch Jr. spun in turn two. That earned Jack Nosbisch Jr. the Aerotech Styling Hard Luck of the Race Award. Horton assumed the lead followed by Keith Nosbisch, Boutwell, Mitchell, Payne, Brindle, Jeff Smith of Rocky Face, GA in the AllSouth Racing Products Warrior, and Fields.
Keith Nosbisch tried to drive under Horton on the restart, as the lead duo raced side-by-side down the backstretch, but Horton held on to the point. The third yellow flag came out on lap 18 when Jeff Matthews of Seffner, FL spun the Night Hawk Towing GRT in turn four, collecting Roger Crouse of Plant City, FL in the Coastal Trucking Rayburn and Hiett in the N&N Motors GRT.
The restart saw Payne get by Mitchell for the fourth spot, and Fields raced by Smith for the seventh spot. Horton stayed in front of Keith Nosbisch, and Boutwell. Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS stalled his Tiffin Motorhomes Mastersbilt in turn one to bring out the fourth and final caution flag on lap 21.
Several drivers made moves on the restart, as Tays got by Fields for the seventh spot, and high riding Ingram joined in to make it a three-wide battle for position. Mitchell got back around Payne for the fourth spot on lap 22.
Horton and Keith Nosbisch began to encounter lapped traffic with ten laps to go. Keith Nosbisch got the inside line on Horton in turn two on lap 31, and as Horton got caught behind a lapped car, Nosbisch powered ahead to take the lead. Horton was able to come back and catch Nosbisch behind a lapped car coming off turn two on lap 38.
With Horton on the inside, Nosbisch in the middle and the lapped car on the outside, three-abreast racing took place down the backstretch. Nosbisch was able to put the power down in turn three to squirt out of the middle of the pile to stay in the lead, and he hung on to take the victory.
In preliminary action, the four 12-lap B-Main Races were won by Ingram, Cooley, Jim Moon of Zionsville, IN in the Jedco Communications Rocket, and Tays.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series will run two complete shows in one day on Saturday at East Bay Raceway Park due to the Thursday night rainout. The opener on Saturday will see the gates opening at 10 a.m., hot laps set for 11 a.m., and time trials at 12 noon. The main event on Saturday afternoon will be a $2,500-to-win 40-lap race.
At the completion of the Saturday afternoon show, the East Bay Raceway Park officials will refurbish the race track, and another compete show will follow with time trials, B-Main Races, and a 50-lap $3,000-to-win main event.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 3 AT EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK IN TAMPA, FL ON 2/22/08:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 5 02 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL 40 $2,500
2. 4 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV 40 $1,250
3. 2 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL 40 $850
4. 7 5k Ryan Mitchell Lithia, FL 40 $700
5. 8 78 Tony Payne Riverview, FL 40 $650
6. 3 81c Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA 40 $550
7. 14 8 Chris Tays Corinth, MS 40 $500
8. 18 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA 40 $450
9. 17 21 Josh Peacock Dover, FL 40 $400
10. 11 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA 40 $375
11. 22 32 Roger Crouse Plant City, FL 40 $450
12. 1 12 Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL 40 $300
13. 20 28 Chris McElhenney Decatur, MS 40 $280
14. 9 1c Chris Carlson S. Milwaukee, WI 40 $260
15. 10 00 Jeff Smith Rocky Face, GA 39 $250
16. 15 105 Dave Schmauss Tampa, FL 39 $240
17. 21 1h Jason Hiett - R Lincoln, AL 39 $220
18. 23 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 38 $200
19. 24 9 Jimmy Waldrop Seffner, FL 36 $200
20. 12 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 20 $200
21. 12 33 Jeff Matthews Seffner, FL 17 $200
22. 6 1p Wallace Peacock Dover, FL 15 $200
23. 13 1m Jim Moon - R Zionsville, IN 12 $200
24. 16 2x Jay Blair Angie, LA 12 $200
ENTRIES: 54
FAST QUALIFIER: J. Nosbisch, 16.720 Seconds
PROVISIONAL: Turner
LEAD CHANGES: 2
LAP LEADERS: J. Nosbisch, 1-15; Horton, 16-30; K. Nosbisch, 31-40
LAPS LED: J. Nosbisch, 15; Horton, 15; K. Nosbisch, 10
HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE: Crouse (started 22nd and finished 11th)
SUNOCO RACE FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Hiett
AEROTECH STYLING HARD LUCK AWARD: J. Nosbisch
MAXIMUM SIGNS 9TH-PLACE AWARD: J. Peacock
OLD 29 GOLF CARTS 10TH-PLACE AWARD: Ingram
CAUTIONS: 4
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS ENG LAP 1 LAP 2 TIME
1 12n Jack Nosbisch Jr. Riverview, FL Rocket 604 16.72 16.88 16.72
2 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL TnT 604 16.857 16.728 16.728
3 81c Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA GRT 604 17.053 16.843 16.843
4 11 Doug Horton Bruceton Mills, WV Warrior 604 16.868 17.5 16.868
5 2 Keith Nosbisch Valrico, FL Rocket 604 17.32 16.888 16.888
6 P1 Wallace Peacock Dover, FL TnT 602 16.99 17.09 16.99
7 5k Ryan Mitchell Lithia, FL Rayburn 604 17.13 17.006 17.006
8 78 Tony Payne Riverview, FL Warrior 604 17.157 17.041 17.041
9 1c Chris Carlson S. Milwaukee, WI Rocket 604 18.375 17.071 17.071
10 0 Jeff Smith Rocky Face, GA Warrior 604 17.202 17.077 17.077
11 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA Rocket 604 17.094 17.108 17.094
12 2x Jay Blair Angie, LA Trak Star 604 17.68 17.095 17.095
13 1h Jason Hiett - R Lincoln, AL GRT 604 17.417 17.116 17.116
14 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA Mastersbilt 604 17.345 17.116 17.116
15 9 Jimmy Waldrop Seffner, FL Rocket 604 17.53 17.121 17.121
16 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS Mastersbilt 604 17.238 17.126 17.126
17 1m Jim Moon - R Zionsville, IN Rocket 604 19.906 17.198 17.198
18 8 Chris Tays Corinth, MS Rocket 604 17.594 17.2 17.2
19 105 Dave Schmauss Tampa, FL Warrior 604 17.404 17.234 17.234
20 8m Matt Miller Tampa, FL Rocket 604 17.713 17.25 17.25
21 21 Josh Peacock Dover, FL Warrior 604 17.26 17.265 17.26
22 32 Roger Crouse Plant City, FL Rayburn 604 17.468 17.276 17.276
23 17 David Livingston Blair, NE Mastersbilt 604 17.337 17.528 17.337
24 95x Phillip Cobb Riverview, FL Rayburn 604 18.011 17.384 17.384
25 72 Frank Wilson - R Harold, FL Goliath 604 17.465 17.385 17.385
26 3 Jeremy Ledford Mt. Airy, GA Stinger 604 17.401 17.471 17.401
27 33 Jeff Matthews Seffner, FL GRT 604 18.592 17.401 17.401
28 M42 Josh Morrow - R Murphy, NC Rayburn 604 17.467 17.576 17.467
29 95 Steve Mathis Plant City, FL Rayburn 604 17.938 17.479 17.479
30 42 Marshall Austin Jr. Plant City, FL Rocket 604 17.497 17.91 17.497
31 34 Chad Wallace - R LaGrange, GA GRT 604 17.832 17.558 17.558
32 28 Chris McElhenney Decatur, MS GRT 604 19.139 17.611 17.611
33 66k Scott Knowles - R Lanett, AL GRT 604 17.63 17.619 17.619
34 24 Seth Wimpey Blue Ridge, GA Pierce 604 17.656 17.645 17.645
35 444 Ted Erskine Tampa, FL TnT 604 19.381 17.692 17.692
36 41 Ted Lackey Munford, AL Warrior 604 18.666 17.705 17.705
37 19 Marcus Minga - R Shannon, MS Rayburn 604 17.722 18.874 17.722
38 c4 Freddie Carpenter Parkersburg, WV Rocket 604 17.75 17.94 17.75
39 12 Hunter Peacock - R Macon, GA Bullet 604 17.78 17.79 17.78
40 38 Kevin Colston Frankfort, KY Rocket 604 18.205 17.808 17.808
41 41v Travis Varnadore Dover, FL Rayburn 604 17.845 18.157 17.845
42 14 Steve Godsey - R Bedford, IN Rayburn 604 17.915 17.846 17.846
43 F22 Carlton Freeman Eastaboga, AL GRT 604 18 17.901 17.901
44 89 Steve Gillman Plant City, FL Rayburn 604 18.69 17.911 17.911
45 24w Dennis Williams Zephyrhills, FL Rayburn 604 18.4 17.958 17.958
46 7 Frankie Erskine Jr. Lutz, FL TnT 604 17.97 18.314 17.97
47 11b Barry Beauchamp Salisbury, MD Lazer 602 18.059 17.996 17.996
48 17h Randy Hill - R Dalton, GA Warrior 604 18.031 18.121 18.031
49 54 John Koller Grand Island, FL Rocket 602 18.043 18.823 18.043
50 J17 Joe Kump Lake Helen, FL Mastersbilt 604 18.345 18.16 18.16
51 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA Hicks 604 18.492 18.239 18.239
52 47 Jeff Conyers Dover, FL Rocket 604 18.661 19.32 18.661
53 49 Scott Brewer Chicago, IL Mastersbilt 604 19.496 19.019 19.019
54 22m Mark Sims Lithia Springs, GA GRT 602 21.101 21.151 21.101
55 0 Bobby Alexander Jr. Plant City, FL Rocket 604 NT NT NT
B-MAINS (12 Laps - Top 3 finishers transfer to main event):
1ST B-MAIN: 1. Ingram; 2. Schmauss; 3. Matthews; 4. Waldrop; 5. Livingston; 6. Freeman; 7. T. Erskine; 8. H. Peacock (R); 9. Wallace (R); 10. Turner; 11. Beauchamp; 12. Alexander DNS.
2ND B-MAIN: 1. Cooley; 2. Blair; 3. McElhenney; 4. Miller; 5. Morrow (R); 6. Cobb; 7. Gillman; 8. Conyers; 9. Hill (R); 10. Lackey; 11. Colston.
3RD B-MAIN: 1. Moon (R); 2. J. Peacock; 3. Hiett (R); 4. Wilson (R); 5. Mathis; 6. Knowles (R); 7. Williams; 8. Koller; 9. Minga (R); 10. Brewer; 11. Varnadore.
4TH B-MAIN: 1. Tays; 2. Fields; 3. Crouse; 4. Wimpey; 5. Ledford; 6. Godsey (R); 7. F. Erskine; 8. Sims; 9. Kump; 10. Carpenter; 11. Austin.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES NATIONAL POINTS THROUGH 2/22/08:
1. 16 Jeff Fields - 236
2. 81c Chip Brindle - 234
3. 8 Chris Tays - 206
4. 4 Ted Lackey - 202
5. 2x Jay Blair - 200
6. F22 Carlton Freeman - 192
7. 00 Jeff Smith - 192
8. 58 Larry Boutwell - 192
9. 1h Jason Hiett (R) - 190
10. 66k Scott Knowles (R) - 160
11. 12 Hunter Peacock (R) - 156
12. 10 Matthew Turner - 154
13. 14 Steve Godsey (R) - 152
14. 1 Johnny Stokes - 144
15. 222 Mike Boland - 142
16. M42 Josh Morrow (R) - 134
17. 33c Eric Cooley - 126
18. 1m Jim Moon (R) - 114
19. 48 John Ownbey - 110
20. 00s Richard Stephens (R) - 108
R - Denotes Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year Candidate
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