And now for something completely different, we give you special guest reporter Wendy Mathis, who is currently working with Jeanette Burnett’s team as she mulls her sprint car options while gearing up to head to Australia once again for some dirt racing.

Big thanks to Wendy for sending in her notes.

Date: May 22,2010

Track: East Bay Raceway Park.

Series: East Bay Sprints.

No heat races since it was double features tonight.  Here are the results:

Make-up race:

1. Tim George 1*
2. Gene Lasker 02
3. Billy Boyd 4
4. Danny Jones 99
5. Rocky Sullivan 15
6. Rich Alexander 8
7. Kerry Gilbert 55
8. Clint Reynolds 07
9. Rick Byerly 50
10. 10.Clyde Poole 85
11. Jeannette Burnett 18
12. Christine Auld 83
13. Tony Agin 38
14. Danny Martin Jr. 24
15. Daniel “DJ” Peeples 30
16. Jason Webster 21
17. Mark Ruel Jr 83X
18. Kurt Taylor 3K

I did not see the 83X or the 3K there tonight.  But they were there the night that we got rained out so they must have just added them to the tail of the field.  Any car that was not there the night of the rain out was not eligible to run the first feature.

2nd Feature:

1. Rocky Sullivan 15
2. Tim George 1*
3. Tony Agin 38
4. Keith Butler 19
5. Danny Jones 99
6. Rick Byerly 50
7. Jeannette Burnett 18
8. Billy Boyd 4
9. Jason Webster 21
10. Kerry Gilbert 55
11. Christine Auld 83
12. Rich Alexander 8
13. Kyle Welchance 47W
14. Gene Lasker 02
15. Troy Knowles 27
16. Danny Martin 24
17. Clyde Poole 85
18. DJ Peeples 30
19. Clint Reynolds 07

The 4 car of Billy Boyd was penalized two spots at the pay window for jumping a restart.  The 07 was disqualified due to an illegal carb, which got us to thinking that the tech man really has no clue what he is doing.  It is a stock Willy’s carb so it should have been fine and Clint is not the kind of guy that would cheat.

Series Grade: B. For being a double feature night, ttey had a great group of cars and it was a very racy field.

Track Grade: C-. As usual the track got very dry slick and was almost like driving on pavement.

Crowd Grade: A. The back lot was very full.  The people seem to always come out for the good shows.

Food Grade: N/A. Did not have time to get food as we were making serious changes to the 18 car, everything from complete setup change to some engine adjustments.

Other Notes: This was one of the best races that I have seen at East Bay in a while.  Lots of passing with some cars bumping the wall coming out of turn 2.  Lots of action and excitement to go around.  Gene Lasker did have a run-in with the 27 of Troy Knowles.  The 27 was a lapped car and came up in front of Gene and unfortunately Gene got the short end of the stick and flipped several times.  In a quick once over of the car, the frame looks ok.  Looks like mostly bolt on parts that got damaged.

Driver of the race for the make-up race: I would have to give it to Tim George.  He drove a very smart race.  He was challenged by Gene Lasker but ended up prevailing.

Driver of the race for the 2nd feature: This one is a huge toss up!! Keith Butler drove from the 18th starting spot to a 4th place finish.  He drove a smart race and stayed out of trouble.  But I have to give it to Jeannette Burnett, who was coming back after a horrible crash two weeks earlier.  Holding a solid 4th place for the majority of the race, she unfortunately spun on her own, but showed that the crash did not faze her at all.  She was able to work her way back up to a strong solid 7th place finish.  Great driving on both Keith and Jeannette’s part!!