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Steve Shaver Shows the Way in Winning $10,000 at East Bay in Lucas Oil Late
Model Dirt Series Action
TAMPA, FL (February 9, 2007)-Steve Shaver of Vienna, WV waited patiently
through several caution flags as he withstood the challenges of three different
drivers as he captured the 40 lap Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series main event on
Friday Night at East Bay Raceway during the 31st Annual East Bay
Winternationals. Shaver’s third career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series came
aboard the Cosgrove Racing/Ludicrous Hardcore Energy Drink/Waco Oil and
Gas Company/Drywall Systems, Inc/United-West Virginia’s Bank/Sunoco Race
Fuels/Panther Motorsports Designs/Penske Racing Shocks/Lakeview
Estates/Malcuit Racing Engines/Rocket GTO. Shaver earned $10,000 for the win
which was his fifth ever at East Bay.
Josh Richards of Shinnston, WV made a valiant last lap effort to overhaul
Shaver, but fell one car length short at the finish. Richards the Seubert Calf
Ranches/Cornett Racing Engines/Rocket Monte Carlo was second with Jeep
VanWormer of Pinconning, MI taking third in the Bayline Fire Protection/Cornett
Engines/C.J. Rayburn Monte Carlo. Completing the top five were Terry English of
Benton, KY in the Petroff Towing/Rayburn Automotive/C.J. Rayburn Race Cars
Monte Carlo and Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR in the Car City/Pro Power/C.J.
Rayburn Monte Carlo. A total of 96 cars were on hand for the fifth night of the
DART Winternationals at East Bay.
Shaver and VanWormer would led the field for the green for the 50 lap event
which got off to less than auspicious start with a caution flying immediately for a
wreck in turn two. After a lap was scored with Shaver leading the race there were
four straight cautions for pileups on the track which damaged several cars.
Shaver was still in front on the third scored lap when the fifth caution flew for a
stalled Wendell Wallace.
The race would go green for another lap and as soon as another lap was scored
the yellow came out again for Dan Schlieper. Then two more cautions on the
restarts had Shaver waiting patiently for the restart as he still held the point with
Terry English, VanWormer, Josh Richards and Scott James the top five cars.
Finally with ten laps in the books and some crinkled sheet metal later the drivers
were able to get more than one lap in the books as for the first time all race long
there were two consecutive green flag laps.
With the difficulty to get the race going in the early stages, the last fourth of the
race was a terrific battle for the lead among three drivers. With Shaver leading
VanWormer would scoot by him on lap 14 to take over the lead for the first time
in the race. VanWormer would lead three laps until Shaver retook the point on
lap 17. Shaver and VanWormer were putting on a spectacular race for the lead
as English was now in the hunt as the cars took the crossed flags at the halfway
mark of the race.
English would grab second from VanWormer on lap 28 as VanWormer slid down
the track in turn two losing a spot. English would then mount a challenge for the
lead on Shaver. English pulled even with Shaver in the battle for the lead with
Shaver holding him off. With ten laps to go Shaver was up to a five car length
lead over English and VanWormer with Richards on the move in the waning laps.
Richards would take third from VanWormer on lap 41 and with nine laps to go he
started to close on English for second. Richards would pass English for second
on lap 46 and then set sail after the race leader, Shaver. Shaver in the closing
laps would have Richards close right on his spoiler and as the two exited turn
four headed to the checkered flag Shaver would outrace Richards and beat the
teenager one car length for the win becoming the fifth different driver to win at
East Bay in five nights of racing this week. VanWormer was third with English and
Billy Moyer completing the top five.
“I want to dedicate this win to my good friend, Ben Garland in California who is in
a coma.” “I picked up a horrible push and we were able to hang on for the win,”
said Shaver afterwards.
Finishing out the top ten were Scott James, Donnie Moran, Matt Miller, Don O’
Neal, and Dan Schlieper.
In preliminary action Shannon Babb was the LifeLong Locks Fast Time Award
Winner as he set a fast lap of 14.650 seconds. The Hawk Brake and Quarter
Master sponsored heat races were won by Tim Dohm, Jeep VanWormer, Terry
English, Scott James, Wendell Wallace, Steve Shaver, Dan Schlieper and Earl
Pearson, Jr. and the Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks
sponsored B-mains were taken by Josh Richards, Brady Smith, Michael England
and Don O’Neal. The Performance Rod and Custom Strawberry Dash was won
by Eddie Carrier, Jr.
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series quickly returns to action at East Bay
Raceway on Saturday night, February 10th with a complete show of LifeLong
Locks Time Trials, Hawk Brake and Quarter Master sponsored Heat races,
Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks sponsored B-Mains
Performance Rod and Custom Strawberry Dash and the $10,000 to win A-Main.
Catch all of the action of the 31st Annual East Bay Winternationals live on the
internet all week long at www.racetalklive.com.
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