Some highlights:

• Kyle Medina claimed first blood by slamming the gigantic McAtee boat into the turn one wall, spinning himself into turn two. Scott Sabol followed suit with the boat of Andy Norton.
• Kevin Sabol, the 10, and Serrano all spun out in turn four as Chris Johnson spun Roy Funderburk into the infield and joined the tangle. All but Funderburk, who was stuck in the grass, made it out.
• Joe Sloan pinned the boat of McAtee into the turn one wall leaving his own boat open to attack by Medina. This shredded Sloan’s boat and spun him into the infield.
• The Limo of  Sisavich crushed the McAtee boat into the turn four wall, and kept it there through turn one. When he passed to the inside, Lovrin took his place and ground the McAtee boat through turn four.
• Medina caught Serrano in his tow cable on the frontstretch and spun him completely around into turn one.
• In turn four, the Limo had spun and stopped sideways allowing K. Sabol and Loen to drive right through his boat.
• Serrano got spun by Johnson in turn one, forcing McAtee up high, allowing K. Sabol to pin the boat of McAtee against the wall, which the K. Sabol boat open for Sloan to pin against the wall. This wall-grinding three-car three-boat mass would continue for an entire lap. When K. Sabol and Sloan finally broke away, Norton took the opportunity to smash the McAtee boat right back into the wall. That great lake cruiser of McAtee was getting smaller and smaller.
• Lovrin, Medina, and Loen were snarled up in turn four. This spun Loen backwards high into the frontstretch wall right in front of the grandstands. McAtee was spun by the K. Sabol, and the whole mass slammed into the front-end of the backwards Loen. A red flag was thrown to check on the Loen team, who were all fine, and they were evacuated through the flagger’s stand to a standing ovation.
• In turn four, the Limo boat swung wide and Norton drover through half of it in a magnificent explosion of fiberglass and trim.
• On the frontstretch, the Shore Patrol police cruiser of David King (with working whoopee lights!) and Johnson spun and blocked the track. Serrano slowed to pass outside them when Medina drove up into Serrano boat. In turn one, they came to a stop as Serrano could not drag both, and Medina was stuck. As King finally started to move, McAtee caught his boat high and spun him, but paid for it as Sloan came right up and crushed his boat into the wall yet again.
• In turn one, Serrano and Medina were still stuck together and Medina was sending huge clouds of tire and fiberglass smoke into the air. As cars passed to the inside, their boats swung wide and crashed into the Medina boat, crushing both.
• In the last lap, Medina finally broke loose and drove away low while McAtee swung around high. However, that was exactly for what K. Sabol was waiting. He drove up the turn into the McAtee boat, literally folding it in half against the wall, and spun himself into the infield just as the checkers were thrown.
• At the end of this frigid rogue wave of destruction, five Captains of Catastrophe survived to line up in front of the grandstands to be judged by their fans. Chris Johnson (2), Kevin “Ricky Bobby” Sabol (26), Joe Sloan (14), Kyle Medina (17), and McAtee (72).

The initial poll of cheering called for a sudden-death between Kevin Sabol and Kyle Medina. By the barest of margins, maybe the wild cheers on just one little girl amazed at that last lap sneak-attack turning a giant lake cruiser into origami, Kevin “Ricky Bobby” Sabol was hailed Pirate King of Boat Race #1.

The “Fiberglass 500” Boat Race #2 is scheduled for Sunday May 25th of the Memorial weekend 2-day event, when it is expected to be warmer, wetter, and way wilder.

Modifieds

The field of 12 Modifieds was led to the green flag by Mike Smithhart and Sean Sweeney. Smithhart took off with the lead as Sweeney fell back outside Bob Strauss. Mike Sullivan settled into third as Mark Marek passed Richie Potts and challenged the inside of Bill Binns for fifth followed by Mike Doss who had passed by the inside of both Danny Bishop and Potts.

An official’s yellow was thrown in lap six to deal with communication problems with the flagger, and the race was restarted single file.

Sweeney had a good start this time and swing to the outside of Smithhart to challenge for the lead followed by Strauss and Sullivan. Doss and Marek were neck-and-neck for fifth. In lap nine, Mike Linnell dove to the turn one infield with technical problems.

Smithhart and Sweeney continued their battle as Marek got out from inside Binns to the outside of Sullivan for fourth. In lap 13, Rick Rose retired to the turn one infield with problems and a caution was thrown so the officials could check the track.

Smithhart and Sweeney restarted the pack, but this time Smithhart broke loose coming out of turn four causing the pack to bunch up behind him as Sweeney sailed away with the lead. As Smithhart got back up to speed, Marek passed him on the outside for second, and Strauss and Sullivan were pushed back behind him allowing Binns to take fourth.

By lap 17, the pack settled into single file and Marek started to chase down Sweeney. Binns swung to the outside of Smithhart to start the battle for third followed closely by Strauss. Sullivan, Doss, and Bishop were strung out behind, and fast qualifier Steve Taylor was in the back with Potts suffering from problems that had plagued him all night.

In lap 20, Marek and Sweeney were side-by-side at the line and, one lap later, Marek powered away with the lead. Over the next seven laps, Binns ran even outside of Smithhart in a pitched battle for third.

At the line it was Marek, Sweeney, Binns, Smithhart, and Strauss. Smithhart and Potts won the Heat Races.

Street Stocks

Mike Bray and David Jones brought the six car pack to the line. Bray kept the lead as Jones quickly fell back on the outside with engine problems, pushing Waycik and Brian Smith back behind him.

In lap three, Jerry Crapo swung out around Bray for the lead. Andy Vander Veer quickly followed him, and Smith dove under Waycik and Jones to follow Vander Veer into third.

In lap six, Vander Veer made the outside pass on Crapo for the lead as Waycik swung around Crapo for  fourth. In the next three laps, Smith would follow into second and Waycik challenged Crapo for third.

As Vander Veer ran away with the lead, Waycik fought hard outside Crapo but always seemed to wiggle outside in turn one and lose whatever he gained. After 10 laps of this, Waycik broke loose and drifted wide in turn four, but managed to recover just before the wall to chase down Crapo again.

By lap 24, Vander Veer had lapped Bray and came up short behind the side-by-side Waycik and Crapo battle for third. This allowed Smith to catch up to the tail of Vander Veer.

Before Smith could capitalize, Waycik lost ground on the outside, allowing Vander Veer to swing outside Crapo and surge on ahead, followed closely by Smith.

At the checkers, it was Vander Veer, Smith, Crapo, Waycik, and Bray.

Bombers

Ten Bombers were led to the start by Richie Schwarm Jr. and Jimmy Sorrels, a struggle for the lead that would span two-thirds of the race. Sorrels settled outside of Richard Bray, Gino Buchignani outside of Matt Gerjets followed by Shawn Kennedy, Roman Rose outside of Dylan Rose, and Jon Waner outside of George Abella.

Waner was having trouble holding the line outside Abella and, in lap two, broke loose in turn one. This turned his nose into the side of Abella, tangled his bumper up, and ripped it right off bringing out a caution.

Schwarm and Sorrels led the restart with Schwarm in the lead and Sorrels right outside him. Bray was in third inside of Buchignani in a battle that raged side-by-side for nine laps. In lap 12, Buchignani suddenly lost power into turn three, sending him back into Gerjets. Gerjets dove to the inside but got into the side of Abella. Buchignani took his powerless car wide into turn four as Waner, Kennedy, and R. Rose passed safely on the inside. Buchignani finally coasted to a halt on the frontstretch infield as a yellow was thrown. Neither Gerjets or Abella spun or stopped, so they did not get sent to the back.

Schwarm and Sorrels started them up again and stayed dead even. Bray kept third as Gerjets faded all the way back on the outside pushing Abella and R. Rose with him. D. Rose slipped into fourth, Waner swung to his outside, and Abella followed closely.

Suddenly, in lap 20, Sorrels could no longer hold the outside and started to fall back, taking Waner with him. Bray, D. Rose, Abella, and R. Rose stepped into second to fifth, and D. Rose swung to the outside of Bray to challenge for second.

In lap 23, D. Rose has almost cleared Bray in turn one when he came down a hair too soon and clipped the right-front of Bray with his left-rear, spinning him backwards in front of the pack. The racers reacted instantly as Bray, R. Rose, and Waner swung to the high side, and Abella and Sorrels swung low. All of them passed by safely as the yellow was thrown. Since D. Rose and Bray were both involved, they were sent to the back.

This put Abella next to Schwarm at the restart. Abella took the outside lead by half a car length over Schwarm followed bumper-to-bumper by the faster R. Rose. Waner passed to the inside of Sorrels for fourth, and Kennedy and Gerjets fell back side-by-side taking Bray and D. Rose with them.

The last six laps was a real nail-biter as R. Rose stayed on the bumper of Abella while Schwarm slowly fell back on the inside. All Rose needed was enough room to swing ahead of Schwarm, inside of Abella, and he could power into the lead.

He ran out of time with only inches to spare. Abella finished first, followed by R. Rose, Schwarm, Waner, and Sorrels. Schwarm and Buchignani won the Heat Races.

Thunder Roadsters

The ten car Thunder Roadster field was led to the green by Chris Lawrance and Troy Combs. Behind them, both Bruce Ziener and Tom Payne quickly dropped back through the field leaving Dave Henderson in third, and allowing Doug Pulver to pass Mark Arroyo for fourth.

In lap eight, Lawrance and Combs were battling for the lead when Lawrance’s car lost power and he quickly dropped to the back. Chris Sarvinski passed Ziener for fifth.

In lap 11, Henderson passed Combs for the lead, and Pulver followed him into second. The only yellow of the race occurred in lap 17 when Bill Bradberry spun on his own. Payne took the opportunity to retire to the pits.

Henderson and Pulver restarted and outpaced the field. Arroyo made it past Combs for third, followed by Sarvinski, but also suffered problems and dropped back by lap 23. At the finish it was Henderson, followed by Pulver, Sarvinski, Combs, and Ziener. Combs won the other Heat Race.

Legends Car Series

Dylan Albiani and Jessie Walker brought 12 Legends Cars to the start. Albiani took off with the lead while Walker dropped back. David Winchel quickly passed Micah Parmar and David Fisher for second with Matt Scott following into third. Shane These moved up from tenth to sixth.

In lap five, Winchel passed Albiani for the lead. Two laps later, Scott followed into second. Parmer passed Fisher and Albiani for third, and Fisher followed into fourth.

Cars were now being lapped and, in lap 15, These brought out the only caution of the race when he spun in turn four.

Winchel claimed the checkers, followed by Scott, Parmer, Fisher, and Albiani. These and Fisher won the Heat Races.

Modifieds

Nine of the fastest 13 Modifieds were inverted as decided by a number randomly drawn by fast qualifier Mike Doss. This put Mike Smithhart and Scott Sabol in the front row for the start of the Main Event. After one restart, Smithhart took the lead.

In lap two, the flagger was hit by leaking fuel and threw a caution to check the car of Steve Taylor who had problems with a leaking gas cap earlier in the day. No leak was found and the racing continued with Rick Rose passing Sabol for second, and Bob Strauss, Danny Bishop, Terry McIntire, and Mark Marek from fourth on back. A caution was thrown in lap seven when Taylor’s fuel cap finally let go and he retired to the pits. This would be the last caution.

Smithhart and Rose restarted the field and Smithhart took the lead. Marek passed McIntire for sixth while Doss and Richie Potts battled for eighth. Strauss passed Sabol for third, Marek and Bishop were vieing for fifth, and Potts was now challenging McIntire for seventh.

In lap 18, Rose passed Smithhart for the lead, and Potts made it past McIntire. Marek made it past Bishop, and then quickly passed Sabol, Strauss, and Smithhart into second. McIntire lost eighth to Doss, and Potts passed Bishop and Sabol for fifth.

By lap 26, Strauss claimed third from Smithhart and Potts followed into fourth. Mike Linnell was lapped and Sabol got caught behind him losing four positions.

Rose held on and finished first, followed by Marek, Strauss, Potts, and Smithhart. Bishop won the Trophy Dash, and Smithhart and Strauss the Heat Races.

Bombers

Kevin Brackett and Andy Norton led the 12 car field to the Main Event start. Brackett took the lead while Norton dropped back on the outside, pushing Richie Schwarm, Dylan Rose, and Ron Duke Sr. back with him.

Richard Bray managed to dodge inside into third ahead of Matt Gerjets and behind George Abella. Jimmy Sorrels moved into fourth inside of Schwarm.

In lap seven, Abella took the lead from Brackett, Schwarm was rallying against Sorrels for fifth, and Roman Rose passed Jon Waner for seventh.

By lap 13, Schwarm had made it past Sorrels and then Gerjets for fourth, R. Rose passed Sorrels for sixth, and D. Rose had passed Waner and was vieing with Sorrels for seventh. In lap 16, Gerjets got caught behind a lapped Chuck Hackbarth to the back, and the battle for seventh got so heated that a yellow was thrown to send D. Rose to the back for blocking.

Abella and Brackett led the restart and Abella forged out ahead. Bray followed in third, and R. Rose passed Schwarm for fourth. In lap 18, Gerjets brought out another caution when he spun.

Abella and Brackett started them up again. Abella kept the lead, but Brackett lost positions to Bray and Schwarm. Duke finally freed himself past Sorrels, and quickly moved up past R. Rose and Brackett into fourth, followed by a very aggressive D. Rose. Waner claimed eighth from Sorrels. A caution was thrown in lap 23 as D. Rose was yet again called for blocking and sent to the back.

Abella and Bray led them to the green with Abella in the lead on the inside. Duke passed Schwarm for third, and R. Rose beat Brackett for fifth. R. Rose continued past Duke for third as Waner moved past Sorrels and then Brackett for sixth.

At the line it was Abella, Bray, R. Rose, Duke, and Schwarm. Schwarm won the Trophy Dash, and Duke the other Heat Race.