Jax Raceway 1999-04-03

Pole: Place to Be At Jax Raceways

By Donnie Helmly

Jacksonville, Florida (April 5, 1999) Much to the promoters surprise, a packed grandstand saw some exciting racing action last weekend at Jax Raceways ½ mile NASCAR sanctioned track. "Easter weekend isn't usually a good night for the crowd", Said Roger Godbee, "we have had a great crowd all year long and they have seen some great racing action".

The Hobby Stock division saw former division champion Eddie Holton lead every lap of the feature event. Randy Clark Jr. set fast time in qualifying with Holton second fastest. Holton drove deeper in turn one at the drop of the green flag, and sped away. Clark crossed the stripe in second, with Mitch McCoy third, Bobby Padgett was fourth and Crag Hall in fifth.

The Late Model race saw a familiar face in the winner circle, as Jeff Godbee set fast time once again, placing him on the pole. Godbee got the jump on the field and led every lap. Buddy Gieger followed in second until lap 13 when Steve Whitener made the move to second, Whitener would run out of laps, and settled for second before challenging for the lead. Gieger finished in third, with Robert McCormick in fourth and Homer Leonard rounding out the top five.

Kenny Bayless found his way to victory lane for the second time this season in flag to flag fashion in the Open Wheel Modified event. Bayless out fired Jake Wood and pulled away from the field. Wood crossed in second with Kevin Bayless in third, V. Pipken was fourth and Manny Valderrama finished off the top five.

The pure Stock Division saw a former Division champion beating out his teammate for his first win of the year. John Taylor took the lead on lap one, and held off Points leader Darren Greenslet for the win. Ray Pruett was third, with Joey Zimmermen in fourth and Hardy Jarvis in fifth.

(Donnie can be heard as the host of "The Race Report", The Fastest Show on radio Monday nights @7 PM on 1320 AM WJGR Jacksonville, Florida)