By Rick Warren
4/10/2004

What a night! Their was something for every race fan, from V8 Bombers to Late Model action with the Goodyear Challenge Series. The Easter Bunny was in attendance with lots of goodies for the younger fans, and the youngsters also enjoyed an Egg Hunt in the infield. The race fans also enjoyed some very good racing action.

Friday nights’ practice session had hinted at things in store for Saturday nights’ race. As the racers worked on the cars Friday evening, the lap times continued to get lower.

When time to Qualify rolled around Saturday evening, the fans were really looking for some quick times. The drivers didn’t disappoint any one, as the times were in the 13 second range on the high banks of Bronson Motor Speedway. 28 cars were registered for the event, and 25 cars ran through the lights trying to get the fast time. After all 25 racers had given it their best shot, Jason Boyd was the one on top, with a time of 13.375 seconds. Just a tick behind was Martin Pierce with a time of 13.393 seconds.

The field lined up for the start with the fast qualifier starting in the third row. Joe Winchell and A.J. Curreli sat on the front row, followed by Doug Samion and Martin Pierce. The third row was held by Boyd and Tate Pierce. When the Green flag waved to start the race, Winchell powered to the early lead. The first of 10 caution flags waved on lap 2, as Steve Smith got loose off turn 4 with some help, and slid down the front straight and into the infield. The race restarted on lap 7, with Winchell out front, followed by Boyd, Samion, M. Pierce, Curelli, Rob Cooper, Tate Pierce, Rich Clouser, Bill Ostriker and Jerry Artuso.

As the cars were getting sorted out and trying to settle in for some serious racing, caution came out again on lap 9, as Dan Crowe turned around in turn 4. The race restarted on lap 14 with no change in the running order of the top 10. Lap 19 again saw the caution wave as Jerry Artuso and Chuck Burkhalter got together in turn 1. The race went green again on lap 25 and the drivers were starting to get anxious to move up in the running order. The fans were treated to a great deal of side by side racing , even if it was only for a few laps at a time.

Lap 34 saw the flagman again display the yellow flag for a big pile of cars in turn 2. The cars of Ostriker, M. Pierce, Strahley, Curelli, Artuso, and Charles Kopach were all involved. The race restarted on lap 39 with Winchell still showing the way, followed by Boyd, Samion, Pierce, T.Pierce, Clouser, Cooper, Ostriker, Artuso and Kopach. As the field neared the halfway point, a major crash took place on the front straight, blocking the track, and bringing out the red flag, while the track was cleared.

The cars of T. Pierce, Cooper, Ostriker and M.Pierce were trying to get thru lapped traffic, when they made contact with the lapped car of Chuck Abell, and mayhem ensued. Tate Pierce was in the wall, Rob Cooper was parked in the engine compartment of the 81 car, while both were jammed in the side of the 19 car. Meanwhile, in turn 4, the car of Dwayne Bryan, was parked on the hood of Bobby Newton. Once the track was finally cleared, the race went green with Winchell, Boyd, Ostriker, Richard Parks, and Kopach leading the way.

Caution was again shown on lap 50 as Tim Clark spun in turn 4. The race went green on lap 54, and caution waved again on the restart, as the cars of Steve Smith, M. Pierce and Richard Parks got tied up in turn 4.

The race restarted on lap 60, and caution again waved on this restart, as the cars of Strahley and Newton tangled in turn 4. Racing resumed on lap 65, and Boyd really started working on Winchell, trying to find a way around for the lead. Lap 68 saw Boyd work under Winchell, and the two cars raced side by side for 2 laps before Boyd took over the lead.

The flagman again waved the Yellow flag on lap 71 as the cars of Kopach and Ostriker got together in turn 2. The race restarted on lap76 with Boyd, followed by Winchell, Burkhalter, M.Pierce, Rusty Baker, Tim Clark, Parks and Kaouk. When the flagman waved the green, Boyd was slow on the start, and Winchell blasted by him to retake the lead. Boyd and Winchell continued to race side by side for the lead, until Boyd finally got the edge and reclaimed the lead.

Caution again was displayed on lap 83 for the cars of Bryan, Artuso and Jim Keating, all spinning in turn 2. The race restarted on lap 88, and stayed green until lap 94, when the cars of Ostriker and Clark spun in turn 4. The race stayed green for the final laps, amd when the arm weary flagman waved the checkered flag, Jason Boyd had managed to hold off the relentless challenge of Joe Winchell to claim the win. Third went to Chuck Burkhalter, followed by Martin Pierce, Doug Samion, and Rusty Baker.