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Rick Green, Doug Livingston take top honors at I-37 Speedway

I-37 Raceway celebrated the Easter weekend Saturday night with several attractions including Ryan Newman’s Tornados-sponsored NASCAR Sprint Cup car, dozens of goody bags given away to the kids during intermission and a couple of new winners in the top two divisions on the semi-banked, ¼-mile clay oval.

Liberty Hill’s Rick Green put an end the early streak of Greg Dinsmore in the IMCA Modified class. Green got out front early, but gave way to Mike McCarthy on a botched restart. Green got the top spot back after McCarthy and Dinsmore got together while fighting for the lead. From there Green pulled away from Darin Leonard to take the checkers.

As green waved on the 20-lap main event Green shot from row 2 for the lead with Leonard and Dinsmore moving up to second and third. McCarthy, Matt Fox and Bob Lienweber were three wide for fourth, with McCarthy getting the position. Dinsmore got by Leonard for second on lap 2 with both coming away with sheet metal damage.

Dinsmore had just started working on Green for lead when Marlin Sanford, Fox and Robert Liese jr. tangled in turn 4 to bring out a yellow. Under caution Dinsmore was sent to the pits to remove loose body panels and restarted at the tail. Once back to green Dinsmore shed more parts, while Cody Tidwell, in his first ever Modified ride, spun in turn 1.

On the next restart, McCarthy got past Leonard and Green for the lead after a mistake in the flagstand with the lights. Bill Pittaway moved in to battle with Green for second as they ran side by side, while Dinsmore worked his way back to fifth. Lap 7 saw Dinsmore get under Leonard, then Pittaway for third until he spun to bring out a caution.

Once back to racing Dinsmore got along side Green for second in turn 2 then by in turn 4. Dinsmore closed on McCarthy and was looking inside on lap 9 when the two made contact sending McCarthy around. Both McCarthy and Dinsmore were forced to pit with flats, putting Green back on the point. Leonard gave Green a quick look low in turn 1, but Tidwell looped his ride to bring the yellow back out.

Green got a good jump on the final restart and coming to the crossed flags it was Green, Leonard, Pittaway, Lienweber and Liese in the top five. Green then put some distance on Leonard and Pittaway while Tidwell made his way past Liese for fifth. Greens biggest scare came on lap 16 when Liese did a 360 in turn 4 directly in front the leader. Green, in the Green Construction, Qwik/Green Chassis continued to increase his lead on the final circuits to grab the victory.

“Surprisingly, the motor laying down the final laps helped me,” replied Green. “That’s when I started pulling away. I like coming down here to run at an IMCA track. It makes the competition a little more even and there’s not as much cheating going on.”

“The track was pretty good tonight. It was dry slick from the low to middle groove, then up top there was a little cushion. The flagman came up and apologized for the one restart saying it was his mistake with the lights.”

“This started out as a Qwik Chassis but over the winter I completely cut it up and redid it. My brother, Randy, and I primarily build the motors.”

IMCA Modifieds results
82 Rick Green
26 Darin Leonard
37 Bill Pittaway
12 Bob Lienweber
17 Cody Tidwell
53x Matt Fox
67 Robert Liese jr
20 Mike McCarthy
8g Greg Dinsmore
c31 Marlin Sanford
24 Tracy Fink

IMCA Modified heat winners: Darin Leonard and Greg Dinsmore

When the checkers waved on the 20-lap IMCA Southern SportMod main, San Antonio’s Doug Livingston found himself in a somewhat unfamiliar place, the Winners Circle. Livingston, shopmate of last years track champ, Mark McGahey got by early leader David Routen and never looked back taking his first ever IMCA SSM victory in the Douglas Glass, Struthoff Company, Alamo Bolt & Screw, Mark Warner powered, Smiley’s Chassis

At the start of the 12-car feature Routen beat Clark Warren out of turn 2 for the lead. Livingston then got by Warren for second and began working on Routen for the lead. Routen and Livingston were side by side, with Ray Doyon III getting by Warren for third when the race’s only caution came out on lap 2 for a spin by Leland Frautchi in turn 2. Livingston ducked low on Routen and got the top spot on lap 3, with Doyon re-passing Warren for third.

Johnny Torres was next to put Warren back a spot taking fourth on lap 3. Doyon moved into second going by Routen on lap 4. Torres then closed in on Routen taking third on lap 5. Robby Minten was next in line to pass Routen leaving him three wide with Bill Pittaway and Jason Stanley for fifth. Pittaway did a small lap in the infield after spinning on the back stretch giving fifth to Stanley.

At halfway the top five were Livingston, Doyon, Torres, Minten and Stanley, with Torres pressuring Doyon for the spot. Torres got by Doyon on lap 12, but Livingston was nearly a full straightaway ahead. Livingston caught the back of the pack on lap 14 and cleared traffic without giving up any ground to Torres. Stanley worked his way past Minten for fourth in the waning laps. Up front it was Livingston easily cruising to his inaugural Sportmod win.

“It was a lot of luck out there tonight,” commented Livingston on his first win. “The track and the car were just right. It would go anywhere I wanted it to go. This is my first ever feature win anywhere. I’ve won some heat races, but this is my biggest win.”

“Mark(McGahey) and I don’t really talk much about our different set-ups. Johnny(Torres) helps me out. We talked today about it. I just do what I think my car needs. On a tacky track this car is usually pretty fast. I thought if I broke out front I’d be able to hold them off.”

“ I found myself overdriving the car a couple times because I didn’t know where they were or how hard to push the car. I just to find my mark. I knew they were coming, just didn’t know how close they were. I feel real comfortable racing with all these guys locally. I got kind of nervous up in Abilene where there were 92 cars.”

IMCA Southern SportMod results
89 Doug Livingston
66 Johnny Torres
92 Jason Stanley
4 Robby Minten
09 David Routen
989 Clark Warren
2x Dennis Hilla
37 Bill Pittaway
11 Chris McLendon
00 Leland Frautchi
D9 Ray Doyon III—DQ, Tech(Carb)
18 Larry Jernigan—DNS

IMCA Southern SportMod heat winners: Doug Livingston and Jason Stanley

It didn’t take long in the 15-lap Limited Late Model feature for Wesley Skains to show his dominance again. On green Shannon Moore led the way into turn 1, but Skains swept by in turn 3 to lead the first lap. Richard Bartosh and Gary Hunter both got by Moore on lap 2 for second and third respectively. By lap 5 Skains had run away from Bartosh and Hunter easily cruising to his third victory of the season.

Tator Plumbing Limited Late Models
25 Wesley Skains
7 Richard Bartosh
14 Gary Hunter
18 Shannon Moore
33 Barry Major—DNS
12 Kody Hardage—DNS

Limited Late Model heat winner: Richard Bartosh

Despite a short field of cars the 15-lap Street Stock event didn’t lack for excitement. Dennis Jasik grabbed the early lead with Tommy Casey, Wade Jones and AJ Wernette in pursuit. Jasik went high to lap Steve Mireles and almost ran off the back stretch. Going into to turn 3 Jasik spun and broke an axle. This handed the lead to Wernette briefly as Casey got the top spot. Yellow finally waved for Jasik who couldn’t get completely off the racing surface.

On the restart, Jones got second from Wernette who tried to fight back only to spin himself out in turn 4. Jones then turned up the heat on Casey as they scrapped it out for the lead. Allen Torres brought out the red when he blew a motor and erupted in flames. Torres bailed out of his still moving car as it continued to the infield.

Once back to green the fight for the lead continued between Casey and Jones with Jones sticking the nose inside. After a bumper shot on lap 13 Jones got around Casey to lead the white flag lap. Casey came back to dive inside Jones in turns 1-2. The two made contact with Casey retaking the lead. Jones returned the favor in turns 3-4 sending Casey around in turn 4. Jones crossed the line ahead of Wernette, but was black flagged for spinning Casey, handing the win to Wernette.

Street Stocks
37 AJ Wernette
15 Tommy Casey
41 Wade Jones—BF Rough Driving
94 Allen Torres
8 Dennis Jasik
74x Steve Mireles

Street Stock heat winner: 15 Tommy Casey

Heat winners Patrick White and Freddie Gierisch stayed side by side through turns 1-2 at the start of the Pure Stock feature. White got sideways coming out of turn 4, half spun and clipped Gierisch who held on to lead lap 1. Kevin Hyland gave Gierisch an early challenge with Frank Okruhlik, Jarret Payton. Anna Major and Brandy Ramzinski ran door to door for sixth until Ramzinski spun, with defending track champ, Marc Roy moving up to fifth.

Roy then took over fourth from Major and third from Payton on lap 6. Gierisch’s rein out front ended with a flat right front on lap 7 and brought out the caution. This put Hyland in the lead for the restart, but that didn’t last long as Roy shot by as green waved again for the lead on lap 8.

Back in the back, Rick Snyder and William Cavender had their own personal battle going for fourth. After three laps of nearly side by side racing, Snyder got the position. Roy was increasing his margin over Hyland, while White worked his way back up to fifth after his earlier spin. Snyder’s night ended in a plume of smoke with his car losing parts to bring out a yellow on lap 16. Roy got away quickly on the restart while Major got past James Watson and Cavender for fourth. At the checkers it was Roy taking the victory with a comfortable margin over Hyland.

Pure Stocks
24 Mark Roy
72 Kevin Hyland
33 Anna Major
44 James Watson
15 William Cavender
66R Rick Snyder
19 Freddie Gierisch
9 Jarret Payton
99 Frank Okruhlik
88 Brandy Ramzinski
25 Chance Skains
17 Patrick White—DQ, Tech(Vacuum)

Pure Stock heat winners: Patrick White and Freddie Gierisch

Cody Earnhardt got the best of the three wide battle for the lead as green waved on th 15-lap Front Runner feature. As Earnhardt, James Sanford and Jerry Jones ran nose to tail, they quickly put distance on Alec Jasik and Brent Bouchillion. By lap 3 the lead trio were already up to the back of the pack. Earnhardt tangled with a lapped car giving the lead to Sanford on lap 7 with Jones taking second.

Jasik, Bouchillion and Cameron Smith were three wide for fourth coming up on the same traffic. Smith and Bouchillion got together with Bouchilion going around to bring out a caution on lap 8. The top three broke away clean on the restart with Jones giving Sanford a little pressure. Sanford was able to hold off the charge, while Jones fell back into the clutches of Earnhardt. Earnhardt got past Jones on the last lap, but Sanford was well out front and taking the checkers.

Front Runners
35 James Sanford
33 Cody Earnhardt
95 Jerry Jones
13 Cameron Smith
8jr Alec Jasik
20 Brent Bouchillion
T30 Chad Thrush
98 Amber Clay
113 Hailie Marcx
7x Streling Goyett
911 Nick Hencey
96 Steve Stanley
66R Cindy Snider

Front Runner heat winners: Nick Hencey and Cody Earnhardt

The two Wren brothers were the class of the field in the 20-lap Brazos Mini Sprint feature. Ralph Wren beat Troy Wren into turn 1 for lead, with Kyle Thompson, Hunter Montgomery, Trevor Reed and Anthony Smith falling in line. The top six separated out and began pulling away from the second pack early. Nearing halfway, the top three had began to put some space on Thompson, who had Montgomery, coming back from last week’s flip, closing, while Smith began to fade.

Thompson spun on lap 9 in between turns 1-2, got over on the left side tires and tipped over easily, bringing out a red. The top four got a good jump on green, while Ken Pearson began pressuring Smith for fifth. Smith and Pearson ran wheel to wheel for several laps until caution waved for Reagan Reed, who lost a motor on lap 14. Once back to green, R. Wren go a huge jump with T. Wren, Montgomery and T. Reed battling nose to tail for second. At the checkers it was R. Wren by a half straightaway taking the victory.

Brazos Mini Sprints
4w Ralph Wren(S)
44w Troy Wren
5 Hunter Montgomery
28 Trevor Reed
337 Anthony Smith
17 Ken Pearson
84 Trevor Barr(O)
42 Scott Blakely
14 Jacob Gilliam
7 Reagan Reed®
87 Kyle Thompson

Brazos Mini Sprint heat winners: Troy Wren and Ralph Wren

Kids Go-Karts
Age 9-under
22 Cameron Migura
9 Caitlin Leonard
37 Aaron Trevino
5 Tyler Barr
8g Logan Dinsmore

Age 10-up
33j Jacob Franke
9 Cody Leonard
13 Cody Smith
37 Alex Trevino

By J M Hallas
Photos by Jamie Brabson

Jason Johnson Cashes in with ASCS Gulf South win at Houston Raceway Park

Jason Johnson got a much-needed win by wiring the field in Saturday night’s 25-lap American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region main event to top the Inaugural Lone Star Shootout at Houston Raceway Park.

The Ragin’ Cajun’s 23rd career ASCS Gulf South triumph and 73rd overall ASCS victory was the first for the newly-formed Jason Johnson Racing team in just its second night of competition after debuting in the recent Lucas Oil ASCS National opener.

While Johnson paced the field all the way aboard the Don Ott-powered Haynes/Pope Transportation No. 41 Maxim, he withstood mid-race pressure from Travis Rilat and then a late charge from Gary Wright to secure the $3,000 triumph.

“The first win, this is huge,” an ecstatic Johnson relayed from victory lane.

While Rilat led the feature field to the green flag, it was Johnson gunning into the lead at the outset from the front row outside.

Reeling in the tail of the field in just a handful of laps, a pair of cautions in the opening ten circuits gave Johnson clear track just as traffic was about to factor into the proceedings on a pair of occasions.

But after California’s Kyle Hirst coasted to a stop on the ninth lap, Rilat had an opportunity when Johnson began working through traffic at the midway point.

Rilat closed to Johnson’s tailtank on the 15th round, only to have Johnson make a timely move around a lapped car to slip away by several car lengths. Very soon after, Rilat coasted to a stop on the frontstretch with terminal engine woes, setting up a seven-lap dash to the checkered flag with “The Texan” now in the role of chaser.

A pair of lapped cars between the leader and Wright was just the cushion Johnson needed though. Reaching traffic once again with two rounds to go, Wright rapidly closed the gap on Johnson. But when Johnson made a nimble move through a pair of cars entering turn one on the final circuit, the race was all but over.

Johnson flashed under the checkered flag to take the win and become the third different winner in as many 2010 ASCS Gulf South feature events, with Wright settling for runner-up honors.

After starting eighth, Missouri’s Brian Brown was on the move following the lap nine caution and climbed to third by race’s end with defending ASCS Gulf South champion Aaron Reutzel and 14th-starter Michael Dupuy rounding out the top five.

Brady Bacon charged from 19th to sixth, with Tony Bruce, Jr., 15th-starter Tommy Bryant, Eric Baldaccini and Channin Tankersley completing the top ten.

Kyle Hirst, Bruce, Jr., Baldaccini and Johnson topped heat race action for Saturday night’s 36-car field, with Bacon making a lap 10 move around Chris Sweeney to win the 12-lap “B” Main.

American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region Results from Houston Raceway Park:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 6-Kyle Hirst, 2. 35-Greg Rilat, 3. 71-Channin Tankersley, 4. 51w-Wes Miller, 5. 93-Chris Sweeney, 6. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 7. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 8. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 9. 70-Anthony Reaves.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 4. 10-Ricky Logan, 5. 00-Michael Dupuy, 6. 52-Roger Oakes, 7. 51s-Beau Smith, 8. 99-Brady Bacon, 9. 1g-Cody Gardner.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 2. 21-Brian Brown, 3. 85-Tommy Bryant, 4. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 5. 61-Travis Knighton, 6. 30x-Bean Elliott, 7. 8z-Zach Pringle, 8. 3T-Tyler King, 9. 19-Klint Angelette.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 41-Jason Johnson, 2. 9x-Gary Wright, 3. 87a-Andrew Marshala, 4. 31-Brandon Berryman, 5. 88-Scottie McDonald, 6. 87x-Billy Melton, 7. 28-James Cooper, 8. 3-Gary Watson, 9. 5-Jack Spencer.

“B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 99-Brady Bacon, 2. 93-Chris Sweeney, 3. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 4. 87x-Billy Melton, 5. 61-Travis Knighton, 6. 30x-Bean Elliott, 7. 51s-Beau Smith, 8. 19-Klint Angelette, 9. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 10. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 11. 52-Roger Oakes, 12. 5-Jack Spencer, 13. 28-James Cooper, 14. 3T-Tyler King, 15. 8z-Zach Pringle, 16. 3-Gary Watson, 17. 70-Anthony Reaves. DNS: 1g-Cody Gardner.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Jason Johnson, 2. 9x-Gary Wright, 3. 21-Brian Brown, 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 5. 00-Michael Dupuy, 6. 99-Brady Bacon, 7. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 8. 85-Tommy Bryant, 9. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 10. 71-Channin Tankersley, 11. 31-Brandon Berryman, 12. 51w-Wes Miller, 13. 88-Scottie McDonald, 14. 87x-Billy Melton, 15. 93-Chris Sweeney, 16. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 17. 61-Travis Knighton, 18. 30x-Bean Elliott, 19. 29-Travis Rilat, 20. 10-Ricky Logan, 21. 6-Kyle Hirst, 22. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 23. 87a-Andrew Marshala, 24. 35-Greg Rilat.

ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Brian Brown 404, 2. Brady Bacon 379, 3. Tony Bruce, Jr. 374, 4. Travis Rilat 359, 5. Gary Wright 357, 6. Ricky Logan 341, 7. (tie) Tommy Bryant and Aaron Reutzel 336, 9. Brandon Berryman 324, 10. Wes Miller 321.

By Lonnie Wheatley

Lone Star Speedzone Photo Contest Winner

Nancy Kerr, mother of Texas Super Racing Series Allison Legacy driver Kris Kerr, took home top honors in this year’s Lone Star Speedzone Photo Contest. Kerr, who placed second in last year’s competition, won with a shot of Thunderhill Raceway’ Chief Tech Jack Sanderfur doing his thing after a race last season.

“This picture captures the intensity and the drama always present behind the scenes in racing,” said one of the judges. “Not only that, but the use of onlookers shoulders to frame the drama implies that there is a crowd eagerly awaiting the results of whatever test the official is performing.”

“Whoever took this shot knew what they were looking for and caught it perfectly. The lighting, the framing and drama all come through to tell an interesting story,” commented one other judge.

The runner-up photo was taken by Gerald Fischer at Comanche Park in San Antonio last spring as his daughter (Anokha Fischer) tried out a QM for the first time.

“The adrenaline is still flowing and you can almost hear this young lady saying, “Whao! That was FUN!” was one of the comments made about this pic.

“This is the sort of photo that allows the viewer to get involved with the emotions present,” was another comment. “The roll bars frame the youngster in an interesting way and the hand of the adult on the left side adds yet another point of interest. Is the man her father and is he smiling right along with his daughter? Or is it someone else wanting to enjoy this special moment with the driver?”

Gerald is a regular contributor in the forums here on Lone Star Speedzone. Congrats PAPA!

Third place goes to Tory Christopher who took this shot at Thunderhill Raceway during one of the kids’ races during intermission.

“This is a study in contrasts,” one judge said. “The violence and intensity of racing that is visible in the retaining wall contrasts sharply with the innocence and awe in the face of the boy. But the helmet speaks of a day when that young man will be adding to the tire marks on the wall.

“And the various shades of gray pop that red steering wheel out nicely. And the same people who came to watch the V-8’s scream are watching the opposite end of the spectrum with equal attentiveness.”

Tory has taken some amazing pics that we all have enjoyed here in the forums and this one is a prize winner!

Congratulations to the winners!

by Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone

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