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World of Outlaws Sprint cars headed to Houston Raceway Park this Saturday

For well over 30 years, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events have been thrilling fans from coast-to-coast with wheel-to-wheel action at breathtaking speeds. Looking to add even more excitement to the ‘Fan Experience’ at the race track in 2010, the series has implemented double file restarts, which they pioneered in the early days of the series, along with a new format for the dash.

Houston Raceway Park will be the first ¼-mile track to witness the thrilling double file restarts in 2010 as the World of Outlaws return to the always racey bullring on Saturday, March 13 as part of the Second Annual Texas Two-Step Weekend.

The new dash format introduced at the season opening events in Florida put the faster cars a couple of rows back and will lead to more passes and battles for position. The Top-2 finishers in each heat race will make it to the dash again in 2010 along with the fastest two drivers from time trials that transferred from the heat race to the A-Feature, who were not first or second in the heat. The dash will then be lined up heads-up according to qualifying times, with a fan then drawing a 4, 6 or 8 pill for the dash inversion. The finish of the dash will then be used to set the first five rows of the A-Feature line-up.

“The tires, the format, the double file restarts, that’s all good for our sport,” said Joey Saldana of the changes implemented in 2010. “The fans will see a great show when they come to Houston Raceway Park for the Outlaws.”

New as well in 2010, is the switch to Goodyear Tires for the World of Outlaws. A number of the veteran drivers competed on rubber from Goodyear in the past, and the event race at Houston Raceway Park will be one of the first short track races for the series on the new tires, which have carried drivers to 19 championships over the years with the series.

Another of the most notable changes in 2010 is that 20-time series champion Steve Kinser, is driving for Tony Stewart Racing. The Hall of Famer is paired with four-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz. The duo has combined to win the last eight World of Outlaws titles and nine of the last 10 and well over 200 races over the last decade.

As has been a tradition at World of Outlaws events since the series inaugural 1978 season, the fans are welcome to visit the pit area after the final checkered flag of the night falls at every event in 2010, to see the cars and stars of the series up close and personal.

On Saturday, March 13 at Houston Raceway Park, Tickets for adults will be $30, with tickets for juniors (ages 6-12) $15. Pit combos will also be available for $38, which includes a grandstand ticket and a pit pass. To purchase tickets online visit http://www.houstonraceway.com or call the track at 281-383-2666.

Gary “The Texan” Wright nails ASCS Gulf South win at Golden Triangle Raceway Park

The American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region opened up the 2010 season in much the same way as 2009, with Gary Wright standing in victory lane at Golden Triangle Raceway Park.

For the second year in a row, “The Texan” topped the $3,000-to-win, 25-lap Prelude to the Gulf Coast Nationals to launch the season for the ASCS Gulf South Region atop the Golden Triangle clay.

However, rather than wait for the last lap to make the winning move like last year, Wright gunned into the lead at the outset aboard Scott Brown’s ASI-powered Lubbock Wrecker Service/The Shop No. 9x Maxim and never looked back en route to a third ASCS Gulf South season opening win.

“As heavy as the track was tonight, it was real easy to get in trouble in traffic or really anywhere,” Wright explained. “We got lucky tonight and stayed out of trouble, we’ll get cleaned up and try to get another one tomorrow.”

A move past Tommy Bryant and Bruce Crockett in the final two laps of his heat race landed Wright in the redraw. And when he drew the number one pill, that may have been all the luck the four-time Lucas Oil National Sprint Car champion needed.

Weathering three red flag periods over the initial four circuits, including a pair on the initial two starts, Wright paced the early circuits in front of fellow front row starter Klint Angelette before Travis Rilat, Ricky Logan and Jesse Hockett freight trained the 16-year-old on a lap five restart.

After one final caution after nine circuits for Dustin Morgan’s turn four spin, the final 16 rounds ran off in non-stop fashion with Wright distancing himself from the field while lapping well into the top ten.

Rilat held off several challenges from Logan over the latter portion of the race for runner-up honors, with Logan settling for the show position. Hockett advanced from ninth in the early rounds to snare fourth, with Tony Bruce, Jr., rounding out the top five.

Brady Bacon crossed the stripe sixth, making it a sweep of the top six positions by prospective Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters championship contenders.

Brian Brown crossed the stripe in seventh, with two-time ASCS Gulf South champ Brandon Berryman the final car on the lead lap in eighth, just ahead of fellow Gulf South shoes Wes Miller and Scottie McDonald.

The initial attempt to start the main event was waved off for a Jimmy Brooks tumble in turn one, with the second start going red as well when reigning ASCS Gulf South champ Aaron Reutzel launched out of the park in turn two. Four laps later, Tommy Bryant tumbled in turn two as well. There were no injuries.

Brown, Angelette, Brooks, Wright and Morgan topped heat race action for the 37-car field, with Berryman and Reutzel winning the twin “B” Mains.

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

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown, 2. 61-Travis Knighton, 3. 93-Chris Sweeney, 4. 31-Brandon Berryman, 5. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 6. 3-Gary Watson, 7. 28-James Cooper, 8. 3T-Tyler King.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 19-Klint Angelette, 2. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 3. 75-Jesse Hockett, 4. 15T-Travis Elliott, 5. 74-Brandon Corn, 6. C41-Wayne Johnson, 7. 14-Michael Lang, 8. 35-Greg Rilat.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 2. 51w-Wes Miller, 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 4. 99-Brady Bacon, 5. 00-Michael Dupuy, 6. 4m-Michael Miller, 7. 52-Roger Oakes.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 9x-Gary Wright, 2. 8-Bruce Crockett, 3. 10-Ricky Logan, 4. 85-Tommy Bryant, 5. 87x-Billy Melton, 6. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 7. 51s-Beau Smith.

Heat Five (8 Laps): 1. 93x-Dustin Morgan, 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 71-Channin Tankersley, 4. 88-Scottie McDonald, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 76-John Ricketts, 7. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek.

First “B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 31-Brandon Berryman, 2. 93-Chris Sweeney, 3. C41-Wayne Johnson, 4. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 5. 87x-Billy Melton, 6. 3-Gary Watson, 7. 35-Greg Rilat, 8. 28-James Cooper, 9. 51s-Beau Smith, 10. 4m-Michael Miller, 11. 15T-Travis Elliott. DNS: 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek.

Second “B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 2. 85-Tommy Bryant, 3. 74-Brandon Corn, 4. 00-Michael Dupuy, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 76-John Ricketts, 7. 14-Michael Lang, 8. 52-Roger Oakes, 9. 3T-Tyler King, 10. 71-Channin Tankersley, 11. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 9x-Gary Wright, 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 10-Ricky Logan, 4. 75-Jesse Hockett, 5. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 6. 99-Brady Bacon, 7. 21-Brian Brown, 8. 31-Brandon Berryman, 9. 51w-Wes Miller, 10. 88-Scottie McDonald, 11. 93x-Dustin Morgan, 12. 19-Klint Angelette, 13. 61-Travis Knighton, 14. 74-Brandon Corn, 15. 93-Chris Sweeney, 16. 85-Tommy Bryant, 17. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 18. C41-Wayne Johnson, 19. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 20. 8-Bruce Crockett (DNS).

ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Gary Wright 150, 2. Travis Rilat 142, 3. Ricky Logan 135, 4. Jesse Hockett 130, 5. Tony Bruce, Jr. 125, 6. Brady Bacon 122, 7. Brian Brown 119, 8. Brandon Berryman 116, 9. Wes Miller 113, 10. Scottie McDonald 110.

By Lonnie Wheatley
Photos courtesy ASCS

Live Updates from South Texas Speedway, 3/6/10

Lone Star Speedzone is bringing your Live Updates from South Texas Speedway starting at around 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010.

To enjoy the live updates, just click on the logo below and follow the racing action from the South Texas Speedway quarter-mile, dirt oval.

Feel free to comment or ask questions as we go through the evening, but there may be a delay between the time you post and when your post will show up. Be patient, it will show up sooner or later, hopefully sooner!

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars invade Lone Star Speedway March 12

The numbers are nothing short of amazing: 25 World of Outlaws championships accounted for, over 900 A-Feature wins with the series, seven rookies of the year, countless track record holders and list goes on and on. And that’s just the 17 drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws in 2010.

When the series visits Lone Star Speedway on Friday, March 12 as part of the Second Annual Texas Two-Step Weekend, the best of the best will be on hand to battle for the $10,000 top prize as the world’s top sprint car drivers will do battle on the high-banked half-mile for 30 thrilling laps, with double file restarts in effect in 2010, which will make things even more exciting at the fastest half-mile in Texas.

Sam Hafertepe Jr. whose family owns and operates Lone Star Speedway came very close to winning the first World of Outlaws race of his career last season at the track, finishing second to Joey Saldana, who was victorious both times the series competed at the track in Kilgore. Hafertepe has three runner-up finishes to his credit with the World of Outlaws as he closes in on his first win.

Also in action will be four-time and defending series champion Donny Schatz, along with his Tony Stewart Racing teammate, 20-time series champion Steve Kinser. The pair has combined to win each of the last eight series titles and nine of the last ten. Over the last decade with the series, they have won 213 A-Feature events with the series.

Kasey Kahne Racing, owned by the NASCAR star has a two-car team again in 2010, led by Joey Saldana, who won a series-best 20 A-Feature events in 2009. Paul McMahan, a veteran of the series, will be Saldana’s teammate, while young Cody Darrah from Pennsylvania recovers from injury.

Danny Lasoski, the 2001 World of Outlaws champion will be on-hand for the event, as will Jason Meyers, who came within 19 points of winning his first career World of Outlaws championship last season. Craig Dollansky will be looking for his first win at Lone Star Speedway as will fellow veterans Jason Sides, Jac Haudenschild, Tim Kaeding Chad Kemenah and Brian Ellenberger, along with young stars: Kraig Kinser, and Lucas Wolfe. Drivers battling for the 2010 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year Award include: Ben Gregg, and Toni Lutar.

In addition to the drivers competing full-time with the World of Outlaws, a number of other championship caliber drivers will head to Lone Star Speedway and compete for the $10,000 top prize: including Hall of Famer and multi-time track champion in Central Pennsylvania Fred Rahmer, fellow Pennsylvania legend Lance Dewease, 29-time World of Outlaws winner Daryn Pittman and multi-time Knoxville Raceway titlist Terry McCarl.

The Texas-Two Step Weekend is currently the only stop for the World of Outlaws in the Lone Star State in 2010, as the series criss-crosses the country thrilling fans from coast-to-coast with their thrilling brand of wheel-to-wheel action.

On Friday, March 12 at Lone Star Speedway, Reserved tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the race, with General Admission tickets $25 in advance and $30 the day of the race. Tickets for children (ages 6-12) are $15, with kids 5-under admitted free of charge. To purchase tickets online visit http://www.lonestarspeedway.com or call the track at (903)-986-9731.

by Tony Veneziano, WoO PR
Photo by Paul Arch

Jason Hughes sails to USMTS Modified win at Houston Raceway Park

Jason Hughes was in a class by himself in 2009, winning ten main events en route to claiming his second straight USMTS Southern Series crown.

After three days of racing at the Houston Raceway Park, it looks like Hughes will be the man to beat again in 2010.

As the weekend wore on and the stakes got higher and higher, the 35-year-old chassis builder from Westville, Okla., got better and better. He scored a fifth-place finish on Thursday, came home second on Friday, and then wrapped up the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals presented by Ed Rinehart for County Commissioner with an impressive $5,000 victory on Saturday night.

“That’ll help pay some of the bills,” Hughes said in victory lane. “We kept fighting, my crew has been working hard all weekend and the car kept getting better. This is how we wanted to start the season.

“This is by far the biggest crowd we’ve seen since we’ve started running here, and it’s nice to get the win in front of all these people.”

Prior to the drop of the green flag, Hughes had his work cut out for him as he sat tenth on the 26-car starting grid. On Thursday he started and finished fifth, then could only manage to climb one spot from third to second on Friday night.

Bumper Jones used his pole position to jump out to the early lead in Saturday’s “A” Main while drivers shuffled positions behind him.

Friday’s winner Jeremy Payne rocketed past three cars down the back-stretch two laps later to grab the runner-up spot while Hughes followed suit and quickly moved to fourth behind eighth-starting Steven Whiteaker Jr.

Jones, Payne and Whiteaker raced bumper to bumper for the next nine laps while Hughes trailed by four car-lengths. Racing side by side out of the fourth turn on lap 11, Whiteaker and Payne made contact with Payne holding on to the second spot.

One lap later, the race’s first yellow flag waved as Whiteaker came to a halt on the front-stretch with a flat tire.

After leaving the pit area with fresh rubber, Whiteaker tagged the rear of the field while Hughes inherited the third spot. Payne elected to start on the inside, leaving Hughes to his right for the double-file restart.

At the drop of the green flag, Hughes dove hard into the first turn and powered around Jones in turn two. Payne shadowed Hughes down the back-stretch and wrestled second place away from Jones in the next corner.

Within five laps, Hughes had extended his advantage to nearly a full straight-away over Payne and his teammate Terry Phillips. Phillips, however, nearly spun on lap 19 and gave up the position to Mike Hansen while Jones remained close behind in fifth.

Despite heavy lapped traffic throughout the second-half of the 40-lapper, Hughes remained flawless as he sailed to his 21st career USMTS Southern Series victory and 81st overall under the USMTS banner.

Payne, Hansen and Phillips held on for second, third and fourth, respectively, while John O Whittington nipped Jones for the fifth-place paycheck.

Morgan Bagley snagged seventh, Rodney Sanders earned an eight-place finish, Chris Henigan nabbed ninth and defending Texas Winter Nationals champion Zack VanderBeek raced from eighteenth to finish tenth.

The win also propelled Hughes into the points lead on the strength of his nine passing points and three lap leader bonus points in the main event. Phillips sits six points behind Hughes (292 to 286) in second with Payne just one more point back in third. Whittington is fourth with 276 markers, followed by Jones (259), Bagley (257), Kelly Shryock (227), Dereck Ramirez (201), Shane Hebert (191) and Steve Holzkamper (191).

Lee Patton leads the current crop of rookie contenders, followed by Tristan Dycus, Darrel Dawson, Shane Killingsworth and nine other drivers tied for fifth.

Up next for the USMTS Southern Series is a tripleheader in the Sooner State. The series makes its debut at the Creek County Speedway in Kellyville, Okla., on Thursday, March 18, then moves on to the Outlaw Motor Speedway near Muskogee on Friday, March 19. The weekend winds up at the West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs on Saturday, March 20. All three events are expected to attract a powerful field of entries as points will be awarded for both the USMTS Southern Series and USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also follow the USMTS on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USMTS Southern Series
3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals presented by Ed Rinehart for County Commissioner – Event #3 of 3
Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed, reason out (if any) and money won. The top 14 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races are locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

ISKY RACING CAMS HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas.
2. (4) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla.
3. (5) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (1) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas.
5. (10) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
6. (9) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
7. (7) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas.
8. (6) 9 Shane Killingsworth (R), Dallas, Texas.
9. (11) 7x Rory Jordan (R), Victoria, Texas.
10. (12) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas.
11. (8) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, Texas.
12. (3) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas.

HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo.
2. (10) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas.
3. (4) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
4. (1) 58 Nathan Bichsel (R), Amarillo, Texas.
5. (7) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
6. (11) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas.
7. (12) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
8. (8) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
9. (3) 18L Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
10. (9) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark.
11. (6) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark.
12. (5) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo.

HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (2) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas.
2. (7) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
3. (11) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas.
4. (8) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, Miss.
5. (9) 8g Greg Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas.
6. (5) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
7. (10) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, Texas.
8. (4) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas.
9. (1) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
10. (12) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas.
11. (3) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, Texas.
12. (6) 17x Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.

EIBACH SPRINGS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (3) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
2. (2) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, La.
3. (1) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas.
4. (9) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (7) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
6. (10) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, Texas.
7. (11) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn.
8. (4) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas.
9. (12) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, Okla.
10. (8) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, Texas.
11. (5) 25 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
12. (6) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (3) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa.
2. (11) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
3. (2) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas.
4. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (1) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, Texas.
6. (6) 98 Darryl Seals, Vidor, Texas.
7. (4) 56 Steve Pugh, Anderson, Texas.
8. (7) 9 Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas.
9. (5) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas.
10. (9) 96 Foster Ellison III, Richwood, Texas.
11. (8) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas.

HEAT RACE #6 (8 laps):
1. (2) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla.
2. (3) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
3. (5) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
4. (1) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, Texas.
5. (10) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
6. (11) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla.
7. (8) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas.
8. (7) 64 Jay Sale (R), Edmond, Okla.
9. (4) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas.
10. (9) 186 Jeremy Gossett (R), Amarillo, Texas.
11. (6) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, Texas.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
3. (8) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
4. (11) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas.
5. (15) R5 Hunter Rasdon (R), Jonesboro, Ark., $120.
6. (5) 00 Darrel Dawson (R), Midlothian, Texas, $120.
7. (3) 30 Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas, $120.
8. (16) 186 Jeremy Gossett (R), Amarillo, Texas, $120.
9. (9) 98 Darryl Seals, Vidor, Texas, $100.
10. (19) 17x Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., $100.
11. (14) 68 Danny Barringer, Lufkin, Texas, $120.
12. (17) 69 Randy Heston (R), Stinnett, Texas, $120.
13. (6) 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La., $120.
14. (4) 8g Greg Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas, $100.
15. (2) 34 Ben Stephens (R), Hattiesburg, Miss., $120.
16. (10) 56 Steve Pugh, Anderson, Texas, $120.
17. (12) 9 Brent Nicholas (R), Baytown, Texas, $120.
18. (13) 18L Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., $120.
19. (18) 7g Mark Smith, Lufkin, Texas, $120.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (6) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla.
2. (2) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas.
3. (1) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas.
4. (3) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas.
5. (5) 10 Kenny Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas, $120.
6. (9) 18s Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas, $120.
7. (4) 15 Kevin Battarbee (R), Houston, Texas, $120.
8. (17) 25 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., $120.
9. (8) 14t Tristan Dycus (R), Midlothian, Texas, $120.
10. (15) 55 Kyle Anderson (R), Tomball, Texas, $120.
11. (19) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., $120.
12. (14) 51 Jeff Wood, Willis, Texas, $120.
13. (10) 2 Jerry Standifer (R), Howe, Okla., $120.
14. (12) 64 Jay Sale (R), Edmond, Okla., $120.
15. (18) 8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Texas, $120.
16. (13) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., $100.
17. (16) 17 Brad Lasater, Garland, Texas, $120.
18. (7) 99 Derick Grigsby, Marshall, Texas, $120.
19. (11) 8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas, $120.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #3 (15 laps, top 4 advance):
1. (1) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
2. (3) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
3. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa.
4. (2) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas.
5. (7) 44 Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, Minn., $120.
6. (6) 190 Shawn Stephenson (R), Howe, Texas, $120.
7. (16) 10 Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark., $120.
8. (13) 5a Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas, $120.
9. (5) 20 Tommy Weder Jr., Woodward, Okla., $120.
10. (12) 7x Rory Jordan (R), Victoria, Texas, $120.
11. (9) 5 Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, Texas, $120.
12. (14) 20 Troy Seidl (R), Magnolia, Texas, $120.
13. (18) 23 Brandon Davis (R), Castle Rock, Colo., $120.
14. (10) 9 Shane Killingsworth (R), Dallas, Texas, $120.
15. (11) 56 David Horner, Houston, Texas, $120.
16. (15) 96 Foster Ellison III, Richwood, Texas, $100.
17. (4) 58 Nathan Bichsel (R), Amarillo, Texas, $120.
18. (17) 76 Jesse Manning, Brazoria, Texas, $100.

“A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (10) 12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $5,000.
2. (6) 74 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $3,000.
3. (4) 12h Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa, GRT/PerfOnly, 40, $2,000.
4. (12) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $1,500.
5. (9) 5w John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas, Pierce/CB, 40, $1,000.
6. (1) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M., TRE/ASI, 40, $800.
7. (3) 5r Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas, Shaw/Rowland, 40, $700.
8. (13) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, Hughes/Sanders, 40, $600.
9. (2) 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall, Texas, Kraft/PTS, 40, $500.
10. (18) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 40, $450.
11. (16) 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $400.
12. (5) 25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $350.
13. (20) 5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark., TRE/Shinook, 40, $350.
14. (17) 74 Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kraft/Craft, 40, $350.
15. (19) 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyville, Texas, Kraft/Wells, 39, $300.
16. (11) 20r Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla., Skyrocket/ASI, 39, $350.
17. (25) E Howard Willis, Dayton, Texas, Evolution/Fox, 39, $350.
18. (24) 12c Corey Babbitt, Channelview, Texas, TRE/CAM, 39, $300.
19. (14) JP5 Lee Patton (R), Ruston, La., Harris/PTS, 39, $350.
20. (22) 51 Tracy Denby Jr., Vidor, Texas, DirtWorks/Harris, 39, $350.
21. (26) 410 Brad Doherty (R), Ennis, Texas, GRT/Ewell, 39, $350.
22. (23) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, Skyrocket/Sput’s, 32, flat tire, $350.
23. (7) 85d Mark Dotson, Cameron, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 28, throttle spring, $350.
24. (15) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., Ramirez/Sput’s, mechanical, 27, $350.
25. (8) 89 Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas, Hughes/Rowland, flat tire, 15, $350.
26. (21) 21 Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo., GRT/Hatfield, 10, transmission, $350.

Lap Leaders: Jones 1-12, Hughes 13-40.
Total Laps Led: Hughes 28, Jones 12.
AFCO Pole Winner: Whiteaker.
PBM Performance Products Hard Charger: Hughes (started 10th, finished 1st).
Next Race: Thursday, March 18, Creek County Speedway, Kellyville, Okla.
Points Standings: Hughes 292, Phillips 286, Payne 285, Whittington 276, Jones 259, Bagley 257, Shryock 227, Ramirez 201, Hebert 191, Holzkamper 191.
Rookie of the Year Points: Patton 175, Dycus 149, Dawson 141, Killingsworth 140, Stephenson 135, Battarbee 135, Sale 135, Gossett 135, Stephens 135, Jordan 135, Seidl 135, Standifer 135, Bischel 135, Battarbee 135, Anderson 135, Nicholas 135, Heston 135, Davis 135.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Hatfield 28, Mullins 25, CB 20, Rowland 19, PerfOnly 17.
Chassis Builders Championship Points: GRT 28, Hughes 25, Shaw 21, Pierce 21, Skyrocket 19.

Contingency Awards:
Ai-Racing – Phillips.
American Racer – not awarded.
Eibach Springs – Jones.
Isky Racing Cams – Bagley.
KSE Racing Products – Payne.
Marsh Racing Wheels – Fennewald.
Out-Pace Racing Products – Timms.
PBM Performance Products – Hughes.
Quarter Master – Hughes, Sanders.
QuickTime – Bagley.
Real Racing Wheels – Dawson, C. Smith, Stephenson.

By Jeff Nun, USMTS
Photo compliments of USMTS

Texana Raceway Park crowns champs at well-attended Awards Banquet

This year, after reviewing big event calendars extending into December, Texana Raceway Park for the first time ever moved the annual awards banquet to January. Having never tested the water with a banquet in January, the management was pleasantly surprised with the large turnout for what turned out to be a fantastic banquet. Over 180 attendees filed through the doors at the Hafernick Center within the Brackenridge Park at Lake Texana, out side of Edna.

The evening started off with a catered BBQ meal, and was followed by drawings for door prizes. In the mix were some incredible door prizes. Pairs of new Racing tires were given away. Twenty-five gallons of racing fuel were given away, along with raceceivers, batteries, and a whole host of great door prizes provided by several generous donors and the track ownership combined.

The order of events consisted of trophies being provided to the top three in each class and a nice jacket, plus a bonus framed picture provided to each class champion. Two special awards picked by the track ownership were also provided which were “Most Improved” and “Rookie of the Year”. And, finally, the much anticipated and closely guarded fan voted “Favorite Drivers” were awarded. A few class champs also won favorite driver, and Hot Stock Truck 2009 phenomenon, Greg “Joe” Turner walked away with an unprecedented three awards as a class champ, favorite driver and owner’s pick as most improved.

Paul White was the first ever two class champion at the raceway, and banquet attendees were treated to Paul’s father, the legendary Bill White attending the banquet. Anyone who has followed dirt track racing in Texas knows, that it would hard equal the accomplishment of the two combined.

Owner, Bruce Tesch also announced the more specific plans for 2010, and utilized the opportunity to squelch all rumors associated with the raceway. Tesch has hired long-time flagman Ken Bulsterbaum to serve as track operator in 2010.

A summary of award winners followed by some select pictures provided courtesy of Brenda Dancer “Dancer Motorsports Photos” follows below:

Class Points Champions:
Mini-Stock - Zachary Tesch
Texana Classic Dwarfs - Andrew Cline
Texana Bombers- Chris Shafer
Hot Stock Trucks- Greg Turner
Super Stocks - G W Hessong
Limited Modifieds - Paul White
Modifieds - Paul White

Fan Voted Favorite Drivers:
Mini-Stock - Lauren Chamberlain
Texana Classic Dwarfs - Douglas Schmidt
Texana Bombers - Janet Perks
Hot Stock Trucks - Greg Turner
Super Stocks - G W Hessong
Limited Modifeds - Mickey Helms
Modifieds - Paul White

Most Improved
Greg “Joe” Turner

Rookie of the Year
Brad Wright

by Monty Chamberlain
Photos by Brenda Dancer

Texan Keith White National IMCA Southern SportMod Champion; Texan Steven Abbey National IMCA SportMod Rookie of the Year

Keith White of Little River Academy, Texas, paced national point standings for the Southwest Racing Specialties Southern SportMods for the fourth time in five seasons. A 20-time feature winner, White was also track champion at Heart O’ Texas Speedway and topped Smiley’s Racing Products Texas State points and also enjoyed considerable success in an IMCA Modified.

While racing to his career fourth Southwest Racing Specialties Southern SportMod national title, Keith White did double duty in winning the ButlerBuilt South Central Region IMCA Modified championship. His Modified accomplishments also included 25 feature victories, track crowns at Heart O’ Texas Speedway and Kennedale Speedway Park, and the Smiley’s Racing Products Texas State prize.

Steven Abbey of Comanche, Texas, won national rookie of the year honors in the Southwest Racing Specialties Southern SportMod division, along with the Kennedale Speedway Park track title.

Three other Texans won awards as well.

Joe Williams of Waco, Texas, earned the rookie of the year award in the Stephenville Starter Southern Region for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.

Charles Cosper scored a second straight IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock Stephenville Starter Southern Region title, along with 281 Speeedway and Heart O’ Texas Speedway track crowns and the Smiley’s Racing Products Texas state crown.

John McNeil of Denton, Texas, reigned as IMCA’s national Crate Model champion. McNeil also won the Kennedale Speedway Park and Smiley’s Racing Products Texas State titles.

By Bill Martin

I-37 Raceway’s “Thousand Dollar Shootout” to end season on a high note this weekend

The final night of championship racing at I-37 Raceway featured a full moon, the second largest crowd of the season (which sang the national anthem after the CD had a glitch), and a hard but clean night of racing that made everyone hungry for more next season.

There is one more event left on the schedule, though, and it’s a big one: the second annual Hill Country Satellite “Thousand Buck Shootout” on Friday and Saturday, November 6-7, 2009. This will be the final race until the 2010 season kicks off in mid-March, and each class will have its own sponsor and the newest class, the already popular with fans and drivers front drive “Front Runner” class, will run two races, a normal race on Friday and an enduro on Saturday that is attracting cars from all over south Texas. The Front Runners will be racing in the “Tator Plumbing Front Runner” feature, backed by the San Antonio company.

Boerne’s Robert Barker, winner of the last Texas Super Racing Series race on the asphalt at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, will try dirt racing for the first time, jumping into fellow Boerne resident (and I-37 Race Director) Eric Knudtson’s Chevrolet Camaro to run the “BPTI Street Stock” race. For the fans, the night’s excitement will include a drawing for a new flat screen television set.

Kerrville’s Moe VanKirk started last season a little late but still managed to win the title. This year he blew away the field and won more than two-thirds of the Limited Late Model races despite having to start nearly every race from the back as the points leader. With no points on the line at the “Shootout,” just money, the Limited Lates will likely let it all hang out in the “C-D Electric Limited Late Model” feature.

San Antonio’s Mark McGahey worked speed and consistency into a formula good enough to win his first IMCA Southern Sports Modified championship at I-37 Raceway. The “Sports Mods” will run the “Manning Safety Services Sports Modified” feature, backed by the suppliers of oil-field safety equipment, and the big Modifieds will be back for the “3-D Landscaping Modified” feature.

The Street Stocks saw a season-long battle among four drivers who should (and probably will) move up in class next year. Though last year’s rookie of the year Wade Jones of Jourdanton had the title locked up early, he also had Floresville’s A. J. Wernette and San Antonio driver Tommy Casey on his tail every week and all year.

They’ll be racing for “BPTI Street Stock” purse with no worries about fixing the car before next season, but they will be dealing with an experienced and high-profile “rookie” in Robert Barker, a former winner at San Antonio Speedway, Thunderhill Raceway and Houston Motorsports Park.. This one is likely to get interesting in a hurry.

The Pure Stock class was a battle among several drivers including former track and class champion Janel Hilla, former track photographer Marc Roy, Sean Terry (forced to miss several races due to his work on an oil rig) and rookie William “Heat” Saunders. It came down to the last night, with Hilla winning her heat race to close to within three points of Roy as they started the feature.

Roy had problems of his own, and was forced to use a car borrowed from his teammate Lynn Hardy for the final two races following damage to his car, while Mike Brown, who hadn’t won a race all year, came through to win on the last night. Roy flashed across the line just behind him with Hilla on his tail, but Roy had the Pure Stock title. Still, Hilla has finished first, third and second in the last three championships and will be back next season.

They’ll be running in the “Douglass Glass Pure Stock” feature, with Dennis “Loco Ocho” Jasik of Douglass Glass probably out there in his number 8 Pure Stock trying to keep some of the money in the company.

Cars are expected from Austin, Houston, Goliad and perhaps Killeen with added cash on the line, Overall title sponsor Hill Country Satellite handles everything from Direct TV to security systems and even supplies racing radios.

Racing will start on Friday at 7:30 pm and on Saturday at 7:00 pm. The full schedule for the special Friday-Saturday event will be posted in advance on the I-37 Raceway web site. (www.i37raceway.com) or call (210) 478-0111.

by TQ Jones

Live Updates from Shady Oaks Speedway, 10-31-09

BOO!

LSS will be doing Live Updates from Shady Oaks Speedway’s Halloween Havoc (which will a Benefit event for injured track owner Jim Scribellito).

Lots of cars from all over coming to this one. I may have to do some scrambling to get the names matched up to the numbers, but I’ll do my best.

I should be firing up the software around 5:00 p.m. so plan on meeting us then.

Shady Oaks’ “Halloween Havoc” to benefit injured track owner, Jim Scribellito

Excitement is building in the air as the countdown to October 31st and the Halloween Havoc at Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad is fast approaching. A long held tradition at Shady Oaks Speedway during the 90’s, the 2009 Havoc will be the first held in almost a decade.

While the rebirth of the Havoc is news to celebrate in itself, what’s of special noteworthiness is the fact that the 2009 Havoc will double as a benefit event for injured track owner Jim Scribellito.

Jim, wife Laurie and their two children moved from California to Texas in October, 2008, to follow a dream that Jim held for most of his adult life. Jim’s dream, which most people would never desire to chase, was to own and operate a race track. Interestingly enough, Jim found the famed Shady Oaks Speedway listed for sale on Ebay in the summer of 2008. As a team, Jim and Laurie kicked their plans in gear by selling their business interests in California, and pursued the purchase of what in its heyday was known to be one of the fastest dirt tracks in Texas with its red clay racing surface.

Within just hours of arriving to the property in Goliad and setting up camp, the Scribellito’s were greeted by various racing enthusiasts ready to jump in and volunteer in various ways to lend a hand in assisting with the re-opening of the famed raceway which had sat in hibernation for almost 10 years. A unique and unparalleled character, Jim set out in a fashion that would rival P. T. Barnum with the desire to assemble the greatest show on earth.

Jim and Laurie embarked on creating a full motor sports facility with plans to host not only dirt oval racing, but also moto-cross events and tough truck / mud drag competitions, and even lawn mower races. With long hours poured in every day from dawn to dusk from the day of arrival, the family and the force of volunteers were set with a grand re-opening scheduled for March, 2009. Much like the movie Field of Dreams with the words “build it and they will come”, sure enough, the people came out in mass to watch races at the grand re-opening.

Soon after the dirt oval racing program was firmly planted and underway, Jim embarked on the construction of the moto-cross track. Making incredible leaps and bounds from one project to another, word was spreading across the nation that Shady Oaks Speedway was back in action and was a premier facility.

With incredible progress made in such a short time frame everything was headed in the right direction until a tragic curve ball was thrown in early August. Jim, being a racer himself, promoted a special event titled “Beat the Boss” for a particular class of cars. Jim competed in the event and as fate would have it, his car rolled over during competition.

In an accident that many times witnessed a racer would walk away from, Jim suffered severe bruising and swelling on his spine, as well as other injuries, and after facing the initial hospital stay is now working through significant rehabilitation.

In spite of what was viewed to many as the possible end of the program, Jim demanded “the show must go on”. Laurie stepped in and took a front line role, and the tracks Director of Competition, Brian McDevitt, was quickly drafted to move up to the capacity of acting Promoter. Brian’s greatest challenge was the quick manner in which he had to indoctrinate himself into operating the complete racing program. But, as Jim requested that “the show must go on”, go on it has!

The speedway staff never missed a beat, continuing to host the scheduled events, and now the countdown has begun for the 2009 Halloween Havoc.

The speedway has received word of several known racers coming in for this benefit event. Racers will be running for increased purses including $1,500 to win in Moifieds and $800 to win in Limited Modifieds. And racers will have the opportunity to give back some or all of their race winnings for the night towards the benefit if they desire. According to Laurie, “It’s the racers choice if they want to give back some, all, or none of their winnings and it will be completely anonymous through a drop box”.

Not only is it a night that will see notable racing names converge on the speedway, but volunteers have assembled several other fund raising techniques for the event. There will be special designed event t-shirts on sale with all proceeds being donated, bar-b-que plates for sale with proceeds going to the benefit, a silent auction, a classic car show in the afternoon, and trick or treating for the kids on the front straight-a-way during intermission.

There is no doubt that the 2009 Halloween Havoc will be one for the record books. A night well worth the price of admission with racers from across the region, trick or treating for kids, and most of all a benefit for a track owner who set the tone for others to model in the racing world.

For information about Shady Oaks Speedway or the Halloween Havoc, contact Brian McDevitt at 361/ 676-5746 or via email at brian@shadyoakspeedway.com

by Monty Chamberlain

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