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Aaron Reutzel takes a diminishing ASCS Gulf South Sprint Car lead into Texas weekend double

He’s been atop the American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region point charts since the fourth night of the season on April 24.

Now, with 22 full nights in the books, Aaron Reutzel’s advantage has been trimmed to just 32 markers by Tommy Bryant entering this weekend’s pair of events at Beaumont’s Golden Triangle Raceway Park on Friday night and then 105 Speedway in Cleveland, TX, on Saturday night.

This weekend’s twinbill marks the final events before the following weekend’s Cowtown Sprint Nationals, in which the Gulf South forces will square off against both the Sooner and Lone Star contenders.

After a 12th-place run in the series season opener at Beaumont, Reutzel climbed to the top of the point charts and extended his points lead on the strength of an ASCS Regional record of 15 consecutive top-ten feature runs.

At one point during that stretch that included his first career ASCS triumph (Golden Triangle Raceway Park on July 17), the Clute, TX, racer had built as much as an 88-point advantage in the championship points race.

However, in the eleven nights since that June 19 peak, Tommy Bryant of Conroe, TX, has been on a mission, chipping away at Reutzel’s advantage to the tune of 56 points with two of his three victories on the season coming during that span of events.

While both Reutzel and Bryant have penetrated victory lane at Golden Triangle Raceway Park this year, Bryant has finished ahead of Reutzel in four of six events atop the high-banked, 3/8-mile gumbo clay oval, accumulating 36 more points than Reutzel in Beaumont.

Cleveland’s 105 Speedway has been a different story however, where Reutzel has piled up 56 points on Bryant by finishing no lower than seventh in three events atop the semi-banked, ¼-mile clay oval with Bryant yet to crack the top ten.

While Reutzel and Bryant mix it up for the potential title on this pivotal weekend, 18-year-old Channin Tankersley (Highlands, TX) enters the weekend ranked third with Scottie McDonald (New Caney, TX) and two-time series champion Brandon Berryman (Missouri City, TX) rounding out the current top five.

The balance of the current top ten in ASCS Gulf South points includes Kent Lewis, Jr. (Willis, TX), Greg Rilat (Texas City, TX), Ray Allen Kulhanek (Magnolia, TX), Gary Watson (Beaumont, TX) and Jimmy Brooks (College Station, TX).

Friday’s card at Golden Triangle Raceway Park marks the series seventh stop of the season in Beaumont. Gary Wright has a pair of GTRP wins this year, with single triumphs posted by Bryant, Reutzel, Travis Rilat and Jason Johnson.

Saturday marks the fourth Gulf South stop of the year at 105 Speedway, where Wright, Kulhanek and Johnson have each posted victories.

Friday’s card at Golden Triangle Raceway Park is slated to get under way at 7:45 p.m., with Saturday’s action at 105 Speedway going green at 7:00 p.m.

Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.

Cleveland, Texas’ ¼-mile, semi-banked 105 Speedway clay oval is located six miles west of US 59 on SR 105, then 0.3 miles north on Fostoria. For more information, contact the track at 281-592-7223.

The ASCS Gulf South Region is set for 26 nights of racing action at ten different tracks throughout Texas in 2009.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:
9/18/09 – Jason Johnson
7/17/09 – Aaron Reutzel
6/19/09 – Travis Rilat
5/16/09 - Gary Wright
5/16/09 - Tommy Bryant (4/24 Makeup Feature)
3/6/09 - Gary Wright
8/15/08 - Channin Tankersley
7/18/08 - Gary Watson
5/9/08 - Channin Tankersley
2/29/08 - Jason Johnson
9/28/07 - Jason Johnson
6/22/07 - Michael Dupuy
5/18/07 - Brandon Berryman
4/6/07 - Jason Johnson
9/29/06 - Kevin Ramey
8/18/06 - Jason Johnson
6/23/06 - Gary Watson
8/19/05 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
6/17/05 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/15/05 - Travis Rilat
9/18/04 - Kelly Angelette
7/9/04 - Stephen Chevallier
* 9/28/02 - Michael Dupuy
* 9/27/02 - Tim Crawley
7/5/02 - Buddy Bodden
5/24/02 - Jason Johnson
* 4/5/02 - Zach Chappell

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at 105 Speedway:
8/29/09 – Jason Johnson
6/6/09 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
3/7/09 - Gary Wright
7/5/08 - Bryn Gohn
6/7/08 - Brandon Berryman
4/5/08 - Jason Johnson
9/2/07 - Jason Johnson
7/28/07 - Scottie McDonald

* - Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

by Lonnie Wheatley

Jason Johnson covers ASCS Gulf South Sprints at 105 Speedway

Jason Johnson picked off his third consecutive American Sprint Car Series Regional win by topping Saturday night’s 25-lap ASCS Gulf South main event at 105 Speedway.

After sweeping last weekend’s Sooner Region action in Oklahoma, Johnson outlasted Tommy Bryant to take top honors aboard Marvin Pearson’s No. 11 entry in Saturday’s finale.

While Bryant spun to the infield after running afoul of lapped traffic in the race’s closing stages, Johnson went on to take the checkered flag in front of two-time and defending series champion Brandon Berryman, with Scottie McDonald claiming the show position.

Terry Monroe crossed the stripe fourth, with current ASCS Gulf South points leader Aaron Reutzel racing from 15th to round out the top five.

Travis Elliott was sixth, with Chris Sweeney, Greg Rilat, Brandon Corn and Channin Tankersley completing the top ten.

Kent Lewis, Jr., Rod Craddock, Corn and T. Elliott topped heat race action with Reutzel winning the “B” Main.

ASCS Gulf South Results from 105 Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 2. 31-Brandon Berryman, 3. 20-Terry Monroe, 4. 19-Klint Angelette, 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 6. 3-Gary Watson.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 96-Rod Craddock, 2. 35-Greg Rilat, 3. 70-Anthony Reaves, 4. 93-Chris Sweeney, 5. 52-Roger Oakes, 6. 12-Kent Lewis, Sr.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 74-Brandon Corn, 2. 11-Jason Johnson, 3. 30-Scottie McDonald, 4. 12s-Steve Hubbard, 5. 71-Channin Tankersley, 6. 5s-Jack Spencer.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 15T-Travis Elliott, 2. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 3. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 4. 12x-Logan Bledsoe, 5. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 6. 30x-Bean Elliott.

“B” Feature (15 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 2. 71-Channin Tankersley, 3. 12x-Logan Bledsoe, 4. 5s-Jack Spencer, 5. 3-Gary Watson, 6. 30x-Bean Elliott, 7. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 8. 12-Kent Lewis, Sr., 9. 52-Roger Oakes, 10. 12s-Steve Hubbard.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 11-Jason Johnson, 2. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 3. 30-Scottie McDonald, 4. 20-Terry Monroe, 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 6. 15T-Travis Elliott, 7. 93-Chris Sweeney, 8. 35-Greg Rilat, 9. 74-Brandon Corn, 10. 71-Channin Tankersley, 11. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 12. 70-Anthony Reaves, 13. 96-Rod Craddock, 14. 30x-Bean Elliott, 15. 19-Klint Angelette, 16. 12x-Logan Bledsoe, 17. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 18. 5s-Jack Spencer, 19. 3-Gary Watson, 20. 51-Jimmy Brooks.

ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Aaron Reutzel 2,502, 2. Tommy Bryant 2,432, 3. Channin Tankersley 2,374, 4. Scottie McDonald 2,298, 5. Brandon Berryman 2,267, 6. Kent Lewis, Jr. 2,258, 7. Greg Rilat 2,203, 8. Ray Allen Kulhanek 2,076, 9. Gary Watson 2,073, 10. Jimmy Brooks 2,011.

by Lonnie Wheatley

ASCS Gulf South ready for Golden Triangle Raceway Park and 105 Speedway this weekend

After three idle weekends, the American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region fires back to action with a pair of events in southeast Texas this weekend.

On Friday night, the series takes to Beaumont’s 3/8-mile Golden Triangle Raceway Park for the sixth of seven scheduled events in 2009. Then, on Saturday night, it’s on to Cleveland’s 105 Speedway for the third time this season.

Leading the way into the weekend in his bid to become the series fifth different champion is 19-year-old Aaron Reutzel of Clute, TX, who picked off his first career ASCS Gulf South feature win in the series most recent stop at Golden Triangle Raceway Park on July 17.

Reutzel’s series record streak of 15 consecutive top-ten feature finishes was finally snapped in the series most recent event versus the Lone Star Region at Waco’s Heart O’ Texas Speedway on July 31.

Reutzel will start from scratch on a new streak with this weekend’s pair of events followed by next weekend’s double against the Lone Star Region at Crandall’s RPM Speedway and Mesquite’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway on September 4-5.

Reutzel carries an advantage of just 46 markers over Tommy Bryant into this weekend’s action, with Channin Tankersley, Scottie McDonald and Kent Lewis, Jr., rounding out the current top five.

Two-time and defending series champion Brandon Berryman enters the weekend ranked sixth, with the balance of the current top ten including Ray Allen Kulhanek, Greg Rilat, Gary Watson and Jimmy Brooks.

Friday’s card at Golden Triangle Raceway Park is slated to get under way at 7:45 p.m., with Saturday’s action at 105 Speedway set to go green at 8:00 p.m.

Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.

Cleveland, Texas’ ¼-mile, semi-banked 105 Speedway clay oval is located six miles west of US 59 on SR 105, then 0.3 miles north on Fostoria. For more information, contact the track at 281-592-7223.

The ASCS Gulf South Region is set for 27 nights of racing action at ten different tracks throughout Texas in 2009.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:
7/17/09 – Aaron Reutzel
6/19/09 – Travis Rilat
5/16/09 - Gary Wright
5/16/09 - Tommy Bryant (4/24 Makeup Feature)
3/6/09 - Gary Wright
8/15/08 - Channin Tankersley
7/18/08 - Gary Watson
5/9/08 - Channin Tankersley
2/29/08 - Jason Johnson
9/28/07 - Jason Johnson
6/22/07 - Michael Dupuy
5/18/07 - Brandon Berryman
4/6/07 - Jason Johnson
9/29/06 - Kevin Ramey
8/18/06 - Jason Johnson
6/23/06 - Gary Watson
8/19/05 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
6/17/05 - Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/15/05 - Travis Rilat
9/18/04 - Kelly Angelette
7/9/04 - Stephen Chevallier
* 9/28/02 - Michael Dupuy
* 9/27/02 - Tim Crawley
7/5/02 - Buddy Bodden
5/24/02 - Jason Johnson
* 4/5/02 - Zach Chappell

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at 105 Speedway:
6/6/09 – Ray Allen Kulhanek
3/7/09 - Gary Wright
7/5/08 - Bryn Gohn
6/7/08 - Brandon Berryman
4/5/08 - Jason Johnson
9/2/07 - Jason Johnson
7/28/07 - Scottie McDonald

* - Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

by Lonnie Wheatley

Ray Allen Kulhanek covers Cleveland for ASCS Gulf South Honors

Ray Allen Kulhanek broke into American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region victory lane for the first time since September of 2006 by wiring the field in Saturday night’s 25-lap feature at 105 Speedway.

The 2006 series champion gunned into the lead at the outset aboard Jeff Wagner’s Dee Fox Racing Engines Coastal Group Roofing No. 5 Maxim and never looked back en route to his eighth career Gulf South triumph.

Kulhanek took the checkered flag in front of fellow front row starter Kolt Walker, with current series points leader Aaron Reutzel racing from ninth to capture the show position for his ninth consecutive top-ten showing.

Scottie McDonald crossed the stripe fourth, with Greg Rilat making a late move around Skip Wilson to round out the top five. Wilson was sixth, with Chris Sweeney, Jimmy Brooks, Jerry Bell and Channin Tankersley completing the top ten.

Wilson, Brandon Berryman, Brooks and Walker topped heat race action for the 27-car field with Tankersley winning the “B” Main.

ASCS Gulf South Region Results from 105 Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 65-Skip Wilson, 2. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 3. 15T-Travis Elliott, 4. 93-Chris Sweeney, 5. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 6. 30x-Bean Elliott, 7. 22L-Kent Lewis, Jr.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 31-Brandon Berryman, 2. 5-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 3. 3-Gary Watson, 4. 85-Jerry Bell, 5. 71-Channin Tankersley, 6. 70-Anthony Reaves, 7. 74-Brandon Corn.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 2. 30-Scottie McDonald, 3. 21-Blake Roberts, 4. 35-Greg Rilat, 5. 19-Klint Angelette, 6. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 7. 17c-Greg Coleman.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 45k-Kolt Walker, 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 3. 23-Darryl Wills, 4. 69h-Larry Howery, 5. 12-Trey Robb, 6. 17c-Greg Coleman.

“B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 71-Channin Tankersley, 2. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 3. 19-Klint Angelette, 4. 74-Brandon Corn, 5. 69h-Larry Howery, 6. 70-Anthony Reaves, 7. 22L-Kent Lewis, Sr., 8. 17c-Greg Coleman, 9. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 10. d20-David Noker, 11. 15T-Travis Elliott (Disqualified; failed to report to scales after finishing third), 12. 30x-Bean Elliott (Disqualified; failed to report to scales after finishing fifth). DNS: 12-Trey Robb.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 5-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 2. 45k-Kolt Walker, 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 4. 30-Scottie McDonald, 5. 35-Greg Rilat, 6. 65-Skip Wilson, 7. 93-Chris Sweeney, 8. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 9. 85-Jerry Bell, 10. 71-Channin Tankersley, 11. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 12. 74-Brandon Corn, 13. 70-Anthony Reaves, 14. 21-Blake Roberts, 15. 23-Darryl Wills, 16. 69h-Larry Howery, 17. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 18. 31-Brandon Berryman, 19. 3-Gary Watson, 20. 19-Klint Angelette.

ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Aaron Reutzel 1,386, 2. Ray Allen Kulhanek 1,313, 3. Tommy Bryant 1,306, 4. Brandon Berryman 1,296, 5. Channin Tankersley 1,294, 6. Scottie McDonald 1,208, 7. Jimmy Brooks 1,169, 8. Kent Lewis, Jr. 1,168, 9. Greg Rilat 1,127, 10. Gary Watson 1,090.

by Lonnie Wheatley

Jake Lucas captures EMSA/ACS2 Mini Sprint win on fast 105 Speedway track

Twenty eight cars beat the heat Saturday night and made it out to Cleveland, Texas for the 4th race of the EMSA/ACS2 mini sprint 2009 schedule. 105 Speedway looked good from the beginning with a fast track and tons of talent to tame it.

No fears were evident from points leader Caleb Martin who finished nearly a straight away ahead of the competition in his heat, this after coming off a terrible accident last Saturday. J.J. Simmons crossed the line first, but with a trail of smoke following during his heat race. An engine problem caused him to scratch for the “A’ Main. It was smooth sailing for Jake Lucas in his Pace Chassis during his heat race which would line him up on the outside pole of the “A” Main.

Twenty Four Cars lined up when the green flag dropped on the “A’ main and Jake Lucas hard on the gas. Quickly leading the pack around the two grove track, Lucas wasn’t looking back. Lucas lead every lap despite a few cautions and a red flag. Caleb Martin and Michael McNeil weren’t going to let Lucas run off with the show. McNeil had Lucas in the cross hairs several times, but couldn’t quite pull off the pass and settled for a close second.

Jake Lucas kicked up some dirt in celebration while l McNeil, Martin, McDonald, and Porter finished off the top 5. Caleb Martin still holds the point lead by a 90 point margin of Jake Lucas. Jake Lucas is being closely followed by 2 time defending point champion Luke Lucas who currently stands third in points.

The boys are off next weekend, but will be back in action on May 23rd at 105 speedway. For a complete list of results, points, and schedule visit www.EMSARacing.com

Story and Photos by Chris David (www.ChrisDavidMedia.com)

ASCS Sprints set for Golden Triangle Raceway Park and 105 Speedway this weekend

The American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region fires back to action with its second of three scheduled Golden Triangle- 105 Speedway doubles this coming weekend in southern Texas.

On Friday night, the series invades Beaumont’s Golden Triangle Raceway Park before moving on to Cleveland’s 105 Speedway on Saturday night.

The series launched its eighth season of competition atop the pair of ¼-mile clay ovals on the opening weekend of March, with four-time National champion Gary Wright sweeping the weekend in a tune-up for his Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series campaign.

While Jason Johnson, the reigning Lucas Oil ASCS National champion, moved atop the ASCS Gulf South point charts with a last-lap win in Gulf South Round Three at Gator Motorplex on March 28, it’s 18-year-old Aaron Reutzel that ranks as the top Gulf South title contender.

A third-place finisher after leading much of the way at Gator, Reutzel enters this weekend just eight points ahead of fellow 18-year-old Channin Tankersley, who posted a pair of series wins at Golden Triangle last year.

Other drivers off to a strong start in the ASCS Gulf South championship points chase include Scottie McDonald, Kent Lewis, Jr., and two-time and defending series champion Brandon Berryman, who is just 28 markers off of Reutzel’s pace.

Both of this weekend’s ASCS Gulf South events offer up $2,000 to win and $300 to start.

Friday’s card at Golden Triangle Raceway Park is slated to get under way at 7:45 p.m., with Saturday’s action at 105 Speedway set to go green at 7:00 p.m.

Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.

Cleveland, Texas’ 105 Speedway is located six miles west of US 59 on SR 105, then 0.3 miles north on Fostoria. For more information, contact the track at 281-592-7223.

The ASCS Gulf South Region is set for 28 nights of racing action at eleven different tracks throughout Texas in 2009.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:

3/6/09 Gary Wright
8/15/08 Channin Tankersley
7/18/08 Gary Watson
5/9/08 Channin Tankersley
2/29/08 Jason Johnson
9/28/07 Jason Johnson
6/22/07 Michael Dupuy
5/18/07 Brandon Berryman
4/6/07 Jason Johnson
9/29/06 Kevin Ramey
8/18/06 Jason Johnson
6/23/06 Gary Watson
8/19/05 Ray Allen Kulhanek
6/17/05 Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/15/05 Travis Rilat
9/18/04 Kelly Angelette
7/9/04 Stephen Chevallier
* - 9/28/02 Michael Dupuy
* - 9/27/02 Tim Crawley
7/5/02 Buddy Bodden
5/24/02 Jason Johnson
* - 4/5/02 Zach Chappell
* - Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at 105 Speedway:

3/7/09 Gary Wright
7/5/08 Bryn Gohn
6/7/08 Brandon Berryman
4/5/08 Jason Johnson
9/2/07 Jason Johnson
7/28/07 Scottie McDonald

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

by Lonnie Wheatley
Front page photo by TWC Photos
Photo in story courtesy of ASCS

USMTS Southern Series Tripleheader postponed due to weather concerns

Due to impending inclement weather, the USMTS Southern Series events scheduled for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 17-19, have been postponed, officials announced Thursday.

Friday’s show at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas, will now be held on Thursday, May 7, while Saturday’s race at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas, has been moved to Sunday, May 10.

These two shows will bookend a four-day, four-track swing that includes a trip to the Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, on Friday, May 8, and the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, on Saturday, May 9.

Sunday’s event at the 105 Speedway in Cleveland, Texas, has not been rescheduled. Officials are reviewing possible venues to hold an event on Wednesday, May 6, which would make for a five-race swing to wrap up the West Region of the USMTS Southern Series.

Up next for the USMTS Southern Series will be an East Region tripleheader next weekend featuring a trio of $2,000-to-win contests.

On Friday, April 24, action will take place at the Texarkana 67 Speedway in Texarkana, Ark., as the USMTS banner flies there for the first time ever. Saturday, April 25, will find the tough-as-nails touring titans at the Champion Park Speedway in Haughton, La., before wrapping up the weekend on Sunday, April 26, at the Boothill Speedway in Greenwood, La.

by USMTS Staff

USMTS 3rd Annual ‘Texas Shootout’ set for three Texas dirt tracks this weekend

The Stars of the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) Southern Series will be invading Texas this weekend for the third annual ‘Texas Shootout’ to be held at three different Texas dirt tracks.

On Friday the USMTS professionals will roll into Golden Triangle Raceway Park (GTRP) in Beaumont for the first leg of the much anticipated USMTS swing through the Lone Star state. Racing on the same Friday evening program with the touring modified stars will be the local GTRP Limited Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Jr. Mini Stocks.

Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas, will be treated to the big show on Saturday evening. Joining the super-fast Modifieds at the super-fast Gator oval will be the local Limited Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks.

Climaxing the Texas Shootout, the whole USMTS show – proudly hailing itself as “The best Modified Show on Dirt”- moves to 105 Speedway in Cleveland, Texas, for a Sunday afternoon event. The local Limited Modifieds and Hobby Stocks are also on the program.

According to pre-race publicity, more than 50 USMTS Modifieds will be racing their way to the checkered flag at each of the three tracks, promising dirt track Modified fans one of the best shows of the year.

From more information about USMTS, visit http://www.usmts.com.

Staff Report
Photos courtesy USMTS

Wright Completes ASCS Gulf South weekend sweep with 105 Speedway win

Gary Wright completed a sweep of the American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region’s season opening weekend by racing to victory lane in Saturday night’s 25-lap Gulf Coast Nationals at 105 Speedway.

Wright battled past Tony Bruce, Jr., for the lead on the seventh circuit and set the pace over the remaining distance to post his second $3,000 victory in as many nights.

“We’re starting to get things dialed in, I think we’re just about where we need to be for the National races,” Wright commented of his ASI-powered Lubbock Wrecker Service No. 11x Maxim and his looming Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series championship pursuit.

After another heat race win from the pole position, Wright ranked eighth in passing points to barely make it into the redraw. And, with luck on his side, the seven drivers that drew before “The Texan” left him the number one pill and the pole starting position for the main event.

While Wright led the way to the green flag, it was front row outside starter Tony Bruce, Jr., gunning into the lead at the outset as Wright found himself chasing the Liberal, KS, racer for the second night in a row.

This time though, Wright pounced early rather than waiting for the final circuits. Wright turned the heat up on Bruce just a handful of laps into the race and shot into the lead when Bruce made the slightest of bobbles on the turn four cushion on lap seven.

Bruce kept pace with Wright the rest of the way, looking for an opening that never came as they spent much of the time in lapped traffic. One final opportunity presented itself when Brandon Berryman, Greg Rilat and Tommy Bryant tangled on the backstretch as Wright raced underneath the white flag.

Bruce made a bid for the lead on the ensuing green-white-checkered restart, but Wright was up to the task. Bruce settled for runner-up honors for the second night in a row in his Rider-powered No. 18 Maxim.

Finishing behind Wright and Bruce, Eighteen-year-old Channin Tankersley rebounded from a rough Friday night to snare the show position in the Griffith Truck & Equipment No. 71 Maxim. Jason Johnson climbed seven positions aboard Marvin Pearson’s No. 11 Eagle to claim fourth, taking full advantage of the race’s final caution to battle past Eric Baldaccini, who rounded out the top five after starting 12th.

Ray Allen Kulhanek raced from 15th to finish sixth, with Aaron Reutzel, 16th-starter Kevin Ramey, Kent Lewis, Jr., and Jimmy Brooks completing the top ten. Finishing one position outside the top ten in just his second Sprint Car outing was Washington teen Logan Forler.

Lewis, Tankersley, Wright, Greg Rilat and James McNeil topped heat race action for the 38-car field, with Kulhanek and Ramey winning the twin “B” Mains. McNeil got upside down in turn one just two laps into the feature event.

American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region Results from 105 Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 2. 2L-Logan Forler, 3. 74e-Claud Estes, 4. 13-Kathryne Minter, 5. 19-Klint Angelette, 6. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 7. 12s-Steve Hubbard, 8. 1-Sean McClelland.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 71-Channin Tankersley, 2. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 3. 74-Brandon Corn, 4. 87x-Billy Melton, 5. 14e-Todd Evans, 6. 69-Larry Howery, 7. 17c-Greg Coleman, 8. 20-Terry Monroe.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 9x-Gary Wright, 2. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 3. 11-Jason Johnson, 4. 5-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 5. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 6. 29-Travis Rilat, 7. 30x-Bean Elliott. DNS: 10-Larry Hartwell.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 35-Greg Rilat, 2. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 3. 30-Scottie McDonald, 4. 12-Trey Schmidt, 5. d20-David Noker, 6. 71s-Tim Simmons, 7. 15T-Travis Elliott.

Heat Five (8 Laps): 1. 80-James McNeil, 2. 31-Brandon Berryman, 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 4. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 5. 76-John Ricketts, 6. 93-Chris Sweeney, 7. 1x-Robby Wolfgang.

First “B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 5-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 2. 87x-Billy Melton, 3. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 4. 12-Trey Schmidt, 5. 30x-Bean Elliott, 6. 13-Kathryne Minter, 7. 19-Klint Angelette, 8. 12s-Steve Hubbard, 9. 1x-Robby Wolfgang, 10. 20-Terry Monroe, 11. 69-Larry Howery. Disqualified: 29-Travis Rilat (failed to report to scales after finishing second).

Second “B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 2. 74-Brandon Corn, 3. 76-John Ricketts, 4. 1-Sean McClelland, 5. 93-Chris Sweeney, 6. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 7. d20-David Noker, 8. 14e-Todd Evans, 9. 15T-Travis Elliott, 10. 17c-Greg Coleman. DNS: 71s-Tim Simmons, 10-Larry Hartwell.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 9x-Gary Wright, 2. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 3. 71-Channin Tankersley, 4. 11-Jason Johnson, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 5-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 7. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 8. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 9. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 10. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 11. 2L-Logan Forler, 12. 30-Scottie McDonald, 13. 87x-Billy Melton, 14. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 15. 31-Brandon Berryman, 16. 35-Greg Rilat, 17. 76-John Ricketts, 18. 74-Brandon Corn, 19. 74e-Claud Estes, 20. 80-James McNeil.

ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Gary Wright 300, 2. Tony Bruce, Jr. 292, 3. Jason Johnson 284, 4. Kevin Ramey 272, 5. Scottie McDonald 266, 6. (tie) Aaron Reutzel and Kent Lewis, Jr. 262, 8. (tie) Channin Tankersley and Tommy Bryant 258, 10. Eric Baldaccini 256.

by Lonnie Wheatley

Photos courtesy of ASCS

ASCS Gulf South kicks off 2009 season this weekend!

The American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region kicks off its eighth season of competition in grand style with a pair of $3,000-to-win events this weekend in Southeast Texas.

On Friday night, the ASCS Gulf South takes to Beaumont’s ¼-mile Golden Triangle Raceway Park gumbo clay oval for the Prelude to the Gulf Coast Nationals. Then, on Saturday night, it’s off to Cleveland’s ¼-mile 105 Speedway clay oval for the Second Annual Gulf Coast Nationals.

In addition to both nights of action offering up a $3,000 winner’s share, both nights include feature start money of $300.

And the Gulf South forces will have to fight for their piece of the purse, as there will be marauders out in force to tune up for the March 20-21 Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters season opener at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX.

Two-time and defending ASCS Gulf South Region champion Brandon Berryman of Missouri City, TX, leads a stout contingent of series championship contenders into the weekend that includes the likes of 2006 champ Gary Watson, 2005 champion Ray Allen Kulhanek, Chris Sweeney, Tommy Bryant, 18-year-old Channin Tankersley and four-time series points runner-up Greg Rilat among others.

Tankersley topped two of four ASCS Gulf South events at Golden Triangle Raceway Park last year, while Rilat rides a series record streak of 104 consecutive events competed-in into the weekend.

The ASCS Gulf South contenders will square off with a number of invading forces, with reigning Lucas Oil ASCS National champion Jason Johnson, four-time ASCS National champion Gary Wright, 2003 ASCS National champion Travis Rilat and 2008 Short Track Nationals winner Tony Bruce, Jr., among the Lucas Oil ASCS championship contenders expected.

Friday’s card at Golden Triangle Raceway Park is slated to get under way at 8:00 p.m., with Saturday’s action at 105 Speedway set to go green at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Triangle Raceway Park is located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 near Beaumont, TX. For more information, contact the track at 409-752-7200.

Cleveland, Texas’ 105 Speedway is located six miles west of US 59 on SR 105, then 0.3 miles north on Fostoria. For more information, contact the track at 281-592-7223.

The ASCS Gulf South Region is set for 28 nights of racing action at eleven different tracks throughout Texas in 2009.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at Golden Triangle Raceway Park:

8/15/08 Channin Tankersley
7/18/08 Gary Watson
5/9/08 Channin Tankersley
2/29/08 Jason Johnson
9/28/07 Jason Johnson
6/22/07 Michael Dupuy
5/18/07 Brandon Berryman
4/6/07 Jason Johnson
9/29/06 Kevin Ramey
8/18/06 Jason Johnson
6/23/06 Gary Watson
8/19/05 Ray Allen Kulhanek
6/17/05 Ray Allen Kulhanek
4/15/05 Travis Rilat
9/18/04 Kelly Angelette
7/9/04 Stephen Chevallier
* - 9/28/02 Michael Dupuy
* - 9/27/02 Tim Crawley
7/5/02 Buddy Bodden
5/24/02 Jason Johnson
* - 4/5/02 Zach Chappell
* - Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.

Past ASCS Gulf South Region Feature Winners at 105 Speedway:

7/5/08 Bryn Gohn
6/7/08 Brandon Berryman
4/5/08 Jason Johnson
9/2/07 Jason Johnson
7/28/07 Scottie McDonald
* - Indicates events held in conjunction with ASCS National Tour.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

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