• Home
• About LSS
• Dirt Calendar
• Paved Calendar
• Touring Series

Subscribe

• Login
• Forums
• Audio
• Live Blogs
• Video

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

Gator Motorplex hosts the ASCS Gulf South sprint cars this Saturday

The American Sprint Car Series Gulf South Region resumes its eighth season of competition this Saturday night with the first of a pair of events at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, TX.

Saturday’s action atop the high-banked, red clay ¼-mile Gator Motorplex oval marks the third of 28 nights of scheduled competition for the ASCS Gulf South Region in 2009.

The series kicked off the season on the opening weekend of March with four-time Lucas Oil ASCS National champion Gary Wright dropping in to sweep the weekend. And with several invaders on hand during that opening weekend, Scottie McDonald of New Caney, TX, escaped the weekend as the top-ranked ASCS Gulf South championship contender.

McDonald, who won the series’ first feature event at Gator Motorplex in 2005, is just four markers ahead of Clute, TX, teen Aaron Reutzel and Willis racer Kent Lewis, Jr., with Highlands, TX, hotshoe Channin Tankersley and Montgomery, TX, shoe Tommy Bryant just eight points off McDonald’s pace.

Chris Sweeney topped last year’s first series stop at the Gator Motorplex, with Bryant capturing his first series win aboard David Miller’s B&M Jr. No 21T last July.

Two-time and defending series champion Brandon Berryman of Missouri City, TX, is just a dozen markers behind McDonald, while Texas City, TX, shoe Greg Rilat makes his 107th consecutive series start 73 points off the pace after a rough opening weekend.

Saturday night’s action at the Gator Motorplex is slated to go green at 7:00 p.m.

The high-banked, ¼-mile Gator Motorplex red clay oval is located in Willis, TX, off I-45 Exit 98 (Shepherd Hill exit), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. For more information, contact the track at 936-588-6127.

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 Gator Motorplex:

7/19/08 – Tommy Bryant
5/24/08 – Chris Sweeney
9/16/06 – Brad Best
5/27/06 – Chris Sweeney
10/8/05 – Travis Rilat
4/16/05 – Scottie McDonald

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

by Lonnie Wheatley

Gator Motorplex enjoys action-packed opening night

The Lone Star Speedzone crew made the trip from San Marcos to Gator Motorplex in Wills, Texas, to catch the “opening night” racing action at the wonderfully-prepared, red clay, high-banked, quarter-mile “almost-oval” oval. I say “almost” because the entry to turns one and three are tighter than the exits to their corresponding turns, two and four, making for some interesting differences in driving styles as drivers searched for the quick way around.

Despite the threat of rain, a great opening night crowd was on hand, with the crowd about evenly divided between the concrete “grandstands” and the terraced hillside just outside turn 3-4. The clouds only turned dark enough to actually rain for a brief 15-minute period and the track was soon race ready thanks to some quick work by the two famous Gator school buses, one of which has six wheels on the rear axle.

Since this was my first race at Gator, I only knew a couple of drivers - Lone Star Speedzone’s very own Arthur Hermiz in the Hobby Stock class and David Lege, Jr (I actually know your dad, David…) in the Limited Modified division. So, if I have messed up someone’s name or have something else totally mixed up, please be nice.

Modifieds

The Modified feature had Kevin Sturgess and Jeff Wood on the front row, but the 20-lapper got off to a rocky start with lots of banging and bumping and a spin or two which brought out an immediate yellow flag.

The next start was much better with Sturgess getting out first, followed by Wood who went to the inside. Bryan Vollmer quickly moved into third as Wood worked the outside while Sturgess searched for grip down low.

Meanwhile, Steve Pugh moved into fourth behind Vollmer while Ricky Bain took over the fifth spot.

Not sure at what lap, but after a few laps of working on Sturgess, Wood pulled into the infield, done for the night. Pugh, who had gotten by Vollmer a bit earlier, then inherited the tough job of running down Sturgess.

Pugh’s job was made much easier, though, when the yellow flew at about mid race for a turn 3-4 spin by Russell Moore.

On the restart, Pugh seemed poised to make a move on Sturgess, but his engine went up in a cloud of blue smoke going down the front straight. It was pretty much a cakewalk for Sturgess after that.

Sturgess, who ran a smart, smooth race was followed to the line by Kaif Sellier, who took advantage of the fact that several in front of him had problems, Pugh and Belge.

Russell Moore and Bryan Vollmer won their heat races.

Modified results showing Finishing Position, Starting Position, Car Number, Name, Hometown

1 1 121 Kevin Sturgess Tomball , Tx
2 12 4$ Kalif Sellier Katy , Tx
3 6 156 Steve Pugh Willis , Tx
4 9 7 Mike Belge Willis , Tx
5 5 44 Marcus Berndt Katy , Tx
6 10 32 Doug Byrns Willis , Tx
7 3 148 Russell Moore Conroe , Tx
8 7 55 Roger Faulkner Conroe , Tx
9 13 167 Alan Drewry
10 8 07 Keith Wright Willis , Tx
11 4 129 Bryan Vollmer Tomball , Tx
12 2 51 Jeff Wood Willis , Tx
13 11 28 Ricky Bain College Station, Tx

Hobby Stocks

The Hobby Main featured a great duel between eventual winner Ronnie Williams and heat-race winner John Warner.

Ronnie Williams and Mark Gallagher started on the front row with Rodney Mears and John Gregory in row two. Williams got out first but Gallagher and Jessie Flowers tangled in 3-4 to bring out the caution flag before a lap was complete. That moved Mears up to the front row and Warner inherited a row two spot for the restart.

Warner moved past Flowers using the outside immediately after the restart and set his sights on and quickly caught Williams.

The front-running pair easily separated themselves from the rest of the field and made a bit of contact with each other occasionally as they diced for the lead. They had half a lap on the field at the halfway flags with Mears and Ricky Hudson heading the rest of the pack. But Hudson lost his spot after taking a quick trip through the infield.

With six left, Clayton Lorenz stopped his damaged car in turn four. This bunched up the field which had become so spread out that the leaders were about to start lapping the back markers.

The restart had Williams, Warner, Brandon Moore and Arthur Hermiz up front. Williams got a great jump and took off with Warner in hot pursuit, but debris in turn one only a lap later brought out another yellow.

Warner valiantly tried the inside for the last few laps, but Williams took the checkered flag with his rival glued to his rear bumper.

Jessie Flowers, John Warner and Rodney Mears were the heat winners.

Hobby Stock Results showing Finishing Position, Starting Position, Car Number, Name, Hometown

1 2 2 Ronnie Williams Conroe , Tx
2 6 20 John Warner Conroe , Tx
3 13 123 Brandon Moore
4 9 76 Daniel King
5 15 777 Arthur Hermiz Conroe , Tx
6 4 17 Ricky Hudson Montgomery , Tx
7 1 6M Mark Gallagher Bryan , Tx
8 11 41 Charles Viereck Willis , Tx
9 7 27VF John Gregory Montgomery , Tx
10 10 21R Ronnie Racer Shelby Conroe , Tx
11 3 77 Rodney Mears Tomball , Tx
12 14 21 Earl Schultz Spring , Tx
13 8 777L Clayton Lorenz Willis , Tx
14 12 67 E. Wade Johnson Willis , Tx
15 5 333 Jessie Flowers Conroe , Tx

Pure Stocks

Terry Parsley and Robb Slott started on the front row, but a multi-car free-for-all down the front straight as the green waved scattered cars everywhere. No real harm done except to heat winner Casey Garvin’s car which made all sorts of evil noises as he joined the rear of the field for the restart.

Slott won the drag race to turn one as the green waved, but had Parsley on his tail right away.

Parsley tried the inside line while Slott used the outside to his advantage for several laps in the early going as the pair opened up a big gap back to the pack.

It wasn’t long before the dueling duo was dealing (sorry… ) with lapped traffic. Parsley was able to peel off Slott using a lapped car to take over the lead at about halfway.

Meanwhile, back in the pack, there was lots of beating and banging as the leaders tried to work their way through. Parsley worked traffic to his advantage and for the next few laps opened up a several car-length lead.

As the laps wound down the Parsley was able to maintain his advantage over Slott, but someone spun (not sure who) and the caution flag waved to set up a green, white, checkered finish that was bound to produce some fireworks.

But it was not to be as Parsley was called into the infield by race officials for an unexplained reason and did not return to the track.

Slott was then easily held off Matthew Berry, who finished second.

Will Carter, Stetson Adams and Casey Garvin and won their respective heat races.

Pure Stock Results showing Finishing Position, Car Number, Name

1st 48ROB Rob Slott
2nd 02 Matthew Berry
3rd 89 Corey Hamilton
4th 818 Stetson Adams
5th 77 Garrett Gregory
6th 2 Preston Lawson
7th 29 Kasey Garvin
8th 57 Mike Hooper
9th 723 Ronnie Mekalip
10th 20N Syble Matthews
11th 179 Donald Cain Jr
12th 2R Ricky Kelley
13th 81 Dale Spencer
14th 89C Codey Hamilton
15th 3P Terry Parsley
16th 43 Bubba Matthews
17th 14 Derek Legg
18th 55 Tyler Moore

Street Stocks

Theresa Waller and Mike DeGroot started on the front row with DeGroot getting the point on the first lap. Mike Johnson and Barry McIllwain soon joined the front pair and the four of them took off.

At halfway the front four were still nose-to-tail with everyone running basically the same line - more or less in the middle - with no one searching low or looking for the berm up high.

After a brief caution for a minor spin, DeGroot got a good jump on Waller as the green flew as does McIllwain who challenged Waller for a lap or two. I’m not too sure what happened to Johnson who was running third earlier. Conner Lazenby made it a four-pack up front at the laps wound down.

This foursome ran close and clean for the rest of the race with DeGroot, Waller, McIllwain and Lazenby finishing in that order.

Johnson and DeGroot were the heat race winners.

Street Stock resutls showing Finishing Position, Car Number, Name

1st 21 Mike DeGroot
2nd 3 Theresa Waller
3rd 41 Barry McIllwain
4th 10 Connor Lazenby
5th 29 Jason Kibby
6th 20 Mike Johnson
7th 32 Chanc Towery
8th 2H Jeffrey Jackson
9th 43 David Jackson

Limited Mods

Twenty-two Limited Modifieds lined up for their 20-lap, $1,000 to win feature.

As you might imagine, it was a wild start, but they all made it through with Jeff Wood jumping out first and Johnny Holder in second.

Wood looked very strong in the early going with Holder not able to mount much of a challenge. Tommy Moore looked pretty strong in third, but a spin in the pack brings out the yellow with only a few laps in the books.

As they got back to racing, Holder and Moore made some serious contact but both were able to hold on as Dalton Faulkner moved into fourth.

After a caution for a spinner, Holder tried the very low side for a lap or two, but Wood made the center of the track work for him as the red clay got blacker and blacker.

Wood was never seriously challenged after Holder determined that the bottom wasn’t going to work and went wire-to-wire for a very convincing win.

Holder, Wood, Moore and (not too sure, but maybe) Brad Brumbly won their heats.

Limited Modified resutls showing Finishing Position, Car Number, Name

1st 40P Jeff Wood
2nd 4 Johnny Holder
3rd 148 Tommy Moore
4th 27 Dalton Faulkner
5th 71 Chase Bresee
6th 7 Brad Brumley
7th 5C Steve Clayton
8th 86 Justin Collins
9th 14 Roy Catlin
10th 24 James Gunter
11th 388 Steve Burrow
12th 9 David Lege Jr
13th 78 Andy Mahoney
14th 92 Tim Ferguson
15th 627 Mark Jackson
16th 17 Cody Dusty
17th 107 Todd Jouett
18th 18 Bobby Middleton
19th 87 Dennis Miley
20th R3W Rick Wolfe
21st 20 Eddie Holley
22nd 590 Jonathan Walker

Lone Star Speedzone Video Cast - 3/10/2009

In this week’s Lone Star Speedzone Video Cast, were gonna go racing at Gator Motorplex! Nick Holt and track announcer Roland Morgan will get the inside scoop about what’s going on in Willis.

Lone Star Speedzone visits Gator Motorplex

The Lone Star Speedzone team recently paid a nice visit to Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas.

Newstreamz Media co-owner Chris Doelle, Lone Star Speedzone’s Nick Holt and videographer Eric Wiede made the trip to the popular quarter-mile clay track to have a chat with Gator Motorplex owner Randy Waller and the track announcer Roland Morgan (officially named the “Non-Employee of the Year at the recent Gator Motorplex awards banquet).

The actual interview is posted on Lone Star Speedzone. Just click on “Video” to check out this and other LSS videos.

If you’ve never heard Roland and his buddies on the PA at Gator, you need to head out there on any Saturday night. Roland is worth the price of admission for sure

Here’s a few more pics of the visit.

I believe Roland was telling me, “I’m Roland Morgan, and you’re not!”

Photos by Chris Doelle

Lone Star Speedzone Video Cast - 2/11/09

In this Lone Star Speedzone Video Cast, the crew headed to Willis to see what’s going on in the dirt. Dirt Track that is. Gator Motorplex is located north of Conroe in Willis and it’s the site of some big time action on Saturday night! Join Chris Doelle and Nick Holt as they talk with track management as well as the voice of Gator! Special thanks to Arthur Hermiz for the “in car” video!

Stick with Lone Star Speedzone for all your Texas racing action!

« Previous Page

Copyright © 2005-2009 Lone Star Speedzone · 139 E. Hopkins, Suite 200-E, San Marcos, TX 78666 · Log in