Joe Wood, Jr, whips ASCS Foes in Devil’s Bowl Summer Nationals

June 19, 2011

Joe Wood, Jr., padded his American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region points lead by topping Saturday’s main event at the Devil’s Bowl Summer Nationals that pitted the ASCS Sooner forces versus The Oil Medics ASCS Lone Star Region contenders.

Joe Wood, Jr., celbrates his big Summer Nationals win in the Devil's Bowl victory circle. (Tim Aylwin photo)

Joe Wood, Jr., celbrates his big Summer Nationals win in the Devil's Bowl victory circle. (Tim Aylwin photo)

The ASCS Sooner champion in 2009, Wood, Jr., assumed the point on lap 18 and went on to post his first win of the year and fifth of his career aboard the familiar No. 03 machine.

While Wood, Jr., started Saturday’s Summer Nationals finale inside the second row, it was front row outside starter Kevin Ramey gunning into the lead at the outset and pacing the initial 17 circuits until spinning exiting turn four with a broken left front shock tower.

Wood, Jr., still had to earn the win though, as ninth-starter Brady Bacon pulled alongside to challenge for the top spot in the final corner, only to have Wood, Jr., beat the Broken Arrow, OK, racer to the line for the $2,000 triumph.

Bacon settled for runner-up honors for the second night in a row, with New Mexico’s Joshua Hodges claiming the show position. Dustin Morgan climbed ten spots from 14th to fourth, with Andy Shouse rounding out the top five.

Defending ASCS Lone Star champion Eric Baldaccini was sixth, with Dale Wester, Brandon Corn, 19th-starter Justin Melton and Friday night winner Tony Bruce, Jr., completing the top ten.

Wood, Jr., Hodges and Wester won Saturday night’s heat races, with Melton winning the “B” Main.

The Oil Medics ASCS Lone Star Region versus American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Results from Devil’s Bowl Speedway:

First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 2. 27-Andy Shouse, 3. 14-Michael Lang, 4. 11c-Matt Covington, 5. 99-Brady Bacon, 6. 2L-Logan Payne, 7. 74e-Claud Estes, 8. 45-Martin Edwards, 9. 77-Colt Treharn.

Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 2. 7-Michelle Decker, 3. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 4. 30-Brandon Corn, 5. 2-Dustin Morgan, 6. 54-Evan Pardo, 7. 110-Cameron Hagin, 8. 11-Justin Melton, 9. 76-John Ricketts.

Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. 12-Dale Wester, 2. 61-Danny Jennings, 3. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 4. 5-Kyle McCutcheon, 5. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 6. 14b-Robert Byrom, 7. 45x-J.P. Bailey, 8. 35-Rick Wright, Jr.

“B” Feature (10 Laps): 1. 11-Justin Melton, 2. 77-Colt Treharn, 3. 74e-Claud Estes, 4. 45-Martin Edwards, 5. 110-Cameron Hagin, 6. 35-Rick Wright, Jr., 7. 45x-J.P. Bailey, 8. 76-John Ricketts.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 2. 99-Brady Bacon, 3. 74x-Joshua Hodges, 4. 2-Dustin Morgan, 5. 27-Andy Shouse, 6. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 7. 12-Dale Wester, 8. 30-Brandon Corn, 9. 11-Justin Melton, 10. 18-Tony Bruce, Jr., 11. 74e-Claud Estes, 12. 54-Evan Pardo, 13. 45-Martin Edwards, 14. 5-Kyle McCutcheon, 15. 11c-Matt Covington, 16. 110-Cameron Hagin, 17. 35-Rick Wright, Jr., 18. 2L-Logan Payne, 19. 61-Danny Jennings, 20. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 21. 14-Michael Lang, 22. 7-Michelle Decker, 23. 77-Colt Treharn, 24. 14b-Robert Byrom.

The Oil Medics ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Matt Covington 1,011, 2. Eric Baldaccini 971, 3. Claud Estes 962, 4. Justin Melton 925, 5. Martin Edwards 919, 6. Michael Lang 917, 7. Evan Pardo 877, 8. John Ricketts 808, 9. Robert Byrom 806, 10. Dale Wester 638.

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Joe Wood, Jr. 915, 2. Michelle Decker 840, 3. Andy Shouse 839, 4. Matt Covington 833, 5. Claud Estes 614, 6. Tony Bruce, Jr. 566, 7. Brady Bacon 556, 8. Cameron Hagin 550, 9. Rick Wright, Jr. 545, 10. Koby Barksdale 541.

Tommy Bryant Bags ASCS Lone Star Sprint Car win at Cowtown/s November Sprint Shootout

November 14, 2010

Tommy Bryant bagged his third American Sprint Car Series regional win of the year by topping Cowtown Speedway’s Fourth Annual November Sprint Shootout 35-lap championship feature event on Saturday night.

Tommy Bryant victorious at Cowtown Speedway's 4th Annual November Sprint Shootout finale. (Rudy Garcia photo)

Tommy Bryant victorious at Cowtown Speedway's 4th Annual November Sprint Shootout finale. (Rudy Garcia photo)

Tommy Bryant poses in Victory Lane at Cowtown Speedway. (Rudy Garcia photo)

Tommy Bryant poses in Victory Lane at Cowtown Speedway. (Rudy Garcia photo)

While Bryant tacked the season-ending ASCS Lone Star feature win on to a pair of previous ASCS Gulf South wins, it was Eric Baldaccini coming away with the 2010 ASCS Lone Star championship.

Bryant started Saturday night’s main event from the pole position, but it was fellow Gulf South shoe and 2009 champ Aaron Reutzel leading the initial handful of laps before running afoul of lapped traffic.

Bryant assumed the point and led the rest of the way aboard Todd Evans’ Sport Clips No. 14e machine for his seventh career ASCS Regional win in front of Justin Melton, with Andy Shouse, newly-crowned ASCS Gulf South champ Ray Allen Kulhanek and Kevin Ramey rounding out the top five.

Brandon Berryman was sixth, with Claud Estes, 20th-starter Travis Elliott, 19th-starter J.P. Bailey and Rafe Essary completing the top ten.

Despite a 19th place finish in the season finale, 22-year-old Baldaccini of Keller, TX, claimed the ASCS Lone Star title by an 81-point margin over Claud Estes.

Kolt Walker, D.J. Estes, Melton, Ramey and Brian McClelland won Saturday night’s heat races, with Bailey and Elliott winning the “B” Mains.

ASCS Lone Star Saturday Results from Cowtown Speedway’s November Sprint Shootout:

Locked in from Friday Night’s Feature: 1x-Gary Taylor, 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14e-Tommy Bryant, 30-Brandon Corn.

First Heat (10 Laps): 1. 45k-Kolt Walker, 2. 74e-Claud Estes, 3. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 4. 31-Brandon Berryman, 5. 0-Chris Morgan, 6. 26-Dalton Steed, 7. 22a-Dan Adkins, 8. 45x-Martin Edwards. DNS: 22k-Kevin Barksdale.

Second Heat (10 Laps): 1. 74d-D.J. Estes, 2. 36-Jonathan Beason, 3. 45-J.P. Bailey, 4. 22-Koby Barksdale, 5. 29-Greg Rilat, 6. 4j-Jamie Passmore, 7. 8a-Alan Myers, 8. 05-Dustin Woods. DNS: 33-Mark Huddleston.

Third Heat (10 Laps): 1. 11-Justin Melton, 2. 9-Justin Sturch, 3. 15T-Travis Elliott, 4. 67-Rodney Henderson, 5. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford, 6. 15b-Michael Brown, 7. 16-Koty Adams, 8. 58-Gary Floyd, 9. 79-Ryan Hall.

Fourth Heat (10 Laps): 1. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 2. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 3. 85-Jerry Bell, 4. 1r-Scott Reneau, 5. 66-J.J. Simmons, 6. 24-Evan Pardo, 7. 40-Junior Jenkins, 8. 010-Brian Roberts. DNS: 5m-Raven Culp.

Fifth Heat (10 Laps): 1. 25-Brian McClelland, 2. 26x-Rafe Essary, 3. 27-Andy Shouse, 4. 76-John Ricketts, 5. 17g-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 6. 2-Logan Payne, 7. 7-Roger Wayne Brown, 8. 15-Curtis Wayne Brown.

First “B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 45-J.P. Bailey, 2. 29-Greg Rilat, 3. 66-J.J. Simmons, 4. 1r-Scott Reneau, 5. 24-Evan Pardo, 6. 67-Rodney Henderson, 7. 45x-Martin Edwards, 8. 17g-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 9. 2-Logan Payne, 10. 40-Junior Jenkins, 11. 010-Brian Roberts, 12. 16-Koty Adams, 13. 7-Roger Wayne Brown. DNS: 33-Mark Huddleston, 79-Ryan Hall.

Second “B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 15T-Travis Elliott, 2. 22-Koby Barksdale, 3. 15b-Michael Brown, 4. 76-John Ricketts, 5. 4j-Jamie Passmore, 6. 58-Gary Floyd, 7. 26-Dalton Steed, 8. 0-Chris Morgan, 9. 8a-Alan Myers, 10. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford, 11. 05-Dustin Woods, 12. 22a-Dan Adkins, 13. 15-Curtis Wayne Brown. DNS: 22k-Kevin Barksdale, 5m-Raven Culp.

“A” Feature (35 Laps): 1. 14e-Tommy Bryant, 2. 11-Justin Melton, 3. 27-Andy Shouse, 4. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 5. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 6. 31-Brandon Berryman, 7. 74e-Claud Estes, 8. 15T-Travis Elliott, 9. 45-J.P. Bailey, 10. 26x-Rafe Essary, 11. 29-Greg Rilat, 12. 15b-Michael Brown, 13. 36-Jonathan Beason, 14. 1x-Gary Taylor, 15. 22-Koby Barksdale, 16. 45k-Kolt Walker, 17. 30-Brandon Corn, 18. 25-Brian McClelland, 19. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 20. 9-Justin Sturch, 21. 74d-D.J. Estes, 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 23. 85-Jerry Bell, 24. 66-J.J. Simmons.

ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top 10): 1. Eric Baldaccini 1,862, 2. Claud Estes 1,781, 3. Justin Melton 1,702, 4. Brandon Corn 1,631, 5. Martin Edwards 1,572, 6. John Ricketts 1,540, 7. Kolt Walker 1,513, 8. Brian McClelland 1,407, 9. Kevin Ramey 1,367, 10. Preston Peebles II 1,333.

by Lonnie Wheatley
Photos by Rudy Garcia

Travis Rilat rules Sprint Bandits TNT at Devil’s Bowl

May 8, 2010

Travis Rilat didn’t have to travel too far for his first career Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless feature win, as he topped the first wingless, 410-ci Sprint Car feature contested atop the storied ½-mile Devil’s Bowl Speedway clay oval in nearly 22 years on Friday night.

Travis Rilat enjoys victory lane at Devil's Bowl Speedway

Travis Rilat enjoys victory lane at Devil's Bowl Speedway

Just 15 minutes away from his Forney, TX, home, Rilat led all 30 laps to take the $3,000 triumph in the www.ShopTheBoss.com No. 50off entry, the first wingless triumph for the past ASCS National Champion since an Ultimate Challenge victory in 2002.

Travis Rilat's topless Sprint in action during Friday night's 30-lap Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits TNT feature

Travis Rilat's topless Sprint in action during Friday night's 30-lap Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits TNT feature

It didn’t come without a stiff challenge however, as reigning Sprint Bandits TNT champion Brady Bacon pressured for the lead throughout, even surging ahead down the backstretch at one point in the final circuits.

Travis Rilat (50) fends off Brady Bacon for the lead in the final rounds of Friday night's Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits TNT main event at Devil's Bowl Speedway

Travis Rilat (50) fends off Brady Bacon for the lead in the final rounds of Friday night's Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits TNT main event at Devil's Bowl Speedway

“I knew someone was there, I couldn’t tell who it was though,” Rilat explained. “I was able to hit traffic right and work it the way I needed to keep ‘em behind me.”

After outdueling Ray Allen Kulhanek in his qualifying race to earn the pole starting position for the feature, Rilat outgunned fellow front row starter J.C. Bland for the lead at the drop of the green flag. Bland slipped off the backstretch on the opening round and fell to eighth, with the race’s only caution flying when Robert Ballou came to a stop in turn four with a cut tire.

Third-starter Jesse Hockett and fifth-starter Bacon were on Rilat’s tailtank on the lap two restart, with Bacon taking over second soon after.

Bacon kept Rilat in his sights all along, turning up the heat at the midway point as traffic factored into the equation.

Racing off the bottom of turn two, Bacon actually drove Mike and Megan Eubanks’ Wesmar-powered Tel-Star Communications No. 99 Triple X ahead of Rilat down the backstretch on the 26th lap. But Rilat had the preferred line getting into turn three to retain the lead and held steady to take the checkered flag with a two car-length advantage.

Hockett claimed the show position in the VKCC Motorsports No. 75, with Casey Shuman fourth in the R&B/Barnhill No. 10x.

Wayne Johnson rounded out the top five in Jack Yeley’s No. 2, with Matt Sherrell advancing seven positions from 13th to sixth. Justin Melton picked up a $500 bonus as the top finishing 360-ci powered entry by crossing the stripe as the final car on the lead lap in seventh. Ray Allen Kulhanek, Ballou and Bland completed the top ten.

Billy Melton utilized 360-ci power to win the first heat race, with Hockett stealing heat two away from Zach Chappell at the line and then Ballou holding off Bland in heat three. Bland bested the first qualifier, Wayne Johnson denied Hockett a second-consecutive last gasp victory in the second qualifier and Rilat got the best of Kulhanek in the third qualifier.

The Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless series moves on to Little Rock’s I-30 Speedway on Saturday night, with the TNT Front Row Challenge in effect potentially doubling the winner’s share should a front row starter accept the challenge and win from the tail of the field.

Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless Results
Devil’s Bowl Speedway:

Heat Races:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 87-Billy Melton, 2. 10x-Casey Shuman, 3. 99-Brady Bacon, 4. 2-Wayne Johnson, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 45-Martin Edwards, 7. 21-Russell Shoulders.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 75-Jesse Hockett, 2. 50z-Zach Chappell, 3. 50-Travis Rilat, 4. 5*-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 5. 35-Matt Sherrell, 6. 16-Anthony Nicholson, 7. 7s-Tim Simmons.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 81-Robert Ballou, 2. 98-J.C. Bland, 3. 65-Skip Wilson, 4. 11-Justin Melton, 5. 22-Koby Barksdale, 6. 74e-Claud Estes, 7. 5m-Glenn Martin.

Qualifying Races:

Qualifier One (8 Laps): 1. 98-J.C. Bland, 2. 65-Skip Wilson, 3. 10x-Casey Shuman, 4. 87-Billy Melton, 5. 35-Matt Sherrell, 6. 16-Anthony Nicholson, 7. 5m-Glenn Martin.

Qualifier Two (8 Laps): 1. 2-Wayne Johnson, 2. 75-Jesse Hockett, 3. 99-Brady Bacon, 4. 11-Justin Melton, 5. 45-Martin Edwards, 6. 21-Russell Shoulders, 7. 22-Koby Barksdale.

Qualifier Three (8 Laps): 1. 50-Travis Rilat, 2. 5*-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 3. 50z-Zach Chappell, 4. 81-Robert Ballou, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 74e-Claud Estes, 7. 7s-Tim Simmons.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway Sprint Bandits TNT Main Event:

“A” Feature (30 Laps): 1. 50-Travis Rilat, 2. 99-Brady Bacon, 3. 75-Jesse Hockett, 4. 10x-Casey Shuman, 5. 2-Wayne Johnson, 6. 35-Matt Sherrell, 7. 11-Justin Melton, 8. 5*-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 9. 81-Robert Ballou, 10. 98-J.C. Bland, 11. 22-Koby Barksdale, 12. 87-Billy Melton, 13. 16-Anthony Nicholson, 14. 45-Martin Edwards, 15. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 16. 65-Skip Wilson, 17. 50z-Zach Chappell, 18. 74e-Claud Estes, 19. 5m-Glenn Martin, 20. 21-Russell Shoulders, 21. 7s-Tim Simmons.

Lap Leaders: Travis Rilat 1-30.

Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits TNT Points (Top 10): 1. Travis Rilat 280, 2. (tie) Jesse Hockett and Brady Bacon 277, 4. Robert Ballou 263, 5. Matt Sherrell 247, 6. Casey Shuman 236, 7. Ray Allen Kulhanek 235, 8. J.C. Bland 226, 9. Wayne Johnson 225, 10. Justin Melton 223.

Photos and story by Lonnie Wheatley

Kevin Ramey romps to ASCS Lone Star vrs Gulf South Sprint Car win at RPM Speedway

September 5, 2009

After the Gulf South Region got the upper hand versus the Lone Star Region five weeks ago at Waco, Kevin Ramey struck a blow for the ASCS Lone Star forces by reaching victory lane in Friday night’s 25-lap feature at RPM Speedway.

Ramey raced around Brian McClelland for the lead in the early stages and went on to capture the $2,000 winner’s share in the opening leg of the ASCS Gulf South vs. Lone Star Clash atop the ¼-mile clay oval, giving the Fort Worth shoe his second win in as many tries at the new RPM facility.

Kevin Ramey in the ASCS Victory Lane

Kevin Ramey in the ASCS Victory Lane

Ramey held off Gulf South shoe Tommy Bryant, the Gulf South vs. Lone Star winner at Waco on July 31, over the final rounds to post his fifth overall ASCS Regional triumph of the season aboard the Williams Motorsports Wells-powered City Vending No. 7m Maxim.

Ramey at spped in his ASCS Sprint Car

Ramey at spped in his ASCS Sprint Car

Four-time Lucas Oil Sprint Car National champion Gary Wright finished a close third, with McClelland and Eric Baldaccini rounding out the top five.

Ray Allen Kulhanek was sixth, with Sean McClelland, Brad Welborn, 17th-starter Justin Melton and Kent Lewis, Jr., completing the top ten.

Welborn, Billy Melton, Travis Rilat, Gulf South points leader Aaron Reutzel, Brian McClelland and Bryant topped heat race action for the 42-car field, with Skip Wilson and Gavin Punch winning the twin “B” Mains.

With the ASCS Gulf South vs. Lone Star Challenge knotted at one apiece after Friday’s feature event, the rubber match is set for Saturday night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, a makeup of the event rained out on August 1.

ASCS Gulf South vs. Lone Star Results from RPM Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 17w-Brad Welborn, 2. 1r-Scott Reneau, 3. 1-Sean McClelland, 4. 88-Scottie McDonald, 5. 11-Justin Melton, 6. 5c-Chris Coker, 7. 14-Michael Lang.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 87x-Billy Melton, 2. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 3. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 4. 31-Brandon Berryman, 5. 71-Channin Tankersley, 6. 76-John Ricketts, 7. 2-Joe Zierolf.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 29-Travis Rilat, 2. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 3. 6-Justin Spoerl, 4. 65-Skip Wilson, 5. 9-Brian Parker, 6. 87a-Andrew Marshala, 7. 71T-Shane Thompson.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 2. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 3. 30x-Bean Elliott, 4. 5m-Glenn Martin, 5. 20-Chad Wilson, 6. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 7. 3-Gary Watson.

Heat Five (8 Laps): 1. 25-Brian McClelland, 2. 15T-Travis Elliott, 3. 20k-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 4. 81au-Gavin Punch, 5. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 6. 69-Larry Howery, 7. 19-Klint Angelette.

Heat Six (8 Laps): 1. 21t-Tommy Bryant, 2. 45-Martin Edwards, 3. 9x-Gary Wright, 4. 35-Greg Rilat, 5. 12w-Dale Wester, 6. 74e-Claud Estes, 7. 8-Charlie McDonald.

First “B” Feature: 1. 65-Skip Wilson, 2. 11-Justin Melton, 3. 14-Michael Lang, 4. 15T-Travis Elliott, 5. 71T-Shane Thompson, 6. 20-Chad Wilson, 7. 19-Klint Angelette, 8. 76-John Ricketts, 9. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 10. 35-Greg Rilat, 11. 45-Martin Edwards, 12. 31-Brandon Berryman, 13. 87a-Andrew Marshala, 14. 31m-Matt Clevenger.

Second “B” Feature: 1. 81au-Gavin Punch, 2. 6-Justin Spoerl, 3. 88-Scottie McDonald, 4. 1r-Scott Reneau, 5. 71-Channin Tankersley, 6. 9-Brian Parker, 7. 69-Larry Howery, 8. 5m-Glenn Martin, 9. 74e-Claud Estes, 10. 5c-Chris Coker, 11. 12w-Dale Wester, 12. 3-Gary Watson, 13. 8-Charlie McDonald, 14. 2-Joe Zierolf.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 2. 21T-Tommy Bryant, 3. 9x-Gary Wright, 4. 25-Brian McClelland, 5. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 6. 20k-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 7. 1-Sean McClelland, 8. 17w-Brad Welborn, 9. 11-Justin Melton, 10. 1b-Kent Lewis, Jr., 11. 87x-Billy Melton, 12. 88-Scottie McDonald, 13. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14. 14-Michael Lang, 15. 30x-Bean Elliott, 16. 65-Skip Wilson, 17. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 18. 6-Justkin Spoerl, 19. 29-Travis Rilat, 20. 81au-Gavin Punch.

ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Aaron Reutzel 2,640, 2. Tommy Bryant 2,580, 3. Channin Tankersley 2,502, 4. Scottie McDonald 2,438, 5. Kent Lewis, Jr. 2,400, 6. Brandon Berryman 2,385, 7. Greg Rilat 2,323, 8. Ray Allen Kulhanek 2,220, 9. Gary Watson 2,205, 10. Jimmy Brooks 2,145.

ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Kevin Ramey 1,820, 2. Brad Welborn 1,677, 3. Justin Melton 1,664, 4. Matt Clevenger 1,626, 5. Claud Estes 1,613, 6. Eric Baldaccini 1,607, 7. Michael Lang 1,558, 8. Scott Reneau 1,478, 9. Brian McClelland 1,462, 10. John Ricketts 1,390.

by Lonnie Wheatley

ASCS Gulf South and Lone Star Regions set for their “North Texas Clash” this weekend

September 1, 2009

The American Sprint Car Series Gulf South and Lone Star Regions are ready to try it again.

Just a few weeks ago, after Gulf South shoe Tommy Bryant topped the Challenge event at Waco’s Heart O’ Texas Speedway, Mother Nature intervened and washed out the scheduled Devil’s Bowl card the following night.

Now, the ASCS Gulf South and Lone Star Regions will square off for another pair of $2,000-to-win events in North Texas this weekend. On Friday night, the North Texas Clash kicks off at the ¼-mile RPM Speedway in Crandall, TX. Then, on Saturday night, it’s on to the famed ½-mile Devil’s Bowl Speedway clay oval in Mesquite.

Leading the way into the weekend for their respective Regions are Fort Worth’s Kevin Ramey and Clute’s Aaron Reutzel. Ramey is trying to add the inaugural Lone Star title to a pair of previous ASCS Sooner crowns, while the 19-year-old Reutzel is trying to bag his first Sprint Car title in the form of the ASCS Gulf South championship.

Ramey has extended his lead in the Lone Star title chase to 135 markers despite a Saturday night tumble out of the park at Cowtown Speedway. The battle for second behind him is a close one, as just 13 points separate Brad Welborn (Princeton), Justin Melton and Matt Clevenger (both of Flower Mound). Claud Estes rounds out the current top five in Gulf South points.

To the South, Reutzel holds a 72-point advantage over Conroe’s Tommy Bryant, with Channin Tankersley (Highlands), Scottie McDonald (New Caney) and two-time and defending champion Brandon Berryman (Missouri City) rounding out the current top five.

This past weekend, Lucas Oil Sprint Car point leader Jason Johnson added his second Gulf South triumph of the season to become the fourth driver to post multiple Gulf South wins. Bryant and Gary Wright have each claimed three wins, with Johnson joining Ray Allen Kulhanek with two wins. With a dozen different winners in 18 feature events thus far, single wins have been claimed by Reutzel, Berryman, Eric Baldaccini, Travis Rilat, Trey Robb, Ramey, Skip Wilson and George White.

Also this past weekend, Brian McClelland and Travis Rilat ran the number of Lone Star feature winners to nine in a dozen events. Ramey leads the way with three wins, Baldaccini has claimed a pair of triumphs and McClelland and Rilat joined Skip Wilson, Jerry Bell, Nick Smith, Gary Wright and Tommy Bryant as single winners.

Friday’s racing action at RPM Speedway is slated to go green at 8:30 p.m., with Saturday’s card at Devil’s Bowl Speedway firing off at 8:00 p.m.

The semi-banked, ¼-mile RPM Speedway dirt oval is located southeast of Crandall, TX, on US 175 to CR 4106 (Bud Story Road exit) to the intersection of CR 4104. For more information, contact the track at 972-427-6822.

The ½-mile high-banked Devil’s Bowl Speedway clay oval is located six miles east of Dallas’ Loop I-635 on US 80, then three miles south on Lawson Road. For more information, contact the track at 972-222-2421.

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

The inaugural slate of ASCS Lone Star Region competition consists of 18 events at nine different tracks throughout North Texas in addition to one venture north of the Red River to Oklahoma City’s State Fair Speedway.

Past ASCS Regional Feature Winners at RPM Speedway:
7/10/09 – Kevin Ramey (Lone Star)

Past ASCS Regional Feature Winners at Devil’s Bowl Speedway:
5/9/09 – Gary Wright (Lone Star vs. Sooner)
9/27/08 – Justin Spoerl (Sooner)
9/1/07 – Jason Johnson (Gulf South vs. Sooner)
7/22/06 – Larry Neighbors (Gulf South vs. Sooner)
7/16/05 – Kevin Ramey (Gulf South vs. Sooner)
10/16/04 – Kevin Ramey (Gulf South vs. Sooner)
7/12/03 – Kevin Ramey (Gulf South vs. Sooner)

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.

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

by Lonnie Wheatley

Travis Rilat rounds up ASCS Lone Star Region win at Cowtown Speedway

August 30, 2009

The Kennedale parking lot challenge came to the most spectacular of conclusions at Cowtown Speedway on Saturday night, with Travis Rilat ultimately standing in victory lane when the checkered flag flew upon the evening’s 25-lap American Sprint Car Series Lone Star feature event.

Travis Rilat and crew enjoy ASCS Lone Star victory lane after taking the win in Saturday night's 25-lap feature at Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, TX

Travis Rilat and crew enjoy ASCS Lone Star victory lane after taking the win in Saturday night's 25-lap feature at Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, TX

And, after a last-lap scramble for the lead that sent Kevin Ramey out of the park, the roar from the crowd was an undeniable one, a hearty mix of both cheers and jeers directed towards the Forney, TX, racer.

“You know they’ll be back in October for the ASCS Cowtown Sprint Nationals after that one,” Rilat commented afterward.

Ramey, who started the feature event inside the third row alongside Rilat, had battled past early pacesetter Matt Clevenger on the 14th circuit and was closing in on his fourth series triumph of the year aboard Ray Williams’ No. 7m entry.

But, as heavy traffic became a factor in the final rounds, Rilat quickly began closing the gap on the leader after taking second away from Clevenger on the 18th circuit.

On Ramey’s tailtank as the white flag flew, Rilat dove to the bottom of the track entering turn one and edged ahead as the pair raced off turn two with Ramey on the top side.

Wheel-to-wheel down the backstretch and approaching turn three, contact was made and the current ASCS Lone Star point leader tumbled several times before launching over the turn three retaining wall and out of sight into the back pit area.

“I had him passed coming off of two,” Rilat explained afterward. “I was moving to the top to get into three and he just drove right over my right rear.”

Ramey likely disagreed with that account, as evidenced by his march down the backstretch to Rilat’s mount parked in turn two, where some pleasantries were exchanged among the drivers and several crew members.

With the stage set for a green-white-checkered run after the lap 25 mishap, Rilat raced on to the stripe unchallenged aboard the Shark-powered F&J Construction No. 29 Triple-X for his 17th career ASCS Regional triumph and 41st overall ASCS victory.

Rilat’s apparent $1,500 payday was bolstered in a big way by www.shoptheboss.com, which anted up $3,600 worth of hardwood flooring for the triumph, making the night’s take worth $5,100.

Rilat was chased to the stripe by Matt Clevenger, who settled for runner-up honors after pacing the initial 13 circuits. “We had a first place car, just didn’t get the job done,” a disappointed Clevenger explained.

Eric Baldaccini claimed the show position, while current ASCS Southwest points leader Ben Gregg of Phoenix, AZ, charged from 16th to claim fourth at the stripe. George White rounded out the top five, with Marvin Lough in sixth.

Skip Wilson rebounded from a lap 12 incident in which Brian Parker got upside down in turn one to finish seventh, with Claud Estes, Scott Reneau and 17th-starter Brian McClelland completing the top ten.

Baldaccini, Kolt Walker, Ramey and Clevenger topped Saturday night’s heat race action, with McClelland winning the 15-lap “B” Main.

Ramey was credited with a 15th place finish in the final rundown, escaping the night with a 135-point advantage over Brad Welborn, who scratched from “B” Main action with engine woes.

ASCS Lone Star competition continues with next weekend’s double versus the ASCS Gulf South Region at Crandall’s RPM Speedway on Friday night and then Mesquite’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday night.

ASCS Lone Star Results from Cowtown Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 2. 29-Travis Rilat, 3. 65-Skip Wilson, 4. 20-Chad Wilson, 5. 25-Brian McClelland, 6. 76-John Ricketts, 7. 14-Michael Lang, 8. 71T-Shane Thompson.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 45k-Kolt Walker, 2. 9-Brian Parker, 3. 10-George White, 4. 11-Justin Melton, 5. 22b-Ben Gregg, 6. 17w-Brad Welborn, 7. 5m-Glenn Martin, 8. 56-Jarrett Lucito.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 2. 74e-Claud Estes, 3. 1r-Scott Reneau, 4. 22j-John Gaston, 5. 87-Billy Melton, 6. 45-J.P. Bailey, 7. 87a-Andrew Marshala.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 2. 69-Larry Howery, 3. 39-Marvin Lough, 4. 0-Chris Morgan, 5. 5c-Chris Coker, 6. 55-David Doyle, 7. 88-Andy Rea.

“B” Feature (15 Laps): 1. 25-Brian McClelland, 2. 87-Billy Melton, 3. 45-J.P. Bailey, 4. 76-John Ricketts, 5. 5c-Chris Coker, 6. 20-Chad Wilson, 7. 5m-Glenn Martin, 8. 55-David Doyle, 9. 56-Jarrett Lucito, 10. 71T-Shane Thompson, 11. 88-Andy Rea, 12. 14-Michael Lang. DNS: 17w-Brad Welborn, 87a-Andrew Marshala.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 29-Travis Rilat, 2. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 3. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 4. 22b-Ben Gregg, 5. 10-George White, 6. 39-Marvin Lough, 7. 65-Skip Wilson, 8. 74e-Claud Estes, 9. 1r-Scott Reneau, 10. 25-Brian McClelland, 11. 11-Justin Melton, 12. 22j-John Gaston, 13. 45-J.P. Bailey, 14. 69-Larry Howery, 15. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 16. 45k-Kolt Walker, 17. 76-John Ricketts, 18. 0-Chris Morgan, 19. 9-Brian Parker, 20. 87-Billy Melton.

ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Kevin Ramey 1,670, 2. Brad Welborn 1,535, 3. Justin Melton 1,524, 4. Matt Clevenger 1,522, 5. Claud Estes 1,499, 6. Eric Baldaccini 1,463, 7. Michael Lang 1,422, 8. Kolt Walker 1,361, 9. Scott Reneau 1,350, 10. Brian McClelland 1,316.

by Lonnie Wheatley

Brian McClelland wins wild ASCS Lone Star feature at Kennedale Speedway Park

August 29, 2009

Brian McClelland topped the opening leg of the Kennedale parking lot challenge by earning a much-needed victory in Friday night’s frenetic 25-lap American Sprint Car Series Lone Star Region main event at Kennedale Speedway Park.

Brian McClelland enjoys the ASCS Lone Star Region victory lane at Kennedale Speedway Park

Brian McClelland enjoys the ASCS Lone Star Region victory lane at Kennedale Speedway Park

The two-time ASCS Sooner Region champion hailing from Tulsa, OK, cashed in on Travis Rilat’s late misfortune, pacing the final handful of circuits to the checkered flag after Rilat surrendered the point with steering woes.

“This year has been the worst, we really needed this one,” a relieved McClelland commented after his second overall ASCS Regional win of the year. “In fact, we both needed it,” he stated in reference to long-time Sooner Region car owner Ronnie Davis, whom he joined forces with several weeks ago.

McClelland’s final stint at the front of the pack was his third different time to lead the wild 25-lapper after starting from the outside pole position aboard Davis’ D&L Performance Machine No. 25 Eagle.

Outgunning pole starter Skip Wilson for the lead at the drop of the green flag, McClelland reached the tail of the field in just three circuits on the tight ¼-mile clay oval, establishing what would become a recurring theme in the race.

“It seemed like it was just two or three laps and you were beating on lapped traffic again,” McClelland explained. “And those guys were racing for position too, it was tough.”

McClelland gave up the lead for the first time when Wilson took advantage of traffic on the sixth round. McClelland battled back three laps later, only to have Michael Lang’s turn one spin bring out a caution that negated the move.

McClelland wasted little time on the restart though, blasting past Wilson in turns three and four to reclaim the lead on the ninth circuit. “He left an opening and I was able to take advantage.”

With traffic an ever-present factor and cars throughout the field often bicycling at either end of the track, ninth-starter Rilat was on the move. Up to third by the time Lang spun, Rilat raced past Wilson for second on the tenth round and began putting the heat on McClelland for the point.

Finding the opening he needed, Rilat charged into the lead on the 14th circuit and appeared to be destined for victory lane until steering issues forced him to a stop in turn two on the 21st lap.

Back up front with three lapped cars between himself and Wilson on the final restart, there was no stopping McClelland from capturing his seventh career ASCS Regional win and first since teaming with Wichita Falls, TX, car owner Davis.

Wilson held on for runner-up honors, with Kolt Walker taking the show position. Eric Baldaccini climbed a half-dozen positions to snare fourth, while eighth-starter and current ASCS Lone Star points leader Kevin Ramey worked up to third and then lost a pair of positions in the final laps to round out the top five.

J.P. Bailey was sixth, with 18th-starter Brad Welborn, Matt Clevenger, Lang and Arizona’s Ben Gregg completing the top ten.

Bailey, Walker, McClelland and Clevenger topped heat race action for Friday night’s 31-car field, with Gregg winning the 15-lap “B” Main.

Scott Reneau got upside down lining up for the night’s third heat race, with Billy Melton taking a hard ride down the backstretch on the opening lap of the “B” Main. Melton walked away uninjured, while Reneau ultimately finished 13th in the “A” Main.

After contact with Chad Wilson, Topeka, KS, shoe Chris Morgan took out some of the infield signage towards turn three and four in the main event.

The ASCS Lone Star Region moves across the parking lot to Cowtown Speedway on Saturday night for the second leg of the Kennedale parking lot challenge.

ASCS Lone Star Results from Kennedale Speedway Park:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 45-J.P. Bailey, 2. 14-Michael Lang, 3. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 4. 69-Larry Howery, 5. 22j-John Gaston, 6. 88-Andy Rea, 7. 58-Gary Floyd, 8. 45x-Martin Edwards.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 45k-Kolt Walker, 2. 11-Justin Melton, 3. 65-Skip Wilson, 4. 22b-Ben Gregg, 5. 39-Marvin Lough, 6. 17w-Brad Welborn, 7. 5c-Chris Coker, 8. 87x-Billy Melton.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 25-Brian McClelland, 2. 87a-Andrew Marshala, 3. 29-Travis Rilat, 4. 74-Claud Estes, 5. 76-John Ricketts, 6. 71T-Shane Thompson, 7. 14b-Robert Byrom, 8. 1r-Scott Reneau.

Heat Four (8 Laps): 1. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 2. 0-Chris Morgan, 3. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 4. 9-Brian Parker, 5. 20-Chad Wilson, 6. 5m-Glenn Martin. DNS: 26-Dalton Steed.

“B” Feature (15 Laps): 1. 22b-Ben Gregg, 2. 17w-Brad Welborn, 3. 1r-Scott Reneau, 4. 20-Chad Wilson, 5. 5m-Glenn Martin, 6. 9-Brian Parker, 7. 5c-Chris Coker, 8. 45x-Martin Edwards, 9. 76-John Ricketts, 10. 88-Andy Rea, 11. 71T-Shane Thompson, 12. 87x-Billy Melton. DNS: 14b-Robert Byrom, 58-Gary Floyd, 26-Dalton Steed.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 25-Brian McClelland, 2. 65-Skip Wilson, 3. 45k-Kolt Walker, 4. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 5. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 6. 45-J.P. Bailey, 7. 17w-Brad Welborn, 8. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 9. 14-Michael Lang, 10. 22b-Ben Gregg, 11. 22j-John Gaston, 12. 74e-Claud Estes, 13. 1r-Scott Reneau, 14. 29-Travis Rilat, 15. 11-Justin Melton, 16. 20-Chad Wilson, 17. 0-Chris Morgan, 18. 69-Larry Howery, 19. 39-Marvin Lough, 20. 87a-Andrew Marshala.

ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Kevin Ramey 1,550, 2. Brad Welborn 1,460, 3. Justin Melton 1,396, 4. Matt Clevenger 1,376, 5. Claud Estes 1,365, 6. Michael Lang 1,347, 7. Eric Baldaccini 1,319, 8. Kolt Walker 1,243, 9. Scott Reneau 1,218, 10. Brian McClelland 1,186.

by Lonnie Wheatley

ASCS Lone Star Region visits Kennedale Speeway Park and Cowtown Speedway this weekend

August 26, 2009

There’s not another layout like it. No other site has two different dirt tracks separated by little more than a parking lot.

Sprint Car fans will have the opportunity to check out this unique configuration this weekend near Fort Worth, TX, as the American Sprint Car Series Lone Star Region takes to the pair of Kennedale ¼-mile clay ovals.

On Friday night, the series invades Kennedale Speedway Park. Then, on Saturday night, it’s a couple of hundred yards across the parking lot to the high banks of Cowtown Speedway.

Kevin Ramey, who was topped both Lone Star events at Cowtown this year, leads the way into the weekend with an 86-point advantage in the chase for the inaugural ASCS Lone Star championship. The Fort Worth shoe is trying to add Lone Star accolades to a pair of previous Sooner Region crowns.

Kevin Ramey lifting the left front earlier this season

Kevin Ramey lifting the left front earlier this season

Ramey’s closest chaser is Brad Welborn, an ASCS winner at Cowtown last year. Welborn is 48 markers ahead of Flower Mound’s Justin Melton, with fellow Flower Mound shoe Matt Clevenger and Godley’s Claud Estes rounding out the current top five.

The balance of the current top ten in Lone Star points includes Mesquite’s Michael Lang, Keller’s Eric Baldaccini, Graham’s Kolt Walker, Kemp’s Scott Reneau and Burleson’s John Ricketts.

While Ramey has topped both previous Lone Star events at Cowtown this season, Baldaccini took top honors in the series’ lone previous stop at Kennedale Speedway Park.

This weekend’s Kennedale Speedway Park-Cowtown double marks the first of three consecutive weekends of Lone Star competition, with challenge events versus the ASCS Gulf South Region at Crandall’s RPM Speedway and Mesquite’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Labor Day weekend (September 4-5) followed up by a September 12 stop at Kilgore’s Lone Star Speedway.

Both nights of racing action are slated to get under way at 7:00 p.m.

The pair of Kennedale, TX, tracks are located just east of Fort Worth off I-20 Exit 442-A, then 1.7 miles southeast on Mansfield Highway, then 1.4 miles southwest on New Hope Road.

The semi-banked, ¼-mile Kennedale Speedway Park dirt oval may be reached at 817-478-7223 or 817-229-0287, while the high-banked, ¼-mile Cowtown Speedway dirt oval can be contacted at 817-478-9952.

The inaugural slate of ASCS Lone Star Region competition consists of 18 events at nine different tracks throughout North Texas in addition to one venture north of the Red River to Oklahoma City’s State Fair Speedway.

Past ASCS Regional Feature Winners at Kennedale Speedway Park:
7/11/09 – Eric Baldaccini
7/25/08 – Joe Wood, Jr.
6/27/08 – Joe Wood, Jr.

Past ASCS Regional Feature Winners at Cowtown Speedway:
6/27/09 – Kevin Ramey (Lone Star)
4/4/09 – Kevin Ramey (Lone Star)
10/11/08 – Brian Brown (National vs. Sooner)
10/10/08 – Gavin Punch (National vs. Sooner)
8/23/08 – Kolt Walker (Gulf South)
7/26/08 – Brad Welborn (Sooner)
5/17/08 – Gary Taylor (Sooner)
4/5/08 – Travis Rilat (Sooner)
9/15/07 - Nick Smith (Sooner)
7/7/07 - Brian McClelland (Sooner)
4/14/07 - Kevin Ramey (Sooner)
9/23/06 - Travis Rilat (Sooner)
6/10/06 - Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sooner)
4/8/06 - Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sooner)
9/24/05 - Travis Rilat (Sooner)
6/25/05 - Jason Martin (National vs. Sooner)
4/9/05 - Sean McClelland (Sooner)
9/25/04 - Andy Shouse (Sooner)
5/29/04 - Kevin Ramey (Sooner)

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.

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

by Lonnie Wheatley

Eric Baldaccini takes ASCS Lone Star feature at Kennedale Speedway Park

July 12, 2009

Eric Baldaccini put a halt to the Joe Wood, Jr. domination of Kennedale Speedway Park by winning Saturday night’s 25-lap ASCS Lone Star Region main event atop the ¼-mile dirt oval.

On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM, <ASCSED@aol.com> wrote:      Eric Baldaccini won Saturday night's 25-lap ASCS Lone Star feature event at Kennedale Speedway Park. Tim Aylwin photo

On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM, wrote: Eric Baldaccini won Saturday night's 25-lap ASCS Lone Star feature event at Kennedale Speedway Park. Tim Aylwin photo

Baldaccini wrestled the lead away from Wood in the final handful of circuits to post his second Lone Star win of the season aboard his father’s Smiley’s Racing Products No. 4 Maxim.

Kolt Walker paced the opening nine laps of the feature before Wood, who topped both ASCS Regional events at Kennedale Speedway Park, took command. Wood led until slipping too high in turns one and two on the 21st lap to open the door for Baldaccini.

Baldaccini beat Wood to the stripe, with Brad Welborn, Walker and Marvin Lough rounding out the top five. Current ASCS Lone Star points leader Kevin Ramey was sixth, with Justin Melton, Scott Reneau, Michael Lang and Robert Sellers completing the top ten.

Melton, Wood and Ramey topped heat race action, with Chad Wilson winning the “B” Main.

ASCS Lone Star Region Results from Kennedale Speedway Park:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 11-Justin Melton, 2. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 3. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 4. 1r-Scott Reneau, 5. 25-Robert Sellers, 6. 5m-Glenn Martin, 7. 9-Brian Parker, 8. 14b-Robert Byrom, 9. 12-Shawn Mize.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 2. 65-Skip Wilson, 3. 39-Marvin Lough, 4. 76-John Ricketts, 5. 74e-Claud Estes, 6. 87x-Billy Melton, 7. 26-Dalton Steed, 8. 40-Junior Jenkins, 9. 88-Andy Rea.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 2. 17w-Brad Welborn, 3. 45k-Kolt Walker, 4. 14-Michael Lang, 5. 20-Chad Wilson, 6. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 7. 71T-Shane Thompson, 8. 5c-Chris Coker.

“B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 20-Chad Wilson, 2. 87x-Billy Melton, 3. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 4. 40-Junior Jenkins, 5. 12-Shawn Mize, 6. 14b-Robert Byrom, 7. 5m-Glenn Martin, 8. 9-Brian Parker, 9. 71T-Shane Thompson, 10. 26-Dalton Steed, 11. 88-Andy Rea, 12. 5c-Chris Coker.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 2. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 3. 17w-Brad Welborn, 4. 45k-Kolt Walker, 5. 39-Marvin Lough, 6. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 7. 11-Justin Melton, 8. 1r-Scott Reneau, 9. 14-Michael Lang, 10. 25-Robert Sellers, 11. 74e-Claud Estes, 12. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 13. 20-Chad Wilson, 14. 40-Junior Jenkins, 15. 14b-Robert Byrom, 16. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 17. 12-Shawn Mize, 18. 65-Skip Wilson, 19. 87x-Billy Melton, 20. 76-John Ricketts.

ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Kevin Ramey 1,282, 2. Brad Welborn 1,210, 3. (tie) Justin Melton and Matt Clevenger 1,140, 5. Claud Estes 1,097, 6. Michael Lang 1,091, 7. Eric Baldaccini 1,033, 8. Scott Reneau 994, 9. Robert Sellers 979, 10. Kolt Walker 967.

by Lonnie Wheatley

Kevin Ramey rules ASCS Lone Star debut at RPM Speedway

July 11, 2009

Kevin Ramey extended his American Sprint Car Series Lone Star Region points lead by wiring the field in Friday night’s series debut atop the cozy confines the tight, ¼-mile RPM Speedway.

Kevin Ramey captured his third ASCS Lone Star feature win of the year by wiring the field in Friday night's series debut at RPM Speedway

Kevin Ramey captured his third ASCS Lone Star feature win of the year by wiring the field in Friday night's series debut at RPM Speedway

Starting from the front row, Ramey gunned into the lead at the outset aboard the Wells-powered City Vending/Melray Oil & Gas No. 7m and led all the way in the 25-lapper to secure his third series triumph of the season.

The two-time ASCS Sooner Region champion vying for the inaugural Lone Star title took the checkered flag in front of Skip Wilson, with Marvin Lough, Justin Melton and Claud Estes rounding out the top five.

Brad Welborn was sixth, with 16th-starter Matt Clevenger, Martin Edwards, Glenn Martin and Robert Sellers completing the top ten.

Chad Wilson, Melton and Sellers topped heat race action, with Martin winning the “B” Main.

ASCS Lone Star Region Results from RPM Speedway:

Heat One (8 Laps): 1. 20-Chad Wilson, 2. 39-Marvin Lough, 3. 65-Skip Wilson, 4. 9-Brian Parker, 5. 45-Martin Edwards, 6. 5c-Chris Coker, 7. 79-Ryan Hall, 8. 14b-Robert Byrom, 9. 76-John Ricketts.

Heat Two (8 Laps): 1. 11-Justin Melton, 2. 14-Michael Lang, 3. 26-Dalton Steed, 4. 1r-Scott Reneau, 5. 87x-Billy Melton, 6. 5m-Glenn Martin, 7. 40-Junior Jenkins, 8. 71t-Shane Thompson.

Heat Three (8 Laps): 1. 25-Robert Sellers, 2. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 3. 74e-Claud Estes, 4. 17w-Brad Welborn, 5. 67-Jeff Day, 6. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 7. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 8. 31m-Matt Clevenger.

“B” Feature (12 Laps): 1. 5m-Glenn Martin, 2. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 3. 67-Jeff Day, 4. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 5. 40-Junior Jenkins, 6. 79-Ryan Hall, 7. 71T-Shane Thompson, 8. 14b-Robert Byrom, 9. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 10. 87x-Billy Melton, 11. 76-John Ricketts.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 2. 65-Skip Wilson, 3. 39-Marvin Lough, 4. 11-Justin Melton, 5. 74e-Claud Estes, 6. 17w-Brad Welborn, 7. 31m-Matt Clevenger, 8. 45-Martin Edwards, 9. 5m-Glenn Martin, 10. 25-Robert Sellers, 11. 40-Junior Jenkins, 12. 20-Chad Wilson, 13. 1r-Scott Reneau, 14. 26-Dalton Steed, 15. 67-Jeff Day, 16. 5c-Chris Coker, 17. 79-Ryan Hall, 18. 9-Brian Parker, 19. 14-Michael Lang, 20. 4-Eric Baldaccini.

ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Kevin Ramey 1,144, 2. Brad Welborn 1,066, 3. Matt Clevenger 1,014, 4. Justin Melton 1,004, 5. Claud Estes 969, 6. Michael Lang 959, 7. Brian McClelland 896, 8. Eric Baldaccini 883, 9. Glenn Martin 878, 10. Scott Reneau 860.

by Lonnie Wheatley

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