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Mikulencak Masters Hudgeons Memorial at Texana; Jones tops Jack in 2nd round of Street Stock Shootout

It was a special night Saturday as Texana Raceway Park hosted the 2nd Annual Aaron Hudgeons Memorial, plus Round 2 of the South Texas Street Stock Shootout on the 5/16 mile, semi-banked clay track. Fifty-three drivers from across Texas and Louisiana signed in for the $2500 to win Limited Modified Memorial main event, with 35 Street Stocks competing for their increased purse.

Numerous sponsors stepped up adding to the special purse commemorating the life of Aaron Hudgeons, long time racer and chassis builder in the south Texas area. The soft spoken Hudgeons, who was one of those rare competitors that was always willing to help other racers - even those in own class - lost his battle with cancer last year. Hudgeons is highly respected by all those that knew or raced with him over his career.

Along with the big payday for the winner many other special awards were sponsored in the Limited Modified class, as well as the Street Stock class. The unique format included qualifying in the Limited Modified and Street Stocks, with B-mains completing the fields. Two provisionals would be added to make a 26-car Limited Modified starting grid, with 24 taking the green in Street Stocks.

Not only was it a full house in the pits with 100 cars in the three classes, but a huge fan turnout filling the grandstands, and grassy seating areas. During pre-race ceremonies track promoter Ken Bulsterbaum was leading into the invocation relating Hudgeons story and paying tribute to track owner Bruce Tesch’s mother who recently passed away, when two lone birds did a flyover the track. Eerie!

Mikulencak Masters Limited Modified Main

Veteran Corpus Christi ace Lawrence Mikulencak, in a car that’s been ‘transformed’ more times than the movie, used patience to grab the big win in the 26-car feature. Mikulencak, who qualified second behind Dustin Butcher, trailed Butcher the first third of the 30-lap event. Using the high side, Mikulencak took two laps to get by Butcher for the lead on lap 12. East Texas hot shoe, Johno Whittington chased Mikulencak through the last half of the race, but at the checkers it was Mikulencak by four car lengths over Whittington. Art Rodriguez, former NASCAR and USAC driver Paul White and Brandon Blaylock filled out the top five.

Kaleb Hudgeons, who begins his racing career next season in a Mini Stock bearing his fathers number 10, paced the starting field in a three-wide salute parade lap. As they green finally waved, Butcher jumped out front, but a mid-pack stack up saw Ray Doyon III get kicked around for a yellow. On the second start Mikulencak and Butcher stayed side by side through turns 1-2 before Butcher edged out front. Doyon again found himself facing the wrong way for a lap 1 caution.

The restart saw a similar back up in the pack with John Lieta, Jesse Manning and Chris Swenson getting tangled in turn 4. Going to single file, Butcher got a good jump on Mikulencak and Art Rodriguez, with Whittington getting past Blaylock for fourth. A caution for debris on lap 4 briefly slowed the action. Once back to green Whittington took third from A. Rodriguez, while White moved up from his eighth qualifying spot to battle with Blaylock for fifth.

Whittington then began to pressure Mikulencak for second on lap 8 with look high. Mikulencak decided it was time to go and gave the high groove a try also. Mikulencak gave Butcher several looks up top, as White and Blaylock continued to swap fifth. Mikulencak got along side Butcher on lap 11 and was able to clear him going into to turn 3 and lead lap 12 as Butcher tried to battle back.

Once Mikulencak cleared Butcher, Whittington moved along side him and got by coming to halfway showing Mikulencak, Whittington, Butcher, A. Rodriguez and Blaylock still wheel to wheel with White for fifth. Trevor Egbert brought out a lap 16 yellow when he had trouble and rolled to a stop in turn 4. As racing resumed Mikulencak eased ahead as Butcher tried Whittington low for second. Butcher spun in turn 2, causing A. Rodriguez to go around for a lap 17 yellow.

Back under green the top four got away as Blaylock now had his hands full with Houston veteran Howard Willis, who was moving up after qualifying through one of the B-mains. With ten to go Mikulencak was inching away from Whittington and A. Rodriguez. That margin was erased on lap 22 when Greg Metz spun in turn 4.

Mikulencak jumped out on green while Blaylock and Willis resumed their battle. As the flagman showed the field five fingers, Mikulencak had only two car lengths on Whittington. Whittington could inch closer in the corners, but Mikulencak could pull him coming off. As the white waved, Mikulencak, in the Ace Transmissions, Randy Young Auto Repair, Premier Graphics, “Frankenstein” chassis had a four car advantage that held for the victory.

“I miss racing racing with Aaron(Hudgeons),” commented Mikulencak. “I really respected and enjoyed racing with him. This is a good race for us to win. He’s one of the guys that more racers need to be like.”

“It took a lot of patience and a good ‘free’ car to pull of the win. Last year I had some mechanical problems and there were a few good cars here. This year there were a lot more fast guys, more than I expected. So this is a big win for us.”

“I didn’t find much on he high side trying to get by Dustin (Butcher). I was just patient out there and tried to run him a little faster. Johno (Whittington) was in the mix too, so I had to do something. I just had a good enough car.”

“This is the same car I’ve been running on asphalt all year. All the weight is on the left front, everything is the same except for the tires. This car is the same one I ran as a Modified and that you’ve been a calling a “Frankenstein” for ten years. It was built on a metric frame and I’ve taken all the Modified rear bars off and put a stock frame on it. It probably still has the cracked motor mount on it.(inside joke)” added the always entertaining Mikulencak who won a Modified race here before with a broken motor mount.

Limited Modifieds

87 Lawrence Mikulencak, 511 Johno Whittington, 22 Art Rodriguez, 2w Paul White, 9b Brandon Blaylock, 12m Howard Willis, 26g JJ Jennings, 75 Joel Couvillion, 66 Johnny Torres, 12 Roly Rodriguez, 63 Shane Hoefling, 174 Mickey Helms, 184 Brian Rye, 9 David Meredith, 20 Dwayne Norvell, 76 Jesse Manning, 4 Robby Minten, 955 Greg Metz, 24 John Lieta, 147 GW Hessong, 9D Ray Doyon III, 90 Dustin Butcher, 48 Chris Swenson, 5A Trevor Egbert, 151 Adam Perks, 19 Bubba Seals

Awards

-$400 Dale Earnhardt die cast from Pray Racing, 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
-$150 Longest tow from defending winner Steve Whiteaker jr., 75 Joel Couvillion(Alexandria, La.)
-$100 Fast Qualifier from Ace Transmission; 90 Dustin Butcher
-$200 Fastest non-qualifier to make A-main from Corpus “C” Cars, 66 Johnny Torres
-$50 each Two highest non-qualifiers to not make A-main from South Texas Speedway, 85 Jeff Nix, 211x Dean Hollier
-H500 Tire, Hard charger from Bebo Race Designs, 12m Howard Willis
-$100 Hard luck award from Big Dog Racing, 5A Trevor Egbert
-(4) $50 O’Riellys gift cards from Art Rodriguez to 4 random non-qualifiers, 2 Robert Boyd, 18 Larry Jernigan, 04 Jacob Burnett, 63s Chase Sanchez

Provisionals; 147 GW Hessong (highest track points to not make A-main—Gave points to points leader Jensen Pray unable to make event due to Family emergency), 151 Adam Perks (promoters choice)

Limited Modified B-mains (Top 3 to A-main)

B-main 1

66 Johnny Torres, 184 Brian Rye, 9 David Meredith, 151 Adam Perks, 8 Lary Paris, 26 David McBride, 56 Brad Titzman, 119 Eric Floyd, 3j Jesse James, 10D Don Painter, 25 John Morgan

B-main 2

5A Trevor Egbert, 12m Howard Willis, 48 Chris Swenson, 83 Monte Nichols III, 37 Bill Pittaway, 115 Chuck Perry, 47 James Myers, 18 Larry Jernigan, 82 Brandon Dorsey, 81 Victor Lindsey, 11 Tom Grothues

B-main 3

174 Mickey Helms, 76 Jesse Manning, 20 Dwayne Norvell, 04 Jacob Burnett, 211x Dean Hollier, 1 Trice Hermes, 147 GW Hessong, 71w Bart Wilcox, 2 Robert Boyd, 3 Abraham Mares

B-main 4

26g JJ Jennings, 12 Roly Rodriguez, 4 Robby Minten, 85 Jeff Nix, 155 Vince Kacir, 63s Chase Sanchez, 68 Chris Shafer, 6 Vince Louden, 118 Anthony Gordon

Jones Out Jousts Jack in Street Stock Shootout

Top-qualifier Wade Jones took command early in the Street Stock Shootout chased by a handful of the best local fender car drivers. Jones was pressured in latter stages by Bobby Jack and Stephan Danielson as the 25-lapper wound down. On the final lap Jack got under Jones in turn 3 and came off tun 4 side by side. Jones won the drag race to the checkers by only a few inches to snag the flag to flag win.

As the 24-car field took the green, Jones was first into tun 1 trailed by Tony Blankenship, Jack, Brian King and Danielson. Jack, King and Blankenship were almost three wide for second on lap 1 with Jack getting the spot as the top six sorted out single file. King and Blankenship were side by side for third on lap 3, while Bubba Seals, Dennis Hilla and Eric Floyd were three wide for eighth. Seals and Hilla then went three abreast with Anthony Gordon for seventh as Seals made his way forward.

Alan Kunkel and Mike Moseley tangled on lap 9 leaving Moseley in the front stretch wall for the races first yellow. Once back to racing, Jack and Blankenship were door to door for second, Danielson and Chris Shafer side by side for fourth and Seals taking sixth from King, who began to fade before retiring early. Coming to the crossed flags it was Jones easing away, Jack, Danielson and Blankenship, while Seals and Shafer swapped fifth.

Floyd spun on lap 11, with Aaron Leddy and AJ Wernette spinning behind him bringing out the final yellow. As Jones inched ahead on green, Blankenship and Shafer were door to door, with Seals looking for a way by both. Seals finally got by Shafer for fifth on lap 16, then picked off fourth from Blankenship with AJ Dancer following in his tracks.

With five to go the top three were within a car length and holding a margin over fourth through seventh. Jack began to put the heat on Jones looking low on lap 21 as the top three were nose to tail. Behind them Dancer took fourth from Seals. Jack again got a nose under Jones as they came to the white flag. The two battled into turn 3 where Jack nearly got the advantage. As they raced to the checkers it was Jones in the Opiela Mechanical, Horelka Racing, Mission Auto Parts, SABFI, Mobil 1, Jeff’s Auto Rebuilders, 74 Ranch & Resort, Camaro holding on for the victory by less than a foot.

“It was a tough field out there tonight,” replied Jones. “Bobby Jack, Stephan Danielson and AJ Dancer was moving up quick. I’m lucky I qualified on the pole like I did. We tried a few different things in practice last night. We finally found something(that worked) and took a little wedge out. It worked out pretty good for us.”

“I kind of burned my tires off towards the end and Bobby got inside me. I wasn’t sure what to think when I saw him under me. Bobby’s a real clean racer and he gave me space. I tried to keep him pinned down so he couldn’t get a good run off turn 4. Sure enough it worked out.”

“We didn’t change much from our I-37 set up. We had a little more roll out and changed gears, that’s about it.”

Street Stocks

41 Wade Jones, 88j Bobby Jack, 149 Stephan Danielson, 52 AJ Dancer, 91 Bubba Seals, 77 Chris Shafer, 35 Tony Blankenship, 3 Steve Miller, 11 Shawn Kline, 118 Anthony Gordon, 37w Frank Okruhlik, 26 Eric Floyd, 2x Dennis Hilla, 21x Jason Fox, 23 David Bruns, 53 Jason Kelly, 55 Lauren Chamberlain, 58 James Hoss, 93 Aaron Leddy, 37 AJ Wernette, 9* Brad Hayes, 31 Brian King, 68 Alan Kunkel, 3m Mike Moseley

100 Pole Award from King Racing - Wade Jones #41
(Award formerly for a winner with a Mud Buster sticker was changed to $25 Awards to each B-Main winner)
B-Main winners getting $25 each: Jason Fox #21x and Mike Mosely #3
$100 7th Place Finisher Award from Dynamic Race Craft - Tony Blankenship #35
$50 Hard Charger Award from Dynamic Race Craft - AJ Dancer #52 (started 17th and finished 4th.. Frank Okruhlik #37w also increased the same number of positions, but was not registered in the Shootout series.)
G60 Tire Certificate from Swenson Racing Chassis for Hard Charger - AJ Dancer #52
$250 value Bobby Labonte die cast car from Pray Racing to feature winner - Wade Jones #41
$50 drawn at start of feature for a position between 11th to 24th from G&R Racing. Number was 17 - Lauren Chamberlain #55

Street Stock B-mains(Top 5 to A-main)

B-main 1

21x Jason Fox, 52 AJ Dancer, 3 Steve Miller, 58 James Hoss, 53 Jason Kelly, 2 Scott Stubbs, 7 Cody Leonard, 76 Kevin McElveen, 4 David McGuire, 74 Charlie Raburn—DNS
B-main-2

3m Mike Moseley, 11 Shawn Kline, 37w Frank Okruhlik, 55 Lauren Chamberlain, 9* Brad Hayes, 50 Kevin Willms, 89F Matt Farris, 04 Dustin Robbins, 42 Curtis King, 22 Patricia Lucas

Victor Vargas grabbed the early lead in the 20-lap, 12-car Dwarf Car feature. Mike Christians got around Vargas on lap 2 but gave up the lead to Greg Sexton sr. when he slipped in turns 1-2. From there Sexton sr. stretched out his lead going on to take the win by a comfortable margin over Christians, Vargas, Brad Wright and Douglas Wright.

Dwarf Cars

14 Greg Sexton, Sr, 13 Mike Christians, 24 Victor Vargas, 1 Brad Wright, 66 Douglas Wright, 15 Gary Faris, 11 Jerry Godfrey, 4 Geoffrey Youngblood, 6 Keith Samples, 5 Keith Horella, 7 Greg Sexton, Jr, 2EZ Easy Casey

Dwarf Car heat winners; 2EZ Easy Casey, Greg Sexton, Sr.

Story by JM Hallas
Photos by JBHotshots

Paul White doubles at Texana Raceway Park with two well-deserved wins

It wasn’t a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination, but Temple’s Paul White bagged a double at Texana Raceway Park in Edna, Texas, Saturday night winning both the Modified and Limited Modified feature events before a packed house.

Originally billed as the second race in the nine-race South Texas Modified Championship Series for Modifieds and Limited Modifieds, only the Modifieds actually competed for Series points due to a controversy over the Limited Modified tire rules. Both divisions were racing for $1,000 first place prize money, however, and the racing in both classes was intense.

Earlier in the season White - a former USAC Silver Crown Champion - had great success almost everywhere he raced. He scored double feature wins at Battleground Speedway, Houston Raceway Park and dominated Texana Raceway Park to the point that TRP owner Bruce Tesch placed a bounty on him - both in the Modified and Limited Modified classes. The bounties brought out stiff competition and both were eventually claimed.

In the 20-lap Limited Modified feature White chased race leader Shane Hoefling for all but the last ten feet of the last lap. Hoefling did everything he needed to do to stay in the lead, scouting out sticky spots and using lapped traffic whenever and wherever possible to keep White at bay. With five to go it appeared that Hoefling had the race well in hand, but apparently White was just cooling the tires and plotting a late-race charge.

With two to go, White moved back to within striking distance and as the white flag waved White made his move, diving hard into the first turn on the bottom and getting to Hoefling’s bumper. The dirt-saavy veteran then went up top in turns 3-4 with the pair exiting turn four nearly sideways and wheel to wheel. Somehow White got his bumper out front with ten feet to go and took the checkered by about three feet.

“I tried that move a couple of times earlier,” White explained. “When I got the right run on him we were in lapped traffic and that messed it up. I set that up a whole lap before and made sure I had all the ground to make it up. I got up under him a little and he blocked me down, so I went outside as quick as I could to have a nice entry into turn three. That’s really what made it work. It gave me enough momentum to get through the middle.”

“It was driver error,” Hoefling said. “When Paul White is on your tail, you don’t make a driver error. I slipped up a little bit and he got around me on the top side. I knew he was there. I saw him in turns 1-2 on the last lap and again in turns 3-4.”

Unofficial Limited Modified results

1. 216 Paul White
2. 63 Shane Hoefling
3. 175 Mickey Helms
4. 6 Vince Louden
5. 00 Derrick Flora
6. 37 Bill Pittaway
7. 34 Michael Walker
8. 27 Johnny Lewellan
9. 888 Aaron Lunsford
10. 10d Don Painter
11. 15 Andy VanBlarcum
12. 04 Jacob Burnett
13. 7k Kevin Parker
14. 47m Ruben Montes
15. 21 Victor Lindsey

The Modified feature proved to be just as exciting with White and young Steve Whiteaker, Jr, going side by side for much of the race with White using the very low line and Whiteaker searching for traction mostly on the high side.

The race was plagued, however, by a number of caution periods as the track grew more towards slick than tacky.

Several restarts saw White go very low into the turns with Whiteaker right there beside him on the high side. More often than not White was able to get off the turns better with Whiteaker perhaps gaining the advantage through the turns.

Behind the leaders the Series point leader Danny Brown was having to fend off a determined Lawrence Mikulencak as the pair of Corpus Christi drivers battled for third. And not far behind them Dale Flanagan, Jesse Manning and Josh Majek were slicing and dicing for fifth.

But the show that everyone was watching was the chess match being played out up front.

As the laps clicked down, there were more cautions which prompted the track to shorten the event by two laps.

On the final restart with two to go, Whiteaker sailed into turn one on the top and got along side White once again. And once again White again was able to find bite on the bottom and pulled away from Whiteaker a bit coming off turn two. Whiteaker tried to drive it in harder in turn three, but White still held the lead as they entered the front stretch.

As the white flag waved, White was still cat-fishing the low side, with Whiteaker looking for moisture anywhere he could find it. But at the checkered flag it was White by a car length in the Bridwell Motorsports, Engines by Adan & Jeff, Dust Devil chassis. White took home the trophy, some bragging rights and a check fo $1,000.

Brown’s third place finish was enough for him to retain the series points lead while Mikulencak took over second from Manning, with Whiteaker, unofficially, taking over fourth in the Series point standings.

“I could hear him (Steve Whiteaker) out there and saw him the turns a couple times,” White said after the race. “But I really didn’t feel that it made any difference as long as I didn’t mess up on my entrance and getting through the middle. As long as I hit my spots there was no way - no matter who it was - anyone was going to pass me.

“ I felt after I came in from the Limited Modified feature that we needed to put all the bite in it we could to get it off the turns and not worry about blasting around the top. I didn’t think anybody had anything for me if I didn’t mess up on the bottom. That’s just what we elected to go with and it paid off.”

Unofficial Modified results

1. 2w Paul White
2. 89 Steve Whiteaker, Jr
3. 55 Danny Brown
4. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
5. 57 Dale Flanagan
6. 82 Joshua Majek
7. 76 Jesse Manning
8. 174 Max Helms
9. 96 Foster Ellison
10. 125 Jason Borlace
11. 95 Jeremy Davenport
12. 12 Rolie Rodriguez
13. 15 Chris Carrol
14. 55b Wesley Anderson
15. 16. James Jennings
16. 22 Art Rodriguez
17. 155 Vince Kacir

by J.M Hallas and Nick Holt

Photos by Brenda Dancer

Steve Whiteajer, Jr, survives “full moon” racing at I-37 to take Modified win

Outlaw Modified driver Steve Whiteaker, Jr., survived a wild night of “full moon” racing at Pleasanton’s I-37 Raceway Friday night and the young Corpus Christi hot-shoe came home the winner.

The quarter-mile dirt oval produced a series of roll-overs on a dry slick track, there were unfortunately a series of several roll-overs, airborne crashes and fires. Fortunately all drivers were able to walk away without serious injury, but there will a lot of work going on this week for many.

In the Modified class, an anonymous donor threw some extra money in the pot, making a $1,000 payday for the winner. The added money caught the attention of several drivers from the Corpus Christi, Austin and Killeen areas. The IMCA SportMod purse was also increased with the winner scoring $350.

Whiteaker wears ‘em out in Modified main

Corpus young gun, Steve Whiteaker,Jr., has always been a contender at the south Texas tracks and with his recent USMTS experience has taken his game to another level with good finishes in the touring series. Despite a crash in his heat, Whiteaker worked his way to the lead early the A-main, then pulled away to big margin to pick up the big paycheck along with an added hard charger bonus put up by 3-D Landscaping’s, Ray Doyon.

Johnny Torres led the field into turn one as the green waved on the 20-lap main event. In the pack David Smith,Jr., got turned around, but kept going falling nearly a lap down. Whiteaker got past defending IMCA Modified track champion Greg Dinsmore for second on the first circuit. Whiteaker wasted little time running down Torres on the second lap while Dinsmore was being challenged by veteran Lawrence Mikulencak.

Whiteaker got around Torres for the lead on lap three, with Mikulencak taking third from Dinsmore. Dinsmore, who found the wall twice in heat race action and thrashed during intermission on the car, faded and pulled off. Mikulencak caught Torres and took over second on lap six. At halfway it was Whiteaker, Mikulencak, Torres, Elias Anderson and Mike McCarthy in the top five.

Anderson worked his way around Torres on lap 11 for third. Coming from the back, Smith was flying around the top picking off fifth from McCarthy on lap 15. Continuing to work the high side, Smith, who was as fast or faster than the leader at the end, grabbed fourth from Torres on lap 18. Up front Whiteaker was holding a big lead over Mikulencak and easily took the checkers in the WW Bodies, Showtime Signs, Jana Schurry/ReMax Realty, Youngs Auto Repair, Hughes Chassis.

“I kind of got lucky,” said Whiteaker. “Someone got sideways on the first lap and Lawrence (Mikulencak) had to check up and I was able to get by him. Once I got the lead I didn’t really know how far anyone was behind me or how big a lead I had. You just hope someone isn’t behind you waiting for the last lap to make a move.

“I was fast tonight. The track was really decent. It didn’t start off that great, but it was really good, real racy, slick and nice and slow. It turned out to be a good night after all. After the incident with Lawrence in the heat I didn’t think we were done for the night, but knew we had a lot of work to do. We able to get it back together, that’s what it’s all about.

“Running with the USMTS series definitely helps my driving. You’re only as fast as who you race with. That’s how you learn to get faster. I’ll go out of town and be faster when I come back, then everyone will catch up to me.”

Outlaw Modifieds
89 Steve Whiteaker jr
87 Lawrence Mikulencak
31 Elias Anderson
703 David Smith jr
66 Johnny Torres
20 Mike McCarthy
68 Mike Rothhammer
8g Greg Dinsmore
125 Jason Borlace
c31 Marlin Samford—DNS
55 Danny Brown(rolled in heat)

Modified heat winners, 87 Lawrence Mikulencak, 703 David Smith jr.

Butcher slices up the IMCA Sportmod field

As stable mate of Whiteaker, Dustin Butcher has learned the ropes quickly and made it a “Team Whiteaker” sweep in the two modified classes. Butcher escaped an early brush with tire wall, worked his way up through traffic and got the point just before halfway. A late race caution bunched the field, but Butcher held off the wounded car of Chris Swenson for the victory.

At the start of the 20-lap IMCA SSM main, Larry Jernigan and Wesley Malcher stayed wheel to wheel through turns 1-2. Malcher eased out front going into turn 3 to get the lead. In the pack Chris McLendon got sideways and collected Robert Williams. As Williams car dug in it broke the rear end up sending him airborne with a hard landing on three wheels. The next start saw Jernigan jump into the lead, but Butcher found the tire wall in turn 1.

The third start was a charm with Jernigan again leading into turn 1, but Doug Livingston came from row two sneaking under Jernigan for lead coming out of turn 2. Malcher and Mark McGahey followed for second and third. On lap 1 Swenson got around Jernigan for fourth and made contact with McGahey knocking the toe-in by several inches. Swenson went around on lap 2, but kept going, with Dennis Hilla spinning behind him to bring out a caution.

On the restart, Malcher got inside Livingston in turns 1-2, while Butcher made his way into the top five. As Livingston and Malcher battled through turns 3-4, Malcher pushed up in 4 making contact with Livingston. Livingston wheel hopped Malcher sending him airborne and head-on into the wall hard. Ironically, teammate McGahey, inherited the lead for the restart that saw Aaron Lunsford get by Jernigan for fourth.

Butcher had just made a move on Swenson for second when McGahey spun from the lead collecting Jernigan. With Swenson’s wounded ride now on point, Butcher took advantage on the restart and got along side for lead. Butcher grabbed the top spot on lap 6, with Joe Spillman and Hilla side by side for fourth. Hilla and Spillman swapped the spot coming to halfway with Butcher, Swenson, Lunsford, Spillman and Hilla the top five at the crossed flags.

Eric Madden spun on lap 11 to bring out the yellow. Once back to green, Butcher got a good jump on Swenson getting clear of the field. Lunsford then moved on Swenson pressuring him for second. As the Spillman-Hilla battle continued, both went around in turn 2, with Hilla stalling to bring out a caution on lap 13.

Butcher again got a good jump on Swenson, who was doing all he could to hold off Lunsford. Spillman was able to work his way back up getting by Malcher for fifth. In the waning laps, Spillman caught Jernigan for fourth and got the spot. Up front it was Butcher in the Access Ford, WW Bodies, Majek powered, Rush Chassis cruising unchallenged to the win.

“I was able to stay near the infield where the moisture was at,” Butcher said. “After watching Danny Brown hit the same tires, in the same spot as soon as I hit them I thought ‘Oh no I’m going to go over too’. I was able to stay on all fours and the car was all right, so I kept on going.

“When I finally got to Chris (Swenson) under caution I saw his front end was toed-in about three inches. I knew he was going to have a problem steering, but he’s still pretty hard to pass. I still have to work on him and drive my race. My car was good so I wasn’t real worried.”

“The dry track was a little tough (on cars). I just think it was everyone getting used to being on the track again at the beginning of the year. There are a lot of people working the bugs out. I’m sure they’ll get better.”

IMCA Southern Sportmods

90 Dustin Butcher
48 Chris Swenson
888 Aaron Lunsford
44 Joe Spillman
88 Mark McGahey
18 Larry Jernigan
771 Wesley Malcher
16 Eric Madden
2x Dennis Hilla
89 Doug Livingston
00 Robert Skye
11 Chris McLendon
60 Robert Williams
09 David Routen–DNS(motor)

IMCA SSM heat winners, 48 Chris Swenson, 11 Chris McLendon

In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, Jerry Neal got out front to lead lap 1, with Richard Bartosh, defending champ, Moe VanKirk, multi-time champ, Gary Hunter and Howie Marcx falling in line. Patrick Kelly worked his way around Marcx for fifth on lap 1. Bartosh, in a new car this year, got past Neal to grab the lead on lap 3, with VanKirk taking second on lap 4.

Kelly, using the high groove, began to pressure Hunter for third on lap 7 and with persistence finally got the spot on lap 12. Andy Van Blarcum brought the yellow on lap 12 when he had a tire/wheel break off. On the restart, Kelly finally secured the pass on Hunter, while VanKirk was looking under Bartosh for the lead. The two stayed side by side on lap 13, while Marcx got past Hunter for fourth. Kelly, still running the rim, snagged third from Neal on lap 16.

After losing a little ground to Bartosh, VanKirk closed back in on the leader getting along again on lap 17. The two continued to run door to door, while Marcx snared fourth from Neal. VanKirk threw everything, but the front bumper, at Bartosh as the two scrapped it out for the win. At the checkers it was Bartosh fending off VanKirk to take the hard earned win.

Limited Late Models
7 Richard Bartosh
58 Moe VanKirk
84 Patrick Kelly
13 Howie Marcx
50 Jerry Neal
33 Barry Major
14 Gary Hunter
21 Chris Snocker
33m Andy Van Blarcum
55 John Farquer—DNS

Limited Late Model heat winners, 58 Moe VanKirk, 13 Howie Marcx

The scheduled 20-lap Street Stock feature saw Chris Brock lead into turn 1 but get passed by Frank Garrish, while Cody Clark and 2008 Pure Stock champ, Justin Henley spun but continued without caution. AJ Wernette get turned around on lap 1 and got clipped by Brock who brought out the caution. On the restart Rene Mares got sideways in turn 1 with Wernette, who had nowhere to go, sending him the rest of the way around.

Once back to green the two 2008 championship contenders, Donald Lewis and Wade Jones, ran side by side for third. Wernette got under Garrish for the lead on lap 3 followed by Jones to second, with Tommy Casey getting by Lewis then Garrish for third. Garrish had just worked back around Casey, when Jones spun from second on lap 4. On the restart Garrish spun and collected Lewis.

As Wernette inched away on green, Eric Knudtson and Casey ran side by side for second. The two stayed door to door on lap 6 with Knudtson getting the spot on lap 7. Casey would spin from third, but keep going without caution. Knudtson caught Wernette for the lead on lap 10 and got the top spot on lap 11. In the pack, Mares and Henley had their own personal fight for fourth swapping the spot in the final laps. Wernette tried to hang with Knudtson, but got hung behind a lapped car giving Knudtson an easy run to the checkers.

Street Stocks
27 Eric Knudtson
37 AJ Wernette
51 Donald Lewis
08 Rene Mares
96 Justin Henley
41 Wade Jones
44 Danny Schroat
33 Frank Garrish
42 Tommy Casey
99 Frank O’ Krulik
55 Cody Clark
88 Chris Brock
77 Wesley Werts–DNS(rolled in heat)

Street Stock heat winners, 08 Rene Mares, 96 Justin Henley

William Saunders lead the field of a dozen Pure Stocks into turn 1 for the early lead, with Philip Haywood, Mike Brown, Janel Hilla and William Cavender in tow. Brandon Eury got by Cavender for fifth, with Jason Kelly tracking him for sixth. Brown began to challenge Haywood for second while Eury looked low on Hilla for fourth. As Hilla, Eury and Kelly scrambled for fourth, Eury and Kelly hooked bumpers briefly but broke themselves free.

Brown gave away his top three spot on lap 6 when he spun in front of the pack sending everyone into evasive mode. On the restart, Sean Terry spun in turn to bring the yellow back out. Leader, Saunders, was forced to pit with a flat tire. This handed the lead over to Haywood on the restart. Once back to green Brian Holland got into the turn 1 tires and rolled to bring out the red.

Once back under green again, Kelly got by Eury for second and was quickly on Haywood for the lead. Kelly took the point on lap 8, with Eury and Haywood side by side for second and Hilla beside Brown for fourth. Hilla got the spot on lap 11 but did a half spin giving the spot back to Brown. Brown was then able to get past Haywood for third on lap 12. Out front it was Kelly stretching his advantage out to a full straightaway, motoring on to the easy win.

Pure Stocks
57Jason Kelly
4 Brandon Eury
01 Mike Brown
7x Janel Hilla
23 Sean Terry
29 Jay Harley
98 William Saunders
9 Philip Haywood
15 William Cavender
24 Marc Roy
77 Brian Holland
8 Dennis Jasik

Pure Stock heat winners, 98 William Saunders, 8 Dennis Jasik

In the new Front Runner class, Alec Jasik got the early lead with Jared Payton in his wake. The two pulled away from James Samford in third. Payton got the lead from Jasik on lap 3 after Jasik got slowed by Jim Knudtson as they put him a lap down. Jasik fought back retaking the lead on lap 4 only to lose it back to Payton as they lapped Amber Helton. From there Payton was able to pull away from Jasik, who gave up second to Samford in the final laps, to sweep the Front Runner events.

Front Runners
9 Jared Payton
35 James Samford
8 Alec Jasik
14 Jessica Mares
I-37 Jim Knudtson
14 Amber Helton

Front Runner heat winner, 9 Jared Payton

by J.M. Hallas

Temple’s Paul White continues his win streak with “double” at Texana Raceway Park

Temple’s Paul White bagged another double Saturday night at Texana Raceway Park in Edna, Texas. White won both the Limited Modified and the Outlaw Modified features before a good opening-night crowd after scoring four victories the previous weekend – two at Battleground Speedway on Friday and two at Houston Raceway Park on Saturday.

The evening’s racing program was designated the “Aaron Hudgeons Benefit” with many drivers and fans making donations to help defray the medical expenses that popular stock car driver Hudgeons is facing as he battles cancer. Hudgeons is a favorite with both fans and competitors alike at the 3/8-mile track where he has a well-earned reputation as someone always willing to pitch in should anyone need a helping hand. By the end of the night more than $5,000 had been collected.

The first of White’s twin wins came in the 20-lap Limited Modified feature where he led a very competitive 24-car field from wire to wire.

By the halfway point, White had a big lead over JJ Jennings and Jeff Mueller, who were waging their own personal war for second some distance behind. With five laps to go, Mueller took advantage of slower cars to power past Jennings to take second place for good, but was unable to make up any ground on White as the laps wound down.

Limited Modified Results

1. 216 Paul White
2. 43 Jeff Mueller
3. 26g J J Jennings
4. 90x Dustin Butcher
5. 175 Mickey Helms
6. 66 Hunt Harrison
7. 90 Barry Moody
8. 33 Jason Zarbock
9. 00x Dustin Brandl
10. 10D Don Painter
11. 47 James Myers
12. 88 Mark McGahey
13. 37 Bill Pittaway
14. 46 Randy Bridges
15. 888 Aaron Lunsford
16. 36 Cody Hilderbrandt
17. 69 Aaron Hudgeons
18. 42 Ricky Konvicka
19. 63 Shane Hoefling
20. 78 Brad Ball
21. 89 Doug Livingston

White did not have it so easy in the 20-lap Outlaw Modified feature even though he once again started on the pole.
During the first half of the race Houston ace Howard Willis hounded White and almost made it by using the outside line while White ran towards the bottom with both grooves seeming to work equally well. Eventually the lower groove came in better – or perhaps the outside groove went away – and White was able to put a car length on Willis after they had run side-by side for several laps.

At the start of the race, Kerrville’s Greg Dinsmore looked like he was going to be a major factor, but after only one lap pulled into the infield with no power.

By mid-race Corpus Christi driver Steve Whiteaker, Jr, had worked his way through the field and was on White’s rear bumper following the same low line as the leader while Willis continued to work the high side.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Mikulencak and Nick Hardcastle had moved through the field and entertained the crowd with a spirited battle not all that far back from the leaders. At one point Mikulencak took a short, unplanned trip through the infield, losing a couple of positions in the process.

As Willis faded a bit, Whiteaker took over the task of trying to find a way around the steady, smooth White.

After a lap-16 caution, Whiteaker was able to get beside White briefly, but wasn’t able to make it happen and White took his second checkered flag of the evening a couple of car lengths in front of Whiteaker. Willis finished third with Danny Brown and Nick Hardcastle rounding out the top five.

Outlaw Modified results

1. 2W Paul White
2. 88 Steve Whiteaker, Jr.
3. E Howard Willis
4. 55 Danny Brown
5. 94 Nick Hardcastle
6. 20 Mike McCarty
7. 51 Benny Perry
8. 26 Darin Leonard
9. 82 Josh Majek
10. 371 Ben Ketteman
11. 122 Perry Johnson
12. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
13. 66 Johnn Torres
14. 37 Bill Pittaway
15. 76 Jesse Manning
16. 155 Vince Kacir
17. 44 Markus Berndt
18. 8g Greg Dinsmore

In other action, Hot Stock Truck driver Justin Bloom held off second place finisher Lary Paris while Bloom’s father, Russell Bloom finished third.

Hot Stock Truck results

1. 84 Justin Bloom
2. 8 Lary Paris
3. 55 Russell Bloom
4. 13 Gregory Turner
5. 15 Gordon Boehm
6. 39 Nathan Kildair
7. 43 Bob Ort
8. 24 John Lieta—DNS

In the 20-lap Bomber main, Chris Shafer got out first and was never seriously challenged beating runner-up Brian King by several car-lengths. Monty Chamberlain rounded out the top three.

Bomber results

1. 77 Chris Shafer
2. 31 Brian King
3. 55 Monty Chamberlain
4. 36 Randy Kacir
5. 26 David McBride
6. 12 Janet Perks
7. 76 Gary Wright
8. 81 Aaron Ivory
9. 71 Nic Priem
10. 1 Nick Moore
11. 58 James Hoss
12. 63 Chase Sanchez

In the action-packed 12-lap Junior Mini Stock race, Jason Bloom avoided several on-track incidents to take the win over Lauren Chamberlain and Zach Tesch.

Junior Mini Stock results

1. 49 Jason Bloom
2. 55 Lauren Chamberlain
3. 72 Zack Tesch
4. 12 Ashley Perks
5. 03 Justin Sickle
6. 22 Patricia Lucas
7. 14k Stanley Kraly
8. 7 Hunter Lisano
9. 14 Roger Churan

Willie Veach took the win in the entertaining Dwarf Car feature over Andrew Cline, Buck McFarlin, Frank Fruia and Dave Tedford. Twenty-four of the motorcycle-engine powered coupes took the green flag and treated the the opening night crowd to some close, exciting racing in spite of several caution periods for spins.

Texana Classic Dwarf Cars
1. 41 Willy Veach
2. 19 Andrew Cline
3. 65 Buck McFarlin
4. 3x Frank Fruia
5. 25t Dave Tedford
6. 01s Joseph Snow
7. 24 Victor Vargas
8. 13 Mike Christians
9. 54 Gary Hansen
10. 30 Ronny Fikes
11. 36 Greg Sexton
12. 1 Brad Wright
13. 2ez Easy Casey
14. 82 Brandon Dorsey
15. 7 Steven Gilbert
16. 55 Bryan Heady
17. 97 Brian Breaux
18. 99 Brice Baros
19. 4 Karl Veach
20. 15 Gary Faris
21. 21 John Armstrong
22. 8 Donnie Hunt
23. 79 Douglas Schmidt
24. 12 Robert Smith

Staff Report

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