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Texan Mark Chrudimsky brings the Snowball Derby Modified trophy home to Texas

Affectionately called “Wild Man” at his home track – Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas - Texan Mark Chrudimsky won the rain-shortened 36-lap Asphalt Modified feature at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, Friday night. The event was part of the prestigious Snowball Derby held at the famed half-mile oval each December.

Chrudimsky is known to win in just about anything and just about anywhere – from school buses to Asphalt Modifieds and from Texas to Florida - and he proved it one more time on Friday.

Chrudimsky went three-wide after starting fourth on the grid to take over second place on the second lap and a lap later took over the lead form Brian Nester until the 15th circuit, when he backed off a bit to conserve his tires. But lap 30 saw the savvy Chrudimsky use a lapped car to position himself to scoot by Nester on the low side to retake the lead for good.

Other Texas who made the show after an arduous qualifying process include Jason Body (15th place), Jason Morman (18th place), John Schultz (27th place) and Tuffy Hudson (30th place).

Official results of the Modified Feature, Friday, December 4, 2009

Finish, Car number, Name, Laps completed, Fastest race lap

1. 39 Mark Chrudimsky, 36, 18.056
2. 83 Bubba Gale, 36, 18.134
3. 11 Brian Nester, 36, 17.902
4. 4 Mike Stacey, 36, 18.245
5. 66 Ryan Redmon, 36, 18.317
6. 88 John Sarppraicone, 36, 18.327
7. 10 Danny Bagwell, 36, 18.354
8. 131 Jeff Letson, 36, 18.185
9. 8 Donnie Hamrac, 36, 18.346
10. 33 Nathan Ingersoll, 36, 18.171
11. 121 Kyle Jones, 36, 18.279
12. 1M Tim Martin, 36, 18.318
13. 77 Jeremy Gerster II, 36, 18.387
14. 7G Scooter Grice, 36, 18.477
15. 9 Jason Boyd, 36, 18.554
16. 9 Gerald Wilkerson, 36, 18.414
17. 70 Jeremy Gerstner, 36, 18.438
18. 33 Jason Morman, 35, 18.379
19. 18 Kevin Peel, 35, 18.299
20. 86 Mavervick MacDonald, 35, 18.701
21. X Damon Breedlove, 35, 18.552
22. 67 Frankie Martin, 35, 18.738
23. 32 Randy Haney, 35, 18.876
24. 17 Chris Cotto, 31, 18.057
25. 55 Scott Barbaric, 29, 18.382
26. 71 Josh Goodwin, 26, 18.823
27. 14 John Schultz, 11, 18.434
28. 145 Billy Melvin, 11, 17.958
29. 99 A.J. Winstead ,10, 18.593
30. 7 Tuffy Hudson, 6, 18.463
31. 5 Jeff Ganus, 2, 18.738
32. 34 Randy Herrick 0

By Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone
Photo by Levi Krauss

Denny Burton best in HMP’s NASCAR Cricket Modified “Cricket 40” event

Fifteen of the fastest asphalt Modifieds in the South lined up at Houston Motorsports Park Saturday night for the NASCAR Modified “Cricket 40” and veteran racer Denny Burton proved that he still has what it takes and took home the trophy, the prize money and the bragging rights after running a smart, clean race.

Ironically, Burton’s night almost ended before it began as the low-slung, fire-breathing Modifieds took their wide-open “hot laps” at the well-maintained 3/8-mile HMP oval immediately before the race. Pole-sitter Brent Seeley suddenly slowed on the back straight without warning and Burton slammed into the rear of Seeley’s ride and ended up sideways in the infield. In spite of the hard contact both cars and their drivers were OK and they took their positions at the front of the field for the green flag.

Immediately after the start, Seeley made contact with another car and slid up the track a bit and Burton scooted by to take the lead and took Chrudimsky and Chris Davidson with him before Seeley could recover and settle into fourth place.

Although he had a car capable of contending for the win, Davidson’s night would end prematurely after smoke began to pour from the rear of his car from the second lap on. Davidson pulled into the smoking car into the pits with 25 laps remaining.

After that, it was just a matter of how long Burton would be able to hold off the always-aggressive Chrudimsky as the rest of the field seemed to have nothing for the two leaders.

The race for the lead at wasn’t the only race to watch, however, as the battle for third between Tuffy Hudson and Seeley was shaping up to become a barnburner by mid-race. And it was just that for a few laps, but eventually Seeley was able to open up and maintain a two car length lead on the Corpus Christi hotshoe for the remainder of the race.

Chrudimsky, meanwhile, gave Burton fits for most of the race, but the anticipated showdown at the finish never materialized when Chrudimsky got caught in lapped traffic with a couple laps remaining allowing Burton to take the checkered with room to spare.

Seeley, Hudson and steady Ian Webster rounded out the top five.

Unofficial results:

1. 007 Denny Burton
2. 39 Mark Chrudimsky
3. 5 Brent Seeley
4. 7 Tuffy Hudson
5. 9 Ian Webster
6. 2 Bobby Hillin, Jr.
7. 04 Brad Hudak
8. 42 Justin Long
9. 1 Carl Smith
10. 33 Jason Morman
11. 8 Jim Nides
12. 28 Hannah Baker
13. 82 Pat Kinsey
14. 11 Kalie Sellier
15. 41 Chris Davidson

by Nick Holt
Photos by Chris David

Mark Chrudimsky takes Pro Modified win; Cody Smith “Picks Up” Pro Truck victory at Thunderhill Raceway

Thunderhill Raceway (THR) welcomed the Texas Pro Modifieds and the Texas Pro Trucks to their well-maintained paved track in Kyle this past Saturday and Mark Chrudimsky and Cody Smith are glad they did.

Veteran driver Chrudimsky won the “DWIDUDE.com Pro Modified 50” while first-time truck driver Smith took home the winner’s trophy after the 50-lap Pro Truck main event.

Smith - driving a Pro Truck borrowed from front-running THR regular Shawn Paul Lehman, who missed the race to participate in his younger sister’s wedding ceremony, took the green flag from his pole position and led all 50 laps at the three-eighth mile, D-shaped oval, but it wasn’t as easy as it might seem.

DPS Texas State Trooper D.L. Wilson was the first of three drivers to give Smith a good run for the money, but on the seventh lap fast-qualifier Jason Marshall scooted by Wilson to take over second. No speeding ticket was issued after the pass and Marshall proceeded to make friends with Smith’s rear bumper and otherwise make life difficult for the leader.

After a caution period or two for minor spins, at mid race Marshall began to apply some serious pressure just as Wilson and hard-charging Cory Roper joined the front pair to make it a nice, tight foursome.

On the 29th circuit, Marshall got into Smith’s rear bumper a bit too hard and Smith’s truck went for a smoky spin to bring out the yellow caution flag. Track officials conferred and ruled that Marshall would have to move to the back of the field for the restart due to the contact.

But Smith’s worries were not over as the youngster soon had his mirror full of Wilson and Roper who were having a bit of a battle for second behind right behind him. Roper finally manages to squeak by Wilson for second, but not for long as Roper suddenly gets nearly sideways in turn four which gave Wilson the opportunity he needed to regain the runner-up spot.

All the dicing behind him had allowed Smith to gain a few truck lengths on the pair, but by lap 38 Marshall had worked his way back up to fourth and closed in on Wilson and Roper as the laps clicked down. And with two laps remaining Marshall banged his way past both Wilson and Roper to claim second.

Unfortunately, there were not enough laps for a photo finish showdown and Smith took the checkered flag a few truck lengths ahead of the fast-closing Marshall. Roper, Wilson, newlywed Lynn Hardy and 2008 Pro Truck champion Jim Albert rounded out the top five.

During the post race technical inspection, however, it was determined that both Marshall and Roper were too low to the ground and both were moved to the rear of the finishing order.

Pro Truck feature event results:

Finishing position, Truck number, Name, Laps completed, Qualifying time
1. 28 Cody Smith, 50 laps, QT 16.860
2. 6 D.L. Wilson, 50 laps, QT 16.725
3. 36 Lynn Hardy, 50 laps, QT 17.119
4. 31 Jim Albert, 50 laps, QT 17.028
5. 10 Greg Wade, 50 laps, DNQ
6. 3 David Lewien, 47 laps, QT 17.277
7. 14 Chris Roper, 32 laps, QT 17.224
8. 42 Jason Marshall, QT 16.401, Technical Infraction – too low
9. 04 Cory Roper, QT 16.864, Technical Infraction – too low

DWIDUDE.Com Pro Modified 50

Mark Chrudimsky has proven over the years that he can win in anything from a school bus to a Super Late Model and he showcased his racing savvy again Saturday night in winning the “DWIDUDE.Com Pro Modified 50.”

Fifteen of the low-slung Pro Modifieds lined up at the start with some of the best driving talent in Texas set to take the green flag after a brief shower cooled things down a bit.

Justin Long and his well-known teammate Joe Aramendia were on the front row with Chrudimsky and nationally-known hotshoe Tuffy Hudson poised in row two. Michael Umscheid, who set a new Pro Modified track record at 15.107 seconds in qualifying and racing legend Chris Davidson hunkered down in row three. Just behind them the always aggressive John Heil and veteran John Paul Kliewer lined up in row four. Ian Webster, Jim Nides, John Schultz, Bob Slezinsky, Bubba Menard, Greg Baber and Jay Guthrie rounded out the stellar field.

At the drop of the green the whole field went side-by-side for a lap or two, but at the end of the second lap Nides and Slezinsky got together in turn one and they both spun to bring out the first caution flag of the race.

On the restart there was some bumper tag as the field took the green but everyone hung on with Long out first and Chrudimsky right on his bumper. The super quick Umschied took the inside line to worm past Aramendia taking Hudson and Heil along with him as Aramendia got hung out to dry in the high groove, falling back into line in the fifth spot.

It wasn’t long before Webster looped it down the back straight and the yellow waved on lap thirteen. Hudson unexpectedly pitted as the field circled slowly under the yellow. He did not return.

It was back to business on lap 16 with Long, Chrudimsky, Umscheid, Heil, Davidson and Aramendia the top six at this point.

Shortly after racing resumed, Umscheid took a couple of long inside looks under Chrudimsky and nearly made it by at least twice, but Chrudimsky held his line and was able to hold second as the top four ran lap after lap nose-to-tail with each driver determined to advance if anyone bobbled.

At halfway it was still Long, Chrudimsky, Umscheid, Heil, Davidson, Aramendia, Schultz, Nides, Slezinsky, Baber, Menard, Guthrie and Kleiwer.

A few laps later Kliewer, Slezinsky and Baber all tangled and slid hard into the turn four tire wall in a huge cloud of tire smoke. Slezinsky hit the hardest and the track went red as the safety crew responded. Slezinsky was able to get out of the car on his own – a bit wobbly perhaps – but was taken to a local hospital for a checkup as a precautionary measure since he didn’t seem to be clicking on all eight after the hit. Later reports were positive with Slezinsky apparently in much better shape than his mangled Pro Modified.

During the red flag period lots of steam poured from Heil’s machine and he pitted after getting permission to leave the track during the red.

The top three jumped out quickly on the lap 32 restart with Davidson watching the action a few car lengths back in fourth. And he had a lot to watch as Umscheid worked Chrudimsky over hard. Meanwhile Long was able to gain a few car lengths as he watched the excitement in his mirror.

Umscheid was unable to get by, however, so Chrudimsky turned his attention to Long, who seemed to be losing some of his handling as the laps clicked down.

With 10 to go, the track suddenly seemed to get a bit slippery and Long bobbled a bit coming off turn four. Chrudimsky got a good run down the straight and headed towards the inside line as the pair prepared to enter turn one. They made contact, Long spun and came to rest at the bottom of the track midway between turn one and turn two where Davidson, with no place to go slid - more or less gently - into the front of Long’s machine.

Race control ruled that Chrudimsky had the line and sent Long to the rear for the contact that brought out a caution. That gave Chrudimsky the lead with only ten laps remaining.

The next ten laps were a picture of clean, hard racing with two experienced drivers putting on a classic show for the good crowd on hand.

Umscheid stalked and studied Chrudimsky’s line for the next few laps and with five to go turned up the heat. He looked inside. He looked outside, then inside again, but Chrudimsky never wavered from his line.

Finally - on the last lap - Umscheid gave Chrudimsky a love tap coming off turn four, but Mark “The Wildman” Chrudimsky didn’t seem to notice and took the checkered with Umscheid right there next to him. A few car lengths back Davidson, Aramendia and Webster rounded out the top five.

Results of the “DWIDUDE.Com Pro Modified 50.”

Finishing position, Car number, Name, Laps completed, Qualifying time
1. 39 Mark Chrudimsky, 50 laps, QT 15.394
2. 5 Michael Umscheid, 50 laps, QT 15.107 NEWTRACK RECORD
3. 41 Chris Davidson, 50 laps, QT 15.650
4. 42X Joe Aramendia, 50 laps, QT 15.584
5. 9 Ian Webster, 50 laps, QT 15.725
6. 14 John Schultz, 50 laps, QT 15.766
7. 22 John Paul Kliewer, 50 laps, QT 15.678
8. 42 Justin Long, 50 laps, QT 15.370
9. 8 Jim Nides, 50 laps, QT 15.732
10. 78 Greg Baber, 50 laps, QT 16.211
11. 98 Jay Guthrie, 49 laps, QT 16.273
12. 65 Bubba Menard, 46 laps, QT 15.895
13. 15 John Heil, 44 laps, QT 15.664
14. 26 Robert Slezinsky, 30 laps, QT 15.777
15. 7 Tuffy Hudson, 15 laps, QT 15.631

In other racing action at Thunderhill Raceway on Saturday, Charles Aikin hung on to win the 50-lap Texas Super Racing Series Allison Legacy feature over former Pro Truck champion Rusty Mirth and Charles Evans, Jr.

Mike Merrell wheeled his VW Scirocco to victory in the 20-lap Texas Pro Sedan feature after Tom Johnson, who dominated the first portion of the race, pitted during a caution period.

Mike Steinman snapped Lyndon Kirk’s win streak in the 20-lap NasKart main event. Richard Gonzales ran a steady race to finish second.

Allen Alexander outgunned points leader Clint LaFont to claim take the 40-lap ASA A-Line Super Stock feature win, Anthony Gordon took the Thunder Stock feature after apparent race winner David Sevilla was deemed “too low” during a post race tech inspection, and J.C. Umscheid beat Brandon Gaither to the finish line in the 20- lap Grand Stock event.

By Nick Holt
Photos by Jeff Garvin

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