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

Subscribe

• Login
• Forums
• Audio
• Live Blogs
• Video

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

Leland Waddell goes wire-to-wire to notch first Limited Late Model win at I-37

Leland Waddell was the first of the two new faces in I-37 Raceway’s Winners Circle as he posted a flag-to-flag win. Waddell jumped out front with Richard Bartosh and Andrew Hesler on his tail. Getting a good jump on a few restarts, Waddell became the fourth new Limited Late Model feature winner for the season.

Waddell took command coming off turn 2 as the 14-car Limited Late Model feature fired with Bartosh, Hesler, Robert Danielson and Trey Votion in pursuit. Votion got around Danielson on lap 3 for fourth. Last weeks winner, AJ Dancer saw his night end early as he went off turn 1 for a caution on lap 6.

As Waddell jumped out on green, Chris Jones went around off turn 4 bringing the yellow back out. Back to green, the top four were only separated by only a couple lengths as the race reached halfway. Hesler gave up third to Votion on lap 12. Jones got hung on the tires at the pit exit to bring out a yellow on lap 13.

On the restart, Waddell eased ahead, with Hesler looking to retake third from Votion. Votion held off Hesler and began pressuring Bartosh for second. This gave Hesler a run on Votion as they ran door to door on lap 17. As the white flag was shown, Waddell had a five car length margin on Bartosh going on to take his first ever I-37 Limited Late Model victory.

**Waddell left before I could get to the pits for an interview.

Limited Late Models
28 Leland Waddell, 7 Richard Bartosh, 99 Trey Votion, 1x Andrew Hesler, 49 Robert Danielson, 60 Harlin Covert, 08 Kevin Hayden, 14 Gary Hunter, 18 Shane Moore, 33 Shawn Kline, 42 Ron Sprayue, 69 Chris Jones, 32 AJ Dancer, 15 Doug Searcy

I-37 Raceway at Newsome Motor Park concluded their Military Appreciation month, dedicated to all our troops, with some great racing action. Two new drivers found the 1/4 mile, semi-banked, dirt track to their liking and made their way to the I-37 Winners Circle in the Limited Late Models and Pure Stock classes.

In other class action it was the usual suspects taking checkered flags in the IMCA Modifieds and Southern SportMods, Street Stocks and Front Runners, plus a return of the Dwarf Car Racing Seres of Texas.

I-37 Raceway takes the Independence Day weekend for families to celebrate and returns to action again on July 9th with a Tribute to the Troops spearheaded by Andrew Hesler. Hesler, along with many other donors will be racing for the Center for the Intrepid helping the Wounded Warriors program.

A bus load of soldiers is expected from BAMC(Brooke Army Medical Center) to be guests of the track. Hesler, in his Limited Late Model, Greg Dinsmore in his IMCA Modified and Jarrett Payton(Pure Stocks) have all opted to start at the back of their features and race their way to the front and put on a show for the troops in attendance.

Dinsmore Dialed-in Again

After seeing his 6-race winning streak broken due to an accident and a week of repairs and readjustments, Greg Dinsmore has found the handle again starting a new streak, now at two. Dinsmore patiently stalked early leader, Robert Liese jr., found an opening and slipped past for the top spot on lap 7. Dinsmore increased his advantage the last half of the race to nearly a half track, while Bill Pittaway took second from Liese.

It was Liese, Borlace and Billy Meyer running three wide into turn 1 as the IMCA Modified feature roared to life. Liese got the point coming off turn 2, while Dinsmore got by Jamie Campbell and Rick Green for fourth. Dinsmore had just gotten past Meyer for third when Meyer lost the hood for a lap 3 yellow. On the restart Dinsmore picked off Borlace for second and closed on Liese.

Dinsmore patiently waited for a slip by Liese and got his chance coming off turn 4 on lap 6. Dinsmore ducked inside Liese and out dragged him into turn 1 to lead lap 8. Behind the leaders, Borlace and Pittaway were swapping third, while Campbell and Green ran side by side for fifth. After giving up third to Pittaway, Borlace fell into a fight with Campbell for that spot.

At the crossed flags it was Dinsmore, increasing his lead, Liese, Pittaway, and Borlace along side Campbell for fourth with Darin Leonard getting sixth from Green. Pittaway was able to get by Liese for second on lap 12, but found himself a full straightaway behind Dinsmore. Liese and Campbell then ran wheel to wheel for third with Borlace and Leonard swapping fifth. Dinsmore easily cruised to his eighth win of the season in the racetechinfo.com, Sundowner RV Repair, Ryan Bard Safety Foundation, JB Hotshots, Wells Designs, Good Ol’ Days Garage, Centex Motorsports powered Harris Chassis.

“The car is what makes it look so easy,” explained Dinsmore. “When it’s right, it’s magical. I let Robert (Liese) have his room and took my time. No one was challenging me so it gave me the time to play with it a bit an make sure I didn’t try the wrong spot to get by.”

After my last wreck, and the amount f money it cost, I just try to ease up a bit and wait for my spot instead of diving in. It’s just not worth it sometimes. You follow them a while and try to read them. Robert has gotten a lot better and I’ve got to give him props on that.”

“We’re still looking at the track championship here. There’s some hot days that I’d really like to stay at home, but I like coming here. It’s kind of tough sometimes with a new baby, or if Candace doesn’t want to go, but that’s what we’re looking at.”

“Next weekend Bob Harris has invited us to come up for the Harris Clash (Knoxville, Ia.), but we’re leaving the car at home. He’s got us our tickets, pit passes and suite. That’s a fabulous show up there. Traveling with a new baby is going to be different.”

IMCA Modifieds
8g Greg Dinsmore, 37 Bill Pittaway, 29 Jamie Campbell, 67 Robert Liese, Jr., 21 Jason Borlace, 26 Darin Leonard, 82 Rick Green, 99 Billy Meyer, 141 Rob Anderson, 3 Carlton Leverette, 31 Marlin Samford—DNS

Torres Tackles IMCA Sportmods

San Antonio’s Johnny Torres added to his I-37 Raceway season total grabbing another victory in the 20-lap IMCA Southern Sportmod feature. Torres didn’t look to be a contender at mid-race as he watched Anthony Gordon and Jason Stanley battle for the top spot. Torres’ car came to life in the final half reeling in and passing Gordon for the lead on lap 16. Torres took the checkers with a several car lengths on Gordon.

As green waved on the 14-car IMCA Southern Sportmod feature, Stanley jumped out front, but the outside backed up with JC Pilcher and Pat Lyon finding the front stretch wall. On the second start Stanley led into turn 1, but it was Gordon, on the top, getting by to lead lap 1. Torres quickly worked his way by Ray Doyon III and Michael Hernandez for third on lap 1.

Stanley tried get by Gordon for the lead on lap 2 and got along side, but Gordon held the spot. Doyon got by Hernandez on lap 3 and challenging Torres for third. As Doyon tried a move on Torres, Hernandez snuck back by for fourth. Doyon then gave up fifth to Micky Helms. Coming to halfway it was Gordon and Stanley easing away, Torres, Hernandez and Helms in the top five.

Stanley again put the heat on the young Gordon getting along side on lap 11. Stanley would half spin on lap 12, losing several pots, but continuing without caution. Torres then began to reel in Gordon catching the leader with five to go. Torres used the bottom get under Gordon and take the lead on lap 16. Gordon hung with Torres the final laps while Hernandez did a 360 giving up a top five spot. At the checkers it was Torres in 24/7 Towing, Tator Plumbing, Rising Star Race Car Bodies, Screen Pro Graphics, Spreen Racing Engines, Driveline Chassis, by 4-car lengths on Gordon.

“It must have been a little luck tonight,” said Torres. “Because my car sure wasn’t working that good. I got some breaks, the right place at the right time and was patient. I took me a while to work my way up since we’ve been struggling with the handling on it. It was a little different, but we got it figured out.”

“I was trying to be more patient with Anthony(Gordon). He’s a good racer and I wanted to make sure I didn’t get into him. I’d really like to see him win one, but I like winning myself more. He’s doing better every week. His time will come soon.”

IMCA Southern Sportmods

66 Johnny Torres, 118 Anthony Gordon, 204 Mickey Helms, 66y Randy Yount, 92 Jason Stanley, 99x Michael Hernandez, 11 Tom Grothues, 04 Jacob Burnett, 85 Jeff Nix, 4 Robby Minten, 9 Ray Doyon III, 94 Allen Torres, 15 JC Pilcher, 60 Pat Lyon, 21 Barry Codling—DNS, 51 Greg Rohmer—DNS

AJ Dancer added another win to his Street Stock total, after taking a Limited Late Model main event the previous week. Aided by slower traffic, Dancer got by early leader AJ Wernette in the latter stages of the 20-lapper, with Dennis Hilla and Wade Jones all racing under a blanket. Dancer inched away after a late caution, while Jones and AJ Wernette battled for the runner-up spot.

Wayne Wernette led the 14-car Street Stock feature into turn 1, but was passed by his son AJ who led lap 1. Behind W. Wernette, AJ Dancer and Dennis Hilla fell in line. Dancer got by W. Wernette on lap 2, but had already lost ground to AJ Wernette. Hilla and Wade Jones took third and fourth on lap 4, followed by Aaron Leddy to fifth.

As Dancer, Hilla and Jones battled for second nose to tail, AJ Wernette edged away to a larger margin. Dancer and Hilla were door to door on lap 12 giving Jone an opening to grab third when Hilla drifted too high in turn 1. AJ Wernette caught slower traffic and had trouble getting by allowing Dancer to close the gap. Dancer was on AJ Wernette’s bumper as they encountered heavy traffic.

Dancer and AJ Wernette ran side by side on lap 17 with top four now under a proverbial blanket. Dancer snuck to the lead while Hilla made contact with AJ Wernette, sending him around for races only caution. AJ Wernette got his spot back, while Hilla got sent to the tail. The top three broke away on green with Jones getting second from AJ Wernette as the white flag waved. At the checkers it was Dancer in the A Plus Auto Parts, SAS Graphics, Dancer Motorsports, El Camino holding off Jones for the win.

“It was a lot of luck and few lapped cars that helped me tonight,” replied Dancer. “I figured Wade (Jones) was coming. You know he’s going to be there eventually. We moved some weight around between the heat and feature, but it still wasn’t enough. We’re still having a hard time with this car. I’m trying to keep it from three wheeling. It’s the only way the car wants to go. It’s got a mind of its own”

“Driving in two classes, the Street Stocks and Late Models, is like apples and oranges. In the Late Model it will stick and go where you want it to go. In the Street Stock it’s more like a suggestion, I’d like to go this way.”

Street Stocks
52 AJ Dancer, 41 Wade Jones, 37 AJ Wernette, 40 Mike Lyon, 93 Aaron Leddy, 2x Dennis Hilla, 88j Bobby Jack, 04 Nathan Robbins, 37w Wayne Wernette, 44 Danny Preslar, 7 Danny Schroat, 5 Rick Schroat, 53 Ben Blanford, 2 Scott Stubbs

Not wanting to be outdone by his brother Robby the week before, Talon Minten was the second first-time winner of the evening in the Pure Stock feature. Minten and Hunter Flanagan raced side by side for several laps until Flanagan found the tire wall and rolled. Minten was then chased by Brandy Ramzinski, who led earlier in the race but spun. Minten used a lapped car as “a pick” to hold Ramzinski off on the final lap.

Eric Watson took the lead of the 18-car, 20-lap Pure Stock feature on lap 1, but gave way to Jarrett Payton on lap 2. Ramzinski got along side E. Watson and by for second on lap 2 when Payton slowed. Ramzinski got the lead on lap 3 with E. Watson, Flanagan and Cody Leonard following past a fading Payton. Minten split Karoline Campbell and Adam Torres to move into fifth on lap 5.

Minten got by Leonard in traffic on lap 6 as Leonard slowed with a flat. Ramzinski spun on her own from the lead giving up the spot to Flanagan and narrowly missing Minten before falling to fourth. T. Watson brought out yellow on lap 8 when he stopped in the pit exit. When green waved again, the top four broke ahead and Minten was pressuring Flanagan for the lead.

The two young guns, who are good friends, ran side by side for four laps before Flanagan drifted too high in turn 4, clipped the tire barrier and rolled over bringing out a red flag. Flanagan was a little shaken, but checked out alright by the EMS crew. Once back to green, Minten and Ramzinski got away from Janel Hilla, Devin Adler and Jerry Jones. Ramzinski tried tried low as the white flag waved, but got hung up behind a lapped car in turn 4 giving Minten in the 3-D Landscaping, Cavender Toyota, Clays Auto Parts, Shepherds Race Engines, a clear run to his first ever race win.

“It feels good to get that first win,” commented Minten. “I saw Brandy(Ramzinski) back there at the end and just put it to the floor. I was thankful for that lapped car being when she got under me and got her hung up. Robby wining his first race last week didn’t really put any pressure on me(to win). We’re not that competitive, at least until I get a Sportmod too.”

“I wasn’t really nervous running out front. I was just trying to hit my marks.”

“I had a good race with Hunter(Flanagan) earlier and thought I might have taken him out. He’s my friend and I was nervous when I saw the ambulance come out. I didn’t think we made any contact and he said I didn’t touch him, so we’re good.”

Pure Stock
89 Talon Minten, 88 Brandy Ramzinski, 7x Janel Hilla, 117 Devin Adler, 95 Jerry Jones, 44 James Watson, 15 William Cavender, 14 Trey Heald, 22 Patricia Lucas, 8 Dustin Robin, 581 Hunter Flanagan, 24 Adam Torres, 99 Frank Okruhlik, 43 Eric Watson, 1 Tim Watson, 26c Cody Leonard, 9s Jarrett Payton

Old age and experience once again outran youth and exuberance as Jimmy Carroll took the victory in the Front Runner feature. Carroll battled throughout the race with Charles Earnhardt III as they traded the lead several times in the 15-lap event. Carroll, whose age is probably greater than the combined total of second through fifth, held off both Earnhardt boys at the finish.

A lucky 13 cars took the green for the Front Runner feature that went green to checkers, a vast improvement over last weeks crash fest. Ch. Earnhardt jumped into the early lead trailed by Dillon Gaither, Carroll, Cody Smith and Landon Sowder. Carroll quickly began to challenge Gaither for second as the top three pulled away from Sowder and Smith.

The top three were nearly 3-wide for the lead on lap 7, with Carroll getting the spot on lap 8. Carroll and Ch. Earnhardt continued to run side by side for lead while Sowder got by Smith for fourth followed by Cody Earnhardt to fifth. Ch. Earnhardt regained the lead on lap 9 as his brother worked his way past Sowder for fourth.

Carroll snuck back into the lead on lap 12 as the two swapped the top spot corner for corner on lap 13. Carroll secured the point on the final lap, while Co. Earnhardt got third from Gaither. At the checkers it was 68-year old Carroll in Car Craft Auto Service, Mitsubishi Mirage holding off his young competitors for the win, increasing his points lead over Hailee Marcx, who finished eighth.

“It was a little bit of good luck, a little good driving and a good motor by my sponsor Pat Lyon at Car Craft Auto Service.” said Carroll. “I feel very fortunate to still be able to race at 68 and still out run all those younger drivers.”

“This will help me in the points against Hailee(Marcx). She’s a good young racer and drives a good, clean race all the time.”

Front Runners
67 Jimmy Carroll, 33 Charlie Earnhardt III, 33c Cody Earnhardt, 9 Dillon Gaither, 08 Landon Sowder, 13 Cody Smith, 17 Kirsten Blevins, 113 Hailee Marcx, 27 Hayden Anderson, 66c Cindy Snider, 98E Will Holder, 12 Roy Easler sr., 57 Trevor Bettis–BF

In the Dwarf Car feature Chuck McCormick found his way to the Winners Circle getting by early leader Michael Dion near halfway. McCormick held off a late charge by veteran Arden Vikre in the final circuits to grab the victory.

Dion jumped out front at the start of the 2-lap DCRST feature with Dwain Groff spinning from second leaving Richard Smith, McCormick and Jim Mokry trailing Dion. McCormick got past Smith for second as Mokry spun from fourth and fell back. McCormick began to put the heat on Dion for lead and snagged the spot on lap 9. Chris Silvas jr. spun on lap 9 for the races only caution.

On the restart, McCormick eased away with Brian Wells getting by Dion for second as Arden Vikre shot by both Dion and Smith for third. D. Groff made his way back to the top five, while Wells and Vikre battled for second. Vikre got the position with two to go and tried to close on McCormick. Vikre got close but at the checkers it was McCormick hanging on for the win.

Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas
8 Chuck McCormick, 72 Arden Vikre, 69 Brian Wells, 2 Jim Mokry, 60 Richard Smith, 07 Michael Dion, 86 Chris Silvas jr., 15 Dwain Groff, 30 Billy Groff, 96 Tyler Wells, 61 John Flake—DNS, 27 Butch Havelka–DNS, 85 Chris Silvas sr.–DNS

by J.M. 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

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