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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

USMTS Modifieds set for four-night Texas Shootout, May 7-10

Four events in the Lone Star State are up next for the USMTS Southern Series with a possible $8,500 to win as drivers look to make their move in the West Region points standings during the 3rd Annual Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout.

More than $60,000 in purse money will be up for grabs during the 3rd Annual Rinehart Trucking Texas Shootout, including a $2,000 top prize at each of the four events and a points fund provided by Rinehart Trucking which will pay $500 to the top points earner, $300 for second and $200 for third over the course of the four-race swing.

With three West Region races in the books so far this season, defending USMTS Southern Series champion Jason Hughes of Westville, Okla., is three-for-three and leads the top-notch touring titans into Texas as the current points leader over 2007 USMTS Southern Series titleist and eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa. Texan Rodney Sanders of Happy is third in the rankings, followed by Steven Whiteaker Jr. of Corpus Christi. Shane Hebert of Lafayette, La., is fifth; Johnny Bone Jr. of Pea Ridge, Ark., is sixth; and Jon Tesch of Watertown, S.D., sits seventh. Three Sooner State speedsters round out the top 10: Eddie Martin of Stilwell, Randy Timms of Wheatland and Woodward’s Bryan Rowland.

Other USMTS Southern Series drivers expected to make some noise this weekend include Kevin Sustaire, Wes Armstrong, Dereck Ramirez, Bobby Malchus, Jason Armstrong, Morgan Bagley, Bumper Jones, Kyle Schmidt, William Gould, Chase Allen, Shawn Brassfield, Chad Davis, Alan Sharpensteen, Cody Smith, Steve Holzkamper, Chad Wheeler, Scott Green, Kip Hughes, Jeremy Morris, Larry Clevenger, Tate Cole, Mike Dillard, Dustin Hyde, Pat McVicker, Melvin Pilcher, Jeremy Ross, Timothy Culp, John O Whittington, Tim Clonch, Troy Taylor Jr., Jack Sullivan, Tristan Dycus, Jerry Standifer, Tyler Townsend, Nathan Bichsel, Allen Chickering, Brandon Davis, Ron Gould Jr. and Grant Junghans.

THURSDAY, MAY 7 - GOLDEN TRIANGLE RACEWAY PARK

On Thursday, May 7, the quadrupleheader kicks off at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont for a re-scheduled date that was rained-out on April 17.

Howard Willis of Vidor, Texas, sat on the pole and never relinquished the lead as he captured the season-opening USMTS Southern Series main event last year. Four events were held at the track (then called Motorama Speedway) in 2007 with Kelly Shryock, Steve Holzkamper, Tommy Weder Jr. and Jason Hughes sharing the honors.

Among the regulars expected to defend their home turf are Corey Neil, Darryl Seals, Corey Babbitt, Robert Metz, Johnny Brown, John Baker, Mike Walling, Brian Boram, Mike Girardo and John Neff Jr.

Pit and grandstand gates will open at 5:00 with hot laps at 7:00 and racing at 7:45. Also on the racing card will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds ( and Hobby Stocks.

The Golden Triangle Raceway Park is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located 9.5 miles west of I-10 on US 90 (SSR). For race day information, call the track hotline at 409-752-7200 or 409-781-2801 or visit www.motoramaspeedway.com on the World Wide Web.

FRIDAY, MAY 8 - BATTLEGROUND SPEEDWAY

Friday, May 8, will find the mud-slinging Modifieds of the USMTS Southern Series making their debut at the rejuvenated Battleground Speedway in Highlands. The 3/8-mile oval opened on March 31, 1984, and operated through 2001 before closing. It re-opened briefly from 2004-06 under the name Highland Motor Speedway, changing the name back to Battleground Speedway just before closing again.

“My goal is to make Battleground Speedway the premier facility for dirt track racing in Southeast Texas,” said Mike Walling, who purchased the complex in September 2008.

With a successful World of Outlaws Late Model Series event already under their belt in 2009, the facility boasts a 4,000-seat grandstand topped by a new press box. The former press box was blown off the stands and landed in the nearby woods when Hurricane Ike rocked the area last September – just four days after Walling assumed ownership of the track.

Phil Dixon, Bubba Gates, Tommy Stanley, Danny Barringer, Paul White, Corey Neil, Benny Perry, Corey Babbitt, Frank Kitchenhoff and Pete Sagmiller are just a few of the weekly warriors expected to contend for the winner’s trophy Friday night.

Pit gates will open at 3:00 for the inaugural event, with grandstand gates swinging open at 5:00. Hot laps are slated for 6:00 and the first heat race is scheduled to take to the track at 7:00. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will also join the racing program Friday night.

The Battleground Speedway is a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Highland Exit 787, then 4.0 miles north on FM 2100 (Crosby Lynchburg Rd.). For more information, call 832-421-RACE or check out www.battlegroundspeedway.net online.

SATURDAY, MAY 9 - HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK

On Saturday, May 9, the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown is on the invasion menu with the 2nd Annual Showdown at Baytown. With seven shows since 2007, more USMTS Southern Series events have been held at HRP than any other facility – and, weather permitting, the total will increase to 11 with the conclusion of the 3rd Annual Texas Winter Nationals, Dec. 3-5.

The nine-year-old facility has a main grandstand seating capacity of 7,500 which includes fourteen VIP luxury suites and boasts a state-of-the-art Musco Lighting system for TV productions.

Paul White won the first-ever USMTS Southern Series event at Houston Raceway Park. Since then, trips to victory lane have also been made by Alan Mondus, Kelly Shryock, Jason Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., Johnny Bone Jr. and Zack VanderBeek.

Local aces expected to compete include David Smith, Chris Brown, Corey Neil, Kevin Batterbee, Joe Mayhew, Kenny Batterbee, Ed Wickham, Brent Nicholas, Brian Spindleman, Brian Sellier and others.

Pit gates will open at 4:00 on Saturday with grandstands opening at 6:00. Hot laps are at 6:30 and racing begins at 7:00. USRA Southern Limited Modifieds will round out the night’s racing card.

The Houston Raceway Park is a state-of-the-art 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval located east of Houston on I-10 to Exit 798, then 3.0 miles south on SR 146, then 0.9 miles southeast on FM 1405, then 1.5 miles northeast on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-RACE or visit www.houstonraceway.com online.

SUNDAY, MAY 10 - GATOR MOTORPLEX

The four-race weekend wraps up at the Gator Motorplex in Willis on Sunday, May 10, to make-up the rained-out show on April 18. Gates will open early at 12 noon, with hot laps slated for 3:30 and the first green flag flying 4:00. Also competing will be USRA Southern Limited Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Pure Stocks.

Fans can meet the drivers prior to hot laps and a free meal from Hickory Hut Concessions are part of the special Mothers Day prizes that will be distributed at the races. Mother’s Day prize sponsors include Speed Tan, Gene’s Hickory Hut, Performance Tinters, SDR Photography, Checkerflag Diner, Waffle House, Starbucks, Sonic, Subway and more.

Past USMTS Southern Series winners at the Gator Motorplex include Greg Skaggs (2007) and Steve Holzkamper (2008).

Local favorites than fans can expect to see defending their home turf are Kevin Sturgess, Bryan Vollmer, Doug Byrns, Keith Wright, Monty Locke, Alan Drewry, Steve Pugh, Derek Knowles, Kalif Sellier, Jeff Wood and others.

The Gator Motorplex is a 1/4-mile high-banked clay oval located off I-45 to Shepherd Hill (Exit 98), then east, then 1.4 miles south on SR 75. The track’s official website is online at www.gatormotorplex.net.

RULES & PROCEDURES: All USMTS rules apply. Qualifying will be done by heat race passing points and Real Racing Wheels “B” Mains. Draw for heat race starting spot ends 15 minutes before hot laps begin. The American Racer KK704 is the Official Tire of the USMTS; however drivers may use the Hoosier G60 but will not earn points or be eligible for points funds. Roll bar padding and a window net are required. If utilizing a flat tappet or BRODIX aluminum spec head engine, the minimum weight of the racecar must be 2,400 lbs. If utilizing steel or aluminum heads with a 23-degree valve angle, the minimum weight must be 2,450 lbs. If utilizing raised runner heads or heads with less than a 23-degree valve angle, the minimum weight must be 2,500 lbs. Racecars with aluminum heads other than the approved BRODIX aluminum spec heads must have 25 lbs. in front of mid-plate.

PROVISIONALS: Four provisional starters shall be added to the rear of the Sunoco “A” Main each night - two from USMTS points and two from track points.

TOP DOG BONUS: Drivers ranked among the top-10 in West Region points are guaranteed a minimum of $300. Drivers ranked 11th through 15th earn a minimum of $200. Driver must have perfect attendance in the USMTS Southern Series West Region to be eligible.

LICENSES: There is no requirement to purchase a USMTS license to compete in any USMTS event. However, benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers includes higher event purses and bonus payouts, increased tow money, discounted entry fees, contingency awards, points funds, provisional starting spots, increased media recognition, a personalized driver profile page at www.usmts.com and more. The cost of a USMTS Southern Series license is $200.

ENTRY FEES: Pre-entry is $90 for non-licensed drivers or $80 for drivers with a USMTS license. Late entry for all drivers is $100. Drivers may call USMTS headquarters at (515) 832-7944 on Tuesday, May 5, to secure the early entry rate.

PAYOFF: Licensed - 1. $2000, 2. $1500, 3. $1000, 4. $800, 5. $700, 6. $600, 7. $500, 8. $450, 9. $400, 10. $350, 11. $320, 12. $300, 13. $275, 14-26. $250, Tow $80; Non-Licensed - 1. $2000, 2. $1200, 3. $800, 4. $600, 5. $500, 6. $400, 7. $350 , 8. $300, 9. $250, 10. $230, 11. $210, 12-26. $200, Tow $60.

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES - WEST REGION POINTS STANDINGS:
1. 12 - Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla. … 312
2. 3 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, IA, . 246
3. 20 - Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas … 237
4. 89 - Steven Whiteaker Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas … 227
5. 9 - Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La. … 222
6. 12 - Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge, Ark. … 216
7. 14 - Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D. … 210
8. 51 - Eddie Martin, Stilwell, Okla. … 203
8. 5t - Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla. … 203
10. 20r - Bryan Rowland, Woodward, Okla. … 199
11. 71k - Kevin Sustaire, Emery, Texas … 181
12. 5a - Wes Armstrong, Marshall, Texas … 179
13. 4r - Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla. … 177
14. 4m - Bobby Malchus, Red Oak, Texas … 167
14. 57 - Jason Armstrong, Marshall, Texas … 167
16. 5r - Morgan Bagley, Longview, Texas … 164
17. 111 - Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M. … 160
17. 10 - Kyle Schmidt, Farmington, Ark. … 160
19. 60 - William Gould, Calera, Okla. … 145
19. 30 - Chase Allen, Midlothian, Texas … 145
21. 91b - Shawn Brassfield, Ada, Okla. … 135
21. 52 - Chad Davis Tulsa, Okla., … 135
21. 75 - Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas … 135
21. 18 - Cody Smith, Kaufman, Texas … 135
25. 5 - Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark. … 130
26. 88 - Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, Okla. … 129
27. 25 - Scott Green, Derby, Kan. … 120
28. GO - Kip Hughes, Enid, Okla. … 102
29. 9j - Jeremy Morris, Lowell, Ark. … 95
30. L1 - Larry Clevenger, Greenwood, La. … 90
30. 89 - Tate Cole, Muskogee, Okla. … 90
30. 66x - Mike Dillard, Allen, Texas … 90
30. 8j - Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Texas … 90
30. 6 - Pat McVicker, Woodward, Okla. … 90
30. 47 - Melvin Pilcher, Springdale, Ark. … 90
30. 38 - Jeremy Ross, Locust Grove, Okla. … 90
30. C8 - Timothy Culp, West Monroe, La. … 90
38. 5w - John O Whittington, Vidor, Texas … 85
39. 18 - Tim Clonch, Quinlan, Texas … 77
40. 76 - Troy Taylor Jr., Dallas, Texas … 67
41. 18 - Jack Sullivan, Greenbrier, Ark. … 64
42. 14 - Tristan Dycus, Midlothian, Texas … 54
43. 2 - Jerry Standifer, Howe, Okla. … 45
43. 12 - Tyler Townsend, Longview, Texas … 45
43. 58 - Nathan Bichsel, Amarillo, Texas … 45
43. 26 - Allen Chickering, Okarche, Okla. … 45
43. 23b - Brandon Davis, Castle Rock, Colo. … 45
43. 05 - Ron Gould Jr., McLoud, Okla. … 45
43. 2 - Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan. … 45

USMTS SOUTHERN SERIES - 2009 SCHEDULE:
Fri Mar 20 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR (winner: Michael Robertson) [E]
Sat Mar 21 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR (winner: Johnny Bone Jr.) [E]
Fri Apr 3 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK (winner: Jason Hughes) [W]
Sat Apr 4 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK (winner: Jason Hughes) [W]
Fri Apr 24 … Texarkana 67 Speedway, Texarkana, AR (winner: Jason Hughes) [E]
Sat Apr 25 … Champion Park Speedway, Haughton, LA (winner: Johnny Bone Jr.) [E]
Sun Apr 26 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA (winner: Jack Sullivan) [E]
Fri May 1 … Lake Country Speedway, Ardmore, OK (winner: Jason Hughes) [W]
Thu May 7 … Golden Triangle Raceway Park, Beaumont, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Fri May 8 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Sat May 9 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Sun May 10 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win) [W]
Tue Jun 9 … Tri-State Speedway, Pocola, OK ($2,000 to win) [E]
Wed Jun 10 … I-30 Speedway, Little Rock, AR ($2,000 to win) [E]
Thu Jun 11 … Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, LA ($2,000 to win) [E]
Fri Jun 12 … Fast Trax Speedway, Chatham, LA ($2,000 to win) [E]
Sat Jun 13 … Drew County Speedway, Monticello, AR ($2,000 to win) [E]
Sun Jun 14 … Boothill Speedway, Greenwood, LA ($2,000 to win) [E]
Thu Oct 1 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($1,000 to win)
Fri Oct 2 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Sat Oct 3 … Battleground Speedway, Highlands, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Fri Oct 23 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Sat Oct 24 … Gator Motorplex, Willis, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Fri Nov 27 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($1,000 to win) [H]
Sat Nov 28 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Sun Nov 29 … Texana Raceway Park, Edna, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Thu Dec 3 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($2,000 to win) [H]
Fri Dec 4 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($3,000 to win) [H]
Sat Dec 5 … Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, TX ($4,000 to win) [H]

[E] = East Region
[W] = West Region
[H] = Championship Hunt

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

USMTS Press Release

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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