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Hutto’s Mark Chrudimsky defends Snowball Derby Modified title with impressive win

Mark Chrudimsky made Texas proud last night by winning the most prestigious Asphalt Modified race of the year at Five Flags Speedway’s 43rd Annual Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida, for the second year in a row.

The popular Texas stock car ace, affectionately known as “Wild Man” to his many Texas fans, started the 50-lap feature at the Five Flags half-mile oval in the the 12th spot beside fellow Texan Tuffy Hudson.

Chrudimsky avoided numerous wrecks and pile ups, worked his way methodically to the front of the 32-car field and joined yet another Texan, Stephan McCurley, in a spirited battle for the lead late in the race.

With eight laps remaining Chrudimsky made a great pass under the two leaders, but fellow Texan Stephan McCurley was right there to challenge. However, two laps later McCurley tangled with another competitor while dicing for position and his night was over as his ride suffered too much damage in the mishap to continue.

After that it was clear sailing for Chrudimsky who won by several car lengths over Billy Melvin.

Hudson looked fast early on, but had something go awry in the rear suspension about mid-race, knocking him out for the night.

Jason Mormon, another Texan, had a decent run, finishing a strong ninth. Two more Texas drivers, John Schultz and Bradley Riethmeyer, had fast cars but both suffered mechanical woes and dropped out early.

“Texans are four out of five in the Modifieds at the Derby,” Lone Star Speedzone contributor Tom Taylor said. “Jason Boyd won in 2006, Tuffy Hudson in 2008, Mark Chrudimsky in 2009 and Mark again in 2010.”

Unofficial results:

1. Mark Chrudimsky
2. Billy Melvin
3. John Sappralcone
4. Korey Ruble
5. Todd Jackson
6. Gerald Wilkerson
7. Brandon Howell
8. Nathan Ingersoll
9. Jason Morman
10. Donnie Hamrac
11. Mike Maddox
12. Chris Cotto
13. Nathan Davis
14. Trevor Edwards
15. Todd Jones
16. Jeff Letson
17. Brandon Curren
18. Stephan McCurley
19. Tim Martin
20. Kevyn Terry
21. Kevin Peel
22. Scooter Grice
23. Bradley Riethmeyer
24. Augie Grill
25. Kevin Chase
26. John Schultz
27. Tuffy Hudson
28. Bubba Gale
29. James Patrick
30. Michael House
31. Don Livingston
32. A.J. Winstead

By Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone
Photos by Debbie Williams, Lone Star Speedzone

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

NASCAR Late Models, NASCAR Modifieds on tap Houston Motorsports Park Saturday, 5/30/09

Beautiful Houston Motorsports Park is hosting the NASCAR Late Models and NASCAR Modifieds tonight in their “Adrenaline on Asphalt” stock car racing program at the 3/8-mile paved oval in Northeast Houston.

Two San Antonio-area drivers - Joe Aramendia and Brandon Bendele - sit atop the Late Model point standings but are expected to face strong challenges in their “Fiesta 50″ main event from Houston-area drivers Greg Davidson, Thad Felton and Carl Smith.

A fast field of NASCAR Modifieds including expected entrants Denny Burton, who leads the NASCAR Modified point standings, Justin Long, who won the season opener back in March, the always quick Tuffy Hudson and Brad Hudak will compete in the “Cricket 40.”

Also on the full racing lineup are the Houston Pro Stocks, the fun-to-watch Limited Modifieds, the Legends, Bandoleros and the newest HMP class - the Eco Stocks.

Racing action gets started at 6:00 p.m. with heat races and features in all divisions.

For more information log onto the HMP website at http://www.houstonmotorsportspark.com.

by Nick Holt

Houston Motorsports Park to fire up “Fiesta’s Super Spring Fling” this Saturday

The fire-breathing NASCAR Fiesta Late Models, the low-slung, lightning-quck NASCAR Cricket Modifieds and the always-competitive Texas Pro Trucks will be the featured racing divisions this Saturday at Houston Motorsports Park.

Two San Antonio area Late Model drivers - Joe Aramendia and Brandon Bendele - will lead a strong contingent into the “Fiesta 50″ at the immaculate, 3/8-mile, Northeast Houston facility. Aramendia sits atop the Late Model point standings, but Bendele - winner of the first Late Model event in March - is only three points behind. Also expected to make a strong showing is Greg Davidson who won the last Late Model show earlier this month.

Veteran campaigner Denny Burton, Justin Long and Corpus Christi hotshoe Tuffy Hudson are the NASCAR Cricket Modified point leaders and all three are expected to be near the front at the finish line of Saturday’s “Cricket 40.”

The Pro Trucks will be making their second stop of the season at the HMP oval to compete in the “Specialty Supply 30.”

Also on tap are the Houston Pro Stocks, the Limited Modifieds, Bandoleros, Legends and Eco Stocks in heat and feature races.

Racing action gets underway at 5:00 p.m. For more information visit the Houston Motorsports Park website at http://www.houstonmotorsportspark.com.

Staff Report

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

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