IMCA Super Sunday Series

[rebelracewriter]

IMCA Super Sunday Series @ Abilene Speedway 2-23-03

By J M Hallas

More than 150 IMCA cars showed up in four classes for the first race of the IMCA Sunday series on Abilene Speedway’s 14 mile banked, red clay oval. Despite cold temperatures and gale force winds, the racing action was still hot. I personally, took advantage of the new scoring tower most of the time. And didn’t mind doing a little fill in announcing or help with scoring a heat race, just for a place to stay warm.

Fletcher grabs two in a row.

In IMCA sprints, NTMS champ Jeff Day took the victory in heat 1, while Abilene Spwy. Champ Russ Fletcher showed he was going to be tough to deal with, scoring the win in heat 2. Only 12 cars were on hand for the Sprint main with National champ Elmer Morgan and young Sam Hafertepe on the front row. Morgan got the point on the start as Fletcher moved around Hafertepe for second. James Broyles rolled to a stop on lap 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart, two cars jumped wheels and spun causing a big pile up, with Benjamin Broyles breaking the front end, and Dennis Smith losing the nose wing which got picked up by Brad Welborn. On the restart Russ Fletcher got inside Morgan to grab the lead. Fletcher began to run away from the field as Walt Hamilton moved up to fourth after starting at the tail.

Day and Brad Welborn swapped fifth just before halfway with the top five being Fletcher, Morgan, Hafertepe, Hamilton and Welborn as the mid point came. Fletcher was still pulling away from the few cars remaining until a late caution for Morgan, who stalled on track, bunched the field. Fletcher had a lap car as a buffer over Sam Hafertepe, but no one had anything for Fletcher as he built a ½ straightaway lead again to take the win.

4T6 Russ Fletcher Abilene

15 Sam Hafertepe Sunnyvale

1 Walt Hamilton Dyess AFB

0 Lynn Woods Winthrop, Minn.

18 Greg Guessner Abilene

8 Elmer Morgan Farmers Branch

95 Jeff Day Greenville

17 Brad Welborn Allen

24 Dennis Smith Zephyr

99 Benjamin Broyles Abilene

97 James Broyles Jr. Abilene

16 Ray Welnack Dallas

 

McCullough dodges last lap wreck to snare win

In IMCA modifieds, 8 heats were run, again taking only the winner to the A-main and 4 B-mains were held taking the top 4 from each. Heat 1 saw Josh McGaha get past early leader Scotty Brown on lap 2 to get the win. Two time past National champ, Henry Witt, put a last lap, last corner pass on race long leader Varion Sisson to get the victory in heat 2. In heat 3, Josh Landers held off Max Eddie Thomas early, then pull away for to snag the win. Darryl Campbell led flag to flag in heat 4, with Dennie Gieber coming from the back, but falling one spot short of a transfer. Heat 5 early race leader, Lee Hibner, got out of shape and fell back giving the lead and win to PJ Egbert. Fighting his way up from his rear of the field start, Brian Canaday got around Willie Cook on lap 6 to snare the checkers. In heat 7 Glen Hibbard also came through the pack after starting at the back and got past Jim Fletcher at halfway for the victory. The final heat saw Keith McCullough show his strength taking the flag to flag win by a 1/4 straightaway.

B-main 1 was led to green by Brown and Sisson, with Regional points leader Glen Allen starting in the 8th row. Brown built up a big lead, while Allen put on a great charge toward the front. Sisson closed briefly on Brown, but fell back in the final laps with Brown grabbing the honors. Allen, again, fell one position short of the A-main finishing fifth and taking another hit in his point chase, falling out of the lead by night’s end.

Brown

Sisson

GW Egbert

David Davis

Allen

Billy Garza

Eric Hughes

Tony Keigley

Trent Crawford

Lonnie Hibner

Dale Marriott

Ken Couch

Shane Marquez

Bo Newton

Junior Styles

Rodney Hicks

Thomas and Gieber paced the field to green for B-main 2, with Gieber jumping into the lead. Shane Clement spun from fourth on lap 5 collecting Jim Thorp and David Smith to bring out a caution. Gieber got a slight lead on the restart while Thomas, Sams and Tim Clonch were scrapping it out for second. Gieber went on to score the victory

Gieber

Thomas

Sams

Clonch

Ronny Sigman

Jerry Graves

Thorp

James Holder

Smith

Kevin Clement

S. Clement

Eric Doroit

Patrick Wescott

Terry Dumas

William Gould got the jump on Willie Cook to get the point in B-main 3. L. Hibner and W. Cook battled for second until L. Hibner spun and was barely missed by the rest of the field. After the restart, Gould got out to a big lead while Bob Sikes and W. Cook raced for second. Gould took the win while a last lap tangle jumbled the final results.

Gould

Sikes

W. Cook

Greg Kruger

Rick Campbell

Kolt Walker

Floyd Fain

Vince Ogle

Billie Potts

Bradford Benson II

Allen Williams

Chris Watkins

L. Hibner

Matthew Johnson

Bobby Otts, Chance Kimberling and Robbie Watkins dove three wide into turn 1 at the start of B-main 4, with R. Watkins coming out on top. Gary Ramsey, Gary Underwood and Otts all spun for an early caution. On the restart the top three of R. Watkins, Jim Fletcher and Charlie Newton began to put some distance on the pack until Kimberling spun from a transfer spot on lap 8. C. Newton looked inside on the top duo, but fell back in line to avoid contact. R. Watkins held on to take the win.

R. Watkins

Fletcher

C. Newton

Tanner Albert

Raymond King

Bumper Jones

David Chenoweth

Adam Cox

Jackson Davis

Underwood

Kimberling

Ramsey

Otts

Dustin McCarty

Only 23 cars started the 25 lap A-main with Kruger unable to make the call. This was a disappointment to Allen who would have been first alternate, but I understand Sunday Series rules don’t allow for an alternate. Canaday and McCullough paced the field to the green, and McCullough took command early. Canaday and G. Hibbard swapped second place early with Canaday securing the spot. Lap 4 saw the races only caution as PJ Egbert spun while W. Cook stopped on track. On the restart Gieber ran up on McGaha, as the top three separated out. Witt, McGaha, Gieber, D. Campbell and Brown were battling for 4th -9th.

At halfway it was McCullough, Canaday, G Hibbard, Witt and McGaha in the top five. McCullough was edging away, while G. Hibbard caught Canaday for second with 8 to go. Witt reeled in G. Hibbard and Canaday with 5 top go. With 2 to go, 2nd-4th were nose to tail and McCullough was off in the distance. Witt got by G. Hibbard and as the white flag flew Fletcher and Thomas got hooked up. The leaders negotiated the tangle, but in turn three Canaday spun from second while McCullough, driving the Parkway Auto Sales/ Budget Auto Repair/El Chico Restaurant/Dirt Works Chassis, was taking the checkers.

727 Keith McCullough Pottsboro

701 Henry Witt Waco

127 Glen Hibbard Euless

911 Josh McGaha Brownwood

24 Dennie Gieber Flint

6 Varian Sisson Springtown

44 Scotty Brown Seagoville

83 Darryl Campbell Everman

14 Josh Landers Texas

117 William Gould Amarillo

70 PJ Egbert Copperas Cove

79 Charlie Newton San Angelo

16 Bob Sikes Eunice, N.M.

02 David Davis Sweetwater

441 Michael Sams Brownwood

18 Tim Clonch Quinlan

75 Brian Canaday Odessa

82 Max Eddie Thomas Texas

54 Jim Fletcher Texas

083 Tanner Albert Colleyville

143 Willie Cook Azle

991 Robbie Watkins Blue Ridge

717 GW Egbert Copperas Cove

51Greg Kruger Pilot Point-DNS

Clonch wins battle, but loses ....motor

In IMCA stock action, The top two from each heat would transfer to the A-main. Tim Clonch got past early leader Mark Mohon to grab the honors in heat 1, with Mohon holding on to second. In heat 2 Kevin Sustaire and Damon Murty battled side by side early in the first half of the race. Murty gave one last shot on the final lap, but Sustaire held on for the win. Heat 3 saw Mike Miles end up rolling on his side to bring out the red. It was a good three car fight for the transfer spots between Charles Brewer, Jason Gore and Robert Jones. Brewer and Gore finished 1-2 to take those spots. During heats 5 and 6, I was doing a little stand in announcing, so it was hard to keep notes and call the race. (But I can walk and chew gum!) Travis Evans and Chad Estes grabbed the top two spots in heat 5, while Jeff Turner and Duain Pritchett bested the field in heat 6.

The three B-mains would then take the top four spots to fill the remainder of the 24 car field. Dustin Locke led the first half of B-main 1, giving way to Tim Pyle. Pyle went on to snare the checkers.

Pyle

D. Locke

Tim Ezell

Craig Brown

Bradley Poor

Robert Engelkes

Shannon Parsons

Robert Ferron

Raymond King

Billy Wade.

In B-main 2 Brandon Kirkland led early and often going on to take the flag to flag win.

Kirkland

Jones

Doug Lorenz

Philip Egbert

Delmar Slone

Tosha McNiel

Earl Pippin

Keith Lunsford

Daniel Cato.

There was a good four car battle for lead early in B-main 3 between Thomas Earl, Sam Hodges, Gary Miller and Charlie Wilson. Earl finally took charge and left the other three to fight it out as he built a slight lead on his was to the victory.

Earl

Wilson

Hodges

JW Johnson

Miller

Chris McDonald

James Berryhill

Derrick Sears

Steve Crane

Kenneth Imler

John Weaver

 

It took three tries but polesitter Scotty Brown got the lead on green with Duain Pritchett, Tim Clonch and Damon Murty right on his tail. On a restart for a yellow caused by an Estes spin,

Pritchett and Brown made slight contact, giving Clonch the chance to get by Pritchett. Brown and Clonch ran wheel to wheel on laps 6 and 7, with Clonch finally making the pass on lap 8. Jeff Turner took a side trip through the infield and fell back. The yellow came back out on lap 9 when Ezell spun and C. Brown ended up stalled in the infield.

Just before the midway point, Wilson and Estes made contact after Locke lost the bumper to bring out a lap 12 caution flag. On the restart, the rear of pack did a freeway brake check with Hodges stalling out just on the track’s edge. At halfway the top five were, Clonch, Brown, Pritchett, Murty and Kevin Sustaire. In the final half of the race Clonch constantly eased away from the field to take the easy victory. As Clonch again put his Fetty Racing/Dougs Vinyl Signs/Cotton Racing Engines/Fetty Chassis into victory lane.

It looked like the Oklahoma land rush to the claim area with 7 cars stopping. Sustaire, Turner, Jones, Lorenz, Evans, Ezell and Gore all stopped, mostly for save claims, I'd be willing to bet. Sustaire, Ezell and Evans finally pulled away. Leaving four drivers trying to claim two motors. Lorenz bought the motor from Clonch, and Jones got the motor from Pritchett.

18 Tim Clonch Quinlan

144 Scotty Brown Seagoville

22 Duain Pritchett Combine

99 Damon Murty Chelsea, Iowa

87 Kevin Sustaire Emory

72 Charles Brewer Buffalo Gap

021 Jason Gore Combine

14Travis Evans Bullard

11 Dan Johnson Sweetwater

47 Thomas Earl III Alvarado

44 Jeff Turner Seagoville

97 Doug Lorenz Harker Heights

74Robert Jones Canton

21 Mark Mohon Sulpher Springs

83 Chad Estes Troy

17 JW Johnson Abilene

73 Tim Ezell Buffalo

55Charlie Wilson Denton

42 Brandon Kirkland Mesquite

5 Sam Hodges Eunice, N.M.

8 Dustin Locke Eunice, N.M.

9 Craig Brown Killeen

134 Tim Pyle Midland

170 Phil Egbert Copperas Cove

 

 

Hobby North vs. South, again goes to North

The Hobby main was a rock 'em, sock 'em affair with numerous cautions for spins and tangles. Once again the out-of-state guys were the class of the field, though the Texas Hobbies are gaining ground on the northern boys. After two aborted starts, Hans Houfek was sent to the tail for jumping two starts. This moved Ken Bidwell and Bill Bonnett to the front row. Bonnett took the lead from Bidwell on lap 2 and but pressed hard by Bidwell, as the duo inched away. On lap 4 Richard Collins spun at one end, while Brent Schlake and Paul Sechrist got together at the other. The yellow flew again on lap 7 when Sechrist and Rusty Sugerdew got hooked together. Steve Meyer was next to draw a yellow as he stopped on track. On the restart Randy Stout hit the back stretch wall.

The top three then began to pull away, while Houfek and Brent Hoesing made their way up from the rear. Schlake and Bidwell made contact late with Bidwell spinning from second and going to the rear. Bidwell hung back for a bit, perhaps looking for Schlake or pondering a claim, but thought better of either option. One last caution came late when Charles Collum went up in smoke and stopped. Bonnett was able to hold off Schlake after the restart and put his Terrys Auto Service/Top Notch Fabrication/Signs Plus/Klein Motors/ JR Motorsports/ Intimidater Chassis in the winner’s circle.

 

19 Bill Bonnett Knoxville, Iowa

34 Brent Schlake Blue Springs, Nebr.

24 Scott Pyle Midland

59 Hans Houfek Homer, Nebr.

9 Jerry West Ft. Worth

92 Cecil Lampe Abilene

26 Mitch Calvert San Angelo

18 Steven Yuen Abilene

86 Everett Keel Brownwood

52 Martin Rouse Grundy Center, Iowa

23 Paul Martin Abilene

49 Jason Murray Hartford, Iowa

57 Paul Sechrist Sunset

04 Ken Bidwell Tama, Iowa

1 Rusty Sugerdew Mertzon

17 Ben Hoesing Ames

12 John Davis Eunice, N.M.

37 Charles Collum Kermit

690 Richard Collins Abilene

6 Randy Stout Ft. Worth

60 Keith Buford Abilene

94 Steve Meyer Grundy Center, Iowa71 Chris Ater Haltom

7 Chris Meyers Eunice, N.M.

 

Despite the rains, cold weather and mud, the Icebreaker/Sunday Series shows were another one of those must see events, even if it’s just for the party at the Kiva Inn. Track owner Rob Poor, Richard Snider(KSP) and the rest of the track crew should be commended for all the work they did to give everyone a place to race. Also thanks go out to Linda Poor, Trudy Harlow and all the scoring ladies, for their help, as well as giving me a warm place to do my write-ups.