San Antonio Speedway July 24 Race Recap

[GoGirl]

Three drivers were not on the telephone, but they certainly had their racecars "dialed in" to perfection. George Reyes, Wesley McGuffin and Joey Heinaman each won their feature event and said, "HELLO" to victory circle this past Saturday night at San Antonio Speedway.

 

As soon as the green flag waved for the 15 lap Road Runners main event, the chase was on.....for George Reyes. Reyes started on the pole followed by Ken Jones, Irish O'Leary, Jason Kelly, Mark Mathias and Greg Rohmer. Reyes was flying with Mathias and Rohmer quickly moving into the second and third positions. With three laps remaining in the race, the red flag came out when Jones nailed the wall, leaving a trail of radiator fluid across the track. That red flag erased Reyes' huge lead. After the clean-up was completed, Mathias made several unsuccessful attempts to get by Reyes. This was Reyes' very first feature win at SAS. Next to cross the finish line were Mathias, Rohmer and O'Leary.

 

In the Late Model main event, disaster struck on the very first lap. Outside pole-sitter, Michael Lampton got sideways on the backstretch and clipped Mark Ackerman's (pole-sitter) racecar. This roadblock left James Cole, Mike Balzer, Brian Moczygemba and Danny Garcia with nowhere to go. Balzer, Moczygemba and Garcia hit the pits for repairs and were able to continue. Lampton had an extended stay in the pits and later returned to complete a few more laps. Cole wasn't that lucky, he slid head-on into the inside retaining wall which put an early end to his night along with Ackerman. The new line-up had Wesley McGuffin and Jesse Salazar pacing the field followed by Jason Smith, Larry Bendele, Garcia and Balzer. When the green flag dropped, McGuffin jumped into the lead. Both Smith and Bendele got by Salazar which moved them into the second and third spots. McGuffin was in the fast lane driving the wheels off of his car and led the pack by a large margin. With 10 laps remaining, second place was being hotly contested between Smith, Bendele and Garcia. These drivers turned in a fan pleasing and action packed performance. However, none of them had anything for McGuffin. He drove an awesome race and captured his first ever NASCAR feature win. Smith, Garcia, Bendele and Salazar filled out the top five spots.

 

The final event of the evening saw eighteen Texas Asphalt Modified Series drivers hitting the track for their 50 lap feature event. Bruce Beddoe earned the pole position by posting the fast time of 19.50 in qualifying followed by Chris Swenson, Joey Heinaman, Matt Brune and Jeff Smith. When the green flag waved, Beddoe took the point with Swenson lurking on his back bumper. Five laps into the event, David Machen spun out and hit the Turn 4 wall. The racing action was slowed by three additional yellow flags which flew for minor incidents. After each restart, Beddoe and Swenson separated themselves from the rest of the pack. At the halfway marker the top five were Beddoe, Swenson, Heinaman, Brune and Jerry Schild. The name of the game in the second half of this race was blown engines. On Lap 26, Don Banker's engine expired. Kenny Huggins and Milton Krauss were also involved as they encountered oil on the track. While leading, Beddoe's engine erupted with just six laps remaining and Swenson spun in the fluid left behind. Swenson made repairs and was able to continue. This turn of events put Heinaman in the top spot followed by Brune, Schild, J. Smith and Larry Smith. On the restart, Schild and Brune tangled in Turn 3. Gary Junco, L. Smith, John Paul Kliewer and Steve Clegg also got caught up in this melee. Schild was the only driver unable to continue. As the checkered flag waved, it was Heinaman who dodged all obstacles and took the win followed by Brune, J. Smith, Swenson and Kliewer. During post-race inspection, Swenson was found to be too light and disqualified.

 

Congratulations to all of our winners!