Abbeys X3, O'Bryan and Jacobs score Memorial Showdown wins @ 281

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Memorial Showdown @ 281 Speedway by C&S Promotions, 5/27/17

 

By JM Hallas

 

Stephenville, TX.,(May 27th, 2017) As part of the big Memorial weekend racing 281 Speedway hosted the Memorial Showdown on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt oval just north of town. This weekends feature class was the IMCA Stock Cars with a meet-n-greet and autograph session on the front pit road prior to the nights events.

 

Along with the IMCA Stock Cars, the IMCA Modifieds, Southern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts, plus the Factory Stocks were also in action. The IMCA Modified portion of the show was a $1,000 to win Fast Shafts IMCA All Star Race qualifier. Additional money was also up for grabs in the Sport Mods and I-Stocks.

 

With extra money on the line a big field of cars showed up with some of the states heavy hitters. Several of the Iowa boys made the trip down with their IMCA Hobby Stocks preparing for a big money show at Heart O' Texas Speedway on Sunday night.

 

Abbeys All the Way

In what I thought would be an anomaly, turned out to be just another racing weekend for the Abbey family with all three boys winning their respective features. Turns out they had just done the same thing the previous night at Boyd Raceway, as well as once last season also. So we'll go with them sweeping the weekend so far, with one more night left in Waco Sunday.

 

In a real crowd pleaser, Dean Abbey and Robert Scrivner put on a slide job clinic at the end of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature. The final two laps saw the duo swap sliders and the lead corner for corner with Abbey edging out Scrivner at the checkers for the win.

 

As the 20-car IMCA Modified main took the green, Abbey beat Pat McGuire into turn 1 for the lead. As the they sorted out McGuire, Scrivner, Kevin Sustaire and Jason Hunter fell in behind Abbey. McGuire made an early move to get the top spot on lap 2 while Scrivner got loose and lost a spot to Sustaire. After a couple restarts, Abbey retook the lead from McGuire on lap 4.

 

After another quick yellow, Sustaire got by McGuire for second bringing Scrivner along to third. Scrivner then began to put pressure on Sustaire for second while Robby Edwards got by Fred Wojtek for fifth. Scrivner got the spot with track points leader, Hardy Henderson side by side with Jason Hunter for sixth.

 

Just before halfway Raymond McSpadden, Ryan Childress and Cody Tidwell all spun in turn 1 for a caution. Once back to green Sustaire got second back from Scrivner, but Scrivner fought back. At halfway it was Abbey, Scrivner, Sustaire, McGuire and Wojtek in the top five. Henderson then picked off Wojtek and McGuire on lap 11.

 

While battling with Scrivner for second, Sustaire jumped the cushion in turn 2 falling back to sixth. With five to go Abbey and Scrivner had pulled ahead of the field to settle it among themselves. As the laps wound down Abbey also slipped a bit high in turn 2 giving Scrivner a run down the back stretch. Scrivner threw a slide job on Abbey in turn 3 barely leading back to the line.

 

Abbey got the run on the bottom and dove low in turn 1 and slid up in front of Scrivner. Scrivner crossed over and repeated his slide job in turn 3. Abbey returned the favor coming off turn 4 as the two ran wheel to wheel to checkers with Abbey, in the Abbey Racing, Dynamic Driveline, Berta Built Bodies, Dirt Defender, Master Repair, JL Custom Transmissions, Superior Steering Wheels, five1seven Designs, Z4 Products, J&J Motorsports, crate powered Larry Shaw Race Car edging Scrivner out.

 

“This Shaw car is just phenomenal,” exclaimed Abbey. “We got this car last year and it was good, made the show at the Super Nationals. The car has really come around this year. If I hadn't made that little mistake near the end I think I'd have been alright. It ended up working out anyway. If I had to get beat by anyone I'd want it to be Roberet (Scrivner).”

 

“Live by the cushion, die by the cushion. It almost cost us tonight. It's pretty fun exchanging slide jobs. I'd rather not have to do it though. I'd rather be out there on cruise control, but it was fun especially when you can do it clean.”

 

“Track position is crucial. It was really good for us. We led lap 1 then fell back to second until we got back by Pat (McGuire). I just held on from there. The car was a little tight, but manageable. I've been doing this a long time so a quality field like this one was isn't that much pressure on me. I try not to let it get to me and just out there and do what I do.”

 

 

IMCA Modifieds

26 Dean Abbey, 53 Robert Scrivner, 63 Hardy Henderson, 9m Pat McGuire, 44 Fred Wojtek, 24b Chris Bragg, 71k Kevin Sustaire, 43 Robby Edwards, 71 Chad Melton, 96 Johnny Sheets, 11 Matt Martin, 27g Dwayne Grantham, 81 Ryan Childress, 1b Brandon Hood, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 9d JP Dowell, 13h Jason Hunter, 17 Cody Tidwell, 82 Rick Green, 20 Mike McCarthy

 

IMCA Modified B-main(top 8 to A-main)

11 Matt Martin, 9d JP Dowell, 24b Chris Bragg, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 17 Cody Tidwell, 82 Rick Green, 20 Mike McCarthy, 81 Ryan Childress, 91m Mike Moore, 30 Jerry Robinson, 37 Don Bankerm, 15 Chris Carroll, 92 Peter DeGrote, 13g David Goode sr.---dns

 

IMCA Modified heats(top 3 redraw)
Heat 1; 96 Johnny Sheets, 44 Fred Wojtek, 63 Hardy Henderson, 11 Matt Martin, 91m Mike Moore, 81 Ryan Childress, 13g David Goode sr.

Heat 2; 9 Pat McGuire, 43 Robby Edwards, 13h Jason Hunter, 9d JP Dowell, 17 Cody Tidwell, 15 Chris Carroll, 20 Mike McCarthy

Heat 3; 26 Dean Abbey, 27g Dwayne Grantham, 53 Robert Scrivner, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 92 Peter DeGrote, 30 Jerry Robinson

Heat 4;71k Kevin Sustaire, 71 Chad Melton, 1b Brandon Hood, 24b Chris Bragg, 82 Rick Green, 37 Don Banker

 

Jeffrey Abbey was next to add a trophy to the Abbey family collection with his wire to wire win in the 20-lap IMCA Southern Sport Mod feature. It wasn't as easy as that as he had Johnny Torres on his tail throughout the race giving him an occasional look low in turn 1. Torres seemed to get into the turn better and get the nose inside, but Abbey would pull him off the turn 2 and hold the lead.

 

The 14-car IMCA Southern Sportmod feature almost started in disaster when Bobby Sheets spun from the front row in turn 1. Somehow, everyone avoided major contact, Sheets got righted and continued on. This gave Abbey the lead on lap 1 trailed by Bobby Edwards, Torres, Sid Kiphen and James Guyton. Torres quickly got by Edwards, and the chase was on.

 

A multi-car tangle in turn 4 gave Torres his first shot at Abbey on the restart, but Abbey held on while Kiphen, Guyton and Edwards were three wide for third. That didn't end well for Edwards as he slammed the front stretch wall hard after contact in the battle. Torres again gave Abbey a look on the restart, with Guyton taking third from Kiphen.

 

At the crossed flags it was Abbey, Torres, Guyton, James Hanusch and Tyler Bragg in the top five after Kiphen slowed and pulled off. Abbey and Torres then began to pull away from the pack. As the white was shown Abbey had a couple car lengths on Torres who gave it one more shot but came up short as Abbey in the Abbey Racing, Tumbleweed BBQ, Berta Built Bodies, Swenson Racing Components, Dynamic Drivelines, Brass Monkey Race Products, Abilene Powder Coating, five1seven Designs, KSE Powered, Express Chassis held on for the victory.

 

“It all starts in the shop,” said Abbey. “Lots of hard work in the shop is what makes wins happen. We got to start second row, and that helped. We're not used to starting there running IMCA points. We usually start fifth or sixth row, so starting up there was nice.”

 

“Last night at Boyd, we all three won and did it again tonight. After I got out front I saw Johnny Torres inside of me. I kept seeing him on those restarts and he was there the whole time putting pressure on me. I just had to keep the car smooth and knew if I did I'd be tough to get around.”

 

“We're all going to Waco tomorrow. We'll go back to the shop and go over all the cars. We'll go over everything, knock the bodies out and grind some tires for tomorrow.

 

IMCA Southern Sport Mods

37 Jeffrey Abbey, 661 Johnny Torres, 68 James Guyton, 777 James Hanusch, 24t Tyler Bragg, 95 Ronnie Bell jr., 196 Bobby Sheets, 3x Quentin Noel, 21t Taylor Florio, 91 Kyle Wisdom, 00 Brad Shirley, 58 Sid Kiphen, 43 Bobby Edwards, 30 David Sanford----bf, 04 Justin Boyd---dns

 

SSM heats(top 5 redraw)
Heat 1; 661 Johnny Torres, 95 Ronnie Bell jr., 658 James Guyton, 777 James Hanusch, 43 Bobby Edwards, 91 Kyle Wisdom, 00 Brad Shirley

Heat 2; 3x Quentin Noel, 37 Jeffrey Abbey, 58 Sid Kiphen, 196 Bobby Sheets, 24t Tyler Bragg, 30 David Sanford, 21t Taylor Florio, 04 Justin Boyd

 

Last, but not least, it was the youngest Abbey's turn to shine in the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature. Westin Abbey would get out front early after a brief battle with AJ Dancer. He would then be chased by Dillon Smith, Anthony Otken and finally GW Egbert. Egbert would give him one good run at the finish, but it was Abbey hanging on to score the win.

 

Twenty-one IMCA Stock Cars took the green with Dancer leading off turn 2. Abbey got a run on Dancer and was first back to line with Dancer still along side and Smith, Wade White, and Otken in pursuit. Smith would look to take it three wide for the lead, but think better. After a yellow Smith would grab second from Dancer while Egbert got fifth from White.

 

Otken was next to put Dancer back a spot, followed by Egbert. Otken and Egbert continued to move forward getting past Smith for second and third. At the midway point it was Abbey, Oyken, Egbert, Dancer and Smith in the top five with the top four running nose to tail. In the pack it was three wide between Zach Riley, Ryan Powers and Lewis Blackwood for eighth.

 

Once Egbert cleared Otken for second he reeled in Abbey for the lead with about five to go. A lap 18 caution put Egbert on Abbey's bumper for the restart. Abbey got a few car lengths on green, but Egbert was right back on his bumper. Coming to the checkers Egbert gave it his best try getting the nose inside coming off turn 4, but it was Abbey fending him off for the win in the Abbey Racing, Tumbleweed BBQ, Don Wilde Racecraft, Berta Built Bodies, five1seven Designs, Dynamic Drivelines, Ishilin Farms, KSE powered, B&B Chassis.

 

“We did this last night at Boyd Raceway,” said the young Abbey about the family sweep. “We did it last year at Boyd once too. I finally got this car back from Minnesota and it's been good so far. It's won two nights in a row. They redid the whole front end pretty much and put the body on for me.”

 

“I went back to the set up I had on it before. They didn't much except change the frame horn. It didn't really change the car much. There was a lot of tough cars here tonight. I knew GW(Egbert) was there at the end. I knew I couldn't mess up and just held my line the best I could. I saw his nose when we were coming out of turn 4. It still puts a little pressure on me knowing the quality of the field out there. I knew if I messed up that they'd get by me.”

 

IMCA Stock Cars

12 Westin Abbey, 717 GW Egbert, 489 Anthony Otken, 68 Wade White, 52 AJ Dancer, 110 Zach Riley, 65 Lewis Blackwood, 34w Ronnie Warren, 63 Andy Roller, 718 Michael Lamb, 22 Justin Weirenga, 5* Brandon Taylor, 8 Buck Owens, 69b Jeffrey Bohro, 03e Dillon Smith, 71r Kevin Rogers, 82 Mark Adams, 44z Zach Spillman, r12 Ryan Powers, 03 Justin Roberts, 14j Jay Simon II, 71z Ronnie Christopher---dns

 

I-Stock heats(top 4 redraw)
Heat 1; 82 Mark Adams, 717 GW Egbert, 718 Michael Lamb, r12 Ryan Powers, 63 Andy Roller, 14j Jay Simon II, 69b Jeffrey Bohro, 71r Kevin Rogers

Heat 2; 5* Brandon Taylor, 52 AJ Dancer, 68 Wade White, 03e Dillon Smith, 44z Zach Spillman, 34w Ronnie Warren, 71z Ronnie Christopher

Heat 3; 5* Brandon Taylor, 52 AJ Dancer, 68 Wade White, 03 Justin Roberts, 44z Zach Spillman, 34w Ronnie Warren, 71z Ronnie Christopher

 

Joe O'Bryan may have a love-hate relationship with 281 Speedway. During the January open practice, O'Bryan clipped the turn 1 wall in his IMCA Stock Car and rolled it on its side. Tonight he got the best of the track going home the winner in the 20-lap Factory Stock feature. O'Bryan got control in the latter stages after Casey Lyles and Thomas Clark took turns out front.

 

As the 14-car field took the green Lyles got out front chased by Clark, Ruben Broussard and Shelby Baker while O'Bryan and James Bailey were side by side for fifth. O'Bryan got by Baker fourth and along side Broussard for third while Bailey, Baker and Ricky Sessions tried three wide for fifth.

 

Bailey and Sessions then both put O'Bryan back to fifth before a lap 7 caution. Clark took advantage of the restart to get by Lyles to lead lap 9. At halfway the two were door to door for the lead with O'Bryan back to third, Sessions fourth and Tim Holder fifth. Lyles regained the lead on lap 11 leaving Clark side by side with O'Bryan.

 

After a lap 14 yellow, O'Bryan was looking high on Lyles for the lead with Sessions trying to find another line low. Sessions made slight contact with Lyles giving O'Bryan a run off the top to get the lead on lap 17. O'Bryan in the Bush Ranch 60, ReMax/Suzie Bush, RDO Equipment, Luke Bush Enterprises, Average Joes Performance, Nate Mare Graphics, Performance Specialists Florio Racing Chassis was able to hold off Sessions for the victory.

 

Factory Stocks

14 Joe O'Bryan, 7 Ricky Sessions, 27 Casey Lyles, 188 Thomas Clark, 8h Tim Holder, 33k Shelby Baker, 7m Gary Miller, 04 Jeff Toler, 129 JD Millirons, 51 Ruben Broussard, 26 Grant Wollman, 96 James Bailey, 66 Billy Hooper, 44 Anthony Simcik

 

Factory Stock heats(top 5 redraw)
Heat 1; 44 Anthony Simcik, 14 Joe O'Bryan, 51 Ruben Broussard, 26 Grant Wollman, 04 Jeff Toler, 7m Gary Miller, 129 JD Millirons

Heat 2; 7 Ricky Sessions, 27 Casey Lyles, 96 James Bailey, 33k Shelby Baker, 188 Thomas Clark, 8h Tim Holder, 66 Billy Hooper

 

The Iowa boys, making their trip down for the big $3,000 to win Hobby Stock Shootout show tomorrow, ran a tune up race at 281 Speedway and picked up some extra cash. Jamie Songer(Ankeny, Ia.) dueled early with fellow Iowan, Eric Stanton before taking command on lap 3. Songer and Stanton pulled away leaving Damian Snyder, Joe Williams and Jeremy Oliver slugging it out for third.

 

Songer was able to put some distance on Stanton after halfway while the local trio continued to battle with Oliver giving the front stretch wall a little kiss. As the white flag waved Songer, in his Dynamic Drivelines, All Wood Flooring, Motorsports Warehouse, G-Bass Trannys, Supreme Lawn & Landscape, Cooper Investments, Lynch Auction Services, open motor powered car had a half straightaway on Stanton as he cruised to the checkers.

 

IMCA Hobby Stocks

96r Jamie Songer, 7b Eric Stanton, 32 Joe Williams, 9 Jeremy Oliver, 75 Wesley Warren, 42t Tyson Overton, 44 Damian Snyder

 

Hobby Stock heat
Heat 1; 7b Eric Stanton, 44 Damian Snyder, 96r Jamie Songer, 9 Jeremy Oliver, 32 Joe Williams, 42t Tyson Overton, 75 Wesley Warren

 

Mike Jacobs got the win in the Sport Compact 8-lap feature that only had two cars. After watching the IMCA Modified slide job fest the previous race it was strange that two cars couldn't keep from making contact.

 

IMCA Sport Compact

5 Mike Jacobs, 10w Clifton Whisenant

 

Sport Compact heat
10w Clifton Whisenant, 5 Mike Jacobs

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