Return to Racing @ I-37 Speedway, 5/9/20

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• Return to Racing @ I-37 Speedway, 5/9/20

  By JM Hallas

  Pleasanton, TX (May, 9th, 2020) Wreckin' the 'Rona.

  After two, seemingly years, but only months I-37 Speedway finally heard the roar of racing engines again as things returned to the “new normal.” (I hate that term.)

  On the bright side racers/teams that were not ready for the early season opening in May had plenty of time to have their cars ready for battle on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt oval. All five regular classes(IMCA Modifieds, Limited Late Models, USRA Limited Modifieds, Fatory Stocks and Tuners) were slated. The Go-Kart kids had the night off.

  All mandated safety measures were in place with social distancing in the stands and those feeling more comfortable in face coverings. Concessions and souvenir stands were all apportioned out and shields in place.

  With no other tracks south of Waco running anything but practice, drivers from around central and south Texas prepared to do battle through heats and B-mains to set the fields for the features. Over 100 teams showed up in the five classes.

  While the track was in excellent condition most of the night it seemed that the drivers still had some rust to shake off, along with body panel, bumpers, spoilers and other assorted parts. Fortunately there was only one major incident and no injuries during the carnage.

  Leonard Outlasts Modified Mayhem

  The IMCA Modfied feature was one the more brutal features of the night and it started early. Shortly after green was waved Cody Tidwell and Adam James tangled in turn 1, setting up a complete restart. On the second start Dillon Tindall, from row 2, got a jump on green leading the way chased by Chris Carroll, Justin Delgado, Garrett Higgins and Robert Liese jr.

  Higgins would loop it on lap 2 after expiring a motor sending others spinning to avoid contact. Once back to green it was Tindall and Carroll getting out while Cody Leonard, Delgado and Liese were three wide for third. On lap 3 yellow waved again when Chandler Fox spun in turn 4 about the same time Liese, Bill Pittaway, Delgado and James tangled in turn 2.

  On green Campbell, using the top, went past Leonard for third. Campbell and Leonard then went around Carroll for second and third. Campbell and Leonard continued the fight for second and still closed on Tindall for the lead. Campbell, still up top, went by Tindall to lead lap 9 bringng Leonard along to second.

  Coming to halfway Leonard, Campbell and Tindall were three wide with Leonard showing the way at the line. Tindall slid Leonard in turn 1, but Leonard crossed him over off turn 2 to hold the point. The top three now were all running the top and getting away.

  Traffic gave Leonard some space as Tindall and Campbell got hung up allowing Carroll to close the gap. As the white flag waved Leonard had a three quarter straight advantage on the trio and easy cruised to the checkers unchallenged.

  

  “We got the win. The ole Shaw was on rails. The changes have woken the car up a lot. 6th to 1st in the heat. I believe 10th to 1st in the main. She was diggin'. Excited to improve on it some more and see how we hold up at some of the big shows. Thanks to everyone that lent a hand tonight.

  Sponsors; CD Electric, M&M Racing, Ace Transmission, Reneau Farms, Swenson Racing Shocks, Mobilease, Wright Reneau Law Firm, Flanagan Muffler Shop, Supreme Vinyl, Coastal Diesel Performance, Shaw Race Cars.

  Simpson Safety Products IMCA Modifieds

  12 Cody Leonard, 86 Dillon Tindall, 129 Jamie Campbell, 15 Chris Carroll, 9m Marcus Mikulencak, 16 Landon Bednarz, 5 DJ Schroat, 53x Chandler Fox, 31m Marlin Samford, 27 Justin Delgado, 77 Robert Liese jr., 83 Adam James, 137 Bill Pittaway, 37h Garrett Higgins, 419 Johnny Melancon, 17 Cody Tidwell, 82 Rick Green, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 01 Derek Scott jr., 81 Chris Gallien---dns, 924 Joshua Melancon---dns, 5r Ryan Doyon---dns

  Modified heats

  Heat 1; 86 Dillon Tindall, 15 Chris Carroll, 01 Derek Scott jr., 27 Justin Delgado, 924 Joshua Melancon, 5r Ryan Doyon, 5 DJ schroat, 81 Chris Gallien

  Heat 2; 82 Rick Green, 83 Adam James, 77 Robert Liese jr., 137 Bill Pittaway, 16 Landon Bednarz, 53x Chandler Fox, 9m Marcus Mikulencak

  Heat 3; 12 Cody Leonard, 17 Cody Tidwell, 37h Garrett Higgins, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 129 Jamie Campbell, 419 Johnny Melancon, m31 Marlin Samford

  Torres Tallies in Limited Modifieds

  The start of the 20-lap Limited Modified feature saw past USAC champion, Paul White grab the early lead ahead of Talon Minten, Johnny Torres, Anthony Gordon and Robby Minten. T. Minten began looking up top for the lead with Ryan Doyon getting by Jared Maupin and R. Minten for fifth. T, Minten was able to get nose out front to lead lap 3.

  Chris Robeau and Bruce Tesch got together on lap 5 for a quick caution that saw J. Torres get past White for second. J. Torres then began looking low on T. Minten for the lead. Ry. Doyon, Sterling Tausch and Robeau tangled on lap 6 for another caution.

  As T. Minten got clear on green, White and J. Torres stayed wheel to wheel for second until J. Torres retook the spot. J. Torres was just beginning to pressure T. Minten again, when Allen Torres spun on the back stretch for a lap 8 caution.

  As green waved again J. Torres, cat fishing the bottom, got along side T. Minten. The were side by side at the line on lap 9 with J. Torres ahead by a bumper at halfway over T. Minten, Maupin, Gordon and White. They were still door to door on lap 11 when yellow waved for debris under the flag stand.

  Back to racing with White getting fourth from Gordon as J. Torres inched away from T. Minten still trying the top. In the final few laps Maupin was the tail of T. Minten running the top in turns 1-2, and the bottom in turns 3-4. By the final lap J. Torres had moved ahead by a half straightaway at the checkers.

  “I thought the track was great, you could run top or bottom. At the start of the race I fell back and got worried that I would lose more spots because a lot of good cars were there. Either way just being at the track with everyone would of been a win for me.”

  Sponsors; Scott Ball Racing, Sundowner Performance Diesel, Alamo Hot Rod Parts, 8T1 Construction, All in designs, South Texas speedway, Carroll Construction, Billy Bobs Truck Repair, Swenson Racing shocks, IRP Chassis, Mission Racing Engine

  Swenson Racing Products USRA Limited Modifieds

  66 Johnny Torres, 2 Talon Minten, bd2 Jared Maupin, 22m Anthony Gordon, 96 Paul White, 9 Ray Doyon, 24r Robby Minten, 5r Ryan Doyon, 101 Tanner Whitmire, 28 Mason Casteneda, 6 Daniel Preston, 08 Alton Fambro, 30 Chris Swenson, 31L Sherrill Lewis, 6t9 Bruce Tesch, 16 Chris Robeau, 95 Sterling Tausch, 94 Allen Torres, 11t Tom Grothues---dns

  Limited Modified heats

  Heat 1; 96 Paul White, 2 Talon Minten, bd2 Jared Maupin, 101 Tanner Whitmire, 31L Sherrill Lewis,6 Daniel Preston, 16 Chris Robeau

  Heat 2; 66 Johnny Torres, 5r Ryan Doyon, 30k Chris Swenson, 6t9 Bruce Tesch, 95 Streling Tausch

  Heat 3; 24r Robby Minten, 22m Anthony Gordon, 9r Ray Doyon, 94 Allen Torres, 28m Mason Casteneda, 08 Alton Fambro

  Hardage Hot in Late Models

  Kody Hardage got the advantage on green with Trey Votion and Brandon Brzozowski side by side for second followed by Frank Okruhlik and Landon Sowder. Votion got second and got a whiff of the lead before Hardage regained the spot as the top four pulled out from the field.

  Votion and Brzozowski continued the battle for second allowing Hardage to pull ahead, while Jason Kelly took fifth from Sowder. By halfway Hardage had a half straightaway lead on Brzozowski, Votion, Okruhlik and J. Kelly. Okruhlik was able to get past Votion for third as the laps clicked off. At the checkers it was Hardage unchallenged fr the win.

  “I got a little nervous a few times in lapped traffic, but I could put it on the top, bottom or middle and it would just stick. This Longhorn has more dig than anything I’ve ever driven. I took the year off last year to rebuild my program, and it was the right decision.”

  “Big thanks to Ray, Michael, George and everyone else at I-37 Speedway. The track was awesome, and I’m happy they are behind this class to help it grow.”

  “We’ll be at Devil’s Bowl next weekend for the inaugural DFW Local Late Model Series event. Patrik Daniel will be behind the wheel so I can help behind the scenes with Mark Shipman running his first series event.”

  Sponsors: Billy Bobs Repair and Tire, Lonestar Pressure Equipment, Swenson Racing Shocks, Carroll Construction, Precision Welding, Longhorn Chassis.

  Nogalitos Gear Late Models

  12 Kody Hardage, 104 Brandon Brzozowski, 990 Frank Okruhlik, 99 Trey Votion, 95 Allen McLemore, 53x Matt Fox, 84 Patrick Kelly, 57 Jason Kelly, 88 Bobby Jack, 13 Howie Marcx, 94a Allison Morris, 08 Landon Sowder, 007Aaron Driscoll---dns

  Late Model heats

  Heat 1; 12 Kody Hardage, 104 Brandon Brzozowski, 990 Frank Okruhlik, 95a Allen McLemore, 57 Jason Kelly, 94a Allison Morris, 007 Aaron Driscoll

  Heat 2; 99 Trey Votion, 08 Landon Sowder, 84 Patrick Kelly, 53x Matt Fox, 13 Howie Marcx, 88 Bobby Jack

  Hustlin' Hessong Hots Factory Stock Pay Day

  The Factory Stocks are always a rock 'em, sock 'em affair, and tonight was no different. At the start it was Dakota Hurley getting out front but a multi-car tangle in turns 3-4 brought about a complete restart. Once again Da. Hurley got to turn 1 first pursued by Aaron Leddy, Josh Sewell, Mike Lyon and Jesse Sandoval.

  Sewell got by Leddy bringing Sandoval along to third. M. Lyon was next to put Leddy back a spot, with 2-3 wide racing from sixth on back. Robert Lyon spun in turns 1-2 for a lap 6 caution that saw Sewell challenge Da. Hurley for the lead on the restart. The two made contact on the front stretch with Sewell inching ahead on lap 8, but Da. Hurley retook the lead on lap 9.

  Leddy got turned by Shannon Maurer and got drilled by Charles Earnhardt for a lap 8 caution erasing the pass for the lead. Back to green Da. Hurley tried low on Sewell for the lead while Clint Montanio took fourth from M. Lyon. A lap later Da. Hurley would spin in turn 1 in front of the field. Somehow only George Quintanilla made contact, but both were able to continue.

  Coming to halfway on the restart it was Sewell, Sandoval, M. Lyon, Montanio and GW Hessong, coming from the seventh row. Montanio and Caitlin Leonard got hung together sending both into front stretch wall for a lap 11 yellow. Sewell and Sandoval got away on green with Hessong moving up the third past M. Lyon. Hessong then moved along side Sandoval for second as the duo caught Sewell for the lead.

  It was almost three wide for the top spot on lap 13 with Hessong claiming the spot on lap 14. Hessong got a small gap as Sandoval and Sewell continued to slug it out. It was a long road to checkers for Hessong who won his heat, only to fail tech on tire durometer, start the tail of the B-main on old, used tires, and win, then start 14th in the feature.

  “We had to battle through adversity all night. Started sixth in heat and won, then got DQed. So then started last in a B Main. Took first in that. Then started fourteenth in feature to slowly work my way to the front to take the win!”

  “I would also like to thank my family, friends and fans without all of these people none of this would be possible! Last but not least a big shout out to I-37 for giving us a hell of a track!”

  Sponsors; Magnum Services LP/ Cord Beard out of Edna, Tx. Tony’s Mobile Home Service/ Tony Blankenship of Inez, Tx. Edna Auto Supply/ Bill Hessong of Edna, Tx. B&D Motorsports/ Bruce Tesch of Columbus, Tx., and Lick My Stack Cooking Team!

  “Also would like to thank Neil Kemp/ Club 20 Shocks for his outstanding work on this shock package. My boy Jason Fitch for having my back with last minute parts!! It was the first night with these shocks and I must say they did a hell of a job!”

  All In Design USRA Factory Stocks

  747 GW Hessong, 38 Josh Sewell, 7 Jesse Sandoval, 20 Mike Lyon, 20r Jared Maupin, 9 Johnny Westfall, 98 William Suanders, 49k Michael Keylich, 48 Robert Lyon, 36 George Quintanilla, 94 Allen Torres, 75 Jerry Miller, 23k Kasey Krauss, 4D Dustin Hurley, 02 Shannon Maurer, 44k Katherine Keylich, 10 Scott Jerkins, 40 Dakota Hurley, 9c Caitlin Leonard, 09 Clint Montanio, 93 Aaron Leddy, 33 Charles Earnhardt , 3 Travis Slavik, 18 Ramon Sevilla

  B-main 1; 9c Caitlin Leonard, 3 Travis Slavik, 18 Ramon Sevilla, 23k Kasey Krauss, 33 Charles Earnhardt, 10 Scott Jerkins, 29 Jason Gordon, 19 Jennifer Kidd, 30 Riley Heil, 55 Mstt Dodson, m58 Matthew Hodge---dns, 344 Cord Beard---dns

  B-main 2; 747 GW Hessong, 02 Shannon Maurer, 94 Allen Torres, 20r Jared Maupin, 9 Johnny Westfall, 75 Jerry Miller, 6 Gary Butler, 53 Treyler Caulfield, 30 Matthew Villareal, 43 Johnny Johnson, 32 Cody Leonard

  Factory Stock heats

  Heat 1; Dakota Hurley, 49k Michael Keylich, 36 George Quintanilla, 9c Caitlin Leonard, 30 Riley Heil, 10 Scott Jerkins, m58 Matthew Hodge, 23k Kasey Krauss, 19 Jennifer Kidd

  Heat 2; 93 Aaron Leddy, 4d Dustin Hurley, 48 Robert Lyon, 20r Jared Maupin, 75 Jerry Miller, 43 Johnny Johnson, 53 Treyler Caulfield, 6 Gary Butler, 747 GW Hessong(DQ-tech)

  Heat 3; 20 Mike Lyon, 7 Jesse Sandoval, 44k Katherine Keylich, 3 Travis Slavik, 33 Charles Earnhardt, 18 Ramon Sevilla, 29 Jason Gordon, 344 Cord Beard, 55 Matt Dodson

  Heat 4; 38 Joshua Sewell, 09 Clint Montanio, 98 William Saunders, 9 Johnny Westfall, 02 Shannon Maurer, 30 Matthew Villareal, 32 Cody Leonard, 94 Allen Torres

  Almost Flag to Flag for Schoenbaum in Four-bangers

  Sixteen cars took the green for the USRA Tuners with Brian Schoenbaum, from the pole, first into turn 1 trailed by Brandon McCall, Johnny Ervin, Adolph Tracy and defending track champ, Jamie Garner. As the top three separated themselves, Garner took fifth leaving Ado. Tracy side by side with Adam Tracy for fifth.

  McCall began challenging Schoenbaum for the lead as they approached traffic. McCall used a lapped car and was able to get the lead briefly on lap 8 with Schoenbaum retaking the top spot a lap later. The red waved on lap 10 when a multi-car melee sent Darrell Jones over in turn 3. He would be alright. Under the caution McCall pitted from second with a flat.

  Once back to green Garner would slow and eventually pull off from his top five spot. Schoenbaum put a little gap on Ervin and Ada. Tracy while McCall was working his way back to the front. A caution for Stephanie Green, who stopped on the edge of the track for a lap 14 caution.

  On the restart Schoenbaum and Ervin, and Ada. Tracy got away while Ado. Tracy, Colton Borlace and McCall battled for fourth. McCall got the spot and was then three wide with Ada. Tracy and Ervin for second. This gave Schoenbaum some breathing room on the final lap on his way to the checkers while McCall grabbed second.

  “Boy was it nice to be home and see all those smiling faces at the track. Started 5th in the first heat and was able to pick up the win which had us starting on the pole for the feature. Lead 19 of 20 laps to take home the win.”

  “I can't thank everyone enough for the support. We might not be the premier class at the track but I always want to put on a show for the fans regardless. These group of racers I race with are competitors and respect their equipment as much as I do mine. I can't thank the staff at RPM and I37 enough for their hospitality every weekend. It takes an army to make these tracks run and I'm so thankful for all the employees at these tracks.”

  Sponsors; Big A's BBQ, Bonham Recovery, Tracys Oil & Gas, Central Cedar, KR Promotions, Rabid Motorsports, five1seven Designs, Twisted iPhones, Superior Steering Wheels, IHFP Clothing, Chevy Cavalier

  Brown Chevrolet USRA Tuners

  719 Brian Schoenbaum, 14 Brandon McCall, 34 Adam Tracy, 44 Johnny Ervin, 93 Colton Borlace, 88 Justin Sitterle, 01t Adam Tracy, 46 Johnathon Cervantes, 29k Dylan Kowalik, 95r Regan Frautschi, 28L Levi Hernandez, 55r Ryker Hernandez, 33 Jamie Garner, 35 Darrell Jones, 4 Stephanie Green, 11j Josh Jones

  Tuner heats

  Heat 1; 719 Brian Schienbaum, 14 Brandon McCall, 44 Johnny Ervin, 88 Justin Sitterle, 34 Adam Tracy, 93 Colton Borlace, 46 Johnathan Cervantes, 95r Regan Frautschi

  Heat 2; 01t Adolpoh Tracy, 33 Jamie Garner, 11j Josh Jones, 28L Levi Hernandez, 4 Stephanie Green, 55r Ryker Hernandez, 35 Darrell Jones, 29k Dylan Kowalik

 

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[NickHolt]

Good to have actual stock car racing back on Lone Star SpeedZone