I-37 Speedway Recap, 8/4/06

[NickHolt]

Late Race Passes Highlight Friday Night Competition at the I-37 Dirt Oval.

 

Race Fans got their money’s worth when the Super Stock 20 lap feature event was decided on the final turn of the last lap. Pleasanton’s Dennis Hilla jumped into the lead from his starting spot outside the front row on the second lap. Hilla was enjoying his best run of the season and was looking at the checkered flag coming out of turn four on the last lap when the first and second place came together, by the time Hilla regained control Patrick Kelly of Seguin made the move to pick up his second win in as many starts. Hilla had to settle for second followed by Poteet’s Abe Mares Jr.

 

In IMCA Sport Mod action, another local driver took top honors when Pleasanton’s Mike Finkel captured his first checkered flag of the season. Finkel moved around early leader Max Helms of Inez on the final lap to provide another exciting finish. On lap two MK Wallace of converse moved to the front and it looked like he was the class of the field, but was immediately plagued with motor problems and spent the remainder of the race running at half speed. Rounding out the top three was Alice’s Darrell Kennemer

 

The 20 lap Pure Stock feature was not decided until the 18th lap. Robert Danielsen of Boerne started 9th and moved to the lead on lap three, on lap 14 Danielsen, with a little help, climbed the tire barrier. Track officials returned the Boerne driver to the front of the pack where he continued to lead until lap 18 when Robert Williams drove around Danielsen and drove to the finish line in first place. Danielsen earned runner-up honors ahead Robstown’ Michael Carlock.

 

A lap two accident eliminated two strong contenders when Jamie Campbell got sideways coming out of turn two and was T-boned by San Antonio’s Chip Godferdson. Following the restart Shawn O’Bannon moved into the lead and was able to hold onto first place all the way to the finish line. O’Bannon’s win finally “got the monkey off his back”. He has running at the front of a number of feature events, but has been stalked by bad luck and unable to get to the winners circle. Brian Brooks, of Inez, moved from the back row to finish second, followed by Corpus Christi driver Chuck Perry.

 

Races will return to the I-37 Speedway ¼ mile dirt oval on Friday, August 18th. Make plans now to join race fans for an exciting evening of auto racing.