TTS results/stories 4/14/07

[rebelracewriter]

Texas Thunder Speedway, 4/14/07

By J M Hallas

 

Killeen, Tx.(April 14, 2007) Cold, blustery conditions didn’t deter over 100 race teams from signing in to the pits as Texas Thunder Speedway resumed it’s racing after losing night to snow the previous week. Diehard fans huddled together to watch their favorites in action, along with the Southern States Midget Association as they competed on the high-banked 1/4 dirt track. The winds made for tricky track conditions with the turns 3-4 going dry slick and dusty early, while the leeward end retained it’s moisture.

 

Burke Bags Southern States Midget Main

Ronnie Burke jr found the fast groove early and used it to his advantage as he ran away from the rest of the field in the Southern States Midgets 15 lap feature. Burke, who run high into turn 1 then drop low in turn 2 letting the banking propel him down the back stretch, jumped into the lead as the green waved.

 

Roland Ayo and Aaron Kirk battled for second as Burke motored ahead. Kirk and Ayo would make contact in turn 4 stacking up the pack causing Evan Pardo to spin and bring out a yellow on lap 2. During the caution, Brandon Mollier pulled to the infield with problems. On the restart, Kirk challenged Burke looking inside, but Burke’s momentum off the top would be enough to hold Kirk off.

 

At midway, Burke was again pulling away from Kirk who was now being hounded by Doug McCune for second. Kirk and McCune were wheel to wheel on lap 10 and had to go three wide around a slower car on lap 11. McCune got the spot as that duo sliced and diced through traffic, while Burke was holding a commanding lead. At the checkers it was Burke in the Amerigas, Peak Antifreeze, Ventum Energy, Hawk Chevy, Beast Chassis gabbing the victory.

 

Southern States Midget Assoc.

1 4B Ronnie Burke jr

2 9 Doug McCune

3 45 Aaron Kirk

4 50 Roland Ayo

5 77 Matt Dewitt

6 93 Brian Harvey

7 73 Manuel Pina

8 39 Brandon Mollier

9 54 Evan Pardo

44 Bo Mayberry—DNS

 

Egbert Eases Away in Modified Main

Defending IMCA Modified Regional Champion, PJ Egbert worked his way up from mid-pack and passed early leader Jason Hoffman near halfway. From there Egbert eased away from the field to add yet another Texas Thunder Speedway victory to his impressive total.

 

Hoffman got the top spot when polesitter Jason Hubert got sideways at the drop of green and backed up the inside row. Egbert, who started outside row 5, was battling for fourth with Scotty Heintzman by the end of lap 1. Egbert took the position on lap 3, while Keith Green and Keith White ran side by side for fifth. Heintzman’s top five run ended when he bicycled his modified going into turn 3.

 

Egbert was still on the charge getting around Allen Waltermire and Andrew Simmerman to move into second. Simmerman fought back retaking his spot, while current points leader Pat McGuire moved into fifth. Egbert snagged second for good on lap 6 and went in search of leader, Hoffman. Egbert found Hoffman when yellow for Wesley Hamilton’s stalled car re-racked the pack.

 

As green waved for the restart, Egbert jumped around Hoffman leaving him wheel to wheel with McGuire for second. At halfway the top five were Egbert, McGuire, Hoffman, Simmerman and Green. Green took fourth from Simmerman on lap 14 with White following through for fifth. Yellow waved again on lap 15 when Waltermire expired a motor.

 

Egbert got away clean on green, with Hoffman retaking second from McGuire. As Egbert eased away, White and Green battled for fourth. As the white was shown, Egbert had built a nice margin over Hoffman and McGuire while Simmerman and Ken Old were fighting for sixth. At the checkers it was Egbert driving the Phils Motorsports, Connell Chevrolet, D & D Cabinets, Wel Ran Construction, Pflugerville Engine & Machine, Donnie Moore Race Cars taking the victory.

“We finally got the car dialed in,” replied Egbert.”I just maneuvered around everybody and tried to stay out of the ruts. Starting back that far you just see what everyone else does and try to get the front as fast as possible.”

“You kind of worry about things on track like this. I’ve lost races at Texas Thunder from breaking stuff while leading a race. I try to stay out of them(ruts) the best I can. Running two cars gives you a heads up over people that aren’t. I can get feel for what the track is actually doing.”

 

Dodge Country IMCA Modifieds

1 707 PJ Egbert

2 00 Jason Hoffman

3 9 Pat McGuire

4 1 Keith White

5 5 Keith Green

6 15 Andrew Simmerman

7 52 Ken Old

8 12T Jimmy Tidwell

9 19 George Lamphere jr

10 4 David Hanusch

11 10 Scotty Heintzman

12 247 Bill Lecompte

13 44 Allen Waltermire

14 988 Anthony Otken

15 11H Wesley Hamilton

16 8 Jason Hubert

17 93 Jacob Dunn

18 02 Chase Glick--pulled off before green

71 Glen Derks II---DNS

 

 

 

Stevens Steady in SportMod Scramble

Shad Stevens would lead flag to flag in the IMCA Southern SportMod main, but it wouldn’t be an easy win. Stevens got out front going into turn 1, while Robert Williams and Brandon Stewart battled side by side for second. PJ Egbert got by Kenny Ware on lap 1 for fourth then got loose in turn in turn 3 backing up the field. Two-time defending IMCA Southern SportMod champ, Keith White got around Kevin Green and Ware to take fifth on lap 2.

 

White then tried a slide job on Egbert going into turn 1 that came up a little short with the two making contact and White falling to eighth. By lap 5 Stevens had built a big lead over Williams, Stewart, Egbert and K. Green. White then began moving back up, getting a good battle with Ware for sixth. Yellow waved on lap 8 when TJ Green got into Ware sending him around in turns 3-4. Under Yellow Stewart pulled off from the third spot..

 

On the restart, Egbert got past Williams for second as Stevens held the point. White then got by Williams for third and was back on Egbert’s bumper. White again tried the slide job on Egbert, but backed off when contact was eminent. Williams slipped up on lap 11 with K. Green getting the fourth spot. In the final laps Egbert closed in on Stevens and twice got a run on him trying to dive low out of turn 4. Stevens held steady and was able fend off the challenges to take the checkers in the Anderson Auto Salvage, Cen-Tex Motorsports, All Sports Trophy, Vinyl & Graphics by White, Bobs Paint and Body, Smileys Chassis, powered by a motor built by his father.

“It went pretty good ,” said Stevens. “We’ve had DNF’s all year long and we finally finished a race. We just happened to be in front. We’ve done some work on the car trying to get it turn and work good. BJ Dulock at Cen-Tex Motorsports has given me a lot of help.”

“There’s really only one game I’ve got and that’s just what I bring to the track”added Stevens about having to step up with drivers like PJ Egbert and Keith White in his class. “I don’t have the pocketbook some of the guys have and just do the best I can.”

 

Danny’s Transmissions IMCA Southern SportMods

1 23 Shad Stevens

2 707 PJ Egbert

3 1 Keith White

4 5D Kevin Green

5 02 Robert Williams

6 55 TJ Green

7 224 Mike McDougal

8 45T Eric Tomlinson

9 14c Calvin Schoenfeld

10 40 Albert Wininger jr

11 66 Johnny Torres

12 83K Kenny Ware

13 0 Tim Carmen jr

14 23G Luke Genovese

15 2 Brandon Stewart

107 David Goode---DNS

 

Jones Jammin’ in I-Stock Joust

In the IMCA Stock Car feature Jason Bogard was first into turn 1, but Eric Jones on the bottom side grabbed the lead coming out of turn 2. In the pack Tony Hamil got by Gary Norman then Daniel Shipler to move into fourth, as the top trio pulled away. Benji Kirkpatrick passed Bogard on lap 3 to grab second, but would suffer problems a couple later and pull off. In the meantime, Hamil, Norman and Shipler continued to swap spots.

 

At the halfway point the top five were Jones, Bogard, Norman, Shipler and Hamil. On lap 9 Hamil repassed Shipler for fourth, while Bogard was slowly inching in on Jones. As the laps wound down Bogard would never get close enough to mount a challenge as Jones, the current points leader, in the Danny’s Transmissions, Do-Rite Wrecking IMCA Stock took the easy win.

 

Dan Corbin & Associates IMCA Stocks

1 84x Eric Jones

2 3m Jason Bogard

3 T4 Tony Hamil

4 9 Gary Norman

5 38 Daniel Shipler

6 43 Jesse James Cox jr

7 23 Shad Stevens

8 3 Robin Rasmussen

9 47 Benji Kirkpatrick

10 33 Matthew Gray

DJ Mac Williams---DNS

 

J. Fuller Fastest in Street Stock

Outside front row’s Brian Fuller was first into turn 1 for the lead, while polesitter Danny Dunn spun in turn 3 to bring about a complete restart. B. Fuller once again jumped out front with Eric Jones setting into second. Yellow was quickly out again on lap 2 when Brian Mendenhall spun in turn 3 and Gene Burnett blew up in turns 1-2. B. Fuller and Jones got way on green with Joe Fuller and Chris Florio side by side for third.

 

On lap 3 J. Fuller and Jones were door to door for second at the same time defending track champion Robert Simmerman moved along side Florio for fourth. As the lead trio approached slower cars, they were three wide and rubbing trying to avoid traffic. J. Fuller came out with the lead on lap 6 with brother Brian and Jones still in pursuit.

 

Mendenhall lost the axle on lap 6 to bring out a caution, during which Jones pitted from second. Just as the race went back to green, Dunn and Brian Whitcomb got tangled in turns 3-4 to bring the yellow back out. On the restart, J. Fuller got away from Simmerman who moved into second with B. Fuller getting back by Florio for third. Simmerman’s chance for a three-peat came to end when he broke an axle on lap 9.

 

J. Fuller got the jump on B. Fuller who was trying to fend off Florio despite occasionally losing power. At halfway it was J. Fuller, B. Fuller, Florio, Dennis Simmons and Tommy Kirkpatrick in the top five. B. Fuller and Florio were side by side for second when Jones, who rejoined the field after pitting, dropped the driveshaft in turn 3.

 

Once back to green, B. Fuller was slow to get going giving second to Florio. Kirkpatrick and Simmons followed the wounded car of B. Fuller for third and fourth. Simmons would be black flagged for a flat moving Trevor Sparkman to fourth and B. Fuller to fifth. Sparkman, B. Fuller and Brad Weir would then have good battle going for fourth.

 

With J. Fuller, Florio and Kirkpatrick running up front, both B. Fuller and Weir broke with two laps to go. Dunn, who had been involved in two incidents, now was challenging Sparkman for fourth. At the checkers it was J. Fuller in the Quality Mobile Air, Do Rite Wrecking, All-A-Motive, Nortons Automotive car taking the victory. With Simmerman breaking and Sparkman taking fifth, Sparkman moved into the current points lead.

 

Cleo Bay Honda Street Stocks

1 91 Joe Fuller

2 21 Chris Florio

3 71 Tommy Kirkpatrick

4 63 Danny Dunn

5 20 Trevor Sparkman

6 3 Clint Williams

7 31 Chuck Hatfield

8 2 Kevin Ashley

9 27 Tim Fasano

10 05 Ryan Anderson

11 4 Ken Plonsky

12 00 Brian Fuller

13 11 Brad Weir

14 83 Dennis Simmons

15 84x Eric Jones

16 30 Bobby Norton

17 48T James Tanner

18 1 Robert Simmerman

19 8w Brian Whitcomb

20 88 Brian Mendenhall

21 7 Jeremy Adkins

22 t27 Tommy Garcia

23 43 Gene Burnett

24 9 Carl Boettcher

19 Dean Silva---DNS

 

 

Nourse Number 1 in Texas Twister Tangle

In the always entertaining, rock ‘em, sock ‘em Texas Twister class Chris Wilkinson got the early lead.. Chuck Nourse would come from mid pack to snare the top spot before lap 1 was complete. Matthew Fitzgerald and Steven Crossley would move up to battle side by side for second. As they fought for second, Michael Hilliard got the best of both taking the position on lap 2. Keith Desmarias was charging to the front getting by Crossley on lap 4, while Hilliard was catching Nourse for the lead.

 

Yellow waved at midway when Nate Cullifer lost a bumper on the track to rebunch the field. Once back to green, Hilliard challenged Nourse for the lead, while Randy Doyle got past Crossley for fourth. Hilliard’s chance for a win ended with a flat right front on lap 10 leaving Nourse win a big lead. In the final laps Desmarias and Doyle traded second along with some paint as they fought it for second. At the finish it was Nourse taking the win in the Fuller Racing, Precise Plumbing, Midas car.

 

Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters

1 007 Chuck Nourse

2 11 Keith Desmarias

3 65 Randy Doyle

4 190 TJ Yagalla

5 829 JD Hardcastle

6 77 Matthew Fitzgerald

7 37 James Deane

8 91 Jesse Call

9 23 Michael Hilliard

10 221 Brad Garrison

11 77y Tom Yagalla

12 b52 Steven Crossley

13 404 Nate Cullifer

14 71T Eric Sikes

15 35 Chris Wilkinson

 

Monroe Maintains Stranglehold on Teen Mini Stocks

At the start of the Teen Mini Stock feature it looked to be anyone’s race as Travis Zwiefelhofer, Joseph Charnock and two-time defending track champion, Colton Monroe battled for the lead. The trio went three wide for the top spot, with Monroe as Zwiefelhofer making contact giving Charnock the opportunity to snag the lead.

 

With Charnock on point, Monroe was able get righted and continue, but Zwiefelhofer had to pit with a flat tire. Monroe ran Charnock back down and got by on lap 8 for the lead. Monroe, in the Phils Motorsports, D& D Cabinets, Collins Auto Sales, Reliant Mini Stock then inched away to take yet another in his young career. Charnock, Jacob Wininger and Brittney Rasmussen, in her first ever time behind the wheel of ANY vehicle, rounded out the four remaining starters still running at the checkers.

Cottman Transmission Teen Mini Stocks

1 712 Colton Monroe

2 22 Joseph Charnock

3 42 Jacob Wininger

4 203 Brittney Rasmussen

5 0 Brandon Colburn

6 20 Travis Zwiefelhofer

[Sarge]

Thanks J!

 

Great write-up, as always. Hope you can make more trips up there this year.

 

Bill "Sarge" Masom

Texas Thunder Speedway PR/Media

[rebelracewriter]

Next time tell me about the flashing red light....BEFORE.....I go through it.