Kennedale Spwy. Park results/recaps 7/14/07

[rebelracewriter]

Kennedale Speedway Park, 7/14/07

By J M Hallas

 

Kennedale, Tx.(July 14th, 2007) Despite threatening skies, over 150 race teams filed into Kennedale Speedway Park for a regular night of racing. The 1/4 mile semi-banked track nestled between Fort Worth and Dallas, now owned by Jerry Bransom and run the Snider family, is one of the newest and nicest tracks with a wide racing surface that lends itself to multi-groove racing. Along with the four IMCA classes, KSP also features the Street Stocks and Jr. Mini Stocks and plans are in the works to add the IMCA “Crate” Late Models for the 2008 season. With many of the areas best IMCA drivers in the pits week in, and week out, just making the A-mains can be an accomplishment.

 

Clonch comes through for Modified main win.

Veteran Metro-plex driver Tim Clonch didn’t have an easy road on his way to the IMCA Modified main. Clonch failed to make the transfer in his heat race and was forced to run one of the two B-mains. Winning the second B-main only earned him the 14th starting spot, seventh row outside. Clonch methodically worked his way up through the field, catching early leader, Jay Bransom at halfway. After a brief side by side battle, he took the point on lap 12 and built a half straightaway lead before the checkers fell.

 

The start of the 24-car, 20-lap IMCA Modified main saw Josh Williams get out first from the pole, with Jay Bransom, Chance Kimberling and Mike Hathcock getting by Chase Doughty for second. Bransom and Williams were side by side at the line on lap 1, with Bransom securing the spot on lap 2. Kevin Switzer and Kimberling battled two wide for fourth on lap 3. Switzer got the spot on lap 4 leaving Kimberling in a three wide battle with Doughty and Tony Kiegley for fifth as Williams moved back in on Hathcock for second.

 

With Bransom out in the lead, Tim Clonch broke into the top five getting past Kiegley on the high side fifth. Clonch picked off another position on lap 6 when he passed Switzer, still using the cushion. Scotty Brown slapped the back stretch wall and rolled to a stop on lap 7 to bring out the first yellow. On the restart, Hathcock was hanging on to Bransom, but in the pack Donny Blackburn, Dennis Lege, Tracy Rodden, Jerry Slemmons, and John Reichard got tangled quickly bringing the caution back out. The next restart saw Bransom get away from Hathcock, while Clonch got around Switzer for third.

 

Hathcock and Clonch then battled wheel to wheel for second as Dillon Smith got by Switzer and Williams for fourth. At the crossed flags it was Branson, with Clonch closing, Hathcock, D. Smith and Switzer in the top five. Clonch moved along side Bransom on lap 11 and took the point on lap 12, Just as Clonch started to ease away. Switzer spun and collected Kiegley in turn 2 to bring out the yellow.

 

Clonch got ahead by three car lengths on green while D. Smith looked under on Hathcock. With Clonch now inching away from Bransom, Cody Smith made his appearance in the top five and challenging D. Smith for fourth. C. Smith then took up the charge on Hathcock, making a three car fight for the third spot. A little further back, Chris Bragg and Williams were side by side for sixth.

 

The three car fight for third continued into the final laps as Clonch moved out to a half straightaway lead over Bransom. C. Smith finally secured third, leaving D. Smith and Hathcock side by side for fourth. As the checkers waved it was Clonch in the Smileys Racing Products, car owner Brad Martin, Bill Brown Tachs, Town East Ford, Jeffs Performance Engine, Smileys Chassis taking the victory.

“It’s a tough field here,” stated Clonch. “I think patience is more than anything, especially after trouble in heat and having to come from the B-main. Definitely patience is the key to getting through that. There’s lots of good cars. They’re going to be in their groove and you just have to find a better spot.”

“This car is kind of new to us, so when I get a big lead I wonder if something is going to go wrong with it. We’ve gone over it real good, but you never know what the weak points are on it. So we just get out there and try to stay smooth and keep an eye on the gauges. It felt good so I wasn’t worried about a whole lot.”

“I like to run the slick tracks. We try to gear our cars for them. Everyone can be fast when the track is good, so I like to go to the slick tracks. Usually the big shows are slick tracks so if you get the car and driver working good together, you can run with any of the guys. It’s definitely a tough crowd over here.”

 

IMCA Modified A-MAIN

1. 18 Tim Clonch

2. 29 Jay Bransom

3. 718 Cody Smith

4. 03 Dillon Smith

5. 103 Mike Hathcock

6. 24 Chris Bragg

7. 763 Tony Kiegley

8. 10X Josh Williams

9. 199 Charlie Harmon

10. 34 Chance Kimberling

11. 6S Chase Doughty

12. 30 Jerry Robinson

13. 95 Steve Rutherford

14. 60 Jason Ilich

15. 8J John Riechard

16. 5 Dean Arrington

17. 83 Darryl Campbell

18. 104 Kevin Switzer

19. 118 Jerry Slemmons

20. 14 Mark Johannesen

21. 86 Tracy Rodden

22. 9L Dennis Lege

23. 44 Scotty Brown

48 Donnie Blackburn–DQ’d Rough driving

 

 

Modified B-main #1

Charlie Harman got the lead at the start of the first B-main that would take the top 6 to the A-main. X14 and Riechard battled for third, with Jerry Robinson running second. While Mark Johannesen and Riechard fought it out for third, Jason Ilich took advantage getting by both on lap 4. Cody Smith got by Riechard on lap 8 for fifth, with Johannesen retaking third from Ilich on last lap. Up front it was Harman holding off Robinson for the win.

B-MAIN #1

1. 199 Charlie Harmon

2. 30 Jerry Robinson

3. 14 Mark Johannesen

4. 60 Jason Ilich

5. 118 Jerry Slemmons

6. 8J John Riechard

7. 3M Tommy McElroy

8. 87 Floyd Gaines

9. 55 Nelson Allridge

10. 171 Michael Lamb

 

 

Modified B-main #2

As green waved on the second B-main, Steve Rutherford got the lead, but was quickly challenged by Tim Clonch. Clonch took over the top on lap 2, while Dennis Lege and Rodden ran side by side for third. That duet caught Rutherford making it three wide for second as Clonch motored off. While Lege and Rutherford continued their wheel to wheel battle third, Donnie Blackburn and Dean Arrington caught them and raced four wide for fifth. In the meantime, Clonch was on cruise control easily winning over Rodden.

B-MAIN #2

1. 18 Tim Clonch

2. 86 Tracy Rodden

3. 9L Dennis Lege

4. Donnie Blackburn

5. 95 Steve Rutherford

6. 5 Dean Arrington

7. 183 Chad Estes

8. 75 Eddie Brumit

9. 62 Mike Miles

10. 1X JR Doughty

 

 

McKay makes way to front of SportMod field.

Van Alstyne’s David McKay battled his way to the front of the IMCA SportMod field, then held off the charging Jeff Turner to take the victory. McKay fought it out wheel to wheel with Dustin Sprouse for several laps as they dueled for second. Once clear, McKay ran down early leader, Richard Strain and took over the top spot on lap 7 while current points leader, Turner worked his way up from the 12th starting spot. Turner got by Robert Black for second with three to go, but only could get within a few car lengths of McKay at the finish.

 

Polesitter, Richard Strain was first out turn 2 for the lead in the IMCA SportMod feature, with David McKay and Dustin Sprouse side by side for second and three wide racing in the pack behind them. McKay took second, with the pack now four wide for fifth between Robert Black, Frank Wright, David Gossett and Bobby Ruffin. Sprouse moved back in on McKay with the duo running wheel to wheel for two laps before the top four sorted out single file, while it was still three wide in the field.

 

McKay got by Strain for the lead on lap 7 as Brandon McElroy spun himself out of third. At halfway it was McKay, Strain, Sprouse, Black and Terry Pritchett in the top five. Yellow waved on lap 11 when Ruffin spun while fighting for fifth with T. Pritchett. On the restart, McKay got away with Sprouse and Strain side by side for second. Black moved in on that battle and took third from Sprouse on lap 12, then second from Strain on lap 13.

 

The red was out on lap 14 when Marvin Skinner, Todd West, Donald Owens and Jason Christopher had a grinding crash on the front stretch. Once back to green, McKay inched away leaving Black, Sprouse and Turner scrapping it out for second. Turner got by Sprouse on lap 16, then Black on lap 17, as Strain battled with Duain Pritchett for fifth. Turner tried to reel in McKay but ran out of laps as McKay in the Bunch Race Chassis took the victory.

**McKay was unavailable for interview

 

IMCA Southern SportMod A-Main

1. 172 David McKay

2. 4 Jeff Turner

3. 07 Robert Black

4. 7 Dustin Sprouse

5. 22 Duain Pritchett

6. 20D Terry Pritchett

7. 37 Richard Strain

8. 29 Jay Bransom

9. 30 Chase Jupe

10. 17 Joey Patterson

11. 34 J D Berryhill

12. 03 Dillon Smith

13. 111 Mark McDaniel

14. 121 Bobby Ruffin, Jr

15. 3 Brandon McElroy

16. 33R Tommy Wright

17. 2 Frank Wright

18. 40 Jeff Reynolds

19. 16 Donald Owens

20. 0 David Gossett

21. 27s Marvin Skinner

22. 14 Todd West

23. 217 Jason Christopher

24. 70 George Gafford

 

SportMod B-main #1

The first SportMod B-main saw Jason Christopher get out front but get spun by Owens causing an 8-car pile up in turns 3-4. Skinner took over the top spot with George Gafford and Jeff Reynolds in pursuit. Debris from Michael Darby’s car on lap 2 brought out the yellow. On the restart, Gafford got around Skinner for the lead, but a spin by Chuck Jensen and contact between Charlie Knight and Gary Spears brought out the yellow again.

 

Reynolds got past Skinner on the restart, but Skinner came back with the duo running side by side for three laps. Skinner took second again on lap 9, but Reynolds came back to get along side on lap10 and retake second on lap11. The scrap for second allowed Gafford to easily build a lead and take the win.

B-MAIN #1

1. 70 George Gafford

2. 40 Jeff Reynolds

3. 27S Marvin Skinner

4. 217 Jason Christopher

5. 16 Donald Owens

6. 33R Tommy Wright

7. 189 Michael Darby

8. 89 Chuck Jensen

9. 12 Darrell Franklin

10. 2K Charlie Knight

11. 47 Justin Hossler

12. 2M Brittany McElroy

13. 97 Gary Spears

 

 

SportMod B-main #2

Mark McDaniel grabbed the lead in B-main as green waved, but Todd West moved along side on lap 1 taking over the top spot on lap 2. Joey Patterson was on the offensive trying to get by McDaniel for second, but at the same time was getting pressured by last weeks feature winner, Dillon Smith. Chris Cogburn moved to the top five on lap 3 getting past Cory Robinson. Smith moved to third on lap 5 leaving McDaniel and Cogburn wheel to wheel for fourth.

 

Up front Patterson caught West for the lead and got by on lap 7, with Smith now challenging West for second. Caution for debris on lap 8 rebunched the field and once back to green, T. Pritchett made a huge charge from fourth and got to the front in turn 1, but Patterson fought back holding the point. The two were side by side on lap 9, with T. Pritchett getting the lead on lap 10. Smith tried to get by Patterson in the final laps, but it was T. Pritchett taking the win.

B-MAIN #2

1. 20D Terry Pritchett

2. 17 Joey Patterson

3. 03 Dillon Smith

4. 30 Chase Jupe

5. 14 Todd West

6. 111 Mark McDaniel

7. 05 Cory Robinson

8. 02 John Grindstaff

9. 29W William Barrett

10. 26 Ryan Miller

11. 25 John Abney

12. 5C Chris Cogburn

 

 

Brown bags IMCA Stock Car bucks

Long time IMCA Modified and Stock Car hotshoe, Scotty Brown picked his way to the point in the 26-car IMCA Stock car feature taking the lead from Tim Clonch on lap 9. Brown, one of the few Texas drivers to make the coveted IMCA Super Nationals field(Boone, Iowa) and most recently the always tough Stock Car Challenge(Marshalltown, Iowa), held off Tim Clonch after a couple late restarts to grab the victory.

 

Mark Guerin led into turn 1 at the start of the 26-car IMCA Stock Car main, but Tim Clonch got by on the back stretch to lead lap 1. Jeff Sustaire spun from a three wide scramble for fourth on lap 2 to bring on the yellow. Once back to green, Jeff Turner and Jimmy Gore raced door to door for third, with Kevin Sustaire looking to make it three wide. After dispensing with Ji. Gore, Turner jetted by Jerry West for second bringing K. Sustaire along to third.

 

Debris brought out yellow again on lap 5 with West forced to pit from the top five after an encounter with an infield tire. Clonch got a good jump on green, but K. Sustaire got sideways, tagged by several cars, and lost numerous spots. Scotty Brown moved into on lap 6 with Ji. Gore and Duain Pritchett following to third and fourth. Brown began pressuring Clonch for the lead on lap 7 as Windle Gaston and Jason Gore ran side by side for fifth.

 

On lap 8, Brown ducked inside coming out of turn 4 to get along side Clonch for the lead and completed the pass to lead lap 9. In the meantime, Ji. Gore and D. Pritchett were trading some paint as the “in-laws” battled for third. Ji. Gore got the spot back a lap later, with Ja. Gore finally getting fifth from Gaston. At halfway it was Brown, Clonch, Ji. Gore, D. Pritchett, Ja. Gore racing in the top five.

 

With Brown and Clonch pulling away, the Gore’s teamed up on D. Pritchett in the fight for third. Ja. Gore jumped an infield tire on lap 14 losing ground in the process. Chad Estes and Guerin got tangled on lap 15 to bring out yellow. On the restart, Clonch took a peek inside Brown for the lead, but fell back in line. Debris on lap 16 would give Clonch one last shot at Brown.

 

Once green waved the top two broke clear of the field while Ja. Gore and Gaston made contact sending Gaston around in the infield. With the white waving, Brown and Clonch had a good margin back to Ji. Gore and D. Pritchett, with five cars now scrambling for fifth. Brown, in the B&B Ready-Mix, Metro-plex Machine Shop, Motors by Clint, Destroyer Chassis, held off Clonch, while D. Pritchett gave it one last try on Ji. Gore for third.

“I had about five lucky breaks to get through the pack,” replied Brown. “I just kept it smooth and on the bottom. That was the groove to be in and we managed to keep it there. We were able to pull it off one more time. I just try to keep it smooth and steady, nothing special. Keep your head screwed on right and you’ll be in good shape.”

“Running two cars is a big help, plus having Jeff(Turner) as a team mate to share information with. I guess that kind of makes us the Rick Hendricks of dirt racing.”

 

IMCA Stock Car A-Main

1. 44 Scotty Brown

2. 47 Tim Clonch

3. 021 Jimmy Gore

4. 22 Duain Pritchett

5. 25 Jason Gore

6. 6 Jeff Sustaire

7. 1M Michael Martin

8. 27J Randell Jones

9. 21 A J Gardner

10. 50 John Morris

11. 42 Mark Geurin

12. 70 Tony Rime

13. 3 Dale Pierson

14. 19 Windle Gaston

15. 5 David Acosta

16. 134 Kevin Rogers

17. 10L Mikey Mason

18. 2 Toby Liles

19. 83 Chad Estes

20. 87 Kevin Sustaire

21. 9 Jerry West

22. 112 Terry Pritchett

23. 39 Keith Lunsford

24. 45 Art Carter

25. 4 Jeff Turner

26. 55 Charlie Wilson

 

 

Sewell scores second IMCA Hobby Stock honors

Featured “Driver of the Week,” Bryan Sewell didn’t let those honors jinx him as he posted a back to back win in the IMCA Hobby Stock main. Sewell completed the sweep after his race win to lead from the pole and run flag to flag for his third trophy of the season.

 

 

Bryan Sewell and top four quickly sorted out single file at the start of the 20 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, while the field battled three wide for fifth. Sewell had just started to put some distance on Noel Jones and Harrison when Justin McNeil spun. On the restart, Sewell jumped ahead, with Chris Hughes getting by Eric Miles for fourth. By lap 5 the top four were again single file, but the rest of the field was still two by two from fifth on back.

 

Miles retook fourth from on lap 6, as the field finally began to sort itself out. At the midpoint it was Sewell, Kyle Harrison, Jones, Miles and Justin Fowler moving into fifth. Last weeks winner, Allen Montgomery was forced to start near the back of the 25-car field, but finally worked his way up to fifth getting by Fowler on lap 10. Montgomery and Fowler caught Miles for fourth and the trio ran three abreast for the position.

 

Sewell caught lapped traffic on lap 13, but never missed a beat as continued to hold his half straightaway lead. Montgomery finally cleared Miles and Fowler and was now putting the heat on Jones for third. After taking third Montgomery set his sights on Harrison for second and closed in the final laps. At the checkers it was Sewell in the B&B Ready-Mix, Seagoville U-Cart, Cory’s Rebar, Motors by Clint, Voodoo Chassis going flag to flag for the win.

“When you get to start out front it makes it easy,” said Sewell. “You’ve got the whole track to yourself, so you can make it work. It’s a big show every week, with the quality of drivers here. If you make the field you’re doing something. When you’re out you wonder where the guys are behind you. You’re listening for the motors, looking for a nose here and there and just trying to keep it smooth. Allen Montgomery and Chris Ater are two of the guys I have to watch for every week.”

 

IMCA Hobby Stock A-MAIN

1. 44 Bryan Sewell

2. 62 David Redman

3. 38 Allen Montgomery

4. 35 Noel Jones

5. 48 Justin Fowler

6. 65 Erik Miles

7. 33C Charles Cosper

8. 7 Chris Ater

9. 18 Matt Slemmons

10. 17 Chris Hughes

11. 420 Jason Runkles

12. 73 Gene Hadley

13. 991 Daniel Payne

14. 89 Justin McNeil

15. 12 Chris Stadler

16. 3T Alvin Emery III

17. 24 Ben Raines

18. 5X Danny Pattat

19. 39 Eric Swift

20. 33 William Wright

21. 5 Buddy Baker

22. 426 James Fullner

23. 9 Hunter West

24. 37 Lynn Gibson

25. 77 Tommy Franklin

 

 

Street Stock

A field of 21 Street Stock took the green for their 20 lap feature. Ralph Torres got the lead in turns 1-2, but spun himself out in turn 3 causing a multi-car tangle. Under yellow, points leader Duane Wolff pulled off with damage from incident. Don Stallings assumed the lead, but Torres was unable to get going and yellow was out with 1 lap in the books. Stallings got sideways on the restart, took a little trip through the infield but was able to hold off Tony Anderson for the lead.

 

Anderson got tagged and turned around by Ronnie Rooks in the fight for second. Frank Lackey had no place to go and drilled Anderson, but both were able to continue without caution. At halfway the top five were Stallings, Rooks, Gill Vaughn, Jimmy Parker and Paul Jones. Stallings had a close encounter on lap15 when he had to dodge a spinning car. With slower traffic in the way of Stallings, Rooks was able to reel in the leader on lap 16.

 

Stallings and Rooks were forced to go three wide around Tony Bruce who forced Stallings high, giving Rooks the chance to take the lead. Rooks built a big lead over Stallings in the final laps to snare the win. After the checkers, Stallings let Bruce know he was unhappy sending him spinning, a move that saw Stallings DQ’d for rough driving.

 

AMAIN

1. 55 Ronnie Rooks

2. 21 Jimmy Parker

3. 75 Jeff Copeland

4. 124 Paul Jones

5. 71 Floyd Gunn

6. 177 Mike Dingman

7. 49 Mike Golightly

8. 17 Kenneth Bruce

9. 62 Kenny Harrison

10. 12 Les Hogan

11. 7B Troy Bruce

12. 20 Donald Johnson

13. 65 Wes Rapp

14. 48 Jerry Skates

15. 59 Gill Vaughn

16. 147 Tony Anderson

17. 5 Bobby Boliver

18. 68 Ralph Torres

19. 41 Frank Lackey

20. 4 Duane Wolff

Don Stallings–DQ’d Rough driving

 

 

 

Jr Mini Stocks

Thirteen cars started to the 12-lap, Jr. Mini Stock feature with a three wide battle for the lead at the drop of the green. Justin Thorn emerged with the lead, while Austin Gregg and Brandon Taylor ran side by side for second. Gregg got by Thorn for the lead on lap 3 with Taylor and Thorn now door to door for second. CW Wright brought out the yellow on lap 4 after contact with Leigh Anne Orebaugh and running over his own bumper.

 

On the restart, Brandon Ruffin challenged Gregg for the lead and took over on the point. Gregg fought back and was able to inch ahead on lap 5, but Ruffin took the spot for good on lap 6. As Ruffin took command and pulled away, Thorn spun from fifth. Ruffin took the victory by a comfortable margin over Gregg and Cody Tarrant.

Jr Mini Stock A-MAIN

1. 18 Brandon Ruffin

2. 1 Austin Gregg

3. 25 Cody Tarrant

4. 93 Aaron Bayles

5. 5 Kayla Maxey

6. 9 LeighAnne Orebaugh

7. 5T Brandon Taylor

8. 26 Hayli Renfro

9. 2 Amerin Betteridge

10. 48 Justin Thorn

11. 21 Bryce Pritchett

12. 16 Donald Owens

13. 06 CW Wright

[97car]

Key words REGULAR NIGHT OF RACING, maybe some down here should take notes from their success.

[TRACK ANNOUNCER]

Beleive it or not. That car count of over 150 cars is actually down for this track. In the early part of the season it had over 200 cars every weekend. Then it dropped to 180 or so. Many cars that could not make the A main have gone to other tracks. Even King Henry Witt Jr has not shown up for two weeks now I think. He has done very well but has not strung up feature wins like he has in the past years. Since the season started, I think he has won only once. The track is still looking for it's first modified driver to win more than two feature wins in a row. It has never been done since the track was built in 1999.

 

The stock car division is doing very well. Full features nearly every night if not all of them. Limited Modifieds...They are coming out of the seams, tons of them!

 

IMCA Late Models will be racing at KSP every weekend next year. A lot of drivers already have their cars or are in the process of getting one. It looks like a full feature for car counts for these cars next year. We will have to wait and see for sure.

 

All these cars while Cowtown Speedway races literally right next door on the same night with nothing but a fense separating the two tracks. Plus a drag strip accross the street!!!! Wow!