ARTS @ Oktober"fast" 10-4-03 recap

[rebelracewriter]

Texas Dodge Dealers 7th Annual Oktober”fast” @ San Antonio Speedway 10-4-03

By J M Hallas

ARTS Sees New Points Leader

San Antonio, Texas. Coming into the nights action, Robert Walton held a slim points lead over Jon Garrett for the All-Star Race Trucks championship battle. By nights end the series would see a new points leader. The battle will go down to the final race at Houston Motorsports Park on October 25th.

 

Colt James and Todd McLemore led the 15 truck field to green for the 50 lap feature event. On the first try, James got out front in turn one, while back of the pack saw several drivers going extremely high with Bradley Reithmeyer almost tagging the wall. As the field went down the backstretch Bill Hamilton spun and hit the inside guardrail to bring about a complete restart.

 

The second try was a repeat as James grabbed the lead in turn one, as Garrett and Jon Denham battled side by side for fifth. By lap 5 James and McLemore were pulling ahead, with Garrett and Steve Green rubbin’ it out for fourth. Garrett and Denham both got by Green the next circuit as McLemore applied the heat to James for the lead.

 

Bryan Meredith brought out the yellow on lap 9 when he looped his ride. James and McLemore jumped out on the restart, with Garrett getting by Rick Emde for 3rd. Caution flew again on lap 13 for debris, possibly the fender off Jeff Rosenbeck, who was showing some front end damage.

 

Again James and McLemore pulled ahead, this time from Garrett on the restart, as Meredith worked his way back to ninth after his earlier spin. McLemore was hanging off the bumper of James as the crossed flags were shown, with Garrett, Emde and Denham rounding out the top five.

 

James’ truck starting getting loose as the lead duo sliced through traffic, with McLemore taking looks inside and Garrett closing on them. On lap 31 McLemore tried inside James for the lead, but couldn’t make the pass. This gave Garrett the high line, which he took advantage of, getting by McLemore briefly for second. McLemore retook the spot two laps later and again pressured James for the point.

 

Lap 34 saw Bud Carroll roll to a stop in turn 2 to bring out a caution, giving the leaders a chance to cool their tires. James continued to hold off McLemore back under green, until lap 40 when McLemore along side down the back stretch. The two were door to door coming out turn 4 when they made contact, sending James spinning. James had a small fire and may have gotten his spot back, but was forced to pit after the fire. He rejoined the tail of the field with McLemore as Garrett inherited the lead.

 

Garrett got a slight lead on Emde as the green flew, while Denham and Green battled for third. Mclemore ran down the battle for fifth between Meredith and Walton with 5 laps to go. Garrett was still inching away, with Green and Denham banging on each other for third and McLemore getting around both Meredith and Walton for fifth. As the checkers flew it was Garrett in the Rose City Racing/Chevy Silverado taking the win and the points lead.

 

All Star American Race Truck Series

 

1. 66 Jon Garrett, 50 Laps

2. 50 Rick Emde, 50

3. 26 Jon Denham, 50

4. 52 Steve Green, 50

5. 77 Todd McLemore, 50

6. 30 Bryan Meredith, 50

7. 10 Robert Walton, 50

8. 21 Keith Patrick, 49

9. 98 Chuck Schoenfeld, 49

10. 18 Bud Carroll, 48

11. 60 Colt James, 41

12. 8 Jeff Rosenbeck, 40

13. 7 Pancho Mendoza, 36

14. 42 Bradley Riethmeyer, 18

15. 5 Bill Hamilton, 0

DNS GW Griffin