Icebreaker @ Abilene Spwy. 2-21/22-03

[rebelracewriter]

Icebreaker @ Abilene Speedway 2-21/22-03

By J M Hallas

Friday night show taken by rain.

The Fri. Night portion of the Icebreaker was cancelled due to rain, but that only gave the racers a chance to start the party early. The rain didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits and by the time I arrived the party was in full swing. Two time former IMCA Modified champ, Henry Witt stayed at the Kiva Inn for the first time and was buying drinks in the bar for everyone. (Thanx for the soda) Current IMCA Stock points leader Duain Pritchett, treated Kevin Sustaire to swim in the Kiva pool, fully clothed I might add. And the Hibner/Marriott group, from Missouri was shown our southern hospitality, that or they think we’re all just plain crazy.

Saturday nights results

Finally a chance to get some racing action in, with more than 200 cars checking in. 80 modifieds, 50 I-stocks, 40 hobby stocks, 20 sprints along with the mini-modifieds, pure stocks and Jr. Minis filled the pits despite the cold temperatures and muddy conditions. Rob Poor, Richard Snider and the rest of the track crew did an excellent job to prepare the track and get the pits ready.

Local ace, Fletcher scores opening night win

In the IMCA sprint heats, Minnesota driver Lynn Woods put it on the field winning by a half lap over Benjamin Broyles in heat 1. NTMS champ, Jeff Day suffered a flat during an early incident and was forced to start at the tail of the main. In heat 2 Sam Hafertepe led early giving way to Walt Hamilton. Russ Fletcher showed he was another to contend with, as the Abilene Spwy. Champ got around Hamilton on a restart a scooted off to the win over Hamilton. IMCA Sprint National champ, Elmer Morgan finished third.

15 cars started the 20 lap main with Ray Welnack and Woods on the front row. Welnack grabbed the early lead while Elmer Morgan and Lynn woods battled for second. David Doyle brought out the caution with an early spin. The top three began to pull away on the restart, leaving a four car battle for fourth. The caution flew again on lap 4 when Benjamin Broyles spun, with Matthew Porter getting collected. Morgan got by Welnack on lap 6 to snag the point, while Russ Fletcher was moving up fast. Morgan’s troubles started when he looked to break a shock. Fletcher using the high side got by an ailing Morgan who finally the broke the front end and pulled off a couple laps later.

At the mid point it was Fletcher, Morgan, Woods, Welnack and Day. On lap 11 Dennis Smith and Brad Welborn spun to slow the pace again. On the restart Fletcher got a big jump, while Day was continuing his big charge from the back to battle Woods. Day and Woods ran wheel to wheel with Day finally making the pass. The final yellow came on lap 14 when B. Broyles broke and rolled to a stop. Even the late restart didn't help Day as Fletcher got the jump and cruised to the victory. Fletcher, piloting the Hanner Chevy/Sullivans/Ringo Drilling/ARC/Danz Designs/ WTSSE/Sanford Heads/J & J Chassis is no stranger to the Abilene Spwy. Winners circle.

4T6 Russ Fletcher Abilene

95 Jeff Day Greenville

0 Lynn Woods Winthrop Minn.

15 Sam Hafertepe Sunnyvale

67 Rodney Henderson Scurry 17 Brad Welborn Allen

16 Ray Welnack Dallas

1 Walt Hamilton Dyess AFB

95 Matthew Porter Stephenville

18 Greg Guessner Abilene

199 Donald Schoeck Kempner

99 Benjamin Broyles Abilene

8 Elmer Morgan Farmers Branch

24 Dennis Smith Zephyr

55 David Doyle Copperas Cove

97 James Broyles jr. Abilene

98 James Broyles sr Abilene

110 Larry Crenshaw Carrolton--DNS

3 John Muhleman Abilene--DNS

7 Paul Townzen Gun Barrel city--DNS

 

Last lap pass puts Sisson in winner’s circle

With 80 IMCA modifieds, qualifying was determined through 8 heats, and 4 B-mains. The heats took the winners only to redraw for front 8 starting spots, while in the B-mains the top three finishers would make the transfer. Heats winners were Kolt Walker, David Trauernicht, Glen Hibbard, David Elliott, Dennie Gieber, William Gould, Mac Harmon and Varion Sisson. Two time former IMCA Natl. Champ and currently second in Regional points, Henry Witt, took a hit in his point’s chase, when he broke the crankshaft during heat action.

In B-main 1, Willie Cook led laps 1 & 2, giving way to Dale Marriott on lap 3. Marriott, from Missouri, built a full straightaway lead only to have caution come out in the final laps. Billy Garza challenged Marriott on the restart, but Marriott hung on for the win while fellow Missourian, Lonnie Hibner grabbed the final transfer.

Marriott, Garza, L. Hibner, Cook, Allen Colyer, Bob Sikes, Darryl Campbell, Marcus Sanders, David Davis, Bryan Schroth, Trent Crawford, Gary Jackson, Bo Newton, Adam Cox, Tim Ridgeway, Dustin McCarty, Witt-DNS and Scotty Brown-DNS

Scotty Cook and Gary Underwood ran door to door at the start of B-main 2, with Cook getting the lead on lap two. Abilene track veteran, Cook took command and was never headed, but a good battle was going on for the final transfer. In the final laps current regional points leader Glen Allen charged his way up from the back, but fell one spot short of an A-main transfer, putting a crimp in his title chase.

Cook, Rodney Hicks, Shane Clement, Allen, Ronny Sigman, Charlie Newton, PJ Egbert, Underwood, Chuck Anderson, Brian Davis, Danny Hogue, Jackson Davis, Matt Martin, Chance Kimberling, Tim Clonch, Raymond King, Terry Dumas-DNS and Brad Biggs-DNS.

B-main 3 saw Shane Priddy grab the lead early, but Hardy Henderson got around Priddy on lap 2. Priddy and Lee Hibner battled for second until Priddy broke the front suspension after contact with Hibner. Henderson then broke on 6, handing the lead to Hibner. As Hibner ran with the point a three wide battle was going on for second between Bo Briley, Vince Ogle and GW Egbert. 2002 IMCA modified Rookie of the Year, was odd man out in that battle failing to make the transfer.

L. Hibner, Briley, Ogle, GW Egbert, Ken Couch, Joe Colyer, Tanner Albert, Allen Williams, Rick Campbell, Patrick Wescott, Tony Keigley, Henderson, Bumper Jones, Gary Ramsey, Shane Priddy, Bradford Benson and Junior Styles-DNS.

Polesitter, Josh McGaha grabbed the lead at the start of B-main 4 and never looked back. Steve Hayes took one shot on a restart but was unable to get it done. In the meantime, Robbie Watkins, Greg Kruger and Michael Sams were fighting it out for the final A-main spot until R. Watkins fell out.

McGaha, Hayes, Sams, Kruger, Brian Canaday, Jim Thorpe, Floyd Fain, David Pierce, Jerry Graves, Eric Hughes, Matthew Johnson, R. Watkins, Chris Watkins, Doug Hibbard, David Chenoweth and JD Watkins-DNS

With the field now set, 20 of the fastest drivers took the green lead by G. Hibbard and Gieber. On the first try, Gould spun while Sams rolled to a stop on track. G. Hibbard took the lead on green, with Gieber crossing over and taking a shot on the low side. The caution was out quickly on lap 2 when Trauernicht stalled on track. Gieber was trying both high and low to get around G. Hibbard, but could never get by. Elliott and Sisson had a good scrap of their own for third with Sisson getting the spot. Sisson caught Gieber and the duo ran side by side on lap 9.

G. Hibbard was building a good lead by halfway, followed by Gieber, Sisson, Elliott and Garza. Sisson finally got around Gieber on lap 12, followed by Garza who got by both Elliott and Gieber a lap later. G. Hibbard increased his lead as Sisson and Garza fought it out for second. A late caution for a spin by Shane Clement, bunched the field erasing G. Hibbard’s lead. On the restart with 5 to go G Hibbard inched ahead, but Sisson quickly back closed in. On the final lap the crafty veteran, Sisson was able to get the nose inside G Hibbard in turn 1-2. The duo ran door to door down the backstretch with Sisson getting into turn 3 first. G Hibbard tried to get back by coming out of four low, but was unsuccessful. Sisson added another win to his total that has him 4th in all time wins in Texas, putting the Help Wanted Inc./All Plumbing/Bonds Race Place/Dent Dimensions/Racing Super Store/Sign Shop/Texas Tire/Cook Paint and Body/Ford powered/Kosiski Chassis in victory lane.

6 Varian Sisson Springtown

127 Glen Hibbard Euless

171 Billy Garza Forney

124 Dennie Gieber Flint

19 David Elliott Eastland

49 Vince Ogle Lubbock

911 Josh McGaha Brownwood

43 Scotty Cook Abilene

117 William Gould Amarillo

0 Bo Briley San Angelo

44 Michael Sams Brownwood

7 Steve Hayes Eastland

88 Lonnie Hibner Chillicothe, Mo.

737 Rodney Hicks Abilene

01 Mac Marmon Clifton

32 Shane Clement Bonham

199 Lee Hibner Chillicothe, Mo.

18 David Trauernicht Beatrice, Nebr.62 Dale Marriott Brookfield, Mo.

11 Kolt Walker Graham

 

Clonch takes I-Stock thriller

At the start of the I-stock A-main you knew it was going to be a fight to the finish. Tim Clonch, Damon Murty and Raymond King dove in three wide on the start, with Clonch coming out with advantage. Clonch, running the high groove and Murty on the low side ran door to door on laps 2 & 3 with Clonch holding Murty off. Murty got a little loose, allowing Clonch to gain some space as he fell back into the clutches of Scotty Brown and Duain Pritchett. The races only caution came on lap 6 when Billy Wade spun and Chris McDonald broke and slowed on track. On the restart Murty again tried the low groove, getting along side Clonch again. They dueled side by side again for two laps, with Brown jumping to the battle following Clonch on the high side.

At halfway the top five were Clonch, Brown, Murty, Pritchett and Tim Ezell, with Clonch having a slight lead. Brown closed in on Clonch, while Murty fell back to fourth when Pritchett made the pass. The top four had good gap back to Ezell, but a great scrap was going for 7th-9th with Kevin Sustaire, Jeff Turner and Robert Jones running three wide on laps 14 & 15. The top three were nose to tail with four laps to go as Murty started to fade. Brown took a shot on Clonch with 2 to go trying the inside, But Clonch held off Browns charge to put the Fetty Racing/Dougs Vinyl Signs/Cotton Racing Engines/Fetty Chassis in the winner’s circle.

18 Tim Clonch Quinlan

144 Scotty Brown Seagoville

122 Duain Pritchett Combine

990 Damon Murty Chelsea, Iowa

73 Tim Ezell Buffalo

021 Jason Gore Combine

87 Kevin Sustaire Emory

74 Robert Jones Canton

43 Scotty Cook Abilene

81 Robert Vetter Wolfe City

5 Sam Hodges Eunice N.M.

14 Travis Evans Bullard

83 Chad Estes Troy

72 Charles Brewer Buffalo Gap

55 Charlie Wilson Denton

7 JW Johnson Abilene

44 Jeff Turner Seagoville

22 Billy Wade San Angelo

125 Brian Bishnow Robinson

169 Raymond King Mesquite

47 Thomas Earl III Alvarado

21 Mark Mohon Sulpher Springs

42 Brandon Kirkland Mesquite

132 Chris McDonald Montgomery Heat race winners were Earl, McDonald, Jones, Clonch, Pritchett and Cook. Turner, Wade and Sustaire took the B-main checkers.

 

Iowan takes Texas hobby honors and cash.

As has been the norm in the IMCA hobby class, the out-of-state boys lead the way. Ben Hoesing and Hans Houfek paced the field to green with Hoesing getting the advantage early. Lap 2 saw yellow come out when JR Kahler breaking and stopping on track. Hoesing got the jump on the green and was building a lead lap by lap. Ken Bidwell got sideways falling from 3rd back to 6th, while a good wheel to wheel battle between Jerry West and Brent Schlake was going on for the vacant 3rd spot. Schlake then moved in on Houfek, with Hoesing running off in the night.

At the midpoint, it was Hoesing, Houfek, Schlake, West and Bidwell, who was working back up. Schlake got past Houfek on lap 11, but Hoesing was long gone. As Hoesing got into traffic, Schlake cut into the full straightaway lead with 5 to go. Schlake’s chances of catching Hoesing ended when he rolled onto his side in turn three. (Sorry-I missed it) On the restart Hoesing had two lap cars as buffer zone back to Houfek and was easily able to go on to the win in his Billys Sales and Salvage/Durban Autobody/Julich. Const./Huntley Novelties/Anderson Race Engines/PRC Ford Chassis.

17 Ben Hoesing Ames, Iowa

59 Hans Houfek Homer, Nebr.

04 Ken Bidwell Tama, Iowa

26 Mitch Calvert San Angelo

24 Scott Pyle Midland

71 Chris Ater Haltom

92 Cecil Lampe Abilene

6 Randy Stout Ft. Worth

94 Steve Meyer Grundy Center, Iowa

9 Jerry West Ft. Worth

34 Brent Schlake Blue Springs, Nebr.

19 Bill Bonnett Knoxville, Iowa

27 Randell Jones Weatherford

23 Paul Martin Abilene

49 Jason Murray Hartford, Iowa

12 John Davis Eunice, N.M.

7 Chris Meyers Eunice, N.M.

11 JR Kahler Ladora, Iowa

57 Paul Sechrist Sunset

18 Steven Yuen Abilene

Heat race honors went to Ater, West, Calvert and Hoesing, while Bonnett and Jas. Murray took the B-mains.

Owen goes wire to wire for Mini-mod win.

Merkel Tx. Driver Terry Owen led every lap of the Mini-mod A-mod adding another win to his total at Abilene Spwy. The race came to smashing finish as Philip Houston hit an infield tire and rolled his car onto the roof as the checkers were flying. Owen and Doyle Tennison scored the heat wins.

Terry Owen

Bill Brzezinski

John Anderson

AC Urbanosky

Waylon Lacy

Shane Sprinkle

Doyle Tennison

Lance Shaw

Rusty Craft

Pete Dunham

Philip Houston

Thomas Burgess

Bret Bugh

Bob Eshelman

 

In Jr. Mini Stocks, Dean Abbey did the Texas double taking both the heat race and feature wins.

Dean Abbey

Justin Shaw

Alex Bannowsky

Daryl Jerden

Leslee Rea

Roy Gibson

Andrew Myers jr.

 

The Pure stock main saw a red flag when Randel Porter spun and rolled onto the side during early action. The final lap came down to a three wide shootout between Brian Wilkins, Jim Scott and Dave Armstrong. Wilkins had led up to that point, but came out third as Scott stole the victory.

Jim Scott

Dave Armstrong

Brian Wilkins

Paul Cornell

Ronald Olden

David Nichols

Randel Porter