I-37 Spwy Summer Series opener 4/9/04

[rebelracewriter]

I-37 Speedway Regular Season Opener 4/9/04

By J M Hallas

Pleasanton, Texas., The Summer Series Season Starter at I-37 Speedway saw it’s sixth different face in the Winners Circle for the IMCA Modifieds. Over 60 cars in four classes signed to compete on the nicely prepared 1/4 mile clay track. The track was smooth and stayed tacky most of the night with a multi groove racing surface throughout the features.

 

Fans and racers were also quick to notice some of other improvements to the track. A new concession stand, real restrooms and a second set of grandstands were most noticeable as you walked through the gate. Kids were treated to an Easter egg hunt, with prize give-aways and two youngsters walked away with fully stocked Easter baskets, all compliments of the I-37 staff.

 

A good field of IMCA Modifieds battled through four heat races for qualifying spots in the nights 20 lap A-Main. Heats 1 & 2 saw the winners both lead wire to wire as GW Egbert and Danny Brown took the wins. Greg Dinsmore led early in heat 3, giving way to Trevor Egbert on lap 3. T. Egbert and David Smith battled wheel to wheel for laps 5 and 6, with Smith taking the lead on lap 7 and hold on for the victory. George Egbert had a fairly easy time in heat 4 as the field got strung out and he was never challenged.

 

After several scratches, the B-main was dropped and 25 cars started the IMCA Modified main event led to green by Monty Nichols and Danny Brown. Nichols got a good jump on the start as Brown fell in behind. David Smith, from row two. didn’t get a good start and stacked up the field. Brown was looking high on Nichol while current IMCA National points leader, Henry Witt got past Robert Dose for sixth.

 

The caution flew on lap for a multi-car tangle involving Joe Barnec, Bill Pittaway, Dinsmore and Max Helms. On the restart Witt retook sixth as Steven Whitaker jr was battling with Bobby Grobe for third. By lap 5 Nichols had inched ahead as David Smith moved in the challenge Whitaker jr. for position.

 

After getting by Whitaker jr., Smith wasted little time going by Brown for second on lap 6. Nichols and Smith were side by side for the lead a lap later, while at the same time Witt and Whitaker jr. were wheel to wheel for fourth. Smith grabbed the point on lap 8, just as yellow flew for Dinsmore and Raymond Tague, who got together in turn 1.

 

Nichols and Smith were side by side again on the restart, with Witt jumping around Brown for third. Witt closed in on Nichols and they were door to door for second just a Tague got into the front stretch wall. Coming to yellow the field backed up with Brown, Grobe and Whitaker jr all stacking up under the flagstand.

 

As the race resumed and reached the mid point the top five were Smith, Nichols, Witt, Brown and GW Egbert with Brown, GW Egbert and Whitaker jr. three wide for fourth. Yellow flew on lap 11 when Rick Green blew a motor and rolled to stop on the high side of turn 4. On the restart, Smith got out to a good lead, with Brown and GW Egbert resuming their fight for fourth.

 

Nichols and Witt were back at on lap 12 running side by side, just as caution flew. Dose and Dale Flanagan made contact and slowed coming out of turn. In the back up Dinsmore got hung on the side bars of Eric Hughes. As green flew Witt got by Nichols only to have yellow come back out for debris.

Back under green Nichols was trying to get second back from Witt, with GW Egbert joiningg in the fight as Smith inched away. GW Egbert snagged the third spot on lap 14 as Smith was building his lead to about 10 cars with 5 laps to go. The final caution waved on lap 18 when Dinsmore rolled to a stop on track setting up a green, white, checker shoot-out between two young guns and the veteran, Witt.

 

On green, the top three broke away, as Nichols and Brown slugged it out for fourth. GW Egbert kept the pressure on Witt, giving Smith a little breathing room. As the white flag flew it was nearly three wide as each driver choose a different line. GW Egbert dove under Witt in turn 3 and as they came out of turn 4 GW Egbert tried to slide up. The two hooked bumpers with Witt spinning and hitting the wall, as Smith was taking the checkers in his new Skyrocket Chassis in only its third race. Smith became the sixth different winner of the year for IMCA Modifieds, as five drivers took Winter Series victories.

 

During post-race tech, officials checked for roller motors and Smith would refuse to pull the distributor and be disqualified giving the win to GW Egbert. GW Egbert, a specialist from the 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Hood, just back for his tour of duty in Iraq was the most unhappy winner I’ve ever seen.

 

GW Egbert driving the Big-Tex Autoplex/Phils Paint and Body/E & E Transport/Midwest Motorsports/Nightmare Graphics/Dirt Works Chassis was able to force a smile as the winners picture was taken in the tech area. GW Egbert was upset about the ‘racing incident’ with Witt stating, “ I feel bad about it, Henry’s trying to win a National Championship and I’m just racing for fun.” GW Egbert was also awarded a plaque during intermission and given recognition by the fans and the track for his service to his country

 

IMCA Modifieds

Pos/Car#/Driver/Start

1 717 GW Egbert (10)

2 83 Monty Nichols II (1)

3 55 Danny Brown (2)

4 01 Tanner Whitmire (13)

5 14 Brent McBride (12)

6 78 Trevor Egbert (9)

7 57 Dale Flanagan (14)

8 37 Bill Pittaway (17)

9 174 Max Helms (19)

10 3D Robert Dose (6)

11 98 Wayne Crouse (24)

12 41 Eric Hughes (23)

13 32 Raymond Tague (22)

14 35 Curt Clegg (21)

15 76 Michael Carlock (20)

16 2 Marlin Sanford (25)

17 89 Steven Whitaker jr (5)

18 701 Henry Witt (7)

19 8g Greg Dinsmore (15)

20 82 Rick Green (16)

21 25 Bobby Grobe (3)

22 70 George Egbert (8)

23 97 Joe Barnec (18)

 

David Smith III DQ-Tech(Originally 1st)

Steve Whitaker--DQ Rough Driving(Originally 6th)

Mickey Helms--DNS

Nicky Hardcastle--DNS

Jason Borlace--DNS

Joey Whitehead--DNS

 

 

 

In the Limited Late Model feature, Grant Rabe and Carl Pitts lead the field to green. Rabe grabbed the lead and was able to hold on to the lead after a couple caution. Rabe was trailed most of the way by Ziggy Reusser, who waited until after halfway to mount his challenge.

 

On lap 13 Rabe and Reusser went three wide around a lap car, with Reusser on the high side, getting the edge at the line to lead lap 14. Rabe then retook the top spot after Reusser drifted too high in turns 3-4. As the white flag flew to two were scrapping it out. Going into turn 3, Reusser was still trying the high side. As Rabe slid up coming out of turn 4, Reusser diamond off the corner, crossed over and dove low. The duo where door to door coming to the line and........ it was Reusser by a bumper over Rabe.

Limited Late Model

1 Ziggy Reusser

2 Grant Rabe

3 Carl Pitts

4 Cliff Reusser

5 Ed Forsythe

6 Gary Hunter

7 Keith Harris

8 David Rydl

9 David Boudreau

 

The Super Stock main saw Robert Williams, Charley Henley and Claud Jordan battle for the lead early until Henley got loose and slapped the front stretch wall on lap 7. Donald Lewis got by Jordan on the restart but Williams had already moved ahead, and was able to cruise on to the win.

Super Stock

1 Robert Williams

2 Donald Lewis

3 Claud Jordan

4 Johnny Torres

5 Charley Henley

 

 

The 14 car Pure Stock feature was led to green by Adam Torres and Justin Henley. Henley got the lead on green, but it was short lived. On lap 3 Henley slowed quickly and pulled off giving the top spot Ben Anderlich. Anderlich then was challenged by Torres through the mid stages of the 20 lap race. A late caution regrouped the field with Torres getting around Anderlich on the restart. Torres would go on to grab his first win.

Pure Stock

1 Adam Torres

2 Ben Anderlich

3 Derrick Flora

4 Allen Goree

5 John Kelly

6 Jason Kelly

7 Tom Williams

8 Gary Rolff

9 Barry Tuttle

10 Justin Henley

11 Robin Lutholz

12 Michael Hagar

13 Brian Lorenz

14 Steven Hawkins

Jeff Hessman--DNS

Darin Leonard--DNS

Jason Terry--DNS