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Johnson takes ASCS L/S win in borrowed ride @ HOT Spwy. 4/16/10


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ASCS Lone Star Region @ Heart o' Texas Speedway 4/16/10

 

By J M Hallas

 

 

 

Elm Mott, Tx.(April 16th, 2010) Heart o Texas Speedway hosted its first round of the ASCS Sprint Car Series races on the ¼ mile high-banked dirt oval just north of Waco. It was the Lone star Region Making an appearance with 25 of the high-flying, winged Sprint Cars signing in to do battle.

 

 

 

Also the nights racing program were heats and features for the IMCA sanctioned classes(Modifieds, Southern Sportmods and Hobby Stocks). The Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Cruisers, Twisters and Jr. Mini Stocks ran features only lined up by points.

 

 

 

 

 

Johnson jumps in borrowed ride, takes series win

 

Veteran ASCS campaigner Wayne Johnson, without a ride at the start of the 2010 season, wasn't planning on running this show, but when the checkers flew he found himself in the winners circle. Johnson picked up a ride driving the back-up car for Parker Motorsports late in the week and took for the ride of it's life.

 

 

 

Johnson, who started on the pole, fell back to second behind Bean Elliott and patiently waited for his chance. That opportunity came on lap 6 when Elliott had trouble in slower traffic and Johnson snuck by for the lead on lap 7. Johnson then held off Preston Peebles and Brad Welborn to take the victory.

 

 

 

As green waved on the 25-car, 25-lap ASCS Lone Star Region main event Elliott got the jump on th outside leading the field into turn 1. Johnson, Peebles, Welborn and Eric Baldacinni fell in line, while the pack was still wheel to wheel from eighth on back. It didn't take long for Elliott to run up on traffic by the third circuit. Elliott had to dodge the spinning car of Andrew Marshala who brought out the caution on lap 3.

 

 

 

On the restart Elliott got good jump on th pack, with Kevin Ramey getting past Baldacinni for fifth. As Elliott again caught slower car on lap 6 he bobbled slightly with Johnson shooting by for the lead on lap 7. Peebles followed to second while Elliott compounded his problems with a spin in turn 2 that brought out the yellow on lap 8. When the green waved again Ramey was pressuring Welborn for third, but John Ricketts slowed, with Marshala and Rodney Henderson ending up spinning to the infield.

 

 

 

Once back to green Johnson got a huge jump, but yellow was quickly out again on lap 11 for Marshala who slapped the front stretch and flipped under the flagstand. Brian McClelland caught a part of Marshala's suspension ending his night. Johnson got out on green with Peebles slipping over the cushion in turn 2 and Welborn getting by for second. At the crossed flags it was Johnson, Welborn, Peebles, Ramey and Baldacinni in the top five.

 

 

 

The leaders ran up on traffic again during lap 16 as they diced through Baldacinni tried to dodge a slower car got over on the left side tires and tipped over in turn 4 to bring the red out again. As green waved again Johnson got a huge jump on Welborn, while Justin Melton, Michael Lang and Justin Sproel were three wide for seventh.

 

 

 

With five to go Johnson was hitting lapped traffic, but held a ½ straightaway lead over Welborn, Peebles and Ramey running nose to tail. Kolt Walker closed on that trio and snuck past Ramey and Peebles who got hung up behind lapped cars on lap 21. In the final laps Ramey and Walker continued swapping slide jobs, while up front Johnson in the Parker Motorsports, Champion Dent Repair, H&H powered, Triple X Chassis was cruising to the win.

 

 

 

“First off I have to thank Brian and Tina(Parker) for giving me the opportunity,” replied Johnson. “This is he first I've driven for them and he first time I've ever been here. I didn't even see the car until until 7PM last night. I really like this place, it's racy and has some high banks. Starting up front front helped a lot too.”

 

 

 

“These cars are close to being the same now days so jumping into a new ride isn't that difficult. I travel with my own shocks so I've kind of got a base line. They may drive just a tick different and it takes time to get adjusted. The longer it(the race) went the better I felt. I've been driving these for for 24 years so it kind of comes natural.”

 

 

 

“I run the National Series, a lot of 410 stuff and some Outlaw races. I've traveled all over from California to Pennsylvania. This year I don't have a full time deal. I won the Ronald Laney Memorial down in East Bay(Fla.) and finished second at Devils Bowl. Every race I've been in a different car.”

 

 

 

ASCS Lone Star Region Sprint Cars

 

9x Wayne Johnson

 

17w Brad Welborn

 

7m Kevin Ramey

 

45k Kolt Walker

 

0c Preston Peebles

 

74E Claud Estes

 

11 Justin Melton

 

6s Justin Sproel

 

14 Michael Lang

 

30 Brandon Corn

 

30x Bean Elliott

 

45 Martin Edwards

 

1R Scott Reneau

 

22J John Gaston

 

74x Josh Hodges

 

5m Glenn Martin

 

9 Brian Parker

 

58 Gary Ploy

 

4 Eric Baldacinni

 

25 Brian McClelland

 

87A Andrew Marshala

 

76 John Ricketts

 

67 Rodney Henderson

 

69H Larry Howery

 

5c Chris Coker

 

 

 

 

 

ASCS Heats(Top 16 in passing points)

 

Heat #1

 

0c Preston Peebles

 

30x Bean Elliot

 

45k Kolt Walker

 

17w Brad Welborn

 

9 Brian Parker

 

45 Martin Edwards

 

67 Rodney Henderson

 

87A Andrew Marshala

 

58 Gary Ploy

 

 

 

Heat #2

 

4 Eric Baldacinni

 

74E Claud Estes

 

76 John Ricketts

 

6s Justin Sproel

 

30 Brandon Corn

 

22J John Gaston

 

74x Josh Hodges

 

14 Michael Lang

 

 

 

Heat #3

 

25 Brian McClelland

 

7m Kevin Ramey

 

11 Justin Melton

 

9x Wayne Johnson

 

5c Chris Coker

 

5m Glenn Martin

 

69H Larry Howery

 

1R Scott Reneau

 

 

 

 

Stewart scores second Modified main win in a row.

Academy's Brandon Stewart took home his second IMCA Modified win a row as he went wire to wire in the 20-lapper. Stewart, driving a car that knows its way to the winners circle, had no easy task as he had to hold off Benji Kirkpatrick early, then Justin Radcliff and Keith Green in the latter stages to go home win his second feature win in a row.

 

Stewart led the pack out of turn 2 at the start of the IMCA Modified main with Jimmie Helona and Kirkpatrick side by side for second, with Radcliff and Green in pursuit. Kirkpatrick got past Helona on lap 2 and gave Stewart a quick look low in turn 1. Radcliff was next to put Helona back a spot taking third on lap 3. With the top three now nose to tail Green snagged fourth from Helona.

 

Stewart got some breathing room as Kirkpatrick and Radcliff began to scrap it out for second. Radcliff was unable to complete a pass as the top three singled out again. At halfway it was Stewart, Kirkpatrick and Radcliff on each others bumpers with a gap back to Green and Helona rounding out the top five. Radcliff finally made the pass on Kirkpatrick for second on lap 10 as was quickly on Stewart's tail for the lead. Kirkpatrick spun while battling with Green on lap 13 to bring out a caution. Once back to green Chris Dawson got along side Pat McGuire now battling for fourth.

 

Ben Ketteman, Johnny Sheets and Chase Jupe tangled in turns 1-2 to bring out a yellow on lap 15. On the restart Green got by Radcliff for second while Dawson slipped giving up spots to Keith White and Robert Black. Just as the white flag was shown to Stewart, Sheets and Helona got together in turn 4 to bring out the yellow setting up a green, white, checker finish.

 

When green waved again Radcliff got second back from Green, but yellow was quickly back out for a three-car tangle on th back stretch between McGuire, Kirkpatrick and Eric Tomlinson. The final restart was single file as Stewart tried to hold off Green and Radcliff. Dawson was able to put a slide job on Black for fifth on the final lap. Up front it was Stewart in the D&S Painting, The Paint Specialists, CenTex Motorsports, Hughes Chassis hanging on for the win.

 

“I finally found my groove and hung with it,” stated Stewart.”I've got my bother-in-law(Keith Whites) old car and all you have to do is stand on the gas and it takes you where it needs to go. I kind of take his hand me downs, but they're all good cars.”

 

“That's two in a row. I started up front both times, but I've led all the laps. I definitely look at the leader board out there. I'm always looking for Keith. I knew he was coming. Those late cautions were killing me. I was ready to get it over with. On the white flag lap I even bounced it off the wall, but I held on to take the win.”

 

“Once I find a line I try to stick with it. I felt them back there a couple times. I knew if I hit my spots and held my groove that it would be hard to pass me.”

 

IMCA Modifieds

2 Brandon Stewart

5g Keith Green

11j Justin Radcliff

1 Keith White

7x Chris Dawson

07 Robert Black

555 Allen Waltermire

303 Chase Jupe

37 Ben Ketteman

21x Jimmie Helona

96 Johnny Sheets

47 Benji Kirkpatrick

9 Pat McGuire

45T Eric Tomlinson

28G Brian Guay---DNS

123 Justin Redman---DNS

 

 

IMCA Modified heats

Heat #1

47 Benji Kirkpatrick

2 Brandon Stewart

1 Keith White

21x Jimmie Helona

11j Justin Radcliff

303 Chase Jupe

45T Eric Tomlinson

28G Brian Guay---DNTG

 

 

Heat 2

96 Johnny Sheets

9 Pat McGuire

5g Keith Green

37 Ben Ketteman

7x Chris Dawson

07 Robert Black

555 Allen Waltermire

123 Justin Redman---DNS

 

 

Green grabs gold in Sportmod scramble

The Green boys made their dad proud as they put away the IMCA Southern Sportmod field with a one-two finish in the 20-lap feature. Hewitt's, TJ Green took over the lead when Chris Cogburn had a right rear tire go down on lap 15. From there TJ held his comfortable margin over brother Kevin all the way to checkers in the caution free race.

 

Wade white was first into turn 1 at the start of the 12-car SSM main, but it was Cogburn getting by low off turn 2 to lead lap 1. Bobby Mercer, TJ Green, Johnny Sheets fell in behind while K. Green and W. White were side by side for fifth. TJ Green got under Mercer for second with Sheets looking to follow. Mercer would spin to the infield after contact during that battle, moving defending SSM Champion Keith White up to fifth.

 

The top three of Cogburn, TJ Green, K. Green, were separated out at halfway with Sheets, K. White and a rapidly closing, Brandon Stewart fighting for fourth. Stewart challenged K. White for a top five spot on lap 14 looking up top on the four-time champ. TJ Green quickly reeled in Cogburn, who was slowing with a flat, and took the point on lap 16. TJ Green, with nearly a straightaway lead over K. Green easily motored to the win in the Greens Automatic Transmissions, Hewitt Gun Shop, Lambs Muffler Center, Hewitt Pawn Shop, Stewart Stainless, Outlaw Racing Engines, Qwik Chassis.

 

“It's always a very tough race here,” commented Green. “I just try to be smooth and consistent. Chris(Cogburn) got out front and he caught traffic. We just had things go our way at the right time and it worked out for us.”

 

“I lean on my dad a lot for set up tips. We talk about what's going on before the race and what to expect. My big thing is trying to be consistent and make the same laps over and over. When I do that, it normally works out for me.”

 

“Tonight I was looking at th scoreboard to see who was where. I knew I had my brother behind me, so I was pretty comfortable and just trying to focus on what was ahead of me. I try to race him(Kevin) just like everyone else, but there are times that I might lift for him but not someone else.”

 

IMCA Southern Sportmods

55 TJ Green

5d Kevin Green

101 Johnny Sheets

1w Keith White

2 Brandon Stewart

11 Mark McDaniel

Sly1 BJ Dulock

65 Randy Doyle

75 Edward Schmidt

5c Chris Cogburn

68 Wade White

5m Bobby Mercer

58 Sid Kiphen---DNS

61 Rick Poteet---DNS

 

 

 

IMCA SSM Heats

Heat #1

1 Keith White

5c Chris Cogburn

65 Randy Doyle

68 Wade White

101 Johnny Sheets

58 Sid Kiphen---DNS

61 Rick Poteet---DNS

 

Heat #2

55 TJ Green

5m Bobby Mercer

5D Kevin Green

11 Mark McDaniel

2 Brandon Stewart

75 Edward Schmidt

Sly1 BJ Dulock--DNS

 

 

Nineteen cars took the green for the IMCA Hobby Stock feature with Zach Henson getting the lead while Garrett Rawls, Andy Roller and Ray Kemp jr. ran three wide for third. Roller came out of the battle with the spot with Kemp and Shannon Dulock side by side now for fourth. Kemp retook the spot on lap 4 as Michael Gaunet, using the top, worked his way along side Dulock.

 

As Roller tried to work around Jeremy Hendrix for second they made contact with Hendrix collecting several cars in the lead pack. All ere able to continue after shaking up the top five. Henson, Kemp, Dulock and Gaunet began to put some distance on the field. Kemp got along side Henson on lap 9 getting the nos out front on lap 10. Henson fought back retaking the point on lap 11, while Gaunet was looking for a way past both.

 

Kemp reassumed the point on lap 12 as Gaunet clipped Henson sending him spinning to the infield. Gaunet was black flagged for rough driving a lap later. This left Dulock and Jeremy Oliver battling up front with Kemp for the win. The three were nose to tail as they came to the white flag. Kemp edged out to a car length advantage o the final to hold on for the win.

 

IMCA Hobby Stocks

45 Ray Kemp jr

47 Shannon Dulock

82 Jeremy Oliver

89 Jeff Sexton

82x Garrett Rawls

5c Chris Cogburn

46 Billy Taylor

1TScott Taylor

63 Andy Roller

23 Les Maxwell

16 Aaron Headrick

95 Dylan Lucko

29 Michael Votaw

63z Zach Henson

c17 Charlie Norris

5R Ricky Rodriguez

18 Jeremy Hendrix

74 Chris Grusendorf

25 Michael Gaunet--BF(Rough driving)

 

 

IMCA Hobby Stock heat winners; 25 Michael Gaunet, 5c Chris Cogburn

 

 

 

Tommy Kirkpatrick jumped out front in turn 1 of the 15-lap Street Stock feature and it was all over but who finished second. Kirkpatrick quickly pulled out to a comfortable margin over Doug Andrews, Jason Gauntt, John Heffelfinger and Ed Thompson. David Khoury caught Thompson for fifth and got the spot on la 3. Khoury then closed in on Heffelfinger as they fought it out for fourth.

 

Up front Kirkpatrick was increasing his margin over Andrews while Matt Hood reeled in Thompson for sixth. Khoury's top five finish ended when he pulled off from fifth on lap 11. As the checkers waved it was Kirkpatrick easily taking the victory over Andrews.

 

Street Stocks

71 Tommy Kirkpatrick

1 Doug Andrews

73 Jason Gauntt

2 John Heffelfinger

181 Ed Thompson

3A Matt Hood

7 Chuck Hamlin

32 Bill Eller

142 Bill Miller

173 David Khoury

74 Lewis Blackwood

 

 

Jeff Sheppard grabbed the early lead in the 20-lap Pure Stock feature with Jack Jenkins, Melvin Kemp, Edward Harcrow and Kevin Smith behind. James Holder brought out the yellow early when he stopped in turn 4. On the restart Kemp took second from Jenkins with Tommy Honey moving into the top five. Kemp moved in on Sheppard for the lead and tried to dive down low. The two made contact sending both around in turn 2 to bring out a caution and the obligatory pit confrontation after the race.

 

With Smith now up front followed by Honey, Jenkins, Jerry Whately and Wade White the green waved for the restart. It wasn't long until the red was shown for Harcrow who pounded the turn 4 wall. Once back under green Whately go by Jenkins for third on lap 10, followed by White on lap 11 for fifth. Honey then began to put the heat on Smith for lead with looks low.

 

Yellow waved on lap 14 when Colton Glaser broke and stopped on the front stretch. Once back to green Honey tried the top sneaking by to lead lap 15. With two to go Smith was rechallenging Honey for the top spot taking a look low in turn 2. Honey would go around in turn 4 handing the top spot back to Smith who would motor on to the victory.

 

Pure Stocks

57 Kevin Smith

542 Jerry Whately

68 Wade White

22 Jack Jenkins

08 Greg Andrews

54 Melvin Kemp

25C Chad Pelham

15 Michael Glaser

J33 James Haynes

18K Tommy Honey

10 Jeff Wills

02 Colton Glaser

06 Cory Breedlove

3 Edward Harcrow

17 Jeff Sheppard

25 Billy Shaw

0w James Holder

 

 

Jr. Jean led the start of the 15-lap Cruiser feature while Jeff Williams and William Dean battled for third. After contact both ended up spinning through the infield but continuing on. Lee Erler saw his second place run end when he suffered a flat right front and was forced to pull off.

 

Marshall Saucedo, who took over second, ran down Jean near halfway while Jeff Woodruff and Andrew Richards battled for third. Woodruff, who began losing fluid and smoking was black flagged on lap 11. Saucedo gave Jean several looks for the lead but Jean held on for the checkers over Saucedo who failed tech.

 

Cruisers

47 Jr Jean

9 Andrew Richards

44 William Dean

16oz Jeff Williams

8w Steve Craig

96j Jeff Woodruff

26 Kevin Harpen

48 Luther Carnahan

28 Billy Williams

21 Lee Erler

44s Anthony Simcik

11 Marshall Saucedo---DQ(Tech)

293 Barry Gaston--DQ(Did not tech)

 

 

The Texas Twister feature saw James Webre jump out front early in the 12-lap event but be challenged by Justin Thompson. After a side by side battle Thompson took the lead on lap 3. In the pack Ricky Bobby, Rick Morosky and Mark Kemp battled three wide for third. Webre ran down Thompson in traffic and retook the point on lap 10. The two were side by side as the white flag waved and at the checkers it was Thompson sneaking away with the victory.

 

Texas Twisters

1T Justin Thompson

5 James Webre

81 Ricky Bobby

5n Amy Nichols

17 Jay Hutson

5T Shane Arnold

94ak Dena Wachermann

54 Mark Kemp

23 Michael Hilliard

8 Rick Morosky

 

 

In the Jr. Mini Stock feature it was Jarrett Roberts easily taking the win over the short field. Roberts got out front and nearly lapped the four-car field on his way to the win.

 

Jr. Mini Stock

6 Jarret Roberts

21j Jordan Kornegay

54 Corbin Suggs

21k Kayliegh Kornegay

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