rebelracewriter Posted September 19, 2010 Report Posted September 19, 2010 US National Dirt Track Championship @ Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, 9/17-18/10 By J M Hallas Ft. Worth, Tx.,(Sept. 19Th, 2010) Night two for the U.S. National Dirt Track Championships saw the SUPR Late Model roll in with 35 cars signing in and upping the state count to seven. The SUPR Late Models would run a complete program, while the Modified and Limited Modifieds would run a series of last chance qualifiers to fill the remaining spots in the main. All three classes would add two provisionals to fill the fields for the big Championship finale races. Moore Masters Field for SUPR Victory Ray Moore worked his way up from the fourth starting spot to get around Kevin Sitton just past halfway in the SUPR 40-lap finale. After moving out to a small lead, lapped traffic allowed Sitton and Ronny Hollingsworth to close in. A late caution rebunched the field with the top four nose to tail. Moore was able to hold off all charges to take home the $3,500 pay day. Sitton got the jump on the start of the 22-car SUPR feature with Chris Holley and Allen Tippen in tow. Holley grabbed the top spot on lap 4 as the top four sorted out. Holley's time out front was short as he, Sitton and Tippen were three wide for the top spot on lap 9 with Sitton getting the point back on lap 10. Tippen bobbled in turn 2 nearly getting tagged by Holley. Moore, with a good run on the high side zipped around both for second. Hollingsworth worked his way forward getting by Holley on lap 13 than Tippen on lap 16 for third. At the crossed flags it was Sitton, Moore, Hollingsworth, Tippen and Kyle Cummings in the top five. Moore caught Sitton on lap 21 and the two were door to door on lap 22 before Moore snared the lead on lap 23. Hollingsworth then caught Sitton for second on lap 24. Sitton and Hollingsworth used slower traffic to track down Moore who got hung behind almost lapped cars. Sitton got the nose under Moore on lap 33 but got picked by a slower car allowing Moore to inch away. A late caution for a spin by Patrick Daniel at one end with Alex Ashley tagging the wall at the other end restacked the field. The top four stayed nose to tail on the restart but Moore piloting the Moore Wireline, J&J Motorsports, Tools International, Smith Towing, Roush-Yates Engines, Mars Chassis held all three off for the big win. “The track was tricky,” said Moore. “It was a little rough in spots. It was slick, tacky, slick, tacky. The best thing was just having a neutral car and not be too tight or too loose. Let it roll through the corner nice and smooth. We had the best lap times and it showed tonight.” “We didn't get to practice last night since we just got here this morning. We had to go with what we had, a real neutral set up for the heat race. In March we were here three nights and the track progressively got slicker. So we anticipated that. We were able to get the job done. I was tickled to death.” “After the heat race I freed the car up. We were too tight in the heat and pushing the nose a bit. I knew he track was still going to slick off. I was looking for the balance to roll the corners and be able to handle the ruts.” “It's difficult running against these guys with tons more experience than me. I can give them a run for their money for a while, but the experience pans out for them. Maybe one day I'll have that experience. Guys like David Ashley and Kenny Merchant helped a lot when I started out. I owe them quite a bit. They pointed me in the right direction.” “I've done some other Late Model racing with the Lucas Oil and World of Outlaw series'. We've got some good motors when we go run with those guys. A couple weeks ago we ran the Topless 100 and made that. We tried for five year to make that. With this new car that Jimmy Mars and Brian Birkhofer have now it seemed to put us over the edge and be able to get in. We're looking to venture out and travel some more. SUPR Late Models 93 Ray Moore, Haughton, La. 20 Kevin Sitton, Baytown 74F Ronny Hollingsworth, North Port, Ala. 33x Kyle Cummings, Sibley, La. 71A Allen Tippen, Minden, La. 11c Jeff Chandler, Minden, La. 21D Lee Davis, Green wood, La. C8 Timothy Culp, West Monroe, La. 77 Robbie Starnes, Baytown 14a David Ashley, Zachary, La. 6R Robbie Stuart, Deridder, La. 17 Howard Willis, Dayton 28H Chris Holley, Dayton 58x Gary Christian, Boroken Bow, Okla. 14m Morgan Bagley, Ft. Worth F5 Josh Danzy, Heflin, La. 6x Rob Litton, Alexandria, La. 75 Patrick Daniel, Wills Point 9 Alex Ashley, Zachary, La. 84 Tom Lorenz, Mesquite 12 Jason Ingalls, Hallsville 121 Bill Gordon, Baton Rouge, La. SUPR Heats(Top 16 in passing points) Heat #1 71a Allen Tippen 12 Jason Ingalls C8 Timothy Culp 11c Jeff Chandler 28b Wendall Bolden ZZ Larry White 74 Paul Joyner 17m Phil Miller 14m Morgan Bagley Heat #2 93 Ray Moore 28H Chris Holley 33x Kyle Cummings 21D Lee Davis 58x Gary Christian 193 Eric Neal F5 Josh Danzy 91B Shawn Brassfield 85 Bob Ewell Heat #3 9 Alex Ashley 6r Robbie Stuart 75 Patrick Daniel 121 Bill Gordon 77b Marcus Baxter 99 Nate Jantz 71c Jeff Crane 7 John Ewell Heat #4 74F Ronny Hollingsworth 20 Kevin Sitton 6x Rob Litton 77 Robbie Starnes 8 Skip Oneal 84 Tom Lorenz 71R Chris Tarrant 14A David Ashley 17 Howard Willis SUPR B-mains(Top 2 to A-main) B-main #1 14m Morgan Bagley 58x Gary Christian F5 Josh Danzy 17m Phil Miller ZZ Larry White 99 Nate Jantz 71c Jeff Crane 7 John Ewell 174 John Sliney 28b Wendall Bolden---dns B-main #2 17 Howard Willis 14a David Ashley 8 Skip Oneal 84 Tom Lorenz 71R Chris Tarrant 85 Bob Ewell 77B Marcus Baxter 74 Paul Joyner 193 Eric Neal 91b Shawn Brassfield Whiteaker Whips Stout Field for Modified Pay Day Corpus Christi young gun, Steve Whiteaker jr. ran the race of his life on his way to Modified A-main checkers. Whiteaker got by early leader Patrick Daniel on lap 6 and after halfway battled tooth and nail with Colby Smith. Smith edged ahead for a lap, ran side by side and threw everything at Whiteaker but the kitchen sink. Whiteaker held off Smith's charges to gab the $3,000 win. Daniel beat Tim Clonch into turn 1 as the green waved on the 24-car, 40-lap Modified main. Clonch fell in line second with Stormy Scott, Mike Dillard and Jason Armstrong in the top five. Scott got by Clonch for second leaving him side by side Dillard for third. Dillard took the spot on lap 2 while Shane Hebert and Armstrong ran wheel to wheel for fifth. Dillard, on the bottom, got by Scott for second on lap 3. Clonch had trouble and slowed from the top five while Whiteaker got by Armstrong for fifth. Debris brought out the caution on lap 6 to slow the action. On the restart Dillard gave Daniel a look low, but fell back in line as Whiteaker got along side Scott for third. Whiteaker, using the top side, got a huge run on Dillard and Patrick sailing around both for the lead on lap 9. Daniel then faded giving up spots to Dillard, Scott and Armstrong before pulling off. Yellow waved on lap 10 for a spin by George White in tricky turn 2. On the restart Whiteaker got a good jump as the top three pulled away from Armstrong, Johnny Bone jr. and Brad Doherty battling for fourth. Armstrong and Bone swapped the spot while Bobby Malchus moved up to fifth. Scott got by Dillard and was starting to challenge Whiteaker, but broke on lap 16 an pulled off. Smith was making his way to the front getting by Malchus on lap 17 then Armstrong on lap 18. At halfway it was Whiteaker, Dillard, Smith, Armstrong and Malchus in the top five with the top ten strung out. That all ended on lap 26 when Dillard slowed from second and stopped in turn 2. On the restart Malchus got third from Armstrong as Smith applied the pressure on Whiteaker. The two were side by side on lap 27 with Malchus along side Armstrong for third. Whiteaker edged out by a couple car lengths on lap 30, with Bone taking third from Malchus and Armstrong. Jack Franklin brought a yellow on lap 31 with a spin in turn 2. Once back to green Whiteaker jumped out, but Smith quickly closed back in, with Malchus getting third from Armstrong after the yellow erased Bone's pass. Smith got the bumper out front of Whiteaker on lap 32, but Whiteaker fought back on the top to retake the lead on lap 33. The two stayed side by side bouncing through the ruts in turns 3-4, with Whiteaker even kissing the back stretch wall. As the lead duo slugged it out, Malchus closed in on both. Whiteaker got nearly sideways in turns 3-4 on lap 36, but Malchus looped it behind him bringing out a caution Whiteaker moved out again on green, but Tyler Townsend spun to bring the yellow back out. This time Smith stayed with Whiteaker, with Bone getting third from Armstrong. Whiteaker held Smith at bay by four car lengths with Tristan Dycus getting fourth from Armstrong. At the checkers Whiteaker was able to hold off Smith in Jana Schurry/Remax Realty, WW Bodies, Showtime Signs, TRoberts Optical, Mullins Race Engines, Hughes Chassis. “I had to drive the heck out of it,” replied Whiteaker. “I almost lost it a couple times and bounced it off the wall. It's was just one of those deals that you had to go. The track was kind of rough, my air cleaner flew off, but all in all it's awesome. I'm still letting sink in. We did it. The Hebert bunch helped me a lot to make some adjustments and go the right way” “This is my first Modified race in about three months since Fountain City, Wisconsin. I was kind of nervous. These guys race every week and I've been out of the seat running my Limited Modified. I just figured I'd come here and get some seat time for the Fall Jamboree next week. Everything came together. We were fast right out of the box.” “I found there was some moisture around the top. You had to drive it into turn 1 until you saw God before you lifted. In turns 3-4 you tried to enter in a smooth spot, but there was no telling where you'd come out. I think the top of turns 1-2 is what won me the race. It was faster than the bottom if you hit it right.” “Colby(Smith) pressed me hard. He gave me a run for the money, that's for sure. He gave me way more room than I gave him. I appreciated that a lot. I think we only touched once. I tried to crowd him down and I really appreciate him racing me clean.” “I have to thank my biggest sponsor and hero, my Dad, my crew chief Dustin(Butcher) who couldn't be here and my wife who's going to have our baby. Modifieds 189 Steve Whiteaker jr., Corpus Christi 01Colby Smith, Grenville 15 Tristan Dycus, Alvarado 12 Johnny Bone jr., Pea Ridge, Ark. 57 Jason Armstrong, Marshall 410 Brad Doherty, Ennis 5r Morgan Bagley, Ft. Worth 32 Kevin Clement, Bonham 10 George White, Ft. Worth F22 Derek Perkins, Oakdale, La 12T Tyler Townsend, Longview 753 Jack Franklin, Royse City 88x Bobby Malchus, Red Oak 12D Scott Drake, Webb City, Mo. 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M. 66x Mike Dillard, Allen 17p Travis Penrod, Davis Okla. 16 Chris Henigan, Marshall 15x Jared Webb, McKinney 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M. 51 Brett Frazier, Haughton, La. 121E Bobby Ruffin, Crandall 75 Patrick Daniel, Wills Point 18 Tim Clonch, Quinlan Modified Pole Dash 18 Tim Clonch 75 Patrick Daniel 57 Jason Armstrong 2s Stormy Scott 189 Steve Whiteaker jr 66 Mike Dillard 01 Colby Smith 16 Chris Henigan Modified Last Chance Qualifiers(Top 2 to A-main) LCQ1 12 Johnny Bone jr 51 Brett Frazier 3 Sam Cox 56 Troy Taylor 121 David Winslett 9k Shane Killingsworth 110 Jeremy Ishmael 30 Chase Allen J41 Monte Bolton P53 Brandon McElroy 21D Ed Dunn 1$ Ronnie Sigman 55a Nelson Allridge LCQ2 32 Kevin Clement 410 Brad Doherty 74j Jason Hammond 151x Tommy Williams jr 117 Toby Herring 100 Jeff Rowland 103 Eddie Prator 22s Scott Hilburn 04 Joshua Hemby 22 Michael Price 33x Brad Pannell 21B Jason Borlace 20 Terry Pritchett--dns LCQ3 17p Travis Penrod 12T Tyler Townsend 8 Dennie Gieber 30H Buddy Honicker 571 Billy Brierton 62 Mike Miles 81 Danny Caldwell 05R Rod Slack 45t Eric Tomlinson 21 Chris Cole 5t Randy Timms 02 Greg Corbin---dns LCQ4 15x Jared Webb 111 Bumper Jones 6D Rick Duke 14 Kelly Lockey 721 Joe Gomez 15m Kenneth Martin 00 Darell Dawson 7 Kelly Gorham 7jr Chad Ewell 78 Billy Jack Brutchin 121 Bobby Ruffin 29B Thomas Blackwell---dns LCQ5 15 Tristan Dycus 12D Scott Drake 96 Michael Knighton 9r Jimmy Ray 07x Kenny Mudd 18E TJ Evans 02j Jeff Honeycutt 07 Jason Hilliard 60 Jason Ilich 8j Dustin Hyde 9H Shane Hebert 5G Keith Green--dns LCQ6 10 George White F22 Derek Perkins 76 Jesse Manning 7m Steve Maughan 5 Wes Armstrong 753 Jack Franklin 8x Dusty Robbins 35L Charlie Luttmer 17 Trevor Lane 02x BJ Robinson 88xxx Clyde Dunn jr 18s Cody Smith---DQ(Did not tech) LCQ7 5r Morgan Bagley 88xx Bobby Malchus 23m Jimmy Day 7c Brian Parker 87 John Webb 90 Tommy Fain 24 Sean Jones 6* Dillon Pike 12H Chris Huckaby 751 Rusty Trevathan 66 Greg Burt 5x Danny Veal Taylor Tops in Limited Modified Main Ft. Worth's Troy Taylor added another TMS Dirt Track trophy to his case taking home $2,500 for the Limited Modified main event win. Taylor basically swept the weekend with the Friday qualifier and heat race win, plus Saturday's Pole Dash and feature race. Taylor wired the field again going flag to flag with no challenges except lapped traffic leaving everyone in the dust, literally and figuratively. As the 24-car, 30-lap Limited Modified field took the green Taylor was first out of turn 2 with a four wide battle for second. That scrap sorted out with Travis Johnson, Billy Melton, Jason Troutman and Trevor Lane already trailing Taylor. Former USAC Sliver Crown Champion, Paul White made an early move getting by Matt Mueller and Lane for fifth. White then snagged fourth from Troutman while Randy Timms and Shane Hebert worked up to fifth and sixth. By lap 5 Taylor was pulling away from Johnson as the pack was still fighting it out two and three wide from eighth on back. Melton got around Johnson for second on lap 8, but was a full straight behind Taylor. White and Johnson had a brief side by side run for third with Johnson holding the position. Sean Jones emerged from the eighth place battle and took seventh from Hebert on lap 12. Coming to halfway it was Taylor, in traffic but still stretching his margin, Melton, Johnson, White, and Troutman, with Jones passing Timms for sixth. Lap 18 saw White finally get past Johnson for third at the same time Jones was taking fifth from Troutman. White and Johnson continued to swap third as they diced through traffic. With five to go Jones caught Johnson, White and Melton making it a four-car scramble for the runner up spot. That run ended on lap 26 when Jones had his motor expire and rolled to a stop in turn 1 for the races only caution. Taylor had a nice buffer of seven lapped cars on the restart and quickly jumped out as green waved again. In the final circuits Taylor rebuilt his advantage to nearly a full straightaway taking the checkers in the Tru-Color Refinishing, D&D Auto Parts, Swenson Racing Shocks, Lonestar Speedway, PSE Steering Components, Second Shift Head Shop, Real Wheels, Smileys Racing Products In-n-Out Beer Barn, Wells Racing Engines, HOT Chassis “I've had lots of laps around this place,” explained Taylor. “I feel real comfortable in the car. I've got a good combination with my HOT Chassis and Wells Racing Engine. They really matched the track tonight. We keep our cars set up pretty neutral” “ We've got lots of good notes on the track. We know what shocks, off sets and springs work here. We keep an eye on what the track does. There are ruts in certain places that have always been here, because the track doesn't get used enough. I'm petitioning to get them to run more races here. Once a month would be good, maybe even weekly. I love this place.” “We had to change the transmission from what we won the IMCA Southern Sportmod qualifier with at Kennedale. We were allowed to use softer tires for this race. But it was basically the same chassis set up we used at KSP. We did put a stiffer right rear shock on it after the qualifier last night.” “I'd like to get back in a Late Model some day. I've run them and Sprint Cars before at Devils Bowl. At 47 I figure I only have about 30 years of racing left in me. Adding a Late Model win here would be nice. I ran one at Cowtown for Skip Oneal and had a lot of fun with it.” Limited Modifieds 56 Troy Taylor, Ft. Worth 10m Billy Melton, Longview 2w Paul White, Temple 86j Travis Johnson, Enid, Okla. Z71 Terry Pritchett, Palmer 1* Jason Troutman, Sunnyville 188 RJ Stroman, New Boston 5t Randy Timms, Wheatland, Okla. 56x Jimmy Criswell III, Cedarhill 103v JC Howell, Mabank 124 Jake Upchurch, N. Richland Hills 38E Ed Fowler, Baytown 23 Justin White, Ector 175h Mickey Helms, Victoria 23m Jimmy Day, Grenville 42 Todd Decker, Edmond, Okla. 42r Ross McCartney, Lahoma, Okla. 188x Derek Rashall, Dayton 94 Sean Jones, Mansfield 17 Trevor Lane, Cleburne 711 Michael Daniels, Caddo Mills 9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La 69 Derick Grigsby, Marshall 38 Matt Mueller, Stamford Limited Modified Pole Dash 56 Troy Taylor 1* Jason Troutman 86j Travis Johnson 10m Billy Melton 17 Trevor Lane 38 Matt Mueller 56x Jimmy Criswell 9 Shane Hebert Limited Modified Last Chance Qualifiers(Top 2 to A-main) LCQ1 2w Paul White 38E Ed Fowler 5a Joshua Beckham 188x Derek Rashall 121 Brandon Ruffin 22 Trey Robinson 3j Jesse James 85 Keith Martin 25x Tony Staats 12w Gary Fox 731 Michael Martin 77 Tyler Fain LCQ2 5t Randy Timms 188 RJ Stroman 1a Heath Wilson 14m GW Hessong 210 Sam Cox 146 Tom Earl 127 Tommy McKinley 54r Matthew Thompson 76 AJ McCollom 88l Todd Barrett 44t Jeff Turner 55 Ricky Burk u81 Rudas Galmor 34 Travis Robinson LCQ3 711 Michael Daniels 175H Mickey Helms 21B Josh Brock 13 Robert Taylor 10 Dustin Robinson 33 Pepper Kuykendall 49 Chris Cleveland 71m Jason Gore 5 Steve Crane 37m Bubba Meeks 30 Billy Brutchin 25M Robert McCoy x33 Rusty Geter---DQ(Tech) LCQ4 54R Ross McCartney 42 Todd Decker T2 Todd Short 7x Chase Brewer 9k Mike Kressley 54R David Redmon 75w Wally Beaty 46 Paul Torres 3H Jason Hood 7 Jonathon Clayton 10g Mike Goodson 114 Michael Newhard 14 Jarod Lesley LCQ5 Z71 Terry Pritchett 94 Sean Jones 6volt Cody Harger 103 JC Howell jr 69m Cory Grigsby 340 Mark Smith 55g Todd Green 05R Rod Slack 3D Ray Doyon III 11x Brent York 88n Justin North 44 Brent Jones 84 Tom Lorenz---dns LCQ6 69 Derick Grigsby 23 Justin White 64 David Ferguson 26 Dean Abbey 78 Rodney White 7m Danny Morris 21 Taylor Boaze 22t Tommy Goodman 47x Landon Maddox 13B Clint Bates D11 David Hennan 22p Ronald Pilkington 175 Anthony Boatman 18 Tim Clonch LCQ7 124 Jake Upchurch 23m Jimmy Day V8 Robert Vetter 99x Matt Winnett 24 Dennie Gieber 1a David Ashley 86v Paul Vines 5c Chris Cogburn 148 Justin Blackburn 125 Brian Brooks 95 James Welborn 75 Kyle Nelson 81 Levy Galmor Quote
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