NickHolt Posted April 21, 2013 Report Posted April 21, 2013 Marcham Sweeps, Thomas On Tilt at I44 Riverside Speedway April 20th, 2013 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - A quintessential sprint evening of gusty winds and chilly night time temperatures greeted I44 Riverside Speedway patrons for the second Saturday night special of the young season. Several hundred race fans defied the blustery conditions, while spring growth continued pit side as 98 entries from six states prepared their machines for the high banked 1/5th mile red clay oval. With champions abound, of both the local and national variety, the Midget division headlined the gathering with a $750 winner’s pot on the line and five rowdy mini sprint division in support. Several of the top Midget talents in the nation announced their I44 Riverside intent led by the likes of Carl’s Junction, Missouri’s reigning Lucas Oil POWRi National Midget Champion Andrew Felker, three time POWRi winner and Collinsville, Oklahoma native Tyler Thomas, as well as POWRi regular and Mapleton, Illinois native Jake Blackhurst. Nearly doubling the attendance from the launch of I44 Riverside’s launch of the Midget division just one week ago, Mustang’s Brian Harvey and Sapulpa’s Kyle Clark paced the field with the young stars a few rows behind. Clark seized command as quickly as Thomas burst from the fifth row to challenge with Thomas pounding both high and low before the first yellow flew on the 7th round. Well aware of the prowess of his challenger, Clark moved to the high side - wildly fending off assaults to the point until getting too loose just past the halfway point and spinning to a stop atop turn three. An imminent threat throughout the first dozen laps, Thomas inherited before Matt Johnson swung too high in turn 4, riding the wall before spilling down the high banks. Thomas resumed with Illinois racer Jake Blackhurst pressing Thomas to take the $750 jackpot home to the Prarie State. But once in front, Thomas was too good aboard the BT Machine, Alpine Stars, Bell Helmets, Precision Coatings, Factor One Racing, and XXX Race Co. sponsored no. 91T. Blackhurst heads back to Illinois with runner up honors and several POWRi National Midget outing in his near future. Little Rock, Arkansas’ Nick Bailey earned show position honors following a spirited battle throughout the final laps with POWRi’s defending National champ and eventual fourth place finisher Andrew Felker. A winner in I44 Riverside’s Midget launch just one week priot, Sapulpa, Oklahoma’s Danny “The Caretaker” Smith came up short on the three way battle for third, completing the top five finishing order aboard the Same Day Auto Repair no. 5$. “Midget” A Feature (20 laps - $750 to win): 1. 91T Tyler Thomas (9); 2. 25 Jake Blackhurst (7); 3. 07 Nick Bailey (4); 4. 11A Andrew Felker (10); 5. 5$ Danny Smith (6); 6. 22 Kyle Clark (2); 7. 14 Eric Fenton (8); 8. 8 Alex Sewell (11); 9. 1 Bobby Brewer (3); 10. 85 Matt Johnson (5); DQ 29s Brian Harvey - illegal track entry Lap Leaders: Kyle Clark 1-12, Tyler Thomas 13-20 Hard Charger: Tyler Thomas +8 A CLASS Mansfield, Texas native Christian Kinnison was joined by nearby Newcastle native Teri Burk on the front row of the 20 lap A Class main event. Following a Chris Lloyd spin on the first start, Kinnison jumped out in a very big way. Building nearly a straightaway’s worth of advantage of pursuers Dalton Terrel and Trey Marcham, Kinnison was chomping at the bit for his first winged stock 600cc (A Class) victory at I44 Riverside. A caution for fellow Texas native Aaron Dromgoole convinced many that the gig was up with the wide advantage now negated. Kinnison erased those doubts, however, fending off a sturdy challenge from Oklahoma City ace Trey Marcham in a style not seen very often. Kinnison maintained the lead over Marcham, Blake Dacus, and a Hard Charging Sterling Hoff that had moved up from the sixth row in his bid to repeat A Class success from one week ago. Marcham finally chucked the kitchen sink at the leader, slipping by to lead the 17th round as Hoff disposed of Gordon and began to attack to Kinnison for first challenger status. An extra five laps might have made for different news, but the 20th time by saw a checkered flag waving for Marcham aboard his RD Marcham Energy, Pinnacle, Best Western Tulsa Airport, A&A Cycle, JB Graphics, and Metric Cycles powered no. 32. A Hard Charging Hoff settled for runner up rights with Kinnison concluding a sensational run in the show position. The Fletcher family of Blake Dacus and Tyler Gordon concluded the top five finishing order. “A Class” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 32 Trey Marcham (3); 2. 39 Sterling Hoff (12); 3. 82c Christian Kinnison (1); 4. 29 Blake Dacus (10); 5. 09 Tyler Gordon (9); 6. 73 Jason McDougal (5); 7. 19 Dalton Terrel (8); 8. 13 Brady Courtney (7); 9. 28c Chris Lloyd (4); 10. 22 Teri Burk (2); 11. 25w Tommy White (15); 12. P40 Aaron Dromgoole (6); 13. 23L Jason Lair (14); 14. 98 Derrick McBride (19); 15. 76 Cody Grissom (13); 16. 898 Ryan Padgett (16); DQ 27k Kyle Keeler USC; DQ 12 Trey Robb USC; DNS 24L Caleb Lovelady, DNS 7g Greg Moore Lap Leaders: Christian Kinnison 1-16, Trey Marcham 17-20 Hard Charger: Sterling Hoff +10 “A Class” B Feature (12 laps - top 4 advance to A Feature): 1. 24L Caleb Lovelady (6); 2. 12 Trey Robb (10); 3. 98 Derrick McBride (4); 4. 27k Kyle Keeler (9); 5. 18 Mike Millwee (3); 6. 95 Michael Hall (8); 7. 94c Brook Cooper (11); 8. 27 David Millwee (1); 9. 7D Sierra Davis (5); 10. 67 Joe Martin (7); 11. 11k Michael Kerns (2); DNS: 8 Josh Marcham NON WING Windthorst, Texas’ Sterling Hoff earned stock 600 success with the wing in last weeks’ A Class main event, this time he was shooting for the same, but minus the wing (Non Wing). Joined by Phillip Fessler on the front row was inconsequential as Hoff ran out to a quick lead of the 20 lap Non Wing main event. In an event marred by ten stoppages, Hoff held advantage over hometown favorites Shelby Byrd and Trey Marcham. As the main event struggled mightily to find a steady rhythm, Hoff had no such difficulty, utilizing well timed restarts to his advantage. A lap 13 red flag stood out among the stoppages, as Bethany’s Greg Moore was squeezed into the front straightaway wall entering turn one, sending Moore into a violent contact with the wall and an equally violent series of flips as well. To much relief, Moore emerged uninjured, although his no. 7g mount was clearly done for the remainder of the evening. Hoff sped out to a usual lead on the restart only for the unthinkable to occur with 5 laps remaining, as the leader lost power exiting turn two. Byrd inherited the lead with Marcham and Mustang’s Cody Grissom in tow. Byrd and Marcham had battled for nearly a dozen laps before such a war was now for the lead and victory. Marcham kept to his low line, barely edging Byrd for the lead on the 17th oval. The pair raced side by side in each corner for the next two laps before Marcham insured the pass with two to go and earn a sweep in stock 600 action (however, in chronological order, Non Wing was the first main event, A Class the last). Coming up slightly short in the race-long battle with Marcham, Byrd accepted runner honors with Cody Grissom advancing from 8th to claim the show position. El Reno’s Kyle Keeler appeared to finish fourth, however was too light on the scales, moving Blanchard’s Dalton Terrel into the 4 spot with Christian Kinnison completing the top five finishing order and claim his second top five effort of the night. “Non Wing” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 32 Trey Marcham (5); 2. 5 Shelby Byrd (3); 3. 76 Cody Grissom (8); 4. 19 Dalton Terrel (13); 5. 82c Christian Kinnison (4); 6. 25w Tommy White (12); 7. 24L Caleb Lovelady (7); 8. 50 Shelby Burk (9); 9. 34d Donnie Hartranft (14); 10. 70w Brady Wertz (19); 11. 33 Justin Patoka (16); 12. 98 Derrick McBride (10); 13. 4R Tanner Ridge (17); 14. 39 Sterling Hoff (1); 15. 7g Greg Moore (11); 16. 12T Trey Robb (15); 17. 58 Phillip Fessler (2); 18. 12 Gage Robb (18); DQ 27k Kyle Keeler - weight; DNS: 11 Robert Alberternst Lap Leaders: Sterling Hoff 1-14, Shelby Byrd 15-16, Trey Marcham 17-20 Hard Charger: Dalton Terrel, Brady Wertz +9 “Non Wing” B Feature (10 laps - top 4 advance to A Feature): 1. 4R Tanner Ridge (4); 2. 12 Gage Robb (3); 3. 70w Brady Wertz (7); 4. 11 Robert Alberternst (6); 5. 8 Josh Marcham (2); DQ 94c Brook Cooper - weight; DQ 43A Austin Hartranft - weight; DNS: 777 Ryan Padgett, 50B Brad Beers, P51 Aaron Dromgoole RESTRICTED The brother-sister duo of Jessica and Jance Wehkamp represented Cimarron, Kansas on the front row of the 15 lap Restricted main event, with Jance gaining the early edge before Decatur, Texas’ outside 2nd row starter Lyndon Harvey moved up to challenge. Following three yellows on the 3rd circuit, Harvey battled into the lead with Jance Wehkamp, and Steven Smith in tow. A couple more cautions slowed the field, the final coming with five laps remaining and Harvey leading Smith, Jance Wehkamp, and defending Restricted champion Tanner Conn. Conn picked off Wehkamp and Smith in one turn as the race was back underway, but Harvey wasn’t to be challenged on this night, sending the Momo’s Racing Engined powered no. 99H Factor One into victory lane for the second time this season following a score in the season opening Ryan Craighead Memorial. Conn accepted runner up rights along with a Hard Charger performance, with Logan Davis moving up from 8th to claim the show position. Smith and Jance Wehkamp completed the top five finishing order. “Restricted” A Feature (15 laps): 1. 99H Lyndon Harvey (4); 2. 78 Tanner Conn (9); 3. 14D Logan Davis (8); 4. 3s Steven Smith (3); 5. 2J Jance Wehkamp (1); 6. 2 Alison Slaton (7); 7. 11x Tyler Alexander (6); 8. 3J Jessica Wehkamp (2); 9. 72c Kaylee Cole (5); 10. 11 Layden Pearson (10) Lap Leaders: Jance Wehkamp 1-3, Lyndon Harvey 4-15 Hard Charger: Tanner Conn +7 TURF TIRE A Turf Tire sweeper two weeks in the 12th Annual Ryan Craighead Memorial, Fletcher, Oklahoma’s Mike Daft paced the front row of the 20 lap Turf Tire main event alongside Randall Gismore. A three car melee involving last week’s winner Marcus Flaming, Leon Plisek, and Cleamon Sluder negated the first start, but once underway Daft was in firm command. In fact, Daft ran out to a straightaway’s advantage to score his third win in as many outings as the Fletcher phenom develops dominance over the Turf Tire class. Gismore nabbed runner up rights in similar fashion with Yukon’s Marcus Flaming snaring Hard Charger honors and a third place finish. Tony Penick and Ray Sluder completed the top five finishing order. “Turf Tire” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 21x Mike Daft (1); 2. 6 Randall Gilmore (2); 3. 22 Marcus Flaming (9); 4. 88 Tony Penick (8); 5. 88s Ray Sluder (3); 6. 28 Tony Penick (5); 7. 87 Leon Plisek (11); 8. 75 Willie Vickman (7); 9. 77k Gary Key (12); 10. 29 Cleamon Sluder (10); 11. 21 Josh Bigger (6); 12. 2c Casey Andrews (4) Lap Leaders: Mike Daft 1-20 Hard Charger: Marcus Flaming +6 JUNIOR SPRINT Ryan Timms and Blake Scott paced the front row of the 15 lap Junior Sprint main event, but all eyes were on Choctaw’s defending Jr. Sprint champ Nathan Rainey to see if the 9 year old could make it three scores in a row. Scott jumped out to an early lead while Rainey worked his way up from his outside fourth row starting spot. Rainey battled past to lead the fourth round before the caution flew two laps later for Chris Wells spun mount. Odds were overwhelmingly in Rainey’s favor, although Trenton Gann shadowed the leader from time to time. The caution flew for a final time as both 72’s (Kayden Cole and Chris Wells, respectively) spun in turn four, setting up a two lap dash to the checkered for the lead pair. Rainey handled the dash as he did the last two weeks’ (and last season for that matter), taking his third consecutive Junior Sprint win aboard the K&F Collision, Factor One Racing, and KBR Engines sponsored no. 99R. Gann shared in the Hard Charger effort, but settled for runner up honors with Dylan Pendergrass moving up from 7th to claim the show position. Jacob Long and Kayden Cole completed the top five finishing order. “Junior Sprint” A Feature (15 laps): 1. 99 Nathan Rainey (8); 2. 7 Trenton Gann (9); 3. 22 Dylan Pendergrass (7); 4. 007 Jacob Long (5); 5. 72c Kaden Cole (10); 6. 72 Chris Wells (6); 7. 5T Ryan Timms (1); 8. 29 Blake Scott (2); 9. 125 Macy Roulain (3); 10. Trevor Lunsford (4); DNS Emma Johnson Lap Leaders: Blake Scott 1-3, Nathan Rainey 4-15 Hard Charger: Nathan Rainey, Trenton Gann +7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I-44 Riverside Speedway is back next Saturday, April 27th, featuring the A Class, Non Wing, Restricted, Turf Tire, and Junior Sprint divisions. The Midget division is off next week. Visit www.i44riversidespeedway.com or Like and Follow I44 Riverside Speedway for further details, as well as results, points, and official news. For more direct inquiry, please contact I44 Riverside Speedway promoter Mark Banister @ 405.633.1583 Quote
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