Aramendia, Evans, Webster wearing HMP's NASCAR crowns

[NickHolt]

Aramendia, Evans, Webster wearing NASCAR crowns after Houston Motorsports Park season finale

 

Houston, TX (October 27, 2014) – Multi-time Houston Motorsports Park champion Joe Aramendia may not have won both NASCAR Fiesta Modified feature events as he had planned, but he did win the first 40-lap feature and finished fourth in the second to lay claim to yet another NASCAR track championship in HMP’s premier racing division.

 

Going into the “BWFS Industries NASCAR Night,” up-and-coming driver Zach Knowles was leading the NASCAR Fiesta Modified standings by a slim margin over Michael Kourkoubes and veteran Aramendia, but Knowles came up seven points short after finishing fourth and sixth in the twin bill after all was said and done.

 

Kourkoubes, who was just a handful of points behind Knowles going into the event, saw his chances for the crown come to a grinding halt when his low-slung modified nailed the turn one wall after suffering some sort of mechanical problem. Kourkoubes ended up third in the standings, 25 points behind Aramendia.

 

“It was a battle of fortitude,” Aramendia said after learning he had earned the 2014 NASCAR Fiesta Modified championship. “We had to overcome some things this year, that’s for sure. And there were several modified drivers that were on their game this season which made each race a challenge to finish in the top five.”

 

Indeed, the timing charts would often reveal that the top 10 or 15 cars were all within a couple of tenths of each other which made it tough to pass on the tight 3/8-mile concrete/asphalt oval.

 

“Not many people know this, but I broke a bone in my back and crushed two disks in a bad wreck earlier in the season,” the 50-something driver said. “And I shot myself in the foot on the chassis setup a couple of races so the car didn’t want to turn in the middle of the turns. But it all turned out for us and I thank the Good Lord and our loyal sponsors, my great crew (James Aramendia, Homer and Jenifer Pitner, Kenny Hurley and family, James White) and my very supportive family for our success.”

 

Aramendia’s NASCAR Fiesta Modified is sponsored by Aramendia Plumbing, RPM Equipment, Premier Minerals, Screen Pro Graphics and All-In Designs.

 

In the first NASCAR Fiesta Modified feature, Aramendia had is mirror and back bumper full of youngster Ryan Luza for most of the last half of the 40-lapper. Luza, who had a faster car, had ample opportunity to turn Aramendia around, but chose to use the front bumper more or less gently nearly every lap rather than dump the defending champion.

 

Knowles, meanwhile, found himself behind Aramendia’s teammate, Brian Moczygemba, over the final few laps and was never able to get to Aramendia to challenge for the win. And Kourkoubes never really got back in contention after pitting on lap 10 and finished eighth.

 

Aramendia finished fourth in the second feature after struggling with the handling from the drop of the green. Young Clayton Green had no such issue and was on rails on his way to picking up a well-deserved feature win over Aramendia’s teammate Brian Moczygemba and Luza.

 

NASCAR Fiesta Modified results for the “Fiesta Mart 40” (1st feature)

 

1. 79 Joe Aramendia, 40 laps
2. 5 Ryan Luza, 40
3. 50 Brian Moczygemba, 40
4. 51 Zach Knowles, 40
5. 33 Jason Morman, 40
6. 03 Brandon Kelley, 40
7. 38 Craig Sellman, 40
8. 4 Michael Kourkoubes, 40
9. 13 Ian Webster, 40
10. 3 JT Schild, 40
11. 88 Larry Hughes 40
12. 28 Kevin Wiseman, 40
13. 54 Clayton Green, 25

 

NASCAR Fiesta Modified results for the “The World’s Supermarket 40” (2nd feature)

 

1. 54 Clayton Green, 40 laps
2. 50 Brian Moczygemba, 40
3. 5 Ryan Luza, 40
4. 79 Joe Aramendia
5. 13 Ian Webster, 40
6. 51 Zach Knowles, 40
7. 38 Craig Sellman, 40
8. 3 Mike Williams, 40
9. 28 Kevin Wiseman, 39
10. 4 Michael Kourkoubes, 36
11. 33 Jason Morman, 36
12. 88 Larry Hughes, 33
13. 03 Brandon Kelley, 26

 

NASCAR Fiesta Modified final point standings (top 10)

 

Position, Car #, Name, Points, Points Fund $$
1. 79 Joe Aramendia 379 $3,000
2. 51 Zach Knowles 372 $2,000
3. 4 Michael Kourkoubes 354 $1,200
4. 1 Clayton Green 334 $800
5. 33 Jason Morman 303 $650
6. 50 Brian Moczygemba 302 $600
7. 72 Johnny Walker 202 $550
8. 5 Zak Hausler 197 $450
9. 88 Larry Hughes 185 $400
10. 13 Ian Webster 169 $350

 

NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks

 

NASCAR BWFS Coke Truck driver Charles Evans, Jr, came into the season finale with only two other drivers – Mason Teague and David Webster- close enough in the standings to make a run for the championship. So Evans played it conservatively and finished 10th in the first feature and fifth in the second to take the crown by a comfortable 25 point margin.

 

“Our plan was to run consistently week in and week out,” Evans replied when asked about what it took to come home with the championship. “We didn’t have a DNF (did-not-finish) all season and always ran up near the front. I have a great crew – mostly family and co-workers – who made sure everything on the car was perfect before we ever hit the track.

 

Webster looked like he might be looking for a clean sweep after winning the first NASCAR BWFS Coke feature over Stephan McCurley, Justin Steiner, James Coursey and Christopher Hogan, but Teague had other ideas and outgunned the strong truck field to take the win over Hogan, Webster, Jim Phillips and Evans in the second feature.

 

NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks “BWFS Industries 30” (1st feature)

1. 13 David Webster, 30 laps
2. 68 Stephan McCurley, 30
3. 12 Justin Steiner, 30
4. 53 James Coursey, 30
5. 17 Christopher Hogan, 30
6. 79 Michael Villarreal, 30
7. 4 Chad Rogers, 30
8. 45 Shawn Cannon, 30
9. 162 Mason Teague, 30
10. 58 Charles Evans, Jr, 30
11. 55 John Winne, 30
12. 88 Jim Phillips, 21
13. 81 Mark Villarreal, 20
14. 15 Mark Lindley, 20
15. 51 Zach Nesloney, 11
16. 31 Travis Benson, 9
17. 11 James Cates, 0

 

NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks “BWFS Industries 30” (2nd feature)

 

1. 162 Mason Teague, 30 laps
2. 17 Christopher Hogan, 30
3. 13 David Webster, 30
4. 88 Jim Phillips, 30
5. 58 Charles Evans, Jr, 30
6. 94 Sean Steiner, 30
7. 53 James Coursey, 30
8. 12 Justin Steiner, 30
9. 4 Chad Rogers, 29
10. 45 Shawn Cannon, 29
11. 55 John Winne, 29
12. 68 Stephan McCurley, 28
13. 81 Mark Villarreal, 20
14. 79 Michael Villarreal, DQ

 

NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks final point standings (top 10)

 

Position, Truck #, Name, Points, Points Fund $$
1. 58 Charles Evans, Jr. 466 $1,000
2. 162 Mason Teague 441 $600
3. 13 David Webster 438 $500
4. 50 Travis Benson 295 $400
5. 17 Kyle Books 292 $350
6. 53 Mike Coursey 269 $250
7. 88 Jim Phillips 262 $250
8. 94 Sean-Michael Steiner 232 $250
9. 12 Justin-Paul Steiner 203 $150
10. 16 Jake French 198 $250

 

NASCAR American Muscle Cars

 

David Webster has dominated the NASCAR American Muscle Cars for the past two seasons and this year was no exception. Webster had accumulated such a commanding points lead that he didn’t even enter the final event and still won the title by a wide margin over Tommy Page, Jr, and Dale Demski.

 

“We had a great year winning our third consecutive AMCAR championship,” Webster said. “Not only that, but I finished a close third in the NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks and earned their Rookie of the Year honors in that division. I sure want to thank my sponsors, Ed Nastasi Race Cars and Elite Glass and Trim and my team. They work hard all year and I couldn't do this without their support.”

 

In Webster’s absence, Clayton Green took the first AMCAR feature over Ed Nastasi, while Nastasi reversed that running order in the second. Both cars were very strong and neither had much of an advantage over the other which made for some great two-car action.

 

NASCAR American Muscle Cars “Mitchell Motorsports 20” (1st feature)

 

1. 54 Clayton Green, 20 laps
2. 31 Ed Nastasi, 20
3. 07 Tommy Page, 20
4. 02 John Cornish, 18
5. 28 Dale Demski, 3
6. 44 Travis Westell, 3
7. 8 Ed Thompson, 3

 

NASCAR American Muscle Cars “Mitchell Motorsports 20” (2nd feature)

 

1. 31 Ed Nastasi, 20 laps
2. 54 Clayton Green, 20
3. 07 Tommy Page, 20
4. 28 Dale Demski, 20
5. 8 Ed Thompson, 19
6. 44 Travis Westell, 19
7. 90 Brian Bell, 18
8. 02 John Cornish, 17

 

NASCAR American Muscle Cars final point standings (top 10)

 

Position, Car #, Name, Points, Points Fund $$
1. 31 David Webster 226 $2,000
2. 7 Tommy Page Jr. 152 $1,200
3. 31 Ed Nastasi 147 $1,100
4. 28 Dale Demski 143 $1,000
5. 18 Nathan Demski 126 $900
6. 53 Roger Hellman 104 $800
7. 8 Ed Thompson 86 $700
8. 54 Clayton Green 39 $600
9. 55 John Winne 32 $500
10. 1 Graham Baker 30 $400

 

Eco Stocks

 

The Eco Stocks also ran double features with Taylor Harris taking the checkered in the first one and Robert Henson running strong to take the second. The Eco Stocks always put on a good show with lots of beating and banging throughout the field, and these two races were no exception.

 

After the smoke cleared and all the mangled body parts had been stacked in the infield, Danny Bartholomew edged out Taylor Harris for the Eco Stock championship.

 

Eco Stocks “The Cavers Club 15” (1st feature)

 

1. 717 Taylor Harris, 15 laps
2. 27 Danny Bartholomew, 15
3. 7 Stephen Dalton, 15
4. 1 Chris House, 15
5. 21 Shannon Hubbs, 15
6. 4 Robert Henson, 15
7. 8 Kit Leslie, 15
8. 13 Bedie Sonnier, 14
9. 127 Shaun House, 14
10. 93 Kayla King, 14
11. 22 Mitch Lindley, 8
12. 2 Russell Vickery, DQ

 

Eco Stock “The Cavers Club 15” (2nd feature)

 

1. 4 Robert Henson, 15 laps
2. 8 Kit Leslie, 15
3. 27 Daniel Bartholomew, 15
4. 717 Taylor Harris, 15
5. 7 Stephen Dalton, 15
6. 21 Shannon Hubbs, 15
7. 2 Russell Vickery, 15
8. 1 Chris House, 15
9. 127 Shahn House, 14
10. 13 Bedie Sonnier, 14
11. 93 Kayla King, 7

 

Eco Stocks final point standings (top 10)

 

Position, Car #, Name, Points
1. 27 Danny Bartholomew 430
2. 717 Taylor Harris 405
3. 1 Chris House 370
4. 7 Stephen Dalton 365
5. 8 Kit Leslie 320
6. 137 Dave Barton 289
7. 57 Richard Smith 228
8. 4 Robert Henson 214
9. 21 Shannon Hubbs 207
10. 37 Bedie Sonnier 189

 

Texas Asphalt Limited Modified Series (TALMS)

 

The Texas Asphalt Limited Modified Series (TALMS) paid their first visit to HMP and put on a great show for the good crowd on hand with close clean racing throughout the 16-car field. Derek Legg and Billy Becka were the two to watch up front as they showed the rest how it’s done. The fans were on their feet over the last two laps as the pair battled with Legg edging Becka by a fraction of a second at the line.

 

Texas Asphalt Limited Modified Series “Allstate Gear 40”

 

1. 14 Derek Legg, 40 laps
2. 29 Billy Becka, 40
3. 79 Cody Beddoe, 40
4. 17 Donald Krahn, 40
5. 44 Joey Heinaman, 40
6. 25 Tyler Box, 40
7. 7 Stephen Robinson, 38
8. 21 Eric Ramos, 36
9. 11 Gary Box, 34
10. 17 James Dashnaw, 33
11. 23 Cody Limerick, 28
12. 64 Abel Arredondo, 27
13. 76 Michael Carlock, 26
14. 66 Jim Asher, 20
15. 101 Tanner Whitmire,
16. 8 Kit Leslie,

 

Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas (DCRST)

 

JC Umscheid won the 25-lap main event as well as his heat race a car borrowed from Todd McLemore who finished second to Umscheid in both the 25-lap feature and the heat race. Jerry Young won the other heat.

Butch Havelka came into the evening trailing Dwain Groff by only nine markers in the standings. So when Groff ended up one spot ahead of Havelka in the heat race, things tightened up a bit. But as the pair worked their way through traffic in the feature, Groff’s car broke a trailing arm and his night was over and the coveted championship went to Havelka - his second.

 

Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas “DCRST 25”

 

1. 44 JC Umscheid, 25 laps
2. 54 Todd McLemore, 25
3. 18 Jerry Young, 25
4. 72 Arden Vikre, 25
5. 20 Ryan Stoy, 25
6. 27 Butch Havelka, 25
7. 39 Matt Goulais, 25
8. 30 Billy Groff, 25
9. 28 Rodney Rodriguez, 25
10. 3 Mike Lind, 24
11. 5 Jim Kritikos, 23
12. 14 Dwain Groff, 6
13. 29 Chase Haveley, 3

 

DCRST Heat Winners: Jerry Young, JC Umscheid