Big 3 Tripleheader @ Heart O' Texas Spwy. 9/24/22

[rebelracewriter]

Big 3 Tripleheader @ Heart O' Texas Spwy. 9/24/22

By JM Hallas

 

Elm Mott, Tx.,(Sept 24th, 2022) A little somethin' for everyone.

 

It was a big tripleheader night on the ¼ mile, high-banked, dirt oval just north of Waco featuring three of the states touring series.

 

Three diverse series were on hand for the special year-end event; The Touring Outlaw Modified Series(TOMS), Texas Sprint Series(TSS) and the American Crate Late Model Series(ACLMS).

 

The TOMS is some of the baddest open wheel modifieds in the state with races at numerous north Texas and southern Oklahoma tracks. Currently Max Eddie Thomas holds the series points lead by 32 over Justin McCoy, with multi-time Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track nationals champion, Troy Taylor third(-42), Wesley Veal(-63) and last race winner, Josh Landers(-81).

 

The winged warriors of the TSS come into the nights high flying action for their final, double points night looking to crown a champion. Zane Lawrence enters the night with a fairly comfortable margin of 74 points over Colby Stubblefield with Corby Scherb, Katelynn Dixon and Chad Wilson rounding out the top five.

 

The full bodied ACLMS rounds out the trio nicely before their season ending three night show at the end of October. Former 3-time IMCA National Champion, Dean Abbey leads the points by 109 over Joe Sheddan. Another past IMCA regular, Jeffrey Abbey and Dustin Woods, coming from the sprint car ranks, have a good battle for third while Robert McCutcheon holds down the fifth spot.

 

Sartain Brothers Sweep Top Two Spots

With the two provisionals and two buy-ins, twenty four cars took the green for the 25-lap TOMS main. Polesitter Troy Taylor was first into turn 1, but it was Max Eddie Thomas off the top off turn 2 getting a run to lead lap 1 chased by Taylor, Jack Sartain, Jason Sartain and Josh Landers. The two Sartain brothers were side by side on lap 3 with Jas. Sartain getting the spot.

 

Jas. Sartain would pick off second from Taylor while Chase Allen and Wesley Veal got by Landers for fifth and sixth. The lead duo hit traffic on lap 7 with Jas. Sartain scuffing the front stretch wall on occasion. Ja. Sartain, Allen and Taylor were now three wide for third with Ja. Sartain taking the spot followed by Allen a lap later.

 

At the crossed flags Jas. Sartain was challenging Thomas for the lead making slight contact, Ja. Sartain, Allen and Taylor holding the top five spots. Jas. Sartain used the top to drive around Thomas for the lead on lap 14 with heavy traffic in front of them. Joe Ross brought out a lap 17 yellow when he stopped at the top of turn 4 at the wall.

 

The restart saw Jas. Sartain get away clean while Allen grabbed third from Ja. Sartain. Chris Henigan made contact with Gregory Muirhead sending him into an infield tractor tire for a lap 19 caution. Allen got past Thomas for second as green waved again and was on the chase after Jas. Sartain. A three-car tangle on lap 21 between Casey Brunson, W. Veal, and James McCreary slowed the pace again.

 

Jas. Sartain and Allen got away back under green with Ja. Sartain getting third from Thomas. Brunson's troubles continued when he went over the turn 4 hill as the field came to the white flag. The single file restart saw Allen dive in low, making contact with Jas. Sartain in turn 2. Both were able to correct themselves, Jas. holding the lead, but Allen slipped back to fourth.

 

A quick yellow for a spin in the pack set up a one lap shootout for the win. Jas. Sartain was able to put a couple cars lengths on his brother as the green and white waved together. Jas. Sartain in his first start with the TOMS series driving his Grahams Wrecker Service, Shipley Motorsports, LG2 by Owens, scored the victory followed by his brother Jack, completing the one-two finish.

 

 

TOMS

17 Jason Sartain, 47 Jack Sartain, 82 Max Eddie Thomas, 130 Chase Allen, 410 Justin McCoy, 14x Josh Landers, 2c Chris Huckeba, 16 Chris Henigan, 56 Troy Taylor, 9 Kevin Rutherford, 51 Rusty Trevathan, 2r Michael Riskey, 19 Chad Guest, 13j James McCreary, 110 Casey Brunson, 94 Joe Ross, 15j Jared Webb, 11x Wesley Veal, 22 Gregory Muirhead, 3 Sam Cox, 19 Robert McKinney, 73 Jim Knight, 11r Ryan Veal, 5 Kevin Green

 

TOMS B-mains(Top 4 to A-main)

B-main 1; 2c Chris Huckeba, 3 Sam Cox, 22 Gregory Muirhead, 77 Richard Brown jr., 811 Brent Gilliam, 38 Billy Gatlin, 2r Michael Riskey, 7g David Goode jr., v8 Robert Vetter---dns, 751 Rusty Trevathan---dns

 

B-main 2; 11x Wesley Veal, 16 Chris Henigan, 73 Jim Knight, 99 Jeff Needham, 1* Peyton Johannsen, 19 Chad Guest, 94 Joe Ross, 33c Carl Large, 11r Ryan Veal

 

TOMS Heats(top 3 to A-main)

Heat 1; 14x Josh Landers, 17 Jason Sartain, 110 Casey Brunson, 9 Kevin Rutherford, 51 Rusty Trevathan jr., 99 Needham, 38 Billy Gatlin, 73 Jim Knight---dns

 

Heat 2; 47 Jack Sartain, 410 Justin McCoy, 15j Jared Webb, 2r Michael Riskey, 16 Chris Henigan, 77 Richard Brown jr., 94 Joe Ross, 2c Chris Huckeba

 

Heat 3; 13j James McCReary, 82 Max Eddie Thomas, 5 Kevin Green, 22 Gregory Muirhead, 11x Wesley Veal, 7g David Goode jr., 33c Carl Large jr., 751 Rusty Trevathan---dns

 

Heat 4; 56 Troy Taylor, 130 Chase Allen, 19 Robert McKinney, 3 Sam Cox, 1* Peyton Johanneson, 811 Brent Gilliam, 19c Chad Guest, v8 Robert Vetter, 11r Ryan Veal

 

Lawrence Lands in Victory Lane

At the start of the 25-lap, 20-car SST feature Chad Wilson used the high side to power into the lead ahead of Zane Lawrence, Jeb Sessums, Claud Estes III and Kevin Rutherford. As the front of the field sorted out, Colby Stubblefield, John Ricketts and DJ Estes were three wide for ninth. Ricketts would end along the back stretch wall a lap later for a lap 6 caution.

 

Cautions breed cautions. It took a few tries and going to a single file restart to get the race back under green with the top four breaking away from Marcus Thomas who took fifth from Rutherford. At the midway point it was Wilson, Lawrence, Sessums, Ramey and Thomas in the top five as the leaders were now into lapped traffic.

 

After a couple attempts to get under a slower car, Wilson tried the outside in turns 3-4. Jordan Rupe drifted up and clipped Wilson sending up the track. Lawrence and Sessums jumped on the opening to go by for first and second. Wilson would regain momentum and hold Ramey off for third. Once into clear track, Lawrence began to pull ahead of Sessums, Wilson and Ramey.

 

Wilson stopped on track with a flat for a late caution. This would set up a green, white, checkers battle for the win. Lawrence(Lillian) got away clean and was never challenged as he took the checkers in his Taco Casa, Lawrence Towing, Wells Racing Engines, Maxim Chassis.

 

“I would like to thank everyone at team Taco Casa for all their hard work and commitment this year,” replied Lawrence while celebrating his championship.

 

Sprint Series of Texas

76 Zane Lawrence, 01j Jeb Sessums, 7m Kevin Ramey, 10g Marcus Thimas, 9 Kevin Rutherford, 74e Claud Estes III, 71 Colby Estes, 2x Colby Stubblefield, 20 Chad Wilson, 74 DJ Estes, 82 Joshua Hanna, 6m Blake Mallory, 41 Joshua Harner, 86 Jordan Rupe, 11Katelynn Dixon, 32 Colby Scherb, 14b Robert Byrom, 99b John Ricketts, 41m Steve McMackin, 59 Kenny Venable, 12x Gary Kelley---dntg

 

SST Heats

Heat 1; 74e Claud Estes III, 76 Zane Lawrence, 71 Colby Estes, 12x Gary Kelley, 74 DJ Estes, 82 Joshua Hanna, 86 Jordan Rupe

 

Heat 2; 01j Jeb Sessums, 10 Marcus Thomas, 7m Kevin Ramey, 99b John Ricketts, 6m Blake Mallory, 32 Colby Scherb, 59 Kenny Venable

 

Heat 3; 9 Kevin Rutherford, 2x Colby Stubblefield, 20 Chad Wilson, 14b Robert Byrom, 11 Katelynn Dixon, 41 Joshua Harner, 41m Steve McMackin

 

ACLMS Win to Abbey After Tech

The 25-lap, 19-car ACLMS feature saw polesitter Kevin Sitton get into turn 1 first trailed by Patrik Daniel, Thomas Earl III, Robbie Starnes and Dean Abbey. Abbey quickly got by Ro. Starnes for fourth. Ro. Starnes continued to give up spots to Chase Jupe and Beau Begnaud before settling in. Yellow waved on lap 10 when Robert McCutcheon spun collecting Dylan Ramey.

 

Abbey picked off third from Earl III on the restart before Mike Jensen looped it for a caution that saw Ramey stop on track with a flat. Abbey

continued going to the front swooping around Daniel on the top side back under green. Begnaud grabbed fourth from Earl III. Coming to halfway it was still Sitton holding the point with Abbey closing, Daniel, Begnaud and Earl III.

 

Abbey used the top to get good runs off turn 2 then the bottom in turns 3-4. Abbey got to Sitton's bumper a couple times, but couldn't find an opening. The lead duo now had Daniel reeling them in. As the top three pulled away from Begnaud, Jason Sartain and Ro. Starnes battled for fifth.

 

With two to go the top three were only a car length apart. Abbey again tried the run off turn 2, but couldn't make it work. At the checkers it was Sitton taking the victory. Sitton, reportedly, went to the scales, but failed to report to the tech area handing the win to Abbey(Roanoke), who also secured the series championship in his Paul Miller Custom Pools, Andy’s Sprinklers, Muirhead Motorsports, 777 Graphics, Dynamic Drivelines, Speedway Motors, MB Custom Chassis.

 

“First, I would like to thank my wife, Courtney and our kids, Stella, Sawyer and Stetson for always supporting my racing.” said Abbey. “Then I would like to thank my crew chief, Sawyer for being my number one fan and always making sure my car wins plenty of races in the shop every week while we’re working on it.”

 

“Next, I would like to thank Dustin Daniel for promoting the series and putting in all the hard work to make it possible. I would also like to thank all the tracks that let us come put a show on for their fans.”

 

American Crate Late Model Series

26 Dean Abbey, 1k Patrik Daniel, 32 Beau Begnaud, 98 Jason Sartain, 25 Robbie Starnes, 47e Tom Earl III, 25d Donnie Shipp, 303 Chase Jupe, 47 Tom Earl , 55 Dustin Wood , 75x Anthony Boatman, 40 Robert McCutcheon, 1 Chase Raymond, 75 Mike Jensen, 7 Rhett Starnes, 7m Dylan Ramey, 11j Justin Radcliff, 82 Dalton Spear, 1s Kevin Sitton---dq(didnt report to tech), 00 Joe Shedden---dns

 

ACLMS Heats

Heat 1; 47e Tom Earl III, 25d Donnie Shipp, 303 Chase Jupe, 82 Dalton Spear, 98 Jason Sartain, 55 Dustin Wood, 00j Joe Shedden

 

Heat 2; 26 Dean Abbey, 1s Kevin Sitton, 40 Robert McCutcheon, 1 Chase Raymond, 75 Mike Jensen, 11j Justin Radcliff

 

Heat 3; 1k Patrik Daniel, 47 Tom Earl, 32 Beau Begnaud, 7 Rhett Starnes, 75x Anthony Boatman, 7m Dylan Ramey

 

Texas Triple Threat Challenge(Sprints vs Late Models vs Modifieds)

 

The final race of the night was interesting to say the least pitting all three of the classes in a single race. Certainly none of the classes run the same lap time, but the twist was being the first to run the classes certain number of laps. Sprints would be first to run 15 laps, the Late Models 14 laps and Modifieds 13.

 

Of the course the Sprint cars starting blitzing the field early and lapping cars within a few laps. The only car that Kevin Ramey and Chad Wilson couldn't run down Dean Abbey who came to his lap 14 a half straight ahead of the Ramey-Wilson duo coming to their lap 15. Abbey picked up an additional $800 for the win.

 

26 Dean Abbey(LM), 7m Kevin Ramey(S)20 Chad Wilson(S), 1* Peyton Johannsen(M), 1k Patrik Daniel(LM), 01 Jeb Sessums(S), 77 Richard Brown jr.(M), 25 Robbie Starnes(LM), 19 Chad Guest(M), 14x Josh Landers(M), 98 Jason Sartain(LM)

Edited September 25, 2022 by rebelracewriter

[rebelracewriter]