Pleasanton, Tx.,(Oct. 21st, 2011) I-37 Raceway at Newsome Motor Park hosted their 4th Annual $1000 Buck Shootout on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, clay oval south of San Antonio. The race features $1,000 to win the Modifieds, Sportmod/Limited Modifieds, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, plus a $500 to win Enduro for the Front Runners.

Running under a different format this year, heats and qualifying races were held on Friday night for the every class but the Front Runners who would run a Trophy Dash prior to Saturday’s Enduro. In the Modifieds, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks the top 12 from each qualifying feature would be locked in for Saturday, while the Sportmod/Limited Modifieds split the field with 6 from each transferring. The Limited Late Model, with a short field would transfer by heat race finish without a feature.

Racing continues Saturday night at 7:00pm with B-mains, and features for the big bucks in the Modifieds, Sportmod/Limited Modifieds, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks, capped off with a 50-lap Enduro for the Front Runners.

Austin’s Anderson says Adios in Modifieds

You’d think that after a two year hiatus that a driver might have a little rust to shake, let alone the car. Think again. Having competed last in 2009, Elias Anderson disproved that theory with a resounding win in the Modified A-Qualifier. Anderson, who spent the last few weeks cleaning the cars fuel system, rescaling his Skyrocket Chassis and some other adjustments powered ahead at the drop of the green and never looked back. Going flag to flag, Dennis Taylor could get no closer than restarts as Anderson would pull away on green.

Anderson beat polesitter Taylor into turn 1 as the 20-lap qualifier went green. Taylor, Joe Spillman, Cody Tidwell and Chuck Chesler fell in line behind Anderson. Bill Pittaway and Tidwell spun with Jerry Frydrych and Gilbert Amezquita coming to a stop for a yellow on lap 2. On the restart Anderson jumped out, with Spillman taking a look inside Taylor and Tidwell, Jason Borlace and Jamie Campbell three wide for fourth.

Borlace came out of that fight with the spot bringing Campbell along to fifth. Robert Liese jr. went around in turn 4 for a lap 3 caution. Back under green, Anderson quickly began easing away while Borlace was pressuring Spillman and Chesler moving in to make it a threesome. At the crossed flags it was Anderson, holding a big advantage, Taylor, Spillman and Borlace side by side, and Pittaway taking over fifth.

After losing some ground, Chesler got back around Pittaway for fifth then Spillman for fourth. With five to go, and Anderson halfway back to the state capitol, Spillman, Pittaway and Liese were battling it out for fifth before Liese fell off the pace. As the white flag waved it was Anderson with nearly a half track lead over Taylor easily going on to take the victory and secure the pole for Saturday night’s big feature.

Modifieds(Top 12 to A-main)

31 Elias Anderson, 38 Dennis Taylor, 521 Jason Borlace, 49 Chuck Chesler, 29 Jamie Campbell, 44 Joe Spillman, 137 Bill Pittaway, 17 Cody Tidwell, 10k Ellis Tracy, 67 Robert Liese jr., 13 Gilbert Amezquita, 20 Jerry Frydrych, 99 Billy Meyer, 21 Barry Codling—DNS, 16 Carson Bednarz—DNS

Modified Heats

Heat 1

521 Jason Borlace, 44 Joe Spillman, 29 Jamie Campbell, 38 Dennis Taylor, 99 Billy Meyer, 137 Bill Pittaway, 10k Ellis Tracy, 67 Robert Liese jr.

Heat 2

31 Elias Anderson, 49 Chuck Chesler, 17 Cody Tidwell, 20 Jerry Frydrych, 21 Barry Codling, 13 Gilbert Amezquita, 16 Carson Bednarz—DNS

Jennings, J. Blaylock Best in Sportmod/Limited Modified Split Qualifiers

With a large number filling the ranks of Sportmod/Limited Modifieds the field was split into odd/even qualifiers to avoid mass carnage that may come from a 26-car grid.

Corpus Christi’s JJ Jennings pulled of the win in the first of the two holding off track champ, Johnny Torres and a charging GW Hessong at the finish. Jennings and Dustin Butcher battled early in the event swapping the top spot. Butcher fell victim to mechanical issues and was forced to pull leaving Jennings out front to snag the victory.

As the first Sportmod/Limited Modified field took the green Butcher, Torres and Jennings were three abreast for the lead. Butcher came out on top trailed by Jennings, Torres, Robert Williams and Brian Rye. Jennings took the low groove and got alongside Butcher and was able to the nose ahead on lap 2, but contact between Chris Swenson and Jeff Nix left Swenson on three wheels to bring out a caution.

Once back to green, Butcher and Jennings jumped ahead while Hessong began his charge getting fifth from Rye. As Rye fought back, Tom Grothues joined the fray, while up front Butcher was slowing. Jennings got the lead from a wounded Butcher on lap 5. Jennings had a slight advantage on Torres who now had Hessong on his tail. As Torres and Hessong slugged it out for second this left Jennings to run unchallenged to the checkers.

Sportmod/Limited Modified(Top 6 from each to A-main)

A-Qualifier 1

26g JJ Jennings, 147 GW Hessong, 66 Johnny Torres, 11 Tom Grothues, 184 Brian Rye, 37 Bill Pittaway, 3j Jesse James, 15 JC Pilcher, 0 Thomas Rye jr., 85 Jeff Nix, 90 Dustin Butcher, 02 Robert Williams, 48 Chris Swenson, 14 Newton Barta jr.—DNS

In the battle of the Blaylock brothers, it was James turn to shine in a borrowed ride from Larry Jernigan. The two had a spirited fight for first going until a broken rocker arm on Brandon Blaylocks car slowed him in the waning stages. J. Blaylock then easily cruised away for the checkers.

Polesitter James Parks got out front on lap 1 of the 15-lapper with J. Blaylock, B. Blaylock, Danny Brown and Robby Minten on his heels. J. Blaylock got inside Parks for the lead on lap 2 with B. Blaylock and Brown side by side for third. Rayon Doyon III, Eric Floyd, Jeff Allgayer, Randy Yount and Jason Kelly all got tangled in turn 2 for a lap 2 caution that ended Doyon’s night.

Before green could fly again, Roly Rodriguez had his ride stop in turn 4. J. Blaylock took off as green finally waved again, while B. Blaylock got second from Parks and Minten went by Brown for fourth. Brown moved to the top side and made a big run back by Minten and beside Parks for third. Brown kept the momentum up top and closed in on B. Blaylock. The two made contact sending B. Blaylock around, and Brown to the tail on lap 6.

On the restart B. Blaylock got inside J. Blaylock and the two ran wheel to wheel while Minten got alongside Parks for third. B. Blaylock would dive low in turns 1-2 and get halfway past, but J. Blaylock carry his speed off the top to hold the point. As this family feud continued, Brown was moving back up getting fifth from Yount. As the motor began to lay over on B. Blaylock, Minten and Brown both got past Parks for third and fourth. J. Blaylock had a comfortable lead over brother Brandon at the finish.

A-Qualifier 2

18 James Blaylock, 9b Brandon Blaylock, 4 Robby Minten, 55 Danny Brown, 82jp James Parks, 66y Randy Yount, 76 Michael Carlock, 57 Jason Kelly, 55 Danny Brown, 119 Eric Floyd, 11x Jeff Allgayer, 12 Roly Rodriguez, 9 Ray Doyon III, 51 Greg Rohmer—DNTG

SM/LM Heats

Heat 1

02 Robert Williams, 57 Jason Kelly, 184 Brian Rye, 12 Roly Rodriguez, 0 Thomas Rye jr., 66y Randy Yount, 11x Jeff Allgayer

Heat 2

37 Bill Pittaway, 82jp James Parks, 9b Brandon Blaylock, 11 Tom Grothues, 14 Newton Barta jr., 15c JC Pilcher, 147 GW Hessong

Heat 3

66 Johnny Torres, 26g JJ Jennings, 4 Robby Minten, 51 Greg Rohmer, 119 Eric Floyd, 76 Michael Carlock, 9 Ray Doyon III

Heat 4

18 James Blaylock, 90 Dustin Butcher, 55 Danny Brown, 48 Chris Swenson, 85 Jeff Nix, 3j Jesse James

With a short field of Limited Late Models the drivers voted to run only heat races and use that finish to set the inside and outside rows for Saturday nights feature. Craig Crawley held off Trey Votion in the first heat, while multi-time track champ Gary Hunter had no problems running away to take the second heat.

Limited Late Model heats(Finish determines A-main line up)

Heat 1

6 Craig Crawley, 99 Trey Votion, 77 Landon Farquar, 10 AJ Wernette

Heat 2

14 Gary Hunter, 13 Howie Marcx, 7 Richard Bartosh, 28 Leland Waddell

In the 15-lap Street Stock qualifier multi-time track champion Wade Jones showed the field nothing but the rear bumper of his Camaro. Jones broke out of a three wide scramble on the start with Aaron Leddy and Danny Schroat for the lead. Schroat held second followed by Johnny Torres, Leddy and Bobby Jack. Torres moved alongside Schroat for second as Jack took over fourth.

Torres got by Schroat for second with Jack trailing him as Schroat gave up more spots to Leddy and Mike Lyon. Jack got second from Torres on lap 4 but found himself a full straightaway behind Jones. Jack was unable to cut into Jones’ lead as Leddy moved in on Torres to fight for third. As the checkers waved it was Jones going wire to wire for the victory.

Street Stocks(Top 12 line up by finish)

41 Wade Jones, 88j Bobby Jack, 66 Johnny Torres, 93 Aaron Leddy, 40 Mike Lyon, 15 Tom Casey, 149 Stephan Danielson, 5 Danny Schroat, 14 Eric Knudtson, 37w Frank Okruhlik, 53 Brian Becka, 37 AJ Wernette—DNS

Street Stock heat winners; 41 Wade Jones, 37w Frank Okruhlik

A diverse field of 20-cars took the green for the 20-lap Pure Stock A-Qualifier with Justin Henley out battling Hunter Flanagan for the lap 1 lead. Brandy Ramzinski, Flanagan, Jarrett Payton and Janel Hilla fell in line behind Henley. Ramzinski didn’t stay in line long as she began to challenge Henley for the lead on lap 2 taking over the top spot on lap 3 with Flanagan following to second and Payton side by side with Hilla for fourth.

Adam Torres caught Hilla and Payton slipping past Hilla for fifth. Payton took advantage of a slip by Henley to snag third on lap 5.. Flanagan and Ramzinski then began a spirited fight up front for the lead getting door to door on lap 11 with Torres going by Henley for fourth. As Payton started to slow, Torres snagged third with Henley and Hilla taking fourth and fifth. The lead duo caught lapped traffic allowing Torres to close. Ramzinski got through slower cars with no problem and ran on to the victory.

Pure Stocks(Top 12 to A-main)

88 Brandy Ramzinski, 85 Hunter Flanagan, 24 Adam Torres, 44 Justin Henley, 7x Janel Hilla, 15x Hunter Montgomery, 25 Tyler Box, 117 Devin Adler, 9s Jarrett Payton, 89 Talon Minten, 43 Eric Watson, 15d James Dear, 82 Richard Wells, 95 Jerry Jones, 3 David Sevilla, 15 William Cavender, 9 Philip Haywood, 62 Austin Dragoo, 31 Frank Okruhlik, 10c Karaline Campbell, 14 Trey Heald—DNS

Pure Stock heat winners; 25 Tyler Box, 89 Talon Minten, 58 Hunter Flanagan, 44 Justin Henley

Trevor Bettis got out front early in the Front Runner Trophy Dash chased by Lisa Sandoval, David Lee Grobe and Char Powell. L. Sandoval put the pressure on Bettis with a tap on the bumper, but Bettis held steady. As the leads group caught the back of the pack, Grobe was able to negotiate through for the lead on lap 9. In the final laps Powell snuck past Grobe for the lead as the white flag waved. Powell held the point the final lap for his first I-37 Raceway win.

Front Runner Trophy dash

9 Char Powell, 4 David Lee Grobe, 57 Trevor Bettis, 28 Lisa Sandoval, 67 Jimmy Carroll, 223 Karey Scott, 82 Samuel Markgraf, 19 N/A, 66c Cindy Snider, 69 Jordan Sandoval, 3 Joshua Mares, 98 Will Holder—DNS

Front Runner heat winners; Joshua Mares, 57 Trevor Bettis

Pleasanton, Tx.,(July 16th, 2011) I-37 Raceway at Newsome Motor Park cranked up the action on the 1/4 mile, semi-banked dirt track just south of San Antonio. It was a full moon racing night, which normally means action and the unusual. Tonight would be no exception with two drivers winding up looking at the track from the wrong view, one last corner pass and two first time winners.

With many points battles still on the line, the IMCA Southern Sportmods are the only class with one driver holding a substantial margin. Johnny Torres carries a comfortable lead into the event, while Greg Dinsmore and Jame Campbell( IMCA Modifieds)continue to duke it out.

The Street Stock points battle swaps between defending champ, Wade Jones and AJ Dancer. Frank Okruhlik and former champ Janel Hilla head the list in Pure Stocks. Limited Late Models have Trey Votion on top with defending champ Richard Bartosh in pursuit. The Front Runners come in with Jimmy Carroll leading over Cody Earnhardt.

Dinsmore Dashes to Another Modified Main

Kerrville’s Greg Dinsmore found what he needed to get back in the Winners Circle taking the 20-lap IMCA Modified main. Dinsmore, who started in row 4, quickly worked his way up behind early leader, Rob Sanderson. Ducking low off the corner, Dinsmore swept past Sanderson for the lead on lap 4. From there Dinsmore held off charges from Jamie Campbell and Mike McCarthy on restarts to grab another victory.

The initial start was waved off after Campbell got a bit over anxious coming to green. The second try saw Sanderson go around and clip Bill Pittaway, peeling sheet metal off the side of his car. Even the third time wasn’t the charm as Joe O’Bryan spun, scattering the field. A single file fourth attempt saw Sanderson get out front on lap 1 followed by Robert Liese jr., Joe Spillman, Dinsmore and McCarthy.

Liese slipped off the corner giving up spots to Spillman, Dinsmore, McCarthy and Campbell. Dinsmore got under Spillman for second on lap 2 and closed on Sanderson. Using the bottom, Dinsmore got the lead from Sanderson on lap 4 while Campbell got by McCarthy and Spillman. Matt Fox looped it on the front stretch bringing out a yellow on lap 5.

Back under green, Dinsmore got a good jump, while Campbell worked around Sanderson for second. Spillman and McCarthy were side by side on lap 6 with last weeks winner, William Gould, closing. Sanderson, McCarthy and Spillman went three wide for third coming to halfway. At the crossed flags it was Dinsmore, Campbell, McCarthy, Spillman and Gould now in the top five.

Liese spun on lap 10 for a yellow with Spillman and Sanderson getting tangled under caution. Dinsmore got away clean as McCarthy and Campbell ran wheel to wheel for second and Gould worked his way by Spillman. McCarthy and Campbell continued their battle for five laps giving Dinsmore some breathing room. Caution on lap 16 for debris erased that margin.

Once back to green McCarthy and Campbell renewed their fight, this time it was Campbell looking to retake second. Campbell got the spot back on lap 18, but slipped in turn 2 giving it up to McCarthy. As they battled it out, Dinsmore in the racetechinfo.com, Sundowner RV Repair, JBHotshots, Ryan Bard Safety Foundation, Guadalupe Electric, Wells Designs, CenTex Motorsports, Harris Chassis was capturing another win.

“I could hear Jamie(Campbell) and Mike(McCarthy) back there.” said Dinsmore. “I just decided I was going to hold the bottom once I got there. The car wasn’t really quite right, but I didn’t see anyones tires or nose. The way the car was getting looser an looser, I thought was going to lose it.”

“Turns 1-2 were really good for me on the bottom. Coming off down the back straightaway was bad. The car would get tight in (turns) 3-4 then snap loose. There’s something weird that I’m still hunting. The car was better than it was last week. Ride heights are giving me fits since that wreck. Only a couple degrees on the bars make a big difference.”

“Between the heat and feature we moved the pull bar and ground the tires since there was such a big difference in the track. We probably should have made a couple more(changes). The car was fast, but on the ragged edge.”

“(Davey)Plato went through our cars looking at frame location, tires, pull bars and showed our tech guy what to look for to catch someone doing something illegal. It was good to see him down here after all these years.”

“I’m going to be driving Jamie Fuller’s car in the Street Stock Shootout next weekend in Goliad. I really think Aaron(Leddy) can do a good job in it, but we’re going to work on it some more and they want me in it.”

IMCA Modifieds

8g Greg Dinsmore, 20 Mike McCarthy, 29 Jamie Campbell, 60 William Gould, 44 Joe Spillman, 37 Bill Pittaway, 67 Robert Liese jr, 53x Matt Fox, 141 Rob Sanderson, 99 Billy Meyer, 117 Jimmy Tidwell, 82 Rick Green, 14 Joe O’Bryan, 26 Darin Leonard

IMCA Modified heats

Heat #1

14 Joe O’Bryan, 44 Joe Spillman, 29 Jamie Campbell, 20 Mike McCarthy, 99 Billy Meyer, 60 William Gould—DNS

Heat #2

8g Greg Dinsmore, 26 Darin Leonard, 117 Jimmy Tidwell, 67 Robert Liese jr, 141 Rob Sanderson, 53x Matt Fox, 82 Rick Green

Torres Torrent Continues in Sportmods

Looking to back up his 2010 title, San Antonio’s Johnny Torres keeps wracking up the wins. Near halfway Torres found himself in the top five, but some distance behind the leader, Anthony Gordon. A mid-race red flag changed that allowing Torres to be in contact with the lead group. Torres capitalized picking off Moe VanKirk then Gordon for the lead with two to go and running to the checkers.

Robby Minten led off turn 2 at the start of the 20-lap IMCA Southern Sport feature, but it was Gordon off turn 4 to lead lap 1. VanKirk got by Minten for second and along side Gordon for the lead. Gordon and VanKirk raced side by side for two laps, with Jason Kelly and Patrick Kelly wheel to wheel for fourth. Gordon held off VanKirk as Torres made his way to the top five by P. Kelly.

Torres then picked off fourth from J. Kelly on lap 6. A three wide scrap in the middle of the pack ended bad for Randy Bennett after he jumped a wheel and ended up hitting the tire barrier at pit out and rolling over onto his top. Bennett walked away uninjured. Once back to green, Torres slipped past Minten for third as the race came to halfway showing Gordon, VanKirk, Torres, Minten an Flint Brown in the top five.

VanKirk kept the pressure on the young Gordon with Torres closing on both. Torres and VanKirk were side by side on lap 13 with Torres getting the spot on lap 14. Torres then reeled in Gordon and dove low off turn 4 to get the top spot on lap 18. Torres was able to go unchallenged the final two laps in the 24/7 Towing, Tator Plumbing, Rising Star Race Car Bodies, Screen Pro Graphics, Spreen Racing Engines, Driveline Chassis, for the win.

“The track was pretty slick tonight, but it wasn’t dusty,” said Torres. “It was tacky in the heat race so we had a tacky set up on it. I figured I wouldn’t have to change much, but it got dry real quick. We threw some things at it and it worked. We changed a spring, moved some lead and adjusted the tire pressure.”

“I’m not sure we could have caught them if it wasn’t for that red flag. The tires were getting hot and that’s when I normally go faster. That red kind of broke it up into two 10 lap heat races. I like the long runs better and my car seems to work better. It came down to the wire and I didn’t think I was going to get him(Gordon).”

“Our Regional Director Davey Plato was down here and checked over everyone’s car. I’m glad he did, the more tech the better.”

IMCA Southern Sportmod

66 Johnny Torres, 118 Anthony Gordon, 58 Moe VanKirk, D9(4) Robby Minten, 75 Flint Brown, 115 Chuck Perry, 57 Jason Kelly, 10 Travis Penny, 94 Allen Torres, 66y Randy Yount, 84k Patrick Kelly, 22 Randy Bennett, 99x Michael Hernandez—DNS

IMCA SSM heats

Heat #1

66 Johnny Torres, 66y Randy Yount, 118 Anthony Gordon, 75 Flint Brown, 57 Jason Kelly, 94 Allen Torres, 10 Travis Penny

Heat #2

58 Moe VanKirk, 84k Patrick Kelly, D9(4) Robby Minten, 22 Randy Bennett, 115 Chuck Perry, 99x Michael Hernandez

Crawley Cashes for First Limited Late Model Checkers

It wasn’t the first win for Craig Crawley at I-37 Raceway after picking up a few Street Stock wins several years back, but it was his first ever Limited Late Model tally. Crawley, who had to totally rebuild the back half of his car due to a crash, went wire to wire for the win holing off multi-time track champion Gary Hunter throughout the 20-lap event.

Crawley beat the 12-car field into turn 1 for the lead trailed by Hunter, Matt Hodge, Andrew Hesler and Robert Danielson. Lap 1 saw Leland Waddell, Richard Bartosh and Trey Votion get by Danielson. Hesler was pressuring Hodge for third, while Waddell slipped high giving up a spot to Votion. Chris Jones brought out yellow on lap 4 when he spun and Kevin Hayden slid to a stop to avoid contact.

Crawley got a good jump on Hunter as green flew again and Hesler got along side Hodge, with Votion and Bartosh side by side behind them. Jones looped it again on lap 6 ending is night. Once back to green, Crawley and Hunter eased away from Hodge, Hesler, Bartosh and Votion. Hesler used a slide job on lap 8 to get third from Hodge, with Bartosh trying to follow

Bartosh finally got by Hodge on lap 9 who gave up fifth to Votion on lap 10. Hesler, Bartosh and Votion were three wide in turns 1-2 with Bartosh grabbing the spot off turn 4. Votion got by Hesler a lap later as Hesler began to fade. With five to go Crawley was inching away from Hunter, who had a gap back to Bartosh and Votion.

Yellow waved on lap 17 when Waddell and Hodge went around in turn 2. Crawley got two car lengths on Hunter as green flew again with Bartosh and Votion side by side. Hodge and Larry Lewis went around on lap with Hayden going off the turn 2 hill for yellow on lap 18, setting up a green, white, checkered finish.

On the restart Hunter gave Crawley his best challenge looking high into turn 3, but Crawley held the point off turn 4. On the final lap Votion went around off turn 2 collecting Hodge, Waddell and Andy Anderson, who were innocent victims. The checkers and yellow waved for Crawley in the Odie Automotive, Garfield Shanklin, Martin Body Shop, CNC Graphics, Duffin Engine Service, Oval Components/Ervin Breiten Chassis.

“It was a big win to finally get the monkey off our back,” replied Crawley. “We’ve finished second a couple times and I’ve let Trey(Votion) get one on me. Winning at the old San Antonio Speedway was hard with all the tough cars that were there. Racing here, with the caliber of these guys, is getting to be the same way.”

“I think about those fast guys coming behind me. They’re all good drivers and I know they’re not to going to rough me up to get by me. They’re good competitors and if they’re faster than me they”ll find a way to get by me clean.”

“We made some tire pressure adjustments, and some little things between the heat and feature because the track was so much different. We didn’t get it set in the heat, but the feature was good. It was real slick and we were searching for forward bite.”

“After the crash a month ago we had to change everything from the seat on back, except the rear clip. All the mounts, braces, fuel cell, it even broke the 9” rear end in half. We’ve got about 80 hours of labor to get it back on the track.”

Limited Late Models

6 Craig Crawley, 14 Gary Hunter, 7 Richard Bartosh, 49 Robert Danielson, 95 Larry Lewis, 86 Andy Anderson, 28 Leland Waddell, 58 Matt Hodge, 99 Trey Votion, 08 Kevin Hayden, 1x Andrew Hesler, 69 Chris Jones

Limited Late Model heat winners; 1x Andrew Hesler, 58 Matt Hodge

Keeping up with the Jones’

This has been pretty much the case again this season as Wade Jones looks to defend his championships in Street Stocks. AJ Dancer has given Jones a run for his money and tonight it was Aaron Leddy’s chance. Leddy and Jones ran door to door for five laps until Leddy suffered ignition woes. Dancer took up the charge, but fell short as Jones eased away in the latter stages for the victory.

As the 20-lap Street Stock feature took the green, AJ Wernette led the way off turn 2, but Leddy got by coming high off turn 4 to lead. Dennis Hilla and Jones got by AJ Wernette, with Mike Lyon and Dancer following. Jones got under Hilla for second on lap 2 and was challenging Leddy on lap 3. The two stayed tied at the door posts, while Dancer moved his way up to third.

Jones finally secured the lead on lap 8 after Leddy had his car start popping and begin to fall back. By halfway the top four had separated out with a gap back to AJ Wernette, Rick Schroat and Anthony Gordon. Gordon brought out the races only yellow when he spun on lap 11 coming off turn 2, giving the top four a chance to regroup.

On the restart Dancer and Jones got away clean to settle things among themselves. With five to go, Jones began easing away from Dancer, while Hilla, Lyon and AJ Wernette ran nose to tail. Dancer never could mount a challenge in the final laps giving Jones a Saturday night cruise to the win in the

Opiela Mechanical, Horelka Racing, Mission Auto Parts, SABFI, Mobil 1, Jeff’s Auto Rebuilders, 74 Ranch & Resort, Camaro.

“The track was real different tonight.” commented Jones. “It was wet in the heat race and pretty tacky in the feature. The car felt pretty good even though our heat wasn’t that good. I just have to adjust my driving style for the different track. We’ve run the same set almost all year long. We change a few little things.”

“I knew AJ(Dancer) was coming. I felt him once behind me on a restart. He’s a helluva driver and I always know hes going to be coming. I just stick to my line. If I do that and get beat, then I just get beat.”

“We’ll be back next year, but we’re undecided if it’s in Street Stock or Late Model. My uncle Donnie(Horelka) has a Late Model, but we just have to get the time to work on it.”

Street Stocks

41 Wade Jones, 52 AJ Dancer, 2x Dennis Hilla, 40 Mike Lyon, 37 AJ Wernette, 5 Rick Schroat, 37w Wayne Wernette, 118 Anthony Gordon, 7 Danny Schroat, 15 Tommy Casey, 93 Aaron Leddy

Street Stock heat winners; 2x Dennis Hilla, 93 Aaron Leddy

Okruhlik Outruns Torres for Pure Stock Payday

After his wedding and a string of bad luck, not related, Frank Okruhlik made his way back into I-37 Raceway Winners Circle. Okruhlik got the lead early from Karoline Campbell and was chased by Hunter Flanagan, then last weeks winner, Adam Torres. After a late caution, Okruhlik got away from Torres and Flanagan who battled for second, as he eased his way to the checkers.

The 16-car, 20-lap Pure Stock feature got off to a rocky start with Cameron Smith jumping out front. In the pack Eric Watson and Brandy Ramzinski made contact with E. Watson ending up rolling onto his side. He was able to climb out and tried to return later in the race. As green finally flew, Campbell got the point chased by Okruhlik, Cody Leonard, Flanagan and Torres.

Campbell spun from the lead on lap 1, with William Cavender going around in the pack as they scattered. Okruhlik led the field back to green with Flanagan and Leonard side by side for second and Jarrett Payton blowing a right front tire while running fifth. Flanagan got around Leonard for third with Torres filling in the hole for third and Talon Minten getting fourth.

Torres got past Flanagan for second on lap 4, as Leonard slowed and pulled off. Ramzinski went for a spin on lap 6 to bring out a yellow. Okruhlik got away by five car lengths on the green and held that advantage until James Watson spun on lap 10 to bring out a yellow. The top three pulled away on green, while Minten slowed giving up spots to Janel Hilla and Jerry Jones.

Campbell spun again on lap 15 to bring out a yellow and st up a five lap trophy dash to the finish. Okruhlik got a good jump and began puling away, as Flanagan put the heat on Torres for second. As the white waved Okruhlik had a slight margin, over the second place fight, while Hilla and Jones ran side by side. At the checkers it was Okruhlik in the Odie Racing, Mo’s Racing Chassis, Chevy with the win.

“I hope my bad luck wasn’t related to my marriage,” joked Okruhlik. “I think the track worked in my favor tonight. I just took it easy and came out on top. We’ve had some plug wires burn up, bearing go out in the rear end and lost an axle the past three races. I was slipping on the maintenance and now I’ve got some time again and things are going together better.”

“I thought someone was there all the time, I didn’t know who it was and they really weren’t that close. But I was racing like they were. I found a groove that worked. It was kind of catfish the bottom in the corners and run down the straights. I made a few changes, there’s not much you can do on a Pure Stock.”

Pure Stocks

99 Frank Okruhlik, 24 Adam Torres, 581 Hunter Flanagan, 95 Jerry Jones, 7x Janel Hilla, 15 William Cavender, 10c Karoline Campbell, 13 Cameron Smith, 14 Trey Heald, 89 Talon Minten, 44 James Watson, 88 Brandy Ramzinski, 26c Cody Leonard, 9s Jarrett Payton, 71 Mike Harrison, 43 Eric Watson, 58 Randy Frautschi—DNS

Pure Stock heat winners; 13 Cameron Smith, 7x Janel Hilla, 99 Frank Okruhlik

Gaither Gathers First Ever Win

In only is fourth race of the season on dirt, Dillon Gaither grabbed his first ever Front Runner trophy, but it wasn’t easy. Looking to redeem himself after giving up a win due to a jump start penalty, Gaither jumped into lead only to spin a few laps later. Gaither worked his way back up and got a huge break when leader Cody Earnhardt had his car give up on the last lap. Gaither snuck past Co. Earnhardt at the line to pick up the victory.

On the initial start, Hailee Marcx led the way, but Kirsten Blevins went for an off track excursion in turn 2. The second start saw Gaither get off turn 2 with lead with Co. Earnhardt, Jimmy Carroll, Marcx and Charles Earnhardt III in pursuit. Gaither gave up the lead to Co. Earnhardt on lap 3 when looped it in turn 2.

With Co. Earnhardt now out front, Ch. Earnhardt got by Marcx on the restart for third. As Co. Earnhardt eased away, Brandon Sowder got by Marcx for third after Carroll was forced to pit from a top three spot with a flat right front. Gaither was steadily on the move, getting past Marcx on lap 9 and Sowder on lap 10. Trevor Bettis went off the back stretch for a lap 12 caution.

Ch. Earnhardt was put back two position for his earlier jump putting Gaither on Co. Earnhardt’s bumper for the restart. Co. Earnhardt got a good lead on Gaither and looked to be a runaway winner. But wait…In the last corners of the last lap, Co. Earnhardt had his car give up and it was Gaither nipping him at the line in the Rohmer Racing, Honda Tiburon for his inaugural win.

“I thought I was going to have to settle for second,” replied the young Gaither. “I knew I could make it back up front after I spun and he(Cody Earnhardt) broke and I got the chance and took the win. His car died and just waved me past. I really appreciate Greg Rohmer giving me the opportunity to drive this car.”

“My dad has raced on dirt before and I’ve been around it. I’ve picked it up pretty easy. My main concern was coming back and winning after giving that one away last weekend. We have a Pure Stock at the house that we’re building for next season so I’m moving up.”

Front Runners

9 Dillon Gaither, 33c Cody Earnhardt, 08 Brandon Sowder, 33 Charles Earnhardt III, 113 Hailee Marcx, 98E Marie Gonzalez, 57 Trevor Bettis, 67 Jimmy Carroll, 66c Cindy Snider, 17 Kirsten Blevins, 98 Will Holder—DNS

Front Runner heat winners; 33 Charles Earnhardt III, 33c Cody Earnhardt

Go-Karts

Jr. Division

1 Evan Lambert

11 Caitlyn Leddy

53 Chandler Fox

93 Cavan Leddy

07 Deull Arnold

Sr. Division

82 Andrew Garcia

12 Chentel Dancer

37 Aaron Trevino

9 Caitlin Leonard

137 Adam Trevino

17 Vincent Dancer

While most of the country is surrounded by deep snow and frigid temperature’s Tucson’s USA Raceway will be the place to be for the top Late Model and Modified racers from around the country. The migration to the south is under way and the festivities will kick off this Friday night with an open practice as everyone gears up for a wild week of racing action.

“The Wild West Shootout is one of my favorite events with six nights of racing and a whole lot of fun” commented Benji Lyons. “You never really know what’s going to happen during this event, the racing action is unbelievable and the after race happenings are usually just as exciting.”

The Wild West Shootout which takes place on the second weekend of January and commences the following weekend enters it 5th year and is anticipated to be one of the largest racing events of 2011. The best of the best in Super Late Models and Modifieds will tackle USA Raceway’s 3/8-mile clay oval for six days on January 8, 9, 12, 14, 15 and 16, with more than $150,000 in prize money to be distributed over the course of the blockbuster event. A $10,000 top prize awaits the shootout event finale, The Bill Cheesbourg Memorial, on January 16.

Sport Mods Running for $4000 to win

Cruisers Running for $500 to win

Total Weekend Purse of over $35,000

WE WILL BE RACING OCTOBER 30, 2010, it will just be a normal show

Dinsmore Does Daily Double in Debut(of new car)

It didn’t take long for Kerrville’s Greg Dinsmore to find the set up on his new Harris chassis and return to early season form. After a month and a half of construction, waiting for parts and motor work Dinsmore debuted his new ride hot lapping mid week and parlaying that into a win Saturday night on it’s maiden voyage. Though with a support team of Bob Harris, multi-time Super Nationals winner John Logue and veteran IMCA hot shoe Jimmy Gustin you’d expect nothing less.

As green waved on the IMCA Modified 20-lap main event Carlton Leverett was first into tun 1, but it was Robert Liese jr. coming out of turn 2 with the lead. Dinsmore, quickly charging from the back, made quick work of the field getting by Liese to take the top spot on lap 2 followed by Liese, Bill Pittaway and Jamie Campbell. Marlin Samford moved in to battle with Campbell for fourth as Dinsmore began stretching out his lead.

Liese slipped off turn 2 giving Pittaway an opening to get the spot, while Samford and Campbell swapped fourth. Pittaway, in one of his older cars as his regular car is being prepared for the Super Nationals, pulled off on lap 4. Debris brought out the caution on lap 8 erasing Dinsmore’s big advantage. As Dinsmore got away on green, Liese, Campbell and Samford were three wide for second with Samford getting the spot.

At halfway it was Dinsmore edging away, Samford, Liese, Campbell and Bob Leinweber in the top five. Campbell got by Liese for third then grabbed second from Samford on lap 11. Leinweber had problems and pulled off but was close enough to the racing surface to bring out a lap 13 caution. Back under green It was Dinsmore easily inching away from Campbell going on to the checkers in the Sundowner RV, racetechinfo.com, Lowery Plumbing, QTI Graphics, Fast Shafts, Afco Shocks, CenTex Motorsports powered Harris Chassis.

“It’s pretty sweet,” replied Dinsmore. “This car was fast right of the box and has been awesome. I couldn’t ask for anything more. We ran it hard to get up front and when we got through went to the high side and just cruised around. The car was a bullet. The CenTex motor never missed a lick and had plenty of power.”

“We had a little issue with the shock on the rear end housing and it was tight in hot laps. We made a change and it was good to go. I put my old set up on this car even though Bob Harris will say otherwise. But I’ve won races here and up in Boone(Iowa) with this set up and I like it this way. It’s much better with forward bite than it ever was and rolls through the center good.”

“ Bob and John Logue want me to go to a floated set up, but right now I’m winning races and hate to change. We’ll see what happens up in Boone next month. The first night we’ll be able to tell. I talked to Jimmy Gustin too and he told me my set up should work just fine. He runs a similar set up, but not clamped. We ran some numbers and the shock was the part we questioned. Luckily Harris has a lot of people behind me and we all share information.”

“I’m hoping to go up to Boone put on a good show and represent Harris. You have to go to the front there, win your heat and finish in the top five of the main. Other than that you’re racing for points. The biggest thing is to draw good, race clean and race hard. There’s a lot of competition up there. I’ve got a lot of friends up there and we race each other hard, but clean. It’s a give and take thing.”

IMCA Modifieds

8g Greg Dinsmore

29 Jamie Campbell

67 Robert Liese jr.

c31 Marlin Samford

12 Bob Leinweber

24 Tracey Fink

3 Carlton Leverett

37 Bill Pittaway

38/80 Dennis Taylor—DNS

21 Jason Borlace–DNS

IMCA Modified heats

Heat #1

38/80 Dennis Taylor

67 Robert Liese jr.

3 Carlton Leverett

21 Jason Borlace

24 Tracey Fink

Heat #2

8g Greg Dinsmore

c31 Marlin Samford

37 Bill Pittaway

29 Jamie Campbell

12 Bob Leinweber

Blaylock Best in Sportmod Scramble

Despite running a limited schedule at I-37 Raceway the Blaylock’s seem to find their way to the front and/or Victory Lane. James Blaylock patiently worked his way forward on a tricky, dry slick track getting the top spot from Jesse James before halfway. Blaylock then held off James and Bill Pittaway in the final laps to score the win.

As the 14-car IMCA Southern Sportmod field took the green for their 20-lap feature, Tator Mason beat Robby Minten into turn 1. Minten on the high side got by coming out of turn 2 to lead lap 1 with Mason and Larry Jernigan side by side. Jernigan took the spot with James following to third. In the pack Ray Doyon III and Moe VanKirk got hooked together in a three wide battle on the back stretch. Doyon went around in turn 3 collecting Joe Spillman for an early caution.

On the restart James was now pressuring Minten for the lead, while Pittaway worked his way past Mason for third. James took over the point on lap 2 with Pittaway following to second and Blaylock moving up to fourth. Blaylock got around Minten for third on lap 3 while Johnny Torres came along to fourth. Pittaway and James were wheel to wheel for the lead on lap 4, with Blaylock looking to go three wide. James held off Pittaway who now had Blaylock along side.

Blaylock secured the spot as Kris Rye grabbed a top five spot on lap 5. Blaylock got beside James for the lead getting the position on lap 7. At the crossed flags it was still Blaylock out front tailed by James, Pittaway, Torres and Rye. The top four stay close until lap 12 when Blaylock began to creep away. Pittaway and Torres were in a good battle for third when yellow waved for Minten who got turned by Greg Rohmer, who was sent to the tail.

Blaylock got a good jump back under green while Jason Stanley looked inside Rye for fifth. Rye and Stanley raced side by side for a couple laps until Randy Yount and Minten tangled between turns 1-2 and brought out a caution. On the restart James tried the high side on Blaylock giving Pittaway a look low for second. After a brief side by side battle Pittaway got the spot, but had no time to mount a challenge on Blaylock in the Diamondback Transport, Bebo Graphics, The Spine & Orthopedic Institute of San Antonio, Central Ready Mix, Spreen Race Engines, HOT Chassis who eased on to the win.

“I was able to use the bottom and work my way up,” commented Blaylock. “I figured if it was good enough to work forward that it would be good enough to win. So I just stayed glued down there. We did a lot of work on the scales earlier today and had a real good baseline for the track.”

“We had it set up for a dry track in the heat race and had to fight it. We made a few minor adjustments during intermission and watched the track. We figured the track would come back to us as it dried out.”

“It’s a little lighter atmosphere running the weekly shows versus the big shows. You don’t have all the pressure of just trying to make the show. We aren’t running for points anywhere so it’s easier to have a good time and try some things hoping to learn about the car.”

“We’re looking to run the Sportmod Nationals at Kennedale next week and definitely looking forward to the big TMS Dirt Track show. Then we have a couple shows in Oklahoma we’d like to make.”

“I need to thank my dad for all the hours he puts in and send my best wishes to my wife who is doing her military training.”

IMCA Southern Sportmods

7b James Blaylock

37 Bill Pittaway

66 Johnny Torres

3j Jesse James

92 Jason Stanley

4$ Kris Rye

18 Larry Jernigan

51 Greg Rohmer

58 Moe VanKirk

12 Tator Mason

66y Randy Yount

4 Robby Minten

3D Ray Doyon III

44 Joe Spillman

99 Billy Meyer—DNS

18s Roger Strickland—DNS

IMCA SSM heats

Heat #1

3D Ray Doyon III

37 Bill Pittaway

58 Moe VanKirk

66 Johnny Torres

4 Robby Minten

51 Greg Rohmer

99 Billy Meyer

18s Roger Strickland—DNS

Heat #2

18 Larry Jernigan

4$ Kris Rye

3J Jesse James

12 Tator Mason

7b James Blaylock

66y Randy Yount

92 Jason Stanley

44 Joe Spillman

Wesley Skains beat Gary Hunter into turn 1 to grab the early lead in the Tator Plumbing Limited Late Model feature. Hunter fell in behind Skains with Chris Brock, Richard Bartosh and Craig Crawley in tow. Hunter and Brock raced side by side on lap 1 with Bartosh taking a look three abreast on lap 2. Brock had just eked past Hunter when he went around in turn 2 sending Hunter through the infield, while Jason Lawrence spun to miss the melee.

On the restart Skains pulled away with Lawrence getting fifth from Shane Moore. Brock quickly moved back up getting by Moore then Lawrence for fifth on lap 4. Lawrence would bring out a yellow on lap 7 when he spun in turn 4. Skains again jumped out on green and pulled away with Brock and Roger Baker battling for fourth. On the final lap Lawrence did a 360 in front the fourth place fight with Brock getting by Baker. Up front it was Skains in the S&S Bridge Painting, Covert Sheet Metal, Reid Graham powered, Harris Chassis taking the victory.

Tator Plumbing Limited Late Models

25x Wesley Skains

7 Richard Bartosh

10 Chris Brock

1 Roger Baker

14 Gary Hunter

18 Shane Moore

25 Jason Lawrence

6c Craig Crawley—Voluntary DQ

Limited Late Model heat winners; 25 Wesley Skains, 10 Chris Brock

The Street Stock 15-lap feature saw Justin Henley beat Greg Lackey into turn 1 for the lead. Dennis Hilla, Lackey and Mike Lyon were three wide for second, with Wade Jones looking on. AJ Wernette spun in turn 4 on lap 2 to start string of yellows. On the restart, Hilla slipped Lackey for second who spun in turn 2. The next try saw Jones look under Hilla for second but Kevin Hyland went around in turn 2. Finally back to green Hilla slipped high off turn 2 giving Jones and Lyon an opening to grab second and third.

Jones ducked inside Henley coming off turn 4 to take the point on lap 5, with Lyon and Henley side by side for second and Jason Campbell getting by Hilla for fourth. Hilla tried to battle back but spun in turn 2 to bring out a caution on lap 5. Just as the race went back to green, debris on the track brought the yellow back out. Back to racing Jones and Henley pulled away from Lyon, Campbell and Wernette who would loop it again for a caution on lap 6.

Jones got a good jump on green, but Henley closed back in as Lackey worked his way to the top five getting by Leland Frautschi on lap 7. Henley got the nose inside Jones on lap 7 going into turn 1 and the two played bumper tag in turn 3. The contact was hard enough to send Henley to the pits on lap 8. Frautschi brought out a lap 11 yellow when he stalled and fell short of making it to pit exit. Once back to green Jones and Lyon got away from Campbell, Hilla and Lackey.

As Hilla and Campbell battled the two made contact in turn 4 to bring out the final yellow on lap 12. The top five all stayed nose to tail on the restart with Jones beginning to inch away on lap 13. At the checkered flag it was Jones in the Opiela Mechanical, Mission Racing, SABFI, Jeff’s Auto Rebuilders, Camaro adding another win to his yearly total.

Street Stocks

41 Wade Jones

40 Mike Lyon

9 Jason Campbell

41g Greg Lackey

37 AJ Wernette

2x Dennis Hilla

31 Leland Frautschi

96 Justin Henley

72 Kevin Hyland

Street Stock Heat winners; 96 Justin Henley, 41 Wade Jones

Charlie Henley grabbed the early lead in the 18-car, 20-lap Pure Stock feature trailed by Brandy Ramzinski, Jerry Jones and Aaron Leddy. Leddy and Frank Okruhlik got past Jones on lap 1 for third and fourth. Leddy passed Ramzinski for second and was looking inside Henley for the lead on lap 2. Leddy took the top spot on lap 3 with Okruhlik coming to second and Marc Roy getting fourth from Henley. Leddy and Okruhlik had just started a side by side battle when a multi-car melee in turn 2 brought out a caution.

On the restart Okruhlik looked low on Leddy, while Roy was trying up top on Ramzinski for third. Ray Radicke stopped in turn 4 as the lead pack charged in. All were able quickly scatter to avoid Radicke as the yellow was shown. Back under green the side by side battle for the lead resumed between Leddy and Okruhlik. Okruhlik was able to sneak by for the lead on lap 6 as the top three distanced themselves from the field.

As Okruhlik began to inch away from Leddy and Roy, Ramzinski, Jones, Janel Hilla and Eric Watson were slugging it out for fourth. Okruhlik was able to put some distance on Leddy and Roy as he diced through lapped traffic, while Hilla and E. Watson got past Jones. In the closing laps Hilla got around Ramzinski for fourth, but no one had anything for Okruhlik who took the checkers in the Odie Racing, Ximenex Trucking, Chevy.

Pure Stock

99 Frank Okruhlik

93 Aaron Leddy

24 Marc Roy

7x Janel Hilla

88 Brandy Ramzinski

95 Jerry Jones

43 Eric Watson

15 William Cavender

3 David Sevilla

66r Rick Snyder

3d Talon Minten

1 Charlie Henley

19 Freddy Geirisch

27 Emet Sevilla

77 Ray Radicke

13x Gary Chain

44 James Watson

02 Philip Haywood

Pure Stock heat winners; 1 Charlie Henley, 93 Aaron Leddy, 88 Brandy Ramzinski

In the Front Runner 15-lap feature James Samford got out to the early lead followed by Charlie Earnhardt III, Amber Clay and Nick Hencey. Hencey got past Clay for third as Earnhardt pressured Samford for the lead. Samford got sideways in turn 4 and was finished off by Earnhardt to bring out a caution on lap 4. Hencey pitted from third but was black flagged on his return for speeding in the pits. On green Earnhardt pulled away from Steven Stanley, Clay, Corey Samford and Kenneth Wright working his way up to fifth.

C. Samford slowed with a flat and pulled off giving way to Wright who took third from Clay on lap 7. Wright, in his first appearance at I-37, then got second from Stanley on lap 10, but was nearly a half track behind Earnhardt. In the pack Clay, Cindy Snyder, Richard Whitehead and Cameron Smith had their own fight going on for fourth. Whitehead emerged from that scrum with the spot with Snyder puling off with trouble. Back up front it was Earnhardt in the Earnhardt & Sons Automotive sponsored car taking the victory.

Front Runners

33 Charlie Earnhardt III

68 Kenneth Wright

96 Steven Stanley

67 Richard Whitehead

35 James Samford

13 Cameron Smith

98 Amber Clay

57 Trevor Bettis

113 Hailee Marcx

66c Cindy Snider

55 James Samford

911 Nick Hencey—BF(speeding on pit lane)

12 Roy Easler jr.—DNS

4 Johnny Japora–DNS

Front Runner heat winners; 4 Johnny Japora, 911 Nick Hencey

Pleasanton, Tx.,(April 24th, 2010) After a scheduled week off, which was probably a good thing after rains soaked the track, racing resumed at Pleasanton’s I-37 Raceway Saturday evening under sunny skies. Several new drivers showed up making their first appearance on the 1/4 mile, semi-banked clay oval just south of San Antonio.

There was plenty of action throughout the night with two cars taking tumbles, and two new first time winners. During intermission James Blaylock, still trying to shake down a new car, rolled over the turn 3 hill in hot laps. Blaylock rebounded to finish third in the main. Roy Easler clipped an infield tire while battling for the Front Runner lead and ended up on his roof. He was able to climb out uninjured.

Pittaway Picks Off Modified Win

Corpus Christi’s Bill Pittaway found his way back into the Winners Circle for the first time this season holding off Darin Leonard early, then Rick Green in the final laps. Pittaway took over the lead from early leader Joe Spillman, then battled with Leonard making contact ending Leonard’s night. Green made a big charge at the finish but came up a little short as Pittaway in the C-D Electric, Wells Racing Engines, Harris Chassis held on for the win.

At the start of the 20-lap IMCA Modified A-main, Joe Spillman grabbed the lead in turn 1 with Pittaway second and Leonard along side Robert Liese jr. for third. Leonard secured the spot on lap 1, with Green following through to forth. Spillman slipped high of turn 2 giving Pittaway an opening to sneak past for the lead on lap 3. Leonard then got by Spillman a lap later for third. Spillman had trouble with turn 2 gain on lap 4 as he looped it to bring out a yellow.

On the restart the top three got away clean, with Leonard taking a look inside Pittaway on the back stretch. Leonard again took a peek under Pittaway on lap 5 while Spillman worked his way back to the top four. Marlin Samford had turn 2 bite him when he went around on lap 6 to bring out a caution. Back under green, the top three were again pulling away, while Spillman’s trouble continued after he spun off turn 2 and found the infield water hole. Spillman got righted without caution, but pulled off.

Meanwhile up front, Green was pressuring Leonard for second as they came to the crossed flags it was Pittaway, Leonard and Green with a gap back to Samford and Leinweber rounding out the top five. Leonard closed in on Pittaway who was slipping high coming out of turn 2. Leonard got along side Pittaway and as they dove into turn 3 the two made contact. Leonard got by only to spin to the infield with a broken center link on lap 12.

On the restart Pittaway again slid up in turn 2 giving Green a look low, but Green was unable to capitalize. Pittaway then inched ahead of Green who had a good margin back to Samford and Leinweber. In the final laps Green quickly closed back in on Pittaway to within two car lengths on lap 18. Green was able to get to Pittaway’s bumper as the white flag waved. Green tried low in turns 1-2 to no avail, then tried to diamond off turns 3-4 and duck under Pittaway. Coming to the checkers it was Pittaway holding off Green by a car length at the line for the win.

“I didn’t feel like I had the best car, but I won,” commented Pittaway. “I think Darin(Leonard) had a better car than I did. I pushed up out of turn 2 and when I finally got the car to turn and come down we made contact. I hated to see it happen. I had the car set up tight and didn’t have time to change it after the Go-Kart races,”

“With Darin having basically the same car it’s good running someone heads-up in equal equipment. On these Harris cars you really have to protect the nose. I’ve had two center links bent already this year too.”

“I never saw or heard Rick(Green). I wear ear plugs to drowned out most of the noise. I just want to hear my motor in case anything goes wrong. We’ve run each other clean all year and it makes it easier to come back the next race and be ready instead of having to fix stuff.”

IMCA Modifieds

37 Bill Pittaway

82 Rick Green

c31 Marlin Samford

12 Bob Leinweber

26 Darin Leonard

44s Joe Spillman

67 Robert Liese jr

IMCA Modified heat

37 Bill Pittaway

67 Robert Liese jr

44s Joe Spillman

12 Bob Leinweber

82 Rick Green

c31 Marlin Samford

26 Darin Leonard

Rye Does It Ryet for Sportmod Win

Brian Rye didn’t let starting ninth in the IMCA Sportmod feature phase him. Rye methodically worked his way up, avoiding wrecks and caught a break when early leader Doug Livingston had trouble. The Corpus Christi driver took over the lead near halfway then held off a charging Dustin Butcher in the waning laps to snag his second win of the season.

Seventeen cars took the green in the 20-lap IMCA Southern Sportmod main with Randy Yount and Livingston staying wheel to wheel through turns 1-2. Livingston came out of turn 2 with lead with Yount, Bill Pittaway, Ray Doyon III and Rye along side Greg Rohmer for fifth. As the top six sorted out single file it was still two wide racing for seventh and ninth. Rohmer spun in tricky turn 2 scattering the pack with JJ Jennings going around, and EJ Gilpin forced to pit with a flat.

On the restart Pittaway got a good jump on Yount for second, but passed before the cone bringing the yellow back out. The next restart saw Pittaway again try to get inside Yount, with Doyon looking for an opening of his own. As the trio went into turn 3 Pittaway and Doyon tangled sending Pittaway around and both drivers to the tail. The third time wasn’t a charm either after Randy Bennett and David Routen spun between turns 1-2. Under caution Yount pulled off from second.

Finally back under green with a new top five of Livingston, Rye, Butcher, Jason Stanley and Johnny Torres running up front. Rye took a look under Livingston while Stanley was trying to get under Butcher and James Blaylock was grabbing fifth from Torres. Livingston slowed coming off turn 2 handing the top spot to Rye on lap 8. Robby Minten went around in turn 2 to bring out a yellow, with Livingston puling to the pits.

With Rye now out front, Blaylock got along side Stanley for third once the green waved again. Blaylock got the spot on lap 9 while Jennings, Gilpin and Doyon, who was now on a mission, ran three wide for seventh with Doyon getting the spot. At halfway the top five were Rye, Butcher, Blaylock, Stanley and Torres. Doyon then picked off sixth from Rohmer on lap 12. Butcher was just starting to pressure Rye for the lead when Bennett went around bringing out a caution on lap 16.

On the final restart Blaylock got along side Butcher for second giving Rye some breathing room out front. Blaylock and Butcher continued battling side by side down the back stretch with Butcher holding the position. As the white flag was shown the top three were running nose to tail and it was anyones race. Butcher took his shot ducking low in turn 2 but Rye was able to hang on and snare the victory in the SBG Racing, RPM Racing, Willie Cotton Race Engines, HOT Chassis.

“I just ran the bottom,” replied Rye. “Everyone else was running the top at the beginning of the race and I was able to get under them. I was able to pick up several spots with the cautions. I try not to look back to see who’s there. I didn’t see anybody until about two to go when Dustin(Butcher) tried to get under me. ”

“The groove moved about mid-race. Once I got up to second I tried to pass the leader on the bottom and I couldn’t get by him I moved up to the top and he slipped and I dove under him. It was still a little high for the way I like to run here. The redo on the track hasn’t effected my car, I usually just run the bottom”

“We took a few weeks off to run Go-Karts with my nephew so the car has just been parked. We’re going to come up here a few more times this year, run in Corpus and some big shows at the end of the year.”

IMCA Southern Sportmods

4R Brian Rye

90 Dustin Butcher

7b James Blaylock

92 Jason Stanley

66 Johnny Torres

D9 Ray Doyon III

21 EJ Gilpin

37 Bill Pittaway

51 Greg Rohmer

75 Flint Brown

09 David Routen

22 Randy Bennett

26 JJ Jennings

89 Doug Livingston

4 Robby Minten

66y Randy Yount

10 Travis Penny

00 Leland Frautschi—DNS

IMCA SSM Heats

Heat #1

66y Randy Yount

66 Johnny Torres

26g JJ Jennings

37 Bill Pittaway

75 Flint Brown

4 Robby Minten

Heat #2

D9 Ray Doyon III

89 Doug Livingston

21 EJ Gilpin

90 Dustin Butcher

10 Travis Penny

00 Leland Frautschi

Heat #3

92 Jason Stanley

7B James Blaylock

4R Brian Rye

51 Greg Rohmer

22 Randy Bennett

09 David Routen(infield violation)

The week off was probably a good thing for Wesley Skains giving them time to make repairs on the car. After several off-track excursions two weeks ago, Skains came back as good as ever. Multi-time track champion Gary Hunter grabbed the early lead of the 15-lap Limited Late Model feature with Skains in pursuit. Skains gave up second briefly to Patrick Kelly on lap 2. Skains then charged past Kelly and Hunter for the lead on lap 3.

Ellis Tracey brought out the yellow on lap 4 with a harmless spin. Once back to green Skains slid up in turn 1 giving Hunter a look low, but Hunter was unable to clear Skains. Hunter and Kelly then ran side by side on lap 6, with Hunter holding the spot. Richard Bartosh moved in Kelly with a short door to door battle for third. As Skains motored away Hunter and Kelly renewed their fight for second. The two made contact on the last lap and spun in turn 3 at the same time Skains, sponsored by S&S Bridge Painting, Reid Graham and Covert Sheet Metal, was taking the checkers.

Tator Plumbing Limited Late Models

25 Wesley Skains

7 Richard Bartosh

6 Ellis Tracey

14 Gary Hunter

84 Patrick Kelly

33 Barry Major

18 Shane Moore—DNS

Limited Late Model heat winner; 25x Wesley Skains

It was another trip to Victory Lane for Wade Jones in the 10-lap Street Stock feature. Jones took over the lead from AJ Wernette on lap 4. Jones then pulled away in his Opiela Mechanical, Horelka Racing, Camaro taking the win for his son, Peyton, who celebrating his first birthday.

Street Stocks

41 Wade Jones

37 AJ Wernette

74x Steve Mireles

18 Shawn Moore—DNS

Street Stock heat winner; 41 Wade Jones

A dozen cars took the green for 20-lap Pure Stock feature with Jarrett Payton getting out front after Brandy Ramzinski spun from the pole, but kept the power on. Ray Radicke brought out the yellow on lap 1 when he broke and stopped on the front stretch. On the restart Frank Okruhlik got around Payton on the high side to lead lap 2. Defending track champ Marc Roy moved along side Payton as they fought it out for second. Ramzinski spun again on lap 3 this time bringing out a yellow.

Back under green Roy was now pressuring Okruhlik for th lead while Pat Kelly sr. was trying to get under Payton for third. Okruhlik got some distance on Roy after he went airborne over a infield tire coming off turn 2. Kelly finally completed the pass on Payton for third on lap 7. Ramzinski went around a third time in turn 2 bringing out the yellow on lap 9. Once back to green it was Okruhlik, Roy, Kelly Payton and Mike Harrison coming to the mid point.

Roy had trouble in turn 2 again, spinning and losing numerous spots. With five to go Okruhlik had a half straight advantage over Kelly with gap back to Payton, Harrison and Janel Hilla. Okruhlik lost that margin when Rick Snyder brought out yellow on lap 15 when he got hung up on an infield tire. On the restart Payton spun from third, while Roy worked his way past Hilla to get back in the top five.

Payton spun again on lap 18 and was facing the wrong way in turn 1 to bring out the yellow setting up a green, white, checker finish. Kelly took a look low in turn 1 back under but lost some ground, as Roy was trying low on Harrison. Kelly again ducked low in turn 1 on the final lap, while Okruhlik began to slow with clutch problems. Kelly led the final ¾ of a lap to score a win for the “Blue Oval” fans in the Northside Ford, Kelly Racing sponsored Ford.

Pure Stocks

64k Pat Kelly sr.

71 Mike Harrison

24 Marc Roy

7x Janel Hilla

15 William Cavender

9 Jarrett Payton

99 Frank Okruhlik

88 Brandy Ramzinski

66r Rick Snyder

1 Charlie Henley

44 James Watson

77 Ray Radicke

17 Patrick White–DNS

13 Jason Smith—DNS

13x Gary Chain—DNS

Pure Stock heat winners; 24 Marc Roy, 88 Brandy Ramzinski

As the green flag dropped on the 15-lap Front Runner feature the two heat winners, Roy Easler and Chad Thrush stayed side by side. In the pack Brent Bouchillion slid over the turn 3 hill bringing about a complete restart. Once again Easler and Thrush ran side by side with Nick Hencey, Steven Stanley and Scott Schneider in tow. Easler and Thrush were still door to door until Easler slipped high giving Thrush the lead on lap 3.

Easler came back to get the point again on lap 4 with Thrush still challenging. While passing a slower car the two made contact sending Thrush over turn 3 to bring out a caution. On the restart Hencey and Stanley were now battling with Easler for the lead. Easler got turned to the infield, clipped an infield tire and rolled over to bring out a red.

Once back to racing, it was Hencey now on the point with Stanley, Cameron Smith, Schneider and Cody Earnhardt running in the top five. As the top five pulled away Co. Earnhardt moved in to battle with Schneider for fourth until Schneider broke and stopped on the back stretch to bring out a yellow. Hencey got a big jump on green, while Smith began to fade with a flat right rear. Hencey cruised on to take his first feature win.

Front Runners

911 Nick Hencey

96 Steven Stanley

66R Cindy Snider

98 Amber Clay

57 Trevor Bettis

33 Cody Earnhardt

T30 Chad Thrush

14 Kathy Hime

113 Hailee Marcx

13 Cameron Smith

35 James Samford

3 Scott Schneider

20 Brent Bouchillion

12 Roy Easler

33c Charlie Earnhardt III

Front Runner heat winners; 12 Roy Easler, T30 Chad Thrush

Pleasanton, Tx.,(March 27th, 2010) After a scheduled week off racing resumed at Pleasanton’s I-37 Raceway just south of San Antonio. The regular IMCA Modifieds IMCA Southern Sportmods, Tater Plumbing Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Front Runner classes were all in action on the semi-banked, ¼ mile dirt oval. Making their first visit to the track this season, the Brazos Mini Sprints added to the nights festivities, as well as the kids Go-Karts.

Two drivers repeated as feature winners while another pair scored their first ever I-37 Raceway wins, and one youngster grabbed his first ever victory.

Dinsmore Double Dips, Part Deaux

After a sub-par 2009 race season, Kerrville’s Greg Dinsmore seems to be back on track, literally and figuratively. The 2008 IMCA Modified track champion once again bested the field in both the heat and main event. The main saw Dinsmore chase early leader Bill Pittaway waiting for an opening on the tricky dry slick track. Just past halfway Dinsmore got his chance and capitalized on it then pulled away for the victory.

Adding to the Dinsmore winning tradition at I-37 Raceway, son Logan took the checkers in the Go-Kart feature during intermission.

Coming to green for the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event Robert Liese jr. got loose with drivers scrambling to avoid contact. Pittaway was into turn 1 firat with the lead with Rick Green and Dinsmore second and third. Green slowed on lap 3 and pulled off moving Dinsmore to second, Doug Cameron third and Matt Fox fourth.

Dinsmore ran down Pittaway for the lead on lap 5 and the battle was on. Cameron’s night ended early when he pitted from third on lap 6. Dinsmore would try Pittaway low, but found no bite on the bottom and fell back a few car lengths, then close again. Marlin Sanford brought out the yellow on lap 9 with a spin in turn 4.

On the restart Pittaway and Dinsmore got away clean with Dinsmore again taking a look low. Coming to the crossed flags it was Pittaway, Dinsmore, Liese, Sanford and Fox. Dinsmore was able to sneak along side Pittaway down the back stretch. The two went into turn 3 side by side and Dinsmore was able to sneak by for the lead on lap 11.

Lap 12 saw caution wave for a second spin by Sanford, this time in turn 3. Once back to green, Pittaway tried to hang on to Dinsmore’s bumper and took a peek low in turn 1. Pittaway gave Dinsmore one more shot on lap 15, but pushed high and lost ground. From there Dinsmore in the Racetechinfo.com, Big Worm Motorsports, Lowery Plumbing, Afco Shocks, Fast Shafts, Cen-Tex Motorsports powered Harris Chassis eased away for his second win of the season.

“It was a good race,” commented Dinsmore, “Bill’s got a new car and that 2010 chassis is fast and he’s got a good bullet in it. I followed him for quite a while until he made a mistake. I was thinking about how I was going to get by. A lot of things go through your mind. You just have to be patient enough to ride and wait without making a mistake yourself.”

“I tried going to the bottom like last race thinking there would be something, but there was nothing. I played around down there for several laps because he(Pittaway) had the preferred line that I wanted. I could get up on him but didn’t want to hit him and knew he didn’t want to hit me.”

“I’m still thinking about running for another points championship here. I really want to but we usually take a couple weeks to go up to Boone for the Super Nationals and visit family up there. It just depends on how the season goes. If it’s in the cards it could be.”

“ With Cen-Tex doing my motors they’re staying together and being able to finish races is key. Their motors put out good horsepower and aren’t giving me any problems so far. Right out of the box the guys at Cen-Tex have been awesome. I’ve got the right combination of chassis and engine right now. That’s important to get your total program right. Bob Harris, racetechinfo and Cen-Tex are behind me 100%.”

IMCA Modifieds

8g Greg Dinsmore

37 Bill Pittaway

c31 Marlin Sanford

67 Robert Liese jr.

53 Matt Fox

721 Doug Cameron

82 Rick Green

29 Jamie Campbell—DNS

IMCA Modified heat

8g Greg Dinsmore

82 Rick Green

37 Bill Pittaway

67 Robert Liese jr.

c31 Marlin Sanford

29 Jamie Campbell

53 Matt Fox

Gilpin Grabs First I-37 Gold

There’s an old racing adage, “in order to finish first, you must first finish.” So it was during the 20-lap IMCA Southern Sportmod feature. Corpus Christi’s EJ Gilpin looked like he’d be battling with Johnny Torres, Jason Stanley and Bill Pittaway for second as they all watched Steve Whiteaker jr. run away.

Racing luck can be your friend or be fickle sometimes. Whiteaker got the bad end this time when he broke a motor on lap 11 giving th lead to Gilpin. Gilpin held off Torres after several restarts, then stretched out his lead at the end, to take his first ever I-37 Raceway win.

It took several tries to get the 16-car Sportmod main under way. On the initial start Larry Jernigan got the jump but hooked bumpers with Dennis Hilla in turn 2. The second try saw Hilla get too big of a jump, with Leland Frautschi and Travis Penny tangling in turn 2. Finally under green with Jernigan again beating the pack into turn 1. Jernigan and Hilla were side by side on lap 1 with a three wide battle for third.

Hilla slipped high giving up second to Doug Livingston when David Routen and Clark Warren tangled in turn 2. Once back to green Stanley was looking low on Livingston for second, while Whiteaker marched forward and got by Stanley. Jernigan and Livingston hooked bumpers on lap 2 sending both around and bringing out the caution.

This handed the point over to Whiteaker on the restart followed by Stanley, Mark McGahey, Gilpin and Torres. Whiteaker got good jump on green while McGahey slowed giving third and fourth to Gilpin and Torres. As Whiteaker began checking out, Gilpin and Torres were wheel to wheel for third on lap 5. At the halfway point it was Whiteaker, Stanley, Gilpin, Torres and Pittaway in the top 5 while JJ Jennings worked his way up from starting last.

Stanley slipped on lap 10 giving second to Gilpin who was nearly a full straightaway behind Whiteaker. Whiteaker’s lead came to an end on lap 11 when he blew up and rolled to a stop at pit out to bring out yellow on lap 12. As Gilpin took off back under green, Torres got by Stanley for second, with Pittaway trying to follow to third. Routen brought out the caution on lap 12 when he looped it in turn 4.

On the restart Pittaway continued to pressure Stanley for third finally getting by on lap 13 leaving Stanley side by side with Jennings for fourth. Jernigan brought the yellow back out on lap 14 with a spin on the back stretch. Once back to racing Pittaway was now looking under Torres for second when Routen Spun again on lap 15 to bring out the yellow.

As green waved for the final five laps Jennings got under Stanley for fourth. While Torres and Pittaway fought it out for second, Gilpin was increasing his advantage. As the checkers waved it was Gilpin in the D&M Oilfield Services, Shell Machine Works, Sybesma Graphics, Superior Trailer Sales, Titzman Race Engines, Rush Chassis taking the victory.

“It was a lot of hard work,” replied Gilpin. “My brother and some of my good friends helped me out a lot. The first two races this year I got taken out both times. So I came up here to see how my luck would go.”

“I doubt we had anything for Stevie(Whiteaker), he’s real good. It was fun though, it was racing. This was only my fourth time up here and my best finish was third. I like this little track. We’re definitely going to be coming back more when we can.”

IMCA Southern Sportmods

21 EJ Gilpin

66 Johnny Torres

37 Bill Pittaway

26 JJ Jennings

92 Jason Stanley

18 Larry Jernigan

2x Dennis Hilla

09 David Routen

4 Robby Minten

189 Steve Whiteaker jr.

88 Mark McGahey

00 Leland Frautschi

60 Pat Lyon

89 Doug Livingston

989 Clark Warren

10 Travis Penny

IMCA SSM heats

HEAT #1

21 EJ Gilpin

189 Steve Whiteaker jr

89 Doug Livingston

37 Bill Pittaway

10 Travis Penny

09 David Routen

4 Robby Minten

00 Leland Frautschi

Heat #2

92 Jason Stanley

66 Johnny Torres

88 Mark McGahey

2x Dennis Hilla

18 Larry Jernigan

60 Pat Lyon

989 Clark Warren

Multi-time class champion, Gary Hunter jumped into the lead of the 15-lap Tater Plumbing Limited Late Model feature. Behind him Wesley Skains and Barry Major ran side by side for second until Skains did a half spin and fell back. Major the put pressure on Hunter for the lead looking under him on lap on lap 7.

Major got along side Hunter on lap 8 but couldn’t complete the pass. As the duo battled up front, Skains quickly closed the gap. Skains snuck past Major on lap 9 for second, then around Hunter for the lead on lap 11. Skains would increase his lead over the final circuits going unchallenged for his second victory of the year.

Tater Plumbing Limited Late Models

25 Wesley Skains

14 Gary Hunter

33 Barry Major

6 Ellis Tracey

18 Shane Moore

Limited Late Model heat winner; 25 Wesley Skains

Allen Torres lead the field of Street Stocks into turn 1 as the 15-lap feature took the green. AJ Wernette and Wade Jones charged by Tommy Casey and Torres with Wernette getting the lead. Yellow waved on lap 2 to retrieve Dennis Jasik who went over the turn 2 hill. Once back to green Wernette, Jones, Casey and Torres stayed nose to tail until Jones began to look inside. Jones got inside Wernette on lap 4 coming across the line in a virtual dead heat on lap 5 when yellow waved for debris.

On the restart Jones ducked inside again and got the bumper out front on lap 6. Wernette used his momentum up top to get back by Jones for the top spot on lap 7. As the top three pulled away Casey began to put the heat on Jones for second getting along on lap 11. As Casey and Jones fought it out for second Wernette , who turned 18 last week, inched away to give himself a birthday present win.

Street Stocks

37 AJ Wernette

41 Wade Jones

15 Tommy Casey

8 Dennis Jasik

94 Allen Torres

74x Steve Mireles

5 Danny Shroat—DNS

40 Mike Lyon—DNS

Street Stock heat winner; 94 Allen Torres

The always exciting Pure Stock class saw Jarret Peyton lead the 15-car field into turn 1 followed by Janel Hilla, with Rick Snyder and Frank O’Krulik side by side for third. Peyton slid high in turn with Hilla getting by for the lead, while O’Krulik, Snyder and Miguel Mendoza jr. were three wide for third. O’Krulik got by Peyton for second while Snyder and Mendoza jr. ran door to door for fourth.

O’Krulik began challenging Hilla for the lead, as Peyton spun off the back stretch and Mendoza jr. pitted, shaking up the top five order. Gilbert Amezquita brought out the yellow on lap 5 when in front of traffic. Once back to green, O’Krulik kept the heat on Hilla for lead finally getting under then by on lap 7. Snyder got by Hilla on lap 7, while Freddie Gierisch and Brandon Eure ran side by side for fourth.

As the lead quintet scrapped it out Snyder spun and collected Hilla, Eure, Gierisch and Miguel Mendoza sr. On the restart the top five were now O’Krulik, Sean Terry, William Cavender, Erik Watson and James Watson. O’Krulik and Terry took off once green waved again. Terry got inside O’Krulik on the back stretch and by in turn 3 for the top spot on lap 10.

O’Krulik stayed with Terry as th laps clicked off trying to get inside on lap 16. Brandy Ramzinski spun on lap 18 to bring out a caution setting up a green, white, checkered finish. Terry and O’Krulik again got away clean on green, with Terry easing out to a car length lead. O’Krulik gave it the ol’ college try as they came to the checkers, but it as Terry getting the win by about 3/4′s of a car length.

Pure Stocks

23 Sean Terry

99 Frank O’Krulik

15 William Cavender

43 Erik Watson

44 James Watson

9 Jarret Peyton

88 Brandy Ramzinski

24 Marc Roy

77 Philip Haywood

7x Janel Hilla

39 Miguel Mendoza jr

66R Rick Snider

4 Brandon Eure

19 Freddie Gierisch

33 Miguel Mendoza sr

72 Gilbert Amezquita

80 JW

13x Gary Chain—DNS

13 Jason Smith—DNS

17 Patrick White—DNS

Pure Stock heat winners; 39 Miguel Mendoza jr., 99 Frank O’Krulik, 33 Miguel Mendoza sr.

Kathy Hime grabbed the lead on lap 1 of the 13-car, 15-lap Front Runner feature with Jerry Jones making a big charge up to second. Jones was able to get by Hime for the lead on lap 2 with Cameron Smith, Cindy Snider and Brent Bouchillon in pursuit. As Bouchillon and Snyder went three wide past a lapped car, Nick Hencey and Charlie Earnhardt III closed in. Hencey and Earnhardt split the middle of the Bouchillon, Snyder battle for third and fourth.

Up front it was still Jones and Smith slicing and dicing through traffic, with James Sanford moving into the top five just before halfway. Smith tried low on Jones but lost ground on lap 13. Traffic slowed the leader as the white flag waved allowing Smith to reel him back in. Smith got under Jones, who was hung behind a lapped car, stealing the win in the last two corners.

Front Runners

13 Cameron Smith

95 Jerry Jones

33 Charlie Earnhardt III

911 Nick Hencey

35 James Sanford

66c Cindy Snider

20 Brent Bouchillon

57 Trevor Bettis

113 Haley Marcx

14 Kathy Hime

T30 Chad Thrush

98 Amber Clay

96 Steve Stanley

18 Shannon Moore—DNS

Front Runner heat winners; 911 Nick Hencey, 35 James Sanford

Action started early in the Brazos Mini Sprint 20-lap feature when Hunter Montgomery and Kyle Thompson tangled before the green was shown. Montgomery took a tumble down the front stretch wall ending up on his side, but climbed out uninjured. Michael Hernandez and Jacob Gillian stayed wheel to wheel through turns 1-2 with Hernandez getting the lead.

Hernandez quickly built a big margin over Gillian as the short field spread out. Hernandez looked to be a runaway winner until racing fate stepped in. On lap 15 Hernandez blew up and rolled to the infield handing the lead Gillian. Gillian went on to take the Stock class win, his first ever checkers, while Trever Bair scored the Outlaw class victory.

Brazos Mini Sprints

14 Jacob Gillian(S)

84 Trevor Bair(O)

42 Scott Blakely

22 Michael Hernandez

87 Kyle Thompson

5 Hunter Montgomery

Brazos Mini Sprint heat winner; 22 Michael Hernandez

Go-Karts

8g Logan Dinsmore

13 Cody Smith

37 Aaron Trevino

5 Tylor Barr

Pleasanton, Tx.,(March 13th, 2010) I-37 Raceway kicked off its 2010 racing season with a new look, on a new night and the return of the IMCA Modified class. Over the off season the ¼ mile, semi-banked, clay oval got a face lift with new banking and corner transition, plus the removal of the tire barriers making way for a wider track and run off area.

The new year also marked the return of the popular Modifieds running under IMCA sanction again. Other classes on the weekly racing card include the IMCA Southern Sportmods, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Front Runners. The Brazos Mini Sprints and Dwarf Cars will make occasional appearances throughout the year.

Dinsmore Dominates Modifieds Again

Just like riding a bike, Kerrville’s Greg Dinsmore took over where he left off at the end of his 2008 championship season. Dinsmore flexed his muscle early taking the heat race and dominating the IMCA Modified main. Starting from inside row 2, Dinsmore quickly jumped out front and began pulling away. After a caution Dinsmore was briefly challenged by Darin Leonard driving the championship winning car of Dinsmore. By the time the checkers waved, Dinsmore had nearly a half track advantage on the field.

At the drop of the green Rick Green was first into turn 1 with Dinsmore along side Bill Pittaway for second. As Green drifted up in turn 3 Dinsmore ducked under him to lead lap 1. Green, Leonard and Pittaway fell in line until lap 3 when Matt Fox spun in turn 4 for a caution. On the restart Fox clipped an infield breaking the steering box and sending him around again.

Dinsmore got a good jump on green, while Leonard looked high on Green for second. Leonard got along side Green on lap 4 then by on lap 5 bringing Pittaway along to third. Leonard and Pittaway then waged a three-lap, wheel to wheel battle for second, while Jason Borlace moved by Jamie Campbell for fifth. At halfway it was Dinsmore by a full straightaway, Leonard, Pittaway, Green and Borlace in the top five.

As Leonard and Pittaway continue to slug it out for second,Dinsmore increased his margin. In the waning laps Borlace closed in on Green for fourth and Green slipped too high on lap 18 Borlace was able to snag the spot. Up front it was Dinsmore on cruise control easily powering his way to the win driving the Racetechinfo.com, Lowery Plumbing, Big Worm Motorsports, AFCO Shocks, Cen-Tex Motorsports powered, Harris Chassis.

“I watched the Sportmods run around the bottom and the bottom prevailed.’ replied Dinsmore. “So I thought I’d run it there and see what happens. There was a couple strips of moisture coming onto the straightaway right near the tires. As long as you stuck it there it would just hug the corners. The car would rock, it did all the work. It was like driving a Cadillac.”

“I set the car up to run the bottom. When they went into the corner and pushed up, the car stayed on the bottom and away we went. I had it tight to roll the corner on the bottom. We did some grinding on the tires and changed the offset like Bob Harris tells me. I get a lot of help from crew, some of which are down from Iowa and my crew chief/wife, Candace.”

“I didn’t know how big of a lead I had. I try to never look up. It seems if I look up the car knows and we mess up together. I just listen for someones motor. If I hear someone I’ll push a little harder and see if the car can take it.”

“I’d really like to support the track again since they’ve got IMCA back. The track was in great shape with the new contour. They made it a lot wider too. It got a little dry with the afternoon practice they had earlier. Nine cars is kind of low, but I’m hoping for more. It’s a start.”

IMCA Modifieds

8g Greg Dinsmore

26 Darin Leonard

37 Bill Pittaway

21 Jason Borlace

xx/82 Rick Green

29 Jamie Campbell

12 Bob Lienweber

67 Robert Liese jr

53x Matt Fox

IMCA Modified heat

8g Greg Dinsmore

26 Darin Leonard

37 Bill Pittaway

21 Jason Borlace

XX/82 Rick Green

29 Jamie Campbell

54x Matt Fox

12 Bob Lienweber

67 Robert Liese jr

Rye Right in Sportmod Shootout

Corpus Christi’s Brian Rye used patience and the right line to edge out Steve Whiteaker jr. in the 20-lap IMCA Southern Sportmod main. Rye caught early leader Whiteaker as the two waged a ten-lap side by side shootout, swapping the lead until Rye secured the spot on the final lap and held of Whiteaker for the victory.

Whiteaker, up top, was first into turn 1 but polesitter Doug Livingston tried to come back low. Whiteaker held the lead on lap 1 with Larry Jernigan, Livingston and Robby Minton falling in line. Minton spun on lap 1 from third with the field scattering to avoid him. Jernigan pulled off from the top five under the caution. On the restart Chuck Perry gave Johnny Torres a look for the third spot as Whiteaker began to inch away.

Livingston, Torres and Rye were three wide for second , with Torres getting the spot. Rye kept the pressure Torres for second and were side by on lap 4 when Danny Brown spun to bring out a caution. Once back to green Rye and Torres again were side by side, while Bill Pittaway and Ray Doyon ran wheel to wheel sixth. Pittaway and Doyon ran down Perry going three wide for fifth on lap 5.

Rye closed in Whiteaker taking a peek inside on lap 7. As Pittaway got by Livingston for fourth on lap 8, Rye got under Whiteaker and had the nose out front on lap 9. As spin by Minton on lap 9 brought out the caution. Whiteaker, on the high side, got along side Rye once the green waved again, while Pittaway challenged Torres for third. At the crossed flags it was Rye, Whiteaker, Torres, Pittaway and Livingston in the top five.

Rye and Whiteaker were still side by side on lap 11, with Doyon getting along side Livingston for fifth and Jason Stanley lurking. Minton had his third spin on lap 12 sending him to the pits for the night. As racing resumed, so did the wheel to wheel fight for the top spot, with Stanley now side by side with Livingston. Whiteaker was able to use momentum on top to get the nose out front on laps 13-14.

Rye, hugging the bottom, slowly inched his way back to lead on lap 15. Whiteaker again came back to lead lap 16-17, with the duo running a virtual dead heat on lap 18. Rye finally got the edge as the white flag waved as Whiteaker tried to crossover and get underneath. Rye held off the hard charging Whiteaker on he final circuit to take an exciting, hard-earned win in SBG Racing, Willie Cotton powered, HOT Chassis.

“That was probably one of the best races I’ve ever had,” commented Rye. “I usually like to run the bottom and know Steve(Whiteaker) likes to run the top. I always have a lot of luck running the bottom at this track. I know they say a green car is bad luck, but I’ve always wanted a green car and we needed a change of luck. It worked pretty good for me”

“He actually helped find a better line. He got in deeper and rolled around me, so I let my car roll around more on the bottom and find a better line off. I tried not to pay much attention to him. I figured if I just hit my marks I’d be alright. Steve’s a good driver and I know he’s going to race me clean.”

“I’m glad the tires are gone around the outside. I didn’t really notice it much since I run the bottom.”

IMCA Southern Sportmods

4R Brian Rye

189 Steve Whiteaker jr

66 Johnny Torres

37 Bill Pittaway

92 Jason Stanley

D9 Ray Doyon

10 Travis Penny

88 Mark McGahey

89 Doug Livingston

2x Dennis Hilla

115 Chuck Perry

4 Robby Mintn

55 Danny Brown

18 Larry Jernigan

4$ Kris Rye—DNS

771 Wesley Malcher—DNS

09 David Routen—DNS

IMCA SSM Heats

Heat #1

D9 Ray Doyon

92 Jason Stanley

37 Bill Pittaway

18 Larry Jernigan

88 Mark McGahey

09 David Routen—DNS

Heat #2

189 Steve Whiteaker jr

89 Doug Livingston

4R Brian Rye

4 Robbie Minten

2x Dennis Hilla

771 Wesley Malcher(flipped)

Heat #3

66 Johnny Torres

115 Chuck Perry

10 Travis Penny

55 Danny Brown

4$ Kris Rye

A J Dancer beat Bruce Farquar into turn 1 for the early lead of the 15-lap Limited Late Model feature. Wesley Skains then got by Farquar for second, but spun in turn 2 collecting Multi-time track champ Gary Hunter and Richard Bartosh. Once back to green, Dancer edged away while Barry Major got by Farquar for second.

Yellow waved again on lap 3 when Ellis Tracey had trouble and stopped at the bottom of turn 3. Dancer was able to inch ahead of Major as green waved again with Skains working his way back up to third getting past Farquar. Skains gave the spot back when he did a 360. At the checkers it was the “semi-retired,” Dancer driving Walt Clarks car to the victory

Tater Plumbing Limited Late Model

32 AJ Dancer

33 Barry Major

55 Bruce Farquar

25 Wesley Skains

6 Ellis Tracey

14 Gary Hunter

7 Richard Bartosh

Limited Late Model heat winner

25 Wesley Skains

The start of the 15-lap Street Stock feature saw A J Wernette jump out front in turns 1-2, but loop it in turn 3 giving the lead to Mike Lyon. Wernette was able to refire and keep going without caution. 2009 track champion, Wade Jones got by Lyon on lap 3 for the top spot. As Jones and Lyon raced they were still able to put some distance on Tommy Casey and Wernette.

Casey had a lazy spin on lap 9 giving up third to Wernette, but continued with no yellow. Lyon hung with Jones with the lead duo separated by a only a couple car lengths. Lyon tried several times to duck inside Jones in the final laps, but at the checkers it was Jones in the Opiella Mechanical, Team Horelka, Chevy Camaro taking he win.

Street Stocks

41 Wade Jones

40 Mike Lyon

37 AJ Wernette

15 Tommy Casey

94 Allen Torres

Street Stock heat winner

41 Wade Jones

As expected the 20-lap Pure Stock feature was a real slam-bang affair. Kevin Hyland jumped out to the early lead, with a three wide battle for second. Paul Lipp came out of the fight then got by Hyland for the lead on lap 2. Frank O’Krulik then got by Hyland, who was slowing with a flat, and 2009 champ, Marc Roy took fourth from Sonny Jones. Rick Snyder brought out the first caution when he spun on lap 3.

Lipp got a good jump on O’Krulik, Roy and Jones with a gap back to Janel Hilla in fifth. Roy snagged second from O’Krulik on lap 5, with Jones following to third. Hyland had his troubles continue when he spun in turn 2 on lap 10 to bring out a caution. Jones got around Roy for second on the restart but yellow quickly waved again on lap 11 for a blown motor.

Jones put the heat on Lipp once back to green, while Miguel Mendoza snared fifth from Hilla. Roy began looking inside Jones for second on lap 12 with them going three-wide passing a lapped car. Hyland and Erik Watson tangled on lap 14 in turn 2 to low the action again.

But action picked up quickly as green flew with Jones diving inside Lipp in turns 1-2. The two traded some paint as Jones snuck by out of turn 2. Lipp tried to return the favor in turns 3-4 with the contact sending Jones around. Both were sent to the tail handing the point to Roy on the restart. Roy, O’Krulik and Mendoza got away clean on the restart, while Snyder and Justin Henley ran door to door for fifth. Lipp spun on lap 18 for the final yellow, setting up a green, white, checker finish. O’Krulik stayed on Roy’s bumper for the final two laps, but Roy held on for the win in the Tater Plumbing, Screen Pro Graphics, Plantinum Equestrian Center, Chevy.

Pure Stocks

24 Marc Roy

99 Frank O’Krulik

39 Miguel Mendoza

7x Janel Hilla

66r Rick Snyder

555 Sonny Jones

13x Gary Chain

44t Justin Henley

43 Erik Watson

33 Anna Major

72 Kevin Hyland

83 Paul Lipp

17 Patrick White

15 William Cavender

77 Steven Stanley

82 n/a

13 Jason Smith

9 Jarrett Payton

88 Brandy Ramzinski

Pure Stock heat winners

66r Rick Snyder, 24 Marc Roy, 555 Sonny Jones

The 10-car, 15-lap Front Runner feature saw Cindy Snyder get out front on lap 1, but suffer a flat right front. Cody Earnhardt took over the top spot on lap 2 and had a close call when he barely clipped Trevor Bettis who spun in turn 4. Earnhardt got a good on Cameron Smith and Brenton Bouchillon when green waved again.

As the top three separated themselves out, Bettis and Shannon Moore battled for fourth. The two made contact on lap 6 sending Moore into the wall to bring out a yellow. Smith gave Earnhardt a challenge on green, but was unable to find his way by. Earnhardt then pulled away from Smith, who had a big gap back to Bouchilon and Bettis. At the checkers, it was Earnhardt taking his first ever win,

in his first ever race.

Front Runners

33 Cody Earnhardt

13 Cameron Smith

20 Brenton Bouchillon

57 Trevor Bettis

14 Kathy Hime

113 Haley Marcx

18 Shannon Moore

95 Jerry Jones

66c Cindy Snyder

68 Seth Bartlett—DNS

Front Runner heat winner

95 Jerry Jones

HIGHLANDS, TX – March 9, 2010 – What’s the biggest selling point Battleground Speedway owner Mike Walling has going for him leading into his track’s World of Outlaws Late Model Series ‘Lone Star 50′ on Fri., March 26?

That would most certainly be last year’s inaugural appearance by the national full-fender tour at the three-eighths-mile oval located 12 miles east of Houston.

“It was an awesome show,” raved Walling, a 35-year-old Texan now in his second year at the helm of Battleground Speedway. “People around here are still talking about, so all that word-of-mouth is my best advertising. It was the definitely the kind of race that makes people want to come back this year and bring some friends this time.”

Indeed, the 2009 WoO LMS program served as a grand coming-out party for the high-banked track, which Walling reopened last year after it had sat dormant for nearly three seasons. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., emerged victorious in a hard-fought, high-energy A-Main that saw cars jockeying for position throughout the 100-lap distance — and immediately after the checkered flag fell, Babb donned a cowboy hat and happily hopped on a 1,300-pound Texas Longhorn steer as part of a unique, Lone Star State-themed Victory Lane ceremony that had the big crowd buzzing.

“The best Late Model drivers in the country were racing all over the track from the first lap to the 100th lap last year,” said Walling, who was so pumped up after Battleground’s ’09 WoO LMS spectacular that he offered free admission to all the fans who returned for the track’s regular racing program the following week. “Darrell Lanigan (the 2008 WoO LMS champion from Union, Ky.) went to the back (of the field) twice and still finished second — that’s how racy the track was. It was the show of the year at Battleground Speedway.”

The return engagement for the nation’s premier dirt Late Model tour will pack all the punch of last year’s two-day, extra-distance event into one frenzied evening on March 26. A 50-lap A-Main paying $10,000 to win will headline Battleground’s card this year, allowing the WoO LMS to contest a first-ever two-track Texas doubleheader by moving about 200 miles north on Sat., March 27, to Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore.

And of course, Walling is once again planning to punctuate the night by having the ‘Lone Star 50′ winner meet up with a snorting Texas Longhorn in Victory Lane. The steer that starred in last year’s post-race ceremonies, Hondo, was tragically killed late in 2009 in a highway accident, but Walling is arranging to have another Longhorn brought in to continue building the tradition.

“Nobody left the stands after last year’s race when they saw that big Longhorn come out of the pits and start walking down the homestretch,” said Walling, whose uncle, Red Walling, was involved in local racing in the past with the former Big H Speedway dirt track in Houston and now assists in the marketing and operation of the new-look Battleground Speedway. “It was a pretty neat deal, especially when Shannon went over and gave it a kiss on the head. The crowd really got into it and I want to keep it going as something everyone can look forward to when the World of Outlaws come to town.”

The scrum to get up-close-and-personal with a Longhorn will feature a talent-laden roster of WoO LMS regulars led by defending champion Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., who finished fourth in last year’s event at Battleground on the eve of his 21st birthday. He won last month’s 2010 WoO LMS season opener at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. — the fourth consecutive year he’s captured the tour’s lidlifter.

Other committed Outlaw travelers ready for action in Texas include Lanigan (last year’s crowd-pleasing runner-up at Battleground); Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa. (finished fifth in the 2009 event); Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y. (sixth); Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga. (seventh); Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga. (eighth); current points leader Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis. (10th); 2009 Rookie of the Year Russell King of Bristolville, Ohio (13th); Rick Eckert of York, Pa. (19th); 2007 champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. (23rd); and 2010 Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del. (did not enter last year’s race).

Several other racers will trek to Battleground in hopes of building momentum to join the established Outlaws as 2010 regulars, including 2006 champion Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., rookie candidates Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and ’09 rookie contender Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va.

Among the drivers expected to challenge the Outlaws are Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, who finished third in last year’s event; Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kans. (11th in ’09) and his car owner Bill Koons of Omaha, Neb. (DNQ); Ray Moore of Shreveport, La. (ninth); Kevin Sitton of Baytown, Texas (22nd); and Chris Brown of Cleveland, Texas (DNQ).

The ‘Lone Star 50′ is currently the lone dirt Late Model event scheduled at Battleground in 2010.

“We’re telling all the local fans to come out and catch the Late Models while they can,” said Walling, whose track headlines open-wheel Modifieds on Saturday nights. “This is their only chance to see them at Battleground this year, so it’s definitely a show not to be missed.”

Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. and racing will begin at 7 p.m. on March 26.

General admission is $32 and pit passes cost $38 for the program, which also includes racing for the track’s Limited Modified, Hobby Stock and Pure Stock classes.

For more information on Battleground Speedway, call the track at 832-421-RACE or visit www.battlegroundspeedway.net.

Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by visiting www.worldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including Arizona Sport Shirts (Official Apparel Company), Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Hoosier Racing Tires (Official Racing Tires), STP (Official Fuel Treatment), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel) and DirtonDirt.com (Hard Charger Award); in addition to contingency sponsors Eibach Springs, Integra Shocks, MSD Ignition, Ohlins Shocks, Pink Carburetors, Pro Power Engines, Quartermaster, Rocket Chassis and Wrisco Aluminum.