Corpus Christi, Tx., (June 27th, 2009)
The South Texas Modified Championship Series returned to Corpus Christi’s South Texas Speedway for the 5th Annual Chance Brownlee Memorial benefiting the Shriners Hospital for Children. The Modifieds would be running round three of the 9-race series, with the Limited Modified competing in round two. With it’s success in round one the Limited Modifieds competed amongst themselves with a winner-take-all, “team race.”

The race was named after young Chance Brownlee, who lost his life at age 16 after being born with a heart defect. Chance was an employee of Corpus Christi Speedway with his mother, Marcia ,who has worked as head scorekeeper for both of the gulf coast area speedway’s.

Officers from Shriners Hospital were in attendance and recognized by the track, along with a silent auction of racing memorabilia, with proceeds going to the Shriners Hospital.

Also in action on the ¼ mile semi-banked clay oval were the Limited Late Models, Pure Stocks and Bombers, with nearly 100 cars, plus the Go-Karts filling the pits.

Whiteaker walks away with Modified main

After falling short to Temple veteran Paul White the previous week at Texana Raceway Park, Corpus’ Steve Whiteaker jr. showed his home track dominance in the 25-lap Modified main on dry, rough, tricky track. The young gun has become somewhat a master of the high groove, using it to his advantage to get by early leader Dale Flanagan. From there Whiteaker eased away from fellow shop-mate, and series points leader Danny Brown, for the win.

As green waved on the all Flanagan front row, Dale beat Rowdy into turn 1 for the lead, with Darin Leonard and Brown wheel to wheel for third. Whiteaker began his march forward on lap 1 getting past Jesse Manning for fifth, as Brown snared second from R. Flanagan. Whiteaker used the low side to get past Leonard on lap 2 for fourth, then jumped up top to get along side R. Flanagan for third.

Up front, Brown had caught D. Flanagan looking low on lap 6. Whiteaker found the high side smoother, and got along side Brown, taking the spot on lap 7. Yellow waved on lap 9 when Josh Majek looped it in turn 2. Under caution, Jesse Manning, Lawrence Mikulencak, Majek and Jamie Schach, all pulled to the pits. On the restart Leonard and Nick Hardcastle made contact, with Leonard retiring from the event.

Once back to green, Whiteaker again used the top side and took over the point on lap 10. Brown tried to follow in his foot steps but was unable to make the pass. At the crossed flags it was Whiteaker, D. Flanagan, Brown, R. Flanagan and Hardcastle running in the top five. As Whiteaker began to ease away Robert Boyd rolled to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow on lap 15.

Whiteaker got the jump on D. Flanagan who had Brown trying to get by, finally getting the spot on lap 16. Majek brought out his second caution with a spin in turn 4 on lap 17. Once back to green, Whiteaker got away from Brown by three car lengths and again started inching away. Behind the leader duo, the two Flanagan’s were side by side, this time for third. Whiteaker, in the WW Bodies, Jana Schury/Remax Realty, Larry’s Carburetors, Showtime Signs, Youngs Auto Repair, T Roberts Optical, Mullins Race Engines, Hughes Chassis, built a comfortable margin as he took the checkers.

“The job tonight was to not hit the ruts,” said Whiteaker. “I was going to run the top groove all night and didn’t care how fast the bottom was. I wasn’t going to torture my car. This is last night we’ll race it since it’s been sold. I’m kind of glad to end it with a win.”

“On a track like this you just have to be smooth and drive the car in the corners straight. If you got in too sideways, you lost all your momentum. Keep the car straight, easy on the throttle and clear the ruts.”

“I’m not going to complain too much about the track. It’s been good all year and this is the one time it’s been bad. I guess the main thing is thanking the fans for sticking it out through the dust. Other than it was a good night. Danny(Brown) and I one and two out of the same shop, and Hughes Chassis’ in the top three.”

“You do worry about breaking stuff on a rough track. I know who touches my car, and Jason(Hughes) builds a good car. That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about is parts failure. Jason builds a really good car and I’m sticking loyal to him. So once we get the money for the sold one, I’m sending it to him to build me another car. The help and tech support you get from him in unreal. I’m loyal to him 100%”

Modifieds

89 Steve Whiteaker jr.

55 Danny Brown

57 Dale Flanagan

582 Rowdy Flanagan

94 Nick Hardcastle

82 Josh Majek

96 Foster Ellison

95 Jeremy Davenport

44 Joey Heinaman

2 Robert Boyd

1A Adan Arambula

76 Jesse Manning

26 Darin Leonard

87 Lawrence Mikulencak

7 Jamie Schach

35 Eddy Ross

38 David Schury

88 Steve Whiteaker sr.—DNS

Modified heats(top 6 redraw)

Heat #1

26 Darin Leonard

76 Jesse Manning

35 Eddy Ross

38 David Schury

87 Lawrence Mikulencak

1 Adan Arambula

Heat #2

582 Rowdy Flanagan

57 Dale Flanagan

82 Josh Majek

2 Robert Boyd

95 Jeremy Davenport—DTG

88 Steve Whiteaker sr.–DNS

Heat #3

8 Steve Whiteaker jr

55 Danny Brown

7 Jamie Schach

4 Nick Hardcastle

44 Joey Heinaman

96 Foster Ellison

Blaylock blasts to Limited Modified win

San Antonio’s James Blaylock found himself the early beneficiary of a caution involving brother, Brandon and polesitter James Myers. Inheriting the lead on lap 4, J. Blaylock held off an early challenge by JJ Jennings and in the latter stages ran out to a big lead as he cruised to the checkers.

After returning from a serious crash in round one of the Limited Modified STMCS race, Myers drew the pole, with J. Blaylock along side as they paced the 24-car field for the 30-lap main. The field stayed side by side through turn 1, with Myers getting the advantage coming off turn 2 for the lead. B. Blaylock kept his brother hung up top taking second, while Kris Rye and Jennings ran side by side for fourth.

Lawrence Mikulencak found himself headed the wrong way on lap 2 to bring out a yellow. On the restart, Jennings tried the top side getting by K. Rye for fourth. B. Blaylock got the nose inside Myers on lap 3 as the two made contact they got hung together sending Myers around in turn 2 to bring out the caution. Myers and B. Blaylock both went to the back, handing the point to J. Blaylock.

The top 4 got away single file with Dustin Butcher and TJ Huston side by side for fifth. As the top two inched away, K. Rye, Bobby Maupin and TJ Huston battled for third through fifth. Opening round feature winner, TJ Huston got by Maupin on lap 5 for fourth. Jennings had just began to put the heat on J. Blaylock when yellow waved for an infield tire kicked on the track.

Once back to green, Jennings looked up top again on J. Blaylock for the lead, while TJ Huston was pressuring K. Rye for third. Butcher moved into the top five on lap 12 when he got around Maupin. K. Rye and TJ Huston were wheel to wheel for third on lap 13 and when Jennings got too high and it was almost three wide for second. K. Rye spun after contact with TJ Huston in turn 2. K. Rye was given the spot back, while TJ Huston pulled off with damage to the right front.

When green waved again, J. Blaylock was able to put three car lengths on Jennings. At halfway the top five were J. Blaylock, Jennings, K. Rye, Butcher and Maupin. Butcher half spun on lap 16 taking a side trip through the infield losing two spots. Monty Nichols III grabbed fourth from Maupin. Charging from the back, both Mikulencak and B. Blaylock made it into the top ten on lap 17.

Adam Schach and Brian Rye ran side by side for seventh on lap 19, while B. Blaylock and Mikulencak were wheel to wheel for ninth. Nichols lost his top five spot on lap 20 when he slipped giving way to Maupin and Butcher. B. Rye, Mikulencak and B. Blaylock were three wide for eighth when yellow waved for Bill Pittaway who spun to avoid an infield tire on the track.

On the restart the top two got away clean while Maupin got under K. Rye for third. With five to go J. Blaylock was moving away from Jennings and Maupin by nearly a half straightaway. Maupin got second from Jennings on lap 27, but J. Blaylock had increased his margin. Coming to the line it was J. Blaylock in the Central Redi-Mix, Valley Truck Center, Diamondback Transport, Bebo’s Race Designs, Steve Wise Ministries, Spreen Race Engines, Allen Autosports Chassis taking the win, with several battles going on behind him, including important spots in the “team race” competition.

“It took a soft right foot and staying out of the holes,” replied J. Blaylock. “It was kind of a rough track tonight, We made a lot of adjustments during intermission and everything paid off pretty well. This is a new car we got over the winter. Every week make a few little changes and get better”

“I was just running my own race, but I knew we were gaining on them and would be able to get up there and put pressure on them. When Brandon got under him(Myers) I was either going try to follow him through or wait until they got together, which they did.”

“I had no clue how big of a lead I had near the end. When I saw Jennings get along side of me a couple times, I was concerned I wasn’t being aggressive enough. That’s the problem being out front, you don’t know where the other guys are running or how fast they are. I just tried to hit my marks and be consistent. So I figure I was doing the right thing and kept on doing it.”

“I really have to thank my dad and brother for the countless hours they put in working on the car all week long, and my wife for all her support.”

The team of J. Blaylock, B. Blaylock and Schach edged out Maupin, Mikulencak and Butcher by one point after B. Blaylock got past Mikulencak in the final laps.

Limited Modifieds

7 James Blaylock

77 Bobby Maupin

26g JJ Jennings

4$ Kris Rye

90 Dustin Butcher

07 Adam Schach

9 Brandon Blaylock

87 Lawrence Mikulencak

83 Monty Nichols III

4R Brian Rye

2 Eddy Ross

21g Steve Grantz

82 Josh Majek

37 Bill Pittaway

46 Gene Hyde

5R Ziggy Reusser

47 James Myers

74 James Starry

93 Clay Huston

13 Bill Stephens

98 TJ Huston

97 Bryan Huston

8 Ken Hobbs

1 Roger Strickland

56 James Lee—DNS

1c Keith Cockrell–DNS

(1 & 8 Alternates)

Limited Modified heats(top 4 transfer)

Heat #1

9 Brandon Blaylock

90 Dustin Butcher

83 Monty Nichols III

4r Brian Rye

07 Adam Schach

18 Larry Jernigan

44 Gene Hyde—DNS

22 Dwayne Norvell—DNS

Heat #2

98 TJ Huston

7 James Blaylock

87 Lawrence Mikulencak

37 Bill Pittaway

2 Eddy Ross

93 Clay Huston

82 Josh Majek

115 Chuck Perry

Heat #3

4$ Kris Rye

77 Bobby Maupin

21g Steve Grantz

56 James Lee

5R Ziggy Reusser

1c Keith Cockrell

1 Roger Strickland

10 Travis Penny

Heat #4

26g JJ Jennings

47 James Myers

97 Bryan Huston

74 James Starry

13 Bill Stephens

46 Todd Evans

8 Ken Hobbs

Limited Modified B-Main(top 8 transfer)

07 Adam Schach

2 Eddy Ross

5R Ziggy Reusser

93 Clay Huston

82 Josh Majek

13 Bill Stephens

46 Todd Evans

1c Keith Cockrell

8 Ken Hobbs

1 Roger Strickland

115 Chuck Perry

10 Travis Penny

18 Larry Jernigan–DNS

22 Dwayne Norvell—DNS

44 Gene Hyde—DNS

The STMCS moves to McAllen’s, Rio Grande Speedway for round three for the Limited Modifieds featuring the Firecracker 50 and $1,000 to win on July 3rd.

The Limited Late Model feature turned into an All American Car Wash team sweep. Leo Hinojosa got out front on the first lap, with Joby Palsey and Barry Major on his tail. Major put early pressure on Palsey for second, while Mark Gavlik was trying to work his way past Tom Carlisle for fourth. Carlisle was able to fend off Gavlik and get by Major for third on lap 7.

Gavlik was next to challenge Major with the two side by side on lap12 before Gavlik got the spot on lap 13. Gavlik then moved back in on Carlisle for third getting by on lap 18. Up front Hinojosa held a safe margin over Palsey for the final two laps, with the All American Car Wash, Valvoline Express Care, Clear Vision Windshield, Quality Power Wash team taking the first three spots.

Limited Late Models

7 Leo Hinojosa

70 Joby Palsey

07 Mark Gavlik

28 Tom Carlisle

33 Barry Major

50 Jerry Neal

20 N/A

Limited Late Model heat winner, 7 Leo Hinojosa

As the green dropped on he 20-lap Pure Stock feature, Curtis King got the top spot, followed by Bobby Jack and Brad Titzman as the three heat winners flexed their muscle. Jack tried the high side of King for the lead, but Titzman closed up the bottom to get by for second. Jack then was challenged by Miguel Mendoza until yellow waved for a spin in turn 2.

Once back to green Titzman gave King a look low, while Scott Diem got by Greg Carlucci jr. and Mendoza for fourth. Diem continue his charge getting past Jack for third on lap 6. Yellow waved on lap 7 when Richard Valdez spun in turn 2. King got away by several car lengths on the restart, with Carlucci taking fifth from Mendoza.

Diem and Titzman started a bout for second with the two door to door on lap 10, before Diem took the spot. Behind them Carlucci and Jack were side by side for fourth. Diem then ran down King for the lead as James Park jr. snagged fourth getting around Jack and Carlucci. Up front the fight was just beginning.

Diem got along side King for lead on lap 14, and using lapped traffic to his advantage, Diem led lap 15. Undaunted, King fought back with the duo door to door again on lap 15. King returned the favor using a lapped car as a pick to retake the top spot on lap 16. In the pack, there was plenty of rubbing and paint swapping, with positions getting shuffled. Coming to the checkers it was King, rebounding from ending up on his top during the last STMCS event, taking the win in the Kuhn Crane Service, Ace Transmission sponsored car.

Pure Stocks

42 Curtis King

2 Scott Diem

56 Brad Titzman

34c Greg Carlucci jr

6(38) Hector Aguirre

88 Bobby Jack

33jp James Park sr

82 James Park jr

07 Richard Valdez

17g Jeff Gavlik

00 David Royal

74x Steve Mireles jr

39m Miguel Mendoza

25 Shane Turner

68 Billy Kinsel

49 Paul Vogt—DNS

46 Sonny Matula—DNS

Pure Stock heat winners, 88 Bobby Jack, 42 Curtis King, 56 Brad Titzman

As the 20-car Bomber feature took the green for it’s 15-lap event, Rowdy Flanagan grabbed the early lead. Justin Jackson got by Flanagan for the lead on lap 2 while Karen Jack and Tommy Miller battled door to door for 4th. J. Jackson’s time on the point was short-lived when he got a flat right rear and spun out of turn 4 collecting his brother, Kyle Jackson.

Flanagan re-assumed the lead for the restart on lap 4. David McGuire got by Brandon Skinner for fourth on lap 6 with Tom Thrower trying to follow under Skinner. As they ran up on a lapped car, Skinner slammed the door on Thrower. Jack was able to reel in Flanagan on lap 6, with McGuire battling Miller for third.

Miller tried the high groove and got by Jack for second and along side Flanagan for the lead. That charge came to halt as Miller began to lose ground on the high side giving Jack the spot back. McGuire, Skinner and Lauren Palsey all got past Miller, before he could get back to the bottom.

McGuire moved into to battle with Jack for second with the two making contact in turn 1. Jack was still sideways when McGuire tagged her again sending her into an infield tire and over to bring out a red. On the green, white, checkered restart, the top three stayed nose to tail. On the final lap, Miller spun from fourth, as Flanagan was holding off Skinner and Palsey for the win.

Bombers

5 Rowdy Flanagan

2 Brandon Skinner

70 Lauren Palsey

93 Corey Collier

52 Tom Thrower

26L Cody Leonard

54 Tommy Miller

4 David McGuire

0 Kim Royal

81 Noe Villarreal

4A Tony Allen

38 Karen Jack

11 John Henderson

9 Marcus Mikulencak

55 Brancen Pittman

13 Justin Jackson

33 Anna Major

113 Kyle Jackson

74 Julian Villarreal

76 Denver Wilmon

17 Dean Brown—DNS

Bomber heat winners, 5 Rowdy Flanagan, 13 Justin Jackson, 38 Karen Jack

Go-Karts

Youth

7 James Parker

9 Caitlin Leonard

21 Colin Carroll

17g Isiah Garcia

100 Waylon Schiedt

99 N/A

Junior

14 Dylan Whitehead

8r Ryan Carlucci

8 Brennan Riley

99K Austin Kennemer

17 Julie Brown

777 Nathan Corpus

28 Dylan Dela Garza

22 Zach Calhoun

37 Aaron Trevino

36 Amelia Perez

3m Dillon Moseley

Senior

13 David Jackson

19 Jarrett Barret

4 Dennis Cox

01 Devon Phelps

89 Justin Hoffstadt

33 Mereda Major

33J Jacob Franke
1 Trey Heald

7 Derrick Gonzalez

8 Cody Leonard

22 Jon David Jarish

Alcohol

66 John McKinney

88 Wesley Varn

50 Kevin Donagan

71 Graig Lapore

8 William Hoffstadt

Yard Karts

6 Erica Six

4 Zylac Bryant

34 James Park Jr.

9 Bill Six

97 James Boggs

21 David Settles

7 Glenn Gonzalez

MODIFIED
Car Pts Drive
1 1 40 Lawrence Mikulencak
2 25R 39 Brian Rye
3 8G 38 Greg Dinsmore
4 7 37 Adan Arambula
5 35 36 Eddy Ross
6 66 35 Randy Yount
7 44 34 Joey Heinaman
8 26 33 Darin Leonard
9 17 32 Joe Whitehead
10 13 31 Ken Hobbs
11 38 30 David Schury
12 55 29 Danny Brown
13 37 28 Bill Pittaway
14 89 27 Steven Whiteaker, Jr.
15 06 26 Mickey Helms
16 17b 25 Bruce Barber

Hobby
Car Pts Drive
1 13 40 Bill Stephens
2 9 39 Steven Doty
3 86 38 Andy Anderson
4 7 37 Leo Hinojosa
5 5 36 Carl “Ziggy” Reusser
6 07 35 Mark Gavlik
7 007 34 Joby Paslay
8 56 33 Brad Titzman
9 22 32 Douglas LeStourgeon
10 3 31 David Royal
11 33JP 30 James Parks
12 33 29 Barry Major
13 1 28 Nick Moore
14 8 27 Ralph Postell
15 28 DQ Tom Carlisle

Bomber
Car Pts Drive
1 889 40 Sean Ward
2 #9 39 Andy VanBlarcum
3 52 38 Tom Thrower
4 13 37 Justin Jackson
5 0 36 Kim Royal
6 9M 35 Lauren Titzman
7 113 34 Kyle Jackson
8 69 33 Coty Koricanet
9 93 32 Corey Collier
10 69N 31 William Koricanek
11 63 30 Steve Mireles
12 81 DQ Justin Langford

HOBBY
Car Drive
1 07 Mark Gavlik
2 007 Joby Paslay
3 4 Cliff Reusser
4 9 Steven Doty
5 14 Chuck Conte
6 13 Bill Stephens
7 33 Barry Majors
8 8 Ralph Postell
9 7 Leo Hinojosa
10 22 DQ Douglas LeStourgeon

PURE STOCK
Car Drive
1 49 Paul Voigt
2 17 Eddie Valdez
3 6 Hector Aguirre
4 8 T J Sullivan
5 42 Curtis King
6 42D Billy Denton
7 88X Stephen McBride
8 111 Chris McDaniel
9 43 Tommy Miller
10 2 Scott Diem
11 74X Steve Mireles, Jr.
12 142 David McGuire
13 88 Bobby Jack
14 74 James Starry
15 92 Bill Stehle
16 33 James Parks
17 56 DQ Brad Titzman