Championship Night @ I-37 Raceway, 9-26-08
By J M Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx.,(Sept. 26th, 2008) As the night kicked off at Pleasanton's I-37 Raceway, all but one points battle was still up for grabs. The local class championships were all still on the line for the Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks while in the IMCA Modified class Greg Dinsmore held a comfortable lead over Bill Pittaway.
Lake Hills' Johnny Torres clinched his first IMCA Southern Sportmod track championship the previous weekend in convincing fashion, winning the 20 lap main event. Torres locked up his second track championship for the year when South Texas Speedway(Corpus Christi) was forced to cancel it's Saturday night race with Torres leading, and IMCA points ending.
In the IMCA Modified class, Kerrville's Dinsmore needed only to show up Friday night, and turn one lap to pick up the points he heeded to secure his second IMCA Modified track title. Not being satisfied with a one and done, Dinsmore went out in heat and blistered the field, securing his track title.
Another Kerrville driver, Moe VanKirk led the Super Stock class into action with a scant nine points lead over Somerset's Howie Marcx. VanKirk tallied ten points for his heat race win, with Marcx finishing second to A J Dancer in heat two for nine points. To seal the championship Marcx would need to finish 11 places ahead of VanKirk in the 15-car feature.
Street Stocks were even closer, as San Antonio's Craig Crawley and Austin's Donald Lewis took the track with only three points separating the two. Lewis took the heat win adding ten points, while Crawley finished 4th in the same race. In the feature the two would start tied for the lead.
In Pure Stocks the race couldn't be any closer with young Somerset hotshoe Justin Henley and Kerrville's Sonny Jones tied for the points lead. Henley, has wracked up an impressive wins total for his points, while Jones has used consistency throughout the year to amass his total. Henley and Jones both took heat wins to keep the points chase deadlocked going into the night's 20-lap feature.
Who needs NASCAR's silly "Chase" format to end the season with any more excitement and drama than this?
Dinsmore Dazzling on way to Track Championship
With his points title secured already you might think a driver would go out, be easy on his equipment and just take what he could get. But not Dinsmore. In regal fashion, Dinsmore blasted to the lead with bold passes, building a substantial lead. Even a mid-race caution to bunch the field didn’t stop Dinsmore as he again bolted off to comfortable margin to take the victory and all the hardware.
Derrick Flora was first into turn 1 at the start of the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event, but it was Mickey Helms getting the lead on lap 1. Dinsmore and STS Track Champion, Brian Rye surrounded Flora going three wide for second. That duo then inhaled Helms for lead, again going three wide. Dinsmore, using the high side, came out on top leading the second circuit. It was pretty much all she wrote from there.
As Dinsmore increased his lead on Rye and Helms, Bill Pittaway and Chris Swenson worked around Jeff Nix, then began their own battle for fifth. Just before halfway, Rye spun in turn 4 giving up his second spot. Once back to green, Dinsmore got a good jump, while Flora looked inside Helms for second. Flora lost ground and gave up third to Swenson, who quickly got by Helms for second. But Dinsmore was already in the wind.
At halfway it was Dinsmore, Swenson, Helms, Flora and Pittaway, with Dinsmore a half straightaway ahead. Pittaway then got inside Flora for fourth and under Helms for third briefly. Helms fought back retaking the spot as the two continued to go at it. This gave Rye the chance to work his way back up, sneaking by Pittaway for fourth on lap 14.
As the race settled in to the final five laps Dinsmore was continuing to put distance on Swenson, with Helms, Rye, Pittaway and Flora some distance behind Swenson. As the white flag waved, Dinsmore was a full straight ahead of Swenson easily going on to take the checkers in the Sundowner RV, Team Brain Freeze, Azul Margaritas, Lowery Plumbing, Big Worm Motorsports, racetechinfo.com, Jeff’s Performance powered, Harris Chassis.
“One for the money, the rest for the show,” stated Dinsmore. “This was for all for my fans. I thought about just going out there and making laps, but the fans don’t come here to watch that. They want to see a show. Then there’s my pride and the challenge of making the car go. The car just wants to go, the thing practically drives itself.”
“The three wide passes make for some exciting racing and it’s all about putting on a show for the fans. Plus it’s kind of an adrenaline rush and I’m an adrenaline junky.”
Look for Dinsmore and Team Brain Freeze at Kennedale Speedway Park for the KSP Showdown, then Abilene Speedway’s Ryan Bard Memorial Southern Challenge coming up in October.
“We might also do the Fall Classic in Waco(Heart o’ Texas Speedway).’ added Dinsmore. “ We’ll see what happens and if we have all our ducks in a row. I’m not going to run the USMTS show in Edna(Texana Raceway Park). I want to stick more to what I’m trying to help promote, IMCA racing. What I race is IMCA, and I’m proud to be an IMCA racer!”
IMCA Modifieds
1. 8g Greg Dinsmore
2. 48 Chris Swenson
3. 20 Brian Rye
4. 29 Mickey Helms
5. 39T Derrick Flora
6. 37 Bill Pittaway
7. 84 Patrick Kelly
8. 85 Jeff Nix
9. 12 Bob Leinweber
10. 53x Matt Fox
66 Randy Yount—DNS(Rolled in hot laps)
52 A J Dancer
IMCA Modified heat winners, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 20 Brian Rye
Godfredson Back on Track with Sportmod Victory
After two disappointing weekends back to back, former Sprint Car ace, Chip Godfredson wasn’t ready to end his season on sour note. Godfredson’s crew had a week long thrash on the car after last weekends wreck that left it with a broken axle, bent housing and frame. The gambit paid off as Godfredson worked his way through the field getting by early leader, J J Jennings. From there Godfredson inched away while Jennings and track champion, Johnny Torres battled for second.
Even with the track points settled, the IMCA Southern Sportmod Rookie of the Year points are still up in the air. This brought Hobbs, New Mexico’s Caleb Stone some 500 miles across the state to battle with points rival Kris Rye. Only a few points separate the two in second and third with Rye 2 points behind leader, Dean Abbey and four points ahead of Stone.
As green waved on 13-car, 20-lap IMCA SSM main, Jennings got a good jump on the field, with Bill Pittaway working his way quickly to second. Rye would spin on lap 1 to bring out a caution and find himself now behind Stone. Once back to green, Pittaway took a quick look inside Jennings who held the spot, while Torres got around Pat Lyon for sixth. In the pack Rye was able to get by Stone on lap 2 for ninth, as Chris McLendon slipped giving Godfredson an opening to get third.
Chris Swenson and Aaron Lunsford made contact as Swenson tried to dive under Lunsford for fourth giving Torres the chance to close on both. Torres grabbed both positions on lap 6 for fourth. E J Gilpin then moved around both for fifth on lap 8. Godfredson began to put the heat on Pittaway for second and got the spot coming to halfway. At the crossed flags it was Jennings, Godfredson, Pittaway, Torres and Gilpin in the top five.
Lunsford brought out the yellow on lap 12 when he spun in turn 2. On the restart Jennings got a car length on Godfredson, who closed right back up in turn 1. Godfredson got the nose under Jennings and along side down the back stretch taking over the top spot on lap 13. Meanwhile, Torres was getting by Pittaway for third, with Rye and Stone battling for sixth.
Torres got under Jennings on lap 15 in turns 1-2, but Jennings fought back to retake second on the back straight. Behind that fight, Gilpin and Pittaway were side by side for fourth. As Torres and Jennings continued to scrap it out for second, Godfredson was able to inch away and grab the checkers by a half straightaway in the Parr Performance, Cornerstone Natural Countertops, Skye Trucking, Burlington Performance powered Smiley’s Chassis.
“We just weren’t going to end our season that way,” replied Godfredson. “After the crash the week before, I was ready to give up(for the season). Then I called Derry(Burlington) on Sunday and told him we needed to get the car fixed. I wasn’t going to wait until October to race at the Southern Challenge. My crew is to thank for all the hard work they put it getting it ready.”
“We also made some set up changes while all the repairs were being done. It was fast. Derry does all the motor work on it. For some reason he won’t even let me touch that. The guys probably put 40 hours into getting everything right and straight. I truly appreciate all they did.”
IMCA Southern Sportmods
1. 11b Chip Godfredson
2. 66 Johnny Torres
3. 21 E J Gilpin
4. 37 Bill Pittaway
5. 4$ Kris Rye
6. 6 Caleb Stone
7. 11 Chris McLendon
8. 60 Pat Lyon
9. 0 Robert Skye
10.48 Chris Swenson
11. 888 Aaron Lunsford
12. 09 David Routen jr.
26g J J Jennings—DQ(refused tech) originally second
IMCA SSM heat winners, 26g J J Jennings, 11b Chip Godfredson
Richard Bartosh took the lead on lap 1 of the 15-lap Super Stock feature with points contenders Marcx second, and VanKirk fifth. VanKirk then got by Allen Jenkins and A J Dancer on lap 1 for third. Just as the two points rivals were door to door for second, yellow waved for a spin by Jerry Neal. On the restart, Marcx got by Bartosh for the lead on lap 3, with VanKirk in hot pursuit.
VanKirk got along side Marcx again, then by on lap 4 for the top spot, while Dancer was taking fourth from Bartosh. On lap 9 VanKirk slipped coming off turn 2 giving Marcx the chance to reel him in, but yellow waved when Jenkins spun clipping Chico Cox on his way past. As green waved again, Marcx tried the high side of VanKirk, but VanKirk powered off the bottom to hold the point.
Jenkins spun again on lap 11 setting up a four lap shootout to the finish. The top four got away clean on the restart with Marcx again looking up top on VanKirk. Harlin Covert slowed from fifth giving up the spot to Robert Danielson as he pulled off. Steven Doty then began a challenge on Dancer for third. Marcx gave VanKirk his bet shot on lap 14, but lost ground giving VanKirk clear sailing to the win and track championship.
“I knew we had a decent points margin on Howie(Marcx),” replied VanKirk. “I wasn’t about to go out there and just run for points. I came here to win the race.”
Super Stocks
1. 58 Moe VanKirk
2. 13 Howie Marcx
3. 52 A J Dancer
4. 9 Steven Doty
5. 49 Robert Danielson
6. 7 Richard Bartosh
7. 14 Gary Hunter
8. 21 Chico Cox
9. 57 Jerry Neal
10. 1 Dennis Hilla
11. 60 Harlin Covert
12. 97 Allen Jenkins
13. 6 Ellis
33 Leland Waddell---DNS
Super Stock heat winners, 58 Moe VanKirk, 52 A J Dancer
Last weeks surprise winner, Alton Fambro got the lead in Street Stock feature on lap 1, with Crawley getting past Lewis for fourth, and the points lead. Crawley and Wade Jones then ran side by side third with Jones getting the spot. Jones then snagged second from A J Wernette on lap 4, with Randy Guzman taking fourth from Crawley, while Lewis struggled at the back of the pack.
Guzman then picked off third from Wernette, as Jones began challenging Fambro for the lead. After a brief door to door battle, Jones got the top spot on lap 7. Guzman then caught Fambro for second and as those two battled, Jones ran away. In the final laps Fambro and Guzman ran side by side, while Crawley and Lewis ran fifth and sixth, respectively. Jones would take the win after filing an earlier protest on Crawley’s motor. Crawley would refuse to tear down at the track, thus being DQ’ed giving the championship to Lewis.
“I don’t want to win it(the championship) this way,” commented the soft-spoken Lewis. “I didn’t earn it or deserve. We ran a terrible race.”
“I’m planning on appealing the protest and disqualification,” added Crawley. “There are some issues in the rules here. I offered to go to any shop and pull the motor and tear it apart. I just didn’t want to have to do it in the dirt, but they(protesters) said no. I wasn’t refusing to tear down, just not wanting it to be in all the dirt and dust. I’d end up having to totally rebuild it.”
So...until the appeal process is finalized, the 2008 Street Stock track championship may still be undecided.
Street Stocks
1. 41 Wade Jones
2. 08 Alton Fambro
3. 021 Randy Guzman
4. 37 A J Wernette
5. 51 Donald Lewis
6. 18 Shawn Moore
7. 96 Justin Henley
77 Wes Wurtz---DNS
6 Craig Crawley—DQ(Refused protest) originally fifth
Street Stock heat winners, 51 Donald Lewis, A J Wernette
The 20-lap Pure Stock feature saw polesitter, Mark Pivarnik get out front in turn 1, with Justin Henley making an early charge to sixth, with Jones languishing near the back. The young Henley kept on the march getting past William Saunders and Jo Jo Horne for fourth on lap 4, with Dennis Jasik on his tail following to fifth. Two laps later J. Henley sailed around his dad, Charley for third then Jason Kelly for second on lap 9.
At halfway J. Henley snared the lead from Pivarnik, with Jones still mired in the field. Danny Kasperwicz moved into the top five on lap 10 getting by Jasik. C. Henley then snatched third from Kelly, while Jasik retook fifth from Kasperwicz. Pivarnik got hung up by a lapped car on lap 15, with C. Henley snagging second. Philip Haywood and Brian Terry sr. spun on lap 18 to bring out a yellow and set up a green, white, checker finish.
As green waved on J. Henley, Jones was still back in ninth. With J. Henley pulling away from his dad, Kelly, Jasik, Kasperwicz Adam Torres and Sean Terry were swapping paint and positions in the scramble for fourth. Kelly spun from that battle on lap 19, shaking up the final running order. Up front it was J. Henley adding to his young career wins total, and taking the track title.
Pure Stocks
1. 96 Justin Henley
2. 14 Mark Pivarnik
3. 23 Sean Terry
4. 66 Adam Torres
5. 8 Dennis Jasik
6. 74k Danny Kasprowicz
7. 555 Sonny Jones
8. 3 Albert Mares
9. 57 Jason Kelly
10. 98 William Saunders
11. 9 Philip Haywood
12. 15 William Cavender
13. 23T Brian Terry sr.
14. 7x Janel Hilla
15. 25 Jo Jo Horne
16. 4 Brandon Eure
67 Joe Horne---DNS
55 Charlie Henley—DQ(Tires) originally second
Pure Stock heat winners, 14 Mark Pivarnik, 96 Justin Henley, 555 Sonny Jones