Post by cassy14 on Nov 2, 2008 13:48:38 GMT -6
Thousand Buck Shootout @ I-37 Raceway, presented by Manning Safety Services and Boerne Physical Therapy
By J M Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx., (November 1st, 2008) With the 2008 racing points season complete, I-37 Raceway' 1/4 mile semi-banked clay oval just south of San Antonio roared back to life with a $1,000 to win show for the Outlaw Modifieds, Sportmod/Limited Modifieds and Pure Stocks. Also added was a 100 lap " Enduro shootout" for the new class in 2009, the Front Runners, an all front wheel drive beginners class.
Cars from the Valley, Corpus, Edna and as far away as west Texas filled the pits for an afternoon of racing. The warm Chamber of Commerce weather played havoc on the track, making for dry slick conditions as early as the heat races. Local drivers, used to slightly tackier conditions, as well as the out-of-towners scrambled to find their best dry slick set up.
Mikulencak Master of Modified Main
Veteran Corpus Christi Modified pilot, Lawrence Mikulencak doesn’t pull his car with a fancy truck, doesn’t have a high dollar hauler, even his car is relic from the Stone Age, yet all the guy does is win. Tonight Mikulencak used his dry slick experience and a good draw to find his way to another Modified main event win. Mikulencak stalked Corpus young gun Josh Majek waiting for an opening which he got just before halfway. Once clear he was able to build and rebuild big leads easily finding his way the Winners Circle.
On the initial start of the 30-lap Modified Main, Mikulencak got a slight edge on polesitter Majek going into turn 1. Majek got a little loose on the tricky track and made contact with Mikulencak before spinning in turn 2. The second start saw Majek get the jump, with Mikulencak falling to second, Brian Rye third and a three wide battle for fourth that saw Chip Godfredson and track champion, Greg Dinsmore grab fourth and fifth.
Majek ran out to a couple lengths on Mikulencak by lap 3, while Rye, Godfredson and Dinsmore ran nose to tail for third. Mikulencak methodically closed back in on Majek by lap 6 and was putting the pressure on. Majek left enough of the bottom open for Mikulencak to get inside coming out of turn 4 on lap 7. The two ran wheel to wheel through turns 1-2 with Mikulencak getting the top spot on lap 9. Once clear Mikulencak quickly started stretching out his lead, while Danny Brown caught the trio battling for third.
Mikulencak caught lapped traffic on lap 13, but using his track savvy was able to maintain his advantage. At the crossed flags Mikulencak held a good margin over Majek, Rye, and Dinsmore, who was being challenged by Brown. Brown then got by Dinsmore for fifth. On lap 17 yellow waved when a track cone got knocked on the track. Mikulencak got away clear on the restart while Brown got into Godfredson, lost ground and gave up fifth back to Dinsmore. By lap 20 Mikulencak had again opened up a lead on Majek with a gap back to Rye, Godfredson, Dinsmore, Brown, Rowdy Flanagan and Steve Whiteaker jr.
Lap 21 saw Steve Fite, Randy Yount and Jeff Nix tangle in turn 3 to bring out a caution. Mikulencak was again quick on the gas pulling away from Majek, who was being challenged now by Rye for second. Whiteaker tagged an infield tire on lap 22 ending his night and bringing out a yellow. Back under green, Mikulencak again jumped out from Majek while Rye, Godfredson and Dinsmore stacked up, but kept going.
Brown closed back in on Dinsmore for fifth on lap 23. With five to go Brown got into the back of Dinsmore sending him sideways, then through the infield, but Brown got the worst of it breaking something and stopping in turn 4. Once back under green Mikulencak got three car lengths on Majek, with Dinsmore getting a brief look under Godfredson, but nothing more.
Mikulencak quickly increased the margin while Majek, Rye, Godfredson, Dinsmore and R. Flanagan ran nose to tail for second. R. Flanagan got under Dinsmore for fifth on lap 27. With two to go Mikulencak was now a half straightaway ahead of the second place fight and motoring away. Mikulencak added to his lead in the final laps with the Youngs Auto Repair, Ace Transmission, Texas Battery, Adan Arambula powered, (experimental)1996 Young/Arambula Chassis easily taking the checkers.
“The starting spot probably helped us the most,” commented Mikulencak. “I want to thank Bruce Barber and Bobby Black for helping me with the car. When we got here the car was terrible. It was just one those nights when every change we made was right and made the car faster. It all worked out pretty well.”
“Even though the track may have looked like an asphalt track, you can’t try any set up like that. That’s one of the things you have to separate. We just did some standard dirt stuff that we’ve learned and threw them on that old car of mine and they worked.”
“I think they track tried to make a better race moving the tires out. If they had left it, cars would have blown a lot of the dust off the bottom and made it a real one groove track. At least the way it was if you got up a little too high or made a mistake, you could gather the car back up and go on.”
“The first start I thought I gave Josh(Majek) enough room going in. It looked was he starting to spin before we made contact. You usually don’t get a second chance for a good jump on a track like that. I figured that I had used mine up, so I tried to just put myself in a position where I could come out in second.”
Outlaw Modifieds
1. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
2. 82 Josh Majek
3. 20 Brian Rye
4.11k Chip Godfredson
5. 58 Rowdy Flanagan
6. 8g Greg Dinsmore
7. 39 Jed Rollins
8. 66 Randy Yount
9. 57 Dale Flanagan
10. 85 Jeff Nix
11.174 Mickey Helms
12. 40f Steve Fite
13. 37 Bill Pittaway
14. 55 Danny Brown
15. 1 Steve Whiteaker jr.
16. 56k Adan Arambula
17. 48 Chris Swenson
17b Bruce Barber - DNS
9 Brandon Blaylock - DNS
Outlaw modified heat winners, 37 Bill Pittaway, 55 Danny Brown, 48 Chris Swenson
Jennings Jumps for Joy with First I-37 Sportmod Win
Corpus Christi driver, J J Jennings has had a long dry spell since he last saw Victory Lane, and never at I-37 Raceway. Despite having good runs, Jennings either fell a place or two short or had mechanical gremlins put him on the sidelines. Saturday evening would be different as Jennings picked a good night to finally get the monkey off his back leading every lap of the Sportmod/Limited Modified feature and take home the $1,000 payday.
On the first attempt Chris Swenson was the only one to go on green but a mid-pack melee brought the yellow quickly back out. As green finally fell on the 30-lap event Jennings was first into turn 1 as Swenson fell into second, with track champion Johnny Torres and Dustin Butcher side by side for third. Butcher got the spot as the top five sorted out. On lap 3 Brandon Blaylock, Derrick Flora and Greg Rohmer went three wide for seventh. Blaylock went too high getting sideways in turns 3-4, with Rohmer and Justin Robinson finding the tire barrier behind him.
On the restart, Jennings got away clean, while Torres got inside Butcher for third. Those two had a short side by side battle with Butcher holding the spot. Blaylock, who caught a break with the previous yellow, began his charge to the front getting by Mickey Helms for sixth on lap 5, then past IMCA Sportmod Rookie of the Year, Kris Rye a lap later for fifth.
Up front Swenson was turning up the heat on the younger Jennings, with an occasional tap on the bumper. Butcher and Torres were back at it on lap 7 until Chip Godfredson looped it and collected Rohmer. As green waved again Jennings inched ahead of Swenson, while Blaylock snuck under Torres for fourth. Torres fought back on the high side as they both battled with Butcher for third. This gave Jennings and Swenson the chance to put some distance on the three-car fight.
Mark McGahey brought out the yellow on lap 11 with a solo spin between turns 3-4. Jennings got the jump on Swenson, who had Butcher taking a peek low as green was shown again. Blaylock finally was able to get around Torres on lap 13 for fourth, and wasted little time passing Butcher for third on lap 14. Coming to the crossed flags it was Jennings, Swenson, Blaylock, Butcher and Torres. Blaylock snagged the runner-up spot on lap 15, while Torres and Butcher again found themselves glued together at the rub rails.
Butcher finally shook off Torres who slowed with problem and tried to pull off. Torres got as far as the pit exit before stopping and bringing out the yellow on lap 18. Blaylock gave Jennings a slight hello tap on the restart as the duo eased away from Swenson, Butcher and Rye. Blaylock gave Jennings another rap on the bumper in turn 1 on lap 21, but faded to a car length back.
Just as Blaylock closed back in on Jennings, Dwayne Norvell went around in turn 2 to bring out a caution. Jennings and Blaylock jumped away from Swenson, Butcher and Rye as green waved again. Blaylock kept the pressure on Jennings, who hugged the bottom relentlessly. Blaylock would get close enough to touch Jennings in the corner, but fall a car length back on the straights.
A Larry Jernigan spin in turn 4 brought out the final yellow with two to go setting up a green, white, checker finish. As the green waved Blaylock hung on to Jennings bumper going into turn 1. Coming to the white flag Blaylock was still stuck on Jennings, while Butcher slowed and pulled off from fourth. Blaylock gave it his best shot out of turn 4, but it was Jennings in the G&M Oilfield Services, 3MM Builders, Tank 1 Services, Hammerhead Construction, H&E Equipment, Ross Stafford Trailer Sales, Wraps by Sybesma, Pflugerville/Glen Olsen Race Engines, Rush Chassis holding on for his first big I-37 Raceway win.
“Our plan was to hold the bottom,” said Jennings. “If you got off the bottom there was nothing there. I made a mistake once and kind of got booted but held it and got back to the bottom. I had a lot of luck too. The draw helped me, my brother’s(Melanie) wife drew me a five for the heats and then one for the feature. All I had to do was strap in and go”
“I felt Brandon(Blaylock) back there a couple times. He runs on the dry slick down in The Valley and he’s pretty good. He ran me clean though. He could have taken me but drove clean. I want to thank him for that. Most of the time in Corpus it’s dry, but it’s still fast. We didn’t make any changes to our car for this race. It’s still the same IMCA legal car that we’ve run all year.”
“I was getting worried about all those cautions. I think we had eight. Then as the race wore on the sun got bad going into turn 3. It was hard to hit your mark going in.”
“I have to thank a lot of people, my brother who pretty much pays for everything, and his father-in-law that paid for half the motor. Aaron Hudgeons has helped us a bunch with the chassis set up, Dan Finn did a good job on the carb and Lawrence and Jimmy Mikulencak built us a good transmission and it’s gone all year long.”
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time,” added Jennings. “I haven’t won since back in 2002 or 2003 in a Modified, but this is the first win in this car. Last week my boy won in a Power Wheels race at South Texas Speedway and he’s been talking trash all week that he had a trophy and I didn’t.”
“It’s all about our family”
Sportmod/Limited Modified
1. 26g J J Jennings
2. 9 Brandon Blaylock
3. 48 Chris Swenson
4. 00 Derrick Flora
5. 4$ Kris Rye
6. 37 Bill Pittaway
7. 175 Mickey Helms
8. 9x David Meredith
9. 4 Abraham Mares
10. 221 Dwayne Norvell
11. 14 Ted Thomas
12. 88 Mark McGahey
13. 18 Larry Jernigan
14. 22 Alton Fambro
15. 90 Dustin Butcher
16. 51 Greg Rohmer
17. 66 Johnny Torres
18 11b Chip Godfredson
19. 25 Brian Brooks
20. 10 Justin Robinson
24----DNS
99----DNS Joe Barnec
Sportmod/Limited Modified heat winners, 11b Chip Godfredson, 26g J J Jennings, 9 Brandon Blaylock
Henley Hustles to Pure Stock Payday
Track champion Justin Henley had to draw on all his track experience to make his way to the Winners Circle after starting ninth in the feature, on a track completely different than a usual Friday night show. It wasn’t an easy trip for Henley who finally got around early leader Chris Shafer past halfway. Even after getting the top spot, Henley was unable to shake Shafer who challenged until the checkers waved.
It took three tries to get the 25-lap Pure Stock feature under way with Shafer jumping out front all three times. Adam Torres fell in behind Shafer for second, with Dennis Hilla third and Jason Kelly door to door with Mike Brown for fourth. Kelly, in Bobby Jack’s car, got inside Hilla for third on lap 3. Danny Kasperwicz, who joined the starting field late, saw his night end early as he spun on lap 5 with continuing issues.
The top three got away clean on the restart, while Chico Cox got under Hilla for fourth followed Henley for fifth. Torres began putting pressure on Shafer for the lead on lap 7 with Kelly lurking in third. Henley picked off another getting by Cox on lap 10 for fourth, with Cox spinning on lap 11. Once back to green, Henley took third from Kelly, who would pull off from his top five spot. At halfway it was Shafer, Torres, Henley, Hilla and Brown in the top five.
Cox would find himself headed the wrong direction again on lap 14 to bring out a yellow. On the restart Henley got along side Torres and by for second before Anthony Gordon spun on lap 15 in turn 2. Henley again used the restart to his advantage getting under Shafer and easing ahead on lap 16. On a normal night this would be all the young Henley would need and run off to a win. But this was not your normal night of racing.
Gordon tried to make up lost spots on lap 17 but spun in turn 3 collecting Sonny Mares, Jo Jo Horne and Brown. Once back to green Torres got by, a now smoking, Shafer for second but a cone knocked on the track brought the yellow back out putting Shafer back in second. Henley and Shafer got away on green from Torres and Hilla, while Mares and Wright ran side by side for fifth. Despite smoking from under the hood Shafer kept the heat on Henley for the lead.
On lap 22 Shafer took a look inside on the front stretch, but Henley closed the door in turn 1. Shafer took the same look on lap 23 and got up to Henley’s door in turn 1. The two made contact, in “a racing deal” that sent Henley around to bring out a yellow. After deliberation by officials, both kept their spot for the final restart. The two kept the fight going on the restart with Shafer taking looks and Henley closing the door. At the checkers it was Henley in the Henley Construction, 24/7 Towing, Hance Auto Parts, C&C Graphics, Swenson Race Products car beating Shafer back to line by a car length for the victory.
Pure Stock
1.96 Justin Henley
2.77 Chris Shafer
3.66 Adam Torres
4.3 Sonny Mares
5.7x Dennis Hilla
6.76 Gary Wright
7.01 Mike Brown
8.25 Jo Jo Horne
9.F5 Kevin Vasbinder
10. 67 Joe Horne
11. 9 Philip Haywood
12. 8 Chico Cox
13. 18 Anthony Gordon
14. 98 William Saunders
15. 88 Jason Kelly
16. 24 Marc Roy
17. 58 Patrick Burrow
18. 74k Danny Kasperwicz
Pure Stock heat winners, 77 Chris Shafer, 96 Justin Henley, 74k Danny Kasperwicz
Bettis Best in Front Runner Enduro
The new Front Runner class ran a 100 lap, or last man standing, enduro for the 10 cars that showed up. Les Bettis got out front on lap 1 giving way to T J Yagalla on lap 2, while Sonny Mares worked his way up. Mares was able to get by T J Yagalla on lap 7 for the lead. As Mares pulled away, T J Yagalla, Kevin Yagalla and Monty Chamberlain battled for second.
Jeremy Hernandez brought out the red flag on lap 17 when he clipped an infield tire, did his best Joey Chitwood imitation on two wheels before rolling over. Hernandez was alright, but the car gave up. On the restart Mares began to pull away, with Bettis moving into second and the Yagalla’s battling for third.
At halfway Race Director Eric Knudtson threw in a twist, turning the cars around running the 1/4 mile in the opposite direction. This would be the downfall for Mares as they had the car set up with low air pressure on the left side causing them to roll a tire off the bead going backwards. This handed the lead over to Bettis who went on to take the victory.
Front Runner Enduro
1. 57 Les Bettis
2. 190 T J Yagalla
3. 77y Kevin Yagalla
4. 525 Milah Brooks
5. 117 N/A
6. I-37 Jim Knudtson
7. 35 Abraham Mares III / Sonny Mares
8. 20 N/A
9. 6 Jeremy Hernandez
10. 55 Monty Chamberlain
By J M Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx., (November 1st, 2008) With the 2008 racing points season complete, I-37 Raceway' 1/4 mile semi-banked clay oval just south of San Antonio roared back to life with a $1,000 to win show for the Outlaw Modifieds, Sportmod/Limited Modifieds and Pure Stocks. Also added was a 100 lap " Enduro shootout" for the new class in 2009, the Front Runners, an all front wheel drive beginners class.
Cars from the Valley, Corpus, Edna and as far away as west Texas filled the pits for an afternoon of racing. The warm Chamber of Commerce weather played havoc on the track, making for dry slick conditions as early as the heat races. Local drivers, used to slightly tackier conditions, as well as the out-of-towners scrambled to find their best dry slick set up.
Mikulencak Master of Modified Main
Veteran Corpus Christi Modified pilot, Lawrence Mikulencak doesn’t pull his car with a fancy truck, doesn’t have a high dollar hauler, even his car is relic from the Stone Age, yet all the guy does is win. Tonight Mikulencak used his dry slick experience and a good draw to find his way to another Modified main event win. Mikulencak stalked Corpus young gun Josh Majek waiting for an opening which he got just before halfway. Once clear he was able to build and rebuild big leads easily finding his way the Winners Circle.
On the initial start of the 30-lap Modified Main, Mikulencak got a slight edge on polesitter Majek going into turn 1. Majek got a little loose on the tricky track and made contact with Mikulencak before spinning in turn 2. The second start saw Majek get the jump, with Mikulencak falling to second, Brian Rye third and a three wide battle for fourth that saw Chip Godfredson and track champion, Greg Dinsmore grab fourth and fifth.
Majek ran out to a couple lengths on Mikulencak by lap 3, while Rye, Godfredson and Dinsmore ran nose to tail for third. Mikulencak methodically closed back in on Majek by lap 6 and was putting the pressure on. Majek left enough of the bottom open for Mikulencak to get inside coming out of turn 4 on lap 7. The two ran wheel to wheel through turns 1-2 with Mikulencak getting the top spot on lap 9. Once clear Mikulencak quickly started stretching out his lead, while Danny Brown caught the trio battling for third.
Mikulencak caught lapped traffic on lap 13, but using his track savvy was able to maintain his advantage. At the crossed flags Mikulencak held a good margin over Majek, Rye, and Dinsmore, who was being challenged by Brown. Brown then got by Dinsmore for fifth. On lap 17 yellow waved when a track cone got knocked on the track. Mikulencak got away clear on the restart while Brown got into Godfredson, lost ground and gave up fifth back to Dinsmore. By lap 20 Mikulencak had again opened up a lead on Majek with a gap back to Rye, Godfredson, Dinsmore, Brown, Rowdy Flanagan and Steve Whiteaker jr.
Lap 21 saw Steve Fite, Randy Yount and Jeff Nix tangle in turn 3 to bring out a caution. Mikulencak was again quick on the gas pulling away from Majek, who was being challenged now by Rye for second. Whiteaker tagged an infield tire on lap 22 ending his night and bringing out a yellow. Back under green, Mikulencak again jumped out from Majek while Rye, Godfredson and Dinsmore stacked up, but kept going.
Brown closed back in on Dinsmore for fifth on lap 23. With five to go Brown got into the back of Dinsmore sending him sideways, then through the infield, but Brown got the worst of it breaking something and stopping in turn 4. Once back under green Mikulencak got three car lengths on Majek, with Dinsmore getting a brief look under Godfredson, but nothing more.
Mikulencak quickly increased the margin while Majek, Rye, Godfredson, Dinsmore and R. Flanagan ran nose to tail for second. R. Flanagan got under Dinsmore for fifth on lap 27. With two to go Mikulencak was now a half straightaway ahead of the second place fight and motoring away. Mikulencak added to his lead in the final laps with the Youngs Auto Repair, Ace Transmission, Texas Battery, Adan Arambula powered, (experimental)1996 Young/Arambula Chassis easily taking the checkers.
“The starting spot probably helped us the most,” commented Mikulencak. “I want to thank Bruce Barber and Bobby Black for helping me with the car. When we got here the car was terrible. It was just one those nights when every change we made was right and made the car faster. It all worked out pretty well.”
“Even though the track may have looked like an asphalt track, you can’t try any set up like that. That’s one of the things you have to separate. We just did some standard dirt stuff that we’ve learned and threw them on that old car of mine and they worked.”
“I think they track tried to make a better race moving the tires out. If they had left it, cars would have blown a lot of the dust off the bottom and made it a real one groove track. At least the way it was if you got up a little too high or made a mistake, you could gather the car back up and go on.”
“The first start I thought I gave Josh(Majek) enough room going in. It looked was he starting to spin before we made contact. You usually don’t get a second chance for a good jump on a track like that. I figured that I had used mine up, so I tried to just put myself in a position where I could come out in second.”
Outlaw Modifieds
1. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
2. 82 Josh Majek
3. 20 Brian Rye
4.11k Chip Godfredson
5. 58 Rowdy Flanagan
6. 8g Greg Dinsmore
7. 39 Jed Rollins
8. 66 Randy Yount
9. 57 Dale Flanagan
10. 85 Jeff Nix
11.174 Mickey Helms
12. 40f Steve Fite
13. 37 Bill Pittaway
14. 55 Danny Brown
15. 1 Steve Whiteaker jr.
16. 56k Adan Arambula
17. 48 Chris Swenson
17b Bruce Barber - DNS
9 Brandon Blaylock - DNS
Outlaw modified heat winners, 37 Bill Pittaway, 55 Danny Brown, 48 Chris Swenson
Jennings Jumps for Joy with First I-37 Sportmod Win
Corpus Christi driver, J J Jennings has had a long dry spell since he last saw Victory Lane, and never at I-37 Raceway. Despite having good runs, Jennings either fell a place or two short or had mechanical gremlins put him on the sidelines. Saturday evening would be different as Jennings picked a good night to finally get the monkey off his back leading every lap of the Sportmod/Limited Modified feature and take home the $1,000 payday.
On the first attempt Chris Swenson was the only one to go on green but a mid-pack melee brought the yellow quickly back out. As green finally fell on the 30-lap event Jennings was first into turn 1 as Swenson fell into second, with track champion Johnny Torres and Dustin Butcher side by side for third. Butcher got the spot as the top five sorted out. On lap 3 Brandon Blaylock, Derrick Flora and Greg Rohmer went three wide for seventh. Blaylock went too high getting sideways in turns 3-4, with Rohmer and Justin Robinson finding the tire barrier behind him.
On the restart, Jennings got away clean, while Torres got inside Butcher for third. Those two had a short side by side battle with Butcher holding the spot. Blaylock, who caught a break with the previous yellow, began his charge to the front getting by Mickey Helms for sixth on lap 5, then past IMCA Sportmod Rookie of the Year, Kris Rye a lap later for fifth.
Up front Swenson was turning up the heat on the younger Jennings, with an occasional tap on the bumper. Butcher and Torres were back at it on lap 7 until Chip Godfredson looped it and collected Rohmer. As green waved again Jennings inched ahead of Swenson, while Blaylock snuck under Torres for fourth. Torres fought back on the high side as they both battled with Butcher for third. This gave Jennings and Swenson the chance to put some distance on the three-car fight.
Mark McGahey brought out the yellow on lap 11 with a solo spin between turns 3-4. Jennings got the jump on Swenson, who had Butcher taking a peek low as green was shown again. Blaylock finally was able to get around Torres on lap 13 for fourth, and wasted little time passing Butcher for third on lap 14. Coming to the crossed flags it was Jennings, Swenson, Blaylock, Butcher and Torres. Blaylock snagged the runner-up spot on lap 15, while Torres and Butcher again found themselves glued together at the rub rails.
Butcher finally shook off Torres who slowed with problem and tried to pull off. Torres got as far as the pit exit before stopping and bringing out the yellow on lap 18. Blaylock gave Jennings a slight hello tap on the restart as the duo eased away from Swenson, Butcher and Rye. Blaylock gave Jennings another rap on the bumper in turn 1 on lap 21, but faded to a car length back.
Just as Blaylock closed back in on Jennings, Dwayne Norvell went around in turn 2 to bring out a caution. Jennings and Blaylock jumped away from Swenson, Butcher and Rye as green waved again. Blaylock kept the pressure on Jennings, who hugged the bottom relentlessly. Blaylock would get close enough to touch Jennings in the corner, but fall a car length back on the straights.
A Larry Jernigan spin in turn 4 brought out the final yellow with two to go setting up a green, white, checker finish. As the green waved Blaylock hung on to Jennings bumper going into turn 1. Coming to the white flag Blaylock was still stuck on Jennings, while Butcher slowed and pulled off from fourth. Blaylock gave it his best shot out of turn 4, but it was Jennings in the G&M Oilfield Services, 3MM Builders, Tank 1 Services, Hammerhead Construction, H&E Equipment, Ross Stafford Trailer Sales, Wraps by Sybesma, Pflugerville/Glen Olsen Race Engines, Rush Chassis holding on for his first big I-37 Raceway win.
“Our plan was to hold the bottom,” said Jennings. “If you got off the bottom there was nothing there. I made a mistake once and kind of got booted but held it and got back to the bottom. I had a lot of luck too. The draw helped me, my brother’s(Melanie) wife drew me a five for the heats and then one for the feature. All I had to do was strap in and go”
“I felt Brandon(Blaylock) back there a couple times. He runs on the dry slick down in The Valley and he’s pretty good. He ran me clean though. He could have taken me but drove clean. I want to thank him for that. Most of the time in Corpus it’s dry, but it’s still fast. We didn’t make any changes to our car for this race. It’s still the same IMCA legal car that we’ve run all year.”
“I was getting worried about all those cautions. I think we had eight. Then as the race wore on the sun got bad going into turn 3. It was hard to hit your mark going in.”
“I have to thank a lot of people, my brother who pretty much pays for everything, and his father-in-law that paid for half the motor. Aaron Hudgeons has helped us a bunch with the chassis set up, Dan Finn did a good job on the carb and Lawrence and Jimmy Mikulencak built us a good transmission and it’s gone all year long.”
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time,” added Jennings. “I haven’t won since back in 2002 or 2003 in a Modified, but this is the first win in this car. Last week my boy won in a Power Wheels race at South Texas Speedway and he’s been talking trash all week that he had a trophy and I didn’t.”
“It’s all about our family”
Sportmod/Limited Modified
1. 26g J J Jennings
2. 9 Brandon Blaylock
3. 48 Chris Swenson
4. 00 Derrick Flora
5. 4$ Kris Rye
6. 37 Bill Pittaway
7. 175 Mickey Helms
8. 9x David Meredith
9. 4 Abraham Mares
10. 221 Dwayne Norvell
11. 14 Ted Thomas
12. 88 Mark McGahey
13. 18 Larry Jernigan
14. 22 Alton Fambro
15. 90 Dustin Butcher
16. 51 Greg Rohmer
17. 66 Johnny Torres
18 11b Chip Godfredson
19. 25 Brian Brooks
20. 10 Justin Robinson
24----DNS
99----DNS Joe Barnec
Sportmod/Limited Modified heat winners, 11b Chip Godfredson, 26g J J Jennings, 9 Brandon Blaylock
Henley Hustles to Pure Stock Payday
Track champion Justin Henley had to draw on all his track experience to make his way to the Winners Circle after starting ninth in the feature, on a track completely different than a usual Friday night show. It wasn’t an easy trip for Henley who finally got around early leader Chris Shafer past halfway. Even after getting the top spot, Henley was unable to shake Shafer who challenged until the checkers waved.
It took three tries to get the 25-lap Pure Stock feature under way with Shafer jumping out front all three times. Adam Torres fell in behind Shafer for second, with Dennis Hilla third and Jason Kelly door to door with Mike Brown for fourth. Kelly, in Bobby Jack’s car, got inside Hilla for third on lap 3. Danny Kasperwicz, who joined the starting field late, saw his night end early as he spun on lap 5 with continuing issues.
The top three got away clean on the restart, while Chico Cox got under Hilla for fourth followed Henley for fifth. Torres began putting pressure on Shafer for the lead on lap 7 with Kelly lurking in third. Henley picked off another getting by Cox on lap 10 for fourth, with Cox spinning on lap 11. Once back to green, Henley took third from Kelly, who would pull off from his top five spot. At halfway it was Shafer, Torres, Henley, Hilla and Brown in the top five.
Cox would find himself headed the wrong direction again on lap 14 to bring out a yellow. On the restart Henley got along side Torres and by for second before Anthony Gordon spun on lap 15 in turn 2. Henley again used the restart to his advantage getting under Shafer and easing ahead on lap 16. On a normal night this would be all the young Henley would need and run off to a win. But this was not your normal night of racing.
Gordon tried to make up lost spots on lap 17 but spun in turn 3 collecting Sonny Mares, Jo Jo Horne and Brown. Once back to green Torres got by, a now smoking, Shafer for second but a cone knocked on the track brought the yellow back out putting Shafer back in second. Henley and Shafer got away on green from Torres and Hilla, while Mares and Wright ran side by side for fifth. Despite smoking from under the hood Shafer kept the heat on Henley for the lead.
On lap 22 Shafer took a look inside on the front stretch, but Henley closed the door in turn 1. Shafer took the same look on lap 23 and got up to Henley’s door in turn 1. The two made contact, in “a racing deal” that sent Henley around to bring out a yellow. After deliberation by officials, both kept their spot for the final restart. The two kept the fight going on the restart with Shafer taking looks and Henley closing the door. At the checkers it was Henley in the Henley Construction, 24/7 Towing, Hance Auto Parts, C&C Graphics, Swenson Race Products car beating Shafer back to line by a car length for the victory.
Pure Stock
1.96 Justin Henley
2.77 Chris Shafer
3.66 Adam Torres
4.3 Sonny Mares
5.7x Dennis Hilla
6.76 Gary Wright
7.01 Mike Brown
8.25 Jo Jo Horne
9.F5 Kevin Vasbinder
10. 67 Joe Horne
11. 9 Philip Haywood
12. 8 Chico Cox
13. 18 Anthony Gordon
14. 98 William Saunders
15. 88 Jason Kelly
16. 24 Marc Roy
17. 58 Patrick Burrow
18. 74k Danny Kasperwicz
Pure Stock heat winners, 77 Chris Shafer, 96 Justin Henley, 74k Danny Kasperwicz
Bettis Best in Front Runner Enduro
The new Front Runner class ran a 100 lap, or last man standing, enduro for the 10 cars that showed up. Les Bettis got out front on lap 1 giving way to T J Yagalla on lap 2, while Sonny Mares worked his way up. Mares was able to get by T J Yagalla on lap 7 for the lead. As Mares pulled away, T J Yagalla, Kevin Yagalla and Monty Chamberlain battled for second.
Jeremy Hernandez brought out the red flag on lap 17 when he clipped an infield tire, did his best Joey Chitwood imitation on two wheels before rolling over. Hernandez was alright, but the car gave up. On the restart Mares began to pull away, with Bettis moving into second and the Yagalla’s battling for third.
At halfway Race Director Eric Knudtson threw in a twist, turning the cars around running the 1/4 mile in the opposite direction. This would be the downfall for Mares as they had the car set up with low air pressure on the left side causing them to roll a tire off the bead going backwards. This handed the lead over to Bettis who went on to take the victory.
Front Runner Enduro
1. 57 Les Bettis
2. 190 T J Yagalla
3. 77y Kevin Yagalla
4. 525 Milah Brooks
5. 117 N/A
6. I-37 Jim Knudtson
7. 35 Abraham Mares III / Sonny Mares
8. 20 N/A
9. 6 Jeremy Hernandez
10. 55 Monty Chamberlain