Post by jkelly57 on Aug 7, 2007 12:37:13 GMT -6
Eight Nights…..Eight Different Winners in Modifieds
Flanagan Takes the Gold
Texana Raceway Park Results from August 4, 2007
By: Monty Chamberlain
Flanagan Takes the Gold
Texana Raceway Park Results from August 4, 2007
By: Monty Chamberlain
Having played the waiting game from a rain-out two weeks earlier, 97 cars and 16 go-karts showed up at Texana Raceway Park on August 4th for some South Texas style dirt-track racing under a warm and humid South Texas night . Following the qualifications for all classes in the heat races, 16 go-karts entered the track for some racing action. The youngsters were broken up into two classes, based on general size and displacement of the karts. Each group competed for two laps around the 5/16 mile high banks. Trophies were present for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each of the divisions. In the first group, the battle for 1st & 2nd was close with a last second pass by Caleb Hudgeons to secure the win. 1st – Caleb Hudgeons, 2nd – Elton Brown, 3rd – Garrett Yost. In the second group two lady drivers stepped up to the podium with Kaitlyn Sexton and passenger Little Ray taking the win. 1st – Kaitlyn Sexton & Little Ray, 2nd – Lara Judd, 3rd – Brandon Clampett. Great job by all of the Go-Kart drivers for a fun event.
In routine fashion, the mini-stocks kicked off the feature events for the night. Nine teenagers entered the track and took the green. Coming into turn three to complete the first lap, Haley Jansky and Emily Hayes got together, and Lauren Chamberlain joining in as she went into turn 3&4 to complete the trio. After clearing the mishap, the field took a complete restart with Dakota Taylor on the pole and Garrett Hayes on the outside of Row 1. As the race progressed, Taylor experienced an over heating problem causing him to exit the track. The run for the front two positions was between Justin Bloom and Garrett Hayes racing close lap after lap. In the end, Hayes would edge out Bloom for the win and Emily Hayes followed in third. Both Lauren Chamberlain and Tamara Wagner had their best finishes thus far with a 4th and 5th.
1st – 5th Results: 1st-#9 Garrett Hayes, 2nd- #84 Justin Bloom, 3rd- #2 Emily Hayes, 4th- #55 Lauren Chamberlain, 5th #91 Tamara Wagner
When the Texana Classic Dwarf Class came up, 22 cars took to the track. The early lead was secured by Victor Vargas, with Greg Sexton and Dave Tedford hot on his heels and Mike Christians within striking distance. As the race progressed, Sexton moved to the lead carrying Tedford with him into 2nd place and Vargas moving into 3rd. Although the top three runners exchanged positions a couple of times, the trio never allowed anyone else to join in. With the final laps winding down, Vargas almost lost it coming out of turn four, but did an incredible job of recovering and holding onto the 3rd position.
1st – 5th Results: 1st- #1 Greg Sexton, 2nd- #25 Dave Tedford, 3rd- #24 Victor Vargas, 4th- #13 Mike Christians, 5th- #2 Grant Hanson
Seeing a slightly smaller field than usual, 13 Bombers took to the track for the feature event. El Campo’s Charlie Mills was in the pole position leading the field to start with Danny Bennett on his outside. The car to watch was the Arterberry Racing #38, driven by Chris Shafer who started at the end of the field after experiencing a blown power steering hose in the heat race. As the race got underway, Diana Russom seemed to be headed to the front with fast laps until she got into Mills locking the two cars together which cost them several positions before they unlocked. With Danny Bennett in the lead, Shafer was moving his way from the final starting position up to the front and was quickly on the bumper of Bennett and then took the lead. As the race progressed, Shafer lost the cover for his breather and oddly enough it wedged into the mesh on the passenger side of where the windshield would normally reside. After some cautions and some cars dropping out, Shafer stretched his lead out by a sizable distance over Bennett. David McBride had another good solid run pulling off a 3rd place finish. The ever consistent Sandra Hudgeons performed her patented scientific driving to again finish in the top five with a 4th place finish.
1st – 5th Results: 1st- #38 Chris Shafer, 2nd- #R4J Danny Bennett, 3rd- #26 David McBride, 4th- #88 Sandra Hudgeons, 5th- #29 Billy Russom
Ten Hot Stock Trucks headed out for their feature event. The race for the top two positions was between Darryl Davis and Bob Ort. Ort took the early lead, but Davis was able to get around Ort and secure the lead. Davis held onto the lead for the majority of race with Polly Copeland following a short distance behind in 3rd place for the majority of the event. As the laps were winding down, Davis encountered lapped traffic on the low side and was trapped. With Davis unable to get around the lapped vehicle, Ort went to the high side and passed Davis. Having lost several truck lengths, Davis was never able to pull off a pass, and Ort took the win.
1st – 5th Results: 1st- #43 Bob Ort, 2nd- #3 Darryl Davis, 3rd- #15 Gordon Boehm, 4th- #44 John Leita, 5th-#07 Granvel Meyer.
Fourteen Limited Modifieds made the call for the feature event with Aaron Hudgeons on the pole and Bill Pittaway on the outside. Hudgeons took the early lead and Mickey Helms was able to move into the 2nd position. Under green, Hudgeons was able to stretch his lead lap after lap getting through the turns quicker than most other competitors. A caution near the midway point closed the field back up with Hudgeons in 1st, Helms in 2nd, and Pittaway in 3rd. Veteran driver, Vince Louden was able to work his way up passing several cars and moved into the 3rd position. But, leading from flag to flag, it was Hudgeons taking the win.
1st – 5th Results: 1st- #68 Aaron Hudgeons, 2nd- #174 Mickey Helms, 3rd- #6 Vince Louden, 4th- #14m Wade Moyer, 5th- #37 Bill Pittaway
The Super Stock division carried 11 entries to the feature. Rosharon’s John Gay was the pole sitter with AJ Dancer on his right. Dancer would take the early lead with Eric Floyd moving into the second position. Returning to competition after being absent for several events, was GW Hessong, proving he hadn’t missed a beat laying down some solid laps and coming close to securing 2nd place. John Gay and Eric Floyd got tangled in turn two locking the two cars together. After a lengthy caution to untie the two, Gay and Floyd were both sidelined. Back underway, Dancer stretched out his lead with Kevin Parker in second and Hessong on his bumper in third. Brad Hayes and Billy Perry rounded out the top five.
1st – 5th Results: 1st #52 AJ Dancer, 2nd #7 Kevin Parker, 3rd #47 GW Hessong, 4rh #5 Brad Hayes, 5th #72 Billy Perry
Eight nights of racing and another new winner in the modified division. Eight nights and eight different winners, is a testament to the level of competition in the field. Once again being graced with several first time visitors to Texana, the fans were again in for a treat. 18 cars made the call for the feature. Aaron Hudgeons was on the pole with Brian Spindelman of Katy on the outside. Hudgeons took the lead and was passed early by Greg Dinsmore. Dinsmore got loose in 1 & 2, and was passed back by Hudgeons. An early caution relined the field. Hudgeons was again in the lead and Boerne’s Chris Swenson worked in front of Dinsmore for 2nd. Dinsmore came back to pass Swenson and attempting to pass Hudgeons came in low, and got loose, subsequently moving up into Hudgeons. Eventually, both Dinsmore and Hudgeons would exit the track. While not a first-time visitor to Texana, Corpus Christi’s veteran driver Dale Flanagan was working his way up to be the eighth different modified winner of the season. Flanagan took his yellow #57 machine up to the front. With many laps to his credit, Flanagan is consistent at any track. Also moving into the top five was first time visitor, David Smith II of Copperas Cove. As the race progressed, Smith moved up to capture the third place position and Flanagan would head to the checker to take the win. Swenson who was in the lead group for the entire event would secure second place at the finish.
1st -5th Results: 1st- #57 Dale Flanagan, 2nd- #48 Chris Swenson, 3rd- #703 David Smith II, 4th- #14m Wade Moyer, 5th #22 Art Rodriguez
In an attempt to make up previously rained-out events, Texana Raceway Park will be racing all remaining weekends in August, along with the first two Saturday’s in September. On August 18th, Larry Foyt (son of A. J. Foyt) will make his “Dirt Debut” in the Limited Modified Division.
The track will host another Demolition Derby with the date to be announced. Also watch for a other releases concerning race dates and purses to be announced before August 11th.
Texana Raceway Park is located 2 miles south of Edna on SH 111. Pit gates open at 4pm, general admission at 5:30 and racing by 7:30. Visit Texana on the web at www.texanaracewaypark.org for the latest news.