Post by cassy14 on May 24, 2008 14:10:22 GMT -6
I-37 Raceway, 5/23/08
By J M Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx.,(May 23rd, 2008) I -37 Raceway kicked off the Memorial Day weekend with a regular Friday night of racing featuring the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Southern Sportmods, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks. The track was dry slick and smooth catching some drivers off guard, while others found it to their liking.
Pittaway Picks up Payday in Modified Main.
Corpus Christi's Bill Pittaway was one of those that found the track it his his liking as he got out front on green and led flag to flag for the win. Pittaway had to hold off the charges of Greg Dinsmore, winner of the last two races in a row.
As green waved on the short field, Pittaway was first into turn 1 with the lead. Dinsmore moved up to third behind Brian Rye in second. Dinsmore put the heat on Rye getting along side on lap 3. Dinsmore dove into turn 3 getting the spot, but Rye pulled off a classic crossover move to retake second out of turn 4. Dinsmore then used the high side to get by Rye for god on lap 4.
By now Pittaway had built a huge lead over the Dinsmore Rye scramble. On lap 8, Marlin Sanford spun to bring out a caution and erase Pittaway's advantage. When green waved again, Pittaway got a three car margin over Dinsmore coming to halfway. At the crossed flags it was Pittaway, Dinsmore, Rye, Jason Borlace, Randy Yount and Sanford. Borlace, Yount and Sanford went into turn 1 three wide with Sanford spinning taking out Borlace and Yount.
Once back to green, Dinsmore took a quick look inside Pittaway, but an infield tire on the track's edge brought the yellow back out again. Dinsmore took another run at Pittaway as the race resumed, but Pittaway held steady with the lead. Pittaway was able to slowly creep away from Dinsmore and rebuild his lead. As the white waved, Pittaway was out front by a half straightaway, easily taking the checkers in his C D Electric, Wells Racing Engine powered, Jet Chassis.
“Track conditions!” explained Pittaway. “The track was dry slick tonight just the way I like it. When the track is heavy, horsepower is more the name of the game. When it's dry, the cars that handle good will run good and come to the front and stay there. The track will get a nice e-mail come Tuesday from me. I've tried to tell them to shoot the water truck and they finally did it.”
“Some people have complained bout the track conditions and car count is down. I think that's because a lot of guys have lost motors on the heavy track. We lost one last race, and I haven't lost one in five years. It's the heavy tracks that put a lot of wear and tear on the cars, the motors, the drivetrain. There may have been some more spin outs, but it's better than pulling the guts out of the motors.”
“I could hear somebody there on the restart, but I wear ear plugs and that drowns out the motor noise. I actually picked up the line I ran from watching former IMCA Modified National Champion, Henry Witt. He'd run low in turns 1-2, then high in 3-4. I remember his line from chasing him for two years. It's smooth around the top of 3-4, but if you go high in 1-2 your car is just going slide out. So you need to get your nose on the bottom and stay there.”
“We're doing pretty good this year in both cars. We're second in points at both tracks, in both classes. I think we're still in the top ten nationally in Sportmods and top twenty in Modifieds. The guys up north haven't gotten a lot races in though. I talked Johnny “The Jet” Saathoff and he said that in 26 possible races they've had 19 rain outs.”
“I liked that Corpus(South Texas Speedway) went to IMCA rules. Before when it was basically an outlaw track, I'd struggle to get a top ten finish. Now I'm doing good down there, yes a lot has to do with consistency. Dale(Flanagan) and I are buddies, we've raced for years together and I ran Texana when it was it was IMCA. If we have an off week in Corpus, I might just up there and run with the guys.”
“I should have made more changes,” replied runner-up Dinsmore. “I had it set up and scaled for a tacky track. I changed the rear, but not the front. I should have done more and given it the set up I use in Corpus where it's dry slick most of the time.”
IMCA Modifieds
1. 137 Bill Pittaway
2. 8g Greg Dinsmore
3. 25r Brian Rye
4. 66 Randy Yount
5. 2 Marlin Sanford
6. 125 Jason Borlace
IMCA Modified heat winner, 137 Bill Pittaway
Torres Tames SportMod Field
In the ongoing battle for family dinner table supremacy, it was Johnny Torres this week getting bragging rights. J. Torres worked his way up from the fifth row, took the lead on lap 7, then pulled away from the rest of the field to pocket another win.
Jason Stanley and Rene Mares led the IMCA SSM main to green with Stanley getting the lead in turn 1, while Mares slid too high and fell back. Allen Torres moved to second, Bill Pittaway third and Johnny Torres fourth. Mares lost another spot to Mickey Helms on lap 1 as the top four pulled away.
On lap 3 Pittaway took a look high on A. Torres, while J. Torres snuck in under Pittaway and snagged third. J. Torres quickly began pressuring brother Allen for second getting the spot on lap 4. J. Torres then reeled in Stanley and got inside on lap 5. That duet went three wide past a lapped car before J. Torres came out with the top spot on lap 7.
In the pack Helms caught A. Torres and Pittaway as they continued to fight it out for third. At the crossed flags it was J. Torres, Stanley, A. Torres, Pittaway and Helms, with J. Torres pulling away as second through fifth ran nose to tail. J. Torres had built a full straightaway margin, when yellow waved for a spin by Doug Livingston on lap 15.
Once back under green, A. Torres took a look inside Stanley for second, but ended up giving third to Pittaway on lap 16. Helms and A. Torres then ran wheel to wheel for fourth, as J. Torres inched back away from the pack. As the white flag was shown it was J. Torres in the 24/7 Towing, Pro Image Graphics, Cen-Tex Motorsports, Moser Chassis, with a good lead over Stanley, Pittaway, Helms and A. Torres who were bumper to bumper. J. Torres grabbed the checkers, while Pittaway came up a little short on his last lap shot at Stanley.
“The track was nice, slick and smooth tonight,” commented J. Torres. “Just the way I like it. I made some changes to the car, but my brother came along and kicked our butt and he didn't change anything. So we put on the same set up as he had and it did pretty good. Now Allen wil have to wash my car and chck it out before Saturday night's race.”
“We'll go to Corpus for Saturday and Sunday an try to pick up some more points. We have to start in the back Saturday and Sunday is a draw/redraw night so it won't be easy. Hopefully we'll draw good.”
“We have this car for sale, but I'm sticking to Sportmods. We're just trying to stay updated. We could always use some more sponsors.”
IMCA Southern Sport Mods
1. 66 Johnny Torres
2. 92 Jason Stanley
3. 137 Bill Pittaway
4. 174 Mickey Helms
5. 94 Allen Torres
6. 89 Doug Livingston
7. 88 Mark McGahey
8. 22 Rene Mares
9. 4$ Chris Rye
11 Chris McLendon---DNS
IMCA SSM Heat Winners, 92 Jason Stanley, 94 Allen Torres
Moe VanKirk and Wesley Skains ran side by side for the lead of the 15-lap Super Stock feature until Skains drifted too high in turn 4. Richard Bartosh moved in on VanKirk and got into the back of him continuing to push until VanKirk spun in turn 2. Bartosh was sent to the trailer, and VanKirk put back out front. Back under green VanKirk held the lead over Howie Marcx, until yellow waved when Gary Hunter stopped on the edge of the track after contact with Skains, who pulled off under yellow.
On the restart, Marcx got a run on VanKirk with the two side by side for the lead. The duo continued to run door to door until Marcx got out front on lap 7. VanKirk kept the heat on Marcx who slipped to high in turn 2, giving VanKirk the lead back on lap 8. In the pack David Boudreau and Randy Miller, making his first appearance of the year, swapped third. Marcx was back pressuring VanKirk and retook the lead for good on lap 13, then held on to take the win.
Super Stock
1. 13 Howie Marcx
2. 58 Moe VanKirk
3. 77 Randy Miller
4. 29 David "crazy cajun" Boudreau
5. 21 Chico Cox
6. 25 Wesley Skains
7. 14 Gary "taz" Hunter
8. 7 Richard Bartosh
Super Stock heat winner, 58 Moe VanKirk, 25 Wesley Skains
Tommy Casey got the early lead in the 15-lap Street Stock feature with Craig Crawley second, Wade Jones moving up to third, and Donald Lewis fourth. Casey and Crawley, both former pavement track drivers, battled side by side until Crawley snagged the top spot on lap 3. Casey fell back into the clutches of Lewis as they swapped third until Jones spun himself from second bringing out a yellow.
On the restart, Crawley got a good jump when Lewis' car slowed on take over, Shane Moore did a 360% from third, as Jones back up from he tail. Casey would then spin from second on lap 10. Once back under green, Jones again looped it while running second to bring yellow right back out. Casey and Jones quickly moved back up as the green waved with Crawley easing away from Alton Fambro. Casey brought out the final yellow with another spin on lap 13. Crawley got a good restart while Fambro battled with Jones for second and was able to grab the victory.
Street Stock
1. 6 Craig Crawley
2. 41 Wade Jones
3. 08 Alton Fambro
4. 18 Shane Moore
5. 51 Donald Lewis
6. 42 Tommy Casey
7. 37 A J Wernette
Street Stock heat winner, 41 Wade Jones
The Pure Stock feature was a slam-bang, go for spin, enduro as driver on the small-tired cars had trouble negotiating the dry slick track conditions. Former track champion, Janel Hilla got out front in the early stages, giving way to Sonny Jones on lap 5 when she pitted during one of many cautions.
Jones' chance to grab a victory went away when he had trouble with steering once back to green. This handed the lead over to Danny Kasperwicz, who then had to battle to hold off Justin Henley. After a side by side battle, some paint trading and a half spin by Kasperwicz, Henley got the point. From there Henley ran off from the field as positions changed nearly every corner due to spins, half spins or getting loose. At the checkers it Henley with a big lead over newcomers, Leland Frautschi and Gaylon Schwanke
Pure Stock
1. 96 Justin Henley
2. 48 Leland Frautschi
3. 55x Gaylon Schwanke
4. 7x Janel Hilla
5. 74 Danny Kasperwicz
6. 22 Brian Terry
7. 25 Jo Jo Horne jr.
8. 67 Joe Horne
9. 555 Sonny Jones
10. 25 Chance Skains
11. 66 Adam Torres
12. 70 David Houston
13. 23 Sean Terry
14. 63 Steve Reynolds
Pure Stock heat winners, 96 Justin Henley, 23 Sean Terry
There were no DQ's this week.
Congrats to all winners last night.
Pure Stock - 96 Justin Henley - Somerset
Sponsored by: Henley Construction, 24/7 Towing, Hance Auto Parts, C & C Graphics
Street Stock - 6 Craig Crawley - San Antonio
Sponsored by: Miss Mindy Racing 29, Cody Racing, Mom & Dad, Bruce Shanklin, Mission, Thanks to Barry
(This win was dedicated to Miss Mindy 29!!! Get Well Soon!!!)
Super Stock - 13 Howie Marcx - Somerset
Sponsored by: Paradise Paint, Howie's Lawn Service, D&S Garage, Dennie Anderson Racing Engines, Texas Premium Water, Jerry Geromiller, Shepard's Machine Shop
IMCA Sport Mod - 66 Johnny Torres - San Antonio
Sponsored by: 24/7 Towing, Moser Race Cars, Henley Construction, Centrex Motor Sports, Pro Image Signs & Graphics
IMCA Modifieds - 37 William "Bill" Pittaway - Corpus
Sponsored by: CD Electric
By J M Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx.,(May 23rd, 2008) I -37 Raceway kicked off the Memorial Day weekend with a regular Friday night of racing featuring the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Southern Sportmods, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks. The track was dry slick and smooth catching some drivers off guard, while others found it to their liking.
Pittaway Picks up Payday in Modified Main.
Corpus Christi's Bill Pittaway was one of those that found the track it his his liking as he got out front on green and led flag to flag for the win. Pittaway had to hold off the charges of Greg Dinsmore, winner of the last two races in a row.
As green waved on the short field, Pittaway was first into turn 1 with the lead. Dinsmore moved up to third behind Brian Rye in second. Dinsmore put the heat on Rye getting along side on lap 3. Dinsmore dove into turn 3 getting the spot, but Rye pulled off a classic crossover move to retake second out of turn 4. Dinsmore then used the high side to get by Rye for god on lap 4.
By now Pittaway had built a huge lead over the Dinsmore Rye scramble. On lap 8, Marlin Sanford spun to bring out a caution and erase Pittaway's advantage. When green waved again, Pittaway got a three car margin over Dinsmore coming to halfway. At the crossed flags it was Pittaway, Dinsmore, Rye, Jason Borlace, Randy Yount and Sanford. Borlace, Yount and Sanford went into turn 1 three wide with Sanford spinning taking out Borlace and Yount.
Once back to green, Dinsmore took a quick look inside Pittaway, but an infield tire on the track's edge brought the yellow back out again. Dinsmore took another run at Pittaway as the race resumed, but Pittaway held steady with the lead. Pittaway was able to slowly creep away from Dinsmore and rebuild his lead. As the white waved, Pittaway was out front by a half straightaway, easily taking the checkers in his C D Electric, Wells Racing Engine powered, Jet Chassis.
“Track conditions!” explained Pittaway. “The track was dry slick tonight just the way I like it. When the track is heavy, horsepower is more the name of the game. When it's dry, the cars that handle good will run good and come to the front and stay there. The track will get a nice e-mail come Tuesday from me. I've tried to tell them to shoot the water truck and they finally did it.”
“Some people have complained bout the track conditions and car count is down. I think that's because a lot of guys have lost motors on the heavy track. We lost one last race, and I haven't lost one in five years. It's the heavy tracks that put a lot of wear and tear on the cars, the motors, the drivetrain. There may have been some more spin outs, but it's better than pulling the guts out of the motors.”
“I could hear somebody there on the restart, but I wear ear plugs and that drowns out the motor noise. I actually picked up the line I ran from watching former IMCA Modified National Champion, Henry Witt. He'd run low in turns 1-2, then high in 3-4. I remember his line from chasing him for two years. It's smooth around the top of 3-4, but if you go high in 1-2 your car is just going slide out. So you need to get your nose on the bottom and stay there.”
“We're doing pretty good this year in both cars. We're second in points at both tracks, in both classes. I think we're still in the top ten nationally in Sportmods and top twenty in Modifieds. The guys up north haven't gotten a lot races in though. I talked Johnny “The Jet” Saathoff and he said that in 26 possible races they've had 19 rain outs.”
“I liked that Corpus(South Texas Speedway) went to IMCA rules. Before when it was basically an outlaw track, I'd struggle to get a top ten finish. Now I'm doing good down there, yes a lot has to do with consistency. Dale(Flanagan) and I are buddies, we've raced for years together and I ran Texana when it was it was IMCA. If we have an off week in Corpus, I might just up there and run with the guys.”
“I should have made more changes,” replied runner-up Dinsmore. “I had it set up and scaled for a tacky track. I changed the rear, but not the front. I should have done more and given it the set up I use in Corpus where it's dry slick most of the time.”
IMCA Modifieds
1. 137 Bill Pittaway
2. 8g Greg Dinsmore
3. 25r Brian Rye
4. 66 Randy Yount
5. 2 Marlin Sanford
6. 125 Jason Borlace
IMCA Modified heat winner, 137 Bill Pittaway
Torres Tames SportMod Field
In the ongoing battle for family dinner table supremacy, it was Johnny Torres this week getting bragging rights. J. Torres worked his way up from the fifth row, took the lead on lap 7, then pulled away from the rest of the field to pocket another win.
Jason Stanley and Rene Mares led the IMCA SSM main to green with Stanley getting the lead in turn 1, while Mares slid too high and fell back. Allen Torres moved to second, Bill Pittaway third and Johnny Torres fourth. Mares lost another spot to Mickey Helms on lap 1 as the top four pulled away.
On lap 3 Pittaway took a look high on A. Torres, while J. Torres snuck in under Pittaway and snagged third. J. Torres quickly began pressuring brother Allen for second getting the spot on lap 4. J. Torres then reeled in Stanley and got inside on lap 5. That duet went three wide past a lapped car before J. Torres came out with the top spot on lap 7.
In the pack Helms caught A. Torres and Pittaway as they continued to fight it out for third. At the crossed flags it was J. Torres, Stanley, A. Torres, Pittaway and Helms, with J. Torres pulling away as second through fifth ran nose to tail. J. Torres had built a full straightaway margin, when yellow waved for a spin by Doug Livingston on lap 15.
Once back under green, A. Torres took a look inside Stanley for second, but ended up giving third to Pittaway on lap 16. Helms and A. Torres then ran wheel to wheel for fourth, as J. Torres inched back away from the pack. As the white flag was shown it was J. Torres in the 24/7 Towing, Pro Image Graphics, Cen-Tex Motorsports, Moser Chassis, with a good lead over Stanley, Pittaway, Helms and A. Torres who were bumper to bumper. J. Torres grabbed the checkers, while Pittaway came up a little short on his last lap shot at Stanley.
“The track was nice, slick and smooth tonight,” commented J. Torres. “Just the way I like it. I made some changes to the car, but my brother came along and kicked our butt and he didn't change anything. So we put on the same set up as he had and it did pretty good. Now Allen wil have to wash my car and chck it out before Saturday night's race.”
“We'll go to Corpus for Saturday and Sunday an try to pick up some more points. We have to start in the back Saturday and Sunday is a draw/redraw night so it won't be easy. Hopefully we'll draw good.”
“We have this car for sale, but I'm sticking to Sportmods. We're just trying to stay updated. We could always use some more sponsors.”
IMCA Southern Sport Mods
1. 66 Johnny Torres
2. 92 Jason Stanley
3. 137 Bill Pittaway
4. 174 Mickey Helms
5. 94 Allen Torres
6. 89 Doug Livingston
7. 88 Mark McGahey
8. 22 Rene Mares
9. 4$ Chris Rye
11 Chris McLendon---DNS
IMCA SSM Heat Winners, 92 Jason Stanley, 94 Allen Torres
Moe VanKirk and Wesley Skains ran side by side for the lead of the 15-lap Super Stock feature until Skains drifted too high in turn 4. Richard Bartosh moved in on VanKirk and got into the back of him continuing to push until VanKirk spun in turn 2. Bartosh was sent to the trailer, and VanKirk put back out front. Back under green VanKirk held the lead over Howie Marcx, until yellow waved when Gary Hunter stopped on the edge of the track after contact with Skains, who pulled off under yellow.
On the restart, Marcx got a run on VanKirk with the two side by side for the lead. The duo continued to run door to door until Marcx got out front on lap 7. VanKirk kept the heat on Marcx who slipped to high in turn 2, giving VanKirk the lead back on lap 8. In the pack David Boudreau and Randy Miller, making his first appearance of the year, swapped third. Marcx was back pressuring VanKirk and retook the lead for good on lap 13, then held on to take the win.
Super Stock
1. 13 Howie Marcx
2. 58 Moe VanKirk
3. 77 Randy Miller
4. 29 David "crazy cajun" Boudreau
5. 21 Chico Cox
6. 25 Wesley Skains
7. 14 Gary "taz" Hunter
8. 7 Richard Bartosh
Super Stock heat winner, 58 Moe VanKirk, 25 Wesley Skains
Tommy Casey got the early lead in the 15-lap Street Stock feature with Craig Crawley second, Wade Jones moving up to third, and Donald Lewis fourth. Casey and Crawley, both former pavement track drivers, battled side by side until Crawley snagged the top spot on lap 3. Casey fell back into the clutches of Lewis as they swapped third until Jones spun himself from second bringing out a yellow.
On the restart, Crawley got a good jump when Lewis' car slowed on take over, Shane Moore did a 360% from third, as Jones back up from he tail. Casey would then spin from second on lap 10. Once back under green, Jones again looped it while running second to bring yellow right back out. Casey and Jones quickly moved back up as the green waved with Crawley easing away from Alton Fambro. Casey brought out the final yellow with another spin on lap 13. Crawley got a good restart while Fambro battled with Jones for second and was able to grab the victory.
Street Stock
1. 6 Craig Crawley
2. 41 Wade Jones
3. 08 Alton Fambro
4. 18 Shane Moore
5. 51 Donald Lewis
6. 42 Tommy Casey
7. 37 A J Wernette
Street Stock heat winner, 41 Wade Jones
The Pure Stock feature was a slam-bang, go for spin, enduro as driver on the small-tired cars had trouble negotiating the dry slick track conditions. Former track champion, Janel Hilla got out front in the early stages, giving way to Sonny Jones on lap 5 when she pitted during one of many cautions.
Jones' chance to grab a victory went away when he had trouble with steering once back to green. This handed the lead over to Danny Kasperwicz, who then had to battle to hold off Justin Henley. After a side by side battle, some paint trading and a half spin by Kasperwicz, Henley got the point. From there Henley ran off from the field as positions changed nearly every corner due to spins, half spins or getting loose. At the checkers it Henley with a big lead over newcomers, Leland Frautschi and Gaylon Schwanke
Pure Stock
1. 96 Justin Henley
2. 48 Leland Frautschi
3. 55x Gaylon Schwanke
4. 7x Janel Hilla
5. 74 Danny Kasperwicz
6. 22 Brian Terry
7. 25 Jo Jo Horne jr.
8. 67 Joe Horne
9. 555 Sonny Jones
10. 25 Chance Skains
11. 66 Adam Torres
12. 70 David Houston
13. 23 Sean Terry
14. 63 Steve Reynolds
Pure Stock heat winners, 96 Justin Henley, 23 Sean Terry
There were no DQ's this week.
Congrats to all winners last night.
Pure Stock - 96 Justin Henley - Somerset
Sponsored by: Henley Construction, 24/7 Towing, Hance Auto Parts, C & C Graphics
Street Stock - 6 Craig Crawley - San Antonio
Sponsored by: Miss Mindy Racing 29, Cody Racing, Mom & Dad, Bruce Shanklin, Mission, Thanks to Barry
(This win was dedicated to Miss Mindy 29!!! Get Well Soon!!!)
Super Stock - 13 Howie Marcx - Somerset
Sponsored by: Paradise Paint, Howie's Lawn Service, D&S Garage, Dennie Anderson Racing Engines, Texas Premium Water, Jerry Geromiller, Shepard's Machine Shop
IMCA Sport Mod - 66 Johnny Torres - San Antonio
Sponsored by: 24/7 Towing, Moser Race Cars, Henley Construction, Centrex Motor Sports, Pro Image Signs & Graphics
IMCA Modifieds - 37 William "Bill" Pittaway - Corpus
Sponsored by: CD Electric