Post by cassy14 on May 31, 2008 14:11:21 GMT -6
I-37 Raceway, 5/30/08
By J M Hallas
Dinsmore Dialed-in for Three out of Four
For Kerrville's Greg Dinsmore the month on May has been quite kind. In the first three I-37 races this month, Dinsmore had scored two wins and one runner-up finish. Friday night was no different as he charged to lead on lap 1 and went on to lead flag to flag, holding off last weeks winner, Bill Pittaway and Chris Swenson after a late restart.
When green waved on the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event, Dinsmore dove inside Marlin Sanford and Randy Yount to get the lead going into turn 1. Swenson running the high side, got by both on lap 1 for second. Swenson and Sanford then had unrelated spins on lap 2 to bring out a caution. On the restart, Dinsmore got away clean, with Yount, Pittaway, Ken Hobbs and Swenson running nose to tail.
Pittaway and Swenson were both able to get past Hobbs on lap 3, as Pittaway closed on Yount for second. Pittaway took second from Yount on lap 4, with Swenson getting by on lap 6 for third, but Dinsmore was already long gone. At the crossed flags Dinsmore had a full straightaway lead over Pittaway and Swenson, with Yount and Hobbs rounding out the top five.
Pittaway and Swenson were forced to go three wide past Sanford when yellow waved for exhaust system parts off Sanford's car that leader, Dinsmore struck. Once back to green, Pittaway and Swenson resumed their wheel to wheel battle for second, giving Dinsmore, now running with a broken rear shock, the chance to inch back ahead. The final five laps saw Pittaway and Swenson swap second corner for corner. At the checkers it was Dinsmore in the Sundowner RV Repair, Azul Margaritas, racetechinfo.com, Big Worm Motorsports, Tailor Made Counter Tops, Jeff's Performance powered Harris Chassis taking he win, while Pittaway literally inched out second from Swenson.
“The track was really good tonight,” replied Dinsmore. “It was dry slick with some “honey” spots and you could get down around the bottom. Last week I put the springs in the car and had it set up the wrong way. The track was much the same tonight, but he car was fast. It was good, smooth, only had one rut that you could drive around. You had to hunt it, to hit it.”
“It was getting faster their at the end and I hit hat piece of debris. I really it was a flat tire and I thought here we go, another second. I had to check it out on the restart. I went in slower, a little harder on the brakes. The car rolled over real hard on the right rear and got loose, I was sure it was a flat. It freaked me out.”
“I knew that Chris(Swenson) and Bill(Pittaway) and Randy(Yount) would be battling behind me. Once we got rebunched I knew I had to get out that. I knew if they starting fighting for spots that they'd be tied up and I could get away.”
“Derrick(Flora) and I went over it this afternoon with fine tooth comb. We try to fine tune it at the shop and not have to change to much at the track. Derrick helped me a lot, Candace was not feeling good, so he filled in for her. The car worked real well. I was happy with the car, happy with the track, just wish we could get a bigger turnout.”
IMCA Modified
1. 8g Greg Dinsmore
2. 137 Bill Pittaway
3. 48 Chris Swenson
4. 13 Ken Hobbs
5. 66 Randy Yount
6. 2 Marlin Sanford
IMCA Modified heat winner, 2 Marlin Sanford
J. Torres gets Two in a Row
Similar to last week, Johnny Torres worked his way to the front, got the lead around halfway, then took off from the field. Torres, running in the top ten of IMCA Southern Sportmod points, got the lead on lap 7, then held off Chris McLendon and Bill Pittaway on a late restart, for the victory.
McLendon got the jump on Rene Mares to get the early lead of th 20-lap IMCA SSM main, with Dustin Butcher moving to second. Torres then got by R. Mares for third followed by Pittaway fourth. Abraham Mares then ran side by side with R. Mares for fifth. Butcher's chance to run Torres down went away when he expired a motor on lap 2.
Torres then caught McLendon and began pressuring him for the lead. Torres got inside on lap 5, with the two running wheel to wheel on lap 6, before Torres secured the spot on lap 7. Torres then ran out to nearly a full straight lead coming to halfway, with McLendon, Pittaway, R. Mares and Pat Lyon rounding out the top five.
After doing a 360%, A. Mares was working his way back up, getting by Lyon for fifth on lap 11, then R. Mares for fourth, before spinning again bringing out a yellow on lap 15. Once back to green Pittaway was challenging McLendon for second and just as he got spot, pulled to the infield. In the pack A. Mares was trying to regain lost spots again getting by Lyon and R. Mares. Meanwhile up front it was Torres in the 24/7 Towing, Pro Image Graphics, Cen-Tex Motorsports powered, Moser Chassis getting the win.
“We found the set up and it's working good,” commented Torres. “The track was just the way I like it. We leave the car set up for a slick track. It's been going slick here more recently and Corpus(South Texas Speedway) goes slick most of the time. If it's tacky then we'll change a spring, but that's about it.”
“I always try to save the car for the end. Lately there hasn't been many cars here, but they're fast cars so you have to go from the start.”
“I think with the track being nice and smooth lately the car count will come back up. A lot of people ran three times last week, and there's a lot of graduation stuff, that's where Allen is tonight. The track's been good, the pay's been good.”
“Since I'm the point's leader in Corpus I'll be back down there. I'd like to go up to Killeen(Texas Thunder Speedway) for the King of the Hill race and see if I could pick up some bonus money for beating Keith(White). But it doesn't look like it's going to rain in Corpus, so we'll be down there.”
IMCA Southern Sportmod
1 66 Johnny Torres
2. 11 Chris McLendon
3. 22 Rene Mares
4. 60 Pat Lyon
5. 88 Mark McGahey
6. 37 Bill Pittaway
7. 90 Dustin Butcher
4 Abraham Mares—DQ(Did not go to tech)
21g Steve "the shrimper" Grantz---DNS (Broke rear gear)
IMCA SSM heat winners, 37 Bill Pittaway, 66 Johnny Torres
As green waved on the Super Stock feature, Moe VanKirk, Richard Bartosh and David Boudreau went three wide in turn 1 for the lead, with Van Kirk coming out with the point. Multi-time track champ, Gary Hunter got around Boudreau for fourth on lap 1. Yellow waved on lap 4 for debris on the track. VanKirk got away clean on the restart, while Howie Marcx and Bartosh battled for second. The two were side by side on lap 6, with Marcx getting the spot on lap 7.
Jerry Neal spun on lap 8 after contact with Steve Reynolds to bring out yellow. Back under green, VanKirk and Marcx began to check out to settle it among themselves. Harlin Covert was working his way up from his last row starting spot and was trying to get fifth from Boudreau when he spun collecting Randy Miller. On the restart VanKirk got away from Marcx, but then spun himself out in turn 4 handing the lead to Marcx. Bartosh hung with Marcx on the restart and gave the leader a challenge on th final lap, but Marcx held on for the victory.
Super Stock
1. 13 Howie Marcx
2. 7 Richard Bartosh
3. 14 Gary "taz" Hunter
4. 58 Moe VanKirk
5. 29 David "crazy cajun" Boudreau
6. 60 Harlin Covert
7. 77 Randy Miller
8. 57 Jerry Neal
9.33 Steve Reynolds
10. 67 David "wild weasel" Rydl
Super Stock heat winners, 58 Moe VanKirk, 13 Howie Marcx
The Street Stock feature went yellow as quickly as it went green when Shawn Moore's car spit out the driveshaft in turn 1. On the second start, Alton Fambro grabbed the lead in turn 1. A J Wernette brought out the yellow on lap 1 when he spun. On the restart Wade Jones tried to get third from Craig Crawley, but Crawley fought back on the high side. That duo then closed on Tommy Casey, with Crawley using the top groove to get second. Jones followed in Crawley's tracks to get third a lap later.
Crawley then put the heat on Fambro for the lead, with Fambro going too high out of turn 2, giving Crawley the opening to get by. That passed was erased when Wernette spun a second time. Jones got a jump on Crawley when green waved again but it was too good of a jump as yellow came back out for a jump start. The next restart saw Jones wait get by Crawley for second, but again Crawley fought back. Crawley then got inside Fambro for the lead but spun clipping Fambro sending him in the turn 4 dirt bank.
Once back to green, with Jones now up front, Crawley was trying to make up spots getting by Donald Lewis and Wernette for third. Crawley an Casey then began to battle for second with the two making contact sending Casey spinning off the back stretch, while Crawley spun coming back the front straight. On the restart, Casey and Crawley both got by Lewis for third and fourth. Wernette looped it a third time giving up second, but continuing without a caution. With Jones well out in the lead, while Casey and Crawley were back at it for second. Jones snagged another win, with Crawley getting past Casey.
Street Stock
1. 41 Wade Jones
2. 6 Craig Crawley
3. 42 Tommy Casey
4. 51 Donald Lewis
5. 37 A J Wernette
6. 08 Alton Fambro
7. 18 Shawn "hotshot" Moore
Street Stock heat winner, 41 Wade Jones
Adam Torres jumped out front of the 13-car, 20-lap Pure Stock feature, with Justin Henley getting by Sonny Jones on lap 1 second. Brain Terry and Jason Kelly were able to get fourth and fifth from J D Reynolds. Cecil Zimmerman brought out yellow when he spun. On the restart, Kelly got by Terry, but Charles Bendel spun to bring yellow back out. The next try Henley get along side Torres for the lead, while Kelly repeated his pass on Terry.
Torres and Henley continued to run door to door, while Dennis Hilla got along side Terry for fifth. Henley was finally able to clear Torres for the lead on lap 8. The lead duo caught traffic on lap 12 nearly going four wide. Torres was able to get bumper out front on lap 13 as it was three wide splitting a lapped car. Henley then retook the top spot on lap 14. Reynolds brought out the final caution with a spin on lap 16. Once back to green, Henley eased away from Torres while Jones and Kelly battled for third.
Pure Stock
1. 96 Justin Henley
2. 66 Adam Torres
3. 555 Sonny Jones
4. 22 Brian Terry
5. 25 Jo Jo Horne
6. 67 Gerald McCall
7. 57Z Cecil Zimmerman
8. 3 Albert Mares
9. 63 J D Reynolds
10. 7x Dennis Hilla
11. 48 Leland Frautschi
12. 31j Charles Bendel
57x Jason Kelly--DQ(failed tech)
Pure Stock heat winners, 96 Justin Henley, 66 Adam Torres
By J M Hallas
Dinsmore Dialed-in for Three out of Four
For Kerrville's Greg Dinsmore the month on May has been quite kind. In the first three I-37 races this month, Dinsmore had scored two wins and one runner-up finish. Friday night was no different as he charged to lead on lap 1 and went on to lead flag to flag, holding off last weeks winner, Bill Pittaway and Chris Swenson after a late restart.
When green waved on the 20-lap IMCA Modified main event, Dinsmore dove inside Marlin Sanford and Randy Yount to get the lead going into turn 1. Swenson running the high side, got by both on lap 1 for second. Swenson and Sanford then had unrelated spins on lap 2 to bring out a caution. On the restart, Dinsmore got away clean, with Yount, Pittaway, Ken Hobbs and Swenson running nose to tail.
Pittaway and Swenson were both able to get past Hobbs on lap 3, as Pittaway closed on Yount for second. Pittaway took second from Yount on lap 4, with Swenson getting by on lap 6 for third, but Dinsmore was already long gone. At the crossed flags Dinsmore had a full straightaway lead over Pittaway and Swenson, with Yount and Hobbs rounding out the top five.
Pittaway and Swenson were forced to go three wide past Sanford when yellow waved for exhaust system parts off Sanford's car that leader, Dinsmore struck. Once back to green, Pittaway and Swenson resumed their wheel to wheel battle for second, giving Dinsmore, now running with a broken rear shock, the chance to inch back ahead. The final five laps saw Pittaway and Swenson swap second corner for corner. At the checkers it was Dinsmore in the Sundowner RV Repair, Azul Margaritas, racetechinfo.com, Big Worm Motorsports, Tailor Made Counter Tops, Jeff's Performance powered Harris Chassis taking he win, while Pittaway literally inched out second from Swenson.
“The track was really good tonight,” replied Dinsmore. “It was dry slick with some “honey” spots and you could get down around the bottom. Last week I put the springs in the car and had it set up the wrong way. The track was much the same tonight, but he car was fast. It was good, smooth, only had one rut that you could drive around. You had to hunt it, to hit it.”
“It was getting faster their at the end and I hit hat piece of debris. I really it was a flat tire and I thought here we go, another second. I had to check it out on the restart. I went in slower, a little harder on the brakes. The car rolled over real hard on the right rear and got loose, I was sure it was a flat. It freaked me out.”
“I knew that Chris(Swenson) and Bill(Pittaway) and Randy(Yount) would be battling behind me. Once we got rebunched I knew I had to get out that. I knew if they starting fighting for spots that they'd be tied up and I could get away.”
“Derrick(Flora) and I went over it this afternoon with fine tooth comb. We try to fine tune it at the shop and not have to change to much at the track. Derrick helped me a lot, Candace was not feeling good, so he filled in for her. The car worked real well. I was happy with the car, happy with the track, just wish we could get a bigger turnout.”
IMCA Modified
1. 8g Greg Dinsmore
2. 137 Bill Pittaway
3. 48 Chris Swenson
4. 13 Ken Hobbs
5. 66 Randy Yount
6. 2 Marlin Sanford
IMCA Modified heat winner, 2 Marlin Sanford
J. Torres gets Two in a Row
Similar to last week, Johnny Torres worked his way to the front, got the lead around halfway, then took off from the field. Torres, running in the top ten of IMCA Southern Sportmod points, got the lead on lap 7, then held off Chris McLendon and Bill Pittaway on a late restart, for the victory.
McLendon got the jump on Rene Mares to get the early lead of th 20-lap IMCA SSM main, with Dustin Butcher moving to second. Torres then got by R. Mares for third followed by Pittaway fourth. Abraham Mares then ran side by side with R. Mares for fifth. Butcher's chance to run Torres down went away when he expired a motor on lap 2.
Torres then caught McLendon and began pressuring him for the lead. Torres got inside on lap 5, with the two running wheel to wheel on lap 6, before Torres secured the spot on lap 7. Torres then ran out to nearly a full straight lead coming to halfway, with McLendon, Pittaway, R. Mares and Pat Lyon rounding out the top five.
After doing a 360%, A. Mares was working his way back up, getting by Lyon for fifth on lap 11, then R. Mares for fourth, before spinning again bringing out a yellow on lap 15. Once back to green Pittaway was challenging McLendon for second and just as he got spot, pulled to the infield. In the pack A. Mares was trying to regain lost spots again getting by Lyon and R. Mares. Meanwhile up front it was Torres in the 24/7 Towing, Pro Image Graphics, Cen-Tex Motorsports powered, Moser Chassis getting the win.
“We found the set up and it's working good,” commented Torres. “The track was just the way I like it. We leave the car set up for a slick track. It's been going slick here more recently and Corpus(South Texas Speedway) goes slick most of the time. If it's tacky then we'll change a spring, but that's about it.”
“I always try to save the car for the end. Lately there hasn't been many cars here, but they're fast cars so you have to go from the start.”
“I think with the track being nice and smooth lately the car count will come back up. A lot of people ran three times last week, and there's a lot of graduation stuff, that's where Allen is tonight. The track's been good, the pay's been good.”
“Since I'm the point's leader in Corpus I'll be back down there. I'd like to go up to Killeen(Texas Thunder Speedway) for the King of the Hill race and see if I could pick up some bonus money for beating Keith(White). But it doesn't look like it's going to rain in Corpus, so we'll be down there.”
IMCA Southern Sportmod
1 66 Johnny Torres
2. 11 Chris McLendon
3. 22 Rene Mares
4. 60 Pat Lyon
5. 88 Mark McGahey
6. 37 Bill Pittaway
7. 90 Dustin Butcher
4 Abraham Mares—DQ(Did not go to tech)
21g Steve "the shrimper" Grantz---DNS (Broke rear gear)
IMCA SSM heat winners, 37 Bill Pittaway, 66 Johnny Torres
As green waved on the Super Stock feature, Moe VanKirk, Richard Bartosh and David Boudreau went three wide in turn 1 for the lead, with Van Kirk coming out with the point. Multi-time track champ, Gary Hunter got around Boudreau for fourth on lap 1. Yellow waved on lap 4 for debris on the track. VanKirk got away clean on the restart, while Howie Marcx and Bartosh battled for second. The two were side by side on lap 6, with Marcx getting the spot on lap 7.
Jerry Neal spun on lap 8 after contact with Steve Reynolds to bring out yellow. Back under green, VanKirk and Marcx began to check out to settle it among themselves. Harlin Covert was working his way up from his last row starting spot and was trying to get fifth from Boudreau when he spun collecting Randy Miller. On the restart VanKirk got away from Marcx, but then spun himself out in turn 4 handing the lead to Marcx. Bartosh hung with Marcx on the restart and gave the leader a challenge on th final lap, but Marcx held on for the victory.
Super Stock
1. 13 Howie Marcx
2. 7 Richard Bartosh
3. 14 Gary "taz" Hunter
4. 58 Moe VanKirk
5. 29 David "crazy cajun" Boudreau
6. 60 Harlin Covert
7. 77 Randy Miller
8. 57 Jerry Neal
9.33 Steve Reynolds
10. 67 David "wild weasel" Rydl
Super Stock heat winners, 58 Moe VanKirk, 13 Howie Marcx
The Street Stock feature went yellow as quickly as it went green when Shawn Moore's car spit out the driveshaft in turn 1. On the second start, Alton Fambro grabbed the lead in turn 1. A J Wernette brought out the yellow on lap 1 when he spun. On the restart Wade Jones tried to get third from Craig Crawley, but Crawley fought back on the high side. That duo then closed on Tommy Casey, with Crawley using the top groove to get second. Jones followed in Crawley's tracks to get third a lap later.
Crawley then put the heat on Fambro for the lead, with Fambro going too high out of turn 2, giving Crawley the opening to get by. That passed was erased when Wernette spun a second time. Jones got a jump on Crawley when green waved again but it was too good of a jump as yellow came back out for a jump start. The next restart saw Jones wait get by Crawley for second, but again Crawley fought back. Crawley then got inside Fambro for the lead but spun clipping Fambro sending him in the turn 4 dirt bank.
Once back to green, with Jones now up front, Crawley was trying to make up spots getting by Donald Lewis and Wernette for third. Crawley an Casey then began to battle for second with the two making contact sending Casey spinning off the back stretch, while Crawley spun coming back the front straight. On the restart, Casey and Crawley both got by Lewis for third and fourth. Wernette looped it a third time giving up second, but continuing without a caution. With Jones well out in the lead, while Casey and Crawley were back at it for second. Jones snagged another win, with Crawley getting past Casey.
Street Stock
1. 41 Wade Jones
2. 6 Craig Crawley
3. 42 Tommy Casey
4. 51 Donald Lewis
5. 37 A J Wernette
6. 08 Alton Fambro
7. 18 Shawn "hotshot" Moore
Street Stock heat winner, 41 Wade Jones
Adam Torres jumped out front of the 13-car, 20-lap Pure Stock feature, with Justin Henley getting by Sonny Jones on lap 1 second. Brain Terry and Jason Kelly were able to get fourth and fifth from J D Reynolds. Cecil Zimmerman brought out yellow when he spun. On the restart, Kelly got by Terry, but Charles Bendel spun to bring yellow back out. The next try Henley get along side Torres for the lead, while Kelly repeated his pass on Terry.
Torres and Henley continued to run door to door, while Dennis Hilla got along side Terry for fifth. Henley was finally able to clear Torres for the lead on lap 8. The lead duo caught traffic on lap 12 nearly going four wide. Torres was able to get bumper out front on lap 13 as it was three wide splitting a lapped car. Henley then retook the top spot on lap 14. Reynolds brought out the final caution with a spin on lap 16. Once back to green, Henley eased away from Torres while Jones and Kelly battled for third.
Pure Stock
1. 96 Justin Henley
2. 66 Adam Torres
3. 555 Sonny Jones
4. 22 Brian Terry
5. 25 Jo Jo Horne
6. 67 Gerald McCall
7. 57Z Cecil Zimmerman
8. 3 Albert Mares
9. 63 J D Reynolds
10. 7x Dennis Hilla
11. 48 Leland Frautschi
12. 31j Charles Bendel
57x Jason Kelly--DQ(failed tech)
Pure Stock heat winners, 96 Justin Henley, 66 Adam Torres