Post by cassy14 on Jul 19, 2008 19:00:20 GMT -6
Race for a Cure Night @ I-37 Raceway, 7/18/08
By J M Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx.,(July 18th, 2008) After a scheduled weekend off, racing resumed Friday night on the 1/4 mile semi-banked clay oval just south of San Antonio. The night's activities were presented by the American Cancer Society, and the Race for a Cure program. The night's racing card, included the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Southern Sportmods, Super Stock, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks. Capping off the evening's events would be a mechanics race for all the classes, to be held under a full moon. Maybe not the best of night's for the event.
The ACS Race Night was the second part of the Inaugural Cancer Society Race Car Expo, that began the previous weekend in Hondo. The group spearheaded by Brenda Wernette, had over 25 sponsors kicking in prizes and gift certificates to be raffled off, with all the proceeds going to Race for a Cure.
Dinsmore Dominates Modified Main
Kerrville's Greg Dinsmore once again put a whoopin' on the IMCA Modified field in the A-main event. Dinsmore made a quick move from sixth to second on the start, then got by early leader Patrick Kelly. Veteran Corpus Christi hotshoe, Lawrence Mikulencak was never able to get close enough to mount a serious challenge as Dinsmore ran off to the checkers.
As green waved on the 20-lap IMCA Modified main, Kelly beat polesitter Jason Borlace into turn 1, with Dinsmore up to second and Mikulencak moving from eighth to fourth. Mikulencak then got by Borlace for third followed by Randy Yount for fourth. Dinsmore was just beginning to challenge Kelly for the lead when caution came out for Brian Rye stopped on the back stretch.
On the restart, Dinsmore took the high groove going into turn 1 and was able to get by Kelly for the top spot on lap 3. Mikulencak was next to get past Kelly on lap 3, but Dinsmore had already began to check out. In the pack, Bill Pittaway and Borlace ran side by side for fifth. Chip Godfredson soon joined that duo and picked off sixth from Pittaway on lap 7, then Borlace for fifth a lap later.
Coming to the crossed flags it was Dinsmore pulling away to nearly a full straightaway lead over Mikulencak, Kelly, Yount and Godfredson who continued to battle for fifth. By lap 15, the top three had spread out with large gaps between each. Godfredson was able to shake off Borlace and Pittaway.
Dinsmore's only real challenge was trying to hold on to a tricky, dry slick track in the final laps. With two to go, Dinsmore came up on the slower car of Bob Lienweber, the only thing to slow him down. Dinsmore in the Team Brain Freeze, Azul Margaritas, Sundowner RV Repair, Lowery Plumbing, racetechinfo.com, Southern Spirits, Jeff's Performance, Harris Chassis, didn't press the issue as with a big lead, easily grabbed the victory.
“The car is in such a groove here,” replied Dinsmore. “We've got the set up dialed in here and the car about drives itself. My crew does a good job helping me keep up with the changes we do on it. I can just about jump in, get on the throttle and it goes.
“I kept watching and listening for Lawrence(Mikulencak). Any time he shows up at he track you know he's going to be right there. He has tons of experience on tracks all over, is fast no matter where he runs and you know that he'll race you clean. I knew we both starting near the rear, so I needed to make my move to the front early.”
IMCA Modifieds
1. 8g Greg Dinsmore
2. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
3. 84 Patrick Kelly
4. 66 Randy Yount
5. 11k Chip Godfredson
6. 125 Jason Borlace
7. 137 Bill Pittaway
8. 12 Bob Lienweber
9. 20 Brian Rye
IMCA Modified heat winners, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
Godfredson Grabs Gold in Sportmod Main
For Chip Godfredson, a former Sprint Car ace, the learning curve for IMCA Southern Sportmods has been steep and rapid. After a two and half year hiatus from racing Godfredson showed he still had the touch as found his way to Victory Lane in only his fourth time in the car. Godfredson got by early leader Doug Livingston, then held off always hard-charging Chris Swenson for his first SSM win.
Livingston jumped out front at the start of the 14-car, 20-lap IMCA SSM main. Godfredson got by Barry Codling on lap 1 for second with Allen Torres following to third. Codling would spin on lap 2 after contact with Swenson to bring out a yellow. On the restart Godfredson got along side Livingston for the lead. A. Torres saw his night end early when he broke and pulled to the infield from third.
Godfredson had just gotten by Livingston when yellow waved again for a spin by Rene Mares. Once back to green, Godfredson ducked inside Livingston and got the lead going down the back stretch. Swenson then got by Livingston, with Bill Pittaway taking fourth from Chris McLendon. As Godfredson and Swenson inched away, Steve Grantz, Chris Rye, Johnny Torres and McLendon were nearly four wide for fifth.
Pittaway moved on Livingston running side by side on lap 7, while J. Torres won he fight for fifth. Coming to halfway, Godfredson had Swenson on his bumper, literally, while Livingston and Pittaway continued to scrap for third and J. Torres fifth. Mark McGahey brought out yellow on lap 11 when he looped it in turn 2.
On the restart the top six stayed nose to tail until lap 12 when Livingston, Pittaway and J. Torres went three wide for third. J. Torres got won that fight after Livingston slipped high. Pittaway and Chris Rye were able to get past Livingston on lap 14 for fourth and fifth.
Godfredson had just started to put some distance on Swenson when caution came out for a spin by McLendon on lap 15. When green waved again, Godfredson got a god jump on Swenson easing away by three car lengths. In the final laps Godfredson increased that margin, while J. Torres got sideways on the last lap losing two spots. At the checkers it was Godfredson in Cornerstone Natural Countertops, Burlington Performance powered Smileys Chassis grabbing his inaugural checkers.
“Well, I'm doing a better job of driving now,” commented Godfredson “Derry(Burlington), the car owner, is doing a good job changing stuff on it. I'm getting more and more comfortable in it. It's mainly the crew's hard work. Driving is the easier part.”
“It's taken me a couple races to learn that nothing the same between driving these and Sprints. They drive completely different, turn in the corners different and come off different. Nothing is the same. I've had to adjust how I drive.”
“The Mod and Sportmod are owned by two different people and the deals to drive them just both came together about the same time. So we figured if we have to be here racing, we might as well run both cars.”
IMCA Southern Sportmods
1. 11b Chip Godfredson
2. 48 Chris "Iceman" Swenson
3. 37 Bill Pittaway
4. 4$ Chris Rye
5. 66 Johnny Torres
6. 22 Rene Mares
7. 771 Barry Codling
8. 11 Chris McLendon
9. 60 Pat Lyon
10. 89 Doug Livingston
11. 88 Mark McGahey
12. 11f Mike Finkel
13. 21g Steve "Shrimper" Grantz
14. 94 Allen Torres
IMCA SSM heat winners, 11b Chip Godfredson, 94 Allen Torres
Richard Bartosh led the early laps of the Super Stock feature while Moe VanKirk and Jed Rollins worked their way up. On lap 6 it was three wide for the lead with VanKirk coming out with the top spot on lap 7. The races only caution waved when newcomer, Allen Jenkins slapped the turn 3 tire barrier.
After the restart Rollins, Bartosh and Howie Marcx battled for second until Marcx faded. Rollins and Bartosh put a great door to door battle for the last five laps changing the spot nearly corner for corner. This gave VanKirk the chance to open up a lead on the duet and take the win by a comfortable margin.
Super Stocks
1. 58 Moe "Wildman" VanKirk
2. 57 Jed Rollins
3. 7 Richard Bartosh
4. 13 Howie Marcx
4. 14 Gary "Taz" Hunter
6. 33A Walt Clark
7. 21 Chico Cox
8. 97 Allen Jenkins
Super Stock heat winners, 57 Jed Rollins, 58 Moe VanKirk
After sending his car airborne in heat race action, Shawn Moore rebounded in the feature giving his new bride the perfect wedding present, a feature win. OK, so maybe not the ideal gift. Moore got the lead at the drop of the green and was quickly challenged by Craig Crawley. The lead duo ran side by side for several laps, until yellow waved on lap 7 for a spin by A J Wernette.
Back to green flag racing Crawley continued to pressure Moore for the lead until Donald Lewis got by Crawley on lap 10 using the high side. Crawley's night ended when his motor expired on lap 12. Wade Jones then moved in on Lewis to battle for second. This gave Moore the opportunity to put some distance on the two and snag the checkers.
Street Stocks
1. 18 Shawn "Hotshot" Moore
2. 51 Donald Lewis
3. 42 Tommy Casey
4. 41 Wade Jones
5. 37 A J Wernette
6. 107.5 Billy Kinneman
7. 6 Craig Crawley
8. 08 Alton "Red" Fambro
Street Stock heat winners. 51 Donald Lewis, 6 Craig Crawley
It was a familiar sight in the Pure Stock feature, with Justin Henley wasting no time moving up the front and taking he lead on lap 3. J. Henley continued his domination of the class pulling away to a full straightaway lead despite numerous cautions and restarts. J. Henley's most serious challenge came after a lap 15 restart when Mark Pivarnik gave it his shot, but was unable to find a way around the young hotshoe. J. Henley would then pull away in the final laps for yet another victory.
Pure Stocks
1. 96 Justin Henley
2. 14 Mark Pivarnik - DQ'ed (failed tech)
3. 555 Sonny Jones
4. 67 Joe Horne - DQ'ed (didn't go to tech)
5. 7x Janel Hilla
6. 22 Brian Terry
7. 8 Dennis Jasik
8. 74 Danny Kasperwicz
9. 23t Brian Terry sr
10. 15 William Cavender
11. 3 Albert Mares
12. 9 Phillip Haywood
13. 23 Sean Terry
14. 25 Jo Jo Horne
15. 55 Charlie Henley
16. 7 Danny Schroat
17. 79 George Long jr.
18. 36z Cecil Zimmerman
31j Charlie Buendle---DNS
Pure Stock heat winners, 14 Mark Pivarnik, 55 Charlie Henley, 96 Justin Henley
Back in the day, up north the twice yearly Mechanics races would be a chance for guys that worked on the cars, with little to no experience, the chance to go out and have some fun. Oh how times have changed! The newer versions of these specialty races seem to have more and more “ringers” in the fields. Not that I'm complaining, because I fall somewhere in between with experience.
In the combined Modified/Sportmod Mechanics race, I started row two outside in Greg Dinsmore's car. Before the green was waved I was motioned to the infield spotter. Sadly, after all the harping I've done on safety, I have to admit, the window net was never latched. Shame on me!
Once the green waved I stayed on the bumper of $4 and watched as Joshua Mares and Lance Giather pulled ahead. In turn 3 I tried to drive under $4 and came up short. Jerry Dean blasted by me on the straight as we completed lap 1. Who was that guy, I thought.
Not wanting to get left behind, I again ducked under $4 in turn 3. About the time I thought, cool I'm getting by, Mares comes spinning down the track in front of me. I closed my eyes, said a quick prayer, eased to the right and hoped 4$ would see me coming. Whew, no contact.....
The yellow came and I caught up behind Gaither and Dean for the restart. Once back to green I tried to hang with the two leaders, but had a bad push off turn 2, then would get loose off turn 4. I tried a couple different lines, with limited results. The final laps went by quickly, too fast as I saw the white wave, nowhere near the two front runners. As the checkers flew I breathed a somewhat disappointed sigh, but relieved the car suffered no damage.
"Greg was pleased with my results, probably more that I avoided crashing into the car spinning in front of me. But said I was first in class of drivers with limited dirt experience. Hard pill to swallow, but I've always said a good night of racing is when you still can drive it on the trailer afterwards.
Buck(Borlace) joked with me that I was no drivin'.....well, you know the rest, and that he had several chances to dump me. I explained to him my problems being loose in one corner and tight at the other end. It fell on deaf ears!
Abraham Mares told me I should stick to writing, something I'm better at. Though he did compliment me for not T-boning his relatives car when it spun. "
By J M Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx.,(July 18th, 2008) After a scheduled weekend off, racing resumed Friday night on the 1/4 mile semi-banked clay oval just south of San Antonio. The night's activities were presented by the American Cancer Society, and the Race for a Cure program. The night's racing card, included the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Southern Sportmods, Super Stock, Street Stocks and Pure Stocks. Capping off the evening's events would be a mechanics race for all the classes, to be held under a full moon. Maybe not the best of night's for the event.
The ACS Race Night was the second part of the Inaugural Cancer Society Race Car Expo, that began the previous weekend in Hondo. The group spearheaded by Brenda Wernette, had over 25 sponsors kicking in prizes and gift certificates to be raffled off, with all the proceeds going to Race for a Cure.
Dinsmore Dominates Modified Main
Kerrville's Greg Dinsmore once again put a whoopin' on the IMCA Modified field in the A-main event. Dinsmore made a quick move from sixth to second on the start, then got by early leader Patrick Kelly. Veteran Corpus Christi hotshoe, Lawrence Mikulencak was never able to get close enough to mount a serious challenge as Dinsmore ran off to the checkers.
As green waved on the 20-lap IMCA Modified main, Kelly beat polesitter Jason Borlace into turn 1, with Dinsmore up to second and Mikulencak moving from eighth to fourth. Mikulencak then got by Borlace for third followed by Randy Yount for fourth. Dinsmore was just beginning to challenge Kelly for the lead when caution came out for Brian Rye stopped on the back stretch.
On the restart, Dinsmore took the high groove going into turn 1 and was able to get by Kelly for the top spot on lap 3. Mikulencak was next to get past Kelly on lap 3, but Dinsmore had already began to check out. In the pack, Bill Pittaway and Borlace ran side by side for fifth. Chip Godfredson soon joined that duo and picked off sixth from Pittaway on lap 7, then Borlace for fifth a lap later.
Coming to the crossed flags it was Dinsmore pulling away to nearly a full straightaway lead over Mikulencak, Kelly, Yount and Godfredson who continued to battle for fifth. By lap 15, the top three had spread out with large gaps between each. Godfredson was able to shake off Borlace and Pittaway.
Dinsmore's only real challenge was trying to hold on to a tricky, dry slick track in the final laps. With two to go, Dinsmore came up on the slower car of Bob Lienweber, the only thing to slow him down. Dinsmore in the Team Brain Freeze, Azul Margaritas, Sundowner RV Repair, Lowery Plumbing, racetechinfo.com, Southern Spirits, Jeff's Performance, Harris Chassis, didn't press the issue as with a big lead, easily grabbed the victory.
“The car is in such a groove here,” replied Dinsmore. “We've got the set up dialed in here and the car about drives itself. My crew does a good job helping me keep up with the changes we do on it. I can just about jump in, get on the throttle and it goes.
“I kept watching and listening for Lawrence(Mikulencak). Any time he shows up at he track you know he's going to be right there. He has tons of experience on tracks all over, is fast no matter where he runs and you know that he'll race you clean. I knew we both starting near the rear, so I needed to make my move to the front early.”
IMCA Modifieds
1. 8g Greg Dinsmore
2. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
3. 84 Patrick Kelly
4. 66 Randy Yount
5. 11k Chip Godfredson
6. 125 Jason Borlace
7. 137 Bill Pittaway
8. 12 Bob Lienweber
9. 20 Brian Rye
IMCA Modified heat winners, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
Godfredson Grabs Gold in Sportmod Main
For Chip Godfredson, a former Sprint Car ace, the learning curve for IMCA Southern Sportmods has been steep and rapid. After a two and half year hiatus from racing Godfredson showed he still had the touch as found his way to Victory Lane in only his fourth time in the car. Godfredson got by early leader Doug Livingston, then held off always hard-charging Chris Swenson for his first SSM win.
Livingston jumped out front at the start of the 14-car, 20-lap IMCA SSM main. Godfredson got by Barry Codling on lap 1 for second with Allen Torres following to third. Codling would spin on lap 2 after contact with Swenson to bring out a yellow. On the restart Godfredson got along side Livingston for the lead. A. Torres saw his night end early when he broke and pulled to the infield from third.
Godfredson had just gotten by Livingston when yellow waved again for a spin by Rene Mares. Once back to green, Godfredson ducked inside Livingston and got the lead going down the back stretch. Swenson then got by Livingston, with Bill Pittaway taking fourth from Chris McLendon. As Godfredson and Swenson inched away, Steve Grantz, Chris Rye, Johnny Torres and McLendon were nearly four wide for fifth.
Pittaway moved on Livingston running side by side on lap 7, while J. Torres won he fight for fifth. Coming to halfway, Godfredson had Swenson on his bumper, literally, while Livingston and Pittaway continued to scrap for third and J. Torres fifth. Mark McGahey brought out yellow on lap 11 when he looped it in turn 2.
On the restart the top six stayed nose to tail until lap 12 when Livingston, Pittaway and J. Torres went three wide for third. J. Torres got won that fight after Livingston slipped high. Pittaway and Chris Rye were able to get past Livingston on lap 14 for fourth and fifth.
Godfredson had just started to put some distance on Swenson when caution came out for a spin by McLendon on lap 15. When green waved again, Godfredson got a god jump on Swenson easing away by three car lengths. In the final laps Godfredson increased that margin, while J. Torres got sideways on the last lap losing two spots. At the checkers it was Godfredson in Cornerstone Natural Countertops, Burlington Performance powered Smileys Chassis grabbing his inaugural checkers.
“Well, I'm doing a better job of driving now,” commented Godfredson “Derry(Burlington), the car owner, is doing a good job changing stuff on it. I'm getting more and more comfortable in it. It's mainly the crew's hard work. Driving is the easier part.”
“It's taken me a couple races to learn that nothing the same between driving these and Sprints. They drive completely different, turn in the corners different and come off different. Nothing is the same. I've had to adjust how I drive.”
“The Mod and Sportmod are owned by two different people and the deals to drive them just both came together about the same time. So we figured if we have to be here racing, we might as well run both cars.”
IMCA Southern Sportmods
1. 11b Chip Godfredson
2. 48 Chris "Iceman" Swenson
3. 37 Bill Pittaway
4. 4$ Chris Rye
5. 66 Johnny Torres
6. 22 Rene Mares
7. 771 Barry Codling
8. 11 Chris McLendon
9. 60 Pat Lyon
10. 89 Doug Livingston
11. 88 Mark McGahey
12. 11f Mike Finkel
13. 21g Steve "Shrimper" Grantz
14. 94 Allen Torres
IMCA SSM heat winners, 11b Chip Godfredson, 94 Allen Torres
Richard Bartosh led the early laps of the Super Stock feature while Moe VanKirk and Jed Rollins worked their way up. On lap 6 it was three wide for the lead with VanKirk coming out with the top spot on lap 7. The races only caution waved when newcomer, Allen Jenkins slapped the turn 3 tire barrier.
After the restart Rollins, Bartosh and Howie Marcx battled for second until Marcx faded. Rollins and Bartosh put a great door to door battle for the last five laps changing the spot nearly corner for corner. This gave VanKirk the chance to open up a lead on the duet and take the win by a comfortable margin.
Super Stocks
1. 58 Moe "Wildman" VanKirk
2. 57 Jed Rollins
3. 7 Richard Bartosh
4. 13 Howie Marcx
4. 14 Gary "Taz" Hunter
6. 33A Walt Clark
7. 21 Chico Cox
8. 97 Allen Jenkins
Super Stock heat winners, 57 Jed Rollins, 58 Moe VanKirk
After sending his car airborne in heat race action, Shawn Moore rebounded in the feature giving his new bride the perfect wedding present, a feature win. OK, so maybe not the ideal gift. Moore got the lead at the drop of the green and was quickly challenged by Craig Crawley. The lead duo ran side by side for several laps, until yellow waved on lap 7 for a spin by A J Wernette.
Back to green flag racing Crawley continued to pressure Moore for the lead until Donald Lewis got by Crawley on lap 10 using the high side. Crawley's night ended when his motor expired on lap 12. Wade Jones then moved in on Lewis to battle for second. This gave Moore the opportunity to put some distance on the two and snag the checkers.
Street Stocks
1. 18 Shawn "Hotshot" Moore
2. 51 Donald Lewis
3. 42 Tommy Casey
4. 41 Wade Jones
5. 37 A J Wernette
6. 107.5 Billy Kinneman
7. 6 Craig Crawley
8. 08 Alton "Red" Fambro
Street Stock heat winners. 51 Donald Lewis, 6 Craig Crawley
It was a familiar sight in the Pure Stock feature, with Justin Henley wasting no time moving up the front and taking he lead on lap 3. J. Henley continued his domination of the class pulling away to a full straightaway lead despite numerous cautions and restarts. J. Henley's most serious challenge came after a lap 15 restart when Mark Pivarnik gave it his shot, but was unable to find a way around the young hotshoe. J. Henley would then pull away in the final laps for yet another victory.
Pure Stocks
1. 96 Justin Henley
2. 14 Mark Pivarnik - DQ'ed (failed tech)
3. 555 Sonny Jones
4. 67 Joe Horne - DQ'ed (didn't go to tech)
5. 7x Janel Hilla
6. 22 Brian Terry
7. 8 Dennis Jasik
8. 74 Danny Kasperwicz
9. 23t Brian Terry sr
10. 15 William Cavender
11. 3 Albert Mares
12. 9 Phillip Haywood
13. 23 Sean Terry
14. 25 Jo Jo Horne
15. 55 Charlie Henley
16. 7 Danny Schroat
17. 79 George Long jr.
18. 36z Cecil Zimmerman
31j Charlie Buendle---DNS
Pure Stock heat winners, 14 Mark Pivarnik, 55 Charlie Henley, 96 Justin Henley
Back in the day, up north the twice yearly Mechanics races would be a chance for guys that worked on the cars, with little to no experience, the chance to go out and have some fun. Oh how times have changed! The newer versions of these specialty races seem to have more and more “ringers” in the fields. Not that I'm complaining, because I fall somewhere in between with experience.
In the combined Modified/Sportmod Mechanics race, I started row two outside in Greg Dinsmore's car. Before the green was waved I was motioned to the infield spotter. Sadly, after all the harping I've done on safety, I have to admit, the window net was never latched. Shame on me!
Once the green waved I stayed on the bumper of $4 and watched as Joshua Mares and Lance Giather pulled ahead. In turn 3 I tried to drive under $4 and came up short. Jerry Dean blasted by me on the straight as we completed lap 1. Who was that guy, I thought.
Not wanting to get left behind, I again ducked under $4 in turn 3. About the time I thought, cool I'm getting by, Mares comes spinning down the track in front of me. I closed my eyes, said a quick prayer, eased to the right and hoped 4$ would see me coming. Whew, no contact.....
The yellow came and I caught up behind Gaither and Dean for the restart. Once back to green I tried to hang with the two leaders, but had a bad push off turn 2, then would get loose off turn 4. I tried a couple different lines, with limited results. The final laps went by quickly, too fast as I saw the white wave, nowhere near the two front runners. As the checkers flew I breathed a somewhat disappointed sigh, but relieved the car suffered no damage.
"Greg was pleased with my results, probably more that I avoided crashing into the car spinning in front of me. But said I was first in class of drivers with limited dirt experience. Hard pill to swallow, but I've always said a good night of racing is when you still can drive it on the trailer afterwards.
Buck(Borlace) joked with me that I was no drivin'.....well, you know the rest, and that he had several chances to dump me. I explained to him my problems being loose in one corner and tight at the other end. It fell on deaf ears!
Abraham Mares told me I should stick to writing, something I'm better at. Though he did compliment me for not T-boning his relatives car when it spun. "