By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX.,(July 9th, 2022)
Celebrating a late Independence Day, I-37 Speedway hosted Military Appreciation Night with all members of the armed forces given free admission.
The military was well represented with a bus load of soldiers from Ft Sam Houston on hand, the color guard presenting the 'National Anthem' and a couple surprises. In the words of P.O.D., “Here Comes the Boom” with some howitzer volleys and several lucky service members giving the ceremonial green flag to the feature races.
As part of the nights celebration was the return of the Late Models on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt oval. Brandon Brzozowski holds a 3 point margin over Kody Hardage after two previous races with Jamie Campbell, Mark Taylor and Ryan McDonald rounding out the top five. Class newcomer, Ray Doyon nearly stole show, and the win last race out, coming up about six inches short at the finish.
Other classes in action are the IMCA Modifieds, Limited Modifieds, Factory Stocks and Sport Compacts, plus several Go-Kart classes.
Doyon Does It Again
Ray Doyon got the run off turn 2 to get the lead in the 20-lap Late Model main chased by Matt Fox, Kody Hardage, Brandon Brzozowski and Barry Quade. Brzozowski was able to get spots from Hardage and Fox for second, bringing Hardage along to third. Newton Barta went around on lap 4 erasing Doyons lead.
Brzozowski gave Doyon a look low on the restart, but Landon Sowder spun in turn 2 while Barta found the front stretch wall, for the second time of the night. Doyon got a good restart leaving Hardage and Brzozowski door to door for second. This gave Doyon the opportunity to rebuild his lead. At the crossed flags it was Doyon, Hardage and Brzozowski still side by side, Fox and Sowder.
Brzozowski finally secured second from his fight with Hardage, but Doyon had checked out. With five to go, Doyon was still increasing his margin, but coming up on traffic. Doyon caught slower car on the last lap, but was able to back up his win last race in the Ewing Landscape & Irrigation Supplies, Alamo Truck Accessories, 89 Motorsports, CD Tire Shop, Supreme Vinyl Works, 3D Landscaping, 604 powered MB Customs Chassis.
“I kept waiting for someone to pressure me,” commented Doyon. “I didn't know what was going on behind me. I saw someone try to duck under me, but a yellow came out. I changed my line to take it away from him. I experimented with the top a little. I think if I had needed it that it was okay. I had that left, in the bag, if you will.'
“You can't look for crew signals while you're racing. These things are a little too fast for that. I may look for Ryan or my crew under caution and they'll tell me with hand signals, but nothing too elaborate. I don't trust the wall enough to be looking up there during the race.”
“I learning(these cars), I'm not very educated in what you can change on them and how the car will react. But I know I could do a lot of things that might dial me, too. I didn't do diddly-squat to it between the heat and feature. Just fueled it up, adjusted my brakes and focused on driving a different line.”
“This car is very good. It's a very neutral car. If it's tacky or dry, I just adjust my brakes and focus on driving. Since I bought this car from (Steven) Whiteaker, I've not changed one spring, one bar, nothing. It's that good. We're going up to Big O Speedway next week to see how we stack up. Ryan's going to be taking his USRA car to run with the TOMS.”
Nogalitos Gear Late Models
9 Ray Doyon, 104 Brandon Brzozowski, 12 Kody Hardage, 53x Matt Fox, 08 Landon Sowder, 19 Barry Quade, 77 Mark Taylor, 1x Andrew Hesler, 4 Newton Barta, 12d Carl Dyer---dns
Late Model heats
Heat 1; 53x Matt Fox, 12 Kody Hardage, 104 Brandon Brzozowski, 1x Andrew Hesler, 12d Carl Dyer
Heat 2; 9 Ray Doyon, 19 Barry Quade, 77 Mark Taylor, 08 Landon Sowder, 4 Newton Barta
Another Win for Whiteaker
A lucky thirteen cars started the IMCA Modified feature with Landon Bednarz leading to turn 1. Jamie Campell swept around the outside to lead lap 1 trailed by Steven Whiteaker, Chris Morris, Hardy Henderson and Ryan Doyon. Whiteaker and Henderson had just made a move on Campbell when Gilbert Amezquita and Wade Pistole jr both spun for a yellow.
Whiteaker got by Campbell on the restart, but Bednarz looped it for another yellow. Finally back to green it was Campbell, Whiteaker and Henderson three wide for the lead. Whiteaker got the spot while Campbell, on the outside got run too high and lost spots. Morris was able to retake second from Henderson while Doyon moved to fourth.
Coming to the midway point it was Whiteaker, Morris, Henderson, Doyon and Chris Swenson in the top five. As Swenson and Doyon scrapped for fourth, Dustin Butcher got past Swenson for fifth and Doyon for fourth a lap later. Morris was trying to chase down Whiteaker, but the couple cars lengths he'd gain in turn 1-3, he'd give back in turn 3-4.
A debris caution on lap 16 rebunched the field with the top four getting clear on the restart. Butcher quickly put pressure on Henderson for third going side by side. Up front, Whiteaker was easing away from Morris by a couple car lengths. Whiteaker(Robstown) continued to inch away for the victory in his DS&S Construction, 3-D Landscaping, Billy Bobs Truck Repair, Supreme Vinyl Works, Windshield Repair of Texas, G&M Oilfield Service, Cottrell Racing, Maxima Racing Oil, Sames Ford, WW Bodies, raceXR.com, Karls Performance Chevrolet crate powered, CDR by 89 Motorsports. This was the first win on this new car.
“We've been working hard on this new car,” said Whiteaker. “It's our first checkered flag in it. We were racing for the lead three wide and I guess
163(Henderson) didn't realize we were three wide and came up. I was trying to hold him down because Jamie(Campbell) was outside of me. It was just hard racing. It's unfortunate, I'm sure Jamie got the short end of the stick. I was just the meat in the sandwich.”
“I was actually wondering where Chris(Morris) was at. I actually didn't feel good. I felt like I was lacking some traction. I didn't expect the track to dry out that much. It was kinda dirty and coming apart. My driving style doesn't fit a dirty track. I was kind of surprised no one ever showed me a nose.”
“The track was super slick, it was good. I like this place, it puts on good races for the fans and doesn't wear tires out. I enjoy coming here and racing.”
Price Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds
89 Steven Whiteaker jr., 94 Chris Morris, 90 Dustin Butcher, 163 Hardy Henderson, 5 Ryan Doyon, 22 Chris Swenson, 94b Brenda Kirby, 29 Jamie Campbell, 16 Landon Bednarz, 56 Gilbert Amezquita, a2 Arien Gassman, 10 Wade Pistole jr., 44 Wade Pistole sr.
IMCA Modified heats
Heat 1; 89 Steve Whiteaker jr., 163 Hardy Henderson, 94 Chris Morris, 29 Jamie Campbell, 56 Gilbert Amezquita, 44 Wade Pistole sr., a2 Arien Gassman
Heat 2; 5 Ryan Doyon, 90 Dustin Butcher, 16 Landon Bednarz, 22 Chris Swenson,94b Brenda Kirby, 10 Wade Pistole jr.
Pay Day for JJ
As the green flag waved for the 20-lap Limited Modified feature, Cody Beddoe led the way with Brian Harbison taking a look low. Beddoe held off the charge to lead with Harbison, JJ Jennings, James Cole and Steven Whiteaker III falling in line. Harbison continued to look inside Beddoe while Cole got out of shape making contact with Whiteaker, moving Trent Beaver up to fourth.
Jennings picked off Harbison for second and was looking on Beddoe for the lead taking the spot on lap 5. Yellow waved on lap 8 when Sterling Tausch and Whiteaker tangled in turn 2. As Jennings got away back under green, Harbison got second from Beddoe leaving him side by side with Beaver for third.
At halfway it was Jennings, Harbison, Beaver and Beddoe still wheel to wheel and Cole in the top five. As Harbison tried to run down Jennings he looped it off turn 4 for a lap 13 caution. As Jennings took off, Beddoe finally secured the spot from Beaver with Lupe Gomez getting fourth from Cole until Gomez slipped giving up spots to Cole and Sherrill Lewis.
The final five laps saw Jennings begin to stretch his margin over Beddoe and Beaver, while Gomez and Lewis swapped fifth. As the white was shown Jennings had a half straightaway lead with Beddoe and Beaver side by side again. Jennings(Corpus Christi), in his G&M Oilfield Services, 89 Motorsports, WW Bodies, Swenson Race Products & Shocks, VanBlarcum Services, Best Race Engines, Express Race Cars cruised to the win, his first at I-37 Speedway in a while.
“I didn't know what we were going race on after the heat race,” said Jennings. “So we made a change thinking of a hammered down track. It definitely wasn't hammered down but maybe we found something that might give us some options down the road.”
“I figured Cody(Beddoe) was going to be hard to beat and Brian(Harbison) being new to the class I didn't know what he was capable of besides having the best wrap I've ever seen.”
“I can't ever thank my family enough for the way they keep me racing, my brother Gary and Kalub for making sure we have the best we can get to compete with the front runners, my mom and dad for getting crazy and buying a bunch of tires, my wife and two boys that keep me motivated to race even though with it being 107 when we got to the track.”
State Farm Insurance Limited Modifieds
26 JJ Jennings, 77 Cody Beddoe, 14 Trent Beaver, 14c James Cole, 7 Lupe Gomez, 7k Sherrill Lewis, 11x Brian Harbison, 38 Steven Whiteaker III, 95 Sterling Tausch
Limited Modified heats
Heat 1; 77 Cody Beddoe, 11x Brian Harbison, 26 JJ Jennings, 14 Trent Beaver, 95 Sterling Tausch
Heat 2; 14c James Cole, 7k Sherrill Lewis, 38 Steven Whiteaker III, 7 Lupe Gomez
Maupin the Master Again
The 20-lap Factory Stock feature saw Dakota Hurley get a good jump on green into turn 1. Jared Maupin, powering around the high side, got by off turn 2 to lead ahead of Hurley, Kasey Krauss, Zach Freeman and Paul Reyes. A spin by Emma Hendricks brought out a lap 1 yellow. Freeman got by Krauss on the restart while Johnny Torres, Brandon Gaither and Daniel Lopez were three wide in the pack.
A lap 3 caution saw Lopez and Ricky Long spinning in turns 3-4 with Donald Kinnaman stopping on the pit exit berm. Once back to green, it was Torres, who started at the back, continuing to move forward going three wide with Mike Lyon and Dylan Kowalik. Hurley, Krauss and Freeman had a good fight going for second and were quickly joined by Torres until Scott Jerkins got high-centered on the back stretch ridge.
Coming to halfway, with Maupin leading, Torres, Krauss and Hurley were three wide for second. A tangle between Reyes and Freeman brought out a lap 13 yellow and a single file restart. Torres got inside Hurley for second and the duo battled until Torres finally got the spot. This gave Maupin the chance to get away by several car lengths.
Krauss was able to wrestle third away from Hurley as the laps wound down. Maupin(San Antonio) continued to keep about an eight car length advantage over Torres and easily took the checkered flag in his Jamie Fuller owned, Reflective Wrecker, JGR Fab, Longs Machine Shop, CNC Graffix, Wells Race Engines, Lazer Chassis, and increase his points margin.
“I was a little behind the 8-ball on the start,” explained Maupin. “I got a little confused, they said(on the radio) 'one to go' and never turned the yellow light out. Then they threw the green with the yellow still on. The car was good, I rolled around(the top) and just tried to maintain. The track was good enough that I could search a little bit.”
“I guess my line didn't really matter. I was just searching. The bottom felt, ok, but I felt like I couldn't get in the throttle. Up top I felt I could get in the throttle better. I just played around my line and see if anyone could catch me.”
“That's impressive that Johnny(Torres) came from the back. I'll have to get on Race on Texas and watch it. I knew he would and every yellow he was gaining spots. One more restart and he and I could have had a really good race. He looked good in the heat race until he had trouble. I know his car is good and he's really good on slick tracks. I knew with 16 cars that it was doable for him.”
All in Design Factory Stocks
91 Jared Maupin, 66 Johnny Torres, 53k Kasey Krauss, 40 Dakota Hurley, 20 Mike Lyon, 29 Dylan Kowalik, 15L Daniel Lopez, 98 Brandon Gaither, 00 Zach Freeman, 92r Robert Keylich, 20L Ricky Long, 3 Johnny Brown, 24 Paul Reyes, 10 Scott Jerkins, 8e Emma Hendricks, 38 Donald Kinnaman
Factory Stock heats
Heat 1; 40 Dakota Hurley, 00 Zach Freeman, 24 Paul Reyes, 98 Brandon Gaither, 20r Ricky Long, 3d Johnny Brown, 10 Scott Jerkins, 66 Johnny Torres
Heat 2; 91 Jared Maupin, 53k Kasey Krauss, 20 Mike Lyon, 15L Daniel Lopez, 29k Dylan Kowalik, 92r Robert Keylich, 8e Emma Hendricks, 38k Donald Kinnaman---dns
Sitterle Scores Sport Compact Sweep
Justin Sitterle and Jamie Garner ran side by side into turn 1 before Sitterle got the advantage. Garner, Ryker Hernandez, Chad Miller and Levi Hernandez fell in line behind Sitterle. L. Hernandez, Miller and John Thomas tried three wide for fourth with L. Hernandez getting the spot. This left Miller and Thomas now three abreast with Rod Tait for fifth.
Billy McCall lost a tire tread on lap 5 for the early caution. Once back to green, the Hernandez brothers traded some paint battling for third. A quick caution for a spin by Thomas saw Garner looking inside Sitterle on the restart. R. Hernandez then moved in on Garner for second, taking the spot.
R. Hernandez got along side Sitterle at halfway and got the nose out front to lead lap 11. Sitterle fought back retaking the point on lap 12 as the top three ran nose to tail. After changing his line, Sitterle(Floresville) moved to the bottom and started to pull away to a comfortable lead as he took the checkers in his Lonestar Welding, Honda Mike, H-Car Tune, Custom Tattoes by Andy, 1995 Acura Integra.
“This is my second win here, I won the first race of the season,” replied Sitterle. “You definitely always wonder where guys like Jamie(Garner) and the Hernandez boys are at. You never know. You just drive your race and once you feel, hear, see somebody, you drive a little harder.”
“I switched my line once I saw Ryker(Hernandez) try to get below me. It looked a bit faster(on the bottom). There was a little bit more grip down there. We're constantly working on this car. Whether its suspension or tuning, or something. Trying to always be faster the next race.”
Sport Compacts
88 Justin Sitterle, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 33 Jamie Garner, 28 Levi Hernandez, 70 Rod Tait, 76y Donald Lewis, 35 John Thomas, 43 Jennifer Kidd, 75 Chad Miller, 12 Billy McCall, 3% Sam Walker---dns
Sport Compact heats
Heat 1; 75 Chad Miller, 33 Jamie Garner, 70 Rod Tait, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 12 Billy McCall, 43 Jennifer Kidd
Heat 2; 88 Justin Sitterle, 28 Levi Hernandez, 35 John Thomas, 76y Donald Lewis, 3% Sam Walker
Go-Karts
Adult Predator; Noah VanBlarcum, Joseph Montemayor, Cody Clegg, Brian Marquard
Senior Division; Charles Flanagan, Zoey Flores
Junior Division; Kaden Pacheco, Ryder Welker, Beau Payton, Cecelii Johnson
Youth Division; Carter Schoenfeldt