IMCA Modified winner Chris Morris
Limited Modified winner Joe Aramendia
Factory Stock winner Jared Maupin
Fireball winner Matthew Hodges
Sport Compact winner Rod Tait
Adult Predator and Junior Go-Kart winner Jerrad Herring and Sawyer Herring
Senior division Go-Kart winner Tripp Whitmire
Youth Go -Kart winner Eleanor Maurer
By JM Hallas
Pleasanton(May 6th, 2023) Cinco de Seis?
To celebrate Fiesta/Cinco De Mayo I-37 Speedway held an open practice Friday night prior to round two of the 'Royal Rumble' mini- series for IMCA Modifieds on Saturday night. Along with practice was a cornhole tournament plus free beer and BBQ sponsored by On Demand Shirts.
The ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt oval near Pleasanton was back in action featuring another Fast Shafts Invitational Qualifier paying a grand to win, sponsored by Sundowner Performance Diesel, for the IMCA Modifieds. Adding to the program, a thousand to win for the Limited Modifieds, sponsored by OnDemand Shirts, plus Factory Stocks, Sport Compacts and Go-Karts along with the return of the new Fireball class.
Two weeks ago the IMCA Modified main had a thrilling finish with a last lap pass for the win by Dillon Tindall. After a late restart Tindall took advantage of a rare mistake by Chris Morris in turn 3 when he pushed up too high allowing Tindall to dive low and take the top spot coming to the white flag and then hanging on to the checkers.
Tonight also marked the return of the Fireball class, a Street/Hobby Stock hybrid allowing some of the older, retired cars the chance get back on track. Matthew Hodge took the heat race win before Mother Nature intervened.
Morris Makes up for Mistake for Modified Money
The IMCA Modified main saw 17-cars roar to life on the restart with Tanner Whitmire taking the point ahead of Chris Morris, Mark Carrell, Dillon Tindall and Chris Carroll. Tindall snuck past Carrell for third and closed on Morris who slid high in turns 3-4. An infield tire slowed the pace with lap 5 yellow.
On the restart, Tindall got by Morris for second while Logan Dinsmore, Jared Maupin and Hardy Henderson three wide for sixth. That fight continued for two laps before Henderson finally secured the spot. Coming to the crossed flags it was Whitmire, Tindall, Morris, Carrell and Carroll in the top five.
Henderson caught Carroll for fifth getting alongside him on lap 13 with L. Dinsmore looking to go three wide again. That battle ended on lap 14 when Henderson caught the front stretch wall ending his night. Once back to green, Morris found another line getting by Tindall for second and on Whitmire for the lead.
Whitmire and Morris were wheel to wheel on lap 15 with Morris getting the advantage on lap 16. Morris looked to be on his way to the finish line when Maupin slowed and tried to pull off high in turn 4 to bring out a caution setting up a green, white, checker finish.
**In the words of Yogi Berra, “It's deja vu all over again.
Morris, who lost the feature win two weeks ago after a lap 18 caution, didn't make the same mistake and got away from Whitmire who now had Tindall alongside for second. Morris in his Maxwell Medical, Tina Reagan Realty, A&T Concrete, Austin Cutting & Coring, TruForm Wheel Products, Track Master Mobility, Lone Star Concrete, Big Foot Pumping, ACM Services, crate powered Lethal Chassis.
“It was heart breaking last race here,” said Morris. “The track kind of owed us one. We had such a big lead before that last caution. I just caught a hole wrong and pushed up the track. It was definitely nice to get this one after that one got away from us.”
“I didn't have anything for Tanner(Whitmire) until the second to last caution. We kind of got the top rolled in so I went up there and got it rolling good. I got by Tanner and we had that caution just like last race. I knew I just needed to hit my line right and not mess up and we'd be alright.”
“I think some moisture came back up since the heat races. It was pretty slick middle to bottom but the top still had a little bit of moisture and we found it there at the end and it worked out.”
“There's not really anything we do different going track to track. All the tracks in Texas run pretty similar on how they race. When we go out of state to a big momentum track we have to change a few things. These Lethal cars are pretty good on just about anything we go race on.”
Price Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds
94 Chris Morris, 101 Tanner Whitmire, 86 Dillon Tindall, 8jr Logan Dinsmore, 27 Mark Carrell, 15 Chris Carroll, 82 Rick Green, 77 Robert Liese jr., 81 Ryan Childress, 53x Matt Fox, 22 Darrell Boyd, 91 Jared Maupin, 163 Hardy Henderson, 26d Cody Duke, 56 Gilbert Amezquita, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 5r Ryan Doyon, 488 Stephen Boubel---dns
IMCA Mod heats
Heat 1; 94 Chris Morris, 5r Ryan Doyon, 8jr Logan Dinsmore, 86 Dillon Tindall, 77 Robert Liese jr., 81 Ryan Childress
Heat 2; 91 Jared Maupin, 15 Chris Carroll, 27 Mark Carrell, 56 Gilbert Amezquita, 22z Darrell Boyd, 53x Matt Fox
Heat 3; 101 Tanner Whitmire, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 163 Hardy Henderson, 82 Rick Green, 26d Cody Duke, 488 Stephen Boubel
Aramendia Aces First Dirt Win
A fourteen car field took the green for the 20-lap Limited Modofied feature with Joe Aramendia getting the point and JJ Jennings, James Cole, Cody Beddoe and Trent Beaver in pursuit. Beaver got around Beddoe for fourth before Tom Grothues looped it collecting Ryker Hernandez and Charles Flanagan.
Back to green and Jennings was trying the high side on Aramendia for the lead with Beddoe and Cole side by side for third. Beddoe got inside Cole, but Cole swapped lines to retake the spot. Behind them Nathan Titzman, Marcus Mikulencak and Beaver were three wide for fifth. Titzman got the spot leaving Mikulencak and Beaver fighting for sixth.
Coming to halfway it was Aramendia with Jennings trying a mid-line, Beddoe, Cole and Titzman. Titzman got by Cole briefly before slipping and giving the spot back. The lead duo was now coming up on traffic with five to go while Cole, Beddoe and Titzman having their own private scrap for third.
The veteran pavement ace, Aramendia was able to clear traffic easier than Jennings and inch away the final circuits to take his first ever dirt feature win in the Aramendia Motorsports, Vinco Plumbing, On Demand Shirts, All in Designs, Southbound & Down, Ace Transmission, RPM Equipment, CL Concrete Construction, Mark Herring Race Engines, IRP Chassis.
“It would be hard for me to pick a bigger win or race out of all my racing career,” replied Aramendia who has raced and won in pavement Late Models and Modifieds, plus running in the, now, NASCAR Xfinity Series at Texas Motor Speedway years ago.
“I heard JJ(Jennings) back there and saw him show the nose a couple times on the high side. I just had to keep running line, hitting my marks. It's great to get my first ever dirt track feature win.”
“We have a good deal with all our team mates. In the beginning we used Marcus(Mikulencak) car as the guinea pig car to try stuff out. Now it's usually my car trying out new stuff. We all learn from each other. Jason Ingalls builds a good car. He said he built this one special for me, an old guy. Mark Herring put together a good engine and we all put together a good set up for tonight.”
Swenson Racing Products Limited Modifieds
79 Joe Aramendia, 26g JJ Jennings, 14c James Cole, 1t Nathan Titzman, 77 Cody Beddoe, 879 Marcus Mikulencak, 14 Trent Beaver, 96 Jared Maupin, 73 Derrick Gonzales, bd2 Daniel Preston, 11t Tom Grothues, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 14t Cody Tesch, 57 Charles Flanagan, 101 Tanner Whitmire---dns, 00e Jaden Edmond---dns
Limited Modified heats
Heat 1; 26g JJ Jennings, 14c James Cole, 79 Joe Aramendia, 879 Marcus Mikulencak, 1t Nathan Titzman, 11t Tom Grothues, 57 Charles Flanagan
Heat 2; 73 Derrick Gonzales, 77 Cody Beddoe, 14 Trent Beaver, bd2 Daniel Preston, 14t Cody Tesch, 91 Jared Maupin, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 00e Jaden Edmond
Maupin Avoid Mayhem in Factory Stock Scrap
Damon Bean got a good run off turn 4 to grab the early lead in the 20-lap Factory Stock feature. Jarrett Payton, Dylan Kowalik, Jared Maupin and Zach Freeman fell in behind Bean. Maupin grabbed third from Kowalik while Cameron Dinsmore, up top, got around Freeman for fifth.
Lap 2 saw Payton break and try to make the pit exit but get hung on the berm for a caution. Maupin, now second, made a move to get the lead from Bean as green waved again. The two ran door to door for two laps before Maupin got out front on lap 4 by a bumper. Bean tried to dive inside Maupin, made slight contact and spun scattering the pack, sending Michael Keylich over the turn 4 hill.
The restart was complete mayhem when the pack came off turn 4 three wide forcing Frank Okruhlik hard into the wall, with almost half the field taking some damage. Several driver saw their night ending while others will keep the sheet metal shops busy over the coming week.
After the red, it was back to racing with Maupin getting away from Kowalik and Dinsmore running side by side for second and Johnny Torres moving up to challenge Kasey Krauss for fifth. Dinsmore, Michael Dabney and Torres were three wide for third with Torres taking the spot.
Then Torres got alongside Kowalik for second while Dabney and Shannon Maurer got past Dinsmore. At the crossed flags it was Maupin, by a half straightaway, Torres, Kowalik, Dabney and Maurer in the top five. M. Keylich, missing most of the right side body, brought out a lap 16 yellow after spinning in turn 2.
On the single file restart Maupin got a couple cars lengths on Torres, but Dinsmore clipped an infield tire for a quick yellow. The next restart saw Maupin again clear the pack with Maurer and Kowalik door to door for third. As the white flag waved Maupin had gotten four car lengths over Torres taking the win in the Jamie Fuller owned, Reflective Wrecker, JGR Fab, Longs Machine Shop, On Demand Shirts, Swenson Racing Shocks, CNC Graffix, Wells Race Engines, Lazer Chassis.
“Last week was very disappointing,” said Maupin. “It was just something we've never looked at. It didn't feel as bad when Johnny(Torres) ran into the same thing too. Simple mistake. It hurts less not knowing about what it was.”
“Winning never gets old. It's a good feeling. You've got to be on top of your game, but the game is always changing. Somebody is always going to find something. Trying to stay on top is tough.”
“With the DQ it helped put me up front on points average. I just knew with five to go that Johnny would be there. I just maintained my line and tried to hug the tires. Luckily we had a pretty good car under us. Some guys you know their driving style. I know Johnny is going to be around the tires. (Cameron) Dinsmore is usually up around the top. I knew my line was good. I didn't want to change it. I just kept doing what I was doing and it was the better line.”
“We showed up with the same exact car as last race here, except a carburetor. We have a pretty good car right now and I feel we can continue if we just maintain it.”
“The Limited Mod race was weird.” added Maupin. “I was on the wood, looking at the sky and only running tenth. Everyone was fast tonight. The Modifieds were the same way. If you look at the lap times, the track was fast. The track was fast and wide, my hats off to the track crew for that. It looked like moisture came back up during intermission. I think we were faster in the main, than the heats.”
All in Design Factory Stocks
91 Jared Maupin, 66 Johnny Torres, 02 Shannon Maurer, 29k Dylan Kowalik, 54 Michael Dabney, 53k Kasey Krauss, 38 Josh Sewell, 25 Nathan Rachui, 00 Zach Freeman, 20 Mike Lyon, 15L Daniel Lopez, 8c Cameron Dinsmore, 40 Dakota Hurley, 44k Michael Keylich, 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 26 Grant Wollam, 41 Frank Okruhlik, 11x Brian Harbison, 18 Kyle Kirkland, 494 Dillon Kidwell, 44 Damon Bean, 18s Jarrett Payton
Factory Stock B-main(top 6 to A)
40 Dakota Hurley, 38 Josh Sewell, 26 Grant Wollam, 494 Dillon Kidwell, 15L Daniel Lopez, 44K Michael Keylich, 10 Scott Jerkins, 133 Megan Dodson, b51 JW Blocker, 92 Robert Keylich, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 36 Cris White, 22 Tim Sewell,8 Brandon Gaither
Factory Stock heats(top 4 to A-main)
Heat 1; 44 Damon Bean, 00 Zach Freeman, 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 18 Kyle Kirkland, 40 Dakota Hurley, 44k Michael Keylich, 10 Scott Jerkins
Heat 2; 91 Jared Maupin, 41 Frank Okruhlik, 8c Cameron Dinsmore, 25r Nathan Rachui, b51 JW Blocker, 26 Grant Wollam, 92r Robert Keylich, 494 Dillon Kidwell
Heat 3; 66 Johnny Torres, 18s Jarrett Payton, 54 Michael Dabney, 20 Mike Lyon, 38 Josh Sewell, 133 Megan Dodson, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 8 Brandon Gaither
Heat 4; 29k Dylan Kowalik, 53k Kasey Krauss, 02 Shannon Maurer, 11x Brian Harbison, 15L Daniel Lopez, 36 Cris White, 22 Tim Sewell
Hodge Homed in for Fireball First
After the first Fireball feature fell victim to rain last time scheduled, the inaugural Fireball feature saw 4 cars take the green for the new class. Matthew Hodge got to turn 1 first with Chuck Barber trying the high side followed by Bobby Jack and Joseph Montemayor. Barber's challenged end when he looked to break a rearend and slide off the back stretch.
Hodge was quickly away back under green and was increasing his lead coming to halfway ahead of Jack and Montemayor. Hodge continued to increase his margin going on to take the victory, his first ever on dirt, and celebrate his birthday in the Fine Motors, Doves Decals, Parks Engine Service, John Heil Chassis.
“For the longest time racing on dirt was hard for me,” explained Hodge. “The asphalt side of my head said go into the turns really hard, on dirt you can't just do that. I have to be gentle in, and hard off. It was just something I could never do. Over the years, finally, I've learned. Tonight it actually paid off.”
“The finesse of going in and coming off is how races are won”
“My first dirt experience was Shady Oaks Speedway. The name explains how that went. I ended up in the oak trees off turn 1 because I went in too hard and flew off the track. So I've come a long way with dirt racing. It's taken me years of learning how to go in and not wash up in the turns.'
“I wasn't out there cruising once I got the lead. The guys out there are tough competitors. Chuck Barber and Bobby Jack know how to get the job done. With no mirror I don't know how far behind me they are. Every lap I was trying to hit my mark and go as fast as I can. You never know, the next lap could be the lap they take the lead.”
“This is RL Alexanders old asphalt car. Hunter Montgomery then ended up with it and did very well with it. I finally ended up with it, changed all the suspension over to dirt, changed the number on it and brought it out.
Fireballs
58 Matthew Hodge, 8 Bobby Jack, 18m Joseph Montemayor, 19b Chuck Barber
Fireball heat; 58 Matthew Hodge, 19b Chuck Barber, 8 Bobby Jack, 18m Joseph Montemayor
Tait Tops Times Two
The Sport Compact 20-lapper saw Levi Hernandez quickly jump out to the lead trailed by Josh Jones, Justin Sitterle, Brandon McCall and James Gottsch. McCall and Sitterle tangled in turn 1 for an early caution. Under yellow Hernandez was called to the infield leaking fuel. This put Jones out front for the restart.
Rod Tait charged past Joshua Garcia on green and caught Jones in turn 3 for the lead. Tait would take the top spot on lap 5 after he and Jones ran door to door for a couple laps. McCall, who restarted at the tail after pitting for repairs, was also on the move getting by Garcia for third.
Robert Kelm and Sam Walker ran side by side for fifth with Donald Lewis giving them a look three wide. Coming to halfway Tait had increased his margin with McCall and Jones side by side, Garcia and Kelm in the top five. Kelm picked up another spot from Garcia with Lewis following, but half spinning giving the spot back.
Hadley Johnson rolled to a stop on lap 14 just off the track to bring out a caution erasing Tait's big lead. Back under green, Tait got away with McCall, Jones and Kelm nose to tail until contact slowed their battle. Tait again was easing away to take the checkers in his Turtle Team Racing, J&R Auto, Big Mo Automotive, Pontiac Sunfire.
“Two in a row, back to back, at this track.” exclaimed Tait. “I just try to stay out ahead of everybody. Drive defensively and stay away from the 'crowd'. You try to pass clean and avoid the wrecks where you don't get to finish the race.”
“I was hugging those tractor tires pretty close passing for the lead. I knew it was going to be close, but I wanted the lead. I cut it in pretty sharp. I had no idea that Brandon(McCall) got in a wreck. I thought for sure he was on me. He's one of my biggest competitors and friends.”
“I thought someone was going to pass me on that last restart. I just laid into the gas and gave it everything she had. My car is too loud to judge by sound where anyone is. The only way I can hear someone is when I'm up against the wall I can occasionally hear another car.”
Iron Horse RV sport Compacts
70 Rod Tait, 51 Brandon McCall, 8 Robert Kelm, 11j Josh Jones, 76y Donald Lewis, 9 Joshua Garcia, 3% Sam Walker, 8j James Gottsch, 8x Hadley Johnson, 28 Levi Hernandez, 88 Justin Sitterle
Sport Compact heat
Heat 1; 8 Robert Kelm, 51 Brandon McCall, 76y Donald Lewis, 28 Levi Hernandez, 3% Sam Walker, 8x Hadley Johnson
Heat 2; 70 Rod Tait, 88 Justin Sitterle, 11j Josh Jones, 9 Joshua Garcia, 8j James Gottsch
Go-Kart features
Adult Predator; Jerrad Herring, Daniel Preston, Noah VanBlarcum, Charles Flanagan, Blaine Markgraf, Freddie Vannoy, Chad Herring, Tim Thompson, Justin Hoffstadt
Senior Division; Tripp Whitmire, Beau Payton
Junior Division; Sawyer Herring, Cheston Markgraf, Lane Tuttle
Youth Division; Eleanor Maurer, Fast Eddy