By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX.,(April 13th, 2024) Anyone triskaidekaphobic? Just throwing that out there.
Racing resumed at I-37 Speedway Saturday night on the semi-banked, ¼ mile, dirt, oval south of San Antonio. The nights race slate included the Late Models running for $750 to win/$100 to start, the Limited Modifieds and Factory Stocks going after $500 to win in each class plus the Fireballs and Sport Compacts.
The Dwarf Car Racing of Texas returned also for its second visit of the season. In their last visit the 20-lap feature wasn't decided until a late caution brought the field back together. It was a shootout of the Dillons/Dylan between Dillon Coyne, Dylan Budnik and race winner Dillon Spreen in the Pro Division. Danielle Long scored the win in the Sportsman Division with her sixth overall finish.
Maupin on the Money in Late Model Main
At the start of the 20-lap Late Model Main Jared Maupin and Rory Jordan stayed door to door through turns 1-2 with Jordan edging ahead. Maupin, Marcus Mikulencak, Austin Thiess and Landon Sowder followed. Maupin wasted little time getting by for the lead on lap 2 while Mikulencak took a trip through the infield and fell back.
As Mikulencak tried to work his way back he was three wide with Robby Minten and Sowder. As he worked past, Ziggy Reusser, David Lehman and Allison Lehman tangled for a caution. On the restart Jordan went around collecting A. Thiess, Matt Fox and Sowder in turn 4. Once back to green Maupin got away from Mikulencak as M. Fox, A. Thiess and Jordan worked their way back up.
Minten's top three run ended when he rolled to a stop for a lap 12 caution.
Maupin got clear of Mikulencak while A. Thiess looked low on Jordan who was pressuring Mikulencak. Just as Maupin was taking the white flag, D. Thiess went around in turn 3 to bring out a yellow. This set up a one lap shootout for the win. Maupin was able to get a couple car lengths on green taking the win in the Kris Workman owned, JGR Fab, CNC Grafix, 91 Specialties, Klein crate powered Rocket XR1 Chassis.
Nogalitos Gear Late Models
91 Jared Maupin, 12 Marcus Mikulencak, 7d Austin Thiess, 7x Rory Jordan, 53x Matt Fox, 26 David Lehman, 53 Chandler Fox, 77 Mark Taylor, 7dd David Thiess, 24 Robby Minten, 08 Landon Sowder, 5x Ziggy Reusser, 26r Allison Lehman, 9r Ray Doyon---dns
Maupin, Take Two
From the pole, Jared Maupin grabbed the Limited Modified feature lead ahead of Steven Whiteaker III, Bobby Smith, Johnny Torres and Trent Beaver. Torres moved past Smith and along side Whiteaker for second when Marcus Mikulencak looped it on lap 4. On the restart Torres began to pressure Maupin for the lead, but a spin by Rowdy Flanagan a lap later slowed the pace.
The top three got away on green while Ray Allen Kulhanek took fourth from Whiteaker. Up front Torres was putting pressure on Maupin for the lead looking low coming off turn 4 with Kulhanek got by Beaver for third. The lead battle ended a lap later when Torres stopped on the edge of the track as Mikulencak got by Whiteaker.
Back to green coming to halfway showing Maupin, Kulhanek, Beaver, Whiteaker and Charles Flanagan in the top 5 after Mikulencak pulled off. By lap 15 Maupin and Kulhanek were pulling away from Beaver who had a gap to Whiteaker and Smith. Lap 17 saw Joshua Tuttle slow on the front stretch to bring out yellow.
On the restart Maupin got away while Beaver and Kulhanek ran side by side for second. Maupin crept ahead with Beaver finally getting by Kulhanek, but unable to mount a challenge on Maupin who cruised to the victory in the Rick Pollaro owned, RNM Install, JGR Fab, All in Designs, BMF Shocks & Chassis, CNC Grafix, Mission Race Engines, IRP Chassis
Iron Horse RV Limited Modifieds
96 Jared Maupin, 14 Trent Beaver, 21t Ray Allen Kulhanek, 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 9s Bobby Smith, 57 Charles Flanagan, 58c Rowdy Flanagan, 26w Robert Wiggins, 10d Clint Everage, 747 Joshua Tuttle, bd3 Marcus Mikulenacak, 11x Johnny Torres
Another Torres Tally in Factory Stocks
Kyle Kirkland led the field into turn 1 as the 20-lap Factory Stock feature took the green trailed by Michael Keylich, Wade Jones, Jarrett Payton and Paul Reyes. With M. Keylich and Jones door to door for second, Allen Torres got by Reyes for fifth. Jones got second while Torres moved along side Payton for fourth.
Torres continued his march to the front taking third from M. Keylich then second from Jones. Kirkland, Torres and Jones were three wide for the lead before a yellow waved for JW Blocker and Reyes spins. On the restart Torres ducked under Kirkland to grab the top spot on lap 7 with Jones following through to second.
After a yellow for a spin by Payton, Torres began to flex his muscle while Nathan Rachui got by Kirkland for third. At the crossed flags it was Torres, Jones, Rachui, Dustin Hurley and Kirkland in the top five. Torres stretched out his advantage with Jones and Rachui swapping second. Kirkland worked back past Rachui for third until Robert Keylich looped it for a lap 18 yellow.
On the GWC restart, Torres got away clean with Rachui retaking a spot from Kirkland but Blocker went around in turn 3 setting up another one lap shootout. Kirkland lost a couple spots on green while Torres put a couple car lengths on Jones taking the win in the Sundowner Performance Diesel, Allens 24/7 Towing, All in Designs, Hercules Foundation Repair, Drive In Truck Salvage, 91 Specialties, (little)crate powered, Destroyer Chassis.
“Starting ninth I had to work my way up to the front,” replied Torres. “I made it to the lead in about three laps. Normally we run last. So when I jacked up the car to make changes for the feature, I didn't know what to change running earlier. So I looked at the track, made some changes and hoped for the best.”
“With Jared and Johnny not running their cars tonight it was on me to just not screw up. You've still got Wade(Jones, who dominated the Street Stock class years ago) to look out for and a couple others. At first I was running the bottom in (turns) 1-2 and drive through the middle to run the top in (turns) 3-4. Then I just went for the top and hoped for the best. It was good on top all the way around.”
“I ran second in the main in Edna last night. I'm not racing for points. Basically I've finished third every race this year until this weekend.”
All in Design Factory Stocks
94 Allen Torres, 41 Wade Jones, 25r Nathan Rachui, 4d Dustin Hurley, 44x Brandon Welker, 18 Kyle Kirkland, 24 Paul Reyes, 92r Robert Keylich, 44k Michael Keylich, 18s Jarrett Payton, b51 JW Blocker, 55 Rusty Head---dns, 4 Austin Bean---dns
Maupin Hits the Trifecta
As the 20-lap Fireball feature took the green Shane Stonebraker was first to turn 1. Going into turn 3 Jared Maupin split the middle of Stonebraker and Danny Dear to get the lead. Matthew Hodge followed to second with DJ Schroat, Stonebraker and Dear sorting out in the top five. Maupin and Hodge quickly broke away until Joseph Montemayor lost a wheel.
Back to green, Maupin cleared the pack when Hodge pushed high in turn 2 running Schroat to the wall. Howie Marcx capitalized taking third from Schroat. A spin by Dear brought the yellow right back out on lap 4. The restart saw Ryan McDonald get by Stonebraker for fifth then slow for a lap 6 caution and pit.
Maupin broke away back under green while Marcx battled past Hodge for second. At the midway point it was Maupin, Marcx, Hodge, Stonebraker and Schroat in the top five. With five to go, Maupin had increased his margin to half a straightaway over Marcx, who had Hodge closing the gap for the second spot.
The only thing to slow Maupin in the final laps was lapped traffic as he cautiously looked for a way past. Hodge caught Marcx on the final lap to retake second. But no one had anything for Maupin who scored his third win of the night in the Aaron Leddy owned, JGR Fab, All in Designs, Reflective Wrecker, 91 Specialties, CNC Grafix, Express Chassis
Winners Circle Transmissions Fireballs
93 Jared Maupin, 58 Matthew Hodge, 13 Howie Marcx, 8 DJ Schroat, h2s Shane Stonebraker, 17 Scott Walker, 64 Danny Dear, 816 Ryan McDonald, 68 Kenny Wright, 18m Joseph Montemayor, 99 Robby Minten---dns
Hernandez Hot Streak Continues
On the initial Sport Compact start Josh Jones caught an infield tractor tire coming to green. On the next try Ryker Hernandez and Joshua Garcia three wide for the top spot. Hernandez took over the point on lap 3 while Sam Walker got by James Baum for fifth. Rod Tait, who flipped last race, made his way past Garcia for third while Baum retook fifth from Walker.
At the midway point it was Hernandez, Sitterle, Garcia, Tait and Baum in the top five when Justin Van Winkle lost a tire in turn 4. Hernandez got a good jump on green while Garcia got second from Sitterle. Sitterle tried to fight back as
Hernandez began to increase his margin.
Tait and Sitterle made hard contact battling for third with Tait losing several spots. Hernandez had clear sailing the final few laps taking another win in the iraceenterprise, Allways Auto Group, Lovett Car Wash, Sullivan Racing, C3 Speed Horses, 2005 Chevy Cavalier.
“I just figured it out as I went(at the start),” said Hernandez. “But it all worked out at the finish. I do basically all the work on the car during the week, my dad pays for the parts.”
“We made some changes for the different track conditions tonight. It wasn't how I really liked it but I figured it out. I just tried to change my driving to not hit the two wet spots.”
Johnson Supply Sport Compacts
22 Ryker Hernandez, 32 Joshua Garcia, 88 Justin Sitterle, 007 James Baum, 18 Eric Wilson, 48 James Polasek, 3% Sam Walker, 70 Rod Tait, 43 Jennifer Kidd, 85 Michelle Conlee, 825 Justin Van Winkle, 11j Josh Jones, 38 Sonny Kinnaman---dns
Budnik Best in DCRST
The 20-lap Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas feature saw Dylan Bunik jump out front trailed by Dillon Coyne, Chris Ochoa, Duane Burford and Billy Groff. The race went red early when Colby Urbanosky slowed on the front stretch, Danille Long tried to squeeze between Urbanosky and the front stretch wall. Long's car hooked the wall and started a series of several snap rolls, then going end over end before landing on the roof.
Long was able to get out and was checked out by EMS. ***I spoke to a DCRST rep after the race and was told that she is alright and the car wasn't too badly bent up. Amazing!
Once back to green the two Dylan/Dillons began to check out running nose to tail. At halfway it was Budnik, Coyne, D. Burford, Ochoa and Groff in the top five. Budnik and Coyne then started to mix it up with Coyne sneaking past Budnik to get the lead on lap 15. It was short lived as Budnik was able retake the point on lap 17 after a side by side battle. From their Budnik in the Sky Haulers, Epperson Paint & Body, Dall Co., Flying V Motorsports, B&B Chassis, dsm, Suzuki GSXR 1000 held on for the victory.
Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas
25 Dylan Budnik, 12 Dillon Coyne, 14r Duane Burford, 0 Chris Ochoa, 81d Jerry Burford, 30 Billy Groff, 31 David Miller, 93 Adam Stehle, 2 Jerry Book, 36 Joe Sansing, 24 Colby Urbanosky, 08 Danielle Long, 7 Ron Theel---dns, 88 Brandon Spreen---dns