By JM Hallas
Pleasanton TX.,(June 25th, 2022) Can someone turn the heater down? TIA
Action on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt oval resumed at I-37 Speedway with the return of the Texas Dirt Truck Series Saturday night for their second trip to the track. Completing the nights slate were the IMCA Modifieds, Limited Modified, Factory Stocks and Sport Compacts.
The last TDTS event here in April saw Jarrett Barber hold off a last lap charge from current TDTS points leader Jared Maupin. Barber and Maupin, the top two in points, swapped the lead during the mid-stages of the 20-lapper before Barber took the checkers.
Rounding out the top five in TDTS points are Josh Sewell and Buster Dean, separated by only a point, with Russ Parker fifth. This marks the fourth points race of the TDTS season with six more scheduled this year, ending the season back at I-37 Speedway, the end of October.
Speaking of hot.
Maupin comes into the night, after knocking off a few more wins at other tracks during the time off, leading in both the IMCA Modified and Factory Stock classes.
Too early to talk points?
In the other classes, Brandon Brzozowski leads by three over Kody Hardage in the Late Models(off tonight), Last years track champion, Sterling Tausch holds a single point advantage over Allen Alexander in Limited Modifieds. Former track champ, Jamie Garner leads Ryker Hernandez, who finally broke into the winners column last race, by three. The part-time E-Mods show Gilbert Perez with the biggest advantage, eight, ahead of Cooper Koliba.
Price Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds
The start of the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature saw Ryan Childress get out front in turn 1 while Jamie Campbell and Ryan Doyon swapped second. Campbell, working the top, was able to get by Childress for the lead on lap 4 with Jared Maupin following to second.
Maupin wasted little time getting past Campbell for the lead on lap 5. Behind the lead duo, Doyon, Childress and Chris Morris were three wide for third when Wade Pistole jr. slid off the back stretch for a caution. On the restart, Doyon, Childress and Morris resumed their three wide fight until the Pistole's had an impromptu family reunion, of sorts, in turn 2 for another caution.
Then, in the words of Pat Traverse, “Boom, Boom, Out Go The Lights.” Apparently the heat took its toll on the wiring causing a fire in the meter loop taking out the lights. This ended the night.
The track will determine later if the races will be made up.
IMCA Modified heats
Heat 1; 94 Chris Morris, bd1 Jared Maupin, 81 Ryan Childress, 5r Ryan Doyon, 16 Jamie Campbell, 44 Wade Pistole sr., 10 Wade Pistole jr.
Beaver Banks Limited Mod Bucks
The Limited Modified feature saw Trent Beaver quickly jump out front while Sterling Tausch and Nathan Titzman ran side by side for second. Beaver easily pulled ahead as the two continued to battle for second. With his big lead, Beaver(China Grove) was unchallenged coming to the checkers in his Beaver Heating & Air, Beaver Medical Group, Howell Crane & Rigging, WW Bodies, CBR Shocks, crate powered, Innovative Race Car.
State Farm Insurance Limited Modifieds
14 Trent Beaver, 95 Sterling Tausch, 1t Nathan Titzman
Limited Modified heats
Heat 1; 14 Trent Beaver, 1t Nathan Titzman, 95 Sterling Tausch
Brown Breaks Through for First Checkered Flag
TJ Sullivan got a good jump on green easily leading the B Factory Stock field into turn 1 with Johnny Brown and Bob Caulfield door to door for second. Brown got the spot after Caulfield drifted too high in turn 4, nearly kissing the wall. Caulfield would loop it on lap 7 in turn 2 for the races only caution.
On the restart, Sullivan was again able to get away and look to be pulling away for an easy win. But, racing luck had other ideas. With two to go, Sullivan's car lost something in the drive line forcing him to the infield and handing the lead to Brown. Brown(Pleasanton) in the 3-D Landscaping, CD Tire, Supreme Vinyl Works, Bodies by Dub, Longs Machine Shop powered, Destroyer Chassis cruised to his first ever win.
“This is my first win in any car here,” exclaimed Brown. “I was figuring on getting second, trying to be consistent and not spinning out. I saw him(Sullivan) pull to the infield and I was like, 'I've got a chance for this one.'”
“We made some adjustments from heat race. It was a little loose so I tightened it up a bit. It worked out. I liked the car, it was pretty consistent, but I didn't have anything for him.”
“I don't get a lot of practice out here despite my dad helping with the track. I do get a lot of work out here though. That's about it. I might stay in this class a little longer before stepping up to the regular class. Usually Robby(Minten) drives it that class and it's pretty fast. We do a lot of work on it.”
B Factory Stocks
3d Johnny Brown, 47 Bob Caulfield, 8s TJ Sullivan, 25f Robert Fox---dns
B Factory Stock heat
8s TJ Sullivan, 47 Bob Caulfield, 3 Johnny Brown, 25 Robert Fox
Another Feature First for Hernandez Family
A lucky 13-cars started the Sport Compact feature with Levi Hernandez leading the way trailed by Michael Burris jr., Ryker Hernandez, Jamie Garner and Joshua Garcia. An early caution waved when Chad Miller and Shaun Tracy tangled in turns 1-2. Back to green, R. Hernandez took second from Burris leaving Justin Sitterle and Burris side by side for third.
Once Sitterle, using the top, cleared Burris he got a good run on R. Hernandez for second, but a yellow for Sam Walker going off in turn 1 slowed the action. R. Hernandez and Sitterle continued to slug it for second once back to green, giving L. Hernandez some breathing room. Behind them Garner and Burris were side by side for fourth.
Garner got past Burris, who pulled to the infield and got alongside R. Hernandez for third. At halfway it was L. Hernandez, Sitterle, Garner, R. Hernandez and Garcia in the top five. As Sitterle tracked down L. Hernandez for the lead, Jennifer Kidd rolled to a stop in turn 4 for a lap 16 caution.
On the restart Garner and Sitterle scrapped for second giving L. Hernandez a chance to put some distance on them. Garner finally secured second, but L. Hernandez(San Antonio) had built a ¼ straightaway lead that he held to take his first ever I-37 Speedway checkers in his Irace Enterprises, UniFirst, TLC Graphics, 2005 Pontiac Sunfire.
“We worked on these cars all week,” said Hernandez. “We finally figured them out. It's really not about motor, it's more about driving. You can have all the horsepower in the world, but if you can't drive, you can't make up for that. I was just better one(brother) tonight.”
“Out if front you can't really see behind you and you don't know what may be coming. It's just making sure your hit your points all the time, the line the same way and finish the race.”
“My brother and I don't have any bets on who's better, but I'll bet there will be some smack talking going on now. I told him last race that I helped him win, so it was his turn to help me this week. I appreciate it. Now it's game on.”
“I want to thank my dad, my mom and grand parents, Ronnie Sparks and my girlfriend who helps me and puts up with my racing.
Sport Compacts
28 Levi Hernandez, 33 Jamie Garner, 88 Justin Sitterle, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 32 Joshua Garcia, 76y Donald Lewis, 21t Shaun Tracy, 70 Rod Tait, 35 John Thomas, 43 Jennifer Kidd, 3% Sam Walker, 18 Michael Burris jr., 75 Chad Miller
Sport Compact heats
Heat 1
32 Joshua Garcia, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 33 Jamie Garner, 75 Chad Miller, 70 Rod Tait, 76y Donald Lewis, 43 Jennifer Kidd
Heat 2; 28 Levi Hernandez, 18 Michael Burris jr., 88 Justin Sitterle, 35 John Thomas, 21t Shaun Tracy, 3% Sam Walker
Texas Dirt Trucks Series
TDTS heats
Heat 1; 19 Jarrett Barber, 319 Larry Baggett, 52 Donald Mick, 00 Buster Dean, 693 Colton Borlace, 416 Lance Chacon
Heat 2; 91 Jared Maupin, 95 Lightning McGreen, 38 Josh Sewell, 28 Russ Parker, 44 Kevin Vasbinder, 4 Treyler Caulfield
All in Design Factory Stocks
Factory Stock heats
Heat 1; 53k Kasey Krauss, 741 Cameron Starry, 99 Allen Alexander, 20 Mike Lyon, 98 Brandon Spreen, 75 Frank Okruhlik
Heat 2; 91 Jared Maupin, 66 Johnny Torres, 15L Daniel Lopez, 10 Scott Jerkins, 24 Paul Reyes, 92r Robert Keylich