- Late Model winner Kody Hardage
- IMCA Modified winner Steve Whiteaker jr
- Limited Modified winner Nathan Titzman
- Eco-Mod Winner Gilbert Perez III
- Factory Stock winner Jared Maupin
- Sport Compact winner Rod Tait
- Adult Predator Go-Kart winner Naoh VanBlarcum
- Senior division Go-Kart winner Maddox Jennings
- Junior Division Go-Kart winner Beau Payton
- Youth Division Go-Kart winner Leighton Broussard
- Parade lap for Alia Kirschner with son Owen and JJ Jennings
- JJ Jennings parade lap
By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx.,(Oct. 8Th, 2022) Final points night, full moon, what could go wrong?
As the regular points season concludes it's time to tally up those points and see who comes out on top.
The IMCA Modified points chase ended on the final weekend of September with Ryan Doyon backing up last years title ahead of Gilbert Amezquita, Robert Liese jr., Marlin Samford and newcomer Darrell Boyd.
In my best Stephen Pearcy voice, “I'm a wanted man.” iykyk
The IMCA Modifieds still had a race to contend with a $500 bounty placed on Steve Whiteaker jr. who has been dominant the last half of season with his new car. Would anyone be able to hold him off, or would Whiteaker go back to Corpus with some extra cash?
The Late Models have pretty much been a two-horse race between quasi-teammates, Kody Hardage and Brandon Brzozowski. Brzozowski comes into the night with a nine point advantage Hardage. Andrew Hesler III, Mark Taylor and Ray Doyon III have tight battle for third with only nine points separating the trio.
Sterling Tausch stands to retain his title in the Limited Modifieds with a 100 point advantage over Trent Beaver. Cody Beddoe holds third another 50 back while Nathan Titzman and Allen Alexander are separated by only five in the fourth place battle.
Factory Stocks show Jared Maupin out front by a comfortable margin ahead of Paul Reyes, Kasey Krauss, Mike Lyon and Daniel Lopez.
In the Eco-Mods only eight points separate Gilbert Perez III and Cooper Koliba. Nathan Titzman and Daniel Preston are only two points apart in the fight for third. It's a log jam for fifth between Brianna Witzsche, Brad Waddups, Jeff Markert and Daniel Taylor within four points of each other.
The title is still up in the air for the Sport Compacts with Ryker Harnandez only seven points ahead on former track champ, Jamie Garner. Justin Sitterle, Levi Hernandez and Shaun Tracy round out the top five.
The Adult Predator Go-Karts have four out of the top five spots held down by the VanBlarcum family. Noah leads the way ahead of Andy, Jimbo and Kiehl fifth with Ryker Hernandez splitting them up in fourth.
Senior Division shows Gage Urbanovsky only 9 points ahead of Zoey Flores, Charles Flanagan, Abigayle Zandonatti and Tripp Whitmire in the top five.
Junior Division has Beau Payton out front of Cecilii Johnson by 26 markers, Allison Borlace third, Tucker Kempe Fourth and Colt Stafford fifth.
Jayden Gray leads the way in Youth Division by over 100 on Kate Brzozowski. Adolf Tracy, Astryd Gordon and Leighton Broussard have a good battle for third only six points apart.
**NOTE; Points listed are before a "drop" race.
Hardage Honors Fallen Friend with Checkered Flag
The 20-lap, 14-car Late Model field took the green with Barry Quade jumping out front chased by Ray Doyon, Kody Hardage, Robby Minten and Brandon Brzozowski. It was short lived as Quade would spin and get drilled, hard, by Ron Sprayue. Both were checked out by safety crews under red and done for the night.
This would put Doyon up front for the restart, but it was K. Hardage getting by on the inside to lead. Brzozowski took third from Minten with Matt Fox getting past Minten and alongside Brzozowski for third. That third place fight continued until a Mark Taylor spin brought out a lap 8 yellow.
Hardage got clear on the restart with Doyon and Brzozowski door to door for second. At the crossed flags it was still K. Hardage, Doyon, Brzozowski, Fox and Jamie Campbell. As K. Hardage pulled away, Doyon and Brzozowski slugged it out for second until Doyon half spun in turn 2 giving up spots to Fox and Campbell as well.
Coming to two to go K. Hardage, in the Lone Star Pressure Equipment
CarrollConstruction, MoBag'$ Suspension Technology & Consulting, Billy Bob's Repair & Tire, crate powered Rocket XR-1 Chassis had amassed a three-quarter straightaway advantage over Brzozowski and cruised to the checkers racing in memory of his friend, fellow Late Model racer and Sooner Late Model series champion Haydon Ross who lost his life in a four wheeler accident.
"First one of the season," said Hardage. "We've been working hard and finally got one. We tried a couple of new things that we tried last week. We found something and it likes the top."
"When we restarted Ray(Doyon) was in the slick and my plan was to start in the brown, and it stuck. I didn't know I had that big of a gap. Wish I had a mirror. The track was really tricky. I felt like Brandon(Brzozowski) was there and every time I'd bobble in the ruts I thought that would be his shot. Never heard him, never saw him, but you never know."
"That rut down there in (turns) 1-2 was tricky. If you hit it with the right front, you were done. If you caught the right rear in it you could use it for traction and the car would go. That's kind of how I got by Ray. He shoved the nose a bit I used it to get by. It's tricky if you miss it."
"I changed my number for tonight after a friend of ours, Hayden Ross, who just sealed up two championships, had a four wheeler accident Thursday morning and passed away. We have heavy hearts tonight. This win was for him. It was his kind of track. He'd get up on the cushion and whip-n-spur it to the front."
Late Models
66/12 Kody Hardage, 104 Brandon Brzozowski, 53x Matt Fox, 29 Jamie Campbell, 9 Ray Doyon, 08 Landon Sowder, 78 Eddy Hardage, 77 Mark Taylor, 1x Andrew Hesler, 3d Robby Minten, 91 Jack Lewis, 57 Jason Kelly, 19 Barry Quade, 42 Ron Sprayue
Late Model heats
Heat 1; 19 Barry Quade, 66 Kody Hardage, 104 Brandon Brzozowski, 53x Matt Fox, 29 Jamie Campbell, 78 Eddy Hardage, 77 Marl Taylor
Heat 2; 9 Ray Doyon, 3d Robby Minten, 08 Landon Sowder, 1x Andrew Hesler, 57 Jason Kelly, 42 Ron Sprayue, 91 Jack Lewis
Whiteaker Whips 'Em Again
Coming to green for the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature Steve Whiteaker got a good launch off turn 4 leading the way with Ryan Doyon second, Tanner Whitmire and Dustin Butcher side by side for third, and Greg Dinsmore fifth. After a yellow for a spin by Gilbert Amezquita, Whitmire got by Doyon for second. Whitmire was able to give Whiteaker an early look on the bottom.
After Butcher and Logan Dinsmore scraped the front stretch wall a debris caution slowed the pace. Back to green G. Dinsmore took third followed by Butcher passing Doyon. Coming to halfway it was Whiteaker, stretching it out a bit, Whitmire, Butcher, G. Dinsmore and Logan Dinsmore in the top five.
G. Dinsmore, Butcher and L. Dinsmore were three wide for third while Whiteaker gave the turn 4 wall a slight kiss up front. L. Dinsmore had just gotten along side Butcher for third when Amezquita looped it again in the same spot for a lap 15 caution. This erased Whiteaker's good lead setting up a wild finish.
On the restart Whitmire took a look low off turn 4 on Whiteaker for the lead. In turn 2 L. Dinsmore tried the bottom on Whitmire for second. Whitmire again got a run down low and dove under Whiteaker in turn 1, but couldn't complete the slide job. Whitmire tried the high line the next lap and got too high allowing L. Dinsmore to snag second leaving Whitmire side by side with Butcher.
This gave Whiteaker the chance to lengthen his lead again coming to the white flag. Doyon worked his way back past Whitmire and Butcher for third. At the checkers it was Whiteaker in the D&SS 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, Sneaky Horse, Rush Race Gear, Wehrs Machine, MoBags Suspension, Karls Performance Chevrolet crate powered, CDR Chassis by 89 Motorsports taking another win and claiming the half the bounty.
“Having a bounty on me just adds a little pressure,” said Whiteaker. “You're expected to perform at this level. It's a lot harder to make sure you stay there. I thought maybe if Dustin(Butcher) was in second and I somehow knew that we could work something out and take all of Ray and Michael's money back home.”
“I felt like I was struggling. If I'd choose a certain line, three laps later that line would go away and I'd be searching something else. It took me a couple laps to get going. I almost gave it up a couple times. All in all, we made it to Victory Lane and that's a good thing.”
“Tanner(Whitmire) never really got in front of me enough to slide me. I went into (turn) 3 too soft and pushed up the track. He ducked his nose in there low and I saw him, but never really saw him again. He and I have raced together for years. Usually when the track has some moisture he's always fast. You can never count him out. I think little (Logan) Dinsmore came on at the end too. With a track like that, having as many characteristics as it did, you never know who's going to hit the right set up.”
“In my heat race I'm real bad about seeing if I can flat foot it around but on the stop watch, that's never faster. It's fun, but I was obviously over driving, hitting the ruts at the wrong time, braking in the ruts. None of that ever works. I don't know what it is. This track is wide, it's got moisture and my goal is hold it wide open in the heats.”
“I'm planning on Cotton Bowl Speedway next week. Then I'm changing to my USRA motor to run Rocket and probably miss the DTK race here. The Vegas XR race is still a 50/50 shot. If I'm here for the DTK race, them I'm going to Vegas since it's all IMCA.
Price Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds
89c Steve Whiteaker jr., 8jr Logan Dinsmore, 5r Ryan Doyon, 101 Tanner Whitmire, 90 Dustin Butcher, 53x Chandler Fox, 77 Robert Liese, 22 Darrell Boyd, 56 Gilbert Amezquita, 8g Greg Dinsmore
IMCA Modified heats
Heat 1; 101 Tanner Whitmire, 5r Ryan Doyon, 8jr Logan Dinsmore, 56 Gilbert Amezquita, 77 Robert Liese
Heat 2;89c Steve Whiteaker jr., 90 Dustin Butcher, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 53x Chandler Fox, 22 Darrell Boyd
Titzman Takes First Limited Modified Tally
It was an emotional beginning to the 20-lap Limited Modified feature with JJ Jennings leading a missing (wo)man 3-wide salute to Alia Kirschner who passed during the week in a Corpus Christi auto accident. Jennings had Kirschner's son, Owen, as a passenger for the parade lap.
The initial start was a bit rocky with contact in the pack between Allen Alexander, GW Hessong and Tryton Temple with Oliver Billingsley picking up an infield tractor tire. Finally under green it was Cody Beddoe getting the point ahead of Nathan Titzman, James Cole, Alexander and Hessong. Alexander was able to get by Cole for third while Ben Mikulencak got alongside Hessong for fifth.
A lap 6 caution for debris after Steven Whiteaker III scraped the front stretch wall saw Titzman, Alexander and Mikulencak three wide for second as Beddoe got away. Titzman and Mikulencak then ran wheel to wheel to wheel for second as Alexander fell into the clutches of Hessong and Cole, who had their own battle going on.
Jennings took advantage of the three-way battle for fifth picking off several spots and catching Mikulencak for third when Jett Garza had a spin for a lap 14 yellow. Back to green Mikulencak and Cole renewed their scrap while Titzman was challenging Beddoe for the lead. Titzman got under Beddoe to lead at the line on lap 16.
The duo put on an epic battle of top and bottom with Titzman getting around the low side in the corners, but Beddoe getting a run up top on the straightaway. The final few laps had the crowd on their feet and coming to the checkers it was Titzman, who's not yet old enough to drive a street car, in his Ace Transmission, Joe Aramendia, Vinco Plumbing, Mattress Firm, “dad built” engine, BMF Chassis edging out Beddoe by a bumper taking his first Limited Modified win after moving up from the Eco-Mod class.
State Farm Insurance Limited Modifieds
1t Nathan Titzman, 77 Cody Beddoe, 26 JJ Jennings, 13m Ben Mikulencak, 14jr James Cole, 99 Allen Alexander, 38 Steve Whiteaker III, 00k Oliver Billingsley, 43 Caden Petty, 71 Jett Garza, 03 GW Hessong, 39 Tryton Temple, 95s Sterling Tausch---dns
Limited Modified heats
Heat 1; 1t Nathan Titzman, 14jr James Cole, 03 GW Hessong, 13m Benjamin Mikulencak, 39 Tryton Temple, 00k Oliver Billingsley, 26g JJ Jennings
Heat 2; 77 Cody Beddoe, 99 Allen Alexander, 38 Steve Whiteaker III, 71 Jett Garza, 95s Sterling Tausch, 43 Kayden Petty
Perez Powers to Eco_Mod Payday
It was Gilbert Perez powering off turn 2 to grab the lead in the 15-lap Eco-Mod feature with Brianna Witzsche and JD Legg door to door for second, Brad Waddups and Cooper Koliba in tow. Legg would spin from the second place scrap for an early caution.
Perez cleared the pack on the restart while Legg quickly made his way back to fifth getting by Koliba. Legg, Koliba and Daniel Preston went three wide for fourth as Perez started to ease away. At the midway point it was Perez, Witzsche, Preston, Koliba and Legg.
Preston was able to get past Witzsche for second, but found himself a full straightaway behind Perez. Perez, in his the Annas House, Armor All Express Detailing, RNM Install, Ace Transmission, CD Electric, Mission Race Engines, homebuilt chassis took the white holding a huge going unchallenged to the checkers.
Eco-Mods
3 Gilbert Perez, 6” Daniel Preston, 59b Brianna Witzsche, 30 JD Legg, 04 Cooper Koliba, 34w Brad Waddups, 57 Charles Flanagan, 46 Jonathan Cervantes
Eco-Mod heats
Heat 1; 3 Gilbert Perez , 30 JD Legg, 59b Brianna Witzsche, 34w Brad Waddups, 46 Jonathan Cervantes, 04 Cooper Koliba, 6” Daniel Preston, 57 Charles Flanagan
Maupin the Factory Stock Master
With nearly 30 cars in the pits, the Factory Stock field was whittled down to 22 to start the 'scheduled'(see where I'm going here) 20-lap feature. Jared Maupin led the way into turn 1 with Memphis Villareal, Mike Lyon, Anthony Gordon and Johnny Torres four wide for second coming off turn 2. That was reduced to three wide on lap 1 before sorting out.
Maupin had a rare slip up in turn 2 on lap giving Villareal the chance to close in. By lap 5 the top three of Maupin, Villareal and Torres had broken away with dog pile for fourth between Gordon, Lyon, Josh Sewell, Dylan Kowalik and Mason Casteneda. Casteneda, Kowalik and Cameron Dinsmore tried three with Casteneda making contact with the wall and losing the truck lid for a lap 8 debris caution.
Once back to green Villareal put the pressure on Maupin for the lead giving him a shot in the bumper on lap 9. This gave Torres a run to get by Villareal, but a tangle between Robert Keylich and Ricky Long brought out a caution. Once back to green, Villareal took a look low on Maupin while Kasey Krauss got fourth from Casteneda, but an infield tractor tire slowed the action again.
The next restart saw Torres get a look on Maupin for the lead with Casteneda getting back by Krauss and Dakota Hurley following. Lap 12 saw Paul Reyes get turned to the infield jumping the banking on the infield Go-Kart track bringing the yellow right back out.
Then it got a bit sketchy. Coming back to green Villareal tried to get under Torres and move him up. Torres tried to keep him down and the two seemed tied together as they traded some, ok, a lot, of paint through turns 1-2 even kicking an infield tire on the track. Under caution the duo continued their bumper tag with Torres stopping in turn 2. Villareal headed towards him, but thought better and drove off. To be continued…
Now officials cut the race, due to time limits, down to a green, white, checkered finish. Maupin was able to clear the mayhem while Torres and Villareal slugged it out for second. This gave Maupin a somewhat easy run to 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, his 24th win of the season at south Texas tracks.
**A post-race scuffle in the tech area saw both Torres and Villareal catching a disqualification.
“The car's been good,” exclaimed Maupin. “Really consistent. I couldn't be happier. I lead on the bottom all race and it's tough to get out of that line. Johnny(Torres) just happened to show himself on the top right before that caution. It showed me that I had to move up. That's the line that's good. Once I moved up, the car got way faster.”
“I hit that rut. I knew that rut was bad and that Memphis(Villareal) would probably rough me up, typical Memphis. Once I got around the rut I knew I could hold him off. I need to go back and watch the video. I hear there was some real good action behind me.”
“This championship makes up a bit for the ones we lost last year due to having covid. We did win three, but it should have been five. But, even better, this is win number 24 for the season. I could not imagine winning 24 races in a year and we've still got some big races to go.”
“I hate to admit that work gets me tied up so I can't make some of the big shows mid-season. I just can't get off as many days as I wish. We'll hit as many year end races as we can. I'd like to see where we stand with some of those guys. I think we've got a pretty good hot rod. That one show here that we raced with Justin(Whitehead) I got past him just as a caution came out. He told me in tech that I had him, then I lost a cylinder. Not making excuses, we finished behind him on seven cylinders. I think we've got something to hang with those guys.”
All in Design Factory Stocks
91 Jared Maupin, 28m Mason Casteneda, 40 Dakota Hurley, 53k Kasey Krauss, 58 Anthony Gordon, 8c Cameron Dinsmore, 20 Mike Lyon, 11x Brian Harbison, 38 Josh Sewell, 29k Dylan Kowalik, 15L Daniel Lopez, 29 Jose Lopez jr, 41 Frank Okruhlik, 777 Will Spears, 20r Ricky Long, 13j Jett Johnson, 15b JW Blocker, 92r Robert Keylich, 24 Paul Reyes, 8s TJ Sullivan, 30 Memphis Villareal---DQ(fighting in tech), 66 Johnny Torres----DQ(fighting in tech)
Factory Stock B-main(top 6 to A-main)
38 Josh Sewell, 40 Dakota Hurley, 24 Paul Reyes, 13j Jett Johnson, 20 Ricky Long, 15b JW Blocker, 44k Michael Keylich, 3d Johnny Walker, 55c Cody Clark, 24x Tony Blankenship, 13 Jeff Hammitt, 75 Jerry Miller
Factory Stock heats(top 4 to A-main)
Heat 1; 91 Jared Maupin, 58 Anthony Gordon, 15L Daniel Lopez, 8s TJ Sullivan, 20r Ricky Long, 24 Paul Reyes, 44k Michael Keylich, 55c Cody Clark
Heat 2; 20 Mike Lyon, 66 Johnny Torres, 28m Mason Casteneda, 41 Frank Okruhlik, 3d Johnny Brown, 24x Tony Blankenship, 13 Jeff Hammitt
Heat 3; 53k Kasey Krauss, 29k Dylan Kowalik, 29 Jose Lopez jr., 92r Robert Keylich, 38 Josh Sewell, 40 Dakota Hurley, 75 Jerry Miller
Heat 4; 30 Memphis Villareal, 8c Cameron Dinsmore, 11x Brian Harbison, 777 Will Spears, 13j Jett Johnson, 15b JW Blocker, 38k Donald KInnaman
Tait Tops Sport Compacts
With a title on the line the Sport Compact 20-lapper took an interesting turn early, perhaps Thanksgiving dinner too.
Levi Hernandez got a good jump on green, but it was three wide off turn 2 between L. Hernandez, Ryker Hernandez and Justin Sitterle. R. Hernandez got the spot on lap 1, but a spin by Sam Walker brought out the caution. S. Walker got her hand caught in the steering wheel suffering a fractured hand.
After the red, the restart saw the Hernandez brothers side by side for the lead. Sitterle and Rod Tait made it four wide down the back stretch. The Hernandez' made contact sending R. Hernandez around collecting Sitterle, Donald Lewis and Brandon McCall. This ended the night for both Hernandez' and opening the door for Jamie Garner to take the championship. Garner, however, had a wounded car with a right front hub or rotor sparking badly.
Back to green with Tait out front and Ronnie Schoenfeldt and Garner side by side for third. Tait began to ease away with Schoenfeldt, Garner and McCall battling for second. Coming from the back after pitting, Sitterle, with the passenger door ajar, made his way past Lewis for fifth. At halfway it was Tait, McCall, Schoenfeldt, Garner and Sitterle in the top five.
With Tait continuing to pull away by a huge margin, Sitterle, with the door still swaying in the breeze, began picking off spots making his way to second on lap 17, but a half lap behind Tait. Tait, in his unsponsored, 2.2L Eco-tech, 2003 Pontiac Sunfire made his way through traffic scoring his first ever victory.
“I've been trying to win one since last year,” commented Tait. “It's good to finally get the first one. It was nice to see those fast guys out, but the win would have been nicer if I had beat them. You have to race everybody, that's part of it.”
“I saw Sam(Walker) gives me the thumbs up after her wreck. I knew she was ok, but I knew she was hurt too. I'm just doing this for fun. I thought I'd like to try it and I really enjoy it.”
Sport Compacts
70 Rod Tait, 88 Justin Sitterle, 14 Brandon McCall, 12 Ronnie Schoenfeldt, 33 Jamie Garner, 76y Donald Lewis, 22 CJ Walker, 21t Shaun Tracy, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 28 Levi Hernandez, 3% Sam Walker
Sport Compact heats
Heat 1; 28 Levi Hernandez, 55 Ryker Hernandez, 12 Ronnie Schoenfeldt, 70 Rod Tait, 3% Sam Walker, 22 CJ Walker
Heat 2; 88 Justin Sitterle, 76y Donald Lewis, 33 Jamie Garner, 14 Brandon McCall, 21t Shaun Tracy
Go-Karts
Adult Predator; Noah VanBlarcum, Levi Hernandez, Ryker Hernandez, Brandon Stevens, Josiah Ramsey
Senior Division; Maddox Jennings, Conner Holt, Tripp Whitmire
Junior Division; Beau Payton, Cecilii Johnson, Allison Borlace
Youth Division; Leighton Broussard, Kate Brzozowski
I-37 Speedway doesn't end the racing yet with two special events coming up. Redneck Stress Relief is slated for October 28th featuring the Texas Dirt Truck Series season ender. November is the final race with the two-day DTK Memorial