By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, Tx.(Feb. 27Th, 2025) It's been a long time coming….
Other than the POWERi Mini Sprints I-37 Speedway hasn't seen any winged cars in years, and that was only some hot laps/practice. This year, on a special Thursday night show, the POWERi Elite Outlaw Sprint Series made an appearance on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, clay oval. These 410ci powered, open wheeled beasts walk a fine line between triumph and tragedy on every lap. The tight confines, and egg-shaped surface could make for a tricky combination.
After cold weather between tonight and the postponed 2024 finale Texas Showdown finally run at the end of January the track has been silent. Diligent track prep throughout the week made for a tacky, hammer down track during hot laps and qualifying for the sprints. During the Elite Outlaw Sprint the surface made a transition starting to slick off in the waning laps of the 25-lap main event.
Also slated for action were the 604 Late Models and Factory Stocks in non-points shows.
Thomas Tops in Elite Outlaw Sprint Scramble
As the Coyote Candle Company, Elite Outlaw Sprint Series A-main roared to life it was San Antonio's Preston Pulmutter grabing the early lead. Ryder McCutchoen, Marcus Thomas, Austin Mundie and Brett Becker followed. It didn't take long for things to get wild as Logan McCandless slid backwards over turn 1 hill and rolled bringing out the first of three reds. *******In all cases drivers checked by on-site medics and released.
Once back to green, Thomas got by McCutchoen for second who then slowed for a yellow. On the restart Pulmutter, Thomas and Mundie got away while John Carney II and Becker fought for fourth. Braxton Weger had a moment when he wheel hopped in the air almost over shooting turn 4 and kissing the wall. Landon Crawley may have found the same tricky spot entering turn 4, but this time Crawley went for a tumble bringing out red again. It wasn't long after the green was back on that Carney tripped over the right front and snap rolled in turn 4 ending his night and top five run.
Then things get interesting as the track starts to show some slick spots.
Once green waved Thomas took a dive into turn 1 under Pulmutter. Pulmutter's car may have jumped out of gear as he pulled up and slowly rolled toward the infield bringing out a yellow. This put Thomas on the point as they went back to action. Thomas, Mundie and Moran got away while Becker and Sam Hafertepe battled for fourth. Hafertepe would get the spot and turn his sights on Moran for third.
As Thomas got a slight edge on Mundie, Hafertepe caught Moran for third. After a quick exchange of the position, Hafertepe secured third. As Thomas took the white flag holding an advantage on Mundie, who had Hafertepe on his tail. Thomas(Corsicana) in his City Vending, Reality Roofing, Revolution Graphics KGM Trucking, sprinter took the win by about two seconds. Now if you Hafertepe from dead last to second(+15) on your bingo card, you're a winner, too, as he got past Mundie at the flag.
Another five laps may have been interesting.
POWERi Elite Outlaw Sprint Series
Coyote Candle Company A-main
10g Marcus Thomas, 15 Sam Hafertepe, 4 Austin Mundie, 22m Rees Moran, 2b Brett Becker, 79 Kyle Jones, b2 Carson Bolden, 2 Brandon Anderson, 42p Preston Pelmutter, 5 Ryder McCutcheon,00e Jaden Edmund, j2 John Carney II, 31bw Braxton Weger, 20 Noah Gass, 17gp Landon Crawley, 29 Logan McCandless, 6 Cody Gardner---dns, 27kw Kaden Weger---dns
“The groove laid down some rubber around the top,” said Thomas. “I knew I was going to have to make a move and time it on a restart. At the start those four or fives laps we'd get at time really took the race away. George builds a really good racecar the way he puts it together. It's the first time I've ever had a new car. Now I had to come out here and do my job.I have to really thank George and Paul, it's really a group effort with all the guys.”
“The smoke it was showing for a while was due to not getting the oil warmed up under all those reds. You can't leave it idling and risk running out of fuel. It was just pushing some out of the oil tank until it got up to temperature.
“I've never been here at all. I love the facility. I'm ready to come back now.”
“Starting in the back we waited a while for some attrition,” added, second place, Hafertepe. “When we got towards the end we could race a bit getting a little closer to clean air. We just took our time with it. Coming to the end we just ran out of time. That 10 car was pretty good though and got through traffic really well.”
“We started out testing a few things and obviously it didn't work out well. We went back to the trailer and scrambled some ideas together. We were ok in the heat race, it was just too hard to pass. I just stayed patient the first half came from the tail to get second”
Sprint heats
Heat 1; 10g Marcus Thomas, 42p Preston Pelmutter, 20g Noah Gass, b2 Carson Bolden, 29 Logan McCandless, 17gp Landon Crawley
Heat 2: 4 Austin Mundie, 22m Rees Moran, 31bw Braxton Weger, 5 Ryder McCutchoen, 79 Kyle Jones, 00e Jaden Edmund
Heat 3; j2 John Carney II, 2b Brett Becker, 2 Brandon Anderson, 6 Cody Gardner, 15h Sam Hafertepe, 27kw Kaden Weger
Mikulencak Motors Away
As green waved on the 20-lap Late Model feature Marcus Mikulencak was first into turn 1 followed by Ryan Doyon, Robby Minten, Talon Minten, Raymond McSpadden and Kody Hardage. McSpadden and Hardage made a little contact with Hardage taking fifth on lap 3. R. Minten moved alongside Doyon getting the second spot giving Mikulencak the opportunity to put some distance on the field.
Coming to the crossed flags it was Mikulencak, R. Minten, Doyon, T. Minten and Hardage in the top five. By lap 16, Mikulencak had pulled out to a half track advantage over the pack after R. Minten pulled off from second, then followed by Doyon from third. The term 'country mile' comes to mind as Mikulencak(Corpus Christi) took the checkers in his On Demand Shirts, Ace Transmissions, Allgayer Inc., Swenson Race Products, Bob Pierce Race Cars.
“The car is the best it's ever been,” exclaimed Mikulencak. “This thing is bad fast right now and I'm wore out. It was a handleful, a little on the snug side. We got it better from the heat race. I can't be more thankful for the opportunity to this, between my dad, and Joe(Aramendia)”
Nogalitos Gear Late Models
87 Marcus Mikulencak, 14t Talon Minten, 08k Kody Hardage, 5r Ryan Doyon, 9r/24 Robby Minten, 48 Raymond McSpadden, 57 Jason Kelly---dns, 24/9r Ray Doyon---dns
Late Model heats
Heat 1; 87 Marcus Mikulencak, 5r Ryan Doyon,9r Ray Doyon,48r Raymond McSpadden,08k Kody Hardage,14t Talon Minten, 57 Jason Kelly, 24 Robby Minten
Gaither Goes Green to Checkers
The start of the 20-lap Factory Stock feature saw Dillon Gaither picking up where he left off last month, getting to turn 1 first. He was trailed by Anthony Gordon, Johnny Walker Brown, Daniel Preston and TJ Sullivan. Brown took and an early look low on Gaither while Preston tried the high side of Walker. Walker and Preston began swapping second giving Gaither the chance to pull away. Preston would pull off from the battle before halfway.
At the midway point it was Gaither, stretching out his lead, Gordon, Brown, Sullivan and Caitlin Leonard. The field spread out with Gaither still putting distance on them, up to half track with five to go. Gaither(San Antonio) easily cruised to his first victory of the season in the Paul Horelka owned, Opiela Mechanical, SABFI Transpotation, All in Designs, Gaither Motorsports, Chevy.
“Track started to slick off in 1 & 2 and was hammer down in 3 & 4.” said Gaither The car was tight, but overall a good track. Coming to two to go I actually hit a slick spot off 4 and almost spun out”
All in Designs Factory Stocks
41 Dillon Gaither, 5r Anthony Gordon, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 1s TJ Sullivan, 9c Caitlin Leonard, 12 Darin Leonard, 757 Stephanie Green, bd2 Daniel Preston
Factory Stock heats
Heat 1; 41 Dillon Gaither, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 5r Anthony Gordon, bd2 Daniel Preston, 1s TJ Sullivan, 9c Caitlin Leonard, 12 Darin Leonard, 757 Stephanie Green
Racing at I-37 Speedway continues the next weekend with an open practice Friday March 7th followed by the Jamie Campbell Memorial race paying IMCA Modifieds $1029 to win the 29-lap feature. Also on the schedule are the 604 Late Models, Limited Modifieds, Fireballs and Factory Stocks.