Hoseheads Sprint Car Photos & News

Rain has forced cancellations of many area races including twice canceling the Lucas Oil ASCS National race at I-30 Speedway and the first ever event at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon City, IL.

Oklahoma has been plagued with rain for several days raining out most speedways last Saturday, however Creek County Speedway got there show in with thirty sprint cars in the pits with Evan Sewell taking the win.. Went to Creek County Speedway for there opener on April 4, 2009 where twenty-five two barrel sprints were in action and Owasso’s, Matt Sherrell driving Don and Pat Carins #35 continued his winning streak to four in a row carrying over from the end of last season. This season promises to be a big one for this youngster as he will not only run sprints but the family has purchased a midget and will do some SMRS and Poweri midget racing also. If the opportunity presents itself Matt would also like to do some ASCS and Non-wing racing. He runs a J&J chassis.

#35 Matt Sherrell

A rookie in the driver’s seat, but not a rookie in racing, sixteen year old Terry Eason driving the #88 sprinter made his debut. Terry hails out of Pea Ridge, Arkansas the town that once supported a quarter mile bull ring. Terry said he has worked for Aaron Berryhill for ten years, said he was just a little kid when he started. He has raced mini-sprints and plans to run at Creek County Speedway and possibly some OCR$ shows. He runs a Wesmar powered J&J.

#88 Terry Eason

He is not a youngster, but he is a rookie in the two barrel sprints, Robbie Sherrell has driven a FWD at Creek, he stated “I went for a Sunday

Robbie Sherrell

Drive on Saturday nights last year”. He has been Brent Bates chassis man for twelve years and they talked him into driving the open wheel sprinters. He purchased two sprinters and made one out of it with help from Brent and Delbert Bates, Brian Roberts. His plan for this year is to get some seat time and get use to the car and he will probably just run the weekly show at CCS.

Nathan Campbell the son of former IMCA Modified Champion, Keith Campbell, who started in factory stocks has also moved up into the two barrel 360 sprints.

ASCS Sooner Opener

The ASCS Sooner Region opened up the 2009 season at the place where ASCS was born, Creek County Speedway in Kellyville, OK on Saturday, April 25th. Thirty-five cars were on hand. It was great to see Norman, Oklahoma’s, Danny Wood driving Mike Hammer’ H&H Enterprises #94 get his first win since 2005 Good to see Shane Pace of Collinsville, OK back in ASCS competition. The 2004 Creek County Speedway Sprint Car champion has a new XXX with Wesmar power. He is sponsored by his Dad, Gary, a former sprint car competitor himself in the Fast Pace Handyman Special. New drivers in the field included Arnett, Oklahoma racer, Chris Miller who has raced 305’ s in Kansas as well as ASCS and Andrew Marshala out of Shawnee, OK. Unfortunately Michelle Guthrie of Guthrie had problems with her Don Strawn entry #21$ in hot laps and scratched for the night.

Shane Pace

Red River Shootout

I hope you all had a chance to see the ASCS Sooner Region and Lone Star Region last weekend in the Red River Shootout Friday night at State Fair Speedway and Saturday night at Devils Bowl Speedway. Fifty-four cars were in competition and Nick Smith of Broken Arrow, OK after a great duel with Norman’s, Danny Wood took the win. The driver that really put on the show though, was Oklahoma City’s Joe Wood who won the second B feature, started 18^th in the A feature, blitzed the cushion and passed Nebraska’s, Jack Dover to claim the show position late in the race. Keep you eye on him he is destined to get a win before the season is over. Also have to congratulate Joe for his recent win in J.D. and Janie’s #71 champ sprint at Oklahoma City on May 1^st. Of course it couldn’t have happened without the help of James Lenhart who has been a big part of J.D.’s team for a long time.

Had the pleasure to meet John Gaston of Peoria, AZ who got his first ASCS victory at USA Raceway in Tucson, AZ on May 2^nd. John runs in the ASCS Southwest region. Colt Treharn from Los Lunas, NM was also back in town with Arizona’s, Ben Gregg.

To show you how tough these drivers are, Ft. Worth’s, Kevin Ramey crashed at Cowtown Speedway on April 25^th and received a broken left leg just below the knee cap. He was doubtful for last weekend, but he did show up and did a pretty good job. When I talked to him at State Fair Speedway Friday night, he said the doctor wanted to put him in a cast from his hip to his ankle but he said Doc I have to race this weekend, so no cast, but the Doctor said to him I should make an appointment for you Monday just in case you have a problem over the weekend. He got an 8^th at SFS and a 4^th at Devils Bowl.

Red River Shoot Out

A record breaking fifty-six ASCS sprinters were on hand for the Friday night opening Red River Shoot at State Fair Speedway on May 8, 2009 and when all was said and done, Broken Arrow’s, Nick Smith cleaned house. Norman’s, Danny Wood and Smith changed positions several times, but Nick held on for the win when Wood slid off the track in the late stages of the race. Several great runs especially for Oklahoma City’s, Joe Wood Jr. Who won the second B feature and came from 18^th to 3^rd. Glenpool, Oklahoma’s, Matt Covington, who by the way won his first 360 Sprint A feature at the sprint car capital of the world in Knoxville came home 6^th in this one. Keep you eye on this youngster, Congratulations to the team for a job well done at KV.

Forty-three cars contended the next night at Devils Bowl with former ASCS Champion, Gary Wright taking the win. It was not easy as Brady Bacon and Jack Dover gave him a run for his money until Dover’s mount expired and Bacon’s Tel-Star communications sprinter went dry.

Unfortunately the dust forced us along with several spectators to the house early during the scheduled OCRS two barrel sprint race at Mid America Speedway in S. Coffeyville, OK Twenty-seven cars were on hand but dust flew in hot laps and continued on all evening. With no tow vehicles in the infield, the program was delayed several times. Evan Sewell driving Rob Forehand’s Action Auto Sprinter was the winner. The second race at ADA, OK was rained out and this Saturday the series goes to West Siloam Speedway, just west of the Arkansas border on highway 412.

Did you know what Bixby, Oklahoma’s, Shane Stewart does when not racing. He works for the “Demon” Damian Gardner. Catoosa’s. Dara (Morrow) Bereth who has raced micros and ASCS sprints will not be racing for a while as she and Chris expect there first child. Congratulations to both of you.

NCRA

The NCRA Sprint Cars opened up there 2009 season at Dodge City Raceway Park where defending champion, Mike Peters took the win over Mike Chadd and Tony Bruce Jr. over a thirty-one car field. The following night at 81 Speedway Liberal, Kansas driver, Tony Bruce Jr. took the win over Zach Chappell and Jason Johnson. The next NCRA 360 sprint race is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2009 and there should be plenty of cars as the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints run a two show May 23^rd and 24^th at Jetmore Motor Complex in Jetmore, KS. The Jetmore show is promoted by ASCS competitor, Tony Bruce Jr. Get out and support these shows it should be a great weekend with great car counts.

Legends Reunion

Finally got a Wednesday off and was able to attend the monthly Tulsa Legends Reunion at the Cherokee Casino in Catoosa, OK. After a great buffet lunch there was plenty of bench racing. Don Bucy a flagman in the good old days at the old Tulsa Speedway Fairgrounds track was the emcee and he did a great job. Seated among the best in the business were Ray & Corky Crawford, Jim Lambert, Emmett Hahn, Darrell Brazeal, Jerry Stone, Shane Carson, Dick Hannah, Gene Dowd, Dave Grubb and Jack Lane. Gentleman that were heavily involved in sponsorships in racing were Art Couch and Harvey Hunter. It was good to see Mark Champion who I have not seen in many years. Mark did a lot, including writing in the tracks program as well as helping drivers. Thanks to Don for the beautiful 2009 Legends Calendar with many old time photos taken by Tim Malone.

See you later

Well, they say many times sorrows turn to happiness and I believe it is very true. My life is changing again and I may say for the better as I have fallen in love with a beautiful woman, a widow who has been a friend of the family for many years, in fact she met my wife in church at five years of age. We have been very close families and even when I left Long Island, her wonderful family kept in touch with ours. Her name is Carole. I recently made a trip to her home in Farmingville, Long Island , New York to discuss and finalize our plans and I will be moving back home in late August this year, as we begin our lives together. As far as racing, it looks like it will be on the back burner. All I can say is that I have had a wonderful forty-three years, writing for trade papers, working at race tracks and especially the last several years writing a column for Allan Holland on www.hoseheads.com since its inception. I can’t thank him enough for the privilege, it has been wonderful and I would not hesitate to write for him again if the opportunity presents itself. I would also like to thank all my hoser friends as well as the late, Duane Davis who presented me with the beautiful Hoseheads plaque at the first Hoseheads Reunion at Knoxville. RIP friend. I would like to thank all the fans, drivers, crews, media, promoters who made it all possible. I know I will miss writing, but I will be attending races on a limited basis and hope to see many of you somewhere. Of course I will not miss a Chili Bowl as I have been to all 23 of them. For the time being you can contact me on my cell, 918-277-0800. I will have a new email address to post as soon as possible and as soon as I am relocated on Long Island I will post my new home address on the message board. I have asked my good racing friend, John Lemon of Owasso, OK if he would like to keep the Sooner Circles column going and he has accepted. He knows many people in racing and you may have seen his race notes from time to time on the message boards. He will be a great asset to the hoseheads website. His email address is jlemon44@sbcglobal.net. Hope to see you all around somewhere. Thanks again for all your help the past forty-three years.

Don & Carole

Contact Don Here

A Hosehead Production

Hosehead's Sprint Car Photos & News,PO Box 42, Drums PA 18222-0042