Check Out These Other Pages At Hoseheads
Hoseheads Dirt Late Model News
Bill W's Knoxville News Bill Wright
KO's Indiana Bullring Scene Kevin Oldham
From the Grandstand Ron Rodda
Wagsworld Ken Wagner
Sooner Circles Don Hubbard
View From the Pressbox Stacy Ervin
Keeping Track Dino Oberto
Tri-State Outlook Duane Hancock
Western PA News Rick Rarer
Interrogation Gary Costa
Hawkeye Ovals Eric Arnold
Runnin The High Groove Paul Kuyawa
Hoosier Race Report Danny BurtonI Just Wanna Race Brad Vores
Butts In The Bleachers Rusty Rogerson
Broadsliding The Ovals Bob AltmanNot Just Another Racing Column Pastor Dudley Balmer
Dirt Divas Camisha Miller
the PITS 2010
Central PA
Sooner Circles
By Don Hubbard
Owasso, OK January 22, 2010
SHOOTOUT AND CHILI BOWL NOTES
Three full days of racing concluded Sunday night, January 2, 2010 with twenty-four winners taking home a special Silver Anniversary version of the Golden Driller trophy at Tulsa Expo Raceway’s 25th Annual Shootout.
A total of 1090 competitors included a record 584 competitors in the five Micro Sprint Car classes and the new ASCS Midget division. There were 75 heat races and 15 qualifying races Thursday night. Friday’s action included 80 heat races in the karts and quads. In the Saturday finale there were 67 races which included 26 championship main events.
When all was said and done, California’s Ryan Reeves took top honors in the Outlaw Micro Championship event. Unfortunately local Tulsa racer Chris Andrews had the race in hand leading until he lost power and was pushed to the pits on lap 18. Andrews had earlier won the Non-Wing Main event over other local racers, Andrew Deal of Caney, KS, Riley Adair, Tulsa, OK, Donnie Ray Crawford and Mike Ward of Broken Arrow, OK.
Crawford finished 3rd in the Outlaw class behind Pryor, OK’s Frank Flud. Scott Sawyer was 4th and Tulsa’s, Jesse Frazier was 5th.
Crawford had a great weekend as he also won the A Class micro-sprint feature. Drew Hillenburg, Son of former Tulsa Speedway and World of Outlaws Sprint car competitor made his Shootout debut. The sixteen year old raced a about five times in 2009 at Will Rogers and Port City Raceways He done a great job qualifying for the A feature in the 154 car field, however, he suffered a mechanical problem ending his night early and a 24th place finish. Drew will again run both WRR and PCR in 2010 gaining valuable seat time.
Ft. Worth, Texas, Kevin Ramey, 2009 Lone Star Regional champion came to town loaded for bear. Kevin debut one of the new ASCS ECOtech midgets, an A class Micro-sprint and his 12 year old daughter, Mackenzie’s go kart for weekend competition. His best finish was in the midgets where he placed 4th. He tipped over in his A class B feature and DNF. Mackenzie started 18th and finished 13th in her kart main. Great to see these youngsters following in their fathers foot-steps. Broken Arrow’s, Kevin Bayer was the winner of the inaugural ASCS ECOtech midget race. There were a total of fifteen cars which included two Ford Focus midgets.
SWINDELL’S DOMINATE BOWL
What else can you say, Kevin Swindell became the youngest winner of the Chili Bowl at twenty years old and love him or hate him, his Dad, Sammy put on a driving clinic that may have overshadowed the youngsters win but starting 25th and going to the back two more times before coming back in the closing laps that had the 15,000 plus fans on the edge of there seats to see if he could get by 19 year old Cole Whitt for a one two finish, but Cole held his line and Sammy settled in third. Our heartiest congratulations to the Swindell family for a job well done.
The 24th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals saw a total of 256 cars from twenty-eight states, plus the countries of New Zealand, Canada and Ausralia take a green flag throughout the week which was twenty-five less entries than 2009, however I heard from several fans and I also thought it was the best five days of racing than any previous year. There were 54 flips which was four less than 2009 with no serious injuries. Unfortunately no local drivers made the fifty-lap A feature. Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, OK finished 8th in the second B feature. Jonathan Beason also of Broken Arrow finished 17th in the second B feature. The state of California once again sent the most competitors at 63. Both Illinois and Indiana were down a little this year with 32 and 29 respectively. The host state presented 24. The biggest news of the week was Danny Lasoski getting the boot from the Loyet racing team after his qualifying night because the Loyet team had not received there $17,000 prize money from winning the Bull Ring Nationals at Kemper Arena which was promoted by Lasoski and his partner. A formal press release to make it official was generated by the team during the week after it was discussed earlier on Hoseheads message board.
There were many great things that happened throughout the week which are worthy of mentioning. One was Thursday night in the press room for the post race interviews. Thursday nights winner, Darren Hagen of Riverside, California personally shook every media person and photographer’s hand thanking them for there interest and support. We can’t forget that Sammy Swindell was well on his way to winning the nights feature before he got involved when Indiana’s Jonathan Hendrick ending his week with a nasty flip down the front stretch which sent that team back home. It was the first podium finish for the top three who locked into Saturday nights feature. We had a chance to talk to second place, Tony Roney who was ecstatic over his finish. Tony has been racing twenty years, started his career in ATV’s, moved to Mini-Sprints and has been racing midgets the past four years.
This was his fourth Chili Bowl. His first run was in a Tuesday rookie night where he locked into third and made it up to the B feature on Wednesday night of that year. Tony stated, “I can’t believe it, if I had to do it all over again I don’t think I would not do anything different. We were a little loose in our heat race but it paid off because the track was a little tacky. Winning the A qualifier got me into the A and I had a lot of luck to make into Saturdays show.” Tony placed 14th in Saturday nights main event.
A young lady making here debut in the 24th Annual Chili Bowl was Alissa Geving of Penngrove, CA who placed 10th in the first G feature Saturday night. The eighteen year old was very excited to get a ride in Chris Walker’s, #10x as a teammate to Scott Pierovich. Alissa said. ‘it was a last minute deal and I was real excited and just packed my bags and shipped out.” Alissa started her career at the age of twelve in outlaw go carts. She has more recently been running 360 and 410 winged sprints and was track champion at Petaluma Speedway in California in 2009 in the 360’s.
Tulsa’s Evan Sewell entered his fifth Chili Bowl a new Daddy as his wife, Erin gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, Rayce Emery on January 7th who weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. and was 28 inches long. His luck was all bad finishing 11th in the H main Saturday night. Evan and his Dad, Tom owned the stealth with Gaerte power. Evan will again drive Rob Forehand’s Action Collision two barrel sprint on the OCRS trail in 2010 and also run some poweri midget races during the year. Congratulations to the Sewell family on their new arrival.
Ten month old Taylor Pittman got her first taste of Chili Bowl racing as Daryn & Mandy were on board. Unfortunately her Daddy did not have any luck and he finished 7th in the second E main Saturday in the Bob Hurley Ford/Danny’s Auto Salvage sponsored Spike. Daryn’s 2010 sprint car plans have him again driving the Keen Motorsports #17 in Pennsylvania. But the team also has plans to run about forty World of Outlaw shows.
Eighteen year old Zach Daum of Pocahontas, IL put the finishing touches on a great Chili Bowl opener victory with a last corner pass of New Zealand’s, Michael Pickens to win his first ever preliminary Chili Bowl feature. Unfortunately he finished 23rd in Saturday nights fifty lapper. Zach started his racing career in quarter midgets at the age of five.. It is his fifth year in midgets. He also ran micro-sprints and dirt late models. Zach won the Toyota Challenge and was Rookie of the Year racing under the Poweri banner.
About the best thing for Broken Arrow’s, Brady Bacon over the week was his great impersonation of Chili Bowl announcer, Randy Ward during the third qualifier Thursday night. Brady started and finished 8th in Saturday nights B feature.
Congratulations to Pennsylvania’s, Bruce Buckwalter Jr. who won Joe Stearns, Advantage Trucks & Equipment Best Appearing Car Award. Joe upped the prize moneyfrom $1,000 to $2,000 this year. Unfortunately the rookie had a good race going until he bicycled in the sixth heat Friday night and flipped. The car did not suffer to much damage and the crew had it ready for the presentation Saturday night, however the motor was damaged which is why he did not run Saturday. 2010 Rookie of the Year awarded to New Zealand’s Brad Mosen who finished 20th in Saturday nights A feature. 2009 Awards presented by Chili Bowl officials were Hard Charger, Chris Windom, Wild Card, Thomas Maseraull, Hard Luck, Brent Bouchamp and Sportsmanship to Don Swope.
Both the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and J.W. Hunt Charity auctions were successful again. Desiree Doherty, Director of the Parent Child Center of Tulsa announced that in twenty-one years they have received a total of $54,000 from this Auction and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Auction. Chip Gerber of Springfield, IL was the high bidder of an autographed helmet of all drivers in the 2009 A feature. He is in the photo below with auctioneer, Richard Middendorf of Jacksonville, IL who donates his time every year for this great cause which we are very thankful for. Russell Hillenburg of Houston, TX a kin to our own Andy Hillenburg was the high bidder for Kathryn Brickey’s beautiful racing quilt which she donates every year. Kathryn had a bout with cancer, but she is now in remission, so keep her in your prayers so she stays healthy. She and her husband, Gary love sprint cars and midgets on the dirt and we see them at many races. They were in town four days for the Chili Bowl. I am glad I was high bidder on the 1968 photo of my good friend and former announcer who has retired, Jack Miller. Jack missed this year Chili Bowl due to some health reasons but will be back for the 25th anniversary next year when Tony Stewart will be Grand Marshall.
They didn’t make the show, but Carl Junction, MO driver, Andrew Felker and his Dad, Danny were the big winners of Lonnie Wheatley’s, Chili Bowl Pool taking home more than start money for Saturday nights A feature. Danny captured first place money of $700 and Andrew collected $200. Couldn’t happen to a nicer team, they love racing and the fans.
I would like to thank the Chili Bowl staff for all there hard work and hospitality over the week and also Lucas Oil and the staff at Racinboys.com who broadcasted and videoed highlights of the race on their website. They did a great job. Also it was great to have Sean Buckley of Jackslash.com fame filling in for Tony Bokhoven who moved over to work with Speed on Friday & Saturday. Sean does a great job as does Randy, Tony and Mike Sweeten all week on the microphone. The race will be televised on speed channel on February 13, 2010 at 8:00PM Central time. And don’t forget if you were not there and want videos of the entire week go to Motorsportsvideo.com and Greg Stephens will be glad to sell you CD’s of all the action for the week. I would also like to thank Joe Orth for the charity photo of me and the lovely Hooter gal and G.T. Miller for the Best Appearing Car award photos.
Congratulations to Shane Stewart of Bixby, OK who was voted the 2009 “Driver of the Year” by the North American 360 Sprint Car Poll voting panel of media members, promoters, sanctioning officials and manufacturers. Car owner, Paul Silva of Sacramento, CA will receive the 2009 “Team of the Year” award for his first time as well.
Since I am not going to Florida the next race for me will be the ASCS National 2010 opener at Devils Bowl Speedway on March 19th and 20th.
The next big area race on dirt will be the 2nd Annual Cowtown Midget Championships on February 12th & 13th. $1,000 to win Friday night and $3,000 to win Saturday night. ASCS2 Micro-sprints will also be on hand that weekend.
The ASCS Sooner and Lone Star regions schedules are just about ready. The Sooner Series will open at Creek County Speedway on Saturday night, April 24, 2010 and the Lone Star Region will open with the ASCS National Series at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, TX on April 9, 2010. The ASCS National race at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City is still questionable as there is talk the track will not open in 2010.
Owasso, OK December 23, 2009
PCR Honors Champions
Aaron Lemmons and his family held there Port City Raceway Awards Banquet at the Assembly of God Church in Owasso, OK Saturday night, December 5th to honor there 2010 Micro-sprint Champions in six division as well as the top ten who finished in the point standings. Seven year old Dylan Cantwell won the Jr. Sprint crown by a few points which were decided on the last night of racing. His Dad, Tom Cantwell(former factory stock champion at Salina Speedway) sponsored a ride in a stretch limo to the banquet for all the juniors who wanted to use it. Several juniors arrived in the limo and purely enjoyed it. Dusty Ford won the A Class Championship, Logan Ellis(Restricted) Mike Ward(non-wing) Dylan Ward(Son of two barrel and ASCS sprint competitor Shelly Ward) Sportsman and Cameron Hagin in the fast Outlaw division. Aaron announced he would not be selling the speedway as was previously rumored and will be putting new clay and banking on the track in February. Opening day will be the, “Spring Fling”, March 26-27, 2009.
Outlaw Motor Speedway Now NASCAR
Outlaw Motor Speedway held a press conference at the Muskogee Civic Center on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 to announce it has signed an agreement with NASCAR to be sanctioned under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Banner in 2010. Co-owners, Danny Womack and Lynn Skinner were on hand along with NASCAR’s, Managing Director of Racing Operations, George Silbermann, and Muskogee’s Councilman and Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce. All Divisions will be under NASCAR and the rules will remain the same in all divisions. “Drivers will be racing weekly for NASCAR points and will have the chance to compete against other NASCAR competitors in a special July 1-3 event during the 2010 Whelen All-American Dirt Track World championships,” said co-owner Lynn Skinner. Skinner also said, “the exposure OMS has gotten on a National level led to NASCAR to contact us.” Outlaw’s first race will be March 26th.
Thunderbird Speedway Opens
Former racer, Stanley Slader, Muskogee, Ok has leased the half mile Thunderbird Speedway from Charlie Fulton and hopes to open the famous half mile in early March with a couple of play days and a special show in early April. He said he will work with Outlaw Motor Speedway so there are no conflicting nights. He has also purchased grandstands to seat 4.000 and all the equipment he needs to open from a track that closed down in Texas.
A meeting has been scheduled on January 4, 2010 at 7:00PM at the Castle of Muskogee. Everyone is invited. Rules Scheduling and other information will be discussed. He will run Modifieds and other full body classes weekly and possibly have Late Model and Sprint Car Specials.
State Fair Speedway will not open in 2010
A big blow to the Oklahoma City racers is the fact that State Fair Speedway will close after 55 years of operation. It seems that because $400,000 in electrical repairs that must be immediately done before racing could safely be conducted on the three eights mile oval and the State Fair Board just don’t think is is a good investment. Promoter, Lanny Edwards feels that the fair board and city leaders want to abolish State Fair Speedway and replaceit with something more profitable. The Mayor said he is willing to work with a developer who might want to bring motor racing to Oklahoma City at another site. But the way the economy is at this time, who knows what will happen.
Early Christmas Present
Not everyone can say they have a brand new baby for Christmas this year. However, our congratulations to racers, Dara (Morrow) Bereth and Chris Bereth on the birth of there first Son, Kruse Allen Bereth, born on December 10th at 5:02PM according to the happy Grandpa, Darren Morrow
Dara has not done much racing recently because she was finishing up her nursing school and then raising a family. She ran some ASCS races in past years, but more recently found her in her Micro-sprint part time, her, husband Chris also competes in a micro-sprint in the Outlaw division.
Chili Bowl Time
Only 21 days to Chili Bowl and as of December 21, 2009 there are 249 pre-entries from twenty-seven states and four countries. Broken Arrow’s, Brady Bacon will start off the New Year at the Tulsa Shoot Out and then the Chili Bowl. He will be driving once again for Mike and Megan Eubanks and will run the ASCS National Series as well as the ASCS Sprint Bandit Series.
A youngster coming out of the Micro-sprint ranks to make his debut in the 24th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals is Tulsa’s, Riley Adair. This youngster has had a great early career in the micro sprints with several wins to his credit. Keep your eye on the 2r a spike with an Esslinger owned by Ed Mangrum. Another veteran racer making his Chili Bowl debut is Oklahoma City’s, Andy Shouse in a Bishop Components car. Broken Arrow’s, Donnie Ray Crawford has entered the Chili Bowl and will be driving for John Kanter of Kanter Oil in Tulsa. John had drivers Zach Chappell and Chad Kenemah in his sprint cars at one time.
SEE YOU AT THE BOWL
A Hosehead Production
Copyright © 2010 by "Hosehead's Sprint Car Photos & News." Do not reproduce anything from these pages without the permission of the photographers, writers or webmaster.
Hosehead's Sprint Car Photos & News,PO Box 42, Drums PA 18222-0042