Texas Speedzone - Driveline International night at South TX Speedway, 8/11/07

Driveline International night at the races, South Texas Speedway, 8/11/07
By J M Hallas
Corpus Christi, Tx. (Aug 11th, 2007) Once again, Driveline International, out of McAllen, Texas anted up additional purse money for the Modified and Limited Modified classes. Cars from the Rio Grande Valley to Boerne signed in to compete for the $1,000 to win payout in Texas' two hottest classes.

Also on the nights program were the Super Stocks, Pure Stocks and Bombers.
Included in the activities was Back to School night sponsored by 2 Jacks Racing with plenty of school supplies donated by race teams to be given way to all the children. Plus, as if anything more was needed, an after race party put on by track promoter Owen Pittman with free BBQ and refreshments at nights end.

Whiteaker’s Twin Wins leave others in their wake
It was “like father, like son” as the Whiteaker Racing team scored twin wins in Driveline International’s special $1,000 to win for the Modified and Limited Modified classes on the 1/4 mile semi-banked clay oval.

In the Modifieds Steve Whiteaker jr. had to work his way up through the field after starting 10th in the 22 car field. Whiteaker jr. got by leader Bobby Maupin on lap 17 and held on the final eight circuits to take the victory. Veteran, Lawrence Mikulencak charged from dead last on the grid to finish second and was closing quickly at the checkers.

Steve Whiteaker sr. had a slightly easier road to the win in the Limited Modifieds. Whiteaker sr. started on the pole after taking the ‘Dash for Cash’ to earn the spot. Whiteaker sr. and Bobby Maupin battled early, but contact between the two saw Whiteaker sr. spin but get his position back, while Maupin was relegated to the tail. Whiteaker sr. then held off the challenges of T J Huston, who would only get an occasional peek at the lead, for the victory.

“Both my boys did real good tonight,” said Jerry “Pops” Whiteaker. “I’m always proud of them. I think they’ve both won on the same night before on a regular race night. When these boys come in for the special shows it’s not always that easy. Lawrence(Mikulencak), T J(Huston) and Bobby(Maupin) are real tough to beat.”

Modified A-Main
Danny Brown and Steve Majek paced the 22-car modified field to green for the 25 lap A-Main. Brown was out of turn 2 first with the lead, while Bobby Maupin got beside Majek for second. Chuck Perry and David Schurry brought out yellow as they both spun on lap 1. On the restart Brown got a car length on Majek, while Steve Whiteaker jr. began his march to the front getting by Jim Mikulencak on lap 2 for sixth.

Majek was looking under Brown on lap 3 when bad luck struck Brown who slowed and was forced to pit after losing a valve stem. As the pack stacked up trying to avoid Brown, Darin Leonard and Dale Flanagan got turned around but not charged with the caution. Once back to green with Majek now in the lead and Maupin was turning up the heat. Maupin was able to get by out of turn 2 to get the point on lap 5.

Coming on a tear was Whiteaker jr. getting by Leonard for third on lap 5. Schurry brought out yellow on lap 6 when he looped his ride in turn 2. On the restart the top ten stayed nose to tail, but in the pack it was three wide as Lawrence Mikulencak, who started dead last, was charging forward. Whiteaker jr tried Majek low in turns 3-4 on lap 7, with Neil Flanagan getting by Mike Riley for seventh.

As Riley retook the spot from N. Flanagan on lap 9, L. Mikulencak blew by both for seventh. At the mid point the top five were Maupin, Majek, Whiteaker jr., Leonard and J. Mikulencak as the top six were separated into two three-car packs. With Maupin creeping away from Majek up front, L. Mikulencak was catching Eddy Ross and J. Mikulencak for fifth and sixth.

Whiteaker jr. and Majek were wheel to wheel for second on lap14, with Whiteaker jr. getting the spot with ten laps to go. L. Mikulencak grabbed another spot on lap 15 getting by Ross for fifth. Riley brought out the final caution on lap 15 when he spun. Whiteaker jr. wasted little time as the green waved and he tried to dive under Maupin. Whiteaker jr. then moved to the high side in turns 1-2 getting along side Maupin on the back stretch. The two ran rub rail to rub rail through turns 3-4 with Whiteaker jr. getting the lead on the front straightaway.

As Whiteaker jr. began to check out, Brown was working his way back up, after his earlier problem, taking seventh from N. Flanagan. L. Mikulencak was able to snag third from Majek on lap 21. Whiteaker jr. caught lapped traffic on lap 23, but was able to slice through without losing ground to Maupin who was being reeled in by L. Mikulencak. As Whiteaker jr. in the Texas Services, J4 Oilfield Service, Youngs Auto Repair, WW Bodies, T. Roberts Optical, Holzclaw and Herman, DeLeon Racing Engine, Hughes Chassis was taking the checkers, L. Mikulencak was making last lap pass on Maupin for second.

“I finally had some luck tonight, which I normally don’t have,” said Whiteaker jr. “It’ seems like when I start further back I do better than when I start in the front. Danny(Brown) looked like he was going to check out on the field, but bad luck caught him. My car was alright, the track was a little rough, it hasn’t been like that. I just picked the right times and right spots(to get through the pack). It didn’t seem like it was the fastest car, but it was enough to get the win.”
“Lawrence(Mikulencak) was coming, he’s told me about 50 times that another two laps he would have had me. I just told him that the trophy was sitting on the back of my car.”
“Being here in south Texas, we can be a little behind on technology. I just try some new stuff for the big money shows. We did a lot of adjustments top the car and it paid off tonight. It wasn’t great, but it was good enough.”
“ When the USMTS shows come to Texas and STS we’ll definitely have to step up about five notches. Those guys do this for a living. We have a forty-hour a week job and then go work on the race car. If they don’t win, they don’t eat. So they’re always pretty hungry. When you outrun those guys, you’ve done something and are a pretty good driver.”

Modified A-main
1. 89 Steve Whiteaker jr.
2. 1 Lawrence Mikulencak
3. 7x Bobby Maupin
4. 82 Steve Majek
5. 26 Darin Leonard
6. 128 Jim Mikulencak
7. 55 Danny Brown
8. 58 Neil Flanagan
9. 25 Chris Rye
10 57 Dale Flanagan
11. 17a Adan Arambula
12. 20 Brian Rye
13. 38 David Schurry
14. 48 Chris Swenson
15. 41 Rollie Rodriguez?
16. 86 Dale Myers
17. 95 Jeremy Davenport
18. 35 Eddy Ross
19. 8 Mike Riley
20. 44 Joey Heinaman
21. 135 Curt Clegg
22. 15 Chuck Perry
94 Nicky Hardcastle–DNS
10 Aaron Hudgeons–DNS
13 Ken Hobbs–DNS

Modified Dash for Cash
The top two finishers from each heat drew for positions in Dash for Cash($100) during intermission while points leader, Danny Brown drawing the pole. Brown was first into turn 1 leaving Dale Flanagan and Bobby Maupin battling side by side for second. Mike Riley would spin to bring about a complete restart. Brown once again beat the field to turn 1, D. Flanagan fell into second with Maupin and Steve Majek side by side for third.

Flanagan would spin from the spot while Maupin, Majek and Joey Heinaman ran three wide for position. Majek secured second, with Heinaman taking third from Maupin. Heinaman would fade in the final laps giving way to Darin Leonard and Flanagan who was moving back up. Brown built a nice lead over Majek to grab the victory, cash and pole position for the A-main.

Modified Dash for cash(sets top four rows of -main)
1. 55 Danny Brown
2. 82 Steve Majek
3. 7x Bobby Maupin
4. 57 Dale Flanagan
5. 26 Darin Leonard
6. 44 Joey Heinaman
7. 95 Jeremy Davenport
8. 8 Mike Riley

Modified heat winners;(top 2 to dash)
1. 82 Steve Majek, 95 Jeremy Davenport
2. 8 Mike Riley, 55 Danny Brown
3. 7x Bobby Maupin, 26 Darin Leonard
4. 57 Dale Flanagan, 44 Joey Heinaman

Limited Modified A-main
As the 24-car Limited Modified Main took the green Steve Whiteaker sr. and T J Huston ran wheel to wheel for lap 1, with Whiteaker sr. getting the advantage going into turn 2. Huston then fell prey to Bobby Maupin as they battled side by side for second. Whiteaker sr. began to put some distance on T J Huston while Joey Heinaman looked inside Shane Hoefling for fourth. Maupin got by T J Huston for second on lap 3 before caution waved on lap 4 after Jy. Heinaman got turned around by Brandon Blaylock.

On the restart Maupin was hounding Whiteaker sr. for the lead when the two made contact sending Whiteaker sr. around in turn 3. Whiteaker sr. was given the lead back, while Maupin joined B. Blaylock at the tail. Once finally back to green, the top six got away clean with Andy Van Blarcum and Adam Schach battling for seventh. Yellow was back out again on lap 5 after Jerry Majek got into John Heinaman who got his spot back as Majek headed to the back.

When green waved again, T J Huston got a peek at the lead, but Whiteaker sr. held off the challenge. T J Huston lost ground to Whiteaker sr. on lap 6 when he slid high trying to wrestle the lead away. Maupin, Daniel Norvell and Majek all got tangled on lap 7 in turn 1-2. During the caution Johnny Torres pitted from fifth.

Whiteaker sr. got loose on the next restart and got a tap from T J Huston. Whiteaker sr. regained control and held the point, while T J Huston lost his momentum giving Hoefling the chance to move along side. T J Huston was able to retain the spot, while Aaron Hudgeons got past Jy. Heinaman for fourth. At halfway it was Whiteaker sr., T J Huston, Hoefling, Hudgeons and Jy. Heinaman in the top five.

Norvell and Bubba Myers spun together in turn 2 to bring out a yellow on lap 11. When green came back out, Hudgeons’ car faltered and Jy. Heinaman charged by Hoefling in turn 2, but Hoefling fought back retaking the spot on the back stretch. The two were still side by side on lap 12, while Van Blarcum and Jn. Heinaman scrapped it out for fifth. As the top five sorted themselves out, Hudgeons, Van Blarcum, Schach and James Blaylock had good fight going on for sixth.

The red flag waved on lap15 for Chris Del Bosque who rolled his ride out of turn 2. Del Bosque was able to walk away under his own power. As the final green waved Hudgeons got inside Perry for sixth as he tried to work his way back up. Up front Whiteaker sr. was inching away from T J Huston who was being pressured by Hoefling for second. Positions changed quickly in mid-pack as the race wound down. When the checkers waved it was Whiteaker sr in the Texas Services, J4 Oilfield Service, Randy Young Automotive, Mike Brown Engines, Rush Chassis first across the line, while Hoefling was giving one last try on T J Huston for second.
“Every lap seemed like a different lap,” replied Whiteaker sr. “We just tried to roll the corners and make every lap good. I tried to keep it on the bottom and do what I had to do. Lapped cars played a big deal in trying to stay on the bottom. It was pretty wild out there tonight. We just got lucky.”
“The 77(Bobby Maupin) was a better car than me but ended up getting torn up, he was going to be good. When we have these big money shows you have to run good and qualify good. We know that when Maupin, T J (Huston) ans Aaron(Hudgeons) come down here it’s going to be hard competition. You have to get on your game in heat races for the best finish.”
“Steve jr. and I have won races on the same night a couple times last year. What’s neat is he’s always bragging about how much money he makes and trying to outdo me, but I got $100 more than he did tonight. I still think my son’s the better driver.”
“ I want to thank Driveline International for putting up the money and help support our track.”

Limited Modified A-main
1. 88 Steve Whiteaker sr.
2. 98 T J Huston
3. 63 Shane Hoefling
4. 5 Joey Heinaman
5. 68 Aaron Hudgeons
6. 41 John Heinaman
7. 7b James Blaylock
8. 15 Andy Van Blarcum
9. 97 Bryan Huston
10. 9b Brandon Blaylock
11. 07 Adam Schach
12. 4 Art Cox
13. 166 Alan Torres
14. 31 David Sakulenski
15. 48 Charley Henley
16. 5m Bubba Meyer
17. 56 Chris Del Bosque
18. 5T Tommy Bell
19. 57 Jensen Prey
20. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
21. 20 Daniel Norvell
22. 66 Johnny Torres
23. 77 Bobby Maupin
24. 17 Jerry Majek

Limited Modified Dash for Cash
The eight lap Limited Modified Dash for Cash($100) started with T J Huston and Steve Whiteaker sr. on the front row after the draw. The duo stayed side by side until Whiteaker sr. drove it farther into turn 3 on the high side to get the lead. Whiteaker sr. would pull away to a good lead while Huston, Bobby Maupin and Shane Hoefling battled for second, third and fourth. Whiteaker sr. took the cash and pole for A-main by a good margin over Huston.

Limited Modified Dash for cash(sets top 4 rows of A-main)
1. 88 Steve Whiteaker sr.
2. 98 T J Huston
3. 77 Bobby Maupin
4. 63 Shane Hoefling
5. 9b Brandon Blaylock
6. 5 Joey Heinaman
7. 07 Adam Schach
8. 4 Art Cox

Limited Modified B-Main
Chris Del Bosque got out front of the Limited Modified B-main that would take the top four to the back of the big money A-main. On lap 3 Sean Feely and Keith Cockrill were battling wheel to wheel for that final transfer spot. Lawrence Mikulencak joined that scrap and got by both on lap 4. Yellow waved on lap 5 when Jason Terry blew up and rolled to a stop on track.

Once back to green Mikulencak methodically picked off positions as he worked his way to the front taking the lead from Del Bosque on lap 9 of the 12 lap event. In the waning laps as Mikulencak pulled away, Del Bosque, Alan Torres and David Sakulenski traded positions until the checkers waved.

Limited Modified B-main;(Top 4 to A-main)
1. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
2. 7b James Blaylock
3. 56 Chris Del Bosque
4.166 Alan Torres
5. 9s Bobby Smith
6. 96 Keith Cockrill
7. 38 Chris Brandt
8. 42 Lloyd Vernon
47 Sean Feely—DNF
39 Miguel Mendoza—DNF
46 Todd Evans—DNF
14 Jason Terry—DNF
16 Eric Madden---DNS
17x Devin Adler---DNS
9 Carl Lee---DNS

Carlisle captures Hobby honors.`
At the start of the 20 lap Hobby Stock feature the front row of Tom Carlisle and Bill Stephens stayed side by side until yellow flew for spin by Daniel Duncan. On the second start, the two again stayed door to door throughout lap 1 with Carlisle finally securing the spot on lap 2 and beginning to creep away. Jim Myers got by Joe Barnec on lap 5 to take third away from the former Modified driver. George Clark brought out the yellow on lap 7 with a lazy spin in turn 2.

On the restart Barnec slipped high giving up fourth to Ziggy Reusser. The yellow was quickly back out for a spin by Steve Grantz in turn 4. Barnec’s troubles continued as he pulled off under caution from a top five spot. Carlisle got a good jump on green and the field was getting strung out when Clark looped it again in turn 2 for a caution.

Once back to green, Stephens took a try on the high side of Carlisle, while Z. Reusser was looking low on Myers for third. Neither was able to complete their pass. In the final laps, Carlisle inched away to a six car length lead over Stephens, Myers and Z. Reusser and was able to take the win with a comfortable margin.

Hobby Stock feature
1. 28 Tom Carlisle
2. 13 Bill Stephens
3. 47 Jim Myers
4. 5 Ziggy Reusser
5. 4 Cliff Reusser
6. 21g Steve Grantz
7. 10 Daniel Duncan
8. 55 George Clark
9. 07/33/88 Mark Gavlik
10. 99 Joe Barnec
77 David Routen—DNS
17 Jon Lucas---DNS

Hobby Stock heat winners;
1. 28 Tom Carlisle
2. 13 Bill Stephens

Prosek picks up Pure Stock payday
The 15-car, 20-lap Pure Stock feature saw Bobby Jack and Paul Voigt run side by side for the lead until Jack took control of the position on lap 1. The top five quickly strung out, but a yellow for a spin by Curtis King on lap 2 rebunched the field. Just as the green was flying, Mike Gilman spun to bring the yellow back out.

Scott Diem got by Hector Aguirre for fourth on the restart. Voigt’s hopes for top finish ended on lap 3 when he slowed from second and pulled off leaving Jack with 10 car length lead over Gene Hyde. Darryl Prosek and Thomas Rye ran door to door for fifth on lap 6, as Hyde was slowly reeling in Jack. Jack would then spin himself from the lead on lap 7 and fall to third giving Hyde the big lead.

Jack moved back up to second on lap 10 taking the spot from Prosek. Aguirre also got by Prosek snaring third on lap 12. Caution on lap 13 for a spin by Eddie Valdez put Jack on Hyde’s bumper. As green waved Hyde and Jack got away from Aguirre and Prosek who were swapping third. Jack got inside Hyde on lap 14, while Aguirre and Prosek had their own fight going on for third that saw Prosek finally get spot on lap 15.

With the flagman showing two to go, Jack and Hyde were door to door, literally, as neither would let off the other going down the front stretch. Hyde would then spin with a flat left front and be forced to pit, while Jack pulled into the infield under yellow. The handed the point to Prosek, who would get a good jump on Aguirre when the green/white waved, and hold on for the victory.

Pure Stock feature
1. 19 Darryl Prosek
2. 6 Hector Aguirre
3. 42 Curtis King
4. 56 Brad Titzman
5. 79 Adam Torres
6. 92 Bill Stehle
7. 88 Bobby Jack
8. 44 Gene Hyde
9. 49 Paul Voigt
10. 17 Eddie Valdez
11. 0 Thomas Rye
12 2 Scott Diem
13. 119 Mike Gilman
14. 95 Brad Brockman
15. 15. Paca Lavoie

Pure Stock heat winners;
1. 49 Paul Voigt
2. 88 Bobby Jack

Van Blarcum victorious in Bomber bash.
Jimbo Van Blarcum jumped into the lead on the 15 lap Bomber feature, while Karen Jack, Michael Jack and Joe Arce battled for second. T J Sullivan broke the steering in his car causing a multi-car tangle between turns 3-4, with several cars done for the night, but no injuries.

Van Blarcum broke away from the field on the restart, while Arce spun from third. Tom Thrower and Jerry McCoullouch were forced to take evasive action and a side trip through the infield. Van Blarcum then pulled away from the Jack’s in second and third. M. Jack was able to close up the gap on Van Blarcum as the race wound down, but it was the “pink power” of Van Blarcum grabbing the checkers.

Bomber heat winners;
1. 15 Jimbo Van Blarcum
2. 38 Karen Jack

Bomber feature
1. 15 Jimbo Van Blarcum
2. 38 Karen Jack
3. 52 Tom Thrower
4. 55a Joe Arce
5. 11x Jerry McCoullouch
6. 8 T J Sullivan
7. 07 Ralph Postell
8. 93 Corey Collier
9. 55 Fred Koch
10. 54 Tommy Miller
11. 113 Kyle Jackson
12.13 Justin Jackson
28 Michael Jack–DQ, originally 2nd