Texas Speedzone - Sparkling City Sprint Car Classic @ Sou. Tx. Spwy. 9/22/07

Sparkling City Sprint Car Clasic, South Texas Speedway, 9/22/07
By J M Hallas
Corpus Christi, Tx.(Sept. 22nd, 2007) After two previous tries, the American Sprint Car Series finally had Mother Nature shine on the track to get a show. Along with the ASCS Sprint cars, the local Modified and Limited Modified classes were running for $1000 to win, with the Hobby Stocks completing the program. In addition a free BBQ and Paul Sutherland band would cap off the night.

With the season winding down, the ASCS Sprint Car points chase is as tight as ever with Skip Wilson holding a mere 6 point advantage over Brandon Berryman and eight markers ahead of Gary Watson. Wilson's night started out bad when the car wouldn't fire for packing or hot laps. Wilson's crew went into scramble mode as they tried to make repairs on the point's leaders car and had the car ready for heat action.

Berryman bags Sparking City Sprint Car Classic

Ray Allen Kulhanek jumped into the lead from the pole at the start of the 25-lap Sparkling City Sprint Car Classic. One of the hottest drivers lately, Jason Johnson moved into second, with Kathryne Minter and Skip Wilson side by side for fifth. Johnson tried the low side of Kulhanek on lap 2, and then jumped up top to get by Kulhanek on lap 4. Once past, Johnson began to pull away, while Wilson caught Chris Sweeney for fourth as Brandon Berryman got around Minter from fifth.

Lap 6 saw Greg Rilat take a spin, literally, through the infield, but keep the fire lit, foot on the gas and continue on without caution. Jamie Will would bring out the yellow on lap 6 when he rolled to stop in turn 3 while running third. On the restart, Johnson got a good lead again on Kulhanek with Berryman getting by Wilson for fourth. Sweeney moved in on Kulhanek for second with the two wheel to wheel on lap on lap 9.

As Kulhanek tried to fend off Sweeney, Berryman jumped on the opportunity to snare third from Sweeney. As the crossed flags were shown it was Johnson, Kulhanek, Berryman, Sweeney and Wilson in the top five. Berryman got by Kulhanek on the backstretch to take second, but was a full straight behind. Sometimes luck smiles on you, as it did Berryman when Johnson broke the rear gear and pulled off giving Berryman the top spot.

Berryman was increasing his lead on Kulhanek as the top six spread out during the waning laps. Berryman caught slower traffic on lap 22, but Kulhanek was never able to challenge as his car gave up with two to go, pulling to the infield. From there it was all Berryman as he easily motored away from Sweeney to take the win the in the Sport Performance, Westside Performance Race Engine, Maxim Chassis.
“Well, I think we were closing in on Jason(Johnson) a little bit when he had driveline failure,” said Berryman. “We assumed the lead from there and stayed on the bottom and stay out front. It was a blast.”
“We don’t really count anything until the night’s over,” added Berryman regarding Wilson’s early night problems. “ I don’t know if we have the (points) lead again, but it’s got to be real close.” It’s as close as it can be; both drivers now have 1506 points with three races remaining.
“I’ve always been told that you make your own luck, we just bust our butt all week long to make sure things are right on the car in hopes that nothing will go wrong. All three remaining tracks we’ve done very good at with first’s or second’s. I’m really excited and looking forward to them.”

ASCS A-Main
1. 31 Brandon Berryman
2. 93 Chris Sweeney
3. 65 Skip Wilson
4. 13m Kathryne Minter
5. 3 Gary Watson
6. 12 Tommy Bryant
7. 14E Todd Evans
8. 35 Greg Rilat
9. 22L Kent Lewis sr.
10. 11 Tommy Jones
11. 41 Ray Allen Kulhanek
12. 23 Daryl Wills
13. 41L Jason Johnson
14. 8 Bruce Crockett
15. 4j Jamie Will
51 Jimmy Brooks---DNS

Ray Allen Kulhanek jumped out front of the ASCS 5-lap Dash, with Jimmy Brooks second and Jason Johnson third. While Johnson put pressure on Brooks for second, Kulhanek steadily inched away from the two-car battle for second. Kulhanek easily took the checkers and pole for the A-main.
ASCS Dash(top 6 heat passing points to set top thre rows of A-main)
1. 41 Ray Allen Kulhanek, 2. Jimmy Brooks, 3 41L Jason Johnson, 4. 4j Jamie Will, 5. 65 Skip Wilson, 6. 93 Chris Sweeney

ASCS Sprint heat races
The first ASCS Heat saw Chris Sweeney get out front early for the lead. Jimmy Brooks challenged Sweeney on the back stretch to get by for the top spot. Second in points, Brandon Beryman worked up from the back to fourth behind Ray Allen Kulhanek. Brooks stretched out his lead in the final laps to take the win.
1. 51 Jimmy Brooks, 2. 93 Chris Sweeney, 3. Ray Allen Kulhanek, 4. 31 Brandon Berryman 5. 13m Kathryne Minter, 6. 22 L Kent Lewis sr., 7. 11 Tommy Jones, 8. 8 Bruce Crockett

After making repairs, Skip Wilson jumped into the lead of heat #2, with Jason Johnson in hot pursuit. Johnson nearly bicycled over in turn on the first lap, but hung on in second. Unduanted by his near flip, Johnson kept the pressure on Wilson with repeated attempts for a slide job in turn 1. Finally as the white flag waved, Johnson got the nose under Wilson in turn 1 and by on the baxk stretch. Johnson would only lead for 3/4 of a lap but take he victory.
1. 41L Jason Johnson, 2. 65 Skip Wilson, 3. 4j Jamie Will, 4. 12 Tommy Bryant, 5. 14E Todd Evans 6. 3 Gary Watson, 7. 35 Greg Rilat, 8. 23 Daryl Wills

Whiteaker takes another Win

Steve Majek was first into turn 1 at the start of the 25-lap A-Main for the Modifieds, with Steve Whiteaker jr. challenging Bobby Maupin for second. Danny Brown was able to get third from Whiteaker when he slid too high. David Schurry brought out yellow on lap 1 with a spin in turn 2. S. Majek got a good on the restart while Brown was trying to get under Maupin and Whiteaker was trying even lower to get by both. Brown and Whiteaker were wheel to wheel on lap on lap 2, with Whiteaker getting the spot on lap 3.

Whiteaker quickly caught Maupin for second and got the position after going three wide around a slower car. Whiteaker then caught S. Majek for the lead, and the battle was on. Ron Hall brought out a caution with a spin to slow the action. Once back to green, Whiteaker was on S. Majek’s bumper and looking low in turn 1. The lead duo then caught a lapped car on lap 12 giving Whiteaker the chance to get along side S. Majek and then past on lap14. Bruce Barber brought out a yellow with a spin from fifth on the backstretch.

Whiteaker was able to put some distance on S. Majek once back to green, despite having power steering problems. In the pack, Mike Riley, Neal Flanagan, Adam Schach and T J Huston had a spirited fight going on for fifth. Riley worked free and got by Brown for fourth on lap 18 with Schach following to fifth and Flanagan pulling off. Schurry, whose been haunted by bad luck had it continue when he broke and slowed. As he tried to make it to the infield, Chuck Perry, who was committed to the bottom slammed into Schurry in turn 4.

Under caution, Whiteaker, who was worn out from fighting with steering issues, pulled up to check lap count and take a breather. As green waved again S. Majek tried to retake the top spot, but couldn’t get by. Whiteaker was just starting to pull away again when Joey Heinaman got sideways in turn 2 to bring out a caution. When the green flew, S. Majek was challenging Whiteaker, Riley putting the pressure on Maupin and Brown was putting heat on Schach.

No one was able to pick up any positions in the final laps and as the checkered flag waved it was Whiteaker in the J4 Oilfield Services, Holzclaw and Hermann, Texas Services, Youngs Auto Repair, WW Bodies, T. Roberts Optical, Youngs Race Engines, New Vision Graphics, Hughes Chassis taking the win.
“$1,000 to win never gets old,” replied Whiteaker. “I had my work cut out for me tonight. The car was good until we got to second in the feature. Either the steering box broke or something, there’s power steering fluid all over. The steering kept locking up and it wouldn’t turn right. We got into some lapped cars and I was able to get by Steve Majek. I don’t know how I held him, I’m just glad I did.”
“I was just trying to hold on. I couldn’t feel my arms. During that caution I had to pull up and ask how many laps there were. I was barely able to hang on. Sometimes I’d get in the corner and it would turn and other times it wouldn’t. I was having to use the gas to turn it.”

Modified A-main results
1. 89 Steve Whiteaker jr
2. 82 Steve Majek
3. 7x Bobby Maupin
4. 8 Mike Riley
5. 1x Adam Schach
6. 55 Danny Brown
7. 98 T J Huston
8. 35 Eddy Ross
9. 44 Joey Heinaman
10. 17b Bruce Barber
11. 128 Jim Mikulencak
12. 86 Dale Myers
13. 38 David Schurry
14. 15 Chuck Perry
15. 4 Justin Majek
16. 58 Neal Flanagan
17. 21 Ron Hall
18. 13 Ken Hobbs
32 Raymond Tague---DNS

Modified heat winners;
1. 7x Bobby Maupin
2. 82 Steve Majek
3. 89 Steve Whiteaker jr.

Huston out-hustles field for Limited Mod Main Checkers

A field of 27 Limited Modifieds took the green for 20 A-main led by Carl Lee and T J Huston. Huston got out front as the green waved with Lee and Steve Whiteaker sr. side by side for second. Whiteaker secured second on lap 1 bringing Brandon Blaylock along to third. Adam Schach and Dustin Butcher got together on lap 3 to bring out the yellow. Schach was given his spot back and Butcher went to the tail. On the restart, Leslie Bennett had trouble and stopped on track in turn 3 to bring the yellow back out.

Whiteaker began to pressure Huston as the race resumed and got a break when Russell Salinas slowed and held up Huston giving Whiteaker the chance to get by on lap 5. That lead was short-lived when Whiteaker had problems in turn 3, with B. Blaylock involved in the tangle. This handed the lead back to Huston with Joey Heinaman second, Lee, Abe Mares IV and Schach in tow. Mares would get tangled with another car and spin on lap 8 to bring out a caution.

Huston and Jy. Heinaman got away clean once back to green with the help of a lapped car in the mix. Mares again got turned around on lap 9 to bring out a quick caution. When green waved again Lee had trouble and fell back with Schach, Bobby Smith, Ed Cox all getting by. At the halfway point it was still Huston out front with Jy. Heinaman, John Heinaman, Schach and Smith in the top five. Lee finally rolled to a stop to bring out a yellow.

Huston got a quick five-car length advantage on Jy. Heinaman, while Butcher worked his way back up to the top ten. Butcher picked off another spot getting by David Sakulenzki for ninth on lap 14. Huston began to stretch out his lead with five to go until he ran up on traffic on lap 18. Huston ducked and dodged his way through, at one point splitting two slower cars, three wide in turn 3. Once clear of traffic Huston rolled on the grab the win in his Driveline International, The Race Place, Valley Powder coating, Pflugerville Engine and Machine, Big Chief Chassis

Limited Modified A-main
1.98 T J Huston
2. 5 Joey Heinaman
3. 41. John Heinaman
4. 07 Adam Schach
5. K9 Ed Cox
6. 9S Bobby Smith
7. 7B James Blaylock
8. 90 Dustin Butcher
9. 31 David Sakulenzki
10. 4 Art Cox
11. 17 Jerry Majek
12. 96 Keith Cockrell
13. 20 Daniel Norvell
14. 46 Todd Evans
15. 1 James Droddy
16. X11 Mark Salinas
17. 42 Lloyd Vernon
18. 47 Sean Feely
19. 911 Russell Salinas
20. 82 Josh Majek
21. 9 Carl Lee
22. 4x Abe Mares IV
23. 87x Steve Whiteaker sr.
24. 9B Brandon Blaylock
25. 77 Bobby Maupin
26. 27 Leslie Bennett
27. 15 Andy Van Blarcum

Limited Modified heat winners;
1. 9 Carl Lee
2. 98 T J Huston
3. 9B Brandon Blaylock
4. 87x Steve Whiteaker sr.

Gavlik Gold in Hobby Stock Scramble

The 19-car Hobby Stock feature saw Joe Barnec jump into the lead ahead of Mark Gavlik on green. Jim Myers put the heat on pavement ace, Greg Carlucci jr. for two laps before doing a half spin and taking a trip through the infield. Barnec and Gavlik then began to pull away Carlucci jr. who was being challenged by Andy Anderson. Ricky Long brought out a yellow on lap 7 when his car began a shower of sparks and broke.

On the restart Gavlik got a good run on Barnec with the two making some contact, but both held on and kept their spots. Bill Stephens got by Anderson on lap 9 for fourth while Steve Grantz and Anderson raced door to door for third and Myers regained a spot taking seventh from Cliff Reusser. At halfway the top five were Barnec, Gavlik, Carlucci jr., Stephens and Anderson.

Stephens, Anderson, Grantz and Myers had good battle going on for fourth with positions changing in nearly every corner. Barnec, whose car had a miss from green, finally gave on lap 14, with Gavlik getting the lead. Lap 14 got even crazier when Carlucci jr. had the steering wheel come off. As he tried to get to the infield he clipped Grantz who spun and backed into the front stretch wall. Grantz pulled in front of Carlucci jr. who was limping to infield and the two made contact again. Carlucci jr. was quickly out of his car trying to get at Grantz. Infield workers and crew finally separated the two and calm was restored.

Barnec tried to give it a go back up front, but quickly faltered allowing Gavlik to get back by for the lead. Gavlik, Stephens and Myers were all able to put distance on C. Reusser in the final laps with Gavlik holding off the two to get the victory in All American Car Wash Multi-Chem, Always Cool A/C, Clearvision Windshield Repair, Quality Power Wash, Valvoline Express Care, Absalute Detailing, CC Collision, Cases Fleet Service, Travelers Total Care Hobby Stock.

Hobby Stock feature results
1. 07 Mark Gavlik
2. 13 Bill Stephens
3. 44 Jim Myers
4. 4 Cliff Reusser
5. 113 Andy Anderson
6. 33 Barry Major
7. 84 Greg Carlucci sr.
8. 1 Jim Heatherly
9. 14 Chuck Conte
10. 29 N/A
11. 99 Joe Barnec
12. 34 Greg Carlucci jr.
13. 21g Steve Grantz
14. 3 David Aviles
15. 5 Ziggy Reusser
16. 39 Daryl Miller
17. 20 Ricky Long
18. 96 Ron Hall
19. 10 Daniel Duncan
45---DNS Clare Randall
47---DNS Jim Myers

Hobby Stock heat winners;
1. 99 Joe Barnec
2. 07 Mark Gavlik