Texas Speedzone - Texas 2, Iowa 2 in Abilene's Icebreaker 2/22/08

IceBreaker @ Abilene Speedway 2/22/2008
By J M Hallas

Abilene, Tx.(Feb 22nd, 2008) The 1/4 mile semi-banked, red dirt Abilene Speedway opened it's points season with the annual IceBreaker event. Over 150 teams, including several drivers from the Midwest, signed in for the four IMCA classes, along with Jr. Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks. The track was in excellent condition allowing for side by side racing, sometimes going three and four wide throughout the nights event.

Still on the hearts and minds of many was the tragic loss of Ryan Bard in last years season ender, The Southern Challenge. The 23 year old driver from Farmington, New Mexico took his final checkered flag after his IMCA Southern SportMod rolled over and instantly burst into flames. New IMCA rules regarding fuel cells will hopefully eliminate the possibilities of any recurrance in the future.

Noteboom Notches 'Nother win
Midwestern hotshoe, Jay Noteboom, added another feature win the his impressive total as he got the lead from fellow Iowan, Randy Brands, then ran away from the field to grab the victory. Brands got the lead on lap 1, with Noteboom getting by Danny Hogue for second. Yellow waved early when Vince Ogle clipped an infield tire and broke the front suspension, while Mike Hansen slowed with problems.

On the restart, Hogue got loose giving up spots to Shane Priddy, P J Egbert and Scotty Brown. Noteboom had just started to look under Brands when yellow waved again for a tangle between David Trauernicht and 2007 Rookie of the Year, Dillon Smith. Once back to green, Priddy tried Noteboom for second, but fell short as Noteboom picked up his challenge on Brands. The two were side by side on lap 3 before Brands gave way to Noteboom on lap 4, with Priddy moving in on and pasing Brands, now for second.

Brands then fell into the clutches of Regional Champion and past Rookie of the Year, Egbert as they ran wheel to wheel for two laps battling for third with Brown closing in. Brands held off Egbert and put the heat back on Priddy for second. At halfway it was Noteboom, with a big lead, Brands, Priddy, Egbert and Brown. Egbert got third for Priddy for third on lap 11. In mid pack, Josh McGaha was running beside Brown for fifth, with Trauernicht getting past Monte Bolton for eighth.

Egbert was able to run down Brands again, this time for second as the two ran side by side on lap 14. Trauernicht picked off another position getting seventh from Hogue on lap 15. Egbert was finally able to wrestle second away from Brands on lap 16, but was nearly a full straightaway behind Noteboom. In the final laps, Brown got around Priddy for fourth, while Bolton took eighth from Hogue. Up front it was Noteboom in the Noteboom Farms, Wraps by Sybesma Graphics, Bilstien Shocks, Team Harris Racing Chassis first to the checkers.

IMCA Modified feature
1. 7 Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Ia. (3)
2. 707 P J Egbert, Copperas Cove (5)
3. 27 Randy Brands, Boyden, Ia. (1)
4. 44 Scotty Brown, Kaufman (7)
5. 766 Shane Priddy, Abilene (6)
6. 911 Josh McGaha, Clyde (10)
7. 37 David Trauernicht, Beatrice, Nebr. (9)
8. 41 Monte Bolton, Lubbock (14)
9. 69 Danny Hogue, Abilene (2)
10. 48 Danny Patterson, Merkel (12)
11. 83 Daryl Campbell, Everman (20)
12. 283 Harvey Wojtek, Robert Lee (8)
13. 47 Barry Maupin (17)
14. 02 David Davis, Sweetwater (19)
15. 2 Allen Colyer, Abilene (15)
16. 09 Blake Pigeon, Abilene (18)
17. 18 Scotty Cook, Abilene (22)
18. 11 Jerry Casle (4)
19. 66 Lance Shaw, Sweetwater (21)
20. 03 Dillon Smith, Waco (16)
21. 49 Vince Ogle, Lubbock (13)
22. 121 Mike Hansen, Alton, Ia. (11)

IMCA Modified heats, top 2 to A-main
1. 371 David Trauernicht, Beatrice, Nebr., 766 Shane Priddy, Abilene
2. 7 Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Iowa, 283 Harvey Wojtek, Robert Lee
3. 11 Jerry Casle, , 27 Randy Brands, Boyden, Ia
4. 707 P J Egbert, Copperas Cove, 44 Scotty Brown, Seagoville
5. 911 Josh McGaha, Clyde, 69 Danny Hogue, Abilene

IMCA Modified B-mains, top 3 to A-main
1. 121 Mike Hansen, Alton, Ia., 2 Allen Colyer, Abilene, 02 David Davis, Sweetwater
2. 48 Danny Patterson, Merkel, 03 Dillon Smith, Waco, 83 Daryl Campbell, Everman
3. 49 Vince Ogle, Lubbock, 47 Barry Maupin, 66 Lance Shaw, Sweetwater
4. 41 Monte Bolton, Lubbock, 09 Blake Pigeon, Abilene, 18 Scotty Cook, Abilene

Underdog Underwood Outruns, SportMod Field
In a field including two regional champions, local driver Gary Underwood would be somewhat of an underdog. But it was Underwood capitolizing on car problems with Keith White, and getting by Scotty Wallace near midway and building a comfortable lead getting the gold.

The two-time SSM Champ, White quickly outgunned the field on green and got the lead, with the field running two and three wide as they sorted out. Steve Hayes, on the high side, made a run up to battle side by side with Chase Jupe for third. White's car stalled on lap 1 stacking up the field behind him in a mutli-car melee that sent Hayes to the pits for the night.

On the restart, with Wallace now on the point, defending Regional Champ, Jeff Turner looked on the high side of Wallace for the lead. Bradley Poor, Jupe and Underwood ran three wide for third on lap 4 with Underwood charging by both, then Turner for second. Continuing to sail around the high side, Underwod caught and passed Wallace for the top spot on lap 8, while Jupe, Gabe Tucker and Kenneth Graves were three wide for fifth.

At the crossed flags it was Underwod, Wallace, Poor, Turner and Jupe holding the top five spots. Several wheel to wheel battles were brewing, with Turner and Jupe for fourth, Tucker and Graves for sixth and Josh McGaha and Allen Colyer for eighth. After getting sixth, Graves then went by Turner on lap 13 for fifth. The fight for second heated up with Wallace, Poor and Jupe going three wide for the spot. Jupe edged by both to secure second on lap 16. As they battled, Underwood was cruising away to a big lead and ran on to take the victory in the A-City Speed, Rain-X, HOT Chassis

IMCA Southern SportMod feature
1. 99 Gary Underwood, Abilene (4)
2. 30 Chase Jupe, West (2)
3. 17 Scotty Wallace, Lorenzo (3)
4. 48 Bradley Poor, Abilene (5)
5. 14 Kenneth Graves, Tahoka (14)
6. 911 Josh McGaha, Clyde (13)
7. 2 Allen Colyer, Abilene (9)
8. 18 David Phillips, Abilene (15)
9. 40 Jeff Turner, Kaufman (7)
10. 28 Gabe Tucker, Carbon (12)
11. 12 Gary Fox, Haslet (10)
12. 38 Matt Meuller, Stamford (16)
13. 55 Justin Shaw, Sweetwater (18)
14. 166 Johnny Torres, San Antonio (17)
15. 71 Philip Houston, Odessa (19)
16. 22 Tyler Young, Midland (8)
17. 137 Bill Pittaway, Corpus Christi (20)
18. 1 Keith White, Academy (1)
19. 4 Shane Priddy, Abilene (11)
20. 95 Steve Hayes, Eastland (6)

IMCA Southern SportMod heats, top 3 to A-main
1. 99 Gary Underwood, Abilene, 1 Keith White, Academy, 17 Scotty Wallace, Lorenzo
2. 95 Steve Hayes, Eastland, 28 Gabe Tucker, Carbon, Chase Jupe, West
3. 2 Allen Colyer, Abilene, 22 Tyler Young, Midland, 12 Gary Fox, Haslet
4. 48 Bradley Poor, Abilene, 40 Jeff Turner, Kaufman, 4 Shane Priddy, Abilene

IMCA Southern SportMod B-mains, top 4 to A-main
1. 911 Josh McGaha, Clyde, 18 David Phillips, Abilene, 166 Johnny Torres, San Antonio, 71 Philip Houston, Odessa
2. 14 Kenneth Graves, Tahokia, 38 Matt Meuller, Stamford, 55 Justin Shaw, Sweetwater, 137 Bill Pittaway, Corpus Christi

Pyle Puts One on I-Stock Field
In what may turn out to be the "good time" story of the weekend, west Texas driver Tim Pyle finally found his way to Abilene Speedway's Winners Circle. Pyle, driving a homemade chassis, with a motor built by he and his father, held off charges from perennial threat Jeff Turner and two Iowans to earn the long desereved win after many years of trying.

As green waved on the 23-car field, Pyle was first into turn 1 for the lead. Turner and Genderen both got by John Armstrong for second and third. In the pack, former Regional Champ Duain Pritchett, J W Johnson and Jeremy Gettler ran three wide for sixth. Gettler got the spot then by Bill Brezezinski and Armstrong for fourth. Turner was begining to look inside Pyle as the lead duo came up on a slower car. Joe O'Bryan would spin narrowly missing the leaders and sending the rest of the field scattering.

On the restart, Turner got the nose inside Pyle, but Pyle held steady an kept the lead. The two then ran door to door for several laps in a classic IMCA Stock Car battle. Turner was able to get the nose ahead on lap 9, but Pyle fought him off to retake the point at halfway. Following Pyle and Turner were Genderen, Gettler and Johnson in the top five.

Genderen was able to snag second from Turner on lap 12 and was quickly on he bumper, literally, of Pyle for the lead. Turner the lost third to Gettler on lap 13, then fourth to Johnson on lap 15. With Genderen pushing Pyle around the track at times, Johnson slid high with Turner retaking the spot and Brezezinski getting by for fifth. As the white flag waved it was a four-car race for the win and when the dust settled it was Pyle coming home with the win, Turner getting second, Genderen third, while Gettler fell to eighth.

IMCA Stock Car feature
1. 34 Tim Pyle, Midland (2)
2. 4 Jeff Turner, Kaufman (4)
3. 57 Mike Genderen, Newton, Ia. (3)
4. 122 Bill Brezezinski. Roby (6)
5. 7 J W Johnson, Brownwood (5)
6. 21 Joe Colyer, Abilene (7)
7. 44 Fred Wojtek, Robert Lee (11)
8. 23 Jeremy Gettler (10)
9. 16 Bobby Sikes jr., Eunice, NM. (12)
10. 66 Jeff Joldersma, McClelland, Ia. (14)
11. 22 Billy Wade, San Angelo (20)
12. 18 Dustin Locke, Eunice, NM. (21)
13. 1 T J Wilson, Van (15)
14. 64 Cary White, LaMesa (13)
15. 13 Jim Thorp, Mertzon (18)
16. 48 James Wojtek, Robert Lee (17)
17. 28 Mark Lord, Seminole (23)
18. 07 Walter Freeman, Hobbs, NM. (16)
19. 08 Buck Owens, Cedar Park (19)
20. 221 Duain Pritchett, Combine (8)
21. 91 Jerry West, Ft. Worth (9)
22. 9 John Armstrong, Merkel (1)
23. 144 Joe O'Bryan (22)

IMCA Stock heats, top 4 to A-main
1. 57 Mike Genderen, Newton, Ia., 16 Bobby Sikes jr., Eunice, NM., 34 Tim Pyle, Midland, 122 Bill Brezezinski, Roby.
2. 23 Jeremy Gettler, 7 J W Johnson, Brownwood, 91 Jerry West, Ft. Worth, 9 John Armstrong, Merkel
3. 221 Duain Pritchett, Combine, 41 Jeff Turner, Kaufman, 21 Joe Colyer, Abilene, 44 Fred Wojtek, Robert Lee

Anderson Aces Hobby Stock Main
Iowan, Shannon Anderson got out front on green and lead flag to flag to take home the IMCA Hobby Stock honors. as the field battled behind him. The Atlantic, Iowa driver ran a smooth, steady line just fast enough to keep his competitors out of reach.

Anderson easily out ran polesitter, Stephen Robison to get the lead in turn 1. 2007 Regional Rookie of the Year, Bryan Sewell and Allen Montgomery followed Anderson by Robison for second and third. Robison then lost fourth and fifth to Dale Roys and Nathan Sodek a lap later. Roys top five run came to an end on lap 4 when he dropped a driveshaft and rolled to a stop.

Once back to green, the top four separated themelves from the field and were quickly up on two slower cars that had just spun. In the scramble, Montgomery and Sodek got by Sewell for second and third, while Nyle Godwin broke out the pack battling for fifth. Godwin ran down the top four, while the rabid pack ran four wide around the slower traffic.

At halfway it was Anderson, Montgomery, Sodek, Sewell and Godwin holding steady in the top five. Godwin tried Sewell for fourth on lap 15 and after a brief side by side battle, Sewell kept the spot. Anderson, who was running just fast enough to keep Montgomery a couple car lengths back, then inched ahead increasing his margin in the final laps and to the checkers by several car lengths in his Bairs Farm, T A Grafix, Pellet Farms, Modern Residential Concepts, Anderson Quarterhorses, Dons Wildlife Creations, Finnel Farms, Olsens Outdoor Designs, Randys Machine, Terminator Chassis

IMCA Hobby Stocks heats, top 4 to A-main
1. 44 Bryan Sewell, Seagoville, 38 Allen Montgomery, Rhome, 17 Chris Ater, Ft. Worth, 111 Nyle Godwin, Redfield, Ia.
2. 11 Roy Polk, Abilene, 78 Shannon Anderson, Atlantic, Ia. 07 Stephen Robison, Abilene, 48 Justin Fowler, Granbury
3. 33 Charles Cosper, Belton, 49 Sam Hodges, Eunice, NM., 7 Dale Roys, Merkel, 60 Nathan Sodek, Temple

IMCA Hobby Stock B-main, top 8 to A-main
35 Noel Jones, Ft. Worth, 1 Willie Free, Snyder, 34 Jamie Hinton, Adel, Ia., 771 John Ross, Odessa, 06 Truman Davis, Sweetwater, 83 Jim Bates, Breckenridge, 110 Edward Johnson , 14 Ryan Ellison,

IMCA Hobby Stock feature
1. 78 Shannon Andersn, Atlantic, Ia. (2)
2. 38 Allen Montgomery, Rhome (3)
3. 60 Nathan Sodek, Temple (8)
4. 44 Bryan Sewell, Seagoville (4)
5. 111 Nyle Godwin, Redfield, Ia. (7)
6. 49 Sam Hodges, Eunice, NM. (9)
7. 07 Stephen Robison, Abilene (1)
8. 17 Chris Ater, Ft. Worth (11)
9. 48 Justin Fowler, Granbury (12)
10. 33 Charles Cosper, Belton (5)
11. 83 Jim Bates, Breckenridge (18)
12. 35 Noel Jones, Ft. Worth (13)
13. 771 John Ross, Odessa (16)
14. 11 Roy Polk, Abilene (10)
15. 1 Willie Free, Snyder (14)
16. 14 Ryan Ellis, Killeen (19)
17. 34 Jamie Hinton, Adel, Ia (15)
18. 06 Truman Davis, Sweetwater (17)
19. 110 Edward Johnson (20)
20. 7 Dale Roys, Merkel (6)

In the Pure Stock feature, Rick Butz got the lead early then held off a late charge by Richard Hoffman to complete the victory sweep

Pure Stock feature
1. 5 Rick Butz, Abilene
2. 00 Richard Hoffman, Clyde
3. 25 Cody Hopper, Abilene
4. 20 Scotty Brown, Abilene

Pure Stock heat winner, Rick Butz, Abilene

The Jr Mini Stock feature saw 12 year old Aaron Elliott, in only his third day in a racecar take home the trophy as he outran the five car field in his Mad Dog Designs, Ford Pinto.
Elliott almost completed the sweep leading the heat until a last lap spin saw him ten feet short of the line. He was able to grab reverse an back across, but was edged out by Donald Baker by inches at the line.

Jr Mini Stock feature
1. 21 Aaron Elliott, Eastland
2. 25 Donald Baker, Sweetwater
3. 62 Johnathon Davis, Sweetwater
4. 121 Bryce Pritchett, Combine
5. 22 Calton, Pritchett, Combine

Jr Mini Stock heat winner, 25 Donald Baker, Sweetwater