Texas Speedzone - National points chasers continue rolling @ Texas Thunder Speedway

IMCA Modified King of the Hill Night @ Texas Thunder Speedway, 6/28/08

By J M Hallas

Killeen, Tx., (June 28th, 2008) Along with the regular weekly class racing night for the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Southern Sportmods, IMCA Stock Cars, Street Stock and Texas Twisters, Texas Thunder Speedway's high-banked 1/4 mile also had slated the King of the Hill race for the IMCA Modifieds. Unfortunately inclement weather moving in forced track officials to postpone that race until next week, and save promoter Pat Wilson the $200 bounty on his local hotshoe P J Egbert.

Wilson was forced to open up his wallet, let the moth's out and pay out $350 when a lucky spectator hit the Speedy's Street Stock Pot of Gold tri-fecta. The Pot of Gold game, which rolls over every week it's not won, allows fans to try to predict the Street Stock feature's top three finishers. Not an easy task with the close competition among the class.

In the coming weeks, Texas Thunder Speedway will be auctioning off a chance to ride in one of the Texas Twister cars, with a local driver behind the wheel. Scheduled drivers include two former track and regional champions, P J Egbert and Keith White. Minimum bid starts at $25

Egbert Edges out Ketteman on Last Lap for Win
Despite having his wins streak snapped, Copperas Cove's P J Egbert has still been hotter than the Texas weather. This week Egbert got a couple breaks with cautions and capitalized on the opportunity. Egbert ran down race-long leader Ben Ketteman, made a last lap charge, held on after getting banged and snatched the victory only leading ½ of the last lap.

The 20-car, 20-lap IMCA Modified main, featuring no less than five former track and three IMCA Regional champions, was paced to green by Joey Craig and George Lamphere jr. Craig and Ben Ketteman ran side by side out of turn 2, with three wide racing in the pack for sixth. Ketteman got the advantage, but one of the track champions, Pat McGuire rolled to stop on the back stretch to bring out yellow and a complete restart.

The second try saw Craig lead into turn 1, but Ketteman come out of turn 2 with the point and Allen Waltermire moving up to second. In the pack it was three wide for fifth, with Allen Essenburg, another one of the champs, getting the position. Essenburg then charged past Lee Chasse and Craig for third. P J Egbert was also on the move running three wide with Gerald Helmandollar and Hardy Henderson for fourth. After taking the spot, P J Egbert ran down Essenburg to get third on lap 5, followed by Henderson.

Ketteman had built a huge lead by lap 6 as he caught the back of the pack. Trevor Egbert caught and got along side Essenburg as they battled for fifth. Henderson, another one of those past champs, wrestled third away from P J Egbert on lap 8. At the crossed flags it was Ketteman still far out front, Waltermire, Henderson and P J Egbert side by side for third, with T. Egbert rounding out the top five.

A fight for second began on lap 11 when lapped traffic closed the gaps between Waltermire, Henderson and the Egbert's. Yellow waved on lap 12 when Helmandollar, Brad Jordan and Jason Bernal tangled on the front stretch leaving Helmandollar sideways in front of the charging pack, including the second place battle. The caution erased Ketteman's big lead, but he still had two lapped cars as buffers for the restart.

As green waved again, Ketteman got a good jump, with P J Egbert moving up to second, while Henderson blew up running third and rolled to the infield. This moved T. Egbert to third with Essenburg now fourth. Ketteman had inched out to a five car length advantage when Chasse spun in turn 2 for another caution. This put P J Egbert on Ketteman's bumper when green came back out. T. Egbert got the drop on cousin P J sneaking by in turns 1-2 for second, but P J recovered getting the spot back in turns 3-4

P J Egbert chased Ketteman down and had just gotten inside when yellow waved for Bill Lecompte stopped on the back stretch. Ketteman got out by two car lengths once back to green, but P J Egbert closed back in quickly setting up the shootout in the final laps. Coming to take the white flag, P J Egbert tried the high side out of turn 4, but dove in low going into turns 1-2. The two ran wheel to wheel down the back stretch with P J Egbert getting the advantage in turn 3. Ketteman tried to dive back under banging doors in turn 4. At the checkers it was P J Egbert in the Egbert Motorsports, Greg May Chevrolet, D&D Cabinets, Phils Paint & Body, Pro Image Sign & Graphics, Pflugerville Machine, Abilene Powder Coating, Lingo Race Engines, Hoffman Chassis, stealing the victory, his 81st feature win .

“Whoever the first on to cross the finish line is, is all that matters.” commented Egbert. “It doesn't matter what lap you take the lead on. We got a couple lucky breaks tonight with cautions. That's what paid off the most. I just owe it to my sponsors, my dad, my uncle who's the main wrench on the car, my cousin J P (Dowell) who helps me out with fuel, and a lot of my friends that help me during the week. That's part of the key, maintenance and not breaking during the night.”

“Points-wise we pretty much have Killeen wrapped up, by almost 100 points. I struggled in Waco(Heart O Texas) early but we've picked a lot over the past few weeks. With my win Friday night I'm only one out of the points lead there. We've closed in on Scotty(Brown) for the national points, but I just take it race by race and race to have fun.”

“Nothing has been going wrong,” added Egbert regarding his winning streak being snapped. “Last week David Goode was overdue for a win. He's a nice guy, treats everyone out here good and races clean, so he deserved to win.”

Dodge Country IMCA Modifieds
1. 707 P J Egbert
2. 37 Ben Ketteman
3. 78 Trevor Egbert
4. 21 Allen Essenburg
5. 7j Jason Batt
6. 555x Joey Craig
7. 52 Ken Old
8. 35 Wayne Walker
9. 066 Jason Bernal
10. F5 James Cochran
11. 107 David Goode
12. 3j Brad Jordan
13. 247 Bill Lecompte
14. 49 Lee Chasse
15. 50 Gerald Helmandollar
16. 19 George Lamphere jr.
17. 63 Hardy Henderson
18. 44 Allen Waltermire
19. 70 Chris Perry
20. 9 Pat McGuire

IMCA Modified heat winners, 21 Allen Essenburg, 707 P J Egbert, 555x Joey Craig

White Right in Sportmod Main
Former IMCA Southern Sportmod champion, Keith White is a man on a mission this year. After surrendering his title last year, White has been taking it out on his competitors all season long. Tonight would be another example as White busted to the front, led every lap, adding another win to his total.

Eric Tomlinson beat polesitter Mike Autrey into turn 1 at the start of the IMCA SSM main. White quickly charged to the front getting by Tomlinson to lead lap 1. P J Egbert got by Tomlinson on lap 1, but Tomlinson fought back getting along side on lap 2. The two continued to battle it out with Tomlinson getting the spot.

By lap 5 the top four had separated out and pulled away from Autrey and Mitch Tierney battling for fifth. At halfway it was White, Egbert, Tomlinson, Scott Tacker and Autrey in the top five. White ran up on traffic with five to go, but easily sliced and diced his way through, maintaining his lead.

In the final laps Egbert was able to close in on Tomlinson for second as they ran up on slower traffic. Up front it White sailing away in the Traceys Auto Sales, All Tex Cabling, Braka Operating, TCI, D&S Painting, Belton Pipe & Steel, Pflugerville Engine & Machine, Big Chief Chassis to grab the win.

“We know this track pretty good, that's for sure,” said White. “The car has been good everywhere we've gone, not just here. I always want to get the front as fast as I can, but I also pick and my spots to make moves. I try to find my spots and know where I can get by them. I know all the drivers here, too. When you go to a track that don't know, you watch the heat races and see how they are. It's not just racing the track. It's knowing what the other drivers are doing, too.”

“Steve Hayes(Braka Operating) has stepped up this year and helped me a ton. TCI Transmissions came on board a month ago and there's a few people behind the scenes that help us out. Eddie(Martin) has been awesome. We've got a new Big Chief Chassis coming in a week or two. His tech support is great. He's just waiting for phone call anytime, from anyone.”

“We were thinking about the race in Pleasanton(I-37 Raceway) next weekend for the added money. I wanted to get that money, but at the same time I don't think it would be right for me to run off. They need to keep the cars here, they need to keep a show here. I'm going to stay an support it if that's what I need to do. It's sort of a catch 22. You don't want to run off from the guys that help you keep car count here, but it might give them break and chance to win.”

Danny's Transmission IMCA Southern Sportmods,
1. 1 Keith White
2. 45t Eric Tomlinson
3. 707 P J Egbert
4. 7 Scott Tacker
5. 10 Mike Autrey
6. 23 Shad Stevens
7. 48 Mitch Tierney
8. 36 Tim Foster
9. 65 Randy Doyle
10. 107 David Goode jr.
11. 44x Joe O'Bryan
12. 05 Ryan Anderson

IMCA SSM Heat winner, 10 Mike Autrey

The 15-car, 15-lap IMCA Stock Car main was led to green by Chuck Hatfield and Joey Craig. With the two staying side by side, Jason Batt tried to find a hole in middle but thought better and fell back in line. Hatfield was able to lead lap 1, but now had Batt and Michael Walter challenging. It was three wide for the lead with Walter getting by on the back stretch, and Batt taking second.

Batt and Walter were door to door on lap 3, with Batt leading lap 4. The two continued to stay tied at the door posts, with Walter leading on lap 5. Behind the two leaders, Ronnie Ellis jr, David Dunn and Eric Jones had moved up to fill third through fifth at halfway.

By lap 10, Walter was now stretching out his lead over Batt who was being challenged by Ellis. Ellis got the spot as Batt began to fall back. Batt gave up fourth to Dunn on lap 12, then fifth to Jones a lap later. As the checkers waved it was Walter cruising to the victory in the TTD Bookkeeping, Ultimate Sportsbar, Candy Shop, TNT Construction sponsored IMCA Stock Car.

Dan Corbin & Assoc. IMCA Stock Cars
1. 107 Michael Walter
2. 124 Ronnie Ellis jr.
3. 24d David Dunn
4.84x Eric Jones
5. 9j Jason Batt
6. 38 Daniel Shipler
7. 27 Joseph Charnock
8. 712 Colton Monroe
9. 8 Buck Owens
10. 3 Robin Rasmussen
11. 19m Bran Schoenbaum sr.
12. 31 Chuck Hatfield
13. 23 Shad Stevens
14. 44x Joe O'Bryan
15. 555 Joey Craig

IMCA Stock car heat winners, 107 Michael Walter, 9j Jason Batt

On the initial start of the Street Stock feature, polesitter Dennis Simmons jumped out front, but Dean Silva spun collecting Chuckie Nourse, Jeff Courier, Eric Jones and Brian Mendenhall. After pit stops, all but Nourse were able to continue. On the second start, Simmons again jumped ahead with two and three wide racing in the field. Tim Carmen jr was the benefactor moving up to third then snagging second from Justin Wierenga on lap 1.

Yellow waved on lap 2 when Kevin Ashley broke an axle and spun in turn 2. On the restart, Danny Dunn got past Clint Williams for fourth. Simmons spun on lap 4 allowing Carmen to catch him and get along side. Carmen grabbed the top spot on lap 6, leaving Simmons, Wierenga and Dunn nose to tail for second. Dunn got around Wierenga for second while Jones worked his back to fifth.

Caution came out again on lap 9 when Ken Plonsky failed to negotiate turn 1 ending up in the weeds on top of the hill. Once back to green, Carmen pulled ahead of Dunn. Jones and Wierenga then battled door to door for two laps before Jones could secure the spot on lap 12. Out front Carmen was still increasing his margin running off to take the win in the Hanks Tire & Muffler, Stacy Carmen, Metal Gore Construction, Nightmare Graphics, Nifty 50's Cafe, Richard Connell, Bravo Transportation sponsored car.

Cleo Bay Honda Street Stocks
1. 0 Tim Carmen jr.
2. 63 Danny Dunn
3. 84x Eric Jones
4. 22w Justin Wierenga
5. 35 Chris Wilkinson
6. 3 Clint Williams
7. 88 Brian Mendenhall
8. 30 Bobby Norton
9. 19r Dean Silva
10. 4 Ken Plonsky
11. 83 Dennis Simmons
12. 65 Jeff Courier
13. 2 Kevin Ashley
14. 007 Chuckie Nourse

Street Stock Heat winners, 83 Dennis Simmons, 0 Tim Carmen jr.

Budweiser Texas Twisters

Kevin Yagalla jumped into the lead of the first Texas Twister feature, with J D Hardcastle taking second and a three wide battle for third. Hardcastle got by K. Yagalla for the lead on lap 4 but began to slow giving the lead back to K. Yagalla on lap 5. Hardcastle then lost second to T J Yagalla and fourth to Carl Fitzgerald.
Hardcastle's car finally gave up as he pulled to the infield. T J Yagalla was able to close in on K. Yagalla in the final laps, but never get close enough to mount a series challenge. At the checkers it was the Yagalla Motorsports team with the 1-2 finish as Kevin took the win.

Feature #1
1. 77y Kevin Yagalla
2. 190 T J Yagalla
3. 23 Michael Hilliard
4. 2k Kevin Ashley
5. 148 Trent Dalton
6. 573 Billy McCloud
7. 72 T J Jacobs
8. 829 J D Hardcastle
9. b-52 Steven Crossley
10.10 Carl Fitzgerald---Did not go to tech

The second Texas Twister feature looked more like a motorized pin ball game as cars bounced off each other and the wall. Carl McConnell grabbed the early lead with three and four wide racing behind him. Aaron White, Randy Doyle, Aaron Headrick and David Holt put on a good show as they swapped position and paint. That fight saw Holt and Headrick get together sending Holt up on the wall and nearly over. White and Doyle continued their battle as they began to challenge McConnell as well. White was able to get by a sideways McConnell on lap 12 and build a comfortable margin for the win

Feature #2
1. 12 Aaron White
2. 13s Carl McConnell
3. 65 Randy Doyle
4. 37 James Deane
5. 118 David Holt
6. 4 Don Rea
7. 100 Ernest Martinez
8.16 Aaron Headrick---BF rough driving
9.66 N/A---BF rough driving
10. 14 Brent Dalton---Did not go to tech