Texas Speedzone - Jupe Grabs IMCA Southern Sportmod Regional, Kirkpatrick King in Modifieds

Independence Day Holiday Weekend Special, Kennedale Speedway Park, 7/3/08

By J M Hallas

Kennedale, Tx., (July 3rd, 2008) Independence Day weekend kicked off Thursday night at Kennedale Speedway Park on the semi- banked 1/4 mile clay oval with the third in a series of IMCA Regional Southern Sportmod races, plus the regular classes and capped off with a fireworks show to complete the evening's event.

Over 60 IMCA SSM checked in to battle for the top 21 spots to start the feature and pick up the all important Regional points, as well a state and local points. Headlining the list of drivers were defending SSM Champion Jeff Turner, inaugural and two-time champ, Keith White, along with hot shoes Steve Hayes, Tim Clonch, Troy Taylor and Glen Leuschner, to name a few.

Jupe Jumps to Biggest Sportmod Score
Chase Jupe scored his biggest ever IMCA Southern Sportmod victory in the 25-lap Regional race, being in the right spot at the right time. Jupe chased early leader, Jay Bransom and capitalized on Bransom's misfortune. Unlucky lap 13 was Bransom's undoing as he broke a distributer and rolled silently off to the infield, with Jupe inheriting the lead and holding back late charges from Jeff Day and Keith White.

The 21-car SSM Regional main started with Bransom and Jupe on row 1 and maybe even bigger news, defending champ Jeff Turner a spectator after problems kept him from qualifying. Bransom was first into turn 1, with Jupe falling in line second. Jacob Pirkle got by Jason Gore on lap 1 for third, as Bo Day did a 1/2 spin loosing fifth spot. Pirkle got sideways on lap 5 loosing ground to Jupe, while Jeff Day and Keith White got past Gore and Pirkle for third and fourth.

Je. Day and White then ran side by side for third while Pirkle recovered and closed back in on that battle. Pirkle retook fourth from White on lap 8, but White snatched it back on lap 9. Up front the Jupe could close on Bransom in the corners, but Bransom had the pull off and put a car length or two back on Jupe. At the crossed flags it was Bransom, Jupe, Je. Day, White and Pirkle holding down the top five positions.

With Jupe on his tail, Bransom slowed on lap 13 and pulled to the infield handing the top spot to Jupe for lap 14. White began a challenge on Je. Day on lap 16 while B. Day got along side Pirkle for fourth. As White and Je. Day battled for second, Jupe put some distance on the two. Jimmy Day got by Pirkle on lap 20 to find a top five spot.

White, who was keeping the pressure on Je. Day, began his final assault on lap 22. Je. Day held White off and was able to close to within two car lengths of Jupe with two laps to go. As the white flag waved, White got inside Je. Day who tried the high side looking for a way around Jupe. Further back Bo and Jimmy Day both gave up spots as they tangled on the final lap. At the checkers it was Jupe in Kevin Jupe Trucking, Leroy Trucking, Jupe Trucking, Cen-Tex Motorsports powered, Hurricane Chassis holding off White for the biggest win of his young career.

"It was mainly a good starting spot," commented Jupe. " We started outside front row and it was one groove and no passing. Basically the luck of the draw."

"I don't worry about some of these guys coming in for a big race. We usually race here against some tough guys anyway. I just race my race and hope for the best. I just go out and try to hold my line. I know if I mess up that those guys are going to capitalize on it."

"When I saw that Jeff (Turner)wasn't going to make the show I thought about big picture racing. We trail him by only about 35 points for points championship. I just basically wanted to finish. I didn't want to force the issue on anything. If someone came in door slamming me, I was going to just let them have it(the spot). All I wanted to do was finish the race and gain some points."

"I built the car over the winter from scratch. It's been paying off for me. This is five feature wins this year. We just tried to get a car that was better on dry slick and get more rear bite. I think it's worked out great. The guys at Cen-Tex Motorsports give me awesome motors for this car and my big modified. B J Dulock and Kenneth Drake down at Cen-Tex do an awesome job. I can't thank them enough."

IMCA Southern Sportmod A-Main 01
1 30 Chase Jupe
2 1w Keith White
3 951 Jeff Day
4 4x Scotty Brown
5 41 Jacob Pirkle
6 23m Jimmy Day
7 3 Brandon McElroy
8 69 Bret Young
9 72 Casey Fielding
10 60 Jason llich
11 37 Dean Abbey
12 95 Steve Hayes
13 9x Bennie Everhart
14 4d Bo Day
15 71x Gary Kerr, Jr
16 03 Trevin Geter
17 64 David Ferguson
18 29 Jay Bransom
19 94L Glen Leuschner
20 021 Jason Gore
21 18 Tim Clonch

SSM B-Mains(Top 3 transfer)
1. 23m Jimmy Day, 72 Casey Fielding, 71x Gary Kerr jr.
2. 4x Scotty Brown, 69 Bret Young , 03 Trevin Geter
3. 18 Tim Clonch, 60 Jason Ilich, 94L Glenn Leuschner

IMCA SSM heats,(Top 2 transfer)
1. 29 Jay Bransom, 951 Jeff Day
2. 4D Bo Day, 9T Bennie Everhart
3. 021 Jason Gore, 30 Chase Jupe
4. 95 Steve Hayes, 3 Brandon McElroy
5. 41 Jacob Pirkle, 37x Dean Abbey
6. 1w Keith White, 64 David Ferguson

Kirkpatrick King of Modified Main

Benji Kirkpatrick used track position, then patience to pick up the win in the star-studded IMCA Modified 20-lap A-main. Kirkpatrick stalked early race leader Rick McDaniel and when McDaniel bobbled on lap 14, dove under the leader and took the spot on lap 15. A late race caution rebunched the field, but Kirkpatrick held off all challengers to grab the victory.

As green waved on the 21-car field polesitter McDaniel jumped out front,with Kirkpatrick, from row two, getting by Chris Bragg and Donnie Blackburn for second. Tim Clonch and Scotty Brown both put Blackburn in their wake getting by for fourth and fifth. By lap 5 McDaniel and Kirkpatrick were easing away from Bragg, Clonch, Brown, Glen Hibbard and Cody Smith. In that pack Brown , Smith and Hibbard swapped spots as the race came to halfway.

At the crossed flags it was McDaniel, Kirkpatrick, Bragg, Clonch and Hibbard in the top five. Hibbard was looking inside Clonch for fourth on lap 12, while Smith got by Brown for sixth. Kirkpatrick saw an opening on the bottom during the 14th circuit and dove inside McDaniel coming out with the lead. Kirkpatrick had just began to inch away from McDaniel when the races only caution came out on lap 16 after Jason Ilich, Justin McCoy and Blackburn tangled in turn 3.

On th restart, Kirkpatrick and McDaniel put a slight margin on Clonch and Bragg, while Hibbard lost ground. Hibbard made that ground back up getting fourth back from Bragg, then third from Clonch on lap 18. Up front it was Kirkpatrick trying to shake McDaniel for the win. At the checkers it as Kirkpatrick in the Wilson Chassis Co., Trading House Bar & Grill, Ronnie Symack Construction, Phil's Motorsports, Photos by Debbie, Kinds Automotive, Affiliated Auto Glass, Left Hand Graphics, Ray Smalley powered, Donnie Moore chassis rolling to Victory Lane.

"It started with a good draw," replied Kirkpatrick. "We drew a good number for our heat and it gave us a run to qualify. Then the redraw was a four and that put us up front again. It was dry out there. So it was the fastest race to the bottom and who was able to stay smooth. We had it hooked up tonight."

"When we come to big shows, we just race our own car. You can't worry about everyone else out there. You just have race the track and see who can get around it the fastest. Once I got out front I just tried to hold it on the bottom. If someone can get around you on top, sometimes you just have to let them go ahead and do it. Other times it tells you that you have to speed up a little more."

"Glen Wilson at Wilson Chassis Company has been a lot of help. We've figured a bunch of things on the car the last couple weeks. All the IMCA contingency sponsors give us little incentives. For our first feature win Speedway Motors sent us a $100 gift certificate. All that little stuff helps."

IMCA Modified A-Main
1 47 Benji Kirkpatrick
2 99 Rick McDaniel
3 127 Glen Hibbard
4 18 Tim Clonch
5 24 Chris Bragg
6 11 Matt Martin
7 44 Scotty Brown
8 06 Nicholas Littlejohn
9 8 Levi Hodges
10 7X J P Dowell
11 29 Jay Bransom
12 62 Mike Miles
13 90 Tommy Fain
14 88 Thomas Clark
15 60 Jason llich
16 103 Mike Hathcock
17 718 Cody Smith
18 48 Donnie Blackburn
19 87 Justin McCoy
20 78 Trevor Egbert
21 31x Michael Martin

IMCA Modified B-Mains(Top 3 transfer)
1. 11 Matt Martin, 31x Mike Martin, 7x J P Dowell
2. 06 Nicholas Littlejohn, 88 Thomas Clark, 62 Mike Miles
3. 103 Mike Hathcock, 87 Justin McCoy, 90.5 Tommy Fain

IMCA Modifieds heats,Top 2 transfer
1. 47 Benji Kirkpatrick, 44 Scotty Brown
2. 60 Jason Ilich, 24B Chris Bragg
3. 78 Trevor Egbert, 99 Rick McDaniel
4. 718 Cody Smith, 48 Donnie Blackburn
5. 18 Tim Clonch, 127 Glen Hibbard
6. 29 Jay Bransom, 8 Levi Hodges

The 20-lap, 23-car IMCA Stock Car main was paced to green by two Texas Thunder Speedway drivers, Ronnie Ellis jr. and Eric Jones. Ellis was first into turn 1 while Jeff Turner came out of the four wide fight for fourth with that spot. A multi-car tangle in turn 3 brought the yellow out on lap 1. On the restart Ellis jumped out as Jones tried to hold off Turner for second. Turner picked off the spot on lap 3 leaving Jones battling with Jason Gore.

Turner then got along side Ellis on lap 4 and took over the point on lap 5, as Gore was getting around Jones for third and Duain Pritchett now closing in on Jones. Gore took over second from Ellis on lap 7, while Jones and Pritchett ran side by side with Jones. Coming to halfway it was Turner, Gore, Ellis, Pritchett and Jones in the top five, when Billy McKee spun in turn 3. Turner had no place to run and tagged McKee who was stopped sideways in the middle of the corner.

Once back to green, Turner who was given the lead back, was being pressured by Gore as Pritchett snagged third from Ellis. Turner and Gore ran door to door with Gore getting the nose ahead on lap 11 and securing the top spot on lap 2. Pritchett then moved in on Turner in what started to look like a classic I-Stock battle from the past between the two rivals. Oil on the track brought out a caution on lap 14.

As green waved again, Turner eased back by Pritchett for second. As Pritchett tried to fight back, a side trip through the edge of the infield saw him lose ground. Turner was then able to focus back on Gore for the lead. Turner got the nose inside Gore on lap 17, getting the lead back on lap 18. Cory Davis slowed on lap 18 after hitting or leaving parts laying the front stretch. This set up a green, white, checker run to the finish. Back under green Turner and Gore jumped ahead to settle it among themselves. As the checkers waved it was Turner holding off Gore to snatch the win.

IMCA Stock Car A-Main 01
1 4 Jeff Turner
2 25 Jason Gore
3 22 Duain Pritchett
4 124 Ronnie Ellis, Jr
5 84x Eric Jones
6 83x Jason Batt
7 89 John McNeil
8 3 Daniel Parker
9 70 David (Tony) Rime
10 95 Charles Rasor
11 1s Justin Slemmons
12 50 John Morris
13 107 Michael Walter
14 7 Dennis Bissonette
15 712 Colton Monroe
16 27 Michael Wofford
17 5 David Acosta
18 27x Joe Charnock
19 28 Cory Davis
20 36 Billy McKee
21 1x Douglas Kennemer
22 6 Chris Hale
23 26 Willis Price

IMCA Stock Car heat winners, 107 Michael Walter, 4 Jeff Turner, 25 Jason Gore

Polesitter Chase Neill got out front first at the start of the 20-car, 23-lap IMCA Hobby Stock main followed by Jeff Kinnaird and a three wide scramble for third. Charles Cosper took third from Charlie Coleman, with Kyle Harrison trying to follow. Harrison broke and pulled off on lap 3 moving Justin McNeil into third. Coleman and Allen Montgomery then ran side by side for fifth with Coleman getting the position and getting back by McNeil for fourth.

Yellow waved on lap 6 when Justin Fowler spun and stopped on the edge of the track. Once back to green, Neill and Kinnaird pulled away with Cosper and McNeil side by side for third until McNeil toured the infield. Montgomery got around Coleman for fourth on lap 7, while Cosper was looking to get second from Kinnaird, taking the spot on lap 9. At the midway point it was Neill, Cosper, Kinnaird, Montgomery and Coleman rounding out the top five.

The top three began put some distance on the fourth place fight, that Coleman took back on lap 12. Erik Miles brought out the yellow on lap 12 with a spin. Cosper tried to get under Neill as green waved again, as Coleman slowed from third and pulled off. This moved Montgomery back to third and Bryan Sewell, who had start deep in the field, getting fourth on the high side. Kinnaird retook the spot on lap 14.

The final caution came on lap 14 when Jeff Mueller and Andy Roller tangled in turn 1. Neill and Cosper got some distance on Montgomery and Kinnaird as they ran door to door for third. Kinnaird finally cleared Montgomery on lap 15, with Sewell moving in to challenge. Sewell the defending track champ and IMCA Rookie of the Year, was able take fourth on lap 18. Up front it was Neill and Cosper running nose to tail as Cosper looked for an opening or mistake. Neill gave him neither and was able to hang on to grab the checkers.

IMCA Hobby Stocks A-Main 01
1 4 Chase Neill
2 33c Charles Cosper
3 07 Jeff Kinnaird
4 44 Bryan Sewell
5 38 Allen Montgomery
6 98 Rick Barrett
7 3T Alvin Emery III
8 84 Jeremy Montgomery
9 63 Andy Roller
10 65 Erik Miles
11 85 David Bissonette
12 17x Michael Robertson
13 89 Justin McNeil
14 48 Justin Fowler
15 93 Aaron Bayles
16 2 Jeff Mueller
17 33 Charlie Coleman
18 24b Jason Bybee
19 5T Brandon Taylor
20 62 Kyle Harrison

IMCA Hobby Stock B-Mains(Top 4 transfer)
1. 3T Alvin Emery III, 93 Aaron Bayles , 5T Brandon Taylor , 65 Erik Miles
2. 44 Bryan Sewell, 63 Andy Roller, 2 Jeff Mueller , 24b Jason Bybee

IMCA Hobby Stock heat winners, 4 Chase Neill, 48 Justin Fowler, 07 Jeffery Kinnaird

The hotly contested Street Stock feature saw David Cooke jump out front early, while Duane Wolff and Jake Upchurch battled side by side for second. Jimmy Gore moved to the high side and got by Wolff for third then along side Upchurch for second. Gore continued his charge up top getting along side Cook on lap 3 as they went a by a lapped car three wide.

Gore got the bumper out front on lap 4, but Cook and Wolff kept their pace racing three abreast for the top spot. Wolff and Gore were door to door for the lead with Wolff eking out the lead on lap 5. Wolff finally secured the top spot, while Chris Davis got around Upchurch for fourth.

The lead group caught the back of the pack on lap 12 and while Wolff got through cleanly, the battle for second was forced to go three wide as they diced by slower cars. Gore and Cook made some contact trying to get by a lapped car, with Davis having no where to go. All three were able to get straightened out and continue, but Wolff was checked out. Davis got past Cook for second in the final laps as the scramble for that spot continued. Wolff easily took the checkers while second through fifth was still up for grabs.

Street Stock A-Main 01
1 1 Duane Wolff
2 98 Chris Davis
3 24 Jake Upchurch
4 32d David Cook
5 22 Jimmy Gore
6 69 Michael Sterling
7 04 Jason Cook
8 8J John Riechard
9 49 Mike Golightly
10 21 Jimmy Parker
11 121x Justin Lamar
12 48 Kenny Bruce, Jr
13 177 Mike Dingman
14 4 John Abney
15 76 Charles Brock
16 43 Steve Davis
17 68 Ralph Torres
18 25 Jeremiah Johnson
19 55 Ronnie Rooks
20 97j Michael Villanueva
21 5 Sean Hill
22 13 Calen Mohler
23 124 Paul Jones

Street Stock heat winners, 1 Duane Wolff, 32 David Cook, 24 Jake Upchurch

In the new IMCA Crate Model class, Jay Bransom scored the sweep with the heat and feature wins. The 10-lapper saw Bransom forced to hold back the charges of Ronnie Davis in the final laps. Davis looked high and low, but couldn't find a way around Bransom who had Davis on his bumper as the checkers waved.

IMCA Crate Model A-Main
1 29 Jay Bransom
2 737 Ronnie Davis
3 60 Jason llich
4 83 Darryl Campbell
5 55 Charlie Wilson
6 21 Eric Winnett

IMCA Crate Models winner, 29 Jay Bransom

Devin Burgess Swept the Jr. Mini Stock class taking the heat race then leading every circuit of the 10-lap feature. As Burgess took off, C W Wright, Amerin Betteridge and Bryce Pritchett battled for second until Betteridge spun and got tagged by Don Yeargan. Betteridge would have a solo spin again on lap 8. After the restart, Burgess pulled away for the win with Wright getting by Pritchett for the runner up spot.

Jr Mini Stock A-Main
1 64 Devin Burgess
2 06 C W Wright
3 21 Bryce Pritchett
4 1 Kyle Miller
5 3 Don Yeargan
2 Amerin Betteridge---BF

Junior Mini-Stock heat winner, 64 Devin Burgess