Texas Speedzone - Whiteaker makes last corner pass to take TRP Modified checkers

Texana Raceway Park, 7/12/08

By J M Hallas

Edna, Tx., (July 12th, 2008) Texana Raceway Park hosted another bonus money show Saturday night on the 1/4 mile, paper-clip shaped, black gumbo track. Cabin Creek Design, R4J Inc., Computer Kops, Dr. David Meredith and a couple anonymous sponsors put extra money on the line not only in the featured Modified and Limited Modified classes, but for the Mini Stock and Bomber classes as well.

With added incentives the pits were filled with cars and drivers from Houston, to Austin and down to the valley, covering all points in between. Most notable on the list of entrants was former USAC Silver Crown champion and multi-time Texas All-Star Winged Modified champion, Paul White driving cars out of the Bridwell stable in the Modified and Limited Modified divisions.

Also on the night's racing card were specialty races held over from the rained out July 4th weekend, including a blindfold race, a reverse race and one of the all time crowd pleasing events, a demolition derby. High points total for the cumulative races would take home the first place prize money.

Last Lap Pass Gives Whiteaker Win
Corpus Christi's Steve Whiteaker jr. had never turned a lap at Texana Raceway Park, let alone lead one. When the dust settled on the 20-lap Modified main event Whiteaker still hadn't led an entire lap, only a small portion on one. It turned out to be the most important final lap after a late caution set up a two lap shootout between race long leader, Nick Hardcastle, and Whiteaker.

At the drop of the green on the 20-car Modified field, Hardcastle got the point coming out of turn 2, while Whiteaker, Lawrence Mikulencak and Greg Dinsmore tried to go three wide for third. The trio pin-balled off each other giving Dinsmore a flat left front, that saw him lose several more positions. Vince Kacir got turned around on lap 2 to bring out an early caution. Under yellow Dinsmore pitted from the top ten to change the flat.

On the restart, Dale Flanagan got sideways stacking up the field collecting Kalif Sellier, David Horner, Josh Majek and Justin Majek bringing the caution back out. Once back to green Hardcastle got a jump on Paul White, Mikulencak and Whiteaker and by lap 5 had built a half straightaway lead.

White, Mikulencak and Whiteaker then began a good fight for second with Mikulencak trying the high side of White while Whiteaker was looking inside Mikulencak. Mikulencak finally got past White on lap 7, with Whiteaker getting third a lap later. Coming to the crossed flags, Hardcastle still held a good advantage over Mikulencak and Whiteaker now running wheel to wheel for second. White and Jesse Manning rounded out the top five, as Steve Miller closed in.

After a brief side by side battle, Manning got fourth from White on lap 11. Whiteaker was now pressuring Mikulencak for second as the duo again ran along side each other. Whiteaker used lapped traffic as a pick to hang Mikulencak behind the slower car and snag second.

Whiteaker was visibly catching Hardcastle as the top two ran up on more traffic. As the top two diced in traffic, Mikulencak was able to close back in. Whiteaker and the lapped car of Kacir made contact on lap 17 getting Whiteaker out of shape, and falling to fourth. Kacir would spin to bring out a caution, allowing Whiteaker back into second.

On the restart, the top four got away clean to battle for the win. Coming to the white flag Whiteaker was on Hardcastle's bumper as they headed for turn 1. Hardcastle made a slight mistake giving Whitaker just enough room to get the nose inside. The two made light contact and raced hard down the back stretch. Turn 3 saw the two again make contact that gave Whiteaker, in the WW Bodies, Texas Services Industries, Access Ford, Holdsclaw & Herman, Youngs Auto Repair, Hughes Chassis the advantage coming out of turn 4 and take the checkers, along with the $1,000 pay day.

“The car was good, “ replied Whiteaker. “I caught Nicky(Hardcastle) with two to go. He left me half a door open and I took it. We rubbed a little bit. We finished first and second, I wasn't trying to take him out. It was nothing different than anyone else would have done. The car was fast.”

“Running the USMTS Series gives me he experience on how to find a line on a track that I've never run before. They run five different tracks in one week. That's keeps you on your toes and teaches you how to search for lines. It' easier sometimes if you've never been there. When everyone else has a set groove they like, I just find what's better my car.”

“Some people were saying I was rough driving, and that's not what I do. After the race we got together again. We were racing so hard for the win that going into turn 1 he got sideways and was trying to stay off me. He didn't do anything intentional. It was just a racing deal. We talked about it all. No big deal.”

“Ya, I'm disappointed,” said Hardcastle. “ I got sideways in turn 1 on the last lap and gave him an opening. He took it. We rubbed a little and he made contact again in turn 3. After the checkers I tried to slow down and crossover under him, but I couldn't and just slid up into him.”

Modifieds
1. 89 Steve Whiteaker jr
2. 94 Nick Hardcastle
3. 87 Lawrence Mikulencak
4. 76 Jesse Manning
5. 2w Paul White
6. 8 Steve Miller
7. 96 Foster Ellison
8. 561 David Horner
9. 8g Greg Dinsmore
10. 137 Bill Pittaway
11. 37 Brian Spindelman
12. 40F Steve Fite
13. 29 Max Helms
14. 41 Justin Majek
15 24 Tommy Stanley
16. 52 A J Dancer
17. 3x Frank Fruia
18. 155 Vince Kacir
19. 57 Dale Flanagan
20. 4$ Kalif Sellier
21. 82 Josh Majek
4 Stew Savage---DNS

Modified heat winners, 94 Nick Hardcastle, 2w Paul White, 87 Lawrence Mikulencak

Hudgeons Holds Off Helms and Kulhanek for Limited Modified Money
Cuero's Aaron Hudgeons added another Limited Modified feature win to his Texana Raceway Park total, but it didn't come easy. Early in the 20-lap main, Hudgeons had to fend off Vince Louden, before pulling away to a decent lead. A lap 16 caution erased that lead and put Ray Allen Kulhanek and Mickey Helms on Hudgeons tail. After multiple restarts, Hudgeons had to hold back challenges from Helms and Kulhanek to eke out the victory.

As the 25-car field took the green, Louden eased out front with Hudgeons, Helms and Kulhanek getting under Aaron Lunsford, stuck out on the high side. By lap 2 the top four had moved away from Shane Hoefling who took fifth from Lunsford. Hudgeons jumped to the high side of Louden on lap 3, and got the lead on lap 4 by a nose.

The two continued to battle side by side until Hudgeons slipped in turn 4. Louden took advantage and got the lead back on lap 5. That was short-lived as Hudgeons came right back by Louden on lap 6. In the meantime, Kulhanek was getting past Helms for third. Louden, Kulhanek, Helms and Hoefling were nose to tail on lap 8, playing a game of bumper tag, while Hudgeons was easing away.

Kulhanek used the same groove as Hudgeons to get by Louden on lap 9 for second. At halfway the top five were Hudgeons, Kulhanek, Louden, Helms and Hoefling Helms grabbed third from Louden on lap 12 as the leader ran up on the back of the pack. Kulhanek was putting some distance on the third place fight, and making ground up on the leader, when yellow waved after J J Jennings, Frank Fruia and Gene Hyde tangled on lap 16.

Then restart mania began. As Hudgeons, Kulhanek and Helms got away, Kevin Parker, Ricky Long, Brian Spindelman, James Meyers and Hyde held an unscheduled meeting in turn 1. The next try saw Helms us the top to get along side Hudgeons, until David Meredith spun and Justin Majek slapped the wall to bring the caution back out. The third try wasn't even a charm as Parker looped it in turn 4.

Finally back to green on a single file restart, the top five slipped away while Chad Cambron got by Meredith for seventh, followed by Bill Pittaway to eighth. With two laps to go, Hudgeons and Kulhanek had put some distance on Helms and Louden. As the white waved, Hudgeons driving the Hudgeons Paint & Body, Ace Transmission, Pflugerville Engine & Machine, KAM Race Engine, Rush Chassis had about car length on Kulhanek as he eased to the win. Coming to the checkers a multi-car melee scattered the middle of the field sending cars around, scattering and shaking up the final run down.

“I almost messed up on those last restarts,” commented Hudgeons. “I went to the bottom and they were able to get along side of me. I finally went back to the middle of the truck and the car was good. These cars don't have any mirrors so I couldn't see what was going on behind me. I was getting hit in the bumper going in, I know that.”

“We just do the same thing we always do, even for these bigger money shows. Actually with all the rainouts the car's been sitting in the trailer for three weeks waiting to go racing somewhere. All we did was put a new right rear on for the heat race. That's all we did.”

“The line here is usually on the bottom. It's pretty tough to pass someone up top. The middle and top was actually the place to be tonight. I lucked out and found it. If I had started up front I wouldn't have found it. I followed the leader and saw it was faster on top. Once I got by up there, I figured it was the place to be.”

Limited Modifieds
1 10 Aaron Hudgeons
2. 87 Ray Allen Kulhanek
3. 174 Mickey Helms
4. 6 Vince Louden
5. 63 Shane Hoefling
6. 216 Paul White
7. 39 Chad Cambron
8. 37 Bill Pittaway
9. 9 David Meredith
10. 12 Adam Perks
11. 21 Victor Lindsey
12. 44 Gene Hyde
13. 888 Aaron Lunsford
14. 26g J J Jennings
15. 5t Ricky Long
16. 12w Matthew Konvicka
17. 1c Keith Cockrell
18. 25 Brian Brooks
19. 82 Justin Majek
20. 11b Chip Godfredson
21. 47 James Meyers
22. 107 Kevin Parker
23. 3 Philip Cantu
24. 17 Greg Brooks
25. 90 Dustin Butcher

Limited Modified heat winners, 6 Vince Louden, 888 Aaron Lunsford, 10 Aaron Hudgeons, 174 Mickey Helms

The scheduled 20-lap Super Stock feature saw Eric Floyd ease into the lead while Chris Jewell looked inside G W Hessong for second. Barry Major brought out caution on lap 2 when he got pointed in the wrong direction. Coming to green Hessong and Floyd made contact getting Floyd sideways and Jewell the chance to get the lead. Floyd tried to take his frustration out getting into Jewell leaving some body parts on the track for a caution..

On the next restart Floyd and Jewell ran side by side, while Jed Rollins looked inside Hessong to take third. Jewell was able get the lead on lap 3. Rollins picked off third spot getting by on lap 4. Yellow waved on lap for Major who was sitting on the edge of the infield after hard contact with someone or something, and Scott Adair spun in turn 4.

Once back to green, Rollins got by Floyd on the high side for second and was quickly on Jewell for the lead. Jewell slid high in the turn giving Rollins the opening to grab the point on lap 5, with Floyd following to second. Debris brought out his second caution on lap 6. During the yellow officials reduced the race to 12-laps.

As racing resumed Hessong got past Jewell on lap 8 when he slid up in turn 4. Jewell battled back by Hessong on lap 9, with Adair challenging Robert Danielson for fifth. With two to go, Rollins had a five car length margin on Floyd, who had Hessong making one last ditch attempt for second. Rollins easily scored the checkers as the two battled for the runner up spot.

Super Stocks
1. 57 Jed Rollins
2. 26 Eric Floyd
3. 47 G W Hessong
4. 49 Robert Danielson
5. 2x Chris Jewell
6. 17 Scott Adair
7. 70 Mike Davenport
8.3 Pete Hershaff
9.9. 1 Dale Caswell
10. 38 Michael Williams
11. 36 Lucky Gilbert
12. 33m Barry Major
33 Adam Perks---DNS
44 Bobby Coe---DNS
00 Andrew Mann---DNS

Bob Ort jumped out front as green waved on the 15-lap Hot Stock Truck feature while Justin and Russell Bloom ran side by side for second. That battle ended when J. Bloom slowed and pulled to the infield. Jimmy Rogers got by Lary Paris for fifth on lap 3. By lap 5 Ort had built a full straightaway lead over R. Bloom, Gordon Boehm, Chris Shafer and Rogers.

Rogers worked past Shafer on lap 6 to take over fourth, with Boehm getting around R. Bloom on lap 7 for second. Ort was truckin' into the night on lap 10, while Boehm, R. Bloom, Rogers and Shafer ran nose to tail for second. Boehm spun on lap 12, but continued without caution, moving Rogers to second. Ort ran unchallenged easily taking the victory.

Hot Stock Trucks
1. 43 Bob Ort
2. 9 Jimmy Rogers
3. 38 Chris Shafer
4. 8 Lary Pars
5. 15 Gordon Boehm
6. 55 Russell Bloom
7. 39 Nathan Kildair
8. 76 Justin Airhart
9. 84 Justin Bloom

Hot Stock Truck heat winner, 43 Bob Ort

Polesitter Chris Shafer beat Monty Chamberlain into turn 1 as the Bomber feature roared to life. Danny Bennett and Cassie Champion both got by Chamberlain before he could fall into line. Domingo Maldonado jr stopped on the back stretch before lap 1 was completed to bring out yellow and a complete restart. Shafer got the jump on Chamberlain for the lead as green waved again.

Chamberlain tried to hold off Bennett for second but gave up the spot on lap 1. Champion then tried looking inside for third. Randy Kacir and Michael Wagner got by Sandra Hudgeons on lap 5 for fifth and sixth. Tommy King brought out yellow on lap 7 when he spun. A lap after the restart Champion and Kacir got together battling for fourth. Both would cut tires down with Kacir hitting the infield and Champion rolling to a stop in turn 3.

Once back to green Chamberlain tried to get back by Bennett for second, but was unable to make the pass. This gave Shafer the chance to pull away to another good margin. King found the turn 2 wall on lap 11 to bring out another caution. Officials reduced the race for time considerations down to a green, white, checkered finish. As green was shown Shafer quickly inched away, while Josh Blanchard took fourth from Wagner. Up front, Shafer continued to edge away from Bennett and Chamberlain for the victory.

Bombers
1. 77 Chris Shafer
2. R4J Danny Bennett
3. 55 Monty Chamberlain
4. 2j Josh Blanchard
5. 18 Michael Wagner
6. 88 Sandra Hudgeons
7. 5 Jackie Burnett
8. 89 Ricky Konvicka
9. 76 Gary Wright
10. 79 George Long
11. 74 Tommy King
12. c91 Cassie Champion
13. 36 Randy Kacir
14. 17 John Sellers
15. 31 Brian King
16. x67 Domingo Maldonado jr
43 Richard Sellers---DNS
33 Charlie Mills---DNS
26 David McBride--DNS
04 Jacob Burnett---DNS

Bomber heat winners, 77 Chris Shafer, 55 Monty Chamberlain, c91 Cassie Champion

The 12-lap Mini Stock feature saw Stanley Kraley jump out front early, The top four of Kraley, Jason Bloom, Garett Hayes and Jacob Burnett then broke away from the rest of the field, while Zachery Bennett move in to battle with Haley Jansky for fifth. Hayes used the high side to get by Kraley to take the lead on lap 5.

Yellow waved on lap 6 when Ashley Perks got into the turn 1 wall. On the restart Hayes and Burnett got past Kraley for second and third, with Jansky retaking fifth from Bennett. Kraley tried to retake third in the final laps as he and Burnett ran side by side on the last lap. Coming to the checkers first was Bloom for the win.

Mini Stocks
1. 49 Jason Bloom
2. 9 Garett Hayes
3. 04 Jacob Burnett
4. 14 Stanley Kraley
5. 63 Chase Sanchez
6. 55 Lauren Chamberlain
7. 5 Zachery Bennett
8. 31 Haley Jansky
9. 22 Patricia Lucas
10. 16 Chris Jewell jr.
11. 12 Ashley Perks
72 Zachery Tesch---DNS
00 Dakota Taylor---DNS

Mini Stock heat winners, 14 Stanley Kraley, 49 Jason Bloom

Backwards/Blindfold/Demo top five
069 Todd Krenek
888 Darrell Heibel
420 Bryan Bailey
98 Justin Bloom
43 Alton Brown jr.