Texas Speedzone - Ragin Cajun Storms to ASCS Win at South Texas Speedway

Doggett Heavy Equipment Weekend @ South Texas Speedway featuring the ASCS Gulf South Region Sprint Car Series

By J M Hallas

Neither Rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night......
Corpus Christi, Tx., (Aug. 29th, 2008)Alright so there wasn't any sleet, but just as the ASCS Sprint Cars were ready to hot lap, Mother Nature had other plans. Rains pelted the track for about a 1/2 hour, but die hard racers, teams and fans stuck it out in anticipation of some all out, high flying Sprint Car racing.

Nineteen Gulf South Sprinters made the trip south to battle on the 1/4 mile, semi-banked clay track just outside of town. Included in the list of drivers was defending Gulf South Champion, Brandon Berryman, who just recently took the points lead back from Gary Watson and Jason Johnson, current National tour points leader.

“Ragin' Cajun” Rolls to South Texas Checkers
Eunice, Louisiana's Jason “The Ragin' Cajun” Johnson took time off from his busy ASCS National, and part time World of Outlaws schedule for a Gulf South Regional event. All his competitors probably wished he stayed at home, as Johnson put a good old fashioned whoopin' on the field. Johnson took over the lead from Tommy Bryant after an early restart, then literally ran away for the victory.

After the early night rains, the track was in great conditions and lightning fast come main event time for the ASCS Gulf South Region, Sprint Car 25-lapper. Polesitter, Bryant was first into turn 1 with the lead, with Johnson briefly getting by Channin Tankersley who fought back to hold third. Tankersley and Johnson both got around Greg Rilat for second and third. Tankersley got inside Bryant on lap 4 and grabbed the lead on the back stretch only to find caution waving for a spin by Steve Hubbard.

Bryant was put back out front for the restart and as green was shown he and Tankersley got some distance on Johnson. Johnson charged out of turn 2 getting a run on both shooting by Tankersley and along side Bryant. After a quick wheel to wheel fight, Johnson took command on lap 6. Tankersley then was tried to get under Bryant for second, but Johnson was long gone.

Brandon Berryman was able to get past Rilat for fourth on lap 8. By lap 10 Johnson had a full straight advantage over Tankersley as they approached halfway. At the crossed flags it was Johnson, Bryant, Tankersley, Berryman and Rilat in the top five. With ten to go, Johnson had a half track lead over Bryant.

As the laps rapidly clicked off, Tankersley was finally able to take second from Bryant on lap 18. Berryman picked off third two laps later. Out front Johnson was in a class of his own, as he diced through traffic still maintaining his huge margin. As the checkers waved it was Johnson driving The Shop, Smileys, Pope Transportation, Custom Equipment Designs, Wesmar powered, Eagle Chassis convincingly grabbing the South Texas Speedway Hardware

“The track was a lot faster than we're accustomed to.” commented Johnson. ”With all the rain the main thing was to keep up with the track and get the car freed up. When it's heavy like this you have to have the car freed up enough to maneuver in traffic.”

“I was just kind of shopping the first few laps. I was trying different lines to find out where I had to go, where the car would and wouldn't work. You have to put yourself in position to pass. When that caution came out, I knew where I needed to be and what I needed to do. I just hit my marks after that and starting ripping off some good laps.”

“There no substitution for seat time. Running the National series I get to see more tracks and see different conditions, like what we had here tonight. The National tour runs so much more than the Gulf South Region does.”

“We didn't really change the car a whole lot. Moved the right rear out and raised the air pressure. With it slick like it was for the heats it's similar to being dry, then it got tacky for the feature. It was like running the night totally opposite. We started with the car kind of tight, then kept loosening it up.”

ASCS Sprint Cars
1. 41 Jason Johnson
2. 71 Channin Tankersley
3. 31 Brandon Berryman
4.21T Tommy Bryant
5. 35 Greg Rilat
6. 87 Aaron Reutzel
7. 15T Travis Elliott
8. 79H Ryan Hall
9. 3 Gary Watson
101. 23 Daryl Wills
11. 8 Bruce Crockett
12. 74 Brandon Corn
13. 51 Wes Miller
14. 17c Greg Coleman
15. 85 Jerry Bell
16. 22L Kent Lewis sr.
17. 12$ Steve Hubbard
18. 14E Todd Evans
61 Travis Knighton---DNS

ASCS Sprint Car heats, top 8 in passing points redraw
Heat 1. 21T Tommy Bryant, 87 Aaron Reuztel, 85 Jerry Bell, 35 Greg Rilat, 22L Kent Lewis sr., 17c Greg Coleman, 12$ Steve Hubbard
Heat 2. 23 Daryl Wills, 71 Channin Tankersley, 15T Travis Elliott, 79 Ryan Hall, 8 Bruce Crockett, 14E Todd Evans
Heat 3. 41 Jason Johnson, 31 Brandon Berryman, 74 Brandon Corn, 3 Gary Watson, 51 Wes Miller,61 Travis Knighton