Texas Speedzone - Johnson Two for Two in ASCS Gulf South Speedweek

ASCS Gulf South Region Sprint Cars @ Texana Raceway Park, 8-30-08

By J M Hallas

This was the series first trip to the tight paperclip-shaped venue, that several drivers compared to Boot Hill Speedway in Louisiana.

Also on the night's racing card were the local Modifieds and Limited Modified running for some extra money, as well as the Bomber class. All of which had $1000 added to the purse, with 200 on top and the rest spread equally through the field.

Johnson Goes Two for Two in Gulf South Speedweeks
Despite having Hurricane Gustov threatening his family and Louisiana home, Jason Johnson kept focused on the job at hand, finding his way around the tricky Texana Raceway Park course. Johnson, who drew the pole, jumped into the lead at the drop of the green and it was all she wrote. Johnson pulled out to a full straightaway lead, then survived two late restarts to grab his second win in as many nights. His chance for the triple play ended when 105 Speedway in Cleveland, Texas canceled its show because of Gustov, and road closures.

On the first attempted start, James Cooper spun and collected Travis Elliott just as the field took the green. As the 20-car ASCS Sprint Car field roared to life, Johnson beat Gary Watson into turn 1 for the lead. Channin Tankersley, Aaron Reutzel, Brandon Berryman and Tommy Bryant fell in line behind Watson. Johnson wasted little time pulling ahead, while Greg Rilat and Coby Barksdale got by Bryant for sixth and seventh.

Barksdale picked off Rilat for sixth on lap 3. Out front Johnson was approaching lower cars, as Tankersley got by Watson for second. Even traffic didn't slow Johnson down as sliced high and low past the traffic. Coming to the crossed flags it was Johnson by nearly a straightaway, over Tankersley, Watson, Reutzel and Berryman.

Tankersley had a scare on lap 16 when Ryan Hall spun in front of the Houston area young gun. The caution erased Johnson's huge lead, but he restart saw Johnson with a lapped car as buffer on Tankersley. When green waved again, Johnson easily motored away while Tankersley tried to get by the lapper. Berryman and Bryant were able to get past Reutzel on lap 18 for fourth and fifth.

With five to go, Johnson had rebuilt his margin on Tankersley to a full straight. Johnson almost threw away the lead and win on lap 22 when he out of shape trying to lap Greg Coleman. Just as Johnson took the white flag, and looked to be the easy winner, Bruce Crockett and Daryl Wills tangled with Crockett finding the wall in turn 3.

Under ASCS rules the field goes back to a green, white, checkered finish. Johnson again had lost his big lead, but had Coleman between himself and Tankersley. Johnson was quick on the throttle when green came back on, pulling away while Tankersley fought to get past the lapped car. Johnson ran unchallenged to the win in the Pope Refridgerated Transport, The Shop, Custom Equipment Design, Smileys, Wesmar Race Engines, Eagle Chassis.

“We just watched the track surface throughout the night,” replied Johnson about his first trip to TRP. “During the heats there was moisture around the top and we got a good run up there. After watching the Limited Modified feature it looked like it was taking rubber on the bottom so I moved down there for our main. The main is to keep from burning the tires off and be patient.”

'On those late restarts I just wanted to keep hitting my marks and keep it on the bottom. You don't want to give those guys to sneak by you on the bottom. I'll give them the top if they want to try and come around up there. As long as I hit my marks, I felt like we had a real good car.”

“We tried some different stuff here because of the shape of the track. We added a little gear to it to try to wind it up and slow it down with the gear. You don't necessarily run wide open, just pedal it and get it slowed down. Other than that we used the same bars, shocks and same basic set up.”

“We've got a couple weeks of before the next Gulf South or Sooner Regionals races. Then the beginning of next month the National tour has three important weekends we need to try to capitalize on to win the championship. That's what we need to concentrate on.”

ASCS Sprint Cars
1. 41 Jason Johnson
2. 71 Channin Tankersley
3. 31 Brandon Berryman
4. 3 Gary Watson
5. 87 Aaron Reutzel
6. 21T Tommy Bryant
7. 80 Michael McNeil
8. 22 Coby Barksdale
9. 23 Daryl Wills
10. 35 Greg Rilat
11. 74 Brandon Corn
12. 79H Ryan Hall
13. 17c Greg Coleman
14. 8 Bruce Crockett
15.13m Kathryne Minter
16. 28 Richard Cooper
17. 22L Kent Lewis sr.
18. 14E Todd Evans
19. 53 James Cooper
20. 15T Travis Elliott
85 Jerry Bell---DNS.

ASCS Sprint Car heats,(top 8 in passing points redraw)
Heat 1. 41 Jason Johnson, 3 Gary Watson, 31 Brandon Berryman, 80 Michael McNeil, 74 Brandon Corn, 13 Kathryne Minter, 14E Todd Evans
Heat 2. 71 Channin Tankersley, 15t Travis Elliott, 35 Greg Rilat, 22 Coby Barksdale, 28 Richard Cooper, 79H Ryan Hall, 22L Kent Lewis sr.
Heat 3. 87 Aaron Reutzel, 53 James Cooper, 21T Tommy Bryant, 23 Daryl Wills, 8 Bruce Crockett, 17c Greg Coleman, 85 Jerry Bell