Texas Speedzone - White Doubles up, Hughes takes USMTS Winter Challenge Finale

Texas Winter Challenge, USMTS @ Texana Raceway Park, 11/22/08

By J M Hallas

As the Inaugural USMTS Texas Winter Challenge concluded on Texana Raceway Park’s 5/16 semi-banked clay oval. Three new late arrivals found their way to the tightly packed pit area and Mother Nature provided a much nicer day.

Qualifying for both classes was the same as previous nights, with heats and B-mains setting the main event line-ups. USMTS also provide for two provisional starters to fill their 24-car field for the big 40-lap, $3,000 to win Saturday night finale.

Hughes Out-hustles Stellar field for Winter Challenge Finale Checkers

Westville, Oklahoma’s Jason Hughes waited patiently for the track to track to come to him in Saturday nights Modified A-main. Hughes got by Allen Chickering early for second, then was joined by Tommy Weder jr. as they chased leader, Steve Holzkamper. With Holzkamper running the cushion and Hughes hugging the bottom, Weder was looking for a gap between.

NASCAR Veteran Ken Schrader joined in the fun as he and Weder swapped third. After a lap 20 restart, Hughes got along side Holzkamper and the two ran side by side for five laps until Hughes finally secured the spot. From there on Hughes built his margin lap after lap, while Schrader got by Holzkamper for second. The current USMTS Southern Series points leader, easily took the victory.

With flags waving high, the USMTS A-main line-up split into the "Tribute to America and the Fans" four-wide salute and readied for the big 40-lap, $3,000 to win Winter Challenge finale.

As the green flag dropped on the 24-car field of ground pounding Modifieds, Holzkamper got a big run off turn 4 to beat Chickering into turn 1. Chickering fought back out of turn 2 and the two ran side by side back the line with Holzkamper leading by inches, Chickering second and Hughes moving into third.

Hughes snuck by Chickering on lap 2 as Holzkamper began to check out, but Dustin Hyde slowed with a flat to bring out a yellow. On the restart Chickering drove in under Holzkamper, with Hughes briefly trying three wide. In the pack Howard Willis and Jon Tesch got together in turn 1 bringing the yellow quickly back out. Once back to green Holzkamper got a good jump, with Hughes taking second, and Schrader getting fourth.

Just as Hughes was trying to make a move under Holzkamper, Brian Boram got turned around on lap 3 for a caution. As the top four got away on green, Steve Miller got loose falling from fifth to seventh as Scott Green and Johno Whittington got by. Whittington then showed no respect for the NASCAR pilot as he snagged fourth on lap 4. Jamie Burford suffered a flat on lap 5 and stopped, while Brad Lasater was spinning. Lasater would spin again on the restart.

As racing resumed, Schrader retook fourth from Whittington. Chickering was along side Hughes for second when Boram looped it again for a yellow on lap 6. Holzkamper, Hughes and Chickering got away clean on green, with Schrader, Whittington ans Mike Dillard three wide for fourth. Whiitington got the spot on lap 7, while Weder was charging from his ninth row starting spot to get by Dillard for sixth.

Weder then got into the top five going by Schrader on lap 8. By lap 10 Holzkamper was increasing his lead over Hughes who had a good margin back to Chickering and Weder. A spin on lap 10 by Miller would close those gaps back up. Weder got the jump on Whittington and Chickering, who briefly tangled for third as the green flew again. Weder then got by Hughes for second on lap 11.

Holzkamper, Weder and Hughes were nose to tail on lap 12, but Holzkamper was able to inch ahead by lap 14. Lasater brought out yet another caution on lap 15 with a spin. On the restart Hughes got second back from Weder who was being challenged by Schrader. Hughes now decided it was time to make his charge on Holzkamper. Hughes would dive under Holzkamper in the corners, but Holzkamper could hold him off on the straights.

At the crossed flags it was Holzkamper being hounded by Hughes, Schrader, Weder and Whittington in the top five, with Jack Sullivan getting sixth from Derrick Ramirez. Dillard found the turn 1 wall on lap 20 for a caution. Weder just got by Schrader on green, but Lasater and Tyler Townsend tangled to bring the yellow quickly back out.

When the green waved again the top three went into turn 1 nearly three wide. Hughes hugged the bottom, with Holzkamper still running to top side. Hughes was able to inch ahead on lap 21, with a virtual dead heat on lap 22. Hughes got the bumper out front again on lap 23 and secure the spot on lap 24. Once clear Hughes set sail, while Holzkamper was still trying to run the cushion that was going away.

On lap 30 Weder and Whittington began their own little battle for fourth. Those two ran wheel to wheel, then swapped the spot on consecutive laps. Up front Hughes was hammer down, and pulling away. With five to go Hughes was a full straightaway ahead of Holzkamper, who now had Schrader breathing down his back. With two to go, Schrader got Holzkamper, but Hughes was nowhere in sight. As the checkers waved in was Hughes in the Gressel Oil, Braka Operating, West Siloam Pawn, Rainbow Graphics, Integra Shocks, Quartermaster, Hot Brake Pads, Pro Blend Motorsports, Mullins Race Engines powered, Hughes Chassis easily grabbing the win.

"It takes some luck and a good race track like we had tonight," replied Hughes. "You have to have your stuff together to race with these guys. They’re all prepared and ready to go all the time. Anytime you win an USMTS race you’ve earned it. There’s a lot of good guys out here."

" I was just kind of riding around waiting a while. I knew the top was going to go away and get father out. The bottom was still wet, so I was waiting on it to come in. It just took us a little time to get going, get some heat in the tires, and turn better for us. I just had to wait for our opportunity."

"It was really hard to pass the first two nights. They gave a track we could race on tonight, it was a real good track."

"I was fortunate enough to win that race in The Valley four times. Everyone liked to go down there for vacation. It was always a pretty good race, everyone wanted to win it. It was always a lot of fun down there."

USMTS A-Main 40 Laps(OFFICIAL)

12 Jason Hughes, Westville, Okla.
9 Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.
5 Steve Holzkamper, Gentry, Ark.
5w Johno Whittington, Vidor, Tx.
02 Tommy Weder jr, Woodward, Okla.
14 Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
19 Jamie Burford, Keatchie, La.
E Howard Willis, Dayton, Tx.
4R Derrick Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
21c Chris Brown, Cleveland, Tx.
2w Paul White, Temple, Tx.
8j Dustin Hyde, Texarkana, Tx.
9 Shane Hebert, Lafayette, La.
12T Tyler Townsend, Longview, Tx.
26x Allen Chickering, Okarche, Okla.
88 Brian Boram, Orange, Tx.
17 Brad Lasater, Garland, Tx.
8 Steve Miller, Georgetown, Tx.
C8 Tim Culp, West Monroe, La.
66x Mike Dillard, Allen, Tx.
89 Steve Whiteaker jr, Corpus Christi, Tx.
25 Scott Green, Derby, Kan.
561 David Horner, Houston, Tx.
3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa

USMTS B-Mains(top 3 to A-main)

B-Main #1

561 David Horner
21c Chris Brown
66x Mike Dillard
L1 Larry Clevenger

71k Kevin Sustaire
C8 Tim Culp
71A Ryan Aho
57 Dale Flanagan
5T Randy Timms
1 Eddie Martin
4$ Kalif Sellier
94 Nick Hardcastle
13 Ken Hobbs
98 Markus Elder---DNS

B-Main #2
4R Derrick Ramirez
02 Tommy Weder jr
12T Tyler Townsend
89 Steve Whiteaker Jr.
5R Morgan Bagley
51p Benny Perry
8g Greg Dinsmore
39 Jed Rollins
117 Brennan Poole
37 Brian Spindleman
91b Shawn Brassfield
76 Jesse Manning
55 Danny Brown
18 Jack Sullivan

B-Main #3
E Howard Willis
C8 Tim Culp
2w Paul White
31 Elias Anderson
54 Dena Wilson
87 Lawrence Mikulencak
148 Russell Moore
174 Max Helms
91 Robert Metz
38 David Schury
4M Bobby Malchus
B29 Tammy Mitchell
88b Brian Boram
95 Kevin Pratt--DNS

USMTS Heat Races(top 13 in Passing points to A-main)

Heat #1 finish order
14 Jon Tesch
3 Kelly Shryock
2w Paul White
4M Bobby Malchus
51 Eddie Martin
91 Robert Metz
87 Lawrence Mikulencak
89 Steve Whiteaker jr
B29 Tammy Mitchell--DNS
95 Kevin Pratt---DNS

Heat #2
26x Allen Chickering
25 Scott Green
C8 Tim Culp
561 David Horner
21c Chris Brown
88d Matt Dotson
57 Dale Flanagan
38 David Schury
98 Markus Elder

Heat #3
12 Jason Hughes
88B Brian Boram
4R Derrick Ramirez
71k Kevin Sustaire
12T Tyler Townsend
L1 Larry Clevenger
E Howard Willis
31 Elias Anderson
55 Danny Brown

Heat #4
9 Ken Schrader
17 Brad Lasater
19 Jamie Burford
17 Brennan Poole
8j Dustin Hyde
51p Benny Perry
4$ Kalif Sellier
71A Ryan Ayo

174 Max Helms

Heat #5
9 Shane Hebert
5w Johno Whittington
39 Jed Rollins
54 Dena Wilson
76 Jesse Manning
13 Ken Hobbs
18 Jack Sullivan
8g Greg Dinsmore
5T Randy Timms

Heat #6
8 Steve Miller
5 Steve Holzkamper
66x Mike Dillard
148 Russell Moore
02 Tommy Weder jr
5R Morgan Bagley
94 Nick Hardcastle
37 Brian Spindleman
91B Shawn Brassfield

White Whips ‘em Again in Limited Modified Main

Semi-Texana Raceway Park regular and former USAC Silver Crown Champion, Paul White showed his heels once again in the caution filled Limited Modified A-main. White capitalized on his front row starting spot beating polesitter, Bobby Fehring out of turn 2 for the lead on lap 1. White would hold off Fehring after a slew of yellows kept the field bunched up, to take his second win of the weekend.

The start of the 24-car, scheduled -lap Limited Modified feature saw Fehring get the advantage on White going into turn 1. The veteran White used a classic cross-over move to get under Fehring in turns 3-4 to get the lead on lap 1. Rodney Sanders, Chuck Perry and Jensen Pray fell in line behind the lead duo. On lap 2 Perry, J J Jennings, Johno Whittington and Derrick Flora all tangled in a "no fault" caution giving everyone their spots back.

On the restart the top three got away clean with Pray and Perry side by side for fifth and 2008 track champion, Aaron Hudgeons up to seventh. Just as White began to get away, Don Painter got spun from his top five spot to bring out a yellow. The restart was clean as White again inched out from Fehring and Sanders. Pray got inside Painter for fourth and the two made contact sending Painter around collecting Hudgeons, ending both their night’s.

The top five sorted out single file, with Derrick Ross and Shane Hoefling now wheel to wheel for sixth. Pray then began pressuring Sanders for third until lap 11 when Aaron Lunsford spun to bring out the yellow. White got away from Fehring on green, while Brian Rye and Vince Louden battled for seventh. Those two made contact sending Louden around and B. Rye to the tail for the contact.

Again White quickly checked out on green, while Dean Hollier was working his way up from the eighth row to take eighth from Ross. Debris brought out the next yellow on lap 14. Shortly after green waved again, Lunsford and David Meredith tangled collecting Dwayne Norvell. At the proposed halfway point it was White, Fehring, Sanders, Hoefling and Pray in the top five spots.

On the insuing restart Pray and Ross spun with Chris McDonald finding the turn 1 wall.

Once back to green, Perry, Hollier and Whittington began a battle for seventh. Perry then moved in on Louden and Hoefling as they swapped fourth and fifth on lap 17. Hollier then got sixth from Louden on lap 18 but James Myers spun in turn 4 to bring out a caution. Just as green waved again, someone shed parts on the track bringing yellow back out for debris.

The next restart saw Whittington get a good jump, too good in fact, bringing the yellow back out once again. Officials decided to shorten the race to 20 laps, setting up a green, white checkered finish. When the final green waved, Fehring hung on to White’s bumper, literally, as he gave White a rap going into turn 3. Unphased, White would hold off Fehring for the victory in the Bridwell Motorsports, Mopar powered, Dust Devil Chassis.

"Last night’s win was a whole different ball game, " explained White. "You almost had to start up front in your qualifying race to get in. We were fortunate enough to get there, start up near the front and hang on to it. It rubbered up, got a little bit one lane last night, but it was racier tonight"

"The track was a lot better tonight and I think everyone liked it more. Tonight’s track was probably a second or two faster a lap. You were able to drive the bottom and the top and that will sometimes breed cautions. Someone will get a hurry and overdo it."

"We came down here quite a few times this year working with this new car, so we had a good idea what it needed. It’s a one of a kind car, so no one can really help us. Guys have been calling me all week though, asking about gear ratio, spring rates and things like that. I helped them with everything I could. Some I think I helped too much.

"Running both cars could help, but since I can’t talk to them while I’m out there, and the races are back to back, we didn’t have time to make any changes."

"I still think we have the only Mopar out there. I know we looking for some parts earlier, but we got some from a car out in the parking lot, so it’s alright."

Limited Modified A-Main 30 laps(UNOFFICIAL)
216 Paul White, Temple, Tx.
33 Bobby Fehring, Houston, Tx.
120 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Tx.
15 Chuck Perry, Corpus Christi, Tx.
211 Dean Hollier
4$ Kris Rye, Corpus Christi, Tx.
6 Vince Louden, Shiner, Tx.
57 Jensen Pray, McAllen, Tx.
00 Derick Flora, Ingram, Tx.
47 James Myers, Corpus Christi, Tx.
63 Shane Hoefling, McAllen, Tx.
5w Johno Whittington, Vidor, Tx.
12 Roly Rodriguez
888 Aaron Lunsford, Victoria, Tx.
9 David Meredith
83k Brian Rye, Corpus Christi, Tx.
221 Dwayne Norvell, Corpus Christi, Tx.
32c Chris McDonald
122 Trent Crawford
26g J J Jennings, Corpus Christi, Tx.
10D Don Painter, Austin Tx.
10 Aaron Hudgeons, Cuero, Tx.
17 Larry Spruce

Limited Modified B-Mains(top 6 to A-main)

B-Main #1
83k Brian Rye
4$ Kris Rye
9 David Meredith
211 Dean Holier
00 Derrick Flora
888 Aaron Lunsford
21 Victor Lindsey
121 Eddie Martin
150 Joe Collier---DNS
D00 Dustin Brandl---DNS
99 Shane Hebert--DNS
77 Bobby Maupin--DNS

B-Main #2
6 Vince Louden
221 Dwayne Norvel
32C Chris McDonald
12 Roly Rodriguez
47 James Myers
17 Larry Spruce
76 Mike Carlock
46 Randy Bridges
79 Bruce Beddoe---DNS
175 Brian McDevitt---DNS

Limited Modified heats

Heat #1
33 Bobby Fehring
24 Derrick Ross
10 Aaron Hudgeons
9 Dvid Meredith
150 Joe Collier
00 Derrick Flora
D00 Dustin Brandl
121 Dean Hollier
211 Eddie Martin

Heat #2
216 Paul White
57 Jensen Pray
5w Johno Whitington
21 Victor Lindsey
83k Brian Rye
4$ Kris Rye
888 Aaron Lunsford
99 Shane Hebert
77 Bobby Maupin

Heat #3
120 Rodney Sanders
10D Don Painter
63 Shane Hoefling
6 Vince Louden

32c Chris McDonald
79 Bruce Beddoe
17 Larry Spruce
175 Brian McDevitt

Heat #4
15 Chuck Perry
26g J J Jennings
122 Trent Crawford
221 Dwayne Norvell
12 Roly Rodriguez
47 James Myers
46 Randy Bridges
76 Mike Carlock