1/10/2015
United Sprint League
From the Archives 2014; Season Wrap Up
RELEASED JAN. 10, 2015
It was the very first season of the Wingless Oklahoma Warriors and what a successful season it was & after the fourteen race schedule was complete, a new, first time champion was crowned!?
The very first race season of the Wingless Oklahoma Warriors kicked off March 29th @ 81 Speedway in Park City, KS www.81speedway.org along with NCRA sprints thanks to C. Ray Hall. It was the first time for Shelby Byrd to climb into the #71 "Hog Wagon" car and he won the very first heat race of the season. Followed by a very exciting A Feature that was a three way battle between the #5 of Koby Barksdale, the #71 of Shelby Byrd, and the #45 of Gil White, but in the end Koby Barksdale won the first ever A Feature of the 2014 WOW Season. Also in attendance was Dwayne Forsgren #93, Gil White #45, Mike Ramsey #31, Darrell McGuire #F5, Michael Gossman #54, Casey Jones #52J & Jim McBride #14.
Two weeks later April 12, 2014, the Warriors headed to Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada, OK www.oklahomasportspark.com where the car count started growing in leaps and bounds with 13 cars. Gil White #45 took claim of the first heat race followed by Shelby Byrd #71 taking heat race two. The A Feature brought another champion to the WOW season which was Kyle Cobb #4C with Cobb Racing out of Choctaw, Ok. Also in attendance James Fabian #8, David McDuffee #43, Koby Barksdale #5, Michael Gossman #54, Chance Nestell #21, Ricky Crawford #11, Mike Ramsey #31, Billy Fields #F51, & Casey Jones #52J.
Returning two weeks later April 26, 2014 to Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada, Ok www.oklahomasportpark.com the night kicked off with Shelby Byrd #71 of the "Hog Wagon" winning the first heat race and Gil White #45 took claim of the second heat race. This is where it really get exciting because this night crowned the 3rd A Feature winner Shelby Byrd #71 "Hog Wagon"! Other great guys in attendance was Koby Barksdale #5, Mike Ramsey #31, Casey Jones #52J, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Bud Lowe #11R, Darrell McGuire #F5, Kyle Cobb #4C, David McDuffee #43, Ricky Crawford #11, Michael Gossman #54, & Chance Nestell #21.
May 9, 2014 Wingless Oklahoma Warriors made their first appearance at Creek County Speedway in Kellyville, OK www.creekcountyspeedway.com with 11 cars and Gil White #45 & Koby Barksdale #5 taking home the heat race wins. The A Feature once again graced Koby Barksdale #5 with Paul Johnson Racing the big trophy of the night. The “Bull Pen” also had showings from Shelby Byrd #71, James Fabian #8, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Ryan Dean #51, Ricky Crawford #11, Bud Lowe #11R, Michael Gossman #54, Chance Nestell #21, & Casey Jones #52J.
After a whole month off and our Warriors itching to get back into the gas we were very happy to be racing at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, OK www.lawtonspeeday.com on June 7, 2014. The car count grew to 16 at this showing with Koby Barksdale #5 wrapping up heat #1, while for the first time in the season heat race #2 went to Ryan Dean #51 as he received his first heat race win the WOW series. Koby Barksdale #5 of Paul Johnson Racing came up with his 3rd A Feature win flying around the fast track and getting the checkered flag. We had some new additions to the field this night with others including: James Fabian #8, David McDuffee #43, Shelby Byrd #71, Gil White #45, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Michael Gossman #54, Larry Spurgeon #7, Zachary Tippett #12$, Casey Jones #52, Ricky Crawford #11, Chris Jenson #88, Chance Nestell #21, Billy Fields #51 & Mike Ramsey #31.
June 14, 2014 Wingless Oklahoma Warriors traveled back to Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada, OK. www.oklahomasportpark.com for our 6th race of the season in the “Land of the Sand”. Always fast @ the “Land of the Sand” Gil White #45 flew to 1st in heat race #1 while another first time win in heat race #2 went to James Fabian #8. Koby Barksdale #5 with Paul Johnson Racing took home his 4th A Feature win on this fabulous night in wonderful Ada, Oklahoma. Also showing Chris Foster #154, Zachary TIppett #66, Ricky Crawford #11, Bud Lowe # 11R, Casey Jones #52J, Chance Nestell #21, David McDuffee #43, Chris Jenson #88, Erich Peterson #79, Ryan Dean #51, Shelby Byrd #71, Billy Fields # F51, Ricky Crawford #11 & Gil White 45.
Interest kept growing on a weekly basis and nothing was to disappoint a car count of 18 at Lawton Speedway in Lawton, OK. on June 21st, 2014. www.lawtonspeedway.com Heat race winners included Koby Barksdale #5 of Paul Johnson Racing & Shelby Byrd of the “Hog Wagon”. The Warriors always keeping us on the edge of our seat as we had yet another new A Feature winner when David McDuffee snagged his first Feature win of the WOW series. Also attending James Fabian #8J, Gil White #45, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Michael Gossman # 54, Ricky Crawford #11, Chance Nestell #21, Casey Jones #52J, Larry Spurgeon #7, Billy Fields # F51, Erich Peterson #79, Zachary Tippett #66, Mike Ramsey #31, Bud Lowe #11R, Billy Fields #F51 & Ryan Dean #51.
The rain tried to break us down and keep us off the track but let me tell you when these guys were able to strap back in these WOW cars they were focused, determined & grinning from ear to ear. On July 12, 2014 @ Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada, Ok. www.oklahomasportspark.com This night we had a car count of 16 @ “The Land of the Sand” and Koby Barksdale #5 & Gil White #45 took home the heat races. The A Feature winner of the night was Gil White #45 winning his very first Feature win with WOW and bringing the Feature winners count to 5 different drivers!!!! Wrapping up the rest of the car count was Kyle Cobb #4C, David McDuffee #43, James Fabian #8, Zachary Tippett # 66, Casey Jones #52J, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Chance Nestell #21, Ricky Crawford #11, Bud Lowe #11R, Billy Fields #F51, Erich Peterson #79, Ryan Dean #51, Kevin Barksdale #22 & Darrell McGuire #F5.
August 2, 2014 brought the Warriors back to Lawton Speedway www.lawtonspeedway.com in Lawton, Ok with our 9th race of the season. Keeping it exciting as always we had the Barksdale’s bring home both heat race wins with Koby Barksdale (son) #5 with Paul Johnson Racing winning the first heat race and Kevin Barksdale (father) #22K with Barksdale Racing winning the 2nd heat race. This was A Feature win # 5 for Koby Barksdale #5 man this guy was on one hell of a roll. There was fast, flying close, up on the wheel racing this night with James Fabian #8J, Gil White #45, David McDuffee #43, Chance Nestell #21, Zachary Tippett #66, Bud Lowe #11R, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Casey Jones #52J, Craig Carroll #24, Larry Sturgeon #7, Dylan Lehew #F57, Chris Foster #154, Ryan Dean #51, Ricky Crawford #11 & Erich Peterson wrapping up the field.
August 15, 2014 Wingless Oklahoma Warriors traveled back to where we started at 81 Speedway www.81speedway.org in Park City, KS. to be welcomed to the “Harold Leep Memorial/Freedom Tour”. Kyle Cobb with Cobb racing took home the heat race win this night along with Koby Barksdale #5 with Paul Johnson Racing taking home his 6th A Feature win of the season. Also making the trip with the Warriors was Gil White #45, James Fabian #8, Chris Foster #154 & Erich Peterson.
Back to the “Land of the Sand” on August 23, 2014 @ Oklahoma Sports Park www.oklahomasportspark.com in Ada, OK. Gil White #45 and Koby Barksdale #5 took home both heat race wins. Then for a 2nd time Kyle Cobb with Cobb Racing out of Choctaw, OK put the pedal down and swept the A Feature checkered flag. Another new driver showed this night Randy Marsee out of Norman, OK along with Gil White #45, David McDuffee #43, James Fabian #8, Ricky Crawford #11, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Kevin Barksdale #22, Ryan Dean #51, Zachary Tippett #66, Casey Jones #52J, Bud Lowe #11R, Chance Nestell #21 & Erich Peterson.
The Warriors traveled to Red River Speedway www.rrspeedway.com in Wichita Falls, TX on September 13, 2014 in where the Barksdale guys pulled out both heat races again with Kevin Barksdale (father) #22K winning the 1st heat race and Koby Barksdale (son) #5 won the second heat race. Koby Barksdale #5 with Paul Johnson Racing pulled out yet another A Feature win making it an astonishing 7 A Feature wins for him and his crew. It was a crazy night at RRS but every driver gave it their all keeping us with our eyes glued on the track. Warriors also included Gil White #45, David McDuffee #43, Ryan Dean #51, Dwayne Forsgren #93, Chance Nestell #21, Bud Lowe #11R, Chris Jenson #88, Creed Sherle #11S, James Fabian #8J, Kyle Cobb #5C and Brent Strapp #9.
September 20, 2014 brought us to Oklahoma Sports Park www.oklahomasportspark.com in Ada, OK for the 13th race of the WOW season. Kyle Cobb #4C and Kevin Barksdale #22 took home both heat race wins @ “The Land of the Sand”. For the 3rd time Kyle Cobb with Cobb Racing out of Choctaw, OK was the A Feature Winner. With a car count of 14 we also had Koby Barksdale #5, David McDuffee #43, Zachary Tippett #66, Ricky Crawford #11, Randy Marsee #9, Chris Jenson #88, Casey Jones #52J, Chance Nestell #21, Gil White #45, James Fabian #8J, Bud Lowe #11R & Dwayne Forsgren #93.
October 3 & 4th brought us to our last races of the Wingless Oklahoma Warriors 2014 1st Season at Lawton Winter Nationals @ Lawton Speedway www.lawtonspeedway.com in Lawton, OK.
The first night Oct. 3rd had the A Feature wrapping up with Koby Barksdale #5 of Paul Johnson Racing winning his 8th WOW Feature and following was (2) Richard Miller, Quinlan, TX;(3) Gil White, Blanchard, OK; (4) Fred Mattox, Drumright, OK;(5) Kevin Barksdale, Norman, OK; (6) Ryan Dean, OKC, OK;(7) James Fabian, Choctaw, OK; (8) Michael Gossman, Newcastle, OK; (9) Chance Nestell, Piedmont, OK; (10) Larry Sturgeon, OKC, OK; (11) Bud Lowe, OKC,OK; (12) Shelby Byrd, OKC, OK.
Night 2 Oct. 4th brought the BIG #9 WOW A Feature win to our Champion of the Wingless Oklahoma Warrior Series Koby Barksdale #5 with Paul Johnson Racing! Congratulations KOBY BARKSDALE! Also wrapping up the field was (2) Richard Miller, Quinlan, TX; (3) Gil White, Blanchard, OK; (4) Kevin Barksdale, Norman, OK; (5) Michel Gossman, Newcastle, OK; (6) Dwayne Forsgren, Crescent, OK; (7) Larry Sturgeon, OKC, OK; (8) James Fabian, Choctaw, OK; (9) Ryan Dean, OKC, OK; (10) Chance Nestell, Piedmont, OK; (11) Shelby Byrd, OKC, OK; (12) Fred Mattox, Drumright, OK.
In December the WOW Banquet was a great success crowning our Champion Koby Barksdale and also crowning our Rookie of the Year Casey Jones! There is not enough words to thank Annette Leesekamp, Chris Smith, Gil White, Paul Johnson & James Fabian for putting this first season in the books and they have had lots of help from many more people. We look forward to 2015 again starting off at the fabulous 81 Speedway www.81speedway.org and we all hope to see you there!!!!
A huge thank you to the following sponsors: please let me know if I’ve left anyone out…
Barksdale Automotive (Kevin Barksdale) www.barksdaleautomotive.com
Bill’s Island Grill www.billsislandgrill.com
Biotechnology (Steve Ochs)
Bishop Racing (Danny & Andy Shouse)
Carter Maxwell (Goodyear)
Crossfit Exile www.crossfitexile.com
G-Man Graphics (Michael Gossman)
Gold Expressions (Pam McDufee)
Harryman Insurance (Doug & Kathy) www.americanfarmerandranchers.com
Kendall’s Restaurant www.kendallsrestaurant.com
Mike Howard Photography
Pole Position (Greg Slaton) www.polepositionraceway.com
Sleeper Designs (Jeff Sleeper)
Smiley’s Racing www.smileysracing.com
Tri-State Claims (Leon Brownlee) www.tri-stateadjusters.com
Vision Sources (Choctaw) (Tina McDuffee) www.visionsource.com
Thank you racers for keeping life fun!
Michelle Walden 1/10/2015
Article Credit: Michelle Walden
Submitted By: Michelle Walden
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