10/2/2018
ASCS
Short Track Nationals this Weekend – Entry List at 56 and Counting!
(Image Credit: Adam Mollenkopf)
Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 2, 2018) – I-30 Speedway’s always greatly-anticipated Short Track Nationals is upon us once again as the prestigious event takes place for the 31st time this weekend.
With the entry list already at 56 with more expected, racers from throughout will converge upon Little Rock’s I-30 Speedway for the 31st Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires that takes place this Thursday through Saturday, October 4-6.
Following a Test ‘N Tune session on Thursday night, October 4, a $2,527-to-win preliminary event on Friday night will precede the Saturday, October 6, $10,041-to-win STN championship finale.
The Friday preliminary feature will cover 27 laps with $2,527 to win to honor Greg Hodnett, who recently lost his life in a crash in central Pennsylvania. Hodnett originally came from the Mid-South area, cutting his teeth on the local bullrings before ultimately rising to national prominence as a leading force for years in Pennsylvania Posse competition.
Saturday’s $10,041-to-win, $841-to-start STN finale will be 41 laps in honor of Jason Johnson. “The Ragin’ Cajun” was frequent STN competition, racing his way into eight championship main events over the years and topping the event in 2006.
Each position in Saturday’s 41-lap, $841-to-start championship feature event has been boosted by an additional $41 dollars in honor of Jason Johnson courtesy of Big Show Productions. Additionally, Marvin and Peggy Pearson have prepared a replica of Jason Johnson’s 2006 STN winning mount that will pace Saturday night’s feature field.
Both nights of racing will feature a full card of heat races, qualifying races and feature events. While there will be no lock-ins from the Friday preliminary event, the top two combined point earners from Friday and Saturday that don’t race into the Saturday finale will be awarded the 19th and 20th starting positions in the Saturday STN championship finale. Anyone not competing on Friday night can start no better than 11th in Saturday’s finale.
The current list of entries stands at 56 from 11 different states as well as Canada. Arkansas and Mississippi lead the way with 12 representatives each Tennessee next with ten and then Texas with seven and Oklahoma with six. Others states among the entries include Ohio, South Dakota, Louisiana, Illinois, New Mexico and Kanas as well as the Canadian province of Ontario.
Three past winners are among the current entries including five-time and defending STN champion Sammy Swindel, two-time-winner Tony Bruce, Jr., and 1998 victor Tim Crawley.
Eleven of the current entries raced into last year’s STN championship finale. Along with race winner Sammy Swindell, others looking for back-to-back starts include Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (2nd last year), Tony Bruce, Jr. (5th), Tim Crawley (6th), Derek Hagar (7th), Morgan Turpen (9th), Cody Gardner (11th), Alex Sewell (13th), Brian Bell (16th), Dale Howard (18th) and Howard Moore (19th).
The current entries:
0 TBA
1x Tim Crawley (Benton, AR)
2h Wally Henson (Benton, AR)
3 Sammy Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
4 Danny Smith (Chillicothe, OH)
5 Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD)
8 Alex Sewell (Broken Arrow, OK)
9jr Derek Hagar (Marion, AR)
9$ Kyle Clark (Sapulpa, OK)
10 Terry Gray (Bartlett, TN)
10k Dewayne White (Byhalia, MS)
10k2 Burt Wilson (Byhalia, MS)
10m Morgan Turpen (Somerville, TN)
11g Mike Goodman (Broken Arrow, OK)
12 Scott Smith (Montgomery, TX)
12t Joe Young (Benton, AR)
13m Chance McCrary (Dallas, TX)
14 Jordon Mallett (Greenbrier, AR)
15h Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX)
17g Cody Tankersley (Highland, TX)
17t Channin Tankersley (Highland, TX)
17w Harli White (Lindsay, OK)
21 Koty Adams (Doyline, LA)
21 Spencer Meredith (Hernando, MS)
21 Carson Short (Marion, IL)
21k Kevin Hinkle (Austin, AR)
23b Brian Bell (Galloway, TN)
24 Kenny Coke (Olive Branch, MS)
26 Marshall Skinner (Marion, AR)
29 Wade Woolsey (Hernando, MS)
30 Joseph Miller (Cove, AR)
31 Justin Webb (Drummonds, TN)
38 Rick Pringle (Benton, AR)
39 Brad Bowden (Hernando, MS)
40 Howard Moore (Memphis, TN)
44 Jason Howell (Fort Worth, TX)
44 Ronny Howard (Nesbit, MS)
44c Chase Howard (Nesbit, MS)
45 Martin Edwards (Forney, TX)
45x Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM)
47 Dale Howard (Byhalia, MS)
52 Blake Hahn (Kellyville, OK)
61 Cody Howard (Byhalia, MS)
68 Dustin Gates (Haughton, LA)
72k Rick Kahler (Holly Springs, MS)
77x Alex Hill (Ontario, Canada)
84 Brandon Hanks (Burlison, TN)
86 Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS)
88r Cody Gardner (Benton, AR)
91a Ernie Ainsworth (Memphis, TN)
92 Rick Woolsey (Hernando, MS)
94 Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
95 Asa Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
95 Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK)
99 Blake Jenkins (Benton, AR)
121 Jan Howard (Marion, AR)
Entries continue to come in for the prestigious event with the free driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday available with the $100 entries that were submitted by Monday, October 1. Entries submitted after October 1 are $200 and do not include driver pit pass. Entry forms are available at https://i-30speedway.com/flyers/2018%20STN%20Flyer.pdf.
Last October, Sprint Car racing legend Sammy Swindell made it back-to-back STN wins to become the first five-time winner in event history. Swindell’s back-to-back triumphs in 2017 and 2016 go along with previous wins in 2013, 2011 and 1990 eclipsed Gary Wright’s previous event record of four triumphs.
Along with Hall of Famers and Swindell and Wright, the list of past STN winners is a star-studded one that includes the likes of current NASCAR Xfinity Series title contender Christopher Bell, Paul McMahan, Brad Sweet, Tony Bruce, Jr., Jason Meyers, Jason Johnson, Tim Montgomery, Jason Sides, Mike Ward, Tim Crawley, Wayne Johnson, Pete Butler, Terry Gray, John Gerloff and Steve Kinser.
The Pertinent Info:
The What: 31st Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.
The Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).
The When: October 4-6, 2018. (Practice on Thursday, October 4, followed by two full cards of racing action on October 5-6).
The Entry Info: Entry forms available at https://i-30speedway.com/flyers/2018%20STN%20Flyer.pdf. Entry is just $100 and includes driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday if submitted by October 1. Entries submitted after October 1 are $200 and do not include driver pit pass.
The Format: Both nights will feature a full card of heat and qualifying races followed by feature events. The top 40 in passing points each night will advance to four qualifying races with the balance to “C” Mains. Combined points from heats and qualifiers will set twin “B” Main and “A” Main lineups.
While there will be no lock-ins from Friday’s, 27-lap, $2,527-to-win preliminary, the top two drivers in combined passing/finishing points from Friday and Saturday heats and qualifiers will be awarded the 19th and 20th starting positions in the Saturday night STN championship finale. The 21st starting position is reserved for 2018 I-30 Speedway track champion Ernie Ainsworth if needed. Any driver not competing on Friday will be able to start no better than 11th in Saturday’s finale.
Saturday night heat races will each offer up $100 to win courtesy of Jenkins Fleet Services.
The top four in Saturday night heat and qualifying race passing/finishing points will compete in the Mike Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash” that will set the lineup for the first two rows of the 41-lap STN championship finale. The Dash will pay $500 for first, $250 for second, $150 for third and $100 for fourth.
The “Red Shirt Dash” in honor of Lanny Edwards for non-transfers will pay as follows: 1st - $400, 2nd - $300, 3rd - $250, 4th - $200, 5th - $150, 6th - $100.
No mufflers are required, open headers are allowed for this event.
The Past Winners:
2017-Sammy Swindell
2016-Sammy Swindell
2015-Rained Out
2014-Christopher Bell
2013-Sammy Swindell
2012-Paul McMahan
2011-Sammy Swindell
2010-Brad Sweet
2009-Tony Bruce, Jr.
2008-Tony Bruce, Jr.
2007-Jason Meyers
2006-Jason Johnson
2005-Tim Montgomery
2004-Gary Wright
2003-Gary Wright
2002-Paul McMahan
2001-Jason Sides
2000-Mike Ward
1999-Gary Wright
1998-Tim Crawley
1997-Wayne Johnson
1996-Pete Butler
1995-Gary Wright
1994-Terry Gray
1993-John Gerloff
1992-Rained Out
1991-Steve Kinser
1990-Sammy Swindell
1989-Steve Kinser
1988-Steve Kinser
The Tickets: Day of show prices are $20 on Friday and $28 on Saturday plus a $1 processing fee per ticket if paying by credit/debit card.
Children's tickets will be available at the event only for just $1 on both Friday and Saturday plus a $1 processing fee per ticket if paying by credit/debit card.
To order tickets or for more information, check online at www.i-30speedway or call the track at 501-455-4567.
Pit passes are $35 on both Friday and Saturday. Driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday is included in the $100 entry fee if submitted by the deadline.
For more information regarding I-30 Speedway’s Short Track Nationals, check at www.i-30speedway.com or call the track at 501-455-4567.
Submitted By: Bryan Hulbert
