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Fireball Frenzy/Meet-n-Greet, Stock Car Wars @ I-37 Speedway 5/18/24

1 Limited Modified winner Trent Beaver
2 Factory Stock winner Johnny Torres
3 Fireball winner Levi Hernandez
4 Sport Compact winner Eric Wilson

By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX.,(May 18th, 2024) So, who left the heater on?

The new Fireball class continues to grow every week from a start of just three cars to nearly a full field a year later. So it was their night to be the featured class at I-37 Speedway Saturday night on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt, oval.

Up for grabs in the Fireball feature was $500 to win after a giving the fans the chance to “Meet-n-Greet” their favorite driver(s). During intermission the entire field lined up on the entry road for the spectators to go and see the cars with some drivers giving away hero cards.

Stock Car Wars; Thinking outside the box, I-37 Speedway promoters came up with the idea of running a grudge-type race between the Factory Stocks and Fireballs. At first glance you would think it might be lopsided, but judging by lap times, not so much. It will be interesting since a couple of the fastest Fireball are leaf spring cars on 9” ribbed tires(AR 970), while Factory Stocks have metric trailing arms and 10” asphalt take-off slicks(Hoosier F-45). The winner picking up an extra $200 should be incentive enough to 'just send it.'

Some took my just 'send it' idea too literally and sadly so many cars got torn up in both of the features that Stock Car Wars had to postponed to a later date. Of course due to the heat and wind the track went dry slick for the first time this season adding to the carnage.

Beaver Best in Limited Modified Battle

The start of the 20-lap Limited Modified main saw Robert Wiggins bounce off the front stretch wall and clip Joshua Archibald sending him around. Under caution Jared Maupin saw his ride lose power before pulling off. The second start had Tom Grothues grab the lead ahead of Trent Beaver, Charles Flanagan, Steven Whiteaker III and Heath Stewart.

Beaver got past Grothues for the lead on lap 2 with Grothues spinning trying to fight back. On the restart, Whiteaker took second from C. Flanagan with Heath Stewart following to third. Brian Harbison moved ahead taking fifth from Rowdy Flanagan, then fourth from C. Flanagan.

At the crossed flags it was Beaver, pulling away, Whiteaker, Stewart, Harbison and Grothues. As Beaver continued to motor away, Harbison closed on Stewart for third getting the spot on the final lap. Beaver, with a full straight lead, easily took the checkers in the Beaver Heating & Air Conditioning, Bear Wash, Beaver Medical Group, Auburn Custom Homes, LaVernia Mini Storage, WW Bodies, Best Race Engines, IRP Chassis.

“I knew I had to get through traffic to the front early.” replied Beaver. “I knew I was hung on the outside on the restart. I just cut between both of them and got to second place. I was just running my line and got the lead when (Tom) Grothues spun out.”

“I was kind of looking for Jared. I didn't want to leave the door open like I did last race here. I didn't know where he was at. I was told he had some type car trouble and pulled off the track. I was just driving my line and hitting every mark.”

Allowing a rebuttal referring to the last race(Natty 30) Beaver added, “He(Ray Allen Kulhanek) out drove me that race. I can't say he did me dirty. I messed up, he took advantage of it and got by me. The race before that I got by him, so it's payback I guess. I think we're going to be good now, I don't think it was dirty. It was the last lap for two grand. It was a good move.”

Limited Modifieds by Iron Horse RV Specialists
14 Trent Beaver, 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 11x Brian Harbison, 14h Heath Stewart, 57 Charles Flanagan, 26w Robert Wiggins, 58 Rowdy Flanagan, 96 Jared Maupin, 10d Clint Everage, 41 Joshua Archibald,11t Tom Grothues---dq

Limited Modified heats
Heat 1; 96 Jared Maupin, 11x Brian Harbison, 11t Tom Grothues, 57 Charles Flanagan, 41 Joshua Archibald, 26w Robert Wiggins

Heat 2; 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 14 Trent Beaver, 14h Heath Stewart, 10d Clint Everage, 58 Rowdy Flanagan

Torres Tallies Another Trophy

The 20-lap Factory Stock feature saw Michael Keylich and Johnny Walker Brown stay side by side with M. Keylich leading at the line chased by Brown, Dustin Hurley, Jarrett Payton, with Dakota Hurley door to door with Brandon Welker. Coming off turn 4 for the second lap, Brown spun collecting over half the field in a grinding crash that saw at least seven cars take damage.

Payton and Brian Schneider were done for the night. Both Torres', Maupin, Mike Lyon and Robert Keylich all some body damage. No drivers were injured.

After the red flag, M. Keylich was getting pressure from Du. Hurley looking high. Hurley then tried low and got the nose under M. Keylich. The two made contact on the front stretch with Hurley going around for a caution. On the restart it was three wide for the lead going into turn 1. J. Torres came out of that battle with the lead on lap 6 with Welker getting under Da. Hurley.

Maupin made his way to the front taking third from Welker with Danny Dear and Du. Hurley side by side for fifth. Coming to halfway it was J, Torres, M. Keylich, Maupin, Welker and Dear in the top five. Maupin picked off M. Keylich for second with Welker and Dear side by side for fourth. Dear got by bringing Allen Torres along to fifth.

A spin by R. Keylich slowed the pace on lap 14 and rebunched the field. Maupin took a peek low on J. Torres back under green with A. Torres and Dear door to door for fourth. Maupin kept the pressure on J. Torres looking low off the corners and a little bumper tag going in.

That scrap came to a head when Maupin got the nose inside coming to the white flag. The two made contact sending J. Torres spinning to the infield. Maupin, who pretty much took responsibility on his own, was charged with caution. Despite a flat left front tire, J. Torres got away clean on the one lap shootout taking the win in the Scott Ball Racing, 8T1 Construction, All in Designs, Diffs by Dale, CRS Suspension, Sundowner Performance Diesel, 1st Class Towing, Hercules Foundation, Rush Gear by Austin Witt, Allen’s 24/7 Towing, Mission Auto Parts, Dirt Defender, Best Engines, Outlaw chassis.

“I don't know if I'd call that surviving,” said Torres. “It was pretty rough. The first dry slick track of the year took it's toll on some people. I figured I was done after that early crash. I moved the car left-right and felt a left front flat. I thought after that I had no chance but just stick it out and see what I've got. I just ran around the tires and was lucky enough to win.”

“Jared(Maupin) always races me clean I guess. He was faster, but I knew he was going to have to go to the outside. I wasn't going to give up the bottom and stay around the tires. I guess he tried to squeeze in somewhere that there wasn't any room. I figured the leader getting spun would get his spot back. I wasn't too worried about it.”

Factory Stock by All in Design
66 Johnny Torres, 44k Michael Keylich, 94 Allen Torres, 40 Dakota Hurley, 64L Shane Lander, 4d Dustin Hurley, 44x Brandon Welker, 55r Rusty Head, 92r Robert Keylich, 20 Mike Lyon, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 18s Jarrett Payton, 56 Brian Schneider, 29 Jared Maupin---dq(leaving track to pit), 4 Damon Bean---dns

Factory Stock heats
Heat 1; 44k Michael Keylich, 4d Dustin Hurley, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 55r Rusty Head, 29 Jared Maupin, 94 Allen Torres, 20 Mike Lyon, 64L Shane Lander

Heat 2; 18s Jarrett Payton, 66 Johnny Torres, 40 Dakota Hurley, 44x Brandon Welker, 4 Damon Bean, 92r Robert Keylich, 56 Brian Schneider

First Fireball Checkered Flag for Hernandez

At the start of the 20-lap Fireball feature the outside row stacked up on green while Ryan McDonald grabbed the lead trailed by Dale Caswell, Levi Hernandez, DJ Schroat and Joseph Montemayor. L. Hernandez got by Caswell just before McDonald suffered a flat and stopped. L. Hernandez inherited the lead for the restart.

As the race went green again, Howie Marcx got turned the wrong way collecting Brian Harbison and Ryker Hernandez. Back under green, Aaron Leddy got past Montemayor for fourth. As Caswell was looking low on Hernandez for the lead, Leddy got by Schroat but Matthew Hodge, Montemayor, Marcx and Harbison tangled in turn 2.

Back green, Schroat and Caswell made contact allowing Leddy to get by both before they spun in turn 1. The ensuing restart saw Leddy loop it collecting Hodge and Marcx. Finally to some racing, not wrecking, Hodge was challenging Caswell for second looking on the high side while Marcx tried to get under Hodge.

At halfway it was L. Hernandez, Caswell, Hodge, Marcx and Shane Stonebraker. Hodge finally made the pass on Caswell for second with Marcx following to third. Hodge ran down L. Hernandez for the lead and tried the high side coming to five laps to go but couldn't complete the pass.

L. Hernandez slipped high enough off turn 4 that Hodge stuck the nose inside. The two made contact on the front stretch. Hodge again tried the move on lap 17 with Marcx now looking high on both. On the final lap, Hodge and Marcx had separate spins in turn 2 leaving L. Hernandez to grab the victory in the iraceenterprises, Davis Custom Leather Works, Love Story Boutique, Air by Cody, TLC Graphics, My Favorite Service Company, Sullivan Racing, B's Midnight Gossip, Diffs by Dale, home built motor and chassis.

“Ya, I'm more talkative than Ryker,” joked the older Hernandez brother. “I was just trying to drive my line and stick to it. I saw Matt(Hodge) get under me a couple times. Going for the win it gets a little rough down there on the bottom. I had to stick down there and was able to pull it off.”

“With all those cautions I came by the flagstand and threw up my hands, like 'what, can nobody drive?' I just tried to pull away on the restarts and stick to the bottom and run my race. I think we've got a hot rod now. I've had a lot of help between my dad and my girlfriends dad.”

Fireballs by Winner Circle Transmissions
28 Levi Hernandez, h2s Shane Stonebreaker, 1 Dale Caswell, 8 DJ Schroat, 64 Danny Dear, 6 Kelly Marbach, 58 Matthew Hodge, 13 Howie Marcx, 816 Ryan McDonald, 93 Aaron Leddy, 18m Joseph Montemayor, 99 Brian Harbison, 37 AJ Wernette, 55 Ryker Hernandez

Fireball heats
Heat 1; 816 Ryan McDonald, 58 Matthew Hodge, 1 Dale Caswell, 8 DJ Schroat, 28 Levi Hernandez, 6 Kelly Marbach, 37 AJ Wernette

Heat 2; 99 Brian Harbison, 18m Joseph Montemayor, 93 Aaron Leddy, 13 Howie Marcx, h2s Shane Stonebreaker, 64 Danny Dear, 55 Ryker Hernandez

Wilson Takes First Dirt Win

As green waved on the 20-lap Sport Compact feature Justin Sitterle lead into turn 1 pursued by Josh Jones, Eric Wilson, James Baum and Rod Tait. It was three wide for the lead with Jones getting the top spot on lap 2. Wilson moved alongside Jones on lap 3 then got the nose out front on lap 4 before securing the lead.

Fons Ponsioen went around with Sonny Kinnaman getting a little piece of the action while Justin Van Winkle got fifth. At the midway point it was Wilson, starting to ease away, Jones, Baum, Sitterle and Van Winkle in the top five. Van Winkle was able to work his way past Sitterle for fourth.

Up front, Wilson, who barely made it to the track for the heat race due to a bad trailer bearing, was increasing his margin on Jones. At the checkers it was Wilson, in the Ted Taxidermy and After Hours Feed, 1.9L Saturn SC2 taking his first ever dirt track victory, as well as increasing his points lead.

“In order to finish first, you must first finish,” said Wilson. “The biggest plan is don't destroy the car. I saw an opening on the outside and thought it was early enough in the race in case I lose a couple spots. I went up high, where I'm comfortable, and found some good grip. I found some speed up there and was able to make the pass.”

“I could see Josh(Jones) outside my door a couple times. I just waited until I couldn't see him anymore for a couple laps before I moved down. Fastest line was really the low line, but when you run side by side it slows you both down.”

“I've won a couple times on asphalt, but always have bad luck on dirt. This is the same car I ran on asphalt. The set up(for dirt) is completely different. Running that set up I was able to get fourth of fifth place finishes. I took some advice from some of the guys that have raced the past 30 years. I did what they told me to do and it seemed to work out.”

Sport Compact by Johnson Supply
18 Eric Wilson, 11j Josh Jones, 007 James Baum, 825 Justin Van Winkle, 88 Justin Sitterle, 98 Ronnie Schoenfeldt, 76y Donald Lewis, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 70 Rod Tait,22 Fons Ponsioen, 3% Sam Walker---dns

Sport Compact heat
Heat 1; 11j Josh Jones, 88 Justin Sitterle, 70 Rod Tait, 007 James Baum, 18 Eric Wilson, 76y Donald Lewis, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 22f Fons Ponsioen, 3% Sam Walker, 98 Ronnie Schoenfeldt

Stock Car Wars; Postponed to a later date.

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