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Forever 29 @ I-37 Speedway 6-1-24

Late Model winner Cody Leonard
Limited Modified winner Johnny Torres
Factory Stock winner Rusty Head
Fireball winner Howie Marcx
Sport Compact winner Rod Tait
Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas winner Dylan Budnik

By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX., June 1st, 2024 There's never the right words…..

It was a night of remembrance at I-37 Speedway Saturday night as the track, drivers and fans paid tribute to Jamie Campbell. Campbell succumbed to injuries received early in May in a traffic accident. His young daughter was also in the car, but she was treated and released after observation.

Campbell was a long time racer at I-37 Speedway and other Texas tracks, in several different classes throughout the years. His family was on hand to meet all his racing family that showed up, with T-shirts available. Numerous drivers donated their nightly winnings to the family to help cover expenses as well as passing their helmets throughout the stands for the fans. Three businesses have stepped to match the night's donation amount up to $5,000.

A group of racers got together and worked on his Late Model to ready it for the event, including changing a motor and making it race ready where it would be piloted by former track champ, Brandon Brzozowski. Another south Texas track promoter, Owen Pittman, is working on setting up a trust fund for Campbell's daughter.

Tonights on-track action included the Late Models, Limited Modifieds, Factory Stocks, Fireballs, Sport Compacts and the third visit of the Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas.(DCRST) Can anyone break the streaks of the Dylan/Dillons? The first visit saw Dillon Spreen, Dylan Budnik and Dillon Coyne battle the lead with Spreen taking the checkers. The second trip saw Budnik and Coyne swap the lead with Budnik making a late pass for the win.

Leonard Lands Late Model Loot
After a somber three wide salute, lead by Brandon Brzozowski in Campbell's car the 20-lap Late Model main fired off with Cody Leonard quickly showing his dominance. Kody Hardage, Rory Jordan, Robby Minten and Brzozowski filled the top five spots. Jared Maupin joined Minten and Brzozowski going three wide on the back stretch.

Jordan would get sideways in turn 3 collecting Ryan Doyon for an early caution. Minten took second from Hardage, who then also lost a spot to Maupin. Maupin continued his march to the front getting second from Minten. Hardage got back past Minten for third with Ray Doyon taking fifth from Brzozowski.

Up front, Leonard was gone, like in another zip code gone, coming to the crossed flags ahead of Maupin, Hardage, Minten and Ry. Doyon. A debris caution would fly on lap 12 erasing the half track advantage. Leonard quickly got away with Maupin and Hardage door to door for second and Steven Whiteaker, who started at the tail, taking fourth from Ry. Doyon.

Whiteaker's charge ended when he, Maupin and Hardage tried three wide in turn 3 with Whiteaker clipping an infield tire and sending him around. Leonard got a good margin back under green as Maupin and Hardage continued to slug it out. Ry. Doyon and Brzozowski took advantage of Maupin grabbing spots.

With another healthy lead, Leonard(Sinton) had it on cruise control easily leaving the pack behind going on to take the victory in the Farm & Ranch Fabrication, Swenson Racing Shocks & Components, DB Insurance, On Demand Shirts, All in Designs, Smileys, VP Racing Fuels, 366 Motorsports, Kirkland Construction, Ingram crate powered, Swenson Chassis.

“To be honest, It didn't feel too great,” commented Leonard. “I felt decent in (turns)1-2, but (turns)3-4 was kicking my butt. If I drove it too easy, I'd get snug. Too hard, It would break free on me.”

“Kody Hardage was quick in the heat so I figured he was right there on me. I just figured they were behind me bidding their time. Starting up front, you're a sitting duck. I just stuck to the bottom. Towards the end I wasn't to confident in how big of a lead we had. I was waiting for someone to tuck up underneath me and root me off the bottom. Come to find out we had a better car than I thought.”

“It's one of those things. It's hard to tell in the car. There's saying 'there's times when the car is uncomfortable, it's probably the fastest that the car will be.' Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone to find some speed. I definitely found it tonight.”

“Jamie was a good friend of mine,” added Leonard. “Not like best of friends but we were close. He'd ask racing advice and we'd talk back and forth. He recently got on iracing and asked me to race with him there. We'd play around and it helped him get better. He got Chris'(Swenson) old Masterbuilt and we were trading info back and forth. It may not impact me, like others, but it does hit close to home.”

Nogalitos Gear Late Models
48 Cody Leonard, 12 Kody Hardage, 5r Ryan Doyon, 29 Brandon Brzozowski, 91 Jared Maupin, 53x Matt Fox, 08 Landon Sowder, 7x Rory Jordan, 9r Ray Doyon, 93 Aaron Leddy, 5k Ziggy Reusser, 77 Mark Taylor, 89 Steven Whiteaker jr., 24 Robby Minten

Late Model heats
Heat 1; 48 Cody Leonard, 12 Kody Hardage, 24 Robby Minten, 91 Jared Maupin, 5r Ryan Doyon, 93 Aaron Leddy, 08 Landon Sowder

Heat 2; 7x Rory Jordan, 29 Brandon Brzozowski, 53x Matt Fox, 5k Ziggy Reusser, 9r Ray Doyon III, 77 Mark Taylor, 89 Steve Whiteaker jr---dns

Torres Takes Top Spot
As green waved on the 20-lap Limited Modified feature Johnny Torres and Trent Beaver stayed wheel to wheel through 1-2 before J. Torres edged ahead. Steven Whiteaker III, Jared Maupin and Allen Torres fell in line behind the lead duo. Maupin got by Whiteaker for third as Beaver was mounting a challenge on J. Torres.

Beaver was able to sniff the lead on lap 2, but Torres wrestled it back a lap later. At halfway, J. Torres was inching away from Beaver, Maupin, Whiteaker and A. Torres. Whiteaker took a little side trip to the infield giving up a spot to A. Torres. Meanwhile, J. Torres(San Antonio) was easing away from Beaver with a full straight lead for the win in the Brian Harbison owned, 8T1 Construction, Best Race Engines, IRP Chassis.

“Luckily we could drive it on Victory Lane tonight,” commented Torres who won but broke a motor last time out in the car. “It's a more satisfying win this time. I'm not used to starting up front and was just going to set a cruising pace. Then I saw Trent(Beaver) getting by me so I had to crack the whip and get going.”

“It was pretty one groove around the tires. I wasn't too worried and someone would have to move me out of the groove to get past me. I do get a little confused with all the different cars I drive sometimes. Tonight I wasn't sure what number Factory Stock I was driving. But I've got a pretty baseline for people I help that run the same shocks and springs that I do. It's pretty easy to adjust them all.”

“I like racing. I didn't know I was racing this Factory Stock until this morning. I'll race anything, anytime. My car was torn up and Brandon(Welker) works with Harbison and he heard I wasn't racing. He asked if I would drive his, and I said 'No problem.'”

Iron Horse RV Limited Modifieds
11x Johnny Torres, 14 Trent Beaver, 91 Jared Maupin, 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 747 Joshua Tuttle, 26w Robert Wiggins, 51 Allen Torres, 29 Landon Bednarz, 58 Charles Flanagan, 7x Lupe Gomez---dns

Limited Modified heat
Heat 1; 88 Steve Whiteaker III, 11x Johnny Torres, 14 Trent Beaver, 51 Allen Torres, 96 Jared Maupin, 29 Landon Bednarz, 747 Joshua Tuttle, 58 Charles Flanagan, 26 Robert Wiggins, 7k Lupe Gomez---dns

Head Out-Hustles Factory Stock Field
The 20-lap Factory Stock feature saw Damon Bean jump out front chased by Johnny Walker Brown, Mike Lyon, Cameron Dinsmore and Hunter Peterson. It was three wide for the lead on lap 2 with Lyon getting the spot on lap 3. Bean fell back giving up more spots to Dinsmore, Kasey Kraus and Rusty Head.

Finally back to green after a series of cautions, Dinsmore was looking low on Lyon for the lead. Dinsmore got by briefly for a couple laps before Lyon retook the spot. On the charge, from his fifth row start, Head was up to third and now challenging Dinsmore. Head got the position then moved along side Lyon taking the lead at halfway.

Multiple spins at opposite ends brought yellow on lap 10 that saw Head get out quickly while Cameron Starry, who had early trouble, worked his way from the back to sixth. Head was pulling away from J. Torres when Peterson looped it for a yellow with two to go.

Head was able put a couple car lengths on Torres while Dinsmore, Starry and Kraus battled for fourth. Torres was not able to mount a challenge as Head(Buda) in the SWL Inc, KMO, Quality Trailer Sales, Supreme Vinyl Works, Mission Race Engines, Sniper chassis was able to score the win.

“I just hung out around the bottom,” replied Head. “The track got a little slick there. Just tried to stay consistent. I think I started ninth, and guys were trying to push the track more than it would take. They'd slide up the track and I was there to get under them.”

“You have to be able to adjust your driving style. I've raced Limited Modifieds before. The chassis' are similar, but there's more power and a different tire. For the most part you have to drive a Limited Mod different. You have to finesse them, especially when it goes dry slick.”

“I obviously look for Johnny(Torres) and Jared(Maupin) when I'm racing here. I've have to give credit to Johnny. We have a mutual friend that asked him to help me out several years back. He helped me with my Limited when I had it and he's helped me with the Factory Stock. He's really helped my racing program. There's some other fast guys here and other tracks that I watch for. I just wish I could be as consistent as them.”

“Some of those guys are young, I'm old. Look at Maupin, some nights he may run 100 laps in all those cars. If I can race with those guys and run top five, then I'm happy. I'm just out here to race and have fun.”

“I have to thank Shannon Saegert he's been with me a lot of years working on these cars. Tonight I have Tyler Moran with me. Mike Terry has come along, he's helped me and the track some. I want to thank him for allowing to drive his car that one night.”

All in Design Factory Stocks
55 Rusty Head, 44x Johnny Torres, 20 Mike Lyon, 8c Cameron Dinsmore, 741 Cameron Starry, 53k Kasey Krauss, 18s Jarrett Payton, 18 Kyle Kirkland, 44k Michael Keylich, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 4j Hubert Jackson, 10 Scott Jerkins, 4 Damon Bean, 34h Hunter Peterson, 92r Robert Keylich

Factory Stock heats
Heat 1; 741 Cameron Starry,53k Kasey Kraus, 8c Cameron Dinsmore, 44x Johnny Torres, 20 Mike Lyon, 18 Kyle Kirkland, 92r Robert Keylich, 10 Scott Jerkins

Heat 2; 55r Rusty Head, 4 Damon Bean, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 34h Hunter Peterson, 18s Jarrett Payton, 44k Michael Keylich, 4j Hubert Jackson

Marcx on the Money
It was AJ Wernette leading the way into turn 1 at the start of the 20-lap Fireball feature. Jennie Barber followed with Howie Marcx, AJ Dancer and Shane Stonebraker. Wernette would spin from the lead giving the top spot to Barber. Barber and Dancer took off back to green while Danny Dear got by Scott Walker for fifth.

Stonebraker's good run ended when he went up in smoke, spun in some fluid and barrel-rolled into the infield after hitting either an infield tire or the drain, to bring out a red. He would get out alright. Barber began to put a little distance on Dancer coming to halfway with Marcx and Wernette, working his way back up, getting by Dear for fifth.

In the final half, Barber began to drift high off the corner with Dancer closing the gap. Dancer got a good look on lap 13 and got along side Barber for the lead on lap 14. The two made contact in turn 3 with both spinning for a yellow. Barber was unable to continue, Dancer went to the tail and Marcx to the point.

Marcx got away from Wernette back under green, with Dancer quickly making up spots from the back. As the white flag waved Dancer was able to take second from Wernette. While Marcx(Somerset) in the RST, Double K Landscaping, Rockin B Villa Ranch, Supreme Foundations, Somerset Animal Clinic, JGR, Constantinos Pizza, Nogalitos Gear, Donna Kay & Sonny Kinnaman, Paradise Paint, Howies Lawn Service, Sheppards Machine Shop powered 20 year old home built Camaro was taking the checkers, his second of the year.

“I didn't have anything for the two out front,” stated Marcx. “Sometimes it's about being in the right place, right time. It's not always about being first. I watching them thinking I hope they don't take each other out If they do, hopefully I'll be there. I don't like to win it that way, but a win is a win.”

“On that restart I knew AJ(Wernette) was behind me. I just wanted to get down around the tires. I was not getting off the tires, if they want to go around, they'll have to run the top. I just hung around the tires and prevailed.”

“It was a lot of work after that last race. We took off doors, fenders, hood, rebuilt the front bumper. I had to put a center link in it. Got the bumper a little tonight. I'll take it home, fix it and be back in two weeks. I talked to Matt(Hodges) some after he said he was done. I get it, but this is racing, you get torn up, you fix it and come back. I'm sorry to see him get out.”

Winners Circle Transmission Fireballs
13 Howie Marcx, 49 AJ Dancer, 37 AJ Wernette, 64 Danny Dear, 05 Evahdent Ivy, 17 Scott Walker, h2s Shane Stonebraker, 09 Clint Montanio, 28 Levi Hernandez---dns

Fireball heat
Heat 1; 19 Jennie Barber, 13 Howie Marcx, 49 AJ Dancer, 37 AJ Wernette, h2s Shane Stonebraker 64 Danny Dear, 17 Scott Walker, 05 Evahdent Ivy, 28 Levi Hernandez, 09 Clint Montanio

Tait on Top
The Sport Compact feature saw Rod Tait get away early as the 15-lapper took the green flag. Josh Jones, James Baum, Ryker Hernandez and Eric Wilson sorted out behind him. Tait and Jones then put some separation on Baum, Hernandez and Wilson. Hernandez was able to work past Baum for third with Wilson following to fourth.

Jones kept the pressure on Tait for the lead coming to halfway with Hernandez, Wilson and Baum in the top five. Tait was able to put a little distance on Jones in traffic, but once clear Jones reeled him back in bringing Hernandez and Wilson along. With two to go the top four were running nose to tail. Tait(San Antonio) was able to hold them at bay for the win in his Big Moe Automotive, Turtle Team Racing, Duchess Decals, Kinnaman Racing, Pontiac Sunfire.

“It's still running,” said Tait about his car that has been upside down this year. “I've got it back in shape now. I've cut it up, added a few pieces and have a few adjustments to get it back in tune. It's pretty close right now. I didn't change much for the track tonight. Just some toe-in. It was pretty much the same as last race.”

“I wondered how close they were quite a few times. I could hear them. You don't know who it is, but you know somebody's coming. You just have to stay on your toes.”

“I know Josh(Jones) likes to run the inside line and I could hear him back there. So I know where to stay. I knew Ryker(Hernandez) was back there somewhere too, and he likes the outside line. I tried to run the middle and watch inside and out.”

Johnson Supply Sport Compacts
70 Rod Tait, 11j Josh Jones, 22 Ryker Hernandez, 18 Eric Wilson, 007 James Baum, 76y Donald Lewis, 5 Chris Tippery, 38 Sonny Kinnaman---dns

Sport Compact heat
Heat 1;11j Josh Jones, 007 James Baum, 70 Rod Tait, 18 Eric Wilson, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 5 Chris Tippery, 22 Ryker Hernandez, 76y Donald Lewis

Budnik Bests Battle of Dillon/Dylans
The start of the DCRST feature saw Dillon Spreen, Dylan Budnik and Thomas Mach three wide going into to turn 1. D. Spreen sorted out with the lead trailed by Budnik, Dillon Coyne, Brandon Spreen and T. Mach. Budnik began pressuring D. Spreen early until Duane Burford and Mason Mach spun in turn 3.

Budnik took a peek inside on the restart, then got a good look on lap 5 and got the run off turn 4, but a Jerry Burford spin negated the pass. Once back to green, Budnik again got a good run down the back stretch and got the top spot on lap 6. Coming to halfway it was Budnik, D. Spreen, Coyne, J. B. Spreen and T. Mach in the top five.

B. Spreen was able to take third from Coyne as the final half of the 20-lapper clicked off. Up front it was Budnik(Boerne) holding off D. Spreen and eventually getting a little breathing room going on to the checkers in the Sky Haulers, Epperson Paint & Body, Dall Co., Flying V Motorsports, B&B Chassis, dsm, Suzuki GSXR 1000.

Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas
25 Dylan Budnik, 88 Dillon Spreen, 81 Brandon Spreen, 12 Dillon Coyne, 44m Thomas Mach, 4m Mason Mach, 14r Duane Burford, 81d Jerry Burford, 31 David Miller, 7 Ron Theel, 18 Brian Batchelor, 93 Adam Stehle, 2 Jerry Book, 30 Billy Groff, 08 Danielle Long, 24 Colby Urbanovsky

DCRST heats
Heat 1; 12 Dillon Coyne, 88 Brandon Spreen, 81d Jerry Burford, 31 David Miller, 2t Jerry Book, 24t Colby Urbanovsky---dns

Heat 2; 81t Dillon Spreen, 4m Mason Mach, 7 Ron Theel, 93 Adam Stehle, 18Brian Batchelor

Heat 3; 25 Dylan Budnik, 44m Thomas Mach, 14r Duane Burford, 08 Danielle Long, 30 Billy Groff

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