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An all GREEN RIVERside for Jeremiah

-----------Fresh Off the Wires-------------

“Pulled off the NonWing win tonight! I'm so thankful for the people placed in my life and who was constantly supported me. I'm blessed beyond words at the moment, tonight was for you Jeremiah Green.”
---Mansfield, Texan Christian Kinnison following his first Non Wing victory at I44 Riverside Speedway

“Oh my gosh I am without words and if you know me that does not happen often haha. The love and support for Jeramiah and Team Green. Was amazing tonight as I watched Jeramiah win his first race hehe and looked in the stands at The sea of green brought tears to my eyes I say this all the time but I really don't think y'all will ever know how much this means to Jeramiah he looks up to y'all so much and this night will never be forgotten. Lots of pictures to come tomorrow. jeramiah is deciding with part of the house is getting a Mini sprint makeover haha. Can't wait to get it all hung up.”
---Jeremiah’s mom, Tracy Thompson Green

The I44 Riverside Speedway and all the drivers and family made this a night I don't think Jeramiah will forget ever. He is on cloud nine. The hallway to his room will be changed from family photos (moved of course) to all the drivers photos. Thank you again for making my son feel so special. Team Green Creations drivers already have a place in his room :)
--- Jeremiah’s dad, Keith Green

“Tonight was a very special night at I44 Riverside Speedway..a night that we turned the speedway green for a special little boy with a unfortunate battle with cancer. That little boys name is Jeremiah Green and tonight I stand tall as the proudest daddy of all time as Dylan volunteered his own race car to be driven by the young man and Jeremiah was able to win his very first race in a Jr Sprint. Not only did he pull off a win but he also left a bit of his luck in the car for Dylan who jumped out to am early lead before Team Green's own Chris Wells ran him down and boy did you miss a show if your rear didn't find a seat tonight as Dylan and Chris battled almost side by side till the end. We hope that tonight doesn't end for the new young talent Jeremiah Green.”
--- 2D Racing / Donnie Pendergrass

“I just want to say how wonderful I think it is that you guys support the Team Green and Jeremiah...especially tonight. Seeing how you guys involved him in everything that was happening sure put a smile on my face and let's me know that there are still good people out in this world. So I just want to say thank you for making him feel at home and part of the racing family. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!”
--- Heather Holdge, 1st grade teacher Fort Cobb-Broxton Public School

The finest weather of the entire year greeted nearly 500 race fans and 80 race teams in a most special celebration of a courageous and endearing young man’s passion for life, community, and racing.

Hailing from Bridgecreek, Oklahoma, Jeremiah Green was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer prior to his first birthday. Jeremiah is now 9 and fought back his illness with the heart of lion, battling through nearly 90 surgeries and several rounds of chemotherapy.

Jeremiah was introduced to racing by community and racing standouts Tyler Alexander and Chris Wells. Thus Team Green was created. Team Green brought Jeremiah to his first race at I44 Riverside’s last show (5-18) before the EF5 tornado leveled the speedway on May 20th.

An overjoyed community still battling to rebuild was accompanied at the grand reopening by an extremely large fan club decked out in green, wildly cheering on their Team Green racers (now joined by Carnegie gassers Logan and Sierra Davis), and drawing wide interest on both sides of the fence.

At the heart of Team Green is Jeremiah and not just his battle against cancer, not just the brave manner he battles it, but the endearing and passionate way he lives. This extraordinary young man has fully embraced our racing community in his heart - and on this fall night, the entire I44 Riverside family welcomed Jeremiah, his family, and Team Green into the deepest arteries of our own. On this night we celebrated our hero, Jeremiah Green.

It is not easy to translate into words how special this night truly was. With hundreds decked out in Green on both sides of the fence, several race cars honored our young hero as well. Many painted bars on their cars green, several mounted green flags atop their roll cages, more still inscribed Team Green styled logos or insciptions on their top wings, and even one came out with an old school square tail tank specially painted in green. These were just a few of the special things that many racers did.

Many brought gear for Jeremiah to decorate his room with. Taking part in the ceremony made it difficult to keep track of all the neat stuff that so many great people have Jeremiah. But that was intermission - this night got so special so quickly, many eyes welled up across the grounds.

Elgin, Oklahoma racer Dylan Pendergrass invited Jeremiah to take a drive in his #22 Junior Sprint. Junior Sprint dads Bryan Wells and Donnie Pendergrass worked non stop to make the car just right for Jeremiah’s first time on the track. To the roar of applause, out came Jeremiah for hot laps.

But Jeremiah’s night of racing didn’t end there. Jeremiah drew pole position for the front row for the first of three Junior Sprint heat races. I’d estimate 20% of those in attendance on both sides of the fence knew, but the vast majority were stunned in the most awesome way when Jeremiah came out in the 2D racing no. 22 for the first heat race.

What followed was one of the most incredible displays of sportsmanship and community support that moved many to tears. While Jeremiah cautiously adjusted his line, even overcoming a slip down into the muck in the infield, he pushed off and led the next two laps to win the race in his first time in the car.

With most the patrons sporting Green in his honor and winning his first race in his first try, Jeremiah was already smiling ear to ear and the sun wasn’t even down yet.

Following the conclusion of heat race action, each of last weeks’ winners brought their rides out to front straightaway and many more racers came out as well as many gathered along the front straightaway fence. Snapping pics with stock600 extraordinaire Sterling Hoff, sporting Jeremiah and Team Green on the top wing, as well as Team Green racers that won last week (Logan Davis 3 in a row in Restricted, Christopher Wells fifth in a row in Junior Sprints) - many answered the call to turn convert Jeremiah’s room into a shrine of gear of his local racing heroes.

Taking part in the ceremony made it difficult to document each item, but for any I leave out - just check Team Green Creations out on Facebook to see the extra special stuff racers brought out to Jeremiah. Mansfield, Texan Christian Kinnison brought out a nose wing, Lawton’s Brandon Boggs and El Reno’s Kyle Keeler each brought out side wing panels, as did 007 Cody Carter - immediately lighting up Jeremiah’s eyes. The outpour continued as all racers for two consecutive weeks signed a shirt for Jeremiah, with even Owasso, Oklahoma’s Tina and Ty Hulsey sending a couple rockin’ shirts and other items down the Turnpike. Ty Hulsey in a three time champion at Port City Raceway with back to back Non Wing titles as well. Incredible gesture from the Hulsey family.

Courtney Boggs repped Sooner One Racing with gifts to Jeremiah as did Ryan “Hoss” Merz of I Race Tv. Boat Speed Racing gave Jeremiah $200 while Oklahoma No Fender Network’s Wes Briscoe brought for Jeremiah a green diecast of Steve Kinser’s sprint car that he got several years back at his first trip to the Sprint Car Capitol of the World, Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. There was much more as well, but the festivities rolled right on as I invited Jeremiah to watch the next race, the first of the five A Features (and the best - yes the Non Wing A Feature) from the infield. Jeremiah even hopped shotgun on the yamaha pace car before taking in the best race of the night from the infield. It was the first time either of us watched a race from the infield. It was dazzling. We both got dizzy lol.

Chatting non stop about the wrecks and photo finish from the Non Wing race (nope no recap yet lol), Jeremiah joined flagman Cody Claxton in the flag stand to call the 20 lap Junior Sprint A feature. Jeremiah dropped both the first green and the checks - his favorites ran 1-2.

As both quotes from Jeremiah’s awesome parents Keith and Tracy share - it was an incredible night. The meaning is limitless to all who took part, for each fans, racers, staff, and all patrons on hand. On behalf our promoters Mark and Gloria - we are so happy to have hosted this event. We can’t wait to do it again and some new, neat stuff.

But to have this event and make this remarkable young man so happy tonight is the highest honor any of us have had at the speedway. The war we waged to restore the speedway wasn’t that long ago at all, and in each race we are reminded why we did it - but this night redefines what that means many times over. The entire community embraced Jeremiah, his family, and all of Team Green tonight - and that is a very special feeling. That we are all Team Green, our entire community, and that we can spread this message to all of our friends, family, and community. We hope this is just the first event at the speedway, we hope that many communities hear Jeremiah’s story, his incredible will to live and his unwavering spirit that prevails each day. We hope that all take the time out of their busy lives to listen, to shake his hand and have a great talk with him. When I say that he is one of the most special young men I have ever met, you will know exactly why.

This is the first time we have hosted an event of this magnitude in meaning, and we have never been so proud to be a part of this community. We are blessed to have such wonderful souls as Jeremiah, Tracy, and Keith Green in our racing family. Blessed to have Team Green and blessed to have all of you that came on this night and stridently supported what matters most and held a young man that always looks up to all of you - up as your hero.

There are few families like a racing family and what this racing family did tonight was special in ways that go way beyond words. Check out all the great race gear the Green family was able to put on their walls!

Words flow like honey in recap style, and we have five of them!

NON WING

Lawtonian (does that really work?) Brandon Boggs started pole position of the 25 lap Non Wing main event with David Stewart alongside. Beating back motor woes that have plagued the OU Engineering scholar for the past few months, Boggs got off to a fast start.

Boggs led early while Dean Drake started passing out rock star sliders like a candy man, subduing Kyle Keeler and moving up to challenge Boggs six laps in, but not before a huge pileup in turn two led to early exits for five teams, including Windthorst, Texas’ Sterling Hoff - a massive reversal of fortune for the impressive young racer leading the Non Wing title race.

Hoff’s early exit created an opening for Bethany’s Greg Moore, himself a wreck victim just a couple weeks back, to retake the 2013 Non Wing point lead.

Back underway, Drake battled by Boggs to lead the 7th round with Mansfield, Texan Christian Kinnison matching the move at the halfway point. Drake was on like a rocket, but Kinnison is making strides this season and had eyes on his first win at I44 Riverside.

Kinnison aimed low of Drake exiting turn two, contact ensued that bounced Drake up to the wall and to a stop. Visibly upset by the incident, Drake rejoined the tail of the field and eventually would work his way back up to 12th before retiring.

Kinnison was in control, but El Reno’s Kyle Keeler was on the move and began knocking persistently on the leader’s door with five rounds remaining.

A classic whirlwind of Riverside Non Wing action, Keeler haunted the leader until making his move on the final lap. Keeler roared off the bottom and pulled alongside Kinnison at the line for a photo finish.

As Jeremiah pointed out, Kinnison got him by a wheel. For sponsor info, just stay tuned to anything electronic. Kinnison rarely disappoints. After scoring his first stock600 win at I44 Riverside - no shortage of color from the very colorful Mansfield, Texas pilot rising in the ranks. News just in, both Christian and his sister Chloe donated their winnings to Jeremiah.

Keeler settled for the runner up spot, and probably thought he nipped at the line. Great effort by the El Reno racer coming up from 14th to vie for the lead. Newcastle’s Derrick McBride rounded out the podium while Bethany’s Greg Moore went full tilt - bicycling his way from 13th to fourth and reclaiming the Non Wing point lead with just 1 race left. No word yet on how much - I did that last week and it didn’t go so well. I will say Hoff got 60 points for his 19th place finish - Moore received 145 for his 4th place run - go to www.i44riversidespeedway.com and do that math.

Anadarko’s Ryan Padgett went on a massive Hard Charger - 25th to complete the top five finishing order. That’s epic.

Brandon Bogss, Cody Carter, and Dean Drake scored heat race wins over the 25 car field.

“Non Wing” A Feature (25 laps): 1. 82c Christian Kinnison (12); 2. 27k Kyle Keeler (14); 3. 98 Derrick McBride (9); 4. 7g Greg Moore (13); 5. 777 Ryan Padgett (25); 6. 11J Garrett Jennings (10); 7. 28v Junior Vickman (11); 8. 43w Cory Wiegart (24); 9. 32k Chris Kelly (19); 10. 10 Matt Pagel (23); 11. D22 Blaine Denny (22); 12. 77D Dean Drake (8); 13. 2B Brandon Boggs (1); 14. 11x Tyler Alexander (4); 15. 007 Cody Carter (7); 16. 58 Philip Fessler (3); 17. 50 Shelby Burk (6); 18. 8 Josh Marcham (16); 19. 39 Sterling Hoff (15); 20. 82 Steven Shebester (17); 21. 2 Jimmy Smith (5); 22. 13 Lamont Baker (18); 23. 71 Roy Maxwell (20); 24. 27d Jared Dunkin (21); 25. 27s David Stewart (2)
Lap Leaders: Boggs 1-6, Drake 7-14, Kinnison 15-25
Hard Charger: Ryan Padgett +20

JUNIOR SPRINTS

Anadarko’s Macy Roulain paced pole positon of the 20 lap Junior Sprint main event with Jessie Kelley alongside and Jeremiah Green in firm control of the flagstand. Ryder Laplante and Kelley both got in a scrum that brought out the red flag, ending Kelley’s night early.

Dylan Pendergrass shot into the early lead, but Bridgecreek’s Chris Wells was quickly up to 2nd in his bid for a 6th, yes - sixth - consecutive Junior Sprint win. Wells entered the night trailing Choctaw’s Nathan Rainey by just points with only next week remaining.

Pendergrass does circles in enhanced form at Riverside and led the opening four, but Wells is a hard man to stop these days as he battled past on the fifth round.

Pendergrass lost no distance on Wells and stayed in position to counter attack should the leader falter, but Wells never did - maintaining winning form in lapped traffic and earning his sixth straight win aboard the HasWells Construction Team Green no. 72. Jeremiah dropped the checkered flag.

Pendergrass earned the runner up finish after Jeremiah warmed up the 2D racing no. 22 to the tune of a heat race win. Tulsa’s Kaleb Hughes earned the Hard Charger effort from 13th to third, while Grady Mercer submitted a quality bid from 12th to finish fourth.

Choctaw’s Nathan Rainey worked up from 9th to claim the 5 spot. Rainey now holds a 30 point advantage as he and Wells vie for the Junior Sprint title in next week’s point finale, the Inaugural Jimmy King Classic.

Jeremiah Green, Kaleb Hughes, and Ryder Laplante earned heat race wins over the 16 car field

“Junior Sprint” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 72 Christopher Wells (8); 2. 22 Dylan Pendergrass (7); 3. 22H Kaleb Hughes (13); 4. 42 Grady Mercer (12); 5. 99 Nathan Rainey (9); 6. 12E Emme Johnson (11); 7. 72c Kayden Cole (3); 8. 77 Kale Drake (10); 9. 007 Jacob Long (6); 10. 16 Brant Woods (5); 11. 17 Baron Silva (14); 12. 88R Ryder Laplante (4); 13. 125 Macy Roulain (1); 14. 12s Jessie Kelley (2); DNS: 05c Cody Whitehead
Lap Leaders: Pendergrass 1-4, Wells 5-20
Hard Charger: Kaleb Hughes +10

RESTRICTED

Pauls Valley’s Seth Shebester paced pole positon of the 20 lap Restricted main event with Fort Worth’s Justin Rogers alongside.

Eager to turn around the luck from his last visit to Riverside that ended with the no. 7 on the hook, Rogers short from a barrell into the early lead with Tanner Conn and Logan Davis in pursuit.

Conn and Davis are locked into the closest points battle at Riverside - Davis entered the night with a 30 point lead, but it was Conn a spot up.

The top three went unchanged the rest of the way, but it was anything but normal as lapped traffic threatened several times.

Justin Rogers went wire to wire to score his first career win at I44 Riverside aboard the I am Second, Com. Air Service of Fort Worth Heat & Air sponsored no. 7 with special thanks to mom, dad, nana, papa, grandma, and grandpa. As well as special thanks to Rick Bailey and Rick Bailey Racing for all of his instruction and help. Wow great support!

To quote Justin “I’m glad I earned my first career win at I44 Riverside Speedway, it is a nice facility”.

Conn ousted Davis for that runner up spot, thus setting the stage for next week’s showdown at the point finale - the Inaugural Jimmy King Classic - where Conn trails by just 20 points in his bid for back to back Restricted titles.

Noah Key moved up three spots to finish fourth, besting Seth Shebester in a highly entertaining race long battle. Choctaw’s Nathan Rainey is preparing for assaults in Restricted racing, as he scored sixth including the best end of a late race battle with Kaylee Cole.

Conn and Rogers earned heat wins over the 9 car field.

“Restricted” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 7 Justin Rogers (2); 2. 78 Tanner Conn (5); 3. 14D Logan Davis (6); 4. 14 Noah Key (7); 5. 82s Seth Shebester (1); 6. 99 Nathan Rainey (8); 7. 72c Kaylee Cole (4); 8. 00R Ryan Anderson (3); 9. 82c Chloe Kinnison (9)
Lap Leaders: Rogers 1-20
Hard Charger: Conn, Davis, Key +3

TURF TIRE

OKC’s Junior Vickman paced pole position of the 20 lap turf tire main event with Scott Patraw alongside. Junior was off to the early lead. At times Patraw would threaten, only to fade back a few lengths and repeat. Jimmy Smith and Tony Penick quickly worked their way up to make it a 3 way battle for 2nd.

The pair raced past Patraw and were vying for first challenger status through the mid stages of the race. With five laps to go, Junior led the pair with Penick threatening low and smith challenging on the high side.

What should have been a three way race for the lead was halted as Smith was too hot up high and got into the rear of Junior Vickman, following through and spinning the leader. Vickman was forced to the tail while Smith was disqualified for rough driving.

Tony Penick was on the point with cousin Jeremy a spot back. Jeremy threatened in nice fashion, but Tony’s Green tail tank for Jeremiah was just wide enough as Tony earned his third win of the season.

If I were in person I would hesitate to point it out, but I believe this is runner up finish number 6 for Jeremy. Scott Patraw completed the podium run with Willie Vickman overcoming a tumble in the pace lap, of all things, and Junior Vickman made his way back to complete the top five finishing order.

Jimmy Smith and Jeremy Penick earned heat race wins over the 9 car field.

“Turf Tire” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 88 Tony Penick (5); 2. 28 Jeremy Penick (7); 3. 5m Scott Patraw (2); 4. 75 Willie Vickman (4); 5. 28x Junior Vickman (1); 6. 2c Casey Andrews (8); 7. 21 Josh Bigger (3); 8. 14v Zach Van Zant (9); DQ - 2 Jimmy Smith (rough driving)
Lap Leaders: Junior Vickman 1-16, Tony Penick 17-20
Hard Charger: Jeremy Penick +5

A CLASS

Surprise gripped those attentive to the A Class points battle as Sterling Hoff was unable to make the call. The collision in Non Wing proved too much and sidelined the Windthorst, Texas racer for the remainder of the night. While Hoff remains in contention in Non Wing, his status in A Class would largely depend on Blake Dacus’ run in the 20 lap A Class main event.

El Reno’s Kyle Keeler start pole position of the 20 lapper in an RPM Powersports 99 while David Millwee opted to tag the back, allowing the weekly fast Michael Hall into the outside front row starting spot.

Hall gained the early lead over Keeler as the 20 car field flew around the 1/5th mile oval at a frenzied pace. Keeler maintained challenge, but it was fellow El Reno sharpshooter Blake Dewberry blasting up from row four in ultra quick style.

Dewberry overtook Hall to lead the ninth round, just a few laps before contact between lead cars and lapped traffic stalled Hall’s run, forcing him to the tail.

Keeler began challenging on the restart as Steven Shebester was on the move into the third spot, up from 14th. Shebester worked his way by Keeler before Dean Drake’s motor went foul late, setting up a green-white-checker shootout for Dewberry and Shebester.

Steven took to the high side and charged with momentum a couple times off the top of two, but Dewberry clipped that momentum like a savvy veteran, moving on to earn his 2nd A Class score of the season aboard the Select Coatings, Gary Harwell, Darren Dotson, All American Pizza, Total Collision, and Nathan Benson Motorsports supported no. 29d.

Shebester accepted the runner up finish with Keeler closing out the podium.

Many eyes were on A Class point leader Blake Dacus and what distance he could put between himself and the unfortunate challenger Hoff. Dacus did not disappoint as the Fletcher native romped from 16th to fourth. Bryan Nebgen completed the top five finishing order.

Kyle Keeler, Blake Dewberry, and Derrick McBride earned heat race wins over the 21 car field.

“A Class” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 29D Blake Dewberry (8); 2. 82 Steven Shebester (14); 3. 99 Kyle Keeler (1); 4. 29 Blake Dacus (16); 5. 60 Bryan Nebgen (4); 6. 82c Christian Kinnison (12); 7. 09 Tyler Gordon (13); 8. 8 Josh Marcham (15); 9. 71 Roy Maxwell (19); 10. 898 Ryan Padgett (11); 11. 98 Derrick McBride (10); 12. 95 Michael Hall (2); 13. 11J Garrett Jennings (7); 14. 7D Sierra Davis (5); 15. 58 Philip Fessler (6); 16. 27 David Millwee (20); 17. 32k Chris Kelly (18); 18. 29w Mandi Graystone (19); 19. 77D Dean Drake (9); 20. 11 Michael Kearns (3); DNS: 39 Sterling Hoff
Lap Leaders: Michael Hall 1-8, Blake Dewberry 9-20
Hard Charger: Shebester, Dacus +12

-----------By The Numbers------------

Event Winners as of September 22nd:

A Class - Steven Shebester 2, Trey Marcham 2, Sterling Hoff 2, Blake Dewberry 2, Chris Andrews 1, Jason McDougal 1, Frank Flud 1, Blake Dacus 1, Jim Woods 1, Dean Drake 1
Non Wing - Steven Shebester 4, Sterling Hoff 2, Chris Cochran 1, Dalton Terrel 1, Trey Marcham 1, Josh Toho 1, Derrick McBride 1, Cody Carter 1, Jimmy Smith 1, Cord Dodson 1, Christian Kinnison 1
Restricted - Logan Davis 3, Tristan Oakes 3, Lyndon Harvey 2, Mason McGuire 2, Joey Schmidt 1, Tanner Conn 1, Nathan Weida 1, Kaylee Cole 1, Justin Rogers 1
Turf Tire - Bobby Chapa 4, Mike Daft 3, Tony Penick 3, Josh Bigger 2, Willie Vickman 2, Marcus Flaming 1,
Junior Sprints - Chris Wells 6, Nathan Rainey 4, Kale Drake 1, Blake Battles 1, Holley Hollan 1, Treyton Gann 1, Hank Davis 1,
Outlaw - Nate Flaming 1, Grady Chandler 1, Jake Rosario 1
Midgets - Cody Brewer 1, Danny Smith 1, Tyler Thomas 1, Andrew Felker 1

I44 Riverside Event Car Counts as well as official finishing times:
April 5th -119 - 1215am (12th Annual Ryan Craighead Memorial - Night 1 full show)
April 6th -112 - 1040pm (12th Annual Ryan Craighead Memorial - Finale)
April 13th -80 - 1015 pm
April 20th - 98 - 1230am
April 27th - 93 - 1035pm
May 4th - 144 - 1225am
May 11th - 92 - 1020pm
May 18th - 65 - 930pm
August 2nd - 167 -1230am (14th Annual Mini Sprint Nationals - Night 1)
August 3rd - 170 - 1155pm ( 14th Annual Mini Sprint Nationals - Features)
August 10th - 65 - 950pm
August 17th - 73 - 1020pm
August 24th - 65 - 955pm
September 7th - 96 - 1150pm
September 14th - 67 - 950pm
September 21st - 79 - 1030pm

I44 Riverside Speedway Completes the 2013 regular season with the Inaugural Jimmy King Classic this Saturday, September 28th.

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