9/19/2010
ASCS
Johnson Wins ASCS Gulf South Season Finale at HRP; Kulhanek Claims Championship
Lonnie Wheatley, BAYTOWN, Texas (September 18, 2010) – Jason Johnson notched his 16th overall American Sprint Car Series feature victory of the year by taking the $3,000 winner’s share in Saturday night’s season-ending 25-lap ASCS Gulf South main event at Houston Raceway Park.
Johnson took the lead away from Brandon Berryman on the sixth round en route to his eighth ASCS Gulf South score of the year aboard the JJR Don Ott-powered Haynes / Pope Transportation No. 41 Maxim.
While Johnson enjoyed victory lane, Ray Allen Kulhanek claimed his second ASCS Gulf South championship with a fifth-place finish aboard David Miller’s Smiley’s Racing Products No. 21T J&J. Kulhanek’s first series crown came in 2005.
With Johnson gridding the feature field inside the second row, it was pole starter Berryman pacing the opening handful of circuits before Johnson took the lead away from the two-time series champion on the sixth round.
Johnson raced on to the checkered flag in front of Kolt Walker, who took the runner-up position away from Berryman in the final circuits. Michael Dupuy climbed from ninth to third, with Berryman and 12th-starter Kulhanek rounding out the top five.
Scottie McDonald was sixth in front of Logan Bledsoe, Wes Miller, Michael McNeil, with Chris Sweeney earning Hard Charger honors by racing from 19th to tenth.
Kent Lewis, Sr., Berryman, McNeil and Gary Watson topped heat race action for the 31-car field, with Sweeney winning the “B” Main.
ASCS Gulf South Results from Houston Raceway Park:
First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 22L-Kent Lewis, Sr., 2. 41-Jason Johnson, 3. 3x-Michael Dupuy, 4. 6-J.J. Simmons, 5. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 6. 67-Rodney Henderson, 7. 19-Klint Angelette, 8. 24j-Brandie Jass. DNS: 40-Junior Jenkins.
Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 31-Brandon Berryman, 2. 88-Scottie McDonald, 3. 51w-Wes Miller, 4. 52-Roger Oakes, 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 6. 36-John Pate. DNS: 13-Strike Hill, 96-Rod Craddock.
Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. 7-Michael McNeil, 2. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 3. 14-Michael Lang, 4. 71-Channin Tankersley, 5. 5c-Chris Coker, 6. 96-Rod Craddock, 7. 35-Greg Rilat, 8. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr.
Fourth Heat (8 Laps): 1. 3-Gary Watson, 2. 45k-Kolt Walker, 3. 15T-Travis Elliott, 4. 30-Brandon Corn, 5. 93-Chris Sweeney, 6. 85-Tommy Bryant, 7. 69-Larry Howery, 8. 51s-Beau Smith.
“B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 93-Chris Sweeney, 2. 8-Bruce Crockett, 3. 85-Tommy Bryant, 4. 67-Rodney Henderson, 5. 36-John Pate, 6. 19-Klint Angelette, 7. 51s-Beau Smith, 8. 13-Strike Hill, 9. 35-Greg Rilat, 10. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 11. 40-Junior Jenkins, 12. 24j-Brandie Jass, 13. 69-Larry Howery. DNS: 5c-Chris Coker, 96-Rod Craddock.
"A" Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Jason Johnson, 2. 45k-Kolt Walker, 3. 3x-Michael Dupuy, 4. 31-Brandon Berryman, 5. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 6. 88-Scottie McDonald, 7. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 8. 51w-Wes Miller, 9. 7-Michael McNeil, 10. 93-Chris Sweeney, 11. 30-Brandon Corn, 12. 85-Tommy Bryant, 13. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14. 15T-Travis Elliott, 15. 19-Klint Angelette, 16. 3-Gary Watson, 17. 8-Bruce Crockett, 18. 52-Roger Oakes, 19. 36-John Pate, 20. 71-Channin Tankersley, 21. 14-Michael Lang, 22. 67-Rodney Henderson, 23. 22L-Kent Lewis, Sr., 24. 6-J.J. Simmons.
ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Final Top Ten): 1. Ray Allen Kulhanek 2,290, 2. Aaron Reutzel 2,208, 3. Tommy Bryant 2,189, 4. Brandon Berryman 2,116, 5. Travis Elliott 2,013, 6. Chris Sweeney 1,943, 7. Wes Miller 1,886, 8. Scottie McDonald 1,801, 9. Logan Bledsoe 1,760, 10. Beau Smith 1,749.
Submitted By: Lonnie Wheatley
