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Poker Run, Full Slate @ I-37 Speedway 9-9-23

Late Model winner Ryan Doyon
IMCA Modified winner Ryan Doyon
Limited Modified winner Allen Torres
Factory Stock winner Dakota Hurley
Fireball winner Lance Gaither
Sport Compact winner Rod Tait
Adult Predator Kart winner Noah VanBlarcum
Senior Go-Kart winner Beau Payton
Junior Go-Kart winner Ryder Welker
Youth Go-Kart winner "Fast" Eddie Lewis

By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX.,(Sept. 9Th, 2023) Maybe the heat will end by Christmas?

It was another blazing south Texas day as the ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt oval returned to action with all five weekly classes(IMCA Modifieds, Limited Modifieds, Factory Stocks, Fireballs, Sport Compacts), plus the Late Models.

The All on Design Factory Stocks would race the first of three 'Poker Run' events with some extra money up for grabs; best hand, low hand, etc. with pay outs awarded for the mini series and even more money out there for the top three in series points.

Points you say.

The Late Model points show Ryan Doyon with good margin(33) over Jamie Campbell who is in battle for second with Ray Doyon and Mark Taylor, with Robbie Minten 5th.

Second generation racer, Logan Dinsmore holds the IMCA Modified lead by 17 over Ryan Doyon, with Darrell Boyd third, former track champ Greg Dinsmore fourth and Robert Liese jr. fifth.

The Limited Modified have Ryker Hernandez out front by 21 over Tom Grothues, followed by Cody Beddoe, Nathan Titzman and Trent Beaver.

It's a close battle in Factory Stocks with only five points separating Kasey Krauss from Frank Okruhlik, with Michael Keylich, Zach Freeman and Allen Torres rounding out the top five.

Matthew Hodge heads the Fireball points standings by 7 over Bobby Jack with Joseph Montemayor, William Cavender and Lance Gaither in the top five.

Sport Compacts also have a close fight with Brandon McCall leading Rod Tait by 7 while Sam Walker, Josh Jones and Donald Lewis round out the top five.

Doyon Does it Again

A lucky 13-cars started the 20-lap Late Model feature with the two heat winners, Ryan Doyon and Kevin Sitton, on the front row. Ry. Doyon grabbed the early lead trailed by Sitton, Ray Doyon, Kody Hardage and Robby Minten. Carl Dyer brought the yellow when he had trouble.

Once back to green Ry. Doyon methodically began to rebuild the margin over Sitton while Hardage made his way past Ra. Doyon for third. Ry. Doyon(LaCoste) had little trouble with lapped traffic as he cruised to his fourth Late Model win in his 3-D Landscaping, Alamo Truck & Accessories, Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, Gunn Fleet Management Chevrolet, 4D Ranch, 89 Motorsports, Eagle crate powered, MB Custom Chassis.

Nogalitos Gear Late Models

5r Ryan Doyon, 1 Kevin Sitton, 12 Kody Hardage, 9 Ray Doyon III, 24r Robby Minten, 53x Matt Fox, 57 Jason Kelly, 53xx Chandler Fox, 5 Ryan McDonald, 77 Mark Taylor, 29 Jamie Campbell, 12d Carl Dyer, 23 Michael Keylich

Late Model heats

Heat 1; 5r Ryan Doyon, 9 Ray Doyon. 12 Kody Hardage, 53x Matt Fox, 77 Mark Taylor, 57 Jason Kelly, 12d Carl Dyer

Heat 2; 1 Kevin Sitton, 24r Robby Minten, 5 Ryan McDonald, 53xx Chandler Fox, 29 Michael Keylich, 29 Jamie Campbell

Doyon Doubles Up

Between the IMCA Super Nationals, the extreme heat and covid, only 6 IMCA Modifieds(non-points) were on hand for the 15-lap feature. You would think with a short car count it would be a quick 15-laps. Nope! It took three tries for the just the initial start that saw Rick Green and Chris Carroll battle for the top spot.

Green finally got the point with Carroll, Ryan Doyon, Robert Liese and David Gibson in line. Doyon would patiently work his way past Carroll for second and was tracking down Green through restarts for spins by Gibson. Doyon was able to snag the lead from Green and lead the final circuits for the win in the 3-D Landscaping, Alamo Truck & Accessories, Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, Gunn Fleet Management Chevrolet, 4D Ranch, 89 Motorsports, Klien crate powered, IRP Chassis.

Price Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds

5r Ryan Doyon, 15 Chris Carroll, 77 Robert Liese jr., 82 Rick Green, 366 David Gibson, 141 Brandon Sanderson

IMCA Modified heats

Heat 1; 82 Rick Green, 15 Chris Carroll, 5r Ryan Doyon, 77 Robert Liese jr., 366 David Gibson, 141 Rob Sanderson

Torres Tallies Limited Modified Main

No that that one. It was Allen Torres jumping into the car of shop mate Tom Grothues, who wasn't feeling well, wasting little time getting by Chris Swenson and defending track champ Sterling Tausch for the lead. Trent Beaver battled with Swenson for second giving Torres(San Antonio) the opportunity to pull away and score the victory by a full straightaway.

Swenson Race Products Limited Modifieds

11t Allen Torres, 14 Trent Beaver, 48 Chris Swenson, 95s Sterling Tausch

Limited Modified heat; 14 Trent Beaver, 48 Chris Swenson, 95s Sterling Tausch, 11t Tom Grothues

Hurley Hauls In Factory Stock Feature

The 20-lap Factory Stock race saw polesitter Dakota Hurley get the lead chased by Jarrett Payton, Allen Torres, Mike Lyon and Kasey Krauss. Torres got turned around on the back stretch scattering the pack for an early caution that sent him to the tail. On the restart, last race winner, Rusty Head moved up into the top five.

Restart lanes would be a factor on the bottom dominant track allowing Head and Trey Jones to pick up spots. Head tracked down Hurley late for the lead giving him tries high, then low while Hurley held the fast line.

Several late cautions set up, not one, but two, late restarts. The final caution involved numerous cars fighting spots with hard contact for Scott Jerkins and Kelsey Blevins. Both were checked out, but they, and several others were done for the night.

On the final one lap shootout, Head gave it the ol' college try coming off turn 4, but it was Hurley(Spring Branch) finding his way back to the winners circle after several years in his Schneider Solar Screens, All in Designs, Kenny Hurley Race Car.

“We had a good track,” replied Hurley. “It was one groove on the bottom by the time we raced so I knew if I hit my marks and never came off the bottom it would be hard to get around me. We finally hit something on the set up and had good drive off.”

“Those late race restarts were stressful but we were able to hang on. I would like to thank my wife and my parents for all they do, and Paul Reyes for all he did on the car today. Everything we have is home built, including the motor, so it’s nice when we can beat these professional built cars.”

All In Design Factory Stocks

40 Dakota Hurley, 55 Rusty Head, 18s Jarrett Payton, 41 Frank Okruhlik, 53k Kasey Krauss, 44k Michael Keylich, 92r Robert Keylich, 20 Mike Lyon, 44 Austin Bean, 11 Trey Jones, 57 Kelsey Blevins, 11x Brandon Welker, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 10 Scott Jerkins, 94 Allen Torres, 48v Louis Treybig

Factory Stock heats

Heat 1; 20 Mike Lyon, 40 Dakota Hurley, 53k Kasey Krauss, 11 Trey Jones, 11x Brandon Welker, 41 Frank Okruhlik, 92r Robert Keylich, 48v Louis Treybig

Heat 2; 94 Allen Torres, 55r Rusty Head, 19s Jarrett Payton, 44 Austin Bean, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 57 Kelsey Blevins, 10 Scott Jerkins, 44k Michael Keylich

Gaither Grabs Another

From outside pole, Lance Gaither grabbed the early lead from Howie Marcx with Bobby Jack, Matthew Hodge and Mark Pivarnik in tow. Jack and Hodge were able to around Marcx, but Gaither had checked out.

Nobody was able to chase the leader down while Kiehl VanBlarcum worked his way into the top five. At the checkers it was Gaither(San Antonio) taking home honors in a Ronnie Schoenfeldt owned, All in Designs, Difs by Dale, Dohogne Claim Services, Rangel Bail Bond, Supreme Foundation Repair, Spreen Race Engines, Geromiller Racecars Chassis.

Fireballs

98(5) Lance Gaither, 8 Bobby Jack, 58 Matthew Hodge, 13 Howie Marcx, 2k Kiehl VanBlarcum, 18m Joseph Montemayor,19j Justin Randol, 14 Mark Pivarnik, 15 William Cavender, 3 Clint Montanio, 0 DJ Schroat

Fireball heats

Heat 1; 13 Howie Marcx, 8 Bobby Jack, 14 Mark Pivarnik, 18m Joseph Montemayor, 15 William Cavender, 3 Clint Montanio

Heat; 98(5) Lance Gaither, 58 Matthew Hodge, 2k Kiehl VanBlarcum, 19j Justin Randall, 0 DJ Schroat

Tait on Top Again

Rod Tait wasted little getting the lead at the start of the 20-lap Sport Compact coming from row 2 to the lead ahead of Sam Walker, John Thomas, Ryker Hernandez and Brandon McCall, who charged from the back early. As Tait eased away, Hernandez, Kaden Moran, Josh Jones made their way into the top five.

As Tait continued to ease away, McCall's progress stalled out giving up spots to Moran and Jones. Walker and Donald Lewis had a good scrap going for sixth changing the spot every lap. Up front, no one had anything for Tait(San Antonio) in the Turtle Team Racing, Big Mo Automotive, Pontiac Sunfire, grabbing another win and closing the points gap on McCall.

Iron Horse RV Sport Compacts

70 Rod Tait, 02 Kaden Moran, 55r Ryker Hernandez, 11j Josh Jones, 51 Brandon McCall, 76yDonald Lewis, 3% Sam Walker, 9t John Thomas, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 43 Jennifer Kidd, 83 CJ Aguillon

Sport Compact heats

Heat 1; 51 Brandon McCall, 70 Rod Tait, 76y Donald Lewis, 3% Sam Walker, 43 Jennifer Kidd

Heat 2; 11j Josh Jones, 55r Ryker Hernandez, 02 Kaden Moran, 9t John Thomas, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 83 CJ Aguillon

Go-Karts
Adult Predator Karts; Noah VanBlarcum, Blaine Markgraf
Senior Division Go-Karts; Beau Payton, Lane Tuttle
Junior Division Go-Karts; Ryder Welker, Cheston Markgraf
Youth Division Go-Karts; “Fast” Eddie Lewis

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