8/18/2015
ASCS
Kevin Ramey Leads Close Points Race Going Into ASCS Gulf South Double Header
(Image Credit: Ron Skinner)
TULSA, Okla. (August 18, 2015) Points battles can change tempo in the blink of an eye. One bad lap can cost a driver dearly at the end of the season, and that is evident in the 2015 chase for the Championship with the Southern Trailer Works ASCS Gulf South Region presented by Griffith Truck and Equipment.
Kevin Ramey is no stranger to the pressures of winning, and contending for a championship. Back-to-back with the ASCS Sooner Region in 2003 and 2004, plus the ASCS Lone Star Region in 2009, the Ft. Worth, Texas driver stands on the edge of his first Gulf South Championship with only four nights left in the 2015 Gulf South lineup.
With a 63 point advantage prior to events at the Shady Oaks Speedway on July 24 and 25, a spin on the opening night that resulted in a 21st place DNF finish is what put Ramey behind the eight ball, so to speak, as Kulhanek went on to win with Tankersley crossing second.
“We just struggled a little bit, but we did something on Saturday there at Goliad that worked. Bobby Craft has been helping me this year and he corrected the problem then we ran at the Bowl after that and it was really nice so I’m kind of excited for the rest of the season,” said Ramey who rebounded the following night to a fourth place run. “The car is fast if I can just keep my mistakes to a minimum and make the right decisions.”
Going into this weekend’s events with the Southern Trailer Works ASCS Gulf South Region presented by Griffith Truck and Equipment at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas on Friday, August 21 and the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas on Saturday, August 22, Kevin holds a slim two point advantage over defending regional champion, Channin Tankersley, and 18 over Ray Allen Kulhanek, who has topped the Gulf South Region five times.
“I feel good going into this weekend. We’ve been competitive week in and week out, just had a couple little hiccups that, to be honest, were really just me not racing as much as I should have been the last couple years.”
Ranking the Heart O’ Texas Speedway among his top five favorite tracks to compete at, Cotton Bowl Speedway is foreign territory to Kevin and the Jambo’s BBQ Pits / Print Place No. 1a.
“I don’t know anything about the track in Paige. We went there last year, but got rained out so I don’t know what to expect there, but it is what it is.”
Looking to hold off Channin Tankersley, the driver of the G3 Boats No. 14 comes into the weekend with a single win that came at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway on June 26. Ray Allen Kulhanek also has the advantage of a win at the Waco oval on May 22. In both instances, Ramey finished runner-up.
New to the Gulf South lineup in 2014, the Cotton Bowl Speedway saw one of two scheduled nights last season contested on May 23, 2014 with Johnny Herrera picking up the win.
Becoming the seventh different winner of the season in the Shady Oaks Classic, Michael McNeil is currently fourth in tour standings with Tommy Bryant completing the top-five.
As it’s gone all season, a $1,000 bonus, thanks to Challenge Drilling, Griffith Truck and Equipment, and Cooper Motorsports, is up for grabs to any driver who can sweep the weekend. So far, Blake Hahn has been the only driver to collect the bonus.
Friday, August 21 at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas will see gates opening at 6:00 P.M. with Races underway at 8:00 P.M. (CT) and will include IMCA Modifieds, Sport Mods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks, and Jr. Minis. For more information on the Heart O’ Texas, log onto http://www.heartotexspeedway.com or call (254) 829-2294.
Saturday, August 22 at the Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas opens at 6:00 P.M. with action underway at 7:00 P.M. (CT). Support classes will include IMCA Modifieds, I-Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and Street Stocks. More information on the Cotton Bowl Speedway is available online at http://www.cottonbowlspeedway.com.
For continued updates on the ASCS Gulf South Region, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
Season So Far:
Winners: Scottie McDonald 2; Blake Hahn 2; Ray Allen Kulhanek 2, John Carney II, Channin Tankersley, Josh Baughman, Michael McNeil,
Series Standings (Top 10):
Pos-Driver-Points
1-Kevin Ramey-1239
2-Channin Tankersley-1237
3-Ray Allen Kulhanek-1221
4-Michael McNeil-1195
5-Tommy Bryant-1149
6-Jacob Lucas-1099
7-Zane Lawrence-1069
8-Larry Howery-998
9-John Pate-968
10-Caleb Martin-938
Submitted By: Bryan Hulbert