By JM Hallas

Paige, TX.,- Cotton Bowl Speedway hosted a regular weekly program Saturday night on the 3/8 mile, semi-banked, clay oval just east of Austin. On the racing card were all four IMCA Classes(Modifieds, Southern Sportmods, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks) plus the Nesmith Late Models and Street Stocks and CBS Stocks.

It was a good night of racing especially in the IMCA Stock Car heat races. There were battles all over the track with racers going, at some point, five wide with little to no contact. They toned it down a bit in the feature limiting the racing to three wide battles.

IMCA Modified winner Greg Dinsmore letting his oldest son Logan pack the track. Photo by JM Hallas

Dinsmore Dynamic in Modified Main

Kerrville’s Greg Dinsmore chased down early lead Brian Walker, then used the middle groove to get for the lead near halfway. Dinsmore was then challenged by former IMCA National champ, PJ Egbert after a restart. Dinsmore eased away in the final laps for the win in the Sundowners Performance Truck & RV Repair, Texas Land Restorations, Wehrs Machine, Heartland Auto & Body, Race Safe Technology, Afco, Fast Shafts, Sanderson Motorsports, Ricketts Trucking, Wraps by Wells Design, crate powered, GRT Chassis.

As the 20-car, 20-lap IMCA Modified main fired into turn 1 it was Walker leading the way trailed by Keith White, Raymond McSpadden, David Goode sr. and Dinsmore. White quickly slowed with a flat and retired the car. Dinsmore was able to get by McSpadden for second leaving him three wide with Goode and Egbert.

After a spin on lap 6 ,Egbert made a run up top to third while Dinsmore looked for a way around Walker. Using the middle, Dinsmore got along side Walker on lap 7 and was able to secure the top spot on lap 8. This left Walker battling with Egbert for second. At halfway the top five showed Dinsmore, Egbert, Walker, Goode and Cody Tidwell with the yellow waving for a Ryan Childress spin.

As Dinsmore and Egbert got away Goode, Walker and Jason Batt were three wide for third. As they sorted out it left Brandon Hood and Tidwell wheel to wheel for fifth and Batt battling beside Mike McCarthy for seventh. With Goode taking third, Walker was now three wide with Tidwell and Hood for fourth.

McCarthy, Matt Banker and Jarrett Roberts tangled in turn 4 for a lap 14 caution. The top four got out clean on the single file restart with Walker and Tidwell side by side for fifth. Walker then slipped and fell back with McSpadden and Batt scrapping for sixth. Up front, Dinsmore was beginning to ease away from Egbert the final circuits going on to the checkers unchallenged.

“The car was spot on tonight” said Dinsmore. “There’s always great competition here at Cotton Bowl. The track is always racy and gets the show over in a timely manner. I knew I had to get to do something to get to the front early.”

“I had to make the pass on Brian(Walker) on the outside then get back down to the bottom. I didn’t want PJ(Egbert) to get to the front first, then its all but over. I know he’s going to race me clean when he’s behind, so I just have to hit my marks and not make any mistakes.”

“I want to say special thanks to Texas Land Restoration for sponsoring the Modified class and adding to the purse. Ben Natus has been a good friend for years and a former racer himself. It’s good to see companies getting involved in the sport.”

“I ran out of talent” joked second place finisher Egbert. “No, we’re just glad to have the car back out here after getting caught in a crash last week. Most people wouldn’t have taken the time but we’ve got a great group of guys at the shop that got it back together. We had to replace all the front suspension, frame horns, sheet metal and bumper. Greg(Dinsmore) is upstanding guy and races clean. I have to thank him for helping get the car back together too.”

Texas Land Restorations IMCA Modifieds

8g Greg Dinsmore, 707 PJ Egbert, 13g David Goode sr., 17 Cody Tidwell, 1b Brandon Hood, 19 Jason Batt, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 9w Brian Walker, 63 Hardy Henderson, 6 Jarrett Roberts, 4d4 Anthony Simcik, 202 Scott Stubbs, 20t Thomas Hall, 20 Mike McCarthy, 36b Matt Banker, 1j James Cochran II, 81 Ryan Childress, 555 Richard Shields, 1 Keith White, 77 Robert Liese jr., 29w Mark Warren—dns

Texas Land Restorations IMCA Modified heats

Heat 1; 1 Keith White, 17 Cody Tidwell, 707 PJ Egbert, 1b Brandon Hood, 1j James Cochran II, 29w Mark Warren, 4d4 Anthony Simcik

Heat 2; 9w Brian Walker, 13g David Goode sr., 63 Hardy Henderson, 36b Matt Banker, 20 Mike McCarthy, 202 Scott Stubbs

Heat 3; 48r Raymond McSpadden, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 19 Jason Batt, 77 Robert Leise jr., 6 Jarrett Roberts, 81 Ryan Childress

IMCA Southern Sportmod winner sliding it through turn 2 in hot laps. Photo by JM Hallas

Jennings Wires Sportmod Feature

JJ Jennings(Corpus Christi) in the CD Electric{see what I did there}, G&M Oilfield Services, Pristine Supplies, raceontexas.com, FDS, Swenson Racing Products, Hughes by 89 Motorsports Chassis went wire to wire in the 20-lap IMCA Southern Sportmod main. Once out front, Jennings put it on cruise control until challenged after a late caution by Earl Ingram and Robert Scrivner in the final laps.

As green waved on the 21-car field Jennings got away quickly with Gene Burnett, Dillon Tindell and Nathan Robbins three wide for second and Taylor Florio fifth. Ingram, using the top, began his run to the front getting to third by lap 5. Tom Grothues followed to fourth. Ingram continued motoring around the high side taking second from Burnett while Scrivner took fifth.

Scrivner then got around Burnett for third leaving him side by side with Grothues as they went three wide past a lapped car. At halfway it was Jennings, Ingram, Scrivner, Grothues and Burnett in the top five. The races only caution waved on lap 16 when Craig Oakes went around after contact with Robbins in turn 1-2.

On the restart Jennings had Scrivner looking low, while Ingram continued using the top side. Jennings held the point with Ingram getting runs up top. Don Painter had a late charge getting by Grothues and Burnett for fourth as the laps wound down. Ingram tried his best on the high side, but it was Jennings holding him off for the victory.

“Starting out front always helps,” commented Jennings. “I don’t care who you. We were up here a couple weeks ago and got the car torn up so my point average was horrible. We knew we’d start close to the front. It got a little interesting at the end, but it was fun.”

“I could see under that caution on the score board who was there behind me. I spoke to Earl(Ingram) after the race and he said that I was going to have to make a mistake for him to get ahead of me. He’s a good, clean driver that’s been doing this for years. I knew I didn’t have to worry about getting run over.”

“After I took the checkers I ran the high line just see what was there. It felt just as fast as the bottom, but the bottom is so much shorter than around the top. If the infield tires were out a little farther, it might have been a different race. I would have had to search for something because there wasn’t anything in the middle.”

“Starting up front half the time you’re just a sitting duck. I watched about half of the Modified race and everyone was on the bottom. Once I got in my rhythm around the bottom I felt fine. I just paced myself, tried not to overdrive it, spin out, hit a tire or anything. You always worry about someone finding a better groove that you’re not running.”

IMCA Southern Sportmods

26g JJ Jennings, 51 Earl Ingram, 153 Robert Scrivner, 10d Don Painter, 43g Gene Burnett, 11t Tom Grothues, 14t Talon Minten, c3 Chris Birmingham, 21t Taylor Florio, 70 George Egbert, ok Thomas Bennett, 86 Dillon Tindall, 99 Craig Oakes, 551 Gerald Henderson, 04 Nathan Robbins, 777 James Hanusch, 43 Jeremy Petty, 03b Matthew Bennett, 19p Patrick White, 115 Ryan Senney, 53 Edward Oakes

IMCA SSM Heats

Heat 1; 26g JJ Jennings, 153 Robert Scrivner, ok Thomas Bennett, 21t Taylor Florio, 14t Talon Minten, 03b Matthew Bennett, 19p Patrick White

Heat 2; 99 Craig Oakes, 10d Don Painter, 43g Gene Burnett, 0 Nathan Robins, c3 Chris Birmingham, 70 George Egbert, 551 Gerald Henderson

Heat 3; 51 Earl Ingram, 777 James Hanusch, 86 Dillon Tindell, 11t Tom Grothues, 43 Jeremy Petty, 53 Edward Oakes

‘Shake Down Run’ Gives PJ the Payday

What was just supposed to be a shake down run in the Kenny Merritt owned, Nate Mare Graphics, WCH Engines, Medieval Chassis turned into a win for PJ Egbert(Dallas) in the 20-lap IMCA stock Car feature. Egbert got past early leader Kelvin Harper then had to hold off Charles Cosper while dicing through traffic at the finish.

It took a couple tries but the 23-car IMCA Stock Car feature got under way with Harper getting the advantage over AJ Dancer, Peter Delevan, Daniel Shipler and Egbert. It didn’t take long until Egbert and Kirk Martin got by Shipler when Jared Rady went around for a yellow.

Back under green Egbert took second from Dancer, who slowed, with Martin, Delevan and Cosper now three wide for third. The next lap Egbert got under Harper taking the lead on lap 4, Martin followed with Harper and Cosper door to door for third. Trent Miller went around in turn 4 for a lap 5 caution.

Egbert got a good jump on green with Cosper getting second from Harper with Martin getting back by for third. In the pack, Delevan, Michael Lamb and Harper were three abreast for fourth as the lead trio began checking out. At halfway it was Egbert, Cosper, Martin, Delevan and Lamb. As the lead trio stretched out, Andy Roller and Tyler Muirhead joined Delevan and Lamb in the scramble for fourth.

As Egbert caught slower traffic Cosper was able to cut into Egbert’s lead. With five laps to go Cosper was on Egbert for the lead. Lap 18 was Cosper’s best chance by as Egbert got hung behind a lapper in turns 1-2. Cosper was unable to capitalize on the opportunity with Egbert then inching ahead for the victory.

“We put a lot of countless hours into getting this ready,” replied Egbert. “We just rolled it in the trailer about 3:45, its a two hour haul and we were just going to do a shake down. After we won the heat we figured we’d try in the feature and see how it worked. It paid off.”

“Sometimes in this sport it’s better to be lucky and in the right spot at the right time. I had in my mind that everyone would try to protect the bottom and I’d try to roll everybody on the top. That’s what I was doing until one of the cautions put me on the inside. So I just used that to my advantage to get here.”

“I have to thank Kenny Merritt, he owns the car, my wife and son and my dad helps a lot with the car.”

IMCA Stock Cars

707 PJ Egbert, 33c Charles Cosper, 69 Kirk Martin, 718 Michael Lamb, 22t Tyler Muirhead, 63 Andy Roller, 98 Peter Delevan, 112 Kelvin Harper, 74 Jeff Bauser, 38 Daniel Shipler, 44 Joe Spillman, 17d Dean Priem, 4k Ken Plonsky, 17 Nic Priem, 3 Robin Batt, 22 Patricia Lucas, 77 Bill Siegman, 43 Trent Miller, 110 Zach Riley, 47 Justin McCullough, 52 AJ Dancer, 14j Jay Simon II, 3x Jared Rady—BF

IMCA Stock Car heats

Heat 1; 110 Zach Riley, 112 Kelvin Harper, 4k Ken Plonsky, 718 Michael Lamb, 17 Nic Priem, 17d Dean Priem, 22 Patricia Lucas, 3x Jared Rady

Heat 2; 707 PJ Egbert, 38 Daniel Shipler, 98 Peter Delevan, 44 Joe Spillman, 63 Andy Roller, 3 Robin Batt, 43 Trent Miller, 77 Bill Siegman

Heat 3; 69 Kirk Martin, 52 AJ Dancer, 33c Charles Cosper, 47 Justin McCullough, 14j Jay Simon II, 74 Jeff Bauser, 22t Tyler Muirhead

Warren Wings It to Hobby Honors

Wesley Warren(Fairfield) picked up his third IMCA Hobby Stock feature win for the year in the 15-lap feature. Warren beat Alexis Shad back to the line to lead lap 1 and then was able to build up a good advantage over the field in the final half of the race to grab the victory.

A. Shad led the field into turn 1, but Warren was able to get the nose out front at the line to lead the first circuit. Sean Burnett, Larry Underwood and Matt Bice fell in line behind the lead duo. Burnett was able to take second from A. Shed on lap 1 leaving her side by side with Bice, with Michael Crisler and Douglas Wiggins door to door for fifth.

David Shed found the back stretch wall on lap 4, but was able to continue on. Bice grabbed second from A. Shed on the restart that was quickly back under yellow when A. Shad went around, got T-boned by Crisler who then tagged the wall, ending his night.

As Warren jumped out on green Bice and Burnett ran side by side for second until Bice secured the spot. Coming to halfway Warren had a half straightaway lead over Bice, Burnett, Wiggins and A. Shed. Warren, in the Don Warren ‘Cowboy Hypnotist’, Wicked Fast Transmissions, Cen-Tex Motorsports powered, Hammack Race Chassis, held that margin to the checkers.

“I knew I had to stay on my marks and do everything correct,” explained Warren. “I knew Matt Bice would be right there behind me. I slipped in one of the corner and knew he’d be on me, but I never saw him. So I just kept hitting my marks and drove a clean race.”

“This is my third feature win here this season. I’ve been racing for five years and it’s finally starting to pay off, so I’m real thrilled. I wish Andy(Roller) was still in our class. It would be nice to have him as competition.”

“It’s hard being out front all race. You don’t know for sure where the good line is. You can’t see where anyone else is running and who’s coming. It’s difficult to read sometimes.”

IMCA Hobby Stocks

75 Wesley Warren, 38 Matt Bice, 57 Sean Burnett, 84 Douglas Wiggins, 04 Alexis Shed, 09 David Shed, 555 Josh Kuhnau, 7 Michael Crisler, 8 Larry Underwood

IMCA Hobby Stock heat

Heat 1; 75 Wesley Warren, 04 Alexis Shed, 57 Sean Burnett, 09 David Shed, 8 Larry Underwood, 84 Douglas Wiggins, 38 Matt Bice, 7 Michael Crisler, 555 Josh Kuhnau

CBS stock winner ‘Stormin’ Steve Sims wheeling it through the corner. Photo by JM Hallas

Sims Swiftest of CBS Stocks

‘Stormin’ Steve Sims(Austin) got by Michael Rogers early in the 15-lap CBS Stock Car feature, then held off a hard charge by Danny Bennett the last five laps to take home the hardware in his Browning Auto Parts, Arbor Auto Works, Terrys Body Shop, Austin Mobile Marine, Bearden Automotive, MCG Graphics, Chevy Nova.

Rogers beat Jason Dismuke into turn 1 as the 13-car CBS Stock Car feature roared into turn 1. Sims, with a good run from mid-pack, followed past Dismuke with Danny Castle and Andrew Bennett in pursuit. Sims wasted little time getting to the front taking the lead on lap 2 while D. Bennett made his way to fifth. D. Bennett, A. Bennett and Castle were three wide for third with D. Bennett getting the spot.

This left A. Bennett, Dismuke and Castle slugging it out for fourth. Dan Kohlert brought out the races only caution going around in turn 1-2 on lap, rebunching the field. The top two quickly checked out on green while Bryan Mayeux made his way to fifth.

D. Bennet was now pressuring Sims for the lead with five to go. D. Bennett would drive in deeper than Sims, but Sims would get a better drive off the corners. The two continued this dive in, drive off battle to the checkers with Sims taking home the victory.

CBS Stocks

58 Steve Sims, r4j Danny Bennett, 10x Michael Rogers, 0* Bryan Mayeux, 00 Andrew Bennett, 48 Patrick Lyon, 2x Casey Crane, 56 Drake Pruitt, 12 Danny Castle, c76 Gary Hutchinson, 77d Jason Dismuke, 52 Dan Kohlert, 77 Jarod Leitchman

CBS Stock Heats

Heat 1; 58 Steve Sims, 10x Michael Rogers, 0* Bryan Mayeux, c76 Gary Hutchinson, 77d Jason Dismuke, 52 Dan Kohlert, 56 Drake Pruitt

Heat 2; 12 Danny Castle, 2x Casey Crane, 77 Jarod Lietchman, 00 Andrew Bennett, 48 Patrick Lyon, r4j Danny Bennett

Nesmith Late Model Winner Rusty Harmon digging off the corner. Photo by JM Hallas

In the new Nesmith Late Model class it was Rusty Harmon easily taking the win over Brad Smith in the feature. Harmon got clear of Smith, who sounded like he was having ignition issues, and led all 8 laps for the win.

Nesmith Late Models

37 Rusty Harmon, 88s Brad Smith

Nesmith Late Model heat

Heat 1; 37 Rusty Harmon, 88s Brad Smith

Nesmith Street Stock winner Kyle Carter rolling on to the track. Photo by JM Hallas

Carter King of Nesmith Street Stocks

It wasn’t a walk in the park, but Kyle Carter(Houston) got the job done in the Nesmith Street Stock feature. Carter grabbed the lead on green of the 15-lap feature, but got sent to the rear after being involved in a mid-race restart tangle. Undaunted, Carter worked his way back to the front getting by Jeff Schultea on the final lap for the win.

Carter led the field into turn 1 trailed by Heath Stewart, Schultea, Mark Gallagher and Adam Bartels. Trinity Richardson made his way up to battle with Bartels going side by side on lap 2. As Carter began to check out, Schultea was pressuring Stewart for second. At the midway point it was Carter, Stewart, Schultea, Gallagher and Richardson in the top five.

Gallagher looped in turn 2 battling with Richardson for fourth bringing out yellow on lap 10. On the restart, Stewart and Schultea bounced off each other coming to green, Stewart then got into Carter, who spun in turn 1. Carter and Stewart both went to the tail giving Schultea the lead.

On the restart Schultea, Richardson and Bryan Meredith were battling for the spot with Richardson getting out front briefly when Bruce Hinson spun and got tagged by Gallagher. Back to green with Schultea and Richardson door to door. Schultea got the spot back with Carter, Richardson and Meredith now three wide for second.

Carter finally secured the spot and quickly closed back in on Schultea for the lead. As the white flag waved Carter got the nose under Schultea and was able to win the race back to the checkers in his Battle Creek Relics, HP Graphics, Performance Racing Products, Thermon, Chevy Monte Carlo.

Nesmith Street Stocks

k99 Kyle Carter, 97 Jeff Schultea, 30 Bryan Meredith, 22 Trinity Richardson, 17 Tim Ellis, 3 Bruce Hinson, 2 Heath Stewart,44 Adam Bartels, 6m Mark Gallagher

Nesmith Street Stock heats

Heat 1; k99 Kyle Carter, 2 Heath Stewart, 97 Jeff Schultea, 6m Mark Gallagher, 17 Tim Ellis, 44 Adam Bartels, 3 Bruce Hinson, 22 Trinity Richardson, 30 Bryan Meredith