15th annual Texas World Dirt Track Championships
FORT WORTH – It was another big dirt track weekend as the 4/10th mile, semi-banked, dirt oval held its 15th Annual Texas World Dirt Track Championships. This years event featured the ASCS Lucas Oil National Tour and combined Red River Region series’ along with the Limited Modified and Factory Stocks. All three classes will be running for a big payday, and perhaps most of all, the prestigeous Texas Motor Speedway trophy and cowboy hat.
This year Snohomish, Washington driver, Seth Bergman has a chance to make history becoming the first driver to score three wins, and in a row, no less. The ASCS Sprint racer has bagged the last two event wins adding his name to three other Sprint Car drivers to win twice(Danny Lasoski and Steve Kinser—WoO, and Jason Johnson—ASCS).
The ASCS Sprints have not one, but two, big events doubling Bergmans chances. Friday sees the ASCS Sprinters run a series of heats, qualifiers, b-mains before the feature.
The Limited Modifieds and Factory Stocks will qualified through heats and qualifiers setting the field the nights A-Qualifier that will send 8 drivers to Saturday nights big A-main events.
ASCS Sprint Car winner Sam Hefertepe Jr. Photo by JM Hallas
Hafertepe Hammers ASCS Field
Local Sprint Car ace, Sam Hafertepe jr.(Sunnyvale) had his Hwy 79 Collision Center, Lonestar Speedway, Wells Racing Engines powered, J&J Chassis dialed in and added his name to the list of two-time Sprint Car winners. Hafertepe jumped out front in the 20-lap A-main and ran away from the pack. The only thing to slow him was traffic. Johnny Herrera chased Hafertepe early, but got passed by Blake Hahn while dicing through slower cars. The closest Hahn got was under caution with four to go. Once back to green Hafertepe again motored away to pick up the victory unchallenged.
As the 23-car ASCS Sprint Car field took the green, Hafertepe was first off turn 2 to lead lap 1. Trailing him were Herrera, Danny Jennings, Hahn and Logan Forlar. Wayne Johnson and Josh Baughman joined Forlar in the fight for fifth. Brandon Hanks, who took a provisional, looped his ride in turn2 for a lap 3 caution.
On the restart, Seth Bergman and Channin Tankersley got past Aaron Reutzal for eighth. By lap 5 Hafertepe was pulling away from Herrera who had a gap back to Hahn. Hafertepe then hit traffic on lap 7 nearly tagging a slowing Hanks. Hahn was able to get by Herrera and was closing the gap on Hefertepe as they came to halfway.
In the pack, Forlar and Bergman were taking fifth and sixth from Jennings, who began to fade. Multi-time Gulf South Region champ, Ray Allen Kulhanek had problems on lap 16 and rolled to a stop for a late caution. With a couple lapped cars as a buffer, Hefertepe quickly got away from Hahn, but Wayne Johnson went around after contact with Travis Rilat. Then next restart saw the same restart, with Hafetepe checking out and easily grabbing the win.
“We had to get out to the lead early,” explained Hafertepe. “That way I could set the pace of the race. We knew it was going to take rubber, but didn’t know how early it would do it. I ran two laps up top early and the other guys got the rubber laid down and I found it, probably in the nick of time. They did a better job with the track tonight. With all the classes and cars it’s tough to get a good track for all of them.”
“After that caution I knew we would be alright after the restart. Leading the race you never really know. This has been our better racecar. We have two cars that we usually run. We had the other car out last weekend, but weren’t very successful. We came back home and tested a couple days at my dad’s track(Lone Star Speedway) and found some things. That’s pretty much the answer to our success tonight.”
“I don’t what it is about this track. The first few times we came here I was terrible. I didn’t like it, it never felt good. After practice here a couple years ago it was light flipped on and ever since then we’ve been awesome. I love this place, it’s big, it’s fast.”
“I think our chances are good to win back to back nights. Our car is, by far, the best car here. I don’t anyone would argue that. We’ll just stay on our game plan and see if we can finish it off tomorrow night.”
ASCS Sprints
15h Sam Hafertepe, 52 Blake Hahn, 45x Johnny Herrera , 2L Logan Forlar , 23 Seth Bergman , 87 Aaron Reutzal , 95 Matt Covington , 17 Josh Baughman , 05 Brad Loyet, 1j Danny Jennings, 14 Channin Tankersley , 11m Jason McDougal , 17w Harli White , 28 Tommy Bryant , 4j John Carney, 91 Steven Russell , 14k Kyle Bellm, 29 Travis Rilat,2c Wayne Johnson, 21t Ray Allen Kulhanek, 19 Wes Wofford, 84 Brandon Hanks, 02 Brandon Long
ASCS Sprint Qualifiers(Top 16 in passing points to A-main)
ASCS Qualifier #1; 45x Johnny Herrera, 52 Blake Hahn, 11m Jason McDougal, 87 Aaron Reutzal, 2L Logan Forlar, 28 Tommy Bryant, 17w Harli White , 02 Brandon Long, 14k Kyle Bellm, 18 Lorne Wafford
ASCS Qualifier #2; 2c Wayne Johnson, 23 Seth Bergman, 1j Danny Jennings, 4j John Carney, 21t Ray Allen Kulhanek, 05 Brad Loyet, 7 Kevin Ramey, 3 Raven Culp, 26m Fred Mattox, 2x Ticker Doughty
ASCS Qualifier #3; 14 Channin Tankersley, 15h Sam Hafertepe, 17 Josh Baughman, 95 Matt Covington, 91 Steven Russell,, 19 Wes Wofford,29 Travis Rilat, 10c Jeremy Campbell, 12 James Mosher, 36 John Pate
ASCS B-mains(Top 3 to A-main)
ASCS B-main #1; 4j John Carney, 02 Brandon Long, 14k Kyle Bellm, 76 Zane Lawrence, 7m Kevin Ramey , 3 Raven Culp , 51 Caleb Martin, 17g Travis Elliott, 26m Fred Mattox, 2k John Kelly, 2p Logan Payne, 36 John Pate, 33 Mark Huddleston, 20g Jake Gieder
ASCS B-main #2; 29 Travis Rilat, 91 Steven Russell , 17w Harli White , 10c Jeremy Campbell , 18 Lorne Woffard, 84 Brandon Hanks, 8k Kade Morton, 98 Ryan Padgett, 55 Brad Queen, 7m Chance Morton, 2x Tucker Doughty , 12 James Mosher , 12w Dale Wester
ASCS Sprint heats(Top 30 in passing points to qualifiers)
ASCS heat #1; 52 Blake Hahn, 2l Logan Forlar, 23 Seth Bergman, 14 Channin Tankersley, 18 Lorne Wofford, 17w Harli Whitehead, 55 Brad Queen, 51 Caleb Martin, 2p Logan Payne
ASCS heat #2; 21t Ray Allen Kulhanek, 11m Jason McDougal, 95 Matt Covington, 4j John Carney, 14k Kyle Bellm, 10c Jeremy Campbell, 76 Zane Lawrence, 7n Chance Morton, 84 Brandon Hanks—dns
ASCS heat #3; 19 Wes Wofford, 1j Danny Jennings, 91 Steven Russell, 17 Josh Baughman, 36 John Pate, 2x Tucker Doughty, 20g Jake Greider, 12w Dale Wester, 33 Mark Huddleston
ASCS heat #4; 15h Sam Hafertepe, 7 Kevin Ramey, 28 Tommy Bryant, 02 Brandon Long, 3 Raven Culp, 26m Fred Mattox, 8m Kade Morton, 17g Travis Elliott
ASCS heat #5; 45x Johnny Herrera, 05 Brad Loyet, 2c Wayne Johnson, 87 Aaron Reutzal, 29 Travis Rilat, 12 James Mosher, 2k John Kelly, 98 Ryan Padgett
Limited Modified A-qualifier winner David Phillips. Photo by JM Hallas
Phillips Phlies in Limited Modified Pheature
David Phillips(Abilene) worked his way up from his sixth row starting spot and snagged top honors in the Limited Modified qualifier. Phillips methodically marched to the front and caught, then leader, Joel Couvillion after halfway. Not satisfied with just transferring, Phillips took the lead on lap 9 and inched away from Derick Grigsby in the waning laps.
At the start of the 15-lap A-qualifier Couvillion was off turn 2 for the lead pursued by Grigsby, Jimmy Day, Dennie Geiber and Joel Garcia. J. Day got sideways on lap 1 falling back to fifth while trying to pass Grigsby. Shane Hebert then got fifth from J. Day followed by Phillips to sixth. Hebert and Phillips then tagged teamed Garcia for fourth and fifth.
Yellow waved on lap 5 for a three car tangle between, J, Day, Justin Nabors and John Whittington. On the restart Geiber went past Grigsby for second with Phillips on his heels for third. Geiber then pulled off while Cody Smith and Bo Day battled for sixth and Travis Johnson, Dean Abbey and Nick Clinkenbeard were three wide for eighth.
Phillips then marched past Couvillion on the back stretch to take the lead on lap 9. With five to go it was a six car scrap for the transfer between B. Day, Smith, Abbey, Johnson, Clinkenbeard and Tracy Denby. As the flagman showed two to go, Phillips, in the Crabtree Motorsports, Golden Chick, Trans Oil, Fletchers Race Engines, IRP Chassis was easing away for the victory.
Limited Modifieds(Top 8 transfer to Saturday A-main)
18 David Phillips, 69 Derick Grigsby, 30 Joel Couvillion, 9 Shane Herbert, 232 Joel Garcia, 4r Kevin Rowland, 17 Dean Abbey, 86j Travis Johnson, 66 Nick Clinkenbeard, 31 Cody Smith, 15x Tracy Denby, 662f Greg Frazer, 103 JC Howell, 44 Kale Westover, 4 Bo Day, 36 Bryan Mewborn, 184 Rodney White, 5s Bud Reed, 8c Will Carter, 23m Jimmy Day, 23n Justin Nabors, 26g JJ Jennings, 15 Dennie Gieber, 5w John Whittington
Limited Modified B-Qualifers(Top 4 to A-main)
Ltd Mod B-qualifier #1; 662f Greg Frazer , 4 Bo Day , 5s Bud Reed , 8c Will Carter, 7 James Blaylock , 19 Bubba Seals , 18c Tim Clonch, 20 Chase Allen , 17d Tommy Davis jr., 24 Jake Upchurch, b1 Bryan Bolden, 69y Bret Young , 23j Daniel Jones , 19s Kyle Slater, 4f Trevor Foley, 8 Rick Murray , 21t Tracy Peters
Ltd Mod B-Qualifier #2; 44 Kale Westover, 23m Jimmy Day, 184 Rodney White, 103 JC Howell, 115 Jack Barfield, k1 Stephen Guidry, 21 Chad Cox, 88x RJ Stroman, 46 BJ Atchinson, 2 Brian Short, 74 John Sliney, 90k Dustin Butcher, 84 Tom Lorenz, 19 Bubba Seals, 7k Greg Moran, 7m Dylan Ramey, 28j Justin Nabors, j2 Josh Short, 9b Brandon Blaylock, 3 Eric Floyd, 1h Chris Holt
Limited Modified C-Qualifiers(Top 4 to back of B-Qualifiers)
Ltd Mod C-Qualifier #1; 90 Dustin Butcher , 101 Jeff Rozell, 91w Mitchel Waschmann, 28j Justin Nabors, 99 Kasey Kuykendall, 2k Charlie KNight, 30p JoJo Paige, 75 Patrick McCoy , 19r Todd Short, 423 Will Poston
Limited Modified heats(Top 16 in passing to A-qualifier)
Heat 1; 23 Steven Nabors, 17 Dean Abbey, 86j Travis Johnson, 18 David Phillips, 74 Jason Hammonds, 24 Jake Upchurch, 2 Brian Short, 84 Tom Lorenz, s19 Dennis Slader, 07t Jarrod Thomas, 423 Will Poston, 174 Mickey Helms—dns
Heat 2; 9 Shane Hebert, 36 Bryan Mewborn, 15x Tracy Denby, 0 Lonie Richardson, 8c Will Carter, 46 David Cobb, 1h Chris Holt, 20 Chase Allen, 19s Kyle Slader, 88 Calen Mohler, 77 Johnny Jarrel jr, 99 Kasey Kuykendall
Heat 3; 232 Joel Garcia, 662f Greg Frazer, 5w John Whittington, 7 James Blaylock,105 JC Howell, 88x RJ Stroman, 23j Daniel Jones, 17s James Skinner, 21t Tracy Peters, 91w Mitchell Wachsmann, 75 Patrick McCoy, 20d Rowdy Day
Heat 4; 15 Dennie Gieber, 69 Derick Grigsby, 66 Nick Clinkenbeard, k1 Stephen Guidry, 44 Kale Westover, 18c Tom Clonch, 7m Dylan Ramey, 7k Greg Moran, 21 Chad Cox, 9b Brandon Blaylock, 101 Jeff Rozelle
Heat 5; 31 Cody Smith, 30 Joel Couvillion, 4 Bo Day, 115 Jack Barfield, 19 Bubba Seals, 184 Rodney White,4f Trevor Foley,69y Bret Young, 8m Rick Murray,30d JoJo Paige,19r Todd Short, 2k Charlie Knight
Heat 6; 4r Kevin Rowland, 26g JJ Jennings, 23m Jimmy Day, 00 Tory Yant, 5s Bud Reed, 17d Tommy Davis jr., b1 Bryan Bolden, j2 Josh Short, 90k Dustin Butcher, 3 Eric Floyd
Factory Stock A-qualifier winner Taylor Carver. Photo by JM Hallas
Carver Conquers Factory Stocks, Again
It wasn’t long ago that Taylor Carver(Locksburg, Ark.) was sitting in the same position, the top spot of a Factory Stock feature. The US National Dirt Track Championship winner from September 2015 showed his ‘grocery getter’ was the still the car to beat. Carvers Hootiecackle Collision, C&C Construction, Roberts Tree Service, Tootsie Sheet Metal, Craft Performance Engines, Reed Race Cars, led briefly, hung around the top five and in the finals laps jumped out front again. Once on point, Carver eased away from Chris Henigan and Bobby Jordan for the win.
As the Factory Stock field took the green Bo Day grabbed the lead trailed by Henigan, Carver, David Bonham and Craig Oakes. Carver picked off Henigan for second while Justin Whitehead took fourth from Oakes. Whitehead then got along side Henigan for third. Carver, using the middle groove, got beside Day who started showing some smoke.
Carver got the lead on lap 7 as Day continued to fall back. Coming to halfway it was Whitehead getting the lead from Carver, with Henigan, Oakes and Scotty Case rounding out the top five. Trey Smitherman brought out the only caution going around in turn 2.
The top five got away clean on the restart until Whitehead began to slow. Carver retook the point on lap 13 and had a comfortable margin on Henigan and Jordan. Whitehead continued to slide back and out of the transfer spot. As the checkers waved it was Carver scoring the victory.
Factory Stocks A-Qualifier(Top 8 locked in for Saturday A-main)
340 Taylor Carver, 16x Chris Henigan, 10 Bobby Jordan, j27 Scotty Case, 98 Chris Davis, 22r Ralo Pilkington, 66 David Bonham, 721 Jason Gore, 36j Justin Whitehead, 6$ Chance Morris, 83 Chase Bresee, 21j Bubba Jones, 62x Josh Worn, 55c Tim Clonch, 96 Trey Smitherman, 107 Dennis Bissonette, 21m MIchael Smith, 57s Mark Shipman, 73 Jeff Sontag, 18 Craig Oakes, 39 Marvin Lough, 119 Bubba Seals, 4 Bo Day, 5* Brandon Taylor
Factory Stocks B-Qualifiers(Top 4 to A-Qualifiers)
Factory Stock B-Qualifier #1; 96 Trey Smitherman, 73 Jeff Sonntag, 721 Jason Gore, 83 Chase Bresee, 42 Lee Carver, 70 Kenneth Chamberlain, xxx Shawn Graham, 5h Lance Hanson sr., 71m Tommy Davis jr., 32a Austin Waters, 21t Tracy Peters, 85 James Thompson, ccc Chris Coon, 02 Matthew Berry, 70k Royce Jones, 4* Mandy Bowen, 4 Bo Day, 23m Jimmy Day, 16 Jason Beasley, 46 BJ Atchinson, 55 Charlie Wilson
Factory Stock B-Qualifier #2
36 Justin Whitehead , 39 Marvin Lough , 21j Bubba Jones , 6s Chance Morris, 31 Cody Smith, 00 Bubba Long, 7 Ricky Sessions, 27 Casey Lyles, 92 Jason Lishman, 40c Miranda Carver , 8 Tim Homeyer, 15h Lance Hansen jr., 20 Nathan Sexton, 2 John Roan, 42j Justin Burt, 49 Ryan Slott, 02x Brandon Sexton, 40 Skeet Amason, 50 Jeffery Hill, 47 Tom Earl III, 21 Billy Vest, 19 Ktyle Slader
Factory Stock heats(Top 16 in Passing points to A-Qualifier)
Heat #1; j27 Scotty Case, 4 Bo Day, 10 Bobby Jordan, 21j Charles Jones, 92 Jason Lishman, 42 Lee Carver, 58 Jeff Hill, 42j Justin Burt, 55 Charlie Wilson, 02 Matthew Berry, 47 Tom Earl jr., 85 James Thompson
Heat #2; 66 David Bonham, 5* Brandon Taylor, 21m Michael Smith, 96 Trey Smitherman, xxx Shawn Graham, 73 Jeff Sonntag, 6s Chance Morris, 70 Kenneth Chamberlain, 46 BJ Atchinson, 50 Jeffery Hill, John Roan, 21 Billy Vest
Heat #3; 340 Taylor Carver, 22r Ralo Pilkington, 119 Bubba Seals, 62x Josh Worn, 00 Bubba Long, 31 Cody Smith, 27 Casey Lyles, 8 Tim Homeyer, 4* Mandy, Bowen, 70k Royce Jones, 23m Jimmy Day
Heat #4; 107 Dennis Bissonette, 55 Tim Clonch, 98 Chris Davis’, 39 Marvin Lough, 721 Jason Gore, 7 Ricky Sessions, 32a Austin Waters, 83 Chase Bresee, 15h Lance Hanson, ccc Chris Coon, 19 Kylke Slader, 71m Tommy Davis jr
Heat #5; 16x Chris Henigan, 57s Mark Shipman, 18 Craig Oakes, 5h Lance Hanson sr., 16 Jason Beasley, 02x Brandon Sexton, 40c Miranda Carver, 36j Justin Whitehead, 21t Tracy Peters, 49 Ryan Slott
