By JM Hallas

PAIGE, Texas – Under new management.

At the end of the 2017 racing season the future of Cotton Bowl Speedway was up in the air after the Bennett family stepped away as promoters. In December MAN Racing Promotion announced they were taking over the job as promoter. Mary Ann Naumann, a former racer herself and husband H.E. Naumann, another racer, have adequate experience in the racing field.

MAN Racing Promotion introduced the Texas Super Racing Series, a Late Model series that ran the pavement tracks for seven years before being blended into the Thunder Hill Raceway schedule. For fourteen years MAN Racing Promotion was in charge of activities at the 3/8 mile, D-shaped, paved oval, just outside of Austin.

Now the group will run and coordinate racing on one of the newer, finer facilities, Cotton Bowl Speedway, a 3/8 mile, semi-banked, dirt track about a half hour east of Austin. A 17-race schedule is slated for the 2018 season, while trying to work with other regional dirt tracks. A World of Outlaws Sprint Car race had been the proposed opener in February, but weather postponed the event until April 25^th.

The track will run six local classes, IMCA Modifieds, Southern Sportmods and Stock Cars along with Street and Factory Stocks, plus Sport Compacts. The 360 Sprint Bandit Series, Southern Late Model Series and Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas also have dates on the schedule.

IMCA Modified winner Eric Tomlinson. Photo by JM Hallas

Tomlinson Tallies Two for Weekend

After scoring a Friday night win at Heart o’ Texas Speedway, Eric Tomlinson(Waco) capped off a successful weekend picking up the IMCA Modified feature win Saturday. Tomlinson, who started mid-pack, found a line on the bottom that suited his set up and methodically worked his way to the front where Rob Slott and Jeff Hoegh had been battling for the lead.

Tomlinson took control a little before halfway with Hoegh, Slott, Dalton Knox and Raymond McSpadden in the top five at the midway point. As the race wound down, Tomlinson built a lead while McSpadden was able to find the bottom to his liking, moving into the top three. At the checkers it was Tomlinson in the Waco Motorsports, Southwest Maintenance, NateMare Wraps, BG Products, Precision Machine, TDS Suspension, Penske Shocks, Friesen crate powered, BMS Chassis with the win.

“I had a little luck early,” replied Tomlinson. “I started on the bottom and knew it was going to be heavy and fast around the top. We tightened it up and were kind of committed to being down there. We were going to be in trouble if it didn’t work. It took off and we got some breaks. I could really charge the bottom. It would turn in and pull up out of there just like we wanted.”

“I just had to dial a lot of brake into it. You carry so much speed here for such tight turns. So you have to find a balance to keep it tight enough to turn, but free enough to get through the center. We left it free from last night, put front brake in it, changed a little stagger and hoped it would turn.”

“I was planning on running to make something happen down there, but wasn’t expecting to have to have to do it all night. I was prepared to run down there a handful of laps then look at jumping to the top. I thought the top was the place to be, but I had gotten to front on the bottom. No one was challenging me, so I just stuck with it.”

“We learned some things at the end of last season on the car and went to the Super Nationals and learned some more things there. This old BMS hot rod is pretty impressive right now.”

IMCA Modifieds

45t Eric Tomlinson, 97j Jeff Hoegh, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 7g David Goode jr., 63 Hardy Henderson, 48rob Rob Slott, 9 Pat McGuire, 94 Chris Morris, 163 Jake Henderson, 13g David Goode sr., 29 Jamie Campbell, 81 Ryan Childress, 89t Danny Turner, 87d Dalton Knox, 37x Matt Banker, 01 Derek Scott jr., 5 Kevin Green, 02j John Evans—dntg, 13 Jerry Frydrych—dns, 86 Dillon Tindall—dns

IMCA Modified heats

Heat 1; 97j Jeff Hoegh, 86 Dillon Tindall, 45t Eric Tomlinson, 63 Hardy Henderson, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 9 Pat McGuire, 02j John Evans

Heat 2; 48rob Rob Slott, 87 Dalton Knox, 7g David Goode jr., 5 Kevin Green, 13g David Goode sr., 13 Jerry Frydrych, 37x Matt Banker

Heat 3; 94 Chris Morris, 163 Jake Henderson, 01 Derek Scott jr., 81 Ryan Childress, 89t Danny Turner, 29 Jamie Campbell

IMCA Southern Sportmod winner Brandon Blaylock. Photo by JM Hallas

Blaylock Best in Sportmod Bash

Brandon Blaylock(Pflugerville) was best of the bunch in the IMCA Southern Sportmods going wire to wire for the win. Blaylock, in his electric yellow wrapped IRP Chassis was chased throughout the 20-lapper by Mike Wagner. JJ Jennings joined the fight for a while until being sidelined with problems. At the crossed flags it was Blaylock, Wagner, Jennings, Will Carter and Johnny Torres edging out Trevor Egbert for fifth.

Even a late race caution, for a Robert Carson spin, just as the checkers were about to fly couldn’t stop Blaylock. On the green, white, checker restart Blaylock got clear of Wagner while Torres and Carter slugged it for third. Blaylock had a few car lengths at the line in his Monster Energy, Haul Max of Texas, TW Tire, Showtime Signs & Designs, RL Walker Transport, Century-Neuro, Superior Steering Wheels, Rhino Racing, Rear Ends, Spicewood Spine Care, Plant Built Body Building Team, Fletchers Race Engines, IRP Chassis.

“I’d say luck had a little to do with it.” commented Blaylock. “I drew the front row twice, that was pretty fortunate. They did a good job out here. The way the track was, it was just starting spot luck. Suspension and set up had very little to do with it tonight. It was more about the Fletchers Race Engine power than anything.”

“It sounded like someone was on me all the time. This is the first time using these type headers and they echo down the straightaway. I actually almost spun myself out thinking that they were right on and I was overdriving the car.”

“I have a two-race per month schedule and with points average I’d miss a couple races and have to start near the back. With the schedule they have here this year I’m planning on being out here every Saturday.

Magnum Trailers IMCA Southern Sportmods

9b Brandon Blaylock, qwik1 Mike Wagner, 661 Johnny Torres, 8c Will Carter, 78 Trevor Egbert, 10d Don Painter, a11n(r3w) Rick Wolfe, 2h Heath Stewart, 55g Gerald Henderson, 43 Jeremy Petty, 84 Douglas Wiggins, 12d Duane Owens, 3 Robert Carson, 43g Gene Burnett, 26g JJ Jennings, 32 Robert Stewart, 66 Mitchell Morrison, 28 Scott Talley, 54 Todd McLemore, 11t Tom Grothues, 55 Rusty Head—dns, 7 Bruce Hinson—dns

IMCA SSM heats

Heat 1; qwik1 Mike Wagner, 661 Johnny Torres, a11n(r3w) Rick Wolfe, 78 Trevor Egbert, 54m Todd McLemore, 66 Mitchell Morrison, 12d Duane Owens, 7 Bruce Hinson

Heat 2; 8c Will Carter, 26g JJ Jennings, 10d Don Painter, 9b Brandon Blaylock, 32 Robert Stewart, 84 Doug Wiggins, 55 Rusty Head

Heat 3; 55g Gerald Henderson, 28 Scott Talley, 43g Gene Burnett, 3 Robert Carson, 11t Tom Grothues, 43 Jeremy Petty, 2h Heath Stewart

IMCA Stock Car winner Charles Cosper. Photo by JM Hallas

Cosper Captures IMCA Stock Car Checkers

Temples Charles Cosper caught a couple breaks on his way to the IMCA Stock Car feature win. At the start of the 20-lap main Cosper, who got shuffled to mid pack, was able to dodge a 6-car melee in turns1-2 that sidelined several cars. As Nic Priem asummed the lead from Joe O’Bryan, Cosper was in a 6-car scrap with Anthony Otken, GW Egbert, Mike Nuby and George Egbert for third.

It was three wide for second between O’Bryan, Cosper and GW Egbert before a mid-race caution that saw GW Egbert retire with what appeared to be overheating issues after being involved in the lap 1 crash.

Cosper took advantage of track position on the restart to get by N. Priem for the lead on lap 11. From there Cosper in the Spillmans Excavating, Nortons Automotive, Swenson Racing Shocks, Cedar Cove Speed powered, SCS Chassis motored to half straight margin at the finish.

“The track was a lot different than the CBS I’m used too.” said Cosper. “It was a little greasy, and a lot of tack. On the start I got shuffled back. My wreck avoidance was tested a few times but we survived. I made a nice move off turn 2 that got me in to 2nd and open track.”

“I didn’t think I had anything for Priem, but I was happy to see the last caution to put me on his bumper. He made one mistake getting tight in (turns)3 and 4, which I was also fighting, and I capitalized on it. After that it was just hitting my marks and hoping there were no more cautions.”

“Thanks to my wife, Laurie and my mom! Thanks to Chad for keeping me up and running and for the adjustments after the heat. We had to do something to adjust to track conditions and he made somegreat changes. Thanks to Swenson Shocks for the smooth ride.”

IMCA Stock Cars

33c Charles Cosper, 17 Nic Priem, 70 George Egbert III, 489 Anthony Otken, 144 Joe O’Bryan, 66 Hunt Harrison, 23 CJ Gray, 14 John Hobbs, 22 Patricia Lucas, 2n2 Mike Nuby, 04 Nathan Robbins, 717 GW Egbert IV, 17d Dean Priem, 4k Ken Plonsky, 77 Bill Siegman, 177 Paul Smith —dns

IMCA Stock Car heats

Heat 1; 4k Ken Plonsky, 489 Anthony Otken, 144 Joe O’Bryan, 70 George Egbert III, 33c Charles Cosper, 66 Hunt Harrison, 04 Nathan Robbins, 22 Patricia Lucas

Heat 2; 717 GW Egbert IV, 23 CJ Gray, 17 Nic Priem, 17d Dean Priem, 2n2 Mike Nuby, 77 Bill Siegman, 14 John Hobbs, 177 Paul Smith

Street Stock winner Bryan Meredith. Photo by JM Hallas

Meredith Motors to Street Stock Main

Bryan Meredith(Buda) got the jump on polesitter Tim Sikorski to take the early lead in the 15-lap Street Stock feature. Sikorski would then battle with Mark Gallagher for second until a quick trip through the infield saw Sikorski losing third to Tim Ellis.

Meredith began easing away from Gallagher while Sikorski fought his back to third. As Gallagher and Sikorski ran door to door for second, Meredith stretched out his margin. At the checkers it was Meredith in his SAS Towing & Recovery Chevy getting the win while it was Gallagher taking an infield side trip this time and falling to fifth.

Street Stocks

30 Bryan Meredith, 7s Tim Sikorski, 17 Tim Ellis, 60 Adam Gandara, 6m Mark Gallagher, 17 Tim Ellis, 00 Matthew Hawken, 9 Nathan Masterson, 8 Doug Ripple

Street Stock heat

Heat 1; 7s Tim Sikorski, 30 Bryan Meredith, 6m Mark Gallagher, 00 Matthew Hawken, 17 Tim Ellis, 9 Nathan Masterson, 60 Adam Gandara, 8 Doug Ripple

Factory Stock winner Dalton Faulkner. Photo by JM Hallas

Faulkner Fastest Factory Stock

Dalton Faulkner(Conroe) made the trip to central Texas pay off twice over the weekend. Friday night Faulkner took the checkers in Waco then doubled up with Saturdays Cotton Bowl win. John Matulla took the early lead in the 15-lapper chased by Doug Ripple, Steve Sims, Faulkner and Kurt Ellis. Faulkner came out of a three wide battle with Ripple and Sims for second.

A mid-race caution gave Faulkner the chance to close on Matulla and grab the lead on lap 8. As Faulkner began to check out Ellis, Mason Casteneda and George King were three wide for fifth. As the white waved Faulkner, in the KMO Racing, Knowles Performance Engines, Ronnies Auto Sales, Lonestar Waterwell, Chevy had a straightaway lead as he cruised to the checkers.

Browning Auto Parts Factory Stocks

27 Dalton Faulkner, 73m John Matula, 8* Tim Homeyer, 58 Steve Sims, 78 Brady Ricks, 14 George King, 28m Mason Casteneda, 98 Ed Hall, 90 Casen Casper, 7 Kevin Nejtek, a11n Mark Salango, 33 Kurt Ellis, 768 Cody Peel—dns

Factory Stock heats

Heat 1; 27 Dalton Faulkner, a11n Mark Salango, 73 John Matula, 7 Kevin Nejtek, 90 Casen Casper, 78 Brady Ricks, 768 Cody Peel—dns

Heat 2; 8* Tim Homeyer, 33 Kurt Ellis, 28m Mason Casteneda, 58 Steve Sims, 14 George King—dntg, 98 Ed Hall—dns

Sport Compact winner Trevor Bettis. Photo by JM Hallas

Bettis Sweeps Sport Compacts

La Vernias Trevor Bettis swept the Sport Compact night taking the heat and feature victories. In the feature Richard Fitch got the early lead going into turn 1, but it was Bettis beating him back to the line to lead lap 1. From there Bettis, in the Bettis Storage car easily pulled away with Russell Vickery getting by Fitch for second.

Sport Compacts

57 Trevor Bettis, 30 Russell Vickery, 97 Richard Fitch, 7 Kris Wilson

Sport Compact heat; 57 Trevor Bettis, 30 Russell Vickery, 07 Richard Fitch, 7 Kris Wilson