South Texas Late Model Series at Cotton Bowl Speedway

by Jay Hallas | Posted on Sunday, August 7th, 2016

By JM Hallas

PAIGE, Tx. – The South Texas Late Model Series made its fifth scheduled appearance at the 3/8 mile, semi-banked, clay oval. Kevin Sitton has taken wins the last two trips, with Robbie Starnes grabbing the series’ initial visit this year. One other race suffered a rain out. Sloppy Hogg (though some know his true identity) leads the STLMS points by 33 over Brandon Brzozowski with GW Egbert third, Kody Hardage fourth and a tie for fifth with Sitton and Michael Wagner.

Also in action were all four IMCA Classes (Modifieds, Southern Sportmods, Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks). The Go-kart kids also ran earlier in the day. Former IMCA Modified national champ, PJ Egbert still heads the class over Raymond McSpadden and David Goode sr. Sportmods have Chris Birmingham leading ahead of Thomas Bennett and Tom Grothues.

In I-Stocks it’s Charles Cosper with a commanding margin over Peter Delevan and AJ Dancer. The Hobby Stock leader is Sean Burnett with Douglas Wiggins second and the father-daughter combo of Alexa Shed and David Shed tied for third.

South Texas Late Model Series winner Shane Hebert in action during hot laps. Photo by JM Hallas

Hebert Holds Off Horner for Late Model Loot

Thanks to Ben Natus/Texas Land Restoration adding some cash to the purse, the STLMS main saw $1,000 payday at the end on the night for the winner. When the dust settled it was multi-talented Shane Hebert (LaFayette, La.) taking home the payday. Hebert, who has won in Modifieds and Limited Modifieds, had a spirited battle throughout the 25-lapper with young gun, Colton Horner. Hebert got by Horner on a restart then had the young teenager tapping on his bumper during the late stages of the event.

Twenty South Texas Late Models took the green with polesitter, Greg Dinsmore getting the early edge trailed by Hebert, Horner, Brad Smith and Brian Stipe. Hebert used the top to get around Dinsmore for the lead on lap 2 with Horner getting by both a lap later to lead lap 3. Hebert and Dinsmore then swapped second until yellow for a spin by Al Boytis.

Horner jumped out on green with Hebert and Dinsmore door to door and GW Egbert getting by Stipe for fifth. Kevin Sitton had trouble and pulled to a stop on lap 9 for a caution. As the lead trio sorted out, Egbert got past Smith for fourth. Egbert slipped giving spots back to Smith and Stipe when Boytis looped it again, ending his night.

Hebert took advantage on the restart getting by Horner for the lead as they came to halfway with Dinsmore, Smith and Stipe still holding top five spots. Brian Machicek brought out a yellow on lap 15 going around in turn 2. On the restart Neil Manchester and Egbert got past Smith for fifth and sixth. Stipe was able to get third from Dinsmore on lap 16 with Manchester following through for fourth.

Machicek brought out his second caution for a solo spin sending him to the trailer on lap 17. Horner let Hebert know he was there on the restart giving him a rap on the bumper while Stipe looked for a mistake by either. Nate Jantz and Sloppy Hogg tangled in turn 4 for a lap 19 caution. Once back to green Egbert got past Dinsmore, who began slowing, for fifth.

Horner was now putting the pressure on Hebert once again giving him a little nudge in the corner. That action slowed when Michael Wagner and Gary Lowe got together in turns 3-4 for a lap 23 caution setting up a green, white, checker finish. Hebert, in the Advanced Trucking, Timmons Truck Center, Mahfouz Motorsports, Advanced Chemical, J&J Motorsports, spec-head in-house motor, Rocket Chassis, got a good jump but young Horner gave him one last look only to come up short.

“Tonight was good,” replied Hebert. “We stayed out front, we stayed out of trouble and got the win. We came here to run with this South Texas Late Model Series and they run on “55’s” We normally don’t run those (tires) often. We’ve been here with a SUPR car a couple years ago and won so we have some knowledge of this track coming in. The track was kind of slow around the bottom.”

“The good thing about Late Models is they’re real forgiving. You have 30″ of tire, 15″ on each corner and the brakes are way better. You can kind of overdrive them and get away with it. In the Modified classes you have to be on your toes at all times. With Late Models you can round around about anywhere and it should stick.”

“At first everyone ran the heats along the wall. That was my intention going out there for the feature, to just try to momentum the track. There was no cushion, but there was a good berm up there. It just wasn’t there. I got down on the tires and found a good groove. It ended up paying off.”

“Brandon (Hightower) and I swapped cars tonight. I was running his Rocket and he was driving my Pierce with the open motor. I want to thank him for that. The spec motor is a little less horsepower and easier to drive, which is what the track needed tonight. Hopefully we’ll win a few more this year.”

Texas Land Restoration South Texas Late Model Series

52 Shane Hebert, 56jr Colton Horner, 15 Brian Stipe, 40 Neil Manchester, 717 GW Egbert, 88s Brad Smith, 9 Brandon Hightower, 10-4 Brandon Brzozowski, 31 Gary Lowe, 18 Michael Wagner, 37 Rusty Harmon, 69 Greg Dinsmore, 99 Nate Jantz, zz Sloppy Hogg, 45 Brian Machicek, 25a Al Boytis, 82 Jarred Stepanski, 97 Kevin Sitton, 78 Eddy Hardage, 12 Kody Hardage

STLMS heats

Heat 1; 69 Greg Dinsmore, 18 Michael Wagner, 37 Rusty Harmon, 10-4 Brandon Brzozowski, 78 Eddy Hardage, 45 Brian Machicek, 25a Al Boytis

Heat 2; 56jr Colton Horner, 88s Brad Smith, 15 Brian Stipe, zz Sloppy Hogg, 82 Jarrod Stepanski, 12 Kody Hardage

Heat 3; 52 Shane Hebert, 9 Brandon Hightower, 717 GW Egbert, 97 Kevin Sitton, 40 Neil Manchester, 99 Nate Jantz, 31 Gary Lowe

IMCA Modified winner PJ Egbert. Photo by JM Hallas

Egbert Ekes Out Modified Win

The 20-lap IMCA Modified feature saw two former IMCA national champions, PJ Egbert and Keith White, battling for the win. These two have had some epic battles in the past at the now defunct Texas Thunder Speedway, at one time even ending in a tie. Tonight’s battle added to that string of classics. After chasing White most of the race, Egbert threw a slide job on White in turn 3, on the final lap to grab the win in his Phils Motorsports, Abilene Powder Coating, Egbert Motorsports, D&D Cabinets, TBL Taxidermy, KLM Transport, McIntyre Motorsports, Heart of Texas Hydrographics, Cedarview Transportation, NateMare Graphics, KSE powered, GRT by Phillips Chassis

In a race that saw numerous cautions in the early stages it was finally Jerry Frydrych getting the advantage. White used the restarts to catch Frydrych and get past on lap 4 for the lead. In the meantime, Egbert was picking them off one-by-one starting with David Goode sr. then Hardy Henderson and finally Frydrych as he ran down White.

After James Cochran expired a motor Egbert began his assault on White once back to green. The two put distance on the field even while battling until Ryan Childress spun just before halfway. On the restart Egbert put a slide job on White, but White did the crossover and held the lead at halfway with Frydrych, Henderson and Jeff Hoegh in the top five.

After a quick yellow for debris, White and Egbert again eased away while Don Banker and Kalief Sellier made late race charges into the top five. After a lap 15 caution, Banker got under Egbert briefly but Egbert regained the spot and gave chase on White. Egbert caught White as the white waved. Going down the back stretch Egbert got a run, dove in low, slid up across turn 4 to get by White. White tried to crossover, but couldn’t get the drive off as Egbert led the last 1/4 lap for the win.

“I led from the middle of (turns) 3-4 to the checkers,” exclaimed Egbert. “I guess that’s the most important part of the whole race. These are real nail biters for all the fans in the stands. As long as both of us are behind the steering wheel, it’s going to be a slugfest to the end.”

“I’m certainly not to try something that will wreck anyone and tear up my car too. Keith (White) was really faster than me until it seemed like that last five laps. He started getting snug in the middle so that I could catch back up. I felt like if I was close enough that I’d try that (slide job). I really anticipated him to try to counter and block the slide job, but he didn’t.”

“This GRT really suits my driving style. I wish I had been a GRT my whole career and I’d have more wins than I do. I’ve always felt like I was a momentum driver. Cotton Bowl is a lot bigger than I’ve raced on, always a 1/4 mile. I think that fits my style.”

“I can’t thank everybody enough that helps me, my wife and son, without them I couldn’t be here. Kenny Merritt helps me a lot with my car. We made a split decision last night to swap motors. We changed motors and built a gear, since I’m one of the few cars still on a Ford 9″. It all paid off.”

J Irwin Company IMCA Modifieds

707 PJ Egbert, 1 Keith White, 97j Jeff Hoegh, 37b Don Banker, 202 Scott Stubbs, 63 Hardy Henderson, 13g David Goode sr., 141 Rob Sanderson, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 87d Dalton Knox, 13 Jerry Frydrych, 16 Carson Bednarz, 4$ Kalif Sellier, 44 Joe Spillman, 81 Ryan Childress, 1j James Cochran II, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 31 Doyle Massa, 40 Neil Manchester, 00 Jerry Marler—dns

IMCA Modified heats

Heat 1; 63 Hardy Henderson, 40 Neil Manchester, 13g David Goode sr., 37b Don Banker, 1j James Cochran II, 31 Doyle Massa, 00 Jerry Marler—dns

Heat 2; 707 PJ Egbert, 8g Greg Dinsmore, 48r Raymond McSpadden, 13 Jerry Frydrych, 87d Dalton Knox, 16 Carson Bednarz, 81 Ryan Childress

Heat 3; 1 Keith White, 97j Jeff Hoegh, 44 Joe Spillman, 141 Rob Sanderson, 4$ Kalif Sellier, 202 Scott Stubbs

Scrivner Scores Sportmod Victory After Tech

Waco’s Robert Scrivner has been a top contender this year and even though he wasn’t first across at the, picked up the win. Scrivner chased Johnny Torres the last half of the race and appeared to have to settle for second, but after tech Torres was given a DQ. Tom Grothues, who originally finished third, suffered a similar fate in tech.

As the 22-car field took the green it was Tom Grothues taking the lead off turn 2 trailed by Dillon Tindell, Thomas Bennett, Taylor Florio and GW Egbert. After a quick spin by Mike Wagner it was four wide for third with Egbert getting the spot. It was then three wide with Torres, Egbert and Bennett for third. Torres then took second from Tindell. Egbert tried to follow but after contact with Tindell, fell back.

Scrivner was making his way forward from his tenth starting spot getting by Bennett on lap 4. Up front Torres had caught Grothues and got a run inside on the back stretch. The two were side by side on lap 7 with Scrivner getting third from Tindell. Torres would get the advantage on lap 7 for the lead. At halfway it was Torres, Grothues, Scrivner, Tindell and Talon Minten. in the top five.

Scrivner was able to take second from Grothues as T. Minten got fourth from Tindell and Bennett, Egbert and Rusty Head went three wide for sixth. Using the top side, Scrivner began running down Torres. The two had a moment when two cars spun in front of them in turns 3-4. Both avoided any contact. On the restart Egbert got past Bennett and Head, but slapped the wall in turn 1, then rolled to a stop for a caution.

On the restart the lead duo resumed their fight with Scrivner now giving the bottom a try with two to go. Scrivner then went back up top on the final lap but came up short as Torres took the checkers. After tech it was Scrivner in the Lambs Muffler Center, Greens Transmissions, J&J Motorsports, NateMare Graphics, Hill Bail Bonds, Dean Abbey Enterprises, Day Motorsports, Swenson Racing Shocks, Berta Built Bodies, Central Texas Lawn Sprinklers, Uncle Easys Race Engines, Express by Berta Chassis being awarded the win.

“Johnny(Torres) had a great car tonight,” said Scrivner. “He was the fastest car on the track by far. It’s not as gratifying winning like this. I personally feel that he just lost on a technicality. I feel bad for. I’m obviously happy to win, but it’s the least gratifying way. I’ll take them when I can get them. He was good, I was good. I just wish it hadn’t gone like this.”

“I tried to run the bottom a little at the end, but he was so good down there. I was committed to the top all race. I knew I wasn’t getting under him unless he messed up. I don’t think that was going to happen. I was going to stay dedicated to the top and hope for the best. Those last cautions hurt me at the end.”

“I just play it by ear. I went out not really knowing where I was going to race. I started up top so I felt I might a chance to stay up there. I tried the middle at the start until we got going, then went to the top. I saw a couple cars up there making some ground.”

“A lot of people were hugging the tires, which happens a lot here. You just to pass cars wherever you can. It normally is too far around the outside when a bigger class comes in and builds a cushion up around the wall. I could make up a little running there.”

Ladd Coins & Jewelry IMCA Southern Sportmods

153 Robert Scrivner, 9(14t) Talon Minten, 86 Dillon Tindell, 55 Rusty Head, c3 Chris Birmingham, 63 Shane Hoefling, 14r Robby Minten, ok Thomas Bennett, 21t Taylor Florio, 10d Don Painter, 777 James Hanusch, 43 Jeremy Petty, r3w Rick Wolfe, 17 Don Krahn, 12 Duane Owens, 03b Matthew Bennett, 717 GW Egbert, 9b Brandon Blaylock, v8 Dennis Handley, qwik1 Mike Wagner, 661 Johnny Torres—dq(tech), 11t Tom Grothues—dq(tech)

IMCA SSM heats

Heat 1; 153 Robert Scrivner, 717 GW Egbert,9b Brandon Blaylock, 21t Taylor Florio, v8 Dennis Handley, 777 James Hanusch, 10d Don Painter, 12 Duane Owens

Heat 2; 9(14t) Talon Minten,11t Tom Grothues, 55 Rusty Head, 661 Johnny Torres, 14r Robby Minten, r3w Rick Wolfe, 43 Jeremy Petty—dns

Heat 3; 63 Shane Hoefling, 0k Thomas Bennett, c3 Chris Birmingham, 86 Dillon Tindell, 11(qwik1) Mike Wagner, 17 Don Krahn, 03b Matthew Bennett

IMCA Stock Car winner Charles Cosper. Photo by JM Hallas

Cosper Crushes Competition in I-Stock

After several ultra-competitive IMCA Stock Car races with a handful of drivers in it for the win, as well as last lap passes, Charles Cosper (Belton) took an easy victory. Cosper took control after Terry Tschoerner continued his string of bad luck getting involved with the spinning car, of his brother, no less. From there Cosper would build good margins on restarts while drivers fought for positions behind him

Fourteen cars took the green for the I-Stock feature with Try. Tschoerner getting the jump into turn 1. AJ Dancer, Duane Toyne, Bill Siegman and Peter Delevan sorted out behind him, but Eric Jones stalled out for a quick caution. Again it was Try. Tschoerner getting the edge with Delevan and Dancer side by side with Dancer getting the spot. That left Deleavan three wide with Cosper and Toyne.

Cosper then picked off Dancer for second while Toyne snagged fourth. Lap 4 saw Joey Tschoerner, at the back of the field, spin and collect Try. Tschoerner in turn 2. The ‘all involved’ rule sent Try. Tschoerner to the tail for the restart, and Cosper into the lead coming to the restart on lap 5. Cosper got out with Delevan getting second from Dancer and Andy Roller getting fourth from Toyne.

Jason Batt was next to put Toyne back a spot taking fifth. At halfway it was Cosper, Delevan and Dancer with Roller and Batt side by side. Batt got the spot then moved up again after Dancer spun in turn 2. Cosper got a big jump on green with Roller taking a spot, third, back from Batt. Try, Tschoerner, who had worked his way back up went three wide with Batt and Roller.

As the three made contact, Batt and Roller got hooked and went to the wall while Try. Tschoerner cut down a tire during the scrap. Cosper again got an advantage with Dancer coming back and getting fifth from Siegman. Dancer then got by Zach Spillman for fourth. Up front Cosper was widening his margin over Delevan and Toyne.

In the final laps Cosper was on cruise control easily motoring away. Spillman would spin on the final lap from fifth while Cosper in the Average Joes Performance, C&S Promotions, Swenson Racing Shocks, Fat Daddys Designs, Cedar Cove Speed, Fisher Race Engines, B&B Chassis was taking the checkers.

“The last couple of weeks the races have been so close, neck and neck,” commented Cosper. “They could have gone either way. Last week I pulled it off. So I’m not going to complain about an easy win. I thought the car could be a lot better. We made changes in a direction that I’ve never really gone before. This new car really took to them. Under caution I was thinking that if someone passes me tonight, they’re not in my class.”

“I was really wanting more action in the rear end. I didn’t have as much side (bite) and forward (bite) coming off. We made some changes that I really didn’t think we’re going to work, but they did. I got some side, but really got some killer forward bite off and down the straightaway. It allowed me to float the car in, turn it in the center and get a run off. It made the straightaway longer which really pays off here at Cotton Bowl.”

“It’s really hard to say if the Late Model rubber had any effect on our race. We ran before them, but the Modifieds were running all over before us, not really in one groove. The track was really nice and slick and smooth. There may have been some rubber the their heats. It felt really good tonight.”

“I didn’t get to see the last pass in the Modified feature, but I saw everyone running to the fence or standing up and cheering. I know how those two race, it’s fierce. I would have loved to see it, but we were in the chute and I had to think about my race.”

I tracked Cosper down at Joe Spillmans hauler.

“Joe’s (Average Joes Performance) in his trailer playing around and he left this tire out with a new sticker and titties on it so I figured I’d just run off with it. Don’t tell him.” added Cosper jokingly

Shale Equipment Services IMCA Stock Cars

33c Charles Cosper, 98 Peter Delevan, 48 Duane Toyne, 52 AJ Dancer, 63 Andy Roller, 77 Bill Siegman, 14j Jay Simon II, 43 Trent Miller, 114 Joey Tschoerner, 44z Zach Spillman, 9 Jason Batt, 01 Terry Tschoerner, 01t Tracy Tschoerner-Hendrix, 84x Eric Jones, 489 Anthony Otken—dns, v18 Kenny Merritt—dns, 4k Ken Plonsky—dns, 117 Jerry Frydrych—dns

I-Stock Heats

Heat 1; 9 Jason Batt, 01 Terry Tschoerner, 52 AJ Dancer, 84x Eric Jones, 48 Duane Toyne, 01t Tracy Tschoerner-Hendrix, 14j Jay Simon II, 43 Trent Miller, 4k Ken Plonsky

Heat 2; 33c Charles Cosper, 98 Peter Delevan, 63 Andy Roller, 77 Bill Siegman, 117 Jerry Frydrych, 44z Zach Spillman, 489 Anthony Otken, v18 Kenny Merritt, 114 Joey Tschoerner

At the start of the 15-lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature it was three wide for the lead going into turn 1. Larry Underwood finally got the point coming off turn 4 with Alexa Shed, Michael Crisler, Sean Burnett and David Shed sorting out. A. Shed tried a slide job on Underwood with the two making contact. They got together again coming off turn 4 sending Underwood into the wall.

This put Burnett out front for the restart that saw A. Shed and Crisler swapping second. A. Shed took the position leaving Crisler side by side with Douglas Wiggins who got third on lap 4. Burnett pulled away for the win leaving Wiggins, A. Shed and Crisler fighting for the runner up spot.