Jason Johnson steals the Heart O’ Texas

Bryan Hulbert - WACO, Texas (April 19, 2013) The Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region took to the Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas with 41 drivers checking in. When all was said and done, it was Jason Johnson who grabbed the Life Partners Inc. Duel on the Brazos $2,500 victory.

Leading from start to finish, Johnson lapped up to fifteenth in a race that was halted several times with Johnny Herrera coming from fourth to second followed by California’s Cole Wood taking the final step on the podium. Christopher Bell came from eighth to fourth with Ray Allen Kulhanek rounding out the top five.
Kolt Walker advanced from thirteenth to sixth to earn the night’s Hard Charger Award with Tommy Bryant, Martin Edwards, Brandon Berryman, and Tony Bruce, Jr. making up the top ten.

An emotional night following the events in West, Texas, several Firefighters from the explosion were on hand for the night’s races. Each one was introduced on the front stretch.

As the races moved along, the event was eventually red flagged as fans were allowed out to I-35 where the four Firefighters who were lost in the West, Texas explosion where begin transported from the scene of the accident. Fans stood with flashlights, phones, and anything else that would shine to light the way for the fallen.

Drivers made their way into the stands during intermission to collect donations. According to a report from the track, $3,600 was raised.

The Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region will be at the Gator Motorplex on Saturday, April 20. According to regional director Keith Johnson, drivers will again be asked to collect donations for the victims of the West, Texas explosion during intermission.

Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region
Heart O’ Texas Speedway - Waco, Texas
Friday, April 19, 2013
Car Count: 41
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 31B-Christopher Bell; 2. 12M-Kolt Walker; 3. 10-George White; 4. 66-J.J. Simmons; 5. 14-Michael Lang; 6. 25M-Michael McNeil; 7. 19-Klint Angelette; 8. 7W-Dustin Welch; DNS 93-Chris Sweeney
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 45X-Johnny Herrera; 2. 41-Jason Johnson; 3. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek; 4. 3X-Scott Petersen; 5. 74E-Claud Estes III; 6. 7M-Kevin Ramey; 7. 24-Brandie Jass; DNS 14B-Robert Byrom
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 17W-Cole Wood; 2. 31-Brandon Berryman; 3. 71-Channin Tankersley; 4. 6-Ryan Beechler; 5. 224-John Carney II; 6. 69-Larry Howery; 7. 17T-Bruce Griffith Jr; 8. 48-Nathan Moore
Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 85-Travis Rilat; 2. 54-Evan Pardo; 3. 4X-Shawn Petersen; 4. 5X-Tyson Hall; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel; 6. 51-Beau Smith; 7. 52-Roger Oakes; 8. 02-Harry Yerrington

Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 23-Howard Moore; 2. 45-Martin Edwards; 3. 28-Tommy Bryant; 4. 18-Tony Bruce Jr; 5. 79-Ryan Hall; 6. 58-Gary Floyd; 7. 15T-Travis Elliott; 8. 17-Sean McClelland

B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 6-Ryan Beechler; 2. 18-Tony Bruce Jr; 3. 10-George White; 4. 74E-Claud Estes III; 5. 14-Michael Lang; 6. 79-Ryan Hall; 7. 51-Beau Smith; 8. 58-Gary Floyd; 9. 15T-Travis Elliott; 10. 48-Nathan Moore; 11. 69-Larry Howery; 12. 17T-Bruce Griffith Jr; DNF 7W-Dustin Welch; DNS 93-Chris Sweeney

B Feature 2 (12 Laps): 1. 5X-Tyson Hall; 2. 224-John Carney II; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel; 4. 66-J.J. Simmons; 5. 25M-Michael McNeil; 6. 19-Klint Angelette; 7. 17-Sean McClelland; 8. 3X-Scott Petersen; 9. 24-Brandie Jass; DNF 52-Roger Oakes; DNF 02-Harry Yerrington; DNS 14B-Robert Byrom; 13. 7M-Kevin Ramey

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Jason Johnson; 2. 45X-Johnny Herrera; 3. 17W-Cole Wood; 4. 31B-Christopher Bell; 5. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek; 6. 12M-Kolt Walker; 7. 28-Tommy Bryant; 8. 45-Martin Edwards; 9. 31-Brandon Berryman; 10. 18-Tony Bruce Jr; 11. 54-Evan Pardo; 12. 224-John Carney II; 13. 23-Howard Moore; 14. 5X-Tyson Hall; 15. 87-Aaron Reutzel; 16. 71-Channin Tankersley; DNF 85-Travis Rilat; DNF 6-Ryan Beechler; DNF 10-George White; DNF 4X-Shawn Petersen

Lap Leaders: Jason Johnson (1-25)


It’s Brian Brown in Warrior Region opener

Bryan Hulbert - GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. (April 19, 2013) Brian Brown started his season with the Speedway Motors Warrior Region on the right foot; with a win at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo.
Moving into the lead on the second lap, Kyle Bellm's Christian County Collision No. 14 set the pace until Lap 18 before surrendering the spot to Brian Brown’s FVP/Casey’s General Store/Searsboro Telephone No. 21 as Bellm’s engine began going south and finally failing on Lap 20. Logan Forler advanced from fifth to make a bid for the win but ultimately settled for the runner up spot followed by 2012 Warrior Region champion Jonathan Cornell. Miranda Arnold and Tyler Blank made up the top five.

Wyatt Burks, Cody Baker, Jay Russell, Kyle Bell, and Taylor Walton completed the top ten.

The Speedway Motors Warrior Region continues the weekend at the Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Mo. on Saturday, April 20 with the American Bank of Oklahoma Sooner Region joining the line-up.

Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region
Valley Speedway - Grain Valley, Mo.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Car Count: 13

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 28-Jonathan Cornell; 2. 14K-Kyle Bellm; 3. 93-Taylor Walton; 4. 5M-Miranda Arnold; 5. 38-Cody Baker; 6. 75-Tyler Blank; DNF 73-Lane Stone

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown; 2. 2L-Logan Forler; 3. 53-Jack Dover; 4. 76-Jay Russell; 5. 11W-Wyatt Burks; DNF 9-Casey Baker

A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown; 2. 2L-Logan Forler; 3. 28-Jonathan Cornell; 4. 5M-Miranda Arnold; 5. 75-Tyler Blank; 6. 11W-Wyatt Burks; 7. 38-Cody Baker; 8. 76-Jay Russell; 9. 14K-Kyle Bellm; 10. 93-Taylor Walton; 11. 53-Jack Dover; 12. 73-Lane Stone; 13. 9-Casey Baker
Lap Leaders: Taylor Walton (1), Kyle Bellm (2-18), Brian Brown (19-30)


Bergman snags Sooner Region payday

Bryan Hulbert - SAPULPA, Okla. (April 19, 2013) An off weekend with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real was a profitable one for Seth Bergman as the Washington driver grabbed the American Bank of Oklahoma Sooner Region opener at the Creek County Speedway presented by Ark Wrecking of Oklahoma.

Taking the green fourth, Bergman trailed Jake Martens and Blake Hahn in the early goings until a miscalculation by Hahn opened the door for the runner up spot on the eleventh round. Pursuing the Martens Machine Shop No. 48 into slower traffic on Lap 20, Bergman, along with Zach Pringle and Matt Covington made it anyone’s race. Taking the bottom groove on Lap 22, the Oilfield Equipment No. 23 squeezed into the lead with Pringle in tow.

On the back bumper of Bergman the remainder of the race, Pringle tried several times for the top spot but was denied as Seth Bergman earned the win. Zach Pringle settled for second with Jake Martens, Matt Covington, and fourteenth starting Joe Wood, Jr. making up the top five.

Mike Goodman, Danny Wood, Andy Shouse, Joe Bob Lee, and Jonathan Beason completed the top ten.
The American Bank of Oklahoma Sooner Region continues the weekend at the Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Mo. with the Speedway Motors Warrior Region on Saturday, April 19.

American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region
Creek County Speedway - Sapulpa, Okla.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Car Count: 33

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 95-Matt Covington; 2. 7S-Robert Sellers; 3. 81-Danny Wood; 4. 2W-Whit Gastineau; 5. 36-Jonathan Beason; 6. 90-Jeremy Thompson; 7. 57-Kyle Chady

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman; 2. 7X-Shane Sellers; 3. 25-Blake Hahn; 4. 32X-Robert Richardson; 5. 9$-Kyle Clark; 6. 21X-Taylor Velasquez; DNF 21-Brandon Jennings

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 5-Joe Bob Lee; 2. 94L-Layne Himebaugh; 3. 03-Joe Wood Jr; 4. 85-Forrest Sutherland; 5. W94-Waylon Weaver; 6. 22-Koby Barksdale; DNF 17W-Harli White

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. 51-Matt Ward; 2. 48-Jake Martens; 3. 39-Andy Shouse; 4. 8-Alex Sewell; 5. 010-Brian Roberts; DNF 35-Rick Wright Jr

Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 14Z-Zach Pringle; 2. 4AM-Mike Goodman; 3. 8X-Shane Pace; DNF 97-Kevin Cummings; DNF 90-Jeremy Thompson; DNF 22K-Kevin Barksdale

B Feature 1 (10 Laps): 1. 81-Danny Wood; 2. 2W-Whit Gastineau; 3. 9$-Kyle Clark; 4. 85-Forrest Sutherland; 5. 57-Kyle Chady; DNF 17W-Harli White; DNF 010-Brian Roberts; DNF 90-Jeremy Thompson; DNF 22K-Kevin Barksdale; DNS 97-Kevin Cummings

B Feature 2 (10 Laps): 1. 8X-Shane Pace; 2. 36-Jonathan Beason; 3. 93-Dustin Morgan; 4. 35-Rick Wright Jr; 5. 22-Koby Barksdale; 6. 32X-Robert Richardson; 7. W94-Waylon Weaver; DNF 21-Brandon Jennings; DNF 21X-Taylor Velasquez

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 23-Seth Bergman; 2. 14Z-Zach Pringle; 3. 48-Jake Martens; 4. 95-Matt Covington; 5. 03-Joe Wood Jr; 6. 4AM-Mike Goodman; 7. 81-Danny Wood; 8. 39-Andy Shouse; 9. 5-Joe Bob Lee; 10. 36-Jonathan Beason; 11. 2W-Whit Gastineau; 12. 25-Blake Hahn; 13. 8X-Shane Pace; DNF 94L-Layne Himebaugh; DNF 7S-Robert Sellers; DNF 9$-Kyle Clark; DNF 8-Alex Sewell; DNF 51-Matt Ward; DNF 7X-Shane Sellers; DNF 93-Dustin Morgan
Lap Leaders: Jake Martens (1-21), Seth Bergman (22-25)