Port City Raceway / Tulsa, Oklahoma
Saturday, August 31st / 2nd Annual DRC Memorial Grand Finale
An excessive heat warning was in effect for the Tulsa area, the National Weather Service must have taken homage of the blistering action in the first two nights of the 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial.
Nearly 180 entries suited up in their bid for one of the most prestigious events in all of open wheel racing, while nearly 1,000 fans braved the extreme elements in their flock to Port City confines to honor and celebrate the life of Donnie Ray Crawford.
The outpour of emotion was abundant from the onset, with many joining preliminary night winners in sharing what it meant to them to compete in the 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial.
“The ultimate competitor, one of the most talented racers and the best guy in any pit area” stated Tulsa’s Scott Sawyer, eventual winner in the 55 lap Outlaw main event. “Just like a big brother and my mentor” shared Sand Springs, Oklahoma’s Brendan Wiseley. Even those who did not know Donnie Ray personally are still touched by Donnie Ray and what he meant to many communities. The interviews were aired live via ustreamtv.com courtesy Port City Raceway announcer Bob Oertle, and in each racer was illuminated the passion that Donnie Ray had for racing.
Hot laps in each of the six divisions ran off in quick time as Aaron Lemmons meticulously monitored the top track in the Sooner State. Alphabets were on the menu with four C features precluding the same number of B Feature events that would set the field for the six main events of the 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial.
As is custom since the inaugural running of the Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial in 2012, all participants and raceway staff joined the Crawford family on the front straightaway in honor and remembrance of Donnie Ray.
Infinite time could be spent just trying to describe the emotional setting of the opening ceremony of the DRC Memorial. There simply is nothing like it. The packed confines of Port City Raceway overflow with infinite affection, inspiration, and admiration of Donnie Ray and the Crawford family.
Communities grieve, almost always silently. But it is the most beautiful thing for those communities to come together, united in a cause to not only remember a most wonderful person, but to celebrate and take joy in the many things that made Donnie Ray Crawford the hero he will always be to so many. Even first time fans are touched at this event. Especially at Port City Raceway, Crawford’s home track, where the vast majority knew him so well. It is seen and shared there, in the voices and stories of so many.
Port City Raceway promoter Aaron Lemmons led the opening ceremony, honoring the venerable involvement of so many that contribute to both the event and the silent auction in which all proceeds are contributed directly to the Donnie Ray Crawford Scholarship Foundation. All hearts and eyes light up when Donnie Ray’s mother, Jodie Crawford speaks to the racers and the packed crowd about Donnie Ray and the passion that he not only had for racing and about what the event held in his honor means to them. The crowd erupts in cheers, not just in memory of Donnie Ray, but the eternal affection and special place in our hearts that the Crawford family will always be in.
The applause carries before racing’s favorite Pastor Kenneth Hagin leads the invocation of the 2nd Annual DRC Memorial. Pastor Hagin speaks of Donnie Ray‘s determined faith and spirit. Cheers break out once more. A sprint car ignites with the Stars and Stripes fixed to the tail while the National Anthem rings throughout the grounds. At the end of our Nation’s beloved anthem, elated cheers ring out a final time, it’s time to launch the final night of the 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial.
The following recaps are in running order.
JUNIOR SPRINT
Friday night’s Prelim winner “Holleywood” Holly Hollan led the 18 Junior Sprint main event contestants out onto the track. In a special and unique twist, all main event cars were lined up on the front straightaway with the pilots introduced to cheers. Friday night’s 2nd Annual DRC Memorial prelim winner Holley Hollan was offered the Front Row Challenge presented by C&T Express.
Holleywood declined the challenge, but outside front row started and Inaugural 2012 DRC Memorial Junior Sprint winner Cannon McIntosh accepted the challenge. Thus, Holleywood paced the pole of the 20 lap Junior Sprint main event with Cole Roberts alongside.
Holleywood likely wishes she could take the pass of the FRC back as contact on the opening lap ended with Hollan upside down and relegated to the 9th row anyway.
In fact, 8 stoppages would mar the early stages of the 20 lap affair (ten overall). Cole Roberts led throughout those early stages. McIntosh was back up to 8th by a lap four red for a Garrett Bias spill. However, extreme misfortune derailed McIntosh’s bid as contact under yellow dumped him in turn three and forced him back to the tail.
Roberts still led at the midway point with Muskogee’s Jake Nail on his bumper and Sand Springs gasser Hank Davis advancing up to make it a tight three way battle.
Leaders approached lapped traffic with around 5 laps remaining and the challenges to Roberts becoming more intense on each lap. The intensity final reached a fever pitch with slight contact relegating Roberts several spots back and Davis taking over the lead on the 17th round.
Davis sped on to Junior Sprint legend in the 2nd Annual DRC Memorial, scoring the win aboard the BA PowderCoating, Intruder Junior Chassis, Car & Fleet and BA Lawn & Garden sponsored no. 1H.
Jacob Nail finished a close second with Blake Battles claiming the show position. Taking the C&T Express Front Row Challenge, 2012 DRC Memorial winner Cannon McIntosh made it from 18th starting spot to fourth. Earning $25 for each position he improved ($350). Grady Mercer fought his way up three spots to complete the top five finishing order.
A FEATURE 1, Hank Davis. 2, Jake Nail. 3, Blake Battles. 4, Cannon McIntosh. 5, Grady Mercer. 6, Cole Roberts. 7, Holley Hollan. 8, Kaleb Hughes. 9, Kale Drake. 10, Shawn Mahaffey. 11, J Brady Hilton. 12, Joey Gray. 13, Emilio Hoover. 14, Macy Roulain. 15, Connor Thompson. 16, Garrett Bias. 17, Baron Silva. (DQ). 18, Treyton Gann. (DNS).
A CLASS
Friday night’s prelim winner Jason Tracy led the 20 main event starters to the front straight. When presented opportunity to take the Front Row Challenge presented by Vacuworx Global, Tracy opted to keep his spot. Outside front row started Jason McDougal also declined the challenge.
Thus the field started as slated in the 35 lap A Class main event with McDougal in the early lead. In the best main event of the night, the caution light’s stayed off most of the way and the battle for the lead was spliced often with lapped traffic.
McDougal had a big advantage as the A Class main event neared the midway point, but Pryor’s Frank “The Legendary” Flud was on the march and up to snuff by lap 20.
With McDougal’s pace stunted by lapped traffic, Flud blasted pass on the high side to take the lead on lap 21.
A lap 26 yellow bunched the field up with Flud leading Harlan Hulsey and McDougal. The ensuing restart saw a chess match between high and low grooves, but Flud gates were opened on the cushion as Frank thrashed away.
The final caution flew with 3 laps remaining as Jason Tracy collided with a lapped car to end his top five run. Hulsey looked beneath Flud on the restart but the door was slammed shut. An elated Frank Flud swiftly reeled off the final few laps to take the prestigious 2nd Annual DRC Memorial A Class title aboard the M. Ross Inc., Metric Cycles, Outlaw Wings, Infinity Shocks, and Guhl Injection sponsored no. 81.
An extremely happy Flud thanked Mike Ross, Karley Kay Dobson, and Dean Franklin for their exceptional help at the 2nd Annual DRC Memorial before affectionately praising the Crawford family and dedicating his win to them.
Hulsey accepted runner up honors with McDougal completing the podium run. Chris Andrews advanced three spots to claim fourth with Jarrett Crouch completing the top five finishing order.
Anadarko’s Ryan Padgett snared the first of four transfer spots out of the 12 lap C Feature. Three of the 4 C Main transfers also transferred out of the 20 lap B Feature, won Oklahoma City’s coast to coast racer Trey Marcham.
C FEATURE 1, Ryan Padgett. 2, Jason Collins. 3, Chad Bell. 4, Will Scribner. 5, Chase Rohrbaugh. 6, Hannah Adair. 7, Robert McIntosh. 8, Eric Cantrell. 9, Caleb Thompson. 10, Austin Helt. 11, Brittney Davidson. 12, Larry Martinez. 13, Nathan Weida. (DNS).14, Scott Sawyer. (DNS).15, Wes Little. (DNS).
B FEATURE 1, Trey Marcham. 2, Ty Hulsey. 3, Lonnie Fraley. 4, Steven Curbow. 5, Trenton Borchers. 6, Dylan Sterling Ward. 7, Christian Kinnison. 8, Chad Bell. 9, Will Scribner. 10, David Baker Jr. 11, Ryan Padgett. 12, Brittany Yarwood. 13, Jason Collins. 14, Raymond Moore. 15, Bailey Felkins. 16, Sterling Hoff. 17, David Proffitt. 18, Layne Himebaugh. 19, Kris Carroll. 20, Joshua Marcham. (DNS).
A FEATURE 1, Frank Flud. 2, Harlan Hulsey. 3, Jason McDougal. 4, Chris Andrews. 5, Jarrett Crouch. 6, Chris Cochran. 7, Christian Kinnison. 8, Jordan Herrman. 9, Trey Marcham. 10, Trenton Borchers. 11, Steven Curbow. 12, Jason Tracy. 13, David Baker Jr. 14, Brittany Yarwood. 15, Ryan Padgett. 16, Will Scribner. 17, Chad Bell. 18, Dylan Sterling Ward. 19, Ty Hulsey. 20, Lonnie Fraley.
RESTRICTED
Sand Springs racer Bailey Hughes led the 20 Restricted main event started onto the front straightaway for driver introductions.
CTE Construction offered Hughes Front Row Challenge but the Thursday night winner politely declined, as did Thursday night runner up Taylor Reimer - who does a mean back flip from her right rear tire when introduced. Pretty cool.
Both young ladies started front row of the 30 lap 2nd Annual DRC Memorial Restricted main event. Hughes settled into the early lead with Reimer throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Hughes in the early going.
A short stoppage on lap 3 was all that slowed down Hughes, who began earning some distance ten laps in. Hughes encountered the first wave of lapped traffic around the midway point which allowed Reimer back into the discussion. Reimer was high on Hughes until the final stoppage occurred on the 22nd round for a stalled Tristan Oakes.
Reimer shadowed Hughes the next few laps, but Hughes pulled away late to score the prestigious 2nd Annual DRC Memorial Restricted main event crown aboard the Sawyer Chassis, Metric Cycles, Lightning Wings, and Mychron Tom supported no. 777.
Reimer held on to the runner up spot with Brendan Wiseley claiming the final podium spot. Quinton Standlee and Tyler Vandiver rounded out the top five.
Sawyer Guidry overcame Zac Moody for the leading transfer in the 12 lap Restricted C Feature. Moody was the only C Main transfer to also come through the 20 lap Restricted B Feature - won by Joey Schmidt.
C FEATURE 1, Sawyer Guidry. 2, Nathan Weida. 3, Alison Slaton. 4, Zac Moody. 5, Haley Hollan. 6, Kelsey Gray. 7, Kyle Thompson.
B FEATURE 1, Joey Schmidt. 2, Tristan Oakes. 3, Trenton Jackson. 4, Jaiden Hughes. 5, Josh Wakley. 6, Stephen Smith. 7, Nathan Weida. 8, Montana Garrison. 9, Jase Randolph. 10, Nate Burkett. 11, Chris Coster. 12, Grady Widener. 13, Alison Slaton. 14, Blake Hulland. 15, James Fell. 16, Sawyer Guidry. 17, Ryan Hunt. 18, Mason McGuire. 19, Taylor Garrison. 20, Zac Moody.
A FEATURE 1, Bailey Hughes. 2, Taylor Reimer. 3, Brendon Wiseley. 4, Quinton Standlee. 5, Tyler Vandiver. 6, Joey Schmidt. 7, Kaylee Bryson. 8, Jase Randolph. 9, Stephen Smith. 10, Jaiden Hughes. 11, Nathan Weida. 12, Trenton Jackson. 13, Tristan Oakes. 14, Grady Widener. 15, Montana Garrison. 16, Josh Wakley. 17, Chris Coster. 18, Nate Burkett. 19, Austin Lambert. (DQ). 20, Noah Harris. (DQ).
NON WING
Broken Arrow’s Jeffrey Newell the 20 car Non Wing main event onto the front straightaway for driver introductions. Port City Raceway sponsored the Front Row Challenge that would award $25 for each increase in position as well as a $500 bonus if the acceptant driver made it back to the lead, but Newell declined. So did Chris Andrews.
Little fault can be attributed as the cushion was clearly in question by this point. So much so that when Newell was off to an early lead in the 35 lap main event, Andrews could do little more than follow on the bottom - precisely what the Tulsa phenom did not want to do going into the race.
With Newell leading Andrews and Harlan Hulsey, action appeared ready to pick up as the leaders approached lapped traffic at the midway point. Andrews was primed to try that high side out and did so when Newell reached lapped traffic, but the red flag stopped the Non Wing A Main when Chris Cochran flipped wildly down the back straightaway.
Newell led Andrews with Jordan Herrman making his way to third before a yellow fell on the 24th round for a Ty Hulsey spin. That spin all but ensured Newell the score unless he blew it.
Those odds are extremely long, Newell methodically worked his way the final 11 laps, easily holding Andrews at bay to sweep 2nd Annual DRC Memorial Non Wing action aboard the WCI Inc., Risley’s Trash Service, Bob Hurley Ford, Fenton Graphics, and Metric Cycles sponsored no. 1.
Andrews finished second with Jordan Herrman completing the podium run. Harlan Hulsey battled up 7 spots to claim fourth with A Class main event winner Frank Flud advancing a couple spots to complete his 2nd top five run of the night.
Bailey Felkins took the first of 4 transfer spots out of the 12 lap Non Wing C Feature that had suffered a scary wreck when Shane Hacker drilled the front straightaway wall exiting turn 4 and flipping four times before coming to a rest past the flag stand. Hacker’s no. 12s was raised vertically to allow medical personnel to insert a back board and remove the racer without further injury. Still no word on Hacker’s condition and face book/internet searches have yielded no information. If information is found please share as soon as possible. We hope the news is positive and our thoughts remain with Hacker and his camp.
None of the 4 C feature transfers made it out of the B Main - won by Jarrett Crouch.
C FEATURE 1, Bailey Felkins. 2, Austin Helt. 3, Eric Cantrell. 4, Rayce Bowen. 5, Jared Fell. 6, Dillon Conrad. 7, Cole Lambert. 8, Shane Hacker. 9, Dalton Conrad. 10, Cory Weigert. 11, Grady Chandler. (DNS).12, Christian Kinnison. (DNS).
B FEATURE 1, Jarrett Crouch. 2, Jason Tracy. 3, Tyler Edwards. 4, Cody Cordell. 5, Dylan Sterling Ward. 6, Ty Hulsey. 7, Dean Drake Jr. 8, Hunter Fischer. 9, Sterling Hoff. 10, Will Scribner. 11, Rodney Maner. 12, Trenton Borchers. 13, Josh Marcham. 14, Kyle Keeler. 15, Austin Helt. 16, Rayce Bowen. 17, Eric Cantrell. 18, Bailey Felkins. 19, Steven Curbow. 20, Brittany Yarwood. (DNS).
A FEATURE 1, Jeffrey Newell. 2, Chris Andrews. 3, Jordan Herrman. 4, Harlan Hulsey. 5, Frank Flud. 6, Trey Marcham. 7, Jarrett Crouch. 8, Jason Tracy. 9, Sterling Hoff. 10, Dylan Sterling Ward. 11, Dean Drake Jr. 12, Hunter Fischer. 13, Trenton Borchers. 14, Rodney Maner. 15, Will Scribner. 16, Tyler Edwards. 17, Ty Hulsey. 18, Cord Dodson. 19, Cody Cordell. 20, Chris Cochran.
SPORTSMAN
Thursday night Sportsman winner and Broken Arrow native Ryan Cody led the field onto the front straightaway for driver introductions where both he and Craig Carroll reasonably declined the Front Row Challenge.
The 1/8th mile highbanked oval began to take rubber around the late hour and Ryan Cody took full advantage, hitting the right groove precisely in each turn. Carroll followed, but short of a slip or mishap in lapped traffic had few options.
Neither materialized. In one of the faster Sportsman A Mains fans have ever seen, Cody went wire to wire to sweep 2nd Annual DRC Memorial Sportsman action aboard the Skip’s Performance Corner, RC’s Lawn Care, and Factor One Racing sponsored no. 7.
Craig Carroll placed second with Ricky Glover Sr., Ken Simmons, and David Doss all concluding the 35 laps as they started in the top five.
A FEATURE 1, Ryan Cody. 2, Craig Carroll. 3, Ricky Glover Sr. 4, Ken Simmons. 5, David Doss. 6, Danny Clum. 7, Luke Tipton. 8, Dave Nicholson. 9, Randy Cody. 10, Randy Myers. 11, Charles Corte. 12, Lucas Pruitt. 13, Kenny Howard. 14, Raymond Hill. 15, Darrius Myers. 16, Brandon Henson. 17, Isaac Barr. 18, James Parker. 19, Mark Lutz. 20, John Stowe. 21, Jonathan Forsythe. (DNS).
OUTLAW
The headlining Outlaw division was led into driver introductions by Friday’s prelim winner Chris Andrews. One of the top multi teams in the entire country aboard the Blevins’ Bob Hurley Ford no. 8 entry; Andrews swept 2012 DRC Memorial Outlaw action, also picking up big paychecks at Oklahoma City’s I44 Riverside Speedway, including a whopping $10,000 score in last year’s 66 Memorial in Illinois.
Slated to start pole position of the 55 lap main event in honor of Donnie Ray Crawford’s number, Andrews declined the Front Row Challenge presented by Momo’s Racing Engines, Metric Cycles, Sawyer Chassis, Wheeler Metals, Ross Racing, Quality 1 Performance, and microoutlaws.com. Outside front row starter David McIntosh also declined.
In tribute to Donnie Ray Crawford, father Donnie and grandfather Ray Crawford paced the two DRC no. 55 entries in front of the final main event as the crowd roared on even at 145am. Thirty laps were in order before a stoppage would be held for teams to make any adjustment with the exception of a tire change before the race would be resumed for the final 25 laps.
Andrews rocketed off to the early lead, holding off McIntosh and Harley Hollan in one lane fashion over the early stages. The yellow flew on the 9th round as Factor 1 Racing standouts Kevin Bayer and Jason McDougal were both collected in a spin.
The ensuing restart left fans in shock as Andrews was forced to the infield with a suspected electrical issue. David McIntosh inherited the lead and reached lapped traffic on the 20th round with Harlan Hulsey and Scott Sawyer in tow.
The order remained unchanged as the break came on lap 30. At the “halfway” point Pryor’s Frank Flud, a winner in earlier A Class action and 5th place finisher in the Non Wing main event, had made his way from 15th to 6th.
Back underway, Flud made a clean move by Jeff Frey into the 5 spot only to have the latter dive back under in turn 3 and contact result that would force both to the tail.
Action really heated up on the 42nd lap as the rubber widened and Hulsey began getting monster runs coming off turns 2 and 4. A slight slip by Hulsey cost him dearly a few laps, allowing Sawyer and “Front Row” Joey Baker by to challenge the leader.
A 2nd Kevin Bayer spin on lap 47 proved to be the final stoppage. Sawyer mounted a seasoned assault on McIntosh coming out of the restart. McIntosh appeared to bobble exiting turn two on the 49th round and Sawyer blasted by to take the late lead.
A multiple winner in prestigious Port City racing, Sawyer powered the Sawyer Chassis, Metric Cycles, Lightning Wings, M. Ross Inc., and Edge Grafix supported no. 29 to victory lane in the 2nd Annual DRC Memorial Outlaw main event.
Joey Baker claimed runner up honors with McIntosh completing the podium. Tim Kent advanced 7 spots to finish fourth with Harlan Hulsey rounding out the top five. Curtis Jones easily nabbed the Hard Charger effort in an impressive run from 17th to sixth, with Frank Flud recovering from poor luck to garner 7th. 2003 Tulsa Shootout titlist Ryan Ratliff placed 8th with Jeff Frey and Ty Hulsey completing the top ten finishing order.
C FEATURE 1, Justin Fletcher. 2, Frank Flud. 3, Curtis Jones. 4, Tyler Gordon. 5, Michael Berry. 6, Shane Fletcher. 7, Bryan Davidson.
B FEATURE 1, Ty Hulsey. 2, Jeff Frey. 3, Matt Taylor. 4, Delaney Jost. 5, Ryan Ratliff. 6, Chris Berreth. 7, Frank Flud. 8, Christian Kinnison. 9, Curtis Jones. 10, Kyle Keeler. 11, Jason Adams. 12, Tyler Gordon. 13, Frank Taft. 14, Chase Rohrbaugh. 15, Justin Fletcher. 16, Tom Calico. 17, Hannah Adair. 18, Edmund Bishop. 19, Grady Chandler. 20, Brett Adams.
A FEATURE 1, Scott Sawyer. 2, Joey Baker. 3, David McIntosh. 4, Matt Taylor. 5, Harlan Hulsey. 6, Curtis Jones. 7, Frank Flud. 8, Ryan Ratliff. 9, Jeff Frey. 10, Ty Hulsey. 11, Delaney Jost. 12, Christian Kinnison. 13, Kevin Bayer. 14, Kyle Keeler. 15, Chris Berreth. 16, Tyler Gordon. 17, Jason McDougal. 18, Jason Adams. 19, Harley Hollan. 20, Chris Andrews
Port City Raceway thanks the thousands that came together for the 2nd Annual Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial. Weekly racing continues on each Saturday in the month of September in advance of the 14th Annual Pete Frazier Memorial on October 4th and 5th.
Stay tuned to www.portcityracin.com or Like and Follow Port City Raceway on Facebook for all news and updates.
Cody Morris
- Admin Account on Sep 03, 2013
- Article Date: 8/31/2013