Cody Morris, KENNEDALE,TX (10-7-2011) - Approximately 90 Lucas Oil ASCS2 entries joined gale force winds in welcoming Fort Worth area race fans to the opening night of the inaugural Cowtown Crown.
Encompassing the 2011 campaign finale of Lucas Oil American Small Car Series action, the Cowtown Crown features 4 nights of Lucas Oil ASCS2 action split into two weekends. As the first of the final two weekends of the 2011 campaign arrived, it was very much a make or break event for many competitors doggedly fighting for their 2011 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Championship hopes amidst the tremendous southerly winds.
The headlining Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw main event would be led to green by Longview, Texas native Tyson Hall. A sweeper of Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw action in the final pair of Outlaw competitions at Cowtown Speedway in 2010, the 22 year old hadhis eyes set on repeat success in the 25 lap Outlaw main event.
After an inadvertant caution nixed the first attempt to get a lap in the books, inside second row starter Tyler Courtney gunned by Hall and fellow front row starter Dustin Gates.
Several high speed battles would ensue over the early course of the 25 lap affair as Hall powered back by Courtney on lap 5. Courtney and Hall would battle intensely for the lead while Shreveport, Lousiana's Dustin Gates repeatedly traded third with Sapulpa, Oklahoma's reigning Lucas Oil ASCS2 Champ Blake Hahn.
However, the lightning fast cycle would be greatly altered as Courtney lost power at the halfway point, casting Hahn into the runner upo spot behind Hall, followed by Gates, Chance Terrell, and Drew Salisbury.
Hahn would immediately begin an intense assault on Hall's advantage, despite two ensuing stoppages. A lap 20 caution for Philip Davis' stalled speedster set up a 5 lap dash between Hahn and Hall.
That dash received a big suprise in the form of a huge Dustin Gates slider delivered under the leaders entering turn two. However, Hall and Hahn rocketed back by on the top side of turn two before gaining marginal advantage.
Hahn would continue to shadow Hall in every turn, sliding underneath several times in the final 4 laps, but Tyson Hall's groove would prove quickest as he took a 2 car length advantage across the finish line for his first Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw triumph of the 2011 season aboard the Pine Tree Motors, Guhl Injection, and Devo Motors sponsored black and blue no. 5x
Hahn settled for runner up honors aboard the Speedway Vending no. 52, taking another leap in his bid for a succesfull Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw title defense. Lousiana's Gates took show position honors across the line.
A winner of season opening Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw action at Cowtown Speedway, Lindsay, Oklahoma's Harli White rallied from her 18th starting position to claim fourth, with Oklahoma City's Chance Terrell completing the top 5 running order.
Tyler Courtney, Blake Hahn, and Dustin Gates took heat race honors over the 22 car Outlaw field.
In Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing competition, Wyatt Rector led a loaded field to green in the 25 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing main event. However, deja vu would propel Longview, Texan Tyson Hall into the early lead.
Hall's blistering pace would yield less challenge to his lead, but the action immediately behind would set up fiercely with hometown favorite Jeb Sessums, EMSA series' leader Jacob Lucas and current Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing leader Steven Shebester.
A marathon of stoppages would be concluded by a lap 23 stoppage as Kyle Anderson flipped hard into the turn three catch fence, setting up a two lap dash for the win with Hall leading Shebester, Sessums, Harli White, and Keith Martin, after the latter worked his way through the entire 24 car field following an early spin.
Hall would go virtually unchallenged in snaring his first Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing victory of the season aboard the increasingly familiar Pine Tree Motors, Guhl Injection, and Devo Motors sponsored no. 5x.
Pauls Valley, Oklahoma's Steven Shebester took runner up honors, while also nearly doubling his point advantage in the 2011 title pursuit after Glenpool's Matt Ward failed to qualify for the Non Wing main event.
Sessums crossed the finish line 3rd, with White advancing from 10th to 4th and Jacob Lucas completing the top 5 running order.
Kyle Jones, Dalton Steed, Tyson Hall, Steven Shebester, and Jeb Sessums earned heat race honors over the 43 car Non Wing field, with Taylor Smitherman and George White each taking wins in B feature action.
Coweta, Oklahoma's Chance Morton entered the Cowtowb Crown with a sizeable advantage in the 2011 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted campaign on the strength of four main event victories.
While Ashley Reagan commenced the 20 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted main event and led lap 1, Morton would rocket into 2nd by that time and quickly overpower Reagan midway through the 2nd circuit.
It was a lead Morton would never surrender, as he annihilated a Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted main event field for a series' best fifth time of the 2011 campaign aboard the Morton Excavating, Intruder Chassis, Momo's Racing Engines, and Napa sponsored no. 7m.
Cyril, Oklahoma native and outside front row starter Cord Dodson would maintain that spot to the finish line with Reagan accepting show position honors. Kennedale's McKenzie Ramey earned her first Lucas Oil ASCS2 top 5 finish with a fourth place effort while fellow Texas Aaron Dromgoole completed the top 5 running order.
Grady Chandler, Morgan Roan, and McKenzie Ramey earned heat race victories over the 22 car Restricted division.
Lucas Oil American Small Car Series action resumes with a Saturday night finale to part one of the 2011 Cowtown Crown. Gates open at 4pm with heat race action set to go green at 6pm.
- Cathy Lorenz on Oct 09, 2011
- Article Date: 10/9/2011 by Cody Morris