FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Holley Hustles to Late Model victory at Shady Oaks Speedway

by J M Hallas
Goliad, TX (Nov. 6, 2010) - Saturday night completed Shady Oaks Speedway's Fall Classic Spectacular on the 1/3 mile semi-banked dirt oval. Despite a lack of track experience out-of-towners showcased the nights main events taking home wins in four of the five featured classes. Street Stock driver Alan Kunkel was only home towner to get a win, his first of the year.

Cleveland's Chris Holley made his first trip to Shady Oaks a profitable one as he outdistanced the Late Model field. Holley jumped out to big lead as green waved trailed by Ricky Begnaud, Mitch Wagner, Andy Van Blarcum and Kevin Migura charging up to fifth. Michael Wagner rolled to a stop in turn 1 with a flat to bring out a lap 1 caution.

On the restart Migura got by Mit. Wagner for third while Van Blarcum half spun and fell to the tail. By lap 8 Holley had built a full straightaway lead over Begnaud who had a gap back to Migura and Mit. Wagner. Migura chipped away and caught Begnaud for second on lap 10. Mike Orlando had trouble in turn 2 to bring out a yellow on lap 11, erasing Holley's huge lead.

When green waved again, Holley motored ahead while Migura got by Begnaud for second. Migura then slid too high giving the spot back to Begnaud. Mit. Wagner lost a top five spot on lap 13 when he went off the back stretch on lap 13. With two to go Holley had rebuilt his big lead to nearly a half track and was able to cruise uncontested to the checkers in the First Class Septic, Performance Race Engineering, Stuckeys Race Cars, Wall 2 Wall Race Engines, MasterBilt chassis.

“My crew(Robbie and Charles) worked their butts off on this car.” explained Holley. “I want to thank Mark, Sandra and Tyler Erb for giving me a good car. They're the best. We do a lot of touring racing in the SUPR series in the southwest so we get a feel for different tracks. That makes coming to a track for the first time a little easier. We run the Spec. motor to get a weight break, plus the big spoiler.”

Late Model
28 Chris Holley
32 Ricky Begnaud
15m Kevin Migura
94 Keith Pearcy
15 Andy Van Blarcum
9 Mitch Wagner
93 Jesse Harris
0 Mike Orlando
18 Michael Wagner
77 Robbie Starnes---DNS


Starnes Streaks to Modified Main Money

After losing a motor in his Late Model, Houston area veteran Robbie Starnes thought he was just going to be a spectator. Corpus Christi's Steve Whiteaker jr. stepped up offering his Modified ride for the remainder of the weekend. Starnes made the most of the opportunity in the Modified main event. Starnes beat local hot shoe Nick Hardcastle into turn 1 for the lead with Terry Woodall and Mike McCarthy in tow.

Corey Babbitt got fourth from McCarthy on lap 1 and pulled along side Woodall for third grabbing that position on lap 3. Hardcastle tried to pressure Starnes but got sideways giving up ground on lap 4. Starnes had a straightaway edge over Hardcastle by lap 5, while McCarthy got by Woodall for fourth. Marlin Samford went around and collected Corey Babbitt on lap 7 to bring out a yellow and rebunch the field.

Starnes eased away on the restart with Woodall retaking third from McCarthy. McCarthy falling back into the clutches of Ben Ketteman who took over fourth on lap 8. Woodall had trouble in turn 3, with Ketteman having to take evasive action for a lap 9 yellow. Starnes got out by three car lengths on the restart and would be able to hold his advantage for the win in Whiteaker's Jana Schurry/Remax Realty, WW Bodies, Showtime Signs, T Roberts Optical, Mullins Race Engines, Hughes Chassis.

“I probably haven't been down here in 5-10 years,” replied Starnes. “That's about the last time I ran a modified too. We came to run a Late Model but blew a motor in hot laps. Steve(Whiteaker) let me drive his car and I appreciate him letting me do this. It was a tough race. I was a little nervous on the starts and restart since I'm not familiar with this car. It drives a little loose for me, but I was able to pull it off. It's a great car.”

Modifieds
89 Robbie Starnes
94 Nick Hardcastle
37 Ben Ketteman
20 Mike McCarthy
3w Terry Woodall
44 Joe O'Bryan
12 Corey Babbitt
c31 Marlin Samford
38 Dennis Taylor---DNS
21 Jason Borlace---DNS
00 Dustin Brandl---DNS
717 GW Egbert---DNS


Whiteaker Whips 'Em for Limited Modified Win

Despite starting deep in the field Corpus Christi hot shoe Steve Whiteaker jr. easily worked his way through the field, took the lead at halfway and pulled away for the Limited Modified victory. On the start Vince Louden beat Dustin Butcher off turn 2 for the lead followed by GW Hessong and Mike Walling. Hessong's top run ended when he blew a motor on lap 2 laying down fluid on the track. Brian Brooks submarined Walling and hooked bumpers knocking the radiator out of Brooks.

On the restart Whiteaker grabbed fifth from JJ Jennings, then picked off fourth from David Meredith. Up front Butcher was putting the heat on Louden taking a look low in turn 4. Whiteaker was along side Walling on lap 5 as they battled for third. Ken Bulsterbaum had contact sending him off the back stretch for a caution on lap 6. Once back to green Walling took second from Butcher and looked inside Louden.

Butcher lost ground on lap 8 after getting sideways. Walling again looked inside Louden but had Whiteaker trying to dive in lower. Whiteaker got by both on lap 9, but slid high. Walling ducked under Whiteaker out of turn 4 to sniff the lead, but Whiteaker powered back by to lead lap 10. Louden got sideways in turn 3 giving up spots to George Egbert and Jennings, before puling off.

Michael Harp went over the hill in turn 3 to bring out a yellow on lap 13. Whiteaker got a huge jump as green waved again while Butcher got past Jennings and Meredith for fourth. As Whiteaker began to pull away with five to go, Butcher and Egbert were side by side for third with Butcher getting the spot. Whiteaker was able to increase his margin the final circuits for the win the in the Jana Schurry/Remax Realty, WW Bodies, Showtime Signs, QA1 Shocks by Swenson, Express Race Car.

“Racing and plans usually don't end up in the same sentence,” commented Whiteaker after his charge from the back. “So there was really no plan. If anything it was just to keep the car in one piece. The car was really hooked up. The track has some black spots which is kind of unusual here. That made for better racing.”

Limited Modifieds
89 Steve Whiteaker jr
29 Mike Walling
90 Dustin Butcher
70 George Egbert
26g JJ Jennings
14 David Meredith
18 Larry Jernigan
3 Abraham Mares
21 Victor Lindsey
771 Wesley Malcher
34 Michael Harp
100 Tryce Hermes
6 Vince Louden
5k Ken Bulsterbaum
25 Brian Brooks
14m GW Hessong
Limited Modified "B" Qualifier
89 Steve Whiteaker jr
34 Michael Harp
771 Wesley Malcher
21 Victor Lindsey
100x Tryce Hermes
70 George Egbert


Hinojosa Holds on for Super Stock Sweep

Corpus Christi area driver Leo Hinojosa beat David Kulhanek out of turn 2 for the lead of the Super Stock feature. Jerry Neal fell in line second, Kulhanek third and Bo Beckner fourth. John Beckner spun in turn 3 for an early caution on the first lap. On the restart Kulhanek got by Neal for second while Daniel Waer tried to follow along. Lucky Gilbert went around on lap 2 with Teresa Waller spinning in the back up.

Once back to green B. Beckner got around Kulhanek for second and was looking inside Hinojosa as Abraham Mares worked is way up to fourth. Hinojosa and B. Beckner were side door to door on lap 3, with Mike Davenport getting third from Mares and Kulhanek. Hinojosa held the point as the fight for the lead calmed for several laps. B. Beckner again put the heat on Hinojosa getting along side on lap 9 and by to lead lap 10.

B. Beckner's run ended on lap 13 when his car shut off and spun in turn 2 giving the lead back to Hinojosa on lap 14. B. Beckner was able to refire but lose a motor on the restart that saw Mares and Kulhanek resume their battle for third before Kulhanek pitted. Terry Tschoerner laid some fluid down on the track ending his night and bringing out a lap 18 caution. Hinojosa was able to ease away the final two laps for the win in the Quality Car Care & Powerwash, Clear Vision Windshield Repair, Exide Batteries, Valvoline Express Care car.

“It was pretty tough out there,” said Hinojosa. “It was good racing and a lot of fun. I was just being patient. I saw him (Bo Beckner) going high and thought maybe he'd go off, and sure enough he did. We really didn't have to change anything n the car.”

Super Stock
7 Leo Hinojosa
70 Mike Davenport
3 Abraham Mares
00 Daniel Waer
5b John Beckner
3w Teresa Waller
48 Duane Toyne
27 Tommy Gural
17 David Kulhanek
01 Terry Tschoerner
75 Bo Beckner
36 Lucky Gilbert
50 Jerry Neal
67 Sonny Hammond
77 Landon Farquar---DNTG
24x Kyle Dayton---DNS
68 Joby Pasley---DNS
28 Leland Waddell---DNS
Super Stock "B" Qualifier
75 Bo Beckner
70 Mike Davenport
3 Abraham Mares
00 Daniel Waer
67 Sonny Hammond
3w Teresa Waller
68 Joby Pasley---DNS


Kunkel Captures First Ever Street Stock Checkers

Local driver Alan Kunkel scored one for the home team as he held off challenges from John Lieta throughout the feature. 18-cars took the green with Lieta grabbing the early lead and Chris Shafer and Stephan Danielson going three wide with Kunkel for second. Danielson suffered a flat in the scramble and stopped in turn 3 for a caution. Lieta led the pack on the restart but slipped high on lap 3 giving up the top spot to Kunkel.

Lauren Chamberlain got loose off turn 2 and was finished off by Brad Garrett to bring out a yellow on lap 4. On the restart Lieta got by Shafer for second while in the pack Matt Farris spun after contact with Wade Jones, who was sent to the tail. As quick as green waved, yellow back out again for debris on the back stretch. As Lieta pushed Kunkel into turn 1, Shafer snuck back by for second.

David Bruns got tangled with Brian King in turn 1 for a caution on lap 5. Once back to green Lieta tried high on Kunkel for the lead, while Bubba Seals worked his way into the top five. Farris and Justin Henley were able to get past Seals on lap 6 for fourth and fifth, but Seals retook a spot from Henley who got loose. Jones spun on lap 14 after contact by Hayes bringing out a caution.

Kunkel got away clean on the restart while Seals and Shafer swapped third. Henley and Danielson had their own battle going on for fifth behind the lead group. Henley was able get the spot on lap 16. Lieta tried one last charge in the final laps but a flat right front saw him fall back in the order. Kunkel was able to hold off Shafer to take his first ever win.

“This is awesome,” exclaimed Kunkel. “This is my first full year in the Street Stocks and to finish the season with a win is great. I could feel someone back there on the restarts, but I just to tried to stay calm and be patient.”

Street Stocks
68 Alan Kunkel
77 Chis Shafer
96 Justin Henley
149 Stephan Danielson
31 Brian King
41 Wade Jones
19 Bubba Seals
23 David Bruns
9* Brad Garrett
33 Aaron Lunsford
55 Lauren Chamberlain
89F Matt Farris
22 Michale Pesek
24 John Lieta
63 Chase Sanchez
57 Jason Kelly
1 Nick Moore
3m Mike Moseley
35 Tony Blankenship---DNS
Street Stock "B" Qualifier
23 David Bruns
22 Michale Pesek
33L Aaron Lunsford
1 Nick Moore
96 Justin Henley
9* Brad Hayes
3m Mike Moseley
19 Bubba Seals


The Mini Stock feature saw Ashley Perks get out front early and go flag to flag for the win. Perks was chased early by Ethan Hoover and Justin Sickle. A lap 4 caution for Sarah Konvicka saw Hoover and Sickle make contact giving Perks a big advantage. Perks held that margin throughout the remaining laps to put the Plum Crazy Racing Ford in the Winners Circle.

“I have to thank my Dad” replied the shy Perks. He helps out a lot on my car while I'm busy with school. I don't think about beating the boys, I just like racing.”

Mini Stocks
12 Ashley Perks
03 Justin Sickle
27 Ethan Hoover
175 Austin Gearhart
8 Sarah Konvicka
Mini Stock heat winner; 12 Ashley Perks