Barksdale picks up sixth victory at Southern Oklahoma Speedway
By John Rittenoure
Ardmore, Okla. (September 23, 2016) - Engine woes plagued the Ameri-Flex / OCRS point series front runners on Friday at Southern Oklahoma Speedway.
Defending champion Robert Sellers had an engine let go while leading the 25-lap Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories main event and points runner-up Whit Gastineau suffered the same fate. However, fourth place Sheldon Barksdale took full advantage to pick up his sixth victory of the season.
Barksdale advanced to third in points dropping Zach Chappell, who was not racing, out of the show position by six points.
Barksdale is only 120 points behind leader Sellers despite missing two of the 20 shows run to-date.
“I wish could have made the two shows we missed this year,” Barksdale said reflecting back on his season. “I think we would have been right in the battle."
“It has been a great year. You can’t get to greedy but you wonder what it might have been if we had won those two races.”
Barksdale wasted little time charging toward the front from his third row starting position moving into third behind second place Sellers on lap four. Sellers passed early leader Shayla Waddell on lap nine and two laps later, Barksdale wheeled around Waddell for the runner-up position. Barksdale chased Sellers until lap 23 when Sellers coasted up to the cushion in turn three with an expired engine. Barksdale inherited the lead and drove his Wells Racing Engines powered Maxim chassis to victory.
“I got off to a good start and moved up to fourth early,” Barksdale said of his run. “I picked off a couple more and saw he (Sellers) was smoking and was waiting for him to blow up."
“If he could have kept going I think it might have been a side-by-side finish.”
Barksdale was just looking for an opportunity when one presented itself.
We were just trying to find a line he was not running,” Barksdale said. “He blew and it worked out for us.”
The track was also to Barksdale’s liking.
“The track was really racy,” he said. “They did an awesome job on the track tonight. I appreciate the work they did here.”
Cody Cothran, running his first race of the season with OCRS, surprised everyone charging into second after the lap 23 restart leaving Waddell with a third place finish.
Waddell led the first eight laps finally giving was to Sellers after the two swapped the lead back and forth.
“He kind of slid me cleanly then I was able to get a run back underneath him,” Waddell said, recalling her move back under Sellers to regain the lead. “I passed him again in the next corner but he got back around me."
“My car was a little tight. It was fun, but I just got a little tired. A third is good for us.”
Whit Gastineu (2w) & Robert Sellers (4x) each suffered blown motors in the midst of their title fight.
Only 30 points separate the two heading into the final night of action on October 15th.
Photo Credit: John Parham
Ameri-Flex / OCRS Official Results
Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Car count: 18
(Pos-Car-Driver-Start)
Drive Shafts, Inc. Heat (8 laps)
1, 88S-Shayla Waddell[1]. 2, 22-Koby Barksdale[2]. 3, 94F-Morgan Fletcher[5]. 4, B52-Brayden Voigt[3]. 5, 88-Kevin Pickard[4]. DNS: 3G-JeffGarnett[6].
A1 Machine Shop Heat (8 laps)
1, 4X-Robert Sellers[3]. 2, 2W-Whit Gastineau[1]. 3, 22C-Cody Cothran[2]. 4, 5-Cameron Hagin[4]. 5, 55-Johnny Kent[5]. DNS: 76H-TJ Honkomp[6].
Car and Fleet Parts Heat (8 laps)
1, 4-Shane Sellers[2]. 2, 03-Joe Wood Jr.[1]. 3, 20S-Sheldon Barksdale[5]. 4, 79-Tim Kent[4]. 5, P78-Perry Pickard[3]. 6, 7D-David Baxter[6].
AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories A Feature (25 laps)
1, 20S-Sheldon Barksdale[6]. 2, 22C-Cody Cothran[9]. 3, 88S-Shayla Waddell[3]. 4, 03-Joe Wood Jr.[5]. 5, 79-Tim Kent[12]. 6, 94F-Morgan Fletcher[7]. 7, P78-Perry Pickard[15]. 8, B52-Brayden Voigt[11]. 9, 4X-Robert Sellers[4]. 10, 55-Johnny Kent[13]. 11, 4-Shane Sellers[8]. 12, 5-Cameron Hagin[10]. 13, 2W-Whit Gastineau[5]. 14, 88-Kevin Pickard[14]. 15, 22-Koby Barksdale[2]. 16, 7D-David Baxter[16]. 17, 3G-Jeff Garnett[17]. DNS: 76H-TJ Honkomp[18].
Lap Leaders: Shayla Waddell 1-8; Robert Sellers 9-22; Sheldon Barksdale 23-25.
Contingency Awards:
Drive Shaft Inc. Heat: Shayla Waddell
A1 Machine Heat: Robert Sellers
Car and Fleet Parts Heat: Shane Sellers
D&E Supply Hard Luck Recipient: Whit Gastineau
Action Auto Collision Hard Charger Recipient: Perry Pickard +8
Wesmar Power Parts Recipient: Shane Sellers
M&W Aluminum Products Recipient: Cameron Hagin
Rod End Supply Recipients: Tim Kent, Robert Sellers, Koby Barksdale
About D&E Supply -
D&E Supply has over 35 years of experience towards serving Oklahoma builders, architects and independent contractors as a drywall and drywall supply source. Their years of experience mean you can rest assured you are getting the best quality product for your specific needs. D&E Supply works with some of the most cutting edge manufacturers bringing to the drywall industry a source for green products, acoustic drywall, steel framing or soundproof drywall. Tools of the trade are available as well in their contractor supply department.
Checkout their website at: www.dandesupply.com
About AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories -
Located in Tulsa OK, AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories is a family owned and operated company. From food grade hose to hoses for the petroleum industry, AmeriFlex will strive to fill your needs. AmeriFlex can build a hose to your specifications or we will assist you in creating what you have designed while you wait. AmeriFlex has several hard to find items that some vendors can’t get or find. Product can be shipped quickly and efficiently. If we do not have what you are looking for, we will direct you on where to find it. Give us a try, after all:
AmeriFlex Has The Stuff That Keeps You Going!
Website:
www.ameriflexhose.com
