This message was edited on
April 19, 2009 at
03:45:40 PM by dmantx
Track Beats Weather, Cowtown Challenge Kicks Off In Dramatic Fashion
Kennedale TX (4/19/09) DarinShort.com. After heavy storms dumped over two inches of rain on Cowtown Speedway the previous 24 hours, track workers got the facility in shape just in time for the first-ever Cowtown Challenge. Nearly 500 gallons of fuel were consumed in worker and track vehicles to pull off the feat, and the pits were opened within 15 minutes of usual time.
And the race fans in attendance were rewarded for their efforts in a big way.
It would turn out to be the nicest weather night of the season, with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees at race time.
In excess of 165 teams from as far away as San Antonio, Houston, Louisiana and Oklahoma participated in what would go down as a wild night of fast racing action on Cowtown’s high banks. And due to the large car count, there was no scheduled intermission, and the show ran straight through and concluded in about 4½ hours yet finishing up before midnight.
Highlighting the evening’s action was the first-ever Cowtown Challenge for the Winged 600 division. On the line was a whopping Cowtown Challenge bonus of $1,550; on top of the $1,000 first place prize.
A four lap dash with the four heat winners in the 34-car field would determine the lineup for the feature and the two drivers given the option to relinquish their front row starting position, to start 24th. And if that driver ended up taking the checkers first, they would not only win the $1,000 first place prize, but the Cowtown Challenge bonus of $1,550.
ASCS Sprint Car ace Kevin Ramey (www.KevinRamey.com) out dueled the lightning quick Hunter Jones for the first option to take the Challenge. After being confronted in his own right by Darin Short in is interview on the front stretch, the fans all went wild pleading for him to take the Challenge.
And he did.
Once again, the large crowd voiced their approval and excitement filled the air as the 24-cars came out onto the track for their 25-lap feature.
But that’s not all. Hunter Jones pleaded with track officials to also relinquish his front row starting position to join Kevin in the 12th row and go for the Cowtown Challenge as well. Hunter was allowed to start at the tail, and once again the crowd cheered him on as the announcement was made. Hunter recently won $1,500 in ASCS2 non-winged action at the February Fast 50 at Cowtown, and was up for the ‘challenge.’
At the start of the feature event, the track could best be described as ‘pick a lane and floor it’ as there was racing and passing from top to bottom.
This would play into the hands of both Jones and Ramey as they would methodically pick of car after car, and in the first five laps would each pass about 8 cars.
At the half way point, Hunter Jones would drop out from mechanical problems and Kevin Ramey would still be gaining momentum and was up to 12th place.
As the laps wound down an epic battle would ensue between the first and second place drivers of Cowtown 600-driver-turned-ASCS sprinter, Aaron Reutzel, and east Texas hot shoe Tyson Hall. The two would swap the lead several times a lap and it was anyone’s guess as to who was going to pick up the win.
Meanwhile, Kevin Ramey had worked his way into the top 5 as flagman Ronny Goad gave the battling duo at the front the 2-laps to go signal. As Reutzel and Hall entered corner one they encountered C.J. Duarte, and when the flying parts all landed, Duarte would end up on is lid, Reutzel would have a flat left rear tire and Hall would be sent to the pits.
The stage was set for the last few laps between new leader, 2008 Cowtown 600 Champion Jeb Sessoms, Colby Estes and Kevin Ramey.
Jeb would get a great restart and hold off the challenges of Estes and Ramey. The appreciative crowd cheered wildly as Jeb accepted his award for winning the first ever Cowtown Challenge, taking home $1,000 for the win, plus his share of the $1,550 Cowtown Challenge sponsor money collected, that was paid out equally to the top 10 finishers.
The top five finishers were all torn down after the race and each passed tech inspection.
We would like to thank the following sponsors who brought the Cowtown Challenge to life, resulting in it becoming inked into the 2010 event calendar:
- $300 Pro-Tech Service Company www.Pro-Tech-Service.com
- $200 City Vending www.CityVending.net
- $200 Robby Fox Drywall, 817-572-9636
- $500 Skyvue Funeral Home: www.skyvuememorialgardens.com
- $300 Excel X-Ray LLC: [email protected] (and Pam at Excel X-Ray really worked hard to help build sponsorship money for the group)
- $50 donated from fans at Cowtown Speedway
$1,650 was also added to the purse from Cowtown Speedway and special event marketing services were provided at no charge by DarinShort.com.
Moving on to the Cowtown Sprint Cars, the field could best be described as a ‘mini-ASCS’ event; as drivers from the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Dirt Series, ASCS Gulf South, ASCS Sooner Region and ASCS Lone Star region filled the pit area to near capacity.
Early feature leader Rodney Henderson (www.rh67.com) would find himself in a battle with Kevin Ramey with Ramey taking over the point several laps into the event. A front stretch tumble by John Ricketts would result in a red flag stoppage. Ricketts was obviously uninjured in the crash as he jumped from the car, climbed the fence to wave to the relieved, cheering crowd.
While the cars were lining back up for the restart, Ramey would drop out of the race from mechanical woes. Henderson would resume the point and led the majority of the race.
Meanwhile, coming from several rows back, Kolt Walker was working his way through the field passing cars on the low, middle and high side of the track; as he could put his car wherever he wanted it.
Walker would battle Henderson briefly, then take over the lead for good with just a few laps remaining. Henderson would come home in a strong second place finish,
A sidebar note to the Walker victory (which also resulted in Walker climbing the Cowtown fence much to the delight of the cheering fans), was an additional crew member joining the team for the night. Just off a long flight from Australia was chassis tuning specialist Wayne Priddy. A victory for their team would surely help burn off some of Priddy’s jet lag in the days to follow.
Two more 'Cowtown Challenge' events are scheduled for later this summer for the Limited Modifieds and the Street Stocks. Please click www.CowtownSpeedway.com for the 2009 event schedule
Triston Dycus ran away with the Modified feature in his G & H Plumbing sponsored Kraft chassis car and due to the huge field of cars on hand in all divisions, complete results will be posted at the track site as well.
We would like to once again thank everyone from the tireless efforts of the track crew, to the teams that towed a great distance and fans, for beating the odds the weather dealt us all; resulting in a great night of action and affordable family fun at the Fastest Li’l Dirt Track in Texas, Cowtown Speedway.
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Some pictures and video clips have been uploaded from the Winged 600 Cowtown Challenge. Plus there are clips from the exciting sprint feature.
If you'd like to check them out, just click www.darinshort.com/race.html them scroll down to the 4/18 link.
Thanks again for all of the sponsors, fans and teams support of this first-ever event.
It definitely was a good kick off, and there is plenty of room for it to grow as well.
Special thanks again to RaceMom83 for all of her time and effort to really get the ball rolling representing the Winged 600 teams in their quest to build up sponsor bonus money for their group.
The next event we need more help from more of the teams, instead of just a few 'carrying the torch' for the rest.
But now that everyone knows how the Cowtown Challenge works, it should be easier to get the ball rolling.
And to the Limited Modifieds and Street Stocks: your time will be coming soon, so don't wait until the last minute to get your $1000+ raised for your Cowtown Challenges, which are:
August 1 - Limited Modifieds Cowtown Challenge $1000/win +
September 5 - Street Stocks Cowtown Challenge $1000/win +
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