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Cody Morris, KENNEDALE, TEXAS (02-10-2012) - A Lucas Oil American Small Car Series record 125 competitors checked into Cowtown Speedway confines for the 2012 Lucas Oil ASCS2 season opener at Cowtown Speedway's 5th Annual Big Chill. And with area temperatures in the mid 40's at racetime and flirting with mid 20's by its' end - the event certainly lived up to its' billing.
Three winners from three seperate states raced to preliminary night victories at the 5th Annual Big Chill, with the top 4 from each division locked into the top 6 redraw for the headlining Lucas Oil American Small Car Series main events.
Friday night's 20 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw main event would be led to green by inaugural 2008 Big Chill winner and Tulsa native Scott Sawyer. Sawyer's early lead came to a quick end courtesy Osceola, Arkansas' accomplished mini sprint veteran Travis Senter.
By the midway point of the event Senter's torrential pace had earned him a strong advantage over Carl's Junction, Missouri's 2009 ASCS2 and 2011 POWRi champion Andrew Felker with Sawyer, Steven Shebester, and reigning back to back ASCS2 Outlaw Champion Blake Hahn in tow.
Only a lap 14 caution for a stalled Dalton Wiseley in turn 4 could slow down Senter, as he torched the field in the Wren Motorsports and Accurate Machine Works no. 4w entry. Felker matched Senter's pace for a time following the lap 14 restart, but ultimately settled for the runner up spot while Sawyer accepted show position honors.
Pauls Valley, Oklahoma's reigning Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing champion Steven Shebester crossed the finishing line 1 car length ahead of a surging Tyson Hall, that car length resulting in incidental contact that sent Shebester hard into the front straightaway wall. Shebester would walk away from the crash, but damage to the mount was extensive and likely required a post-race thrashing to get into shape for Saturday night's Outlaw finale. Hall's charge from 10th in the final five laps would net a top 5 finish.
Andrew Felker, Tyson Hall, Scott Sawyer, Travis Senter, and Blake Hahn each claimed 8 lap heat race honors over the 48 car Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw field, with Tucker Klaasmeyer and Dalton Wiseley leading advancing trio's in twin 12 lap B Features.
Shebester's dash to a locked in transfer spot into Saturday's Outlaw finale was not his sole, nor best, accomplishment of the evening for the reigning Non Wing champion.
Oklahoma City's Dalton Steed initiated the action for the 20 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing A feature before Kyle Jones powered past to lead the first lap. That too would end up a short lead, as 2011 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Rookie of the Year Aaron Reutzel would opt for the lap two-turn two top side abaord the Wren Motorsports no. 4w stock entry to race past Jones.
As action raged throughout the field, Reutzel fended off attacks from a variety of challengers until Shebester emerged from the pack to succesfully challenge for the point at the midway stage of the race. The defending Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing Champion battled by Reutzel just before the final caution of the event flew on lap 12 for a Stoney Gilbert spin in turn one.
Shebester's preferred low line proved too good for debate, as the 20 year old Non Wing specialist sped off to victory in the first event of the 2012 ASCS2 Non Wing campaign aboard the Concept Chassis, Infinity Structures, Metric Cycles, Wrap Experts, and Bishop's Racing Components sponsored no. 82.
Indianaplis, Indiana's Tyler Courtney emerged from the racy fray to earn runner up honors, with Reutzel accepting show position honors. Retta, Texas' rising talent Keith Martin catapulted from his 19th starting spot to the 4th and final lock in position to saturday's Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing main event.
Kyle Jones, Aaron Reutzel. Ryan Jaisle, Michelle Melton, Kaley Engstrom, and Justin Melton each earned 8 lap heat race honors over the 57 car Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing field, with Keith Martin, Scotty Evans, and Colby Estes leading the transfers amid the trio of 12 lap B Feature events.
In Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted action, Dylan Fox lead the field to green, in fact he wired the field, though not without constant challenge.
Amidst approximately five caution period spread nearly equally throughout the 20 lap main event on the 1/8th mile "action track", Fox was tasked with fending off Johnny Boland, the latter gaining tenacity after a series of runner up finishes in Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted action at Cowtown last fall.
Fox's defense would be succesful when Boland was forced pitside with front end woes. After the final yellow with 5 laps remaining, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma's Jason McDougal delivered staunch challenge for the duration of the event, but Fox would prove his likeness in lapped traffic - dashing to the first victory lane of the young 2012 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted campaign aboard the Print Place Motorsports no. 27 with sincere thanks to father Gary Fox, as well as Robby Fox, Shawn Peterson, Kevin Ramey, and Kay Rawdon.
McDougal settled for runner up honors with Euless, Texas native Aaron Dromgoole accepting show position honors. Fort Worth's McKenzie Ramey netted the 4th and final automatic lock in position to saturday night's $500 to win Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted main event finale. Broken Arrow's Mickey Walker fell one spot short of a lock in, but advanced from 11th to complete the top 5 running order.
Austin Lambert, Payton Pierce, and Dylan Fox earned 8 lap heat race bragging rights over the 20 car Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted field.
The Lucas Oil American Small Car Series 2012 season opener continues with a headlining finale saturday night in Cowtown Speedway's 5th Annual Big Chill.
18 winged 305ci sprints starred in friday's frigid preliminary night, a similar number will be expected trackside for saturday's Big Chill finale, with USRA modifieds also on hand for the weekend finale.
Feature results are official. B Main results will be added when officially acquired. Results and points will be updated to the ASCS2 wesbite by the closing of the weekend.
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