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Marcham, Oakes, and Byrd Nab Prelim Scores in Riverside Thriller!

An I-44 Riverside Speedway Special Release by Cody Morris

October 19^th, 2012 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - While the chill of Fall greeted race fans at the opening night of I-44 Riverside Speedway’s Inaugural Non Wing Showdown, over eighty of the top talents in regional mini sprint racing delivered a sensational preliminary outing for the two day season finale.

Much was on the line as drivers maneuvered for historic opening night victories, as well as advantage for Saturday night’s inaugural blockbuster $2,500 to win Non Wing Showdown.

Thrills, spills, and chills were abundance in the opening night of the two day Non Wing Showdown. Twenty nine races equaled 284 laps in the opening night of the two day special, with seven spills of the red flag variety halting the action throughout the night, combined with a handful of caution periods as well. But it was the final three checkered flags that mattered most.

Stock 600 Non Wing

Following five heat races and five inverted qualifiers, Tulsa’s mini sprint kingpin Chris Andrews was joined by Oklahoma City’s Bryan Nebgen on the front row of the 20 lap Stock Non Wing main event.

The first start was negated when Pryor, Oklahoma’s Frank “The Legendary” Flud snap rolled across turn one before a violent hit into the turn one exit fencing. Flud exited the mangled machine under his own power, but in obvious pain to his right knee/ankle. Fans and speedway officials alike hope the injury isn’t serious, but word will be shared when obtained.

The second attempt to start the race was successful, with Andrews unsurprisingly wheeling out to the early lead although his first two pursuers would have their hopes come to a suprisingly early end. Running second on lap three, Chris Cochran’s chain busted leaving the McCloud native stranded atop turn 3, while Jim Woods’ inheritance of second place lasted all but two laps before he was forced to the infield with mechanical woes.

A lap 8 scuffle involving Karley Kay Dobson and Billy Lawhead slowed the field down once more. Jay, Oklahoma native Jordan Herrman had weaved his way by seven competitors to shadow the leading Andrews with the Brothers Marcham also in immediate pursuit.

With action back underway on the lightning fast surface, Andrews remained a few car lengths ahead of his pursuers, with a battle developing between Herrman and Trey Marcham halfway through the 20 lapper. Marcham battled past Herrman just before the final caution of the event flew with five laps remaining.

The top three immediately began an intense battle for the point with Marcham and Herrman suddenly making it a three way battle for the point on each end of the 1/6^th mile oval. Trey Marcham briefly battled past Andrews, before the latter unleashed an epic slide job only to see Marcham return a well timed Bonzai of his own.

Marcham had gained the best of the battle and pulled away on lap 18, ultimately taking a three car length edge across the finish line two laps later aboard the RD Marcham Energy, Simpson, Le Norman Operating, A&A Cycle, Pinncale Energy sponsored blue no. 32.

Andrews narrowly beat out Herrman for runner up honors with Kennedale, Texas’ Christian Kinnison turning in a Hard Charger effort from 18^th to snare the fourth and final lock in spot to Saturday’s $2,500 to win Stock Non Wing 600 Finale.

Chris Andrews, Josh Marcham, Jim Woods, Bryan Nebgen, and Chris Cochran each claimed heat race wins over the 40 car field, while Shelby Byrd, Jordan Herrman, Frank Flud, Brandon Oldham, and Logan Scherb each raced to wins in the qualifier inversions. Shelby Byrd and Steven Shebester claimed a winner’s transfer in the twin 12 lap B mains. Stock 600 Non Wing A Feature (20 laps): 1. 32 Trey Marcham (10); 2. 77 Chris Andrews (1); 3. 92 Jordan Herrman (9); 4. 82c Christian Kinnison (18); 5. 72 Brandon Oldham (3); 6. 18 Logan Scherb (8); 7. 5x Tyson Hall (19); 8. 71 Billy Lawhead (16); 9. 98x Austin Crowder (17); 10. 60 Bryan Nebgen (2); 11. 5h Tanner Berryhill (20); 12. 8 Josh Marcham (5); 13. 28 Karley Kay Dobson (15); 14. 39 Sterling Hoff (11); 15. 83 Jim Woods (6); 16. 7c Chris Cochran (4); 17. 5c Cody Cordell (12); 18. 84 Frank Flud (7); DNS: Shelby Byrd, Steven Shebester
Lap Leaders: Chris Andrews 1-16; Trey Marcham 17-20
Hard Charger: Christian Kinnison +14

Stock 600 Non Wing B Feature #1 (12 laps - top 4 advance to A Feature): 1. 5 Shelby Byrd (2); 2. 28 Karley Kay Dobson (4); 3. 98x Austin Crowder (11); 4. 5x Tyson Hall (1); 5. 27k Kyle Keeler (3); 6. 50 Curtis Jones (6); 7. 17w Harli White (10); 8. 1 Aaron Dromgoole (12); 9. 96 Randy Crowder (5); 10. 7 Cord Dodson (8); 11. 17x Jacob Johnston (7); DNS: Brandon Farmer, Chase Rohrbaugh, Russell Boren
Lap Leaders: Shelby Byrd 1-12

Stock 600 Non Wing B Feature #2 (12 laps - top 4 advance to A Feature): 1. 82 Steven Shebester (1); 2. 71 Billy Lawhead (2); 3. 82c Christian Kinnison (4); 4. 5h Tanner Berryhill (10); 5. 11J Garrett Jennings (5); 6. 98x Austin Crowder (8); 7. 22 Teri Burk (11); 8. 17 Patrick Knight (12); 9. 93 Greg Emetario (3); 10. 44 Ayrton Gennetten (6); DNS: Brandon Boggs, Cody Grissom, Kyle Jones
Lap Leaders: Billy Lawhead 1-6, 9-11; Steven Shebester 7-8, 12

Non Wing Outlaw

Starting pole position once more, this time in the Adri and Justin Blevins owned no. 8, Vhris Andrews was joined by Shelby Byrd on the front row of the 20 lap Non Wing Outlaw main event.

With Andrews out front, yellows plagued the opening half of the event, culminating in an exceptionally violent Chance Morton flip in turn one on the ninth circuit. Morton emerged his thrashed mount unscathed. It would prove to be the final stoppage of the 20 lap non wing Outlaw main event. Andrews held Byrd at bay once more on the restart, only for the unthinkable to occur. A machine Andrews has piloted to victory this season to the tune of $10,000 at the Mike Phillips Memorial at Southern Illinois Raceway, as well as the prestigious Race 4 Life/Inaugural Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial at Tulsa’s Port City Raceway; the Blevins Outlaw machine has been next to unbeatable with Andrews at the helm. I-44 Riverside was among the few venues left for Andrews to conquer, in the Blevins owned no. 8 anyhow. (Andrews swept both stock 600 classed at I-44 Riverside’s Mini Sprint Nationals for the second consecutive year back in August.)

However, while leading in familiar fashion, Andrews abruptly pulled into the infield on the 13^th circuit, suspending his bid to conquer I-44 Riverside Outlaw action to Saturday night’s finale.

A main event winner at I-44 Riverside’s Ryan Craighead Memorial in April, hometown favorite Shelby Byrd inherited the lead with Pauls Valley native and 2011 ASCS2 Non Wing titlist, Big Chill winner at Cowtown in February, and Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial preliminary night winner Steven Shebester in the runner up spot. That’s just the accomplishments in the last year.

This late race dash was not to be matched by its’ predecessor, however; Byrd comfortable soared to the Non Wing Outlaw victory aboard the CKS Fabrication, Biotech Products, and Metric Cycles owned no. 5. Shebester maintained runner up honors at the finish line with Cody Cordell advancing five spots to complete the podium finish. Tulsa native Curtis Jones moved up two spots to claim the fourth and final lock in spot to Saturday’s $1,000 to win Non Wing Outlaw main event.

Tyler Gordon, Shelby Byrd, Ayrton Gennetten, and Sterling Hoff each claimed heat race wins over the 32 car field, while Chris Andrews, Tyson Hall, Frank Flud, and Karley Kay Dobson powered to victory in the inverted set of qualifiers. Kyle Keeler and Chance Morton each claimed a winner’s transfer in the twin 12 lap B Mains. Non Wing Outlaw A Feature (20 laps): 1. 5 Shelby Byrd (2); 2. 13E Steven Shebester (4); 3. 5c Cody Cordell (8); 4. 22 Curtis Jones (6); 5. 39 Sterling Hoff (3); 6. 10 Zach Alley (16); 7. 5x Tyson Hall (7); 8. 2H Will Harvey (18); 9. 27k Kyle Keeler (13); 10. 17w Harli White (20); 11. 28v Junior Vickman (19); 12. 98 Derrick McBride (15); 13. 8 Chris Andrews (1); 14. 777 Bailey Hughes (12); 15. 7m Chance Morton (14); 16. 28 Karley Kay Dobson (5); 17. 8m Kade Morton (11); 18. 5h Tanner Berryhill (17); DNS: Frank Flud, Jim Woods
Lap Leaders: Chris Andrews 1-13, Shelby Byrd 14-20
Hard Charger: Zach Alley, Will Harvey, Harli White +10

Non Wing Outlaw B Feature #1 (12 laps - top 4 advance to A Feature): 1. 27k Kyle Keeler (1); 2. 98 Derrick McBride (4); 3. 5h Tanner Berryhill (8); 4. 28v Junior Vickman (3); 5. 11J Garrett Jennings (6); 6. 12s Drew Salisbury (5); DNS: Jacob Johnston, Ayrton Gennetten, Tyler Gordon, Kyle Jones

Non Wing Outlaw B Feature #2 (12 laps - top 4 advance to A Feature): 1. 7m Chance Morton (1); 2. 10 Zach Alley (2); 3. 2H Will Harvey (4); 4. 17w Harli White (3); DNS: Cord Dodson, Mike Matherly, Christian Kinnison, Cody Grissom, Chase Rohrbaugh, Charlie White Restricted 600’s

Logan Davis and Kaitlyn Martin paced the front row of the 20 lap Restricted main event, with Logan Davis battling into the early lead. Inside second row starter Ryan Padgett battled up to take the lead on the fourth lap with Sand Springs, Oklahoma’s Tristan Oakes moving up from dead last to challenge Padgett a couple laps later.

Padgett and Oakes delivered a classic to race fans as the two weaved their way through lapped traffic early and often. Oakes briefly battled by on the 8^th circuit, only to see Padgett zoom back by a lap later.

Padgett maintained the slightest of edge’s over the next nine laps, but suffered complications while maneuvering in lapped traffic with two laps remaining. Oakes capitalized on the mishap and six corners later took the win aboard the Oakes Welding & Fabrications sponsored, Momo’s Racing Engines powered no. 7T Factor One.

Padgett settled for second, but will surely have his sights set on turning the tables in Saturday night’s Restricted 600 finale. Piedmont, Oklahoma’s Grady Chandler moved up five spots in his Mel Mark sponsored 00 to complete the podium finish with Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Bailey Hughes taking the fourth and final lock in to Saturday night’s Restricted 600 finale.

Restricted A Feature (20 laps): 1. 7T Tristan Oakes (10); 2. 898 Ryan Padgett (3); 3. 00 Grady Chandler (8); 4. 777 Bailey Hughes (9); 5. 18 Mason McGuire (6); 6. 14D Logan Davis (1); 7. 41 Kaitlyn Martin (2); 8. 21x Tyler Alexander (5); 9. 7D Sierra Davis (7); 10. P40 Aaron Dromgoole (4); DNS: Jaiden Hughes
Lap Leaders: Logan Davis 1-3, Ryan Padgett 4-7, Tristan Oakes 8, Padgett 9-18, Oakes 19-20
Hard Charger: Tristan Oakes +9 I-44 Riverside Speedway’s Inaugural Non Wing Showdown returns for a Saturday night event and season finale. Gates open at 4pm with hot laps at 6pm and racing action beginning at 7pm.

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Excellent write-up with one incident omitted. During green flag competition, a car at the end of the back straight suddenly erupted into a ball of flames. This was one of the worst fires I ever saw. The cockpit was just engulfed in flames. Luckily, the flames died down as the car came to a halt, and the driver finally exited. There was no mention of burns, so I assume the driver escaped unscathed.

Last night was the best sprint car racing I have ever seen, but what do I know? I'm just a 71 year-old man, born and raised near Belleville, KS who has been watching sprint car racing for over 50 years.

PS: Come out tonight and see for yourself.

thanks for the feedback. yeah he was ok. I think Frank Flud was more banged up than anyone.

I knew I missed it about 15 minutes after I put it everywhere. But it wasn't for a lack of remembering. Just lack of time. race ended late. ate late. got home late and i'm spending about solid hour typing results out. I didn't mention a few other flips as well - most notably my friends getting stuffed in the wall on the front straight (the 2B Brandon Boggs - and he was done for the weekend and hurting tonight at the track too).

But it's beyond awesome to hear the satisfaction of a lifelong fan. And hell yeah friday night reminded us of the Ryan Craighead Memorial I think it was in 2009 there at 44. It was probably the best weekend of racing I'd ever seen. I've always been a huge sprint car fan - ever since that weekend several of us got turned on to mini sprint racing and now I've been covering it since 2010. So many things I love about it - but above all else - the quality of racing is consistently above and beyond anything else in the region.

And look at the talent. It would sound a dubious claim to many - but when you really look closely - rewind 12 months - there may well have been more talent in the mini sprint ranks than any other class around here - including the sprints. I suspected this pretty quick with the incredible drive's we've been seeing since 2010 - but seeing the emergence of Blake Hahn, Christopher Bell, Tyler Thomas, Cameron Hagin, and others -I don't have to make the case. They make it for me. And also - those guys were consistently getting whooped by Chris Andrews the whole time! (kind of lol - but still.....I think Andrews would be surgical in anything).

The past three seasons have been a great time for mini sprint racing in this area. Port City is one of the top mini sprint tracks in the nation and easily the top track in the area - and Riverside is on a really huge rise - the quality of racing sure was high this weekend. Between Port City and Riverside - just a great time for open wheel race fans.

Makes me sad that the season is ending, but not as much as I am anxious to see all the great things in store at PCR and Riverside in 2013. Glad you had an enjoyable outing PLJ - if you come back out next year to any of the specials at PCR and/or Riverside (and maybe Riverside on a weekly basis as well) I hope to meet you. I'm not too hard to spot. Always sporting an I.S.A backpack and up by the press box.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would