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Shebester Sweeps at I44 Riverside Speedway
Cody Morris
I44 Riverside Speedway Public Relations
I44 Riverside Speedway / Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Saturday, August 10th / Event 11 of 19
On the heels of reopening I44 Riverside Speedway with the 14th Annual Mini Sprint Nationals, weather conditions went from triple digits and high humidity to perfect for the first weekly Saturday Night Special since the speedway was resurrected following the May 20th tornado.
Dry air and temperatures in the mid 70’s welcomed several hundred race fans still eager for the intense action that left them in awe just a week ago.
I44 Riverside Speedway delivered numerous times. And so did Steven Shebester.
Before we jump into the class-by-class coverage, the I44 Riverside Speedway family is extremely proud to announce and welcome a beautiful little addition to our racing family.
Promoters Mark Banister and Gloria Olexa are officially grand parents, as their daughter Stefany welcomed little Sofia into the family this past week. As most know, Stefany was in the family home when the May 20 tornado struck. To the sheer elation of all, she was pulled from the rubble with only minor injuries. However, the storm had destroyed the family’s home and business.
Less than 80 days later, with timing that could only be described as poetic, the family is happily together and complete, in a new home, and back at the helm of the only auto racing facility in all of central Oklahoma. On behalf of the I44 Riverside family, our warmest congratulations to Stefany and Braden, and to our beloved speedway managers-turned-grandparents!
Back to racing, tonight marked the first weekly point event since Saturday, May 18th - when storms forced a cancellation to that event just two days before the tornado laid waste to the speedway.
This first weekly point event of the “2nd half” of the season was the first of seven such Saturday Night Specials that will conclude with the Inaugural Jimmy King Classic on Saturday, September 28th.
Our season finale, the Stock 600 and Midget Nationals on October 11-12 will conclude one of the most remarkable seasons any racing facility has ever seen or endured.
Action tonight was extremely fierce and enjoyable. We just need a few more of them. Sixty Five entries tied for a season low in a campaign that has otherwise featured mid 80’s or higher in most outings. While grateful to each one of them and their efforts tonight in what was a very clean and efficient program, we implore those that could not or chose not to come race to do just that next week. Mark has a great track waiting for you guys and you are all well aware of the round-the-clock battle he and several others led to ensure you guys had a place to race here at home and not be forced to travel hundreds of miles.
The staff is on point at nearly each turn and this is the most fans the speedway has enjoyed in known memory, if not ever. We have nearly 17 sponsors that committed their resources to rebuild the speedway and we are poised to finish out this season in very big way before an offseason campaign to improve the speedway in quality, quantity, structurally, and financially.
It’s already extremely special, and this could be sign on the west side of the fence tonight as well as in the racing. There was little to no racing for almost three months, come join us these last two and make it even more special by showcasing your talents, sponsors/supporters, and commitments to a very large and hearty group of race fans that happily devote their Saturday night’s to it.
A CLASS
A pair of OKC metro racers in Bryan Nebgen and Michael Hall led the field to the first green flag of the 20 lap A Class main event. Action was red hot immediately on a racy track surface with moisture and just enough chop to force all 20 racers to mount up.
Nebgen fought off Hall’s assaults for the point until Hall put the 95 in the lead on the 5th circuit. Hall formed a formidable lead as highly accomplished ace Steven Shebester quickly moved up from his 5th row starting spot into the runner up position.
Jared Dunkin caught air and flipped into the turn 3 & 4 fence, bringing out a red that would bunch the field up - not what Hall wanted to see with Shebester now on his tail.
A regional Non Wing champion and winner of nearly every regional prestigious event (most recently a Mini Sprint Nationals Non Wing score just 1 week before), Steven Shebester wasted no time before making his move on the leader and rocketing by to lead the 11th round.
Shebester put distance on Hall and he returned the favor to the remainder of the top five, leaving Nebgen mired in an insatiable battle with Chris Lloyd and Blake Dacus.
Shebester took a commanding win aboard the MelMark Pipe & Supply, Concept Chassis, Metric Cycles, PXP Racewear, Select Coatings, and iracetv.com sponsored no. 82.
Wandering what might have been in lapped traffic without stoppages, Hall settled for the runner up spot with former State Fair Speedway Super Sprint gasser Chris Lloyd emerging from a three way duel with show position honors.
Fletcher, Oklahoma’s Blake Dacus earned the Hard Charger nod with a run from tenth to 4th, with Nebgen completing the top five finishing order.
Jim Woods, Steven Shebester, and Michael Hall earned heat race wins over the 21 car “A Class’ field.
“A Class” A Feature (20 laps): 1. Steven Shebester (10); 2. 95 Michael Hall (2); 3. 28c Chris Lloyd (4); 4. 29 Blake Dacus (14); 5. 60 Bryan Nebgen (1); 6. 82c Christian Kinnison (8); 7. 898 Ryan Padgett (7); 8. 39 Sterling Hoff (13); 9. 83 Jim Woods (9); 10. 7g Greg Moore (12); 11. 13 Bobby Springer (15); 12. 22 Teri Burk (11); 13. 28 Junior Vickman (17); 14. 27 David Millwee (3); 15. 4T Caleb Thompson (19); 16. 29w Bryce Sheehan (18); 17. 27d Jared Dunkin (16); 18. 7D Sierra Davis (5); 19. 11 Michael Kearns (6); 20. 67 Joe Martin (20); DNS: 2B Brandon Boggs
Lap Leaders: Bryan Nebgen 1-4, Michael Hall 5-11, Steven Shebester 12-20
Hard Charger: Blake Dacus +10
NON WING
David Stewart and Bobby Hennig led the Non Wing 20 lap main event to the green flag with Hennig earning the early lead, with El Reno’s Kyle Keeler and Windthorst, Texas’ Sterling Hoff in hot pursuit.
Hoff fought his way from tenth in less than 12 turns, overtaking Hennig to lead lap six, while the events’ first yellow flew just two laps later for an unfortunate Christian Kinnsion - who claims to be planning a couple weeks off but clearly does not want to leave a Sooner State that has taken him hostage (thanks Factor 1 and Paul Albers!).
The slowdown benefited Steven Shebester immensely, as the Pauls Valley native methodically worked his way from the sixth row to challenge Hoff on the ensuing restart.
Known for finding a lower inside line than the rest of the field, Shebester pulled an uncanny slider on an unsuspecting Hoff - propelling the MelMark Pipe & Supply #82 into the lead as flagman Cody Claxton crossed flags for the halfway point.
Non Wing action was mired by stoppages for the second consecutive week as four flags flew in the final half of the 20 lap main event, including two separate incidents of a lapped car looping in right in front of the leader.
But the exceptionally talented “veteran” craftily maneuvered past on both occasions, and strode on unchallenged to sweep stock 600 (winged and non-winged) action aboard the MelMark Pipe & Supply, Concept Chassis, Metric Cycles, PXP Racewear, Select Coatings, and iracetv.com sponsored no. 82.
Hoff fought off a hard charging Jim Woods and goes back to the drawing board for a week to solve Shebester’s mastery of I44 Riverside clay, which some point out could be karma for Shebester wielding a welder in I44 Riverside’s time of need (and monitoring changes in racing surface - Shebester is crafty like that).
Defending speedway champ in both A Class and Non Wing, Jim Woods’ has found the form since the speedway reopened last week, putting together strong runs all three nights - this time swapping short sliders with Hoff before settling for third place. Good to see Woods back on the block.
Kyle Keeler finished fourth with Bobby Hennig completing the top five finishing order.
Sterling Hoff, Steven Shebester, and Kyle Keeler earned heat race wins over the 17 car field.
“Non Wing” A Feature (20 laps): 1. 82 Steven Shebester (11); 2. 39 Sterling Hoff (8); 3. 83 Jim Woods (5); 4. 27k Kyle Keeler (4); 5. 02 Bobby Hennig (2); 6. 7g Greg Moore (10); 7. 82c Christian Kinnison (7); 8. 28 Junior Vickman (9); 9. 11R Rick Oller (13); 10. 58 Philip Fessler (3); 11. 27s David Stewart (1); 12. 4T Caleb Thompson (16); 13. 72k Rick Kirkes (12); 14. 29w Mike Motherly (14); 15. 50 Shelby Burk (6); 16. 13 Bobby Springer (16); DNS: 2B Brandon Boggs
Lap Leaders: Bobby Hennig 1-5, Sterling Hoff 6-9, Steven Shebester 10-20
Hard Charger: Steven Shebester +10
JUNIOR SPRINTS
Always a fan favorite, the Junior Sprint division continued a string of solid outings that pave a bright future for I44 Riverside Speedway. Just a couple years ago the field was less than five many nights - now the class averages double figures and continues to grow just as the young guys and gals do.
Jessie Kelley and Emma Johnson led the 20 lap main event to the first green, but it ended up being a bonafide five car battle for the lead the next time by as they literally went five abreast. It was a couple too many. Contact send Ryder Laplante and Dylan Pendergrass spiraling into the infield, ending Laplante’s night 19 laps too early.
Emma Johnson led that chaotic lap, but Bridge Creek, Oklahoma’s Chris Wells seized that spot on the ensuing restart and led the second lap.
Who is Chris Wells? Apparently he likes to climb trees (or anything else with vertical span). He has also spent the season climbing the ranks of the Junior Sprint division. The Wells team started the season with a game plan, to learn from each lap and apply that knowledge to next week.
The result had Chris climbing in each feature, earning three top five’s in his first six starts. Wells’ first victory seemed imminent on April 18th as the 10 year old led 18 of 20 laps before two time Junior Sprint champ Nathan Rainey battled by.
Wells claimed third in the final Junior Sprint show before the May 20 tornado, before again claiming third in last week’s grand reopening (Mini Sprint Nationals).
And so it was when Wells battled his Team Green machine into the lap two lead.
A lap 8 red flag drew gasps from the audience as a trio of pilots played pinball leaving two stranded in the middle of turn three, with Dylan Pendergrass plowing into Brant Woods at full speed. All drivers were quickly cleared safely, much to the fanfare of onlookers.
But the stoppage brought familiar foes to Wells’ back bumper in Treyton Gann and Nathan Rainey, both looking to add to their 2013 win total.
Wells executed a flawless restart that gained his #72 some separation, but Rainey overtook Gann and the two began inching their way closer to the leader.
Rainey caught Wells with two laps remaining in the same exact scenario that played out back in April - only this time - Wells did not budge. Wells received the white flag as supporters knuckles turned white.
Rainey looked beneath Wells as the pair exited turn two, but Wells was prepared - slamming the door and powering through the final two turns to earn his first career Junior Sprint victory aboard the HasWells Diversified Services #72 with special thanks to Mom and Dad. The Wells family proudly races for Team Green. A fellow Bridge Creek youth, Jeremiah Green, was diagnosed with an extremely rare illness - and the local community has rallied around the faith and spirit of Jeremiah. Chris Wells and Tyler Alexander both rock Team Green, an emblem sure to spread rapidly around the community.
Like and Follow Team Green Creations on Facebook and to get your Team Green gear and support Jeremiah Green in his battle.
Rainey’s quest for a fifth Junior Sprint score was forced to wait a week as Rainey advanced the #99 from 10th to second, while Ponca City’s Treyton Gann battled up a spot to complete the podium.
Jacob Long and Emma Johnson each turned in quality performances to complete the top five finishing order.
Chris Wells and Treyton Gann earned heat race wins over the 13 car field.
“Junior Sprint” A Feature (15 laps): 1. 72 Chris Wells (7); 2. 99 Nathan Rainey (10); 3. 7 Treyton Gann (4); 4. 007 Jacob Long (8); 5. 12E Emma Johnson (2); 6. 22 Dylan Pendergrass (9); 7. 16 Brant Woods (11); 8. 72c Kayden Cole (6); 9. 125 Macy Roulain (3); 10. 89g Gavin Mullins (12); 11. 12 Jessie Kelley (1); 12. 88R Ryder Laplante (5); DNS: Trevin King
Lap Leaders: Emma Johnson 1, Chris Wells 2-15
Hard Charger: Nathan Rainey +9
RESTRICTED
Fresh off his first career I44 Riverside Speedway victory in spectacular style at the 14th Annual Mini Sprint Nationals last week, Joey Schmidt and Mannford, Oklahoma’s Tristan Oakes led the 15 lap Restricted main event to the green flag with Oakes battling into the early lead.
Oakes grew the lead and scored his third Restricted triumph of the season aboard the Oakes Welding & Fabrications and Momo’s Racing Engines sponsored no. 7T.
Schmidt held on for a runner up finish with Logan Davis battling from 7th to third. Defending Restricted champ Tanner Conn and Steven Smith completed the top five finishing order.
Schmidt and Oakes earned heat race wins over the 8 car field.
“Restricted” A Feature (15 laps): 1. 7T Tristan Oakes (2); 2. 1s Joey Schmidt (1); 3. 14D Logan Davis (7); 4. 78 Tanner Conn (8); 5. 3s Steven Smith (4); 6. 2 Alison Slaton (5); 7. 82 Seth Shebester (3); 8. 72c Kaylee Cole (6)
Lap Leaders: Tristan Oakes 1-15
Hard Charger: Logan Davis, Tanner Conn +4
TURF TIRE
Willie Vickman and Josh Bigger led the 12 lap Turf Tire feature to its’ opening, and for only five cars the dash featured as many lead changes.
Vickman led lap one, but El Reno’s Tony Penick battled up from third to steal the lap two lead. A mistake on the fifth round handed a brief lead back to Vickman on lap six.
Penick battled past once more to lead laps 7 & 8, but seemed to be plagued by a mechanical malfunction of some sort as the 88 appeared to slow significantly in the final laps.
Vickman gained the lead once more with Jeremy Morris dogging the #75 for the lead, but Vickman was poised to snare his first Turf Tire score of the season aboard the Willie Vickman owned, Willie Vickman operated #75.
Morris settled for the runner up spot with Penick adding a podium finish to his heat race earlier in the evening.
“Turf Tire” A Feature (12 laps): 1. 75 Willie Vickman (1); 2. 22x Jeremy Morris (5); 3. 88 Tony Penick (3); 4. 5m Scott Patraw (4); 5. 21 Joshua Bigger (2)
Lap Leaders: Vickman 1, Penick 2-5, Vickman 6, Penick 7-8, Vickman 9-12
Hard Charger: Jeremy Morris +3
I44 Riverside Speedway BY THE NUMBERS
Event Winners as of August 11th:
A Class - Steven Shebester 2, Trey Marcham 2, Sterling Hoff 1, Chris Andrews 1, Blake Dewberry 1, Jason McDougal 1, Frank Flud 1
Non Wing - Steven Shebester 4, Chris Cochran 1, Dalton Terrel 1, Trey Marcham 1, Sterling Hoff 1, Josh Toho 1, Derrick McBride 1
Restricted - Tristan Oakes 3, Lyndon Harvey 2, Joey Schmidt 1, Tanner Conn 1, Nathan Weida 1, Mason McGuire 1, Kaylee Cole 1
Turf Tire - Mike Daft 3, Bobby Chapa 3, Tony Penick 2, Willie Vickman 1, Marcus Flaming 1,
Junior Sprints - Nathan Rainey 4, Kale Drake 1, Blake Battles 1, Holley Hollan 1, Treyton Gann 1, Hank Davis 1, Chris Wells 1
Outlaw - Nate Flaming 1, Grady Chandler 1, Jake Rosario 1
Midgets - Danny Smith 1, Tyler Thomas 1, Andrew Felker 1
I44 Riverside Car Count in the first 11 events, as well as official finishing time:
April 5th -119 - 1215am (12th Annual Ryan Craighead Memorial - Night 1 full show)
April 6th -112 - 1040pm (12th Annual Ryan Craighead Memorial - Finale)
April 13th -80 - 1015 pm
April 20th - 98 - 1230am
April 27th - 93 - 1035pm
May 4th - 144 - 1225am
May 11th - 92 - 1020pm
May 18th - 65 - 930pm
August 2nd - 167 -1230am (14th Annual Mini Sprint Nationals - Heats & Qualifiers)
August 3rd - 170 - 1155pm ( 14th Annual Mini Sprint Nationals - Features)
August 10th - 65 - 950pm
Wall Panel (Plaque) Sponsors as of August 10th
1 - 2J Wehkamp Racing (Wehkamp Racing - Cimarron, Kansas)
2 - 2J Wehkamp Racing (Wehkamp Racing - Cimarron, Kansas)
3 - 3J Wehkamp Racing (Wehkamp Racing - Cimarron, Kansas)
4 - 3J Wehkamp Racing (Wehkamp Racing, Cimarron, Kansas)
5 - Jennings Powder Coating (Brandon Jennings - Oklahoma City)
6 - Jack Hall #37 (Jack Hall)
7 - 2B Brandon Boggs (Boggs Racing - Lawton, Oklahoma)
8 - Bobby Brewer #1 (Bobby Brewer - Cabot, Arkansas)
9 - Nathan Rainey #99 (Matthew Rainey - Choctaw, Oklahoma)
10 - Lyndon Harvey 99H (Harvey Racing - Decatur, Texas)
11 - Boggs Racing 2B (Randy Boggs - Lawton, Oklahoma)
12 - Stars Elite Cheer (Kerrie Boggs - Lawton, Oklahoma)
13 - Fliptastics Gymnastics (Courtney Boggs - Lawton, Oklahoma)
14 - P40 Aaron Dromgoole (Dromgoole Racing - N. Richland Hills,Texas)
15 - Derrick McBride #98 (Derrick McBride - Newcastle, Oklahoma)
16 - Lyndon Harvey 99H (Harvey Racing - Decatur, Texas)
17 - Jake’s Dad Carbs (Duane Keel - Mustang, Oklahoma)
18 - Poverty Barn (www.povertybarn.net, St. Charles, MO
19 - Ryan Anderson #00R (Ryan Anderson - Anadarko, Oklahoma)
20 - Finish Line Designs (Cody & LeeAnn Meade - Dewey, OK)
21 - Fast Lane Motorsports News / Galen Kurth
22 - Zero Motorsports / Johnny Murdock / St. Louis, Missouri
23 - Christian Kinnison 82c
24 - Christian Kinnison 82c
25 - Kearns Heat & Air #11
27 - Lamar Racing
28 - Central Motorsports Matt Johnson #85
29 - Central Motorsports Cody Brewer #96
30 - David & Karen Florence
31 - Tanner Conn #78
32 - Dewberry Racing TBD (Bob Moore Auto Group)
33 - Dewberry Racing TBD (Bob Moore Auto Group)
34 - Jason Lair #23
35 - Dylan Pendergrass #22 (Donnie Pendergrass Elgin, OK)
36 - Divot Studios Vinyl Graphics / Chris Bartlett #12
37 - Cushion Pushers / Wescoe Racing / Wes Briscoe
38 - Jacob Long #007
39 - Chris Wells #72
40 - Factor 1 Racing / Jason McDougal #73
41 - Factor 1 Racing / Jason McDougal #73
Plaques remaining: 68
Advertising Billboard sponsors as of August 10th
1 - Barnum's Plumbing, Inc. (Oklahoma City)
2 - Dacus Heating & Air (Fletcher, Oklahoma) *Associate
3 - MelMark Pipe & Supply *Associate
4 - Southern Illinois Raceway (Marion, Illinois)
5 - Oklahoma No Fender Network / Finish Line Designs (Dewey, Oklahoma) *Associate
6 - Southwestern Medical Center Lawton, Oklahoma (Dr. Mike Kuglitsch)
7 - Karen Byrd TBA
8 - Bishop Racing Components (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
9 - Bob Moore Auto Group (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
10 - Bob Moore Auto Group (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
11 - Pole Position Raceway (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)*Associate
12 - Roy Miller Auto Salvage (McKinney, Texas)
13 - Extreme Sports Medics (Choctaw, Oklahoma)
14 - Judy Dodson / Eagle Drilling (Oklahoma City, OK)
15 - Carmichaels Electric (Moore, Oklahoma)
16 - KEY 2 VICTORY Driver Websites
17 - Kevin Laplante TBA
Advertising Billboards remaining: 21
I44 Riverside Speedway will be back next Saturday, August 17th for our 12th event of the season. It is event number two of seven in the final half of a season shortened by the May 20 tornado.
Gates open at 4pm, hot laps at 6pm, heat races begin at 7pm.
General admission is $10, pit passes a staggering low $20.
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