This message was edited on
May 30, 2011 at
06:00:47 AM by OKCFan12
Cody Morris, TULSA, OK (5-28-2011) - 68 brave Lucas Oil American Small Car Series warriors returned to Port City Raceway for a memorable Saturday night finale to the Memorial Holiday Weekend double.
After a stellar preliminary night outing typical for the tandem of Port City Raceway and the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series, it would only be fitting for race fans to be on their feet in wild delight and filled with enthusiastic applause for a weekend filled to the absolute brim with the best open wheel dirt track action to be found in the entire mini sprint nation.
Even with Tulsa area race fans expecting the best as the premier mini sprint tour invaded the raciest bullring in the region, this Memorial Holiday Weekend shot the tandem of the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series and Port City Raceway to the stratosphere, far transcending anything Sooner state racing fans have seen thus far in the 2011 season.
With a trio of friday night photo finishes leaving an insatiable thirst for more, Saturday's Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw finale would go even further, featuring a final 5 laps that would whip the venue into a frenzy. It was the kind of finish every racing fan dreams of witnessing, the kind of finish that CREATES racing fans. And it was emblematic of the entire weekend of Lucas Oil ASCS2 action at the famed Port City Raceway.
The headlining 30 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw main event finale would be paced to green by Benton, Arkansas native Nick Ivy, but it was outside front row starter and Collinsville, Oklahoma native Layne Heimbaugh rolling into the early lead.
After a lap 4 caution for Danny James' stalled mount in the turn one approach, it seemed little else could slow down Heimbaugh. As Heimbaugh maintained a stable lead, the fierce action behind would produce an eventual challenge as Tulsa native Chris Andrews battled by Kiefer Stelzber for the shadow spot.
The halfway point of the 30 lap Outlaw main event would see Heimbaugh using lapped traffic to his credit, building a sizeable advantage over Andrews with Stelzner, Ivy, and Darrien Roberts in top 5 pursuit of the leader.
Ivy's engine would falter on the 17th circuit and mark the first of a series of a trio of late race stoppages that included a disappointing early exit for Lindsay, Oklahoma's 2011 Outlaw leader Harli White.
As the race got back underway with 11 laps remaining, Heimbaugh fought off a suprising Andrews slider in turns one and two. While Heimbaigh brushed aside the attempt, it was but a sign of what was in store for Heimbaugh and the many fans in attendance.
Like a coiled snake ready to strike, Andrews made his move with 5 laps remaining, igniting a turn by turn duel that would get Port City fans out of their seat, cheering on their driver and many just cheering the level of the amazing battle.
The duo swapped sliders for the final 4 laps. With Heimbaugh clinging to the slightest of advanatges, Andrews would send his mount low to high through turn one, forcing Heimbaugh to exit low in turn two and slide back in front. The adventure was repeated in each turn for 3 laps, each time to the growing enthusiasm of fans and fellow race teams in the pit area.
The wild action would reach its' pinnacle as the duo screamed down the front straightaway to take the white flag and Andrews sending his mount under Heimbaugh once again. However, Andrews would make very light contact with the backstraightaway wall, letting Heimbaugh back by.
The brush would not stop what was again coming and, with every soul in the house on their feet, Andrews sent his machine in a final time in an all out effort to capture the victory. As Andrews momentarily grabbed the point, Heimbaugh let off just enough to watch Andrews slide up in front of him on the cushion, before making his move to the bottom to drag Andrews side by side to the finish line.
Displaying a discipline few show at twice his 16 years, Heimbaugh's timing could not have been better. Heimbaugh's move to the bottom off of the fourth and final turn would nab him the win by a mere foot, sending nearly every fist into the air and fans raucously celebrating the electrifying finish.
The standing ovation continued as Heimbaugh slowed in his cool down lap. With Lucas Oil ASCS2 infield worker Roy Wagner nodding in approval at the scales, the ovation began again as the 16 year old Collinsville native pulled to the front straight to receive honors for his first career Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw score aboard the Momo's Racing Engines, Hesselbein Tire, Kent's Custom Cars and Trucks sponsored no. 94 Sawyer mount with the sincerest of thanks to PJ.
A winner in earlier local A Class competition and Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing competition, Andrews would accept the defeat of his three-peat in stride, content with his two victories and his part in a dazzling finish of an action rich evening of racing for Port City Raceway fans.
However, Chris Andrews apparent runner up finish would not stand, as he would later be disqualified for not reporting to the tech area after crossing the scales. Andrews disqualification move Tulsa, Oklahoma's Darrien Roberts into the final runner up spot.
After his own preliminary night part on the losing end of a photo finish,Topeka, Kansas native Kiefer Stelzner ultimately claimed show position honors with Sapulpa, Oklahoma's reigning Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion Blake Hahn taking fourth. Glenpool, Oklahoma's Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Director of Competition Matt Ward advanced from eighth to complete the top 5 running order of the headlining 30 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw main event finale.
Ward and Heimbaugh took heat victories over the 18 car Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw field.
Tulsa native Ty Hulsey would lead the 25 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing main event to the initial green flag and maintain the point as the field split in exciting fashion between high and low lines through the corners.
Matt Ward would overcome Hulsey on the 4th circuit and fend off repeated challenged from highly accomplished mini sprint veteran Chris Andrews until Andrews powered by at the halfway mark of the lightning fast 25 lap Non Wing main event.
Only two stoppages in the mid stages of the race would slow down Andrews, as he comfortably paced ahead of a storm of action for the runner up spot involving Ward, Ty Hulsey, and Harlan Hulsey.
Andrews would ultimately take a 6 car length advantage across the final stripe to attain his first Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing score of the 2011 campaign aboard the familiar Metric Cycles, Cherokee Barber Shop, Andrews Irrigation, Honda of Tulsa, Aerodynamic Racing Wheels, and Falcon Racing Wings sponsored yellow no. 77 machine.
Matt Ward would emerge from with runner up honors after a heated late race battle with eventual third place finisher Ty Hulsey. Harlan Hulsey and Pauls Valley, Oklahoma's Steven Shebester completed the top 5 running order of the 25 lap Non Wing main event finale.
Joey Baker, Trey Marcham, and Matt Ward each took heat race honors over the 22 car Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing field, with Tulsa native Darrien Roberts picking up the win and top transfer in the 12 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing B Feature.
The 20 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted main event would be led to green by Cyril, Oklahoma's versatile upstart Cord Dodson. The first two attempts to complete a lap were negated and 4 favorites sidelines after a collision forced Austin Helt and Kyle Keeler pit side, while Grady Chandler flipped hard in turn 3 in the second attempt at green. Preliminary night winner Hunter Fischer would also sustain damage be forced to a disappointing early exit.
The third attempt to start the 20 lap Restricted main event would see success, with polesitter Dodson pacing the initial circuits until Coweta, Oklahoma native and current 2011 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted point leader Chance Morton overcame Dodson on lap 4.
Despite two caution peroids prior to the halfway mark, Morton would check out on the field and take a monster half lap advantage to the final stripe for his third Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted score of the 2011 campaign aboard the Momo's Racing Engines, Morton Excavating, Napa Autoparts, and Intruder Chassis sponsored black no. 7m machine.
Cord Dodson maintained the runner up spot throughout the event, with Jason McDougal claiming show position honors. A winner in recent Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted competition at I-44 Speedway, Austin Shores maintained the 4th position until getting loose with two laps to go, allowing Mansfield, Texas native Christian Kinnison to claim hard charger efforts with a 13th to 4th Restricted run. Wes Little rounded out the top 5 running order of the 20 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 main event.
Grady Chandler, Cord Dodson, Jase Randolph, and Wes Little took heat race honors over the 28 car Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted field, with Bailey Felkins topping the 12 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted B Feature event.
The Lucas Oil American Small Car Series staff would like to extend a warm thanks to both Port City Raceway for their outstanding efforts in hosting a Memorial Holiday Weekend of action for the second consecutive season, as well as regional racing teams and fans for their support of the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series.
The Lucas Oil American Small Car Series Outlaw, Non Wing, and Restricted divisions will take a few weeks off before reigniting June 24th and 25th at Kennedale, Texas' Cowtown Speedway for the Inaugural Sizzlin' 600 Nationals.
For further information, please check back to www.ascs2racing.com or contact ASCS Headquarters at 918.838.3777
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