Oklahoma Racing News
From June - July 2009
Oklahoma Racing News June - July 09
7-31-09
Suspended SFS driver Michelle Decker set to return: Sprint car driver Michelle Decker will return to State Fair Speedway tonight after a two-week suspension. Decker’s car owner, Don Strawn, said the popular driver was suspended after an on-track incident, but he did not know the details. Decker said she did not wish to comment on the incident, except to say , "it was grossly blown out of proportion.” Decker, a Guthrie resident, won the Championship Sprints title last season. She was the first female to win a points championship at State Fair Speedway, which opened in 1954. (The Oklahoman)
7-30-09
OCRS to return to Outlaw Motor Speedway: The OCRS Sprints return for the fourth time in the Rebel Rumble on Dukes of Hazard Night. We will have a General Lee Dukes of Hazard look a like car that will be chased by police and jumped in the air to entertain the fans. Bo and Luke Duke will be in the house, so look out ladies. After the fun with the General Lee, we will have a Daisy Duke look a like contest with the night's divisional winners being the judges! Also all Police, EMS and Fire Departments personnel will get in free in appreciation of their thankless work! (Admission only free with ticket) Departments need to contact the race track by July 29th to participate. (PR)
7-27-09
Kansas driver outlasts Muskogee teen in Outlaw's Sizzler: Muskogee Phoenix
Results: Robert Sellers Sweeps the Champ Sprints at State Fair Speedway
Results: Brown Wins Championship Sprints A-Feature at Lawton Speedway
7-25-09
Steve Smith wins again at State Fair Speedway; Jared Hicks still leads points : The Oklahoman
7-24-09
Under the helmet with State Fair Speedway driver Jeff Leep: The Oklahoman
7-19-09
State Fair Speedway Shayla Waddell refuses to quit when money runs out: The Oklahoma
7-16-09
16-year old Racer Takes Fastlane to Success: Oklahoma HS Playbook
7-14-09
ASCS Sooner Region set for SFS and Lawton this weekend: The American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region is set for the first of two H.E. Bailey Turnpike 2009 doubles with this weekend's racing action in Oklahoma City and Lawton. On Friday night, the series takes to Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway. Then, on Saturday night, it's a quick trip southwest down the H.E. Bailey to Lawton Speedway for the first time this year. With four different winners through the initial four events of the season, a mere eight points separate the two drivers atop the points charts as Oklahoma City's Joe Wood, Jr., holds a slight edge over 19-year-old Glenpool, OK, shoe Matt Covington. Just 24 years old, Wood reeled off three ASCS Sooner wins to rank second in series points leas year. Covington, on the other hand, is seeking his first series win after capturing a Knoxville main event earlier this season. Sand Springs' Sherman Davis enters the weekend ranked third in points, 32 markers off the lead pace, with 18-year-old Nixa, MO, shoe Kyle Bellm currently fourth in his first full Sooner effort. Two-time and defending series champion Brian McClelland of Tulsa, OK, enters the weekend ranked sixth after topping the series most recent event at Missouri's Springfield Raceway on June 20, just two markers ahead of Donnie Ray Crawford. Friday's action at Oklahoma City's State Fair Speedway fires off at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday's event at Lawton Speedway going green at 8:00 p.m. (SFS PR)
7-13-09
NASCAR stars at Outlaw Motor Speedway: NASCAR drivers, Dave Blaney, Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader will be on hand to sign autographs prior to the races, then strap on their gear to battle some of the top Modified drivers in the nation. Outlaw Motor Speedway will see a over 60 Modifieds converge on Muskogee as they take their shot at NASCAR talent. Gates open at 5:00pm and action begins at 7:00pm. The autograph sessions will begin at about 6:00pm. Advance tickets are on sale now at www.outlawmotorspeedway.com or at the track office. Grandstand Ticket prices: Grandstand Admission - Adult - $15, Kids 6-12 $5, 5-Under Free. Note: All children must be accompanied by an adult to enter the races. (PR)
Sanders breaks the tape at Speedway: Enid News and Eagle
7-7-09
Midget Sprint Nationals at OMS: The Midget Outlaw Nationals come to town with the Southern Midget Racing Series (SMRS) a part of the United States Auto Club (USAC). The same type of Midget sprints you see at the Chili Bowl will race for the first time this season. Chad McDaniel leads SMRS in points with 1002, just four points ahead of Matt Sherrell with 908. Andrew Deal and Rick England are in third and fourth in the point standings respectively. The Front Wheel Drive division will be back on the track this Friday night. The Pure Stock gambler is a winner take all race, drivers post an entry to create their own purse. Stick around for the Figure 8 Race! Enduro Style cars will race in the Figure 8 Race. Gates open at 5:30pm and action begins at 7:00pm.(PR)
Rowland sets the pace in Speedway win: Enid News and Eagle
7-5-09
Fireworks fly on and off track at OMS: Muskogee Phoenix
7-4-09
Shayla Waddell wins at SFS: Shayla Waddell, a 16-year-old from Oklahoma City, continued her ascent in the sprint car ranks late Friday night at State Fair Speedway. Waddell held off a charge from Brian Bishop and won the 20-lap Championship Sprints A feature on a dusty, slick dirt track. A crowd of about 5,000 watched Waddell pass early leader Shane Sellers, then put some distance between her No. 88 sprinter and Bishop's No. 77. Bishop slid by a lapped Andrew Marshala, and he had his sights on Waddell when a caution stopped the race on lap 15. Track officials went back to the previous lap to determine the lineup for the restart. Marshala's car was placed between Waddell and Bishop, who quickly fell out of contention when the green dropped. Waddell received a standing ovation from the crowd when taking the checkers. (The Oklahoman)
Results: Shayla Waddell Sweeps the Champ Sprints at State Fair Speedway
6-28-09
West Siloam to host 4th of July special: West Siloam Speedways is hosting a fourth of July special which includes an increased purse for all classes.
Purse: Winner
FACTORY STOCK $500
PURE STOCK $500
360 MODIFIEDS $600
LIMITED LATE MODELS $1000
A MODIFIEDS $1000
6-27-09
Sherell sweeps OCRS Sprints at OMS: Matt Sherrell of Owasso, Oklahoma dominated the competition at Outlaw Motor Speedway Friday night in the Oil Capitol Racing Series 5th stop on the 2009 racing schedule by completely sweeping the nights program. Sherrell captured his heat race, the Same Day Auto Repair dash for cash race and the 25 lap OCRS main event. Sherrell started on the pole and took the lead at the start of the race in his Sherrell Auto Body sponsored #35 mount with Arkansas' Rafe Essary in hot pursuit. As the field came to complete lap number one, Essary had nosed out Sherrell at the start/finish line by inches. Sherrell returned to the point entering turn one of the second lap. Danny Smith of Sand Springs, reeled in Essary in traffic on lap 8 and took the second position and began to apply pressure immediately on Sherrell. Essary had his hands full still as Broken Arrow's Jonathan Beason (last weeks victor at Caney, Kansas) was on the move as well in his Broken Arrow Lawn and Garden machine. It was also during this time that Tulsa's Mike Goodman began to make his presence felt. Goodman, driving the 4am sprinter normally mounted by Travis Jenkins, started 10th and was in the 5th position by this time and had seemingly found his momentum. The events only caution appeared on lap 12 for Dustyn Caudle who had spun in turn one. The restart had Sherrell on the point followed by Smith, Essary, Beason, Goodman, Evan Sewell, Johnny Kent, Jamie Passmore, Dean Drake and Brian Roberts. On the restart, Goodman got by Beason to take the fourth spot and Kent overtook Sewell for the sixth position. On the next lap, Kent got too high, spun his tires and lost 3 positions. Smith had been putting pressure on Sherrell constantly prior to the lap 12 yellow. However, Sherrell was putting a few car lengths between himself and his rivals once the race was restarted. With the race winding down, Smith tried a cross over slidejob on Sherrell entering turn two. Smith had slid up across the track into the marbles near wall exiting turn two and Sherrell ever so calmly allowed Smith to slide out of position and he crossed back over to retake the point and went on to victory. Sherrell took the checkers 7 car lengths ahead of Smith with Essary, Goodman and Beason completing the top five. Rounding out the top 10 were: Kent, Sewell, Drake, Passmore and Roberts. The next stop for the OCRS sprints will be Saturday July 4th for a 4th of July holiday shootout at the Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville Kansas. (PR)
6-26-09:
Firestorm 100 and Mudbog Mayhem at OMS tonight: The Oil Capital Racing Series Sprints invade Outlaw Motor Speedway for the second time this season for the Firestorm 100, sponsored by The Sports Animal & Pizza Inn. (NOTE: The Firestorm 100 is not a 100 lap race. It is a reference to the temperature.) The Oklahoma heat will fire up the Sprints as they look to battle the for the points lead. Last showing, Danny Smith of Sand Springs took the win. For the Media race, all the media in Green Country has been invited to come participate in the Media Race Challenge. Look for your favorite faces and voices to take on the Outlaw to see who is the best in the state. Getting down and dirty, the MudBog Mayhem Race is a challenge for anyone with a 4-wheel drive. Each driver will compete in a drag race through a mud pit, competing in tournament style racing. The winner at the end of the night will be crowned the Mayhem King. (OMS PR)
"Showdown in the Heartland" at Brill Motor Speedway: Brill’s Motor Speedway in Meeker will have the "Showdown in the Heartland” tonight. The card will feature Late Models from the National Championship Racing Associationand the Mid-America Racing Series. Neither the NCRA nor the MARS has competed on the Meeker quarter-mile track, which is owned by long-time Oklahoma racer Mark Brill. Racing begins at 7. (PR)
6-23-09
Wheeler Takes NCRA Modified World Championship of Dirt at Outlaw Motor Speedway: Leading all but one lap, Muskogee’s Chad Wheeler drove away from the field to win the World Championship of Dirt Modified feature at Outlaw Motor Speedway Friday night. Wheeler, from the pole, out-ran Randy Tims, Oklahoma City, to win the $1,000 first place money for the win. Tims, with a nifty move, passed Wheeler midway between turns three and four to go ahead after 15 laps. But the lead was short-lived as Wheeler recaptured first on the backstretch on the very next lap. From there, he was never headed. Wheeler said the track was rough but fast. “Once I found the right groove and got out in front, I was gone,” Wheeler said. Tims fought-off Gene Weaver, Amarillo, Texas, in the race for second after Wheeler established the fact he was going to win. Those two finished well ahead of Bixby’s Greg Skaggs, who fought his way through the pack after a flat tire sent him to the back of the field after he went to the pits to change the wheel. In winning, Wheeler claimed his second win of the year in Modified racing. (PR)
6-22-09
Bates tops Green in Sprint Feature at Creek County Speedway: Saturday's sprint car A feature at Creek County Speedway did not end soon enough for Ricky Green of Sapulpa. The rookie was making a serious bid to win his first open wheel main event but defending track champ Brent Bates of Tulsa played the role of spoiler and came away with the 20-lap victory. Green grabbed the early lead from his outside front row starting position over fellow rookie Nathan Campbell. Green set the pace for over half the race while Bates was working his way toward the front. Bates raced into second on lap six and reeled in Green on lap 13. The two ran wheel-to-wheel before Bates took away the lead down the front straightaway of lap 14. Bates went on to pick up his second victory of the season while Green finished a career best second. Jackie York passed Campbell for third and David Dutton rounded out the top five. Regina Davis also lost a heart breaker coming within three laps of a first mini stock victory. But Regina got loose on the track with three laps remaining and former champion Kenny Grumadas drove around for the lead. Grumadas pulled away to win for the second time this season. Davis fell to fourth as Joshua Tyre and Jonathan Fisher went by for second and third. Mike Henderson took advantage of a lapped car to take the lead away from Justin Green for his fifth super stock victory of the season. Green led from the start with Henderson close behind. The two ran 1-2 until Henderson mounted a challenge on lap 14. But Green held his ground until he approached a lapped car on lap 17. Henderson shot down low and Green went high with the lapped car between them. Henderson came away with the lead entering turn three. Green was not able to challenge Henderson after that and settled for second. Defending champion Tommy Romine finished in third. Phil Martin picked up his sixth victory of the season the pure stock main event. Billy Green led the first eight laps before Martin could find his way to the front. Martin passed Green on lap nine and led the final lap for the win. Amy Lewis also passed Green to finish second. (CCS PR)
Adams wins $1,000 dash for cash at Enid Speedway Park: Joe Adams dominated in racing action at Enid Speedway Park Saturday night, taking home the purse for the dash for cash. This innovative weekly event pits the top four drivers in a division against each other in a four-lap shoot out for a $100 bill. Heat winners in limited modified were Ross McCartney, Johnie Rauschenberg, Robert Elliott and Kenny Morris. The evening was cut short as rain drenched the track before the main events. Features from this show will start at 6 p.m. Saturday followed by another card of racing.(Enid News and Eagle)
6-20-09
Rain cuts racing short at State Fair Speedway: Storm clouds were in the distance as racing began Friday night, and they held off for most of the night. But just a few minutes before 10 p.m., during the Pro Stock feature, the clouds opened and a heavy rain fell. Track officials let racing continue until the three-eighths dirt track became too slick for cars. The track looked like a dark oil slick. It was so slippery that corner workers had trouble crossing the track. Racing was postponed. The Pro Stock feature and Super Sprint A Feature will be resumed July 10. (The Oklahoman)
6-19-09
Season of surprises so far at track: The Oklahoman
Local racer dominating: Muskogee Phoenix
6-17-09
NCRA Oklahoma Mods at Outlaw Motor Speedway: Current series points leader Gene Weaver of Amarillo, Texas will lead the O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modifieds back into action this coming Friday night, June 26, as the tour heads to Outlaw Motor Speedway in Wainwright, Oklahoma. Coming into the event, Weaver takes a 65 point advantage in the 2009 season points into the third race of the season for NCRA's new division. Logan Cabbell of Quail, Texas sits second in the point standings while Moore driver Alan Oliva sits third. Thomas Tillison, Jr. of Wellston and Robert Mayfield of Clinton round out the top five in the current point standings and are all expected to compete. Other NCRA regulars expected for the first scheduled visit to the 3/8th mile oval include the following: Chris Roach (Warr Acres), Jaymon Gregory (Binger), Travis Penrod (Davis), Brad Worley (Elk City), Cam Case (Edmond), Pat McVicker (Woodward), Kerry Davis (Tuttle), Kyle Sweeney (Purcell), Jason Hilliard (Lawton), Brian Wolfe (Wewoka), Casey McClaskey (Ponca City), Ron Gould (McCloud), Thomas Nunley (Lawton), Greg Burt (Enid) and Kip Hughes (Enid). Track regulars expected to compete for the $1000 to win/$200 to start include Joe Duvall, Andy Morris, Danny Womack, Jared Russell, Lonnie Robbins, Dalton Clay, Justin Fulton, Greg Skaggs and Jarrod Havens, Tate Cole and Chad Wheeler. There is a $50 entry fee due at the time of draw while all "B" feature non-qualifiers will earn $100. Thus far in 2009, 66 different drivers have competed in at least one NCRA Oklahoma modified event while 19 drivers have competed in both events that have been held thus far. It will be the first time that NCRA has visited the track since the late model division competed there back in 2003. Outlaw Motor Speedway is located eight miles south of Muskogee or eleven miles north of I-40 on Hwy 69 at the Wainwright exit. For more race information, contact the race track (918) 687-9200 or check them out online www.outlawmotorspeedway.com. To learn more about the NCRA Oklahoma modified division, contact NCRA steward Chris Smith (918) 625-6200. (PR)
6-16-09
Crawley wins Speedweek championship: Tim Crawley of Benton, Ark., won the American Sprint Car Series Speedweek championship late Saturday at Lawton Speedway. Crawley finished third in the A feature, but he had enough cushion in the point standings to clinch the Speedweek title for the first time since 2004. Crawley finished eight points ahead of Paul McMahan of Hendersonville, Tenn. Speedweek was a series of six races through Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Gary Wright of Hooks, Texas, won Friday’s race at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City. Nick Smith of Broken Arrow won the final A feature Saturday at Lawton. A total of 18 drivers competed in all scheduled races — a Thursday card in Mesquite, Texas, was rained out — and 66 different drivers competed during the week. (The Oklahoman)
Johnson double winner at Enid Speedway Park: The Enid News and Eagle
6-14-09
International Hot Rod Association: Hot rods are carving niche; Tulsa fans noticing: The Oklahoman
Father, son win features at Outlaw: Muskogee Phoenix
6-13-09
Racing is tops in Gerhard’s family: The Enid News and Eagle
Wright captures sprint feature: The Oklahoman
6-12-09
Withrow looks to return racing at OMS: Mike Withrow might be 52 years old, but racing is still — and always will be — in his blood. He’s been successful in the Modified Division at the Outlaw Motor Speedway, but the Muskogee native is going to steer in another direction and go back a division and compete in the Hobby Stock. “I need to slow things down because I’m not as sharp as I was at 25 or 30. But at the same time, I still want to race,” Withrow, the owner of Speedway Grille on Okmulgee Avenue, said. The cost of maintaining a Modified car also is part of Withrow’s decision to go to another division. “Parts for the car are so expensive,” he said. “That’s the way it is.” And it’s getting at least another week’s delay in terms of his return to the track. (Muskogee Phoenix)
For Danny Wood, it’s family first: The Oklahoman
6-11-09
Reminder - Pure Stock Special at West Siloam Speeedway: West Siloam Speedway, Watts,OK
Ozark Beverage is the Proud Sponsor of The PURE STOCK SPECIAL
$500 TO WIN
Saturday, June 13th
At West Siloam Speedway
4 MILES WEST OF CHEROKEE CASINO ON HWY 412
Rules at
WWW.WESTSILOAM.COM
Pit Passes $25 Drivers $30 NO ENTRY FEE
6-8-09
ASCS returns to Oklahoma this week: Tony Bruce of Liberal, Kan., leads the points standings after two rounds of the American Sprint Car Series’ 17th annual Speedweek. The series moves to Oklahoma and Texas this week. Races are scheduled Tuesday at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa; Thursday at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas; Friday at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City; and Saturday at Lawton Speedway. Bruce won Saturday night’s A feature in Little Rock, Ark., to take a twopoint lead over Tim Crawley of Benton, Ark. Crawley won the first Speedweek race on Friday night in Texarkana, Ark. The Speedweek points leader after Saturday night’s race in Lawton will win $2,000. Trey Robb of Newcastle raced Friday in Waco, Texas, and won an ASCS Gulf South feature at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. Robb, 17, is driving a sprinter owned by Jerry Bell of Garland, Texas. The feature win was Robb’s first this season on the ASCS series. (The Oklahoman)
Owner edged in Outlaw modified special: Muskogee Phoenix
Herrings post wins at Speedway: Enid News and Eagle
6-6-09
Trey Robb wins in Texas: Following his car owner's lead, Trey Robb broke into American Sprint Car Series victory lane for the first time by topping Friday night's 25-lap ASCS Gulf South main event at Heart O' Texas Speedway. Driving for Jerry Bell, who picked off his first series win the weekend prior in Lone Star action at Abilene, the 17-year-old Robb hailing from Newcastle, OK, raced around Kevin Ramey on a lap eleven restart en route to winning the Gordon Woolley Classic aboard the Eckley-powered Bell's Custom Conversions No. 12 Maxim. Robb was chased to the stripe by Ramey, who paced the opening eleven rounds, with Kolt Walker, Channin Tankersley and 17th-starter Tommy Bryant rounding out the top five. Ray Allen Kulhanek and Gary Watson raced from the eighth row to finish sixth and seventh, respectively, with current series points leader Aaron Reutzel, Greg Rilat and Kent Lewis, Jr., completing the top ten. (ASCS)
6-4-09
Vian HS presented a $1,000 scholarship from OMS: Vian High School was presented with a $1,000 scholarship from the management at Outlaw Motor Speedway for their participation in a program to promote stock car racing in the schools. Agriculture students built a race car and it was driven this spring by high school principal David Vinson. The local race track owners formed a “high school” racing league and invited several area schools to build cars and participate in the program at no or very little cost to the school or school district. Two schools responded, Vian and Oktaha. “From indications, each school experienced positive things with the program,” said Lynn Skinner, co-owner of the track along with Danny Womack. Liability concerns kept other schools out of the program, according to OMS track manager Eric Shannon. However, a team team of students who were in auto mechanics at Muskogee Indian Capital Technology Center did build a car. The school did not sponsor the car, nor did it provide funds for the vehicle, according to Andrew Theodore, ICTC auto mechanics instructor and driver of the car. “We’re hoping other schools will take a look at how Vian and Oktaha overcame the liability issues and will be a participant in the program next year,” Shannon said. “We feel the program is a win-win situation for the schools for every one concerned.” This year’s program ended with the close of the school year — the last race was May 8. Track officials say they plan on meeting with area high school administrators when schools return to session in August to will discuss plans for resuming the competition next spring. (OMS PR)
Shawnee Racers in top 10: Shawnee News Star
