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Cody Morris, Oklahoma City, OK (5-8-2011) - After a furious opening night of Mother’s Day Weekend action at I-44 Speedway, the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw, Non Wing, and Restricted divisions returned to the high banked 1/6 mile oval for a second helping of high speed wheel to wheel action.
Approximately 61 competitors possessed the courage and fortitude to take on the very best of regional mini sprint racing with the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series, and the finale of the weekend double would see Blake Hahn returning to familiar form over Oklahoma Outlaws. Steven Shebester would also net his second win of the 2011 Non Wing campaign, while Austin Shores would take his first dirt track racing win of his young career in the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted division.
I-44 fans could see a great battle brewing as the Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw main event formed to its’ traditional 4 wide salute, but few could have known that they would witness a such a contest that belongs to Lucas Oil ASCS2 legend.
A native of Longview, Texas and proven high speed ace by virtue of twin dominating performances in Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw action at Cowtown Speedway late last season, Tyson Hall would pace the field to the initial green flag. But to his immediate right could be seen the owner of two nearly sacred Golden Driller trophies from the 2011 Tulsa Shootout, both earned by dominating one of the best field of Outlaws ever assembled (with and without the wing). That memorable New Year’s Night in Tulsa would also be accompanied by an extremely impressive 2010 Lucas ASCS2 Outlaw Championship.
A hotly contested battle for the point would ensue as soon as the first green flag dropped on the 30 lap headlining event. Even multiple cautions for the wounded mounts of Brandon Hahn and preliminary night Outlaw winner Harli White over the first 10 laps of the event could not hamper the high speed fight between Tyson Hall and Blake Hahn.
The duo would exchange the point at a clip difficult to accurately score, seemingly trading the lead on each end of the track. The edge of the seat action would heat up even more in the final 10 laps. As Hall fought extremely hard to keep Hahn to his rear for a series of circuits, lap 23 would mark the beginning of Hahn’s final assault for the point, and 7 laps that proved the high quality of the incredible open wheel action the Lucas Oil American Small Car Series brings to regional race fans.
As Hahn would veer beneath Hall coming out of turns 2 and 4 for a series of laps, the two would fully swap the lead five times and drag out of turn 4 side by side until a lap 25 caution for a stalled Drew Salisbury in turn 2. Leading the prior lap by half a car length, Hall would lead Hahn out of the restart with 5 laps remaining.
The battle would immediately pick up right where it left off with Hahn pulling alongside Hall on the first two straightaways, but lacking the momentum needed to complete the pass. With 3 laps remaining, Hahn would take the point in turns 1 and 2, only to see Hall power back by exiting turn 4 with the flag stand signaling two laps remaining.
Hahn would slide underneath Hall again in turns 1 and 2, this time attaining the momentum needed to keep Hall from repeating the same move exiting turn 2. Hall would dive below Hahn in turns 3 and 4, and in a situation where many with class or character might have initiated the contact that would have likely resulted in a lead and likely victory, Hall slipped underneath, perfectly aligned with Hahn’s left tires, and leave the move classy and clean with Hahn garnishing the momentum out of turn 4 to take command as the two passed under the white flag nose to tail.
Hall would press off the final laps' turn two exit, but fail to gather enough momentum to attempt the same prior move in turns 3 and 4. Reigning 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion and Sapulpa, Oklahoma native Blake Hahn would take the immensely hard fought checkered flag and earn his first Lucas Oil ASCS2 triumph of the young 2011 campaign aboard the Speedway Vending, Metric Cycles, Racin’ Boys Lawn Care, Simpson Helmets, Hoosier Tire, and Afco Shocks sponsored no. 52 Sawyer speedster.
While the victory would mark his first ASCS2 triumph of the 2011 season, it would mark his sixth overall to accompany scores at Tulsa’s Port City Raceway and I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas.
While exemplifying the character and skill of a true winner, Hall would settle for runner up honors at the stripe aboard his Pine Tree Motors, Metric Cycles, Sawyer Chassis, and Guhl Injections sponsored black and blue no. 5x ride.
Such a battle up front concealed a stellar battle in its own right for the third spot throughout the event, with Tulsa’s Matt Ward claiming the show position at the stripe. Darrien Roberts and 2009 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion Kevin Bayer would complete the top 5 running order of the headlining 30 lap Outlaw main event.
With the preliminary night’s top 4 finishers locked into the Saturday night finale, Scott Sawyer and Billy Lawhead would take heat race honors over the 19 car Outlaw field.
The weekend of Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing action would see an exact duplicate result of Ryan Craighead Memorial action scarcely a month prior. Pauls Valley native Steven Shebester would lead the field to its opening green flag.
Shebester would maintain the early advantage over Lindsay, Oklahoma sensation Harli White as preliminary night victor Trey Marcham would power by Darrien Roberts for fourth before challenging Jordan Herrman for the third spot by the halfway mark of the 25 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing main event.
A lap 15 caution for debris in turn one would be the only thing to slow Shebester for the remainder of the event and the 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing runner up would take his second Lucas Oil ASCS2 Non Wing triumph of the 2011 campaign aboard the Concept Chassis, Metric Cycles, Keiser Wheels, C&D Ditching, Shebester Carbs and Gordon Seros Racing Engines sponsored no. 82 machine, with both Shebester triumphs coming in the finales of two day Lucas Oil ASCS2 sets at I-44 Speedway.
White would shadow Shebester for the duration of the event and settle for runner up honors at the final stripe. An eventual victor in the local winged 600 main event, Jordan Herrman would claim show position honors after a long haul down from Jay, Oklahoma. Marcham and Matt Ward would complete the top 5 running order.
With the preliminary night’s top 4 locked into the Saturday finale main event, Herrman, Dustin Dixon, and Brent Venable would take heat race honors over the 25 car Non Wing field.
Little controversy was lost following an official ruling in Friday night’s Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted card, and the gremlin would persist into the weekend Restricted finale. Laydon Pearson would lead the field to the opening green flag, but it would be Edmond, Oklahoma native Seth Brown making an audacious move into the lead from his inside second row starting spot.
Brown would remain in front following a lap 7 Pearson tumble in turn 3. Brown would go unchallenged until difficulties in lapped traffic would open a narrow window for Austin Shores with two laps remaining. Brown would close the window in disposing of the lapped car and apparently cruise to his first Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted triumph.
Except it was not to be. For the second consecutive night, post race fuel tests turned up foul and Brown would be disqualified. A spirited effort in an apparent runner up finish, Atoka, Oklahoma’s Austin Shores would inherit his first Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted win of his career aboard the Atoka Machine, Lane Auto Electric, Williams BodyWorks and Metric Cycles sponsored no. 8x entry.
The win would not only mark the first Lucas Oil ASCS2 triumph for the Port City Raceway 2010 Restricted runner up, the win would mark Shores’ first racing victory of his young racing career. The win would also provide advantage in the 14 year olds quest for a 2011 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted title.
Coweta, Oklahoma’s Chance Morton would make a late dash to claim the runner up spot with El Reno, Oklahoma’s preliminary night ASCS2 Restricted winner Kyle Keeler taking the show position. Zane Lawrence and Cord Dodson would complete the top 5 running order for the 20 lap Lucas Oil ASCS2 Restricted feature event.
With the preliminary night top 4 locked into Saturday night A feature action, Aaron Dromgoole and Seth Brown topped heat race action over the 16 car Restricted field.
The Lucas Oil American Small Car Series would like to thank all racing teams and fans for their honorable participation and attendance, as well as I-44 Speedway for yet another terrific hosting of Lucas Oil American Small Car Series action.
The Lucas Oil ASCS2 EcoTec Midgets will fire to life for the first time of their Sophmore 2011 campaign with an inaugural running at I-44 Speedway this coming Friday, May 13th, before moving on to the historic Lawton Speedway the following evening, Saturday, May 14th.
The Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw, Non Wing, and Restricted divisions will take a quick breath before invading Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Port City Raceway for a highly anticipated Memorial Day Weekend Shootout.
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