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Cody Morris, Lawton, OK (5-14-2011) - The Lucas Oil ASCS Midgets invaded historic Lawton Speedway for the third time in series history and the 1st time of the 2011 campaign. Also joining their fellow winged ASCS sprint car counterparts for the first time in series history, the Lucas Oil ASCS EcoTec Midgets dazzled regional racing fans yet again, this time with a suprising twist.
Before the suprise can be unveiled, Sapulpa, Oklahoma's sensational open wheel ace and 2010 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion Blake Hahn would lead the field to the green flag of the 20 lap Lucas Oil ASCS Midget main event by virtue of topping heat race action and punishing the 3/8ths mile red clay oval in a highlight filled blitz from 11th to 3rd in qualifier action.
The opening lap would see a change of pace with Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native Colton Brewer powering into the lead from his inside second row starting spot. However, Brewer's first ASCS Midget lead would be a short one, as Bixby, Oklahoma's 2009 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion and winner of inaugural EcoTec Midget action at the 2010 Tulsa Shootout Kevin Bayer would grab the lap 2 lead, firing up from his outside third row starting spot.
While Bayer led the pack over the initial stages of the 20 lap main event, Hahn and Broken Arrow native Chett Gehrke dueled for the 2nd spot, trading the spot several times before Gehrke set his sights on Bayer near the midway stage of the race.
As the top 5 of Bayer, Gehrke, Blake Hahn, Brewer, and Fenton would spread out as the battle for raged behind them. With the Lawton Speedway flagstand signaling 5 laps remaining, Bayer began to encounter lapped traffic.
The lapped traffic would prove a headache for Bayer and allow Gehrke to quickly cut into a half straightaway deficit. By lap 17 Gehrke had nullified Bayer's advantage.
Near the conclusion of the 17th lap, Bayer would be slowed by a lapped car in the turn 4 approach, allowing Gehrke room to execute a lightning fast and daring move underneath Bayer. Gehrke would take a narrow lead with two laps remaining.
Gehrke's move would prove final, as he comfortably took his first Lucas Oil ASCS EcoTec Midget victory of his career aboard the Bishop's Racing Components and Skip's Catering sponsored black no. 9.
Making the sequence of events all the more suprising, Gehrke was still 50 miles away from Lawton Speedway during heat race action. After a friday night midget outing in Illinois, a saturday night rainout at that venue would not deny Gehrke, as he loaded up and left Belleville, Illinois at noon for a 600 mile, 9 hour Interstate blitz through the plains to Lawton, Oklahoma.
Gehrke arrived for qualifier action, and a 2nd place finish in that race would lead to a inside fourth row starting spot in the 12 car field. Belleville, Illinois to Lawton, Oklahoma. approximately 602 miles, and 9 hour high speed Interstate burn, and a daring and impressive late race pass for his first ASCS Midget victory.
Legendary.
Bixby, Oklahoma's Kevin Bayer would fend off a late charge from Blake Hahn to retain runner up honors aboard the Jessica Fenton owned and Southside Mower, Fenton Graphics, Maruyama Power Equipment, and Revolution Racing Engines sponsored no. 72k.
While a bobble on the initial start would send Blake Hahn back to the far reached of the top 5, Hahn would regain his composure to claim show positions honors at the final stripe aboard the Speedway Vending, Tel Star Communications, Metric Cycles, XXX Racing Chassis, Le Joie Seating, and Hoosier Tire sponsored no. 52.
Leading the initial lap of the Lucas Oil ASCS Midget main event, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma's 13 year old up-and-comer Colton Brewer would engage in several battled throughout the non-stop 20 lap feature event before a hard fought 4th place finish aboard the Hampton Kustom Works, 918 Wraps, Engler Machine & Tool, and Penske Racing Shocks sponsored orange no. 77 Twister Chassis machine.
Falling from an outside front row starting spot at the beginning of the main event, Jenks, Oklahoma's Eric Fenton stopped the slide to round out the final top 5 running order aboard the Southside Mower, Maruyama Power Equipment, Revolution Racing Engine, and Fenton Graphics sponsored. no 72, to add a 5th place finish to fellow Fenton Racing teammate Kevin Bayer's runner up finish.
El Reno, Oklahoma's Blake Dewberry would claim 6th in the first midget start of his young career, followed by Tulsa, Oklahoma cousins Matt Ward and Brandon Hahn. Tuttle, Oklahoma native Jeff Autry would cross the final stripe 9th in his midget racing debut, with 2011 Tulsa Shootout EcoTec Midget Champion Mike Ward rounding out the top 10.
Blanchard, Oklahoma native and I-44 Speedway promoter Kirk Berkly settled for 11th and final racing position after a mechanical failure forced him to the infield with 6 laps remaining.
Reigning Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion Blake Hahn took heat race honors over the 12 car field while also making his sprint car debut. Hahn's sprint car debut with the ASCS Sooner Region would net a B Feature victory before an impressive charge from 18th to 8th in the 25 lap American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region main event.
Bixby, Oklahoma's 2009 Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw Champion Kevin Bayer claimed victory in the 8 lap Lucas Oil ASCS Midget qualifier.
Lucas Oil ASCS Midget action resumes Saturday, June 4th for the first Lucas Oil ASCS Midget invasion of Little Rock, Arkansas' highly reknowned I-30 Speedway.
Lucas Oil ASCS2 Outlaw, Non Wing, and Restricted action will reignite their fierce 2011 campaign with a Memorial Day Weekend spectacular at the famed highbanks of Tulsa, Oklahoma's Port City Raceway.
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