(By J M Hallas) Fort Worth, TX.,(March 7th, 2014) — For the 13th year, the 4/10 mile, semi-banked, dirt oval hosted the Texas World Dirt Track Championships in the spring. Drivers from all across the mid-west and mid-south converged on the track just outside the NASCAR speedway. Each and every one had one thing in mind, leave with the coveted TWDTC Cowboy Hat, part of the purse up for grabs in the Modifieds($3,000), Limited Modified($2,000) and SUPR Late Models($3,500).
177 Modifieds and Limited Modified signed in Friday night representing 8 states in the Modifieds and 4 in the Limited Modifieds.
The Modified and Limited Modifieds competed in heats, B-mains and an A-qualifier Friday night that would lock 15 drivers into Saturdays big shows, seven in the Limited Modifieds and eight in the Modifieds. The SUPR Late Models would run a full show on Saturday night to go with Last Chance Qualifiers, Pole Dashes and A-mains in the Modifieds and Limited Modifieds.
Jones Jumps Out Early for Modified Qualifier Honors
Mansfield’s Sean Jones took a big step towards becoming a two-time Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track winner with his run in the Modified A-qualifier. Jones went wire to wire in the 15-lapper pulling away from multi-time USMTS Modified National Champ, Kelly Shryock.
At the start, Jones beat the 24-car field into turn 1 with a four-wide battle for second coming out of turn 2. As the sorted out behind Jones it was Shryock, Troy Taylor, Rodney Sanders and Steve Whiteaker jr. in pursuit. Jones quickly pulled away from Shryock and Taylor, who had a close call during a pit incident in Thursday practice.
The fight for the transfer spot saw Clyde Dunn jr. and Chris Brown joined by John Whittington. Whittington dispatched Brown and began pressuring Dunn for the final spot. Up front, Jones was into traffic, but still able to hold his gap. On the final circuit Dunn and Whittington were door to door after some contact. Jones easily took the checkers trailed by Shryock, Taylor, Sanders, Whiteaker, Cade Dillard, Jason Hughes and Whittington sneaking in the last spot.
Gieber Grabs Top Limited Modified Spot
Looking to join an elite crowd with possibly his third Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track win, Frankston’s Dennie Gieber scored the win the the 15-lap A-qualifier. Gieber led flag to flag over the 23-car starting on his way to the checkers in the Day Motorsports, Spin It, D&K Consulting, Batmobile.
As green flew on the field Gieber came off turn 2 with the top spot over Travis Johnson, JC Howell, Rodney Sanders and Shane Hoefling. The top twp put distance on Howell and Sanders who had a gap back to Hoefling, John Whittington, Tristan Dycus and Shane Hebert who were fighting for the final transfer spot.
Curtis Allen stopped on the front stretch for the first caution of the event. The restart was a little ragged, bringing the yellow right back out. The front of the field stayed in line as green waved again with Gieber beginning to inch away from Johnson, who had a good margin to Howell and Sanders. Meanwhile the final spots were being hotly contested among Hoefling, Whittington, Dycus, Hebert, Bo Day, Steve Whiteaker jr. and Jason Armstrong.
On the final lap, Hebert tried to push Dycus out of the spot, while Whiteaker tried a power run high around the top. Hebert lost spots to Day and Armstrong getting his momentum broken and Whiteaker slapped the turn 3/4 wall and fell back as well. Back up front it was Gieber snagging the victory, with Johnson, Howell, Sanders, Hoefling, Whittington and Dycus getting the transfer spots.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
MODIFIED RESULTS:
Modifieds(Top 8 locked in to Saturday night A-main)
24 Sean Jones, 3 Kelly Shryock, 56 Troy Taylor, 20 Rodney Sanders, 89c Steve Whiteaker jr., 97 Cade Dillard, 12 Jason Hughes, 5w John Whittington, 88xxx Clyde Dunn jr., 21 Chris Brown, k6 Joe Adams, 34n Eddie Martin, 410 Brad Doherty, 21w David Winslett, 151 Tracy Denby jr., 4m Bobby Malchus, 7d Austin Thiess, 8t Dustin Hyde, 77 Garrett Gregory, 75d Patrik Daniel, 5 Wes Armstrong, 34 Mickey Lassiter, 19r Ryan Gustin, 14t Triston Dycus
Modified B-qualifiers(Top 4 to A-qualifier)
B-qualifier 1; 5w John Whittington, 4m Bobby Malchus, 77 Garrett Gregory, 7d Austin Thiess, 21k Kyle Sweeney, 10c Chris Cary, 14x Josh Landers, 65 Tyler Davis, 85 Thomas Tillison, 90 Terry Schultz, 12g Jeremy Green, 51 Robert Shepard, 66 Nick Clinkenbeard, 11n Gene Nichols, 2g Kenny Gaddis, 7s Sean Gaddis, 18j Dustin Johnson, 02j Jeff Honeycutt, 78 Billy Jack Brutchin, 3e Clay Elmer, 74 Jasen Hammond, 303 Chase Jupe
B-qualifier 2; 14t Triston Dycus, 75 Patrik Daniel, 8t Dustin Hyde, 5 Wes Armstrong, 41m Steve McMackin, j41 Monte Bolton, 6x Kyle Pleasant, 49 Chadd Howell, 51x Micah Thompson, 1st Stan Reed, 18a Landon Atkinson, L1 Larry Clevenger, 1j James Reed, 777 Archie Whitt, 68 Brandon Watson, 22 Dalton Ragsdale, 4w David Shepard, 21x Johnny Fennewald, 19b BJ Baze, 525 GW Egbert, 89b Tyler Kincaid
Modified heats(Top 16 in passing points to A-qualifier)
Heat 1; 410 Brad Doherty, 56 Troy Taylor, 77 Garrett Gregory, 21k Kyle Sweeney, 90 Terry Schultz, 10c Chris Cary, 41 Monte Bolton, 21x Johnny Fennewald, 11n Gene Nichols, 3e Clay Elmer, 02j Jeff Honeycutt
Heat 2; 24 Sean Jones, 89c Steve Whiteaker jr, 21w David Winslett, 4m Bobby Malchus, 41m Steve McMackin, 74 Jasen Hammond, 66 Nick Clinkenbeard, 65 Tyler Davis, 89b Tyler Kincaid, 777 Archie Whitt, 36 Brandon Mewborn
Heat 3; 3 Kelly Shryock, 151 Tracy Denby jr, 12 Jason Hughes, 19b BJ Baze, 14x Josh Landers, 8t Dustin Hyde, 49 Chadd Howell, 1j James Reed, 18j Dustin Johnson, 51 Robert Shepard, 85t Andy Thomas
Heat 4; 97 Cade Dilliard, k6 Joe Adams, 19 Ryan Gustin, 34n Eddie Martin, 5 Wes Armstrong, 85 Thomas Tillison jr., 51x Micah Thompson, 12g Jeremy Green, 22 Dalton Ragsdale, 1st Stan Reed jr., 91 Nelson Allridge
Heat 5; 88xxx Clyde Dunn jr, 20 Rodney Sanders, 5w John Whittington, 4w David Shepard, 18a Landon Atkinson, 7s Sean Gaddis, 303 Chase Jupe, 2g Kenny Gaddis—BF, 78 Billy Jack Brutchin–BF, 9r Kevin Rutherford—DNS, 751 Rusty Trevathan—DNS
Heat 6; 21 Chris Brown, 34 Mickey Lassiter, 75d Patrik Daniel, 14t Tristan Dycus, 7d Austin Thiess, 42L Bud Longpine, 6x Kyle Pleasant, 68 Brandon Watson, L1 Larry Clevenger, 525 GW Egbert, 15 Kelly Cross—DNS
LIMITED MODIFIED RESULTS:
Limited Modifieds(Top 7 locked in to Saturday night A-main)
15w Dennie Gieber, 86j Travis Johnson, 103 JC Howell, 20 Rodney Sanders, 63 Shane Hoefling, 5w John Whittington, 77 Triston Dycus, 4 Bo Day, 8a Jason Armstrong, 9 Shane Hebert, 9r Kevin Rutherford, 711 Michael Daniels, v8 Robert Vetter, b4 Jared Baird, 00 Tory Yant, 89c Steve Whiteaker jr., 124x Casey Bagwell, 37h Garrett Higgins, 175 Bo Beckner, 97 Cade Dillard, 23n Steven Nabors, 151 Curtis Allen, 30k Dustin Butcher, 0 Fran Collins—DNS
Limited Modified D-qualifier(Top 4 to C-qualifier)
1 Jimmy Moreland, 881 Derek Rashall, 92 Jeffrey Kaup, 84 Tom Lorenz, 1tx Jason Tiner, 7x Nathan Gaines, 9t Taylor Williams, 06 Tommy Bohnstedt, 72 Billy Burt, 751 Rusty Trevathan—DNS, b17 Brandon Ball—DNS, 5x Billy Joe Brutchin—DNS, 78 Billy Jack Brutchin—DNS, 20x Rowdy Day—DNS
Limited Modified C-qualifiers(Top 4 to B-qualifier)
C-qualifier 1
14t Talon Minten, 47 Gary Stuckey, 92 Jeffrey Kaup, 561 Kevin Simpson, 8 Rick Murray, 28j Justin Nabors, 11x Alan Oliva, 118 Robby Crabtree, 22t Darrell Thompson, 86 Jessie Buntin, 69x Jason Martin, 1 Jimmy Moreland, 71 Jessie Hopskins, 19r Shane Marquez, 11s Creed Sherle, 9rd Newton Barta jr., 8c Will Carter, 24r Robby Minten, 66t Zachary Tippet, 7k Kyle Bridges, 88x Dwayne Shoemaker, 99d Darrell Franklin
C-qualifier 2
727 Keith McCullough, 5r Ryan Doyon, D5 Brandon Decker, 2L Bud Longpine, 80 Frank Graven, 21 Daylan Reeves, 84 Tom Lorenz, 17x Chris Dawson, 121x Jerry Ensey, 93 Dustin Shoemaker, 400 John South, 1t Tim Linares, 37 Dustin Buntin, 21b Gene Bryce, 2 Nick Brown, 881 Derek Rashall, 5h Chris Holt, 05 Ryan Bohnstedt, 48 Randy Bohnstedt, 117 Michael Maraschirca, 77x Kelly Bagwell, 5 Richard Bohnstedt—DNS
Limited Modified B-qualifiers(top 4 to A-qualifier)
B-qualifier 1; 97 Cade Dillard, 124x Casey Bagwell, 8a Jason Armstrong, v8 Robert Vetter, 10r Dustin Robinson, 18 Tim Clonch, 26 g JJ Jennings, 188 Doug Easterling, 115 Jack Barfield jr, 42r Ross McCartney, 39r Don Ried, 14t Talon Minten, 371 Chris Balthorp, 77b Bryan Bolden, 561 Kevin Simpson, 14L Chris Lyons, 01 Loni Richardson, 92 Jeffrey Kaup, 47 Gary Stuckey, 23m Jimmy Day, 44 Kale Westover, 737 Shawn Jorsky, 27 Terry Schroeder, d25 David Tanner
B-qualifier 2; 9r Kevin Rutherford, 23n Steven Nabors, 30k Dustin Butcher, 00 Tory Yant, 327 Chad McNamara, 727 Keith McCullough, 9x Cleo Adams, 1* Ronnie Sigman, 11r Gene Posey, 174 Mickey Helms, 42L Bud Longpine, 260 Erik Thorne, 5r Ryan Doyon, 22 Dakota Moore, 23g Glen Gordy, 15 Tracy Denby jr., 66 Nick Clinkenbeard, 09 Robert Elliott, 88 RJ Stroman, 36j Justin Whitehead, 32 Michael White, 69 Derek Grigsby, 316 Trenton Pevateaux, d5 Brandon Decker
Limited Modified heats(Top 16 in passing points to A-qualifier)
Heat 1; 20 Rodney Sanders, 188 Doug Easterling, 8a Jason Armstrong, 10r Dustin Robinson, 44 Kale Westover, 371 Chris Balthrop, 37 Dustin Buntin, 86 Jessie Buntin, 48 Randy Bohnstedt, 77x Kelly Bagwell, 72 Billy Burt, 08 Sean Glennon—DNS
Heat 2; 9 Shane Hebert, 86j Travis Johnson, 9r Kevin Rutherford, 66 Nick Clinkenbeard, 9x Cleo Adams, 69 Derek Grigsby, 17x Chris Dawson, 2 Nick Brown, 11x Alan Oliva, 88x Dwayne Shoemaker, 92 Jeffrey Kaup
Heat 3; 151 Curtis Allen, 103 JC Howell, 711 Michael Daniels, 22 Dakota Moore, 23m Jimmy Day, 727 Keith McCullough, 8c Will Carter, 19r Shane Marquez, 05 Ryan Bohnstedt, 99d Darrell Franklin, 751 Rusty Trevathan
Heat 4; 77 Triston Dycus, 15w Dennie Gieber, 09 Robert Elliott, 42r Ross McCartney, 260 Erik Thorne, 8 Rick Murray, 14t Talon MInten, 93 Dustin Shoemaker, 71 Jessie Hoskins, 400 John South, 5x Billy Joe Brutchin
Heat 5; 63 Shane Hoefling, 26g JJ Jennings, 23g Glen Gordy, 174 Mickey Helms, 14L Chris Lyons, 9rd Newton Barta, 11r Gene Posey, 66t Zachery Tippett, 121x Jerry Ensey, 561 Kevin Simpson, 1tx Jason Tiner
Heat 6; 175 Bo Bdeckner, 89c Steve Whiteaker jr, v8 Robert Vetter, 15 Tracy Denby jr, 327 Chad McNamara, 80 Frank Graven, 118 Robby Crabtree, 47 Gary Stuckey, 11s Creed Sherle, 5h Chris Holt, b17 Brandon Ball
Heat 7; b4 Jared Baird, 1* Ronnie Sigman, 18 Tim Clonch, 39r Don Ried, 00 Tory Yant, 5r Ryan Doyon, 77b Bryan Bolden, 21b Gene Bryce, 22t Darrell Thompson, 1 Jimmy Moreland, 7x Nathan Gaines
Heat 8; 37h Garrett Higgins, 0 Fran Collins, 88 RJ Strohman, 124x Casey Bagwell, d25 David Tanner, 28j Justin Nabors, d5 Brandon Decker, 21 Daylan Reeves, 42l Bud Longpine, 84 Tom Lorenz, 9t Taylor Williams
Heat 9; 97 Cade Dillard, 4m Bo Day, 115 Jack Barfield jr, 36j Justin Whitehead, 737 Shawn Jorski, 32 Michael White, 117 Michael Maraschirca, 7k Kyle Bridges, 5 Richard Bohnstedt, 06 Tommy Bohnstedt, 78 Billy Jack Brutchin
Heat 10 ; 5w John Whittington, 23n Steven Nabors, 316 Trenton Pevateaux, 27 Terry Schroeder, 30 Dustin Butcher, 01 Loni Richardson, 24r Robby Minten, 1t Tim Linares, 69x Jason Martin, 881 Derek Rashall, 20x Rowdy Day–DNS