Rye gets it right while Hessong, Schoenbaum repeat at I-37 Speedway

Brian Rye won the USRA Limited Mod main event.

Brian Rye won the USRA Limited Mod main event.


So most track owner/promoters would have woken up on race day, after 2+ inches of rain overnight, and thrown in the towel(see what I did there). Not I-37 Speedway. The track crew, and even a few drivers, stepped up and began pumping water and scraping mud to give drivers and fans a place to race.

Everyone did yeoman's work to get the place in shape. My hat's off the all those that worked their butts off. Was it perfect, no, but it was super fast and tacky, with a little character added in for good measure.

Rye gets it right for Limited Mod money: As green waved on the USRA Limited Mod feature it was Ryan Doyon, Allen Torres and Talon Minten almost three wide for the lead. Torres got the advantage coming off turn 2 to lead lap 1 chased by Doyon, Talon Minten, Steve Whiteaker and Brian Rye. Doyon tried low on Torres for the lead while Whiteaker got side by side with Minten for third.

Doyon was able to get by Torres for the top spot on lap 3 with Whiteaker getting third from Minten bringing Rye along to fourth. At halfway it was Doyon by a half-straight-away over Torres, Whiteaker, Rye and Minten. Whiteaker then began to challenge Torres for second going side by side on lap 11.

Up front Doyon was beginning to push out some fluid bringing out a caution on lap 14. A leaking radiator hose sent Doyon from the lead, to the pits. This handed Torres the point for the restart with Rye and Whiteaker staying side by side for second and Johnny Torres, from the back, getting past Minten for fourth.

Allen Torres looped it on lap 16 from the lead with everyone avoiding contact. This put Rye out front with Whiteaker and Johnny Torres on his tail. With Whiteaker and Johnny Torres battling, Rye got a little breathing room. Coming to two to go Whiteaker got clear of Johnny Torres and got a run on Rye on the final lap. Whiteaker got to his bumper in turn 3, but Rye (Corpus Christi) was able to hang on to capture the victory.

“I got lucky,” replied Rye. “That 5 car (Doyon) was gone. I don't know what happened him, he broke and left the track. After that I just had to get around two other guys and hang on.

“Stevie (Whiteaker) is always good everywhere he goes. I didn't think I'd be able to get around him. The track was unpredictable after all the rain and some of the ruts. I could feel him right there on the last lap. I kind of slowed down the last laps to make sure I kept my car under control. I'm sure that let him get closer.

“I just got this new IRP car over the winter and only run it a couple times. I really have to thank Blake and Nick from K&H Shocks. They built some shocks for me this week. I talked to both after the heat race and they gave me some advise for changes I needed.”

Rye's sponsors include Ace Automotive Machine Shop, SBG Racing, Penny Fab, Prestons Auto Clinic, RPM and IRP Chassis.

Hessong stays hot in Factory Stocks: The scheduled 20-lap Sunoco USRA Factory Stock feature was as tough as the Modifieds with multiple starts before finally getting under way. As racing began it was G.W. Hessong, Johnny Westfall and Josh Sewell three-wide for the lead with Hessong getting the position. Westfall, Sewell, Shannon Maurer and Michael Keylich sorted out in line.

Lap 3 saw Ryan Carlucci, Robert Lyon and Johnny Johnson tangle in turn 2 for a yellow. Hessong and Westfall got away on green with Keylich taking fourth from Maurer leaving him side by side with Aaron Leddy for sixth. Sewell closed back up on the lead duo getting along side Westfall for second before caution on lap 8 for Cameron Starry and Mike Lyon getting together in turn 2.

Officials cut the race to 12 laps on time. Hessong had Sewell looking low on the restart as Cody Leonard got around Keylich for fourth. Jennifer Kidd brought out a red when her car erupted in flames after blowing a motor. On the green, white, checker restart Hessong inched ahead while Sewell, Westfall and Leonard tried three-wide for second. Hessong (Edna) backed up last week's win without a challenge.

“It's rolling pretty good,” exclaimed Hessong. “I can't imagine winning two in a row here because I haven't won a race my entire career here. It feels pretty good. It was a lot of off season work. We redid the whole car. We picked up a few things running the USMTS show, then got these new Club20 Shocks for last race. They made the car come alive.

“Josh (Sewell) and I have raced together before. We've had our moments of brilliance and have had it out here and there. We've got it together now. We race well together. Sitting up front you're basically a sitting duck and don't know where they're at. I was pretty nervous when I saw him on the inside. I moved down a little and was pacing myself better. I don't know how close he was at the end, but we pulled it off.

“All those cautions concerned me. It bunches the field back up and if you make one slip, anything can happen. It kills my momentum.”

Hessong's sponsors include Magnum Services LP, Tony’s Mobile Home Service, Edna Auto Supply, B&D Motorsports and Lick My Stack Cooking Team,


G.W. Hessong won the Sunoco USRA Factory Stock main event.

Schoenbaum survives Tuner terror: The 20-lap USRA Tuner feature started off innocently enough with Brian Schoenbaum Jr. getting out from followed by Brandon McCall, Derek Cates, Adam Tracy and Colton Borlace. As the top three broke away, Johnny Ervin took fifth from Borlace. Just past halfway McCall caught Schoenbaum in traffic and was putting some pressure on him.

Dylan Kowalik had trouble in turn 3 bringing out the only caution. Back to green and McCall got side by side with Schoenbaum while Cates, Tracy and Ervin were three wide for third. McCall took over the lead on lap 16, but Scheonbaum stayed hot on his heels. With two to go, Ervin, Borlace and Tracy were swapping spots nearly turn for turn.

As the white flag waved Schoenbaum made a last charge at McCall for the win. In between turns 3-4 the two made a little contact, then again coming off turn 4. Schoenbaum, on the inside, had the run coming towards the checkers. Again they made contact turning Schoenbaum sideways at the line. After the checkers Schoenbaum (San Antonio) made contact with the front stretch but emerged uninjured to a cheering crowd.

Schoenbaum's sponsors include Big A's BBQ, Bonham Recovery, Tracys Oil & Gas, Central Cedar, KR Promotions, Rabid Motorsports, five1seven Designs, Twisted iPhones, Superior Steering Wheels and IHFP Clothing.


Brian Schoenbaum Jr. won the USRA Tuner main event.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
I-37 Speedway, Pleasanton, Texas
Saturday, May 16, 2020

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.

SUNOCO USRA FACTORY STOCKS

Heat #1:
1. (7) 38 Joshua Sewell, Kingsville, Texas
2. (6) 9 Johnny Westfall, Victoria, Texas
3. (3) 94 Allen Torres, San Antonio, Texas
4. (1) 32 Cody Leonard, Sinton, Texas
5. (4) 98 William Saunders, Von Ormy, Texas
6. (5) 48 Robert Lyon, La Vernia, Texas
7. (9) 92R Robert Keylich, Devine, Texas
8. (2) 19 Jennifer Kidd, San Antonio, Texas
9. (8) 20R Chris Carroll, Spring Branch, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (7) 747 G.W. Hessong, Edna, Texas
2. (6) 49K Michael Keylich, La Vernia, Texas
3. (1) 43 Johnny Johnson, Spring Branch, Texas
4. (5) 36 George Quintanilla, Adkins, Texas
5. (4) 75 Jerry Miller, Von Ormy, Texas
6. (9) 741 Cameron Starry, Corpus Christi, Texas
7. (2) 44K Katherine Keylich, La Vernia, Texas
8. (3) 4D Dustin Hurley, San Antonio, Texas
9. (8) 4 David Westfall, Victoria, Texas

Heat #3:
1. (2) 02 Shannon Maurer, Victoria, Texas
2. (4) 93 Aaron Leddy, Von Ormy, Texas
3. (1) 3 Travis Slavik, Inez, Texas
4. (7) 55X Monty Chamberlain, Louise, Texas
5. (6) 7 Jesse Sandoval, Corpus Christi, Texas
6. (8) 34 Ryan Carlucci, Corpus Christi, Texas
7. (5) 20 Mike Lyon, San Antonio, Texas
8. (3) 23K Kasey Krauss, San Antonio, Texas

Feature:
1. (2) 747 G.W. Hessong, Edna, Texas
2. (1) 38 Joshua Sewell, Kingsville, Texas
3. (4) 9 Johnny Westfall, Victoria, Texas
4. (10) 32 Cody Leonard, Sinton, Texas
5. (5) 49K Michael Keylich, La Vernia, Texas
6. (12) 55X Monty Chamberlain, Louise, Texas
7. (3) 02 Shannon Maurer, Victoria, Texas
8. (11) 36 George Quintanilla, Adkins, Texas
9. (15) 7 Jesse Sandoval, Corpus Christi, Texas
10. (24) 23K Kasey Krauss, San Antonio, Texas
11. (14) 75 Jerry Miller, Von Ormy, Texas
12. (9) 3 Travis Slavik, Inez, Texas
13. (21) 20 Mike Lyon, San Antonio, Texas
14. (19) 92R Robert Keylich, Devine, Texas
15. (22) 19 Jennifer Kidd, San Antonio, Texas
16. (6) 93 Aaron Leddy, Von Ormy, Texas
17. (7) 94 Allen Torres, San Antonio, Texas
18. (13) 98 William Saunders, Von Ormy, Texas
19. (25) 20R Chris Carroll, Spring Branch, Texas
20. (17) 741 Cameron Starry, Corpus Christi, Texas
21. (16) 48 Robert Lyon, La Vernia, Texas
22. (8) 43 Johnny Johnson, Spring Branch, Texas
23. (18) 34 Ryan Carlucci, Corpus Christi, Texas
DNS – 44K Katherine Keylich, La Vernia, Texas
DNS – 4D Dustin Hurley, San Antonio, Texas
DNS – 4 David Westfall, Victoria, Texas

USRA LIMITED MODS

Heat #1:
1. (4) 5R Ryan Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
2. (7) 89C Steven Whiteaker Jr.., Robstown, Texas
3. (3) 30K Chris Swenson, Edinburg, Texas
4. (6) 55 Rusty Head, Buda, Texas
5. (2) 95S Sterling Tausch, San Antonio, Texas
6. (1) 11T Tom Grothues, San Antonio, Texas
7. (5) 66 Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (2) 94 Allen Torres, San Antonio, Texas
2. (4) 2 Talon Minten, Seguin, Texas
3. (5) 184 Brian Rye, Corpus Christi, Texas
4. (3) 08 Alton Fambro, Elmendorf, Texas
5. (6) H14 Heath Stewart, Webberville , Texas
6. (1) 16 Chris Robeau, Moore, Texas

Feature:
1. (6) 184 Brian Rye, Corpus Christi, Texas
2. (3) 89C Steven Whiteaker Jr.., Robstown, Texas
3. (13) 66 Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas
4. (4) 2 Talon Minten, Seguin, Texas
5. (5) 30K Chris Swenson, Edinburg, Texas
6. (10) H14 Heath Stewart, Webberville , Texas
7. (9) 95S Sterling Tausch, San Antonio, Texas
8. (8) 08 Alton Fambro, Elmendorf, Texas
9. (12) 16 Chris Robeau, Moore, Texas
10. (2) 94 Allen Torres, San Antonio, Texas
11. (1) 5R Ryan Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
12. (7) 55 Rusty Head, Buda, Texas
DNS – 11T Tom Grothues, San Antonio, Texas

USRA TUNERS

Heat #1:
1. (5) 14 Brandon McCall, Von Ormy, Texas
2. (4) 93 Colton Borlace, Fredericksburg, Texas
3. (7) 34 Adam Tracy, Stockdale, Texas
4. (2) 29K Dylan Kowalik, San Antonio, Texas
5. (1) 55R Ryker Hernandez, San Antonio, Texas
6. (3) 01T Adolph Tracy, Seguin, Texas
7. (8) 14T Shaun Tracy, La Vernia, Texas
8. (6) 13 Hanna Miller, San Antonio, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (5) 719 Brian Schoenbaum Jr.., San Antonio, Texas
2. (6) 580 Derek Cates, Woodway, Texas
3. (4) 44 Johnny Ervin, Adkins, Texas
4. (3) 33 Jamie Garner, San Antonio, Texas
5. (7) 81 Ronnie Schoenfeldt, Helotes, Texas
6. (2) 28L Levi Hernandez, San Antonio, Texas
7. (1) 46 Johnathon Cervantes, Corpus Christi, Texas

Feature:
1. (2) 719 Brian Schoenbaum Jr.., San Antonio, Texas
2. (1) 14 Brandon McCall, Von Ormy, Texas
3. (5) 34 Adam Tracy, Stockdale, Texas
4. (6) 44 Johnny Ervin, Adkins, Texas
5. (8) 33 Jamie Garner, San Antonio, Texas
6. (10) 81 Ronnie Schoenfeldt, Helotes, Texas
7. (4) 580 Derek Cates, Woodway, Texas
8. (3) 93 Colton Borlace, Fredericksburg, Texas
9. (12) 28L Levi Hernandez, San Antonio, Texas
10. (11) 01T Adolph Tracy, Seguin, Texas
11. (13) 14T Shaun Tracy, La Vernia, Texas
12. (9) 55R Ryker Hernandez, San Antonio, Texas
13. (7) 29K Dylan Kowalik, San Antonio, Texas
14. (15) 13 Hanna Miller, San Antonio, Texas
DNS – 46 Johnathon Cervantes, Corpus Christi, Texas