Jarrett Payton won the Sunoco USRA Factory Stock main event.

After a little time off in the schedule, I-37 Speedway was back in action Saturday night on the 1/4-mile, semi-banked dirt oval near San Antonio. All five of the regular classes including USRA Limited Mods, Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks and USRA Tuners plus three divisions of go-karts.

August is not only the heat of the summer, but the meat of I-37 Speedway's schedule with three events slated for the month (August 15, August 29). Double track points are up for grabs on August 15.

Whiteaker wins battle of whiskers: As the USRA Limited Mod feature fired off it was Johnny Torres coming off turn 2 ahead of Steve Whiteaker Jr. with Robby Minten, Talon Minten and Brian Rye three wide for third. Whiteaker was able to get by Torres to lead lap 2 when Johnathon Garcia got into the front stretch wall. The restart saw Rye have issues, stop and pit from third. The next restart wasn't much better as Kevin Parker slapped the wall.

Finally back to green with Torres giving Whiteaker a look low in turns 1-2. They ran wheel to wheel in the corner but Whiteaker held the advantage. At the crossed flags it was Whiteaker and Torres with a big gap to Robby Minten, Talon Minten and Chris Swenson. Torres was keeping the pressure on Whiteaker giving looks low in turns 1-2 but Whiteaker held serve and was better in turns 3-4.

Whiteaker was able to inch ahead a bit until a debris caution rebunched the field on lap 17. Torres again tried the low line in turns 1-2 but Whiteaker (Corpus Christi) was able to ease ahead by a few car lengths for the win in the D&SS Construction/Cottrell Racing/South Texas Speedway/Churches Chicken/G&M Oilfield Services/WW Bodies/CBR Shocks/Braka Operating/Best Race Engines/Innovative Chassis for the win.

“Track was fun to race on and, as usual, the staff goes out of their way to make us feel welcome.” commented Whiteaker. “I’m just having fun being back in the seat again. I've raced more this season than the past couple. I try to race somewhere on our off nights.

“I always enjoy racing with Johnny (Torres). We respect each others equipment and I don't have to worry about getting run into. I saw his nose down there a couple times but knew he wouldn't door slam me.”

Steven Whiteaker Jr. won the USRA Limited Mod main event.

Payday for Payton after eight years: It wasn't the typical way to win but, as Jarrett Payton (San Antonio) said, “a win is a win.”

As green flew over the 24-car, 20-lap Sunoco USRA Factory Stock feature in was Memphis Villareal getting the lead off turn 2 chased by Aaron Leddy, Jesse Sandoval, John Leita and Payton. Leddy fought back going door to door with Villareal on lap 2, getting by on lap 3. After a yellow the scrap for the lead continued while G.W. Hessong was charging forward getting Payton for fourth, then Sandoval for third.

Josh Sewell took fifth from Payton as Jerry Evans and John Drexler tangled in turn 1 for a yellow. On the restart Payton retook the spot from Sewell as Hessongs charge ended, pulling to the infield. At the halfway point it was Villareal, Leddy, Payton, Sewell and Leita in the top five. Johnny Wesfall and Sandoval got together with Sandoval going around collecting George Quintanilla for a caution.

On the restart Sewell squeezed Kasey Krauss into the wall for a yellow that sent Sewell to the back. Once back to green it was Leddy putting the heat on Villareal as Dustin Hurley and Leita ran side by side for fourth. Leddy and Villareal were door to door for the lead on lap 12 with Leddy inching past, up top, on lap 13.

Villareal came back on the bottom with the duo staying side by side on lap 16. Leddy got a couple car lengths on Villareal with two to go. On the final lap Villareal tried a dive bomb move in turn 3 for the win, but door slammed Leddy hard enough to get Leddys front wheels off the ground. Villareal went on to cross the line first, while Leddy sat dead in the water in turn 4.

After some discussion among officials, Villareal was disqualified for rough driving with the victory awarded to Payton, in the self-financed, crate-powered Outlaw Chassis—his first win since his last checkers eight years ago.

“It's been since 2012 since I spoke you last,” exclaimed Payton. “I wasn't expecting this. On the last lap I saw the 30 car (Villareal) get under Aaron (Leddy) and I back off a little bit thinking something might happen. I wasn't expecting the win though. I didn't know about it until we got to the tech area. But, hey, a win is a win.

“You definitely have to be on your game here with the competition here. I picked this car up from Jamie Fuller. I just have to take care of the tires and do maintenance on it. It's fast. This is the nicest racecar I've ever driven in my life. Every other car I've owned was built by me with the exception of a Wild Child Chassis. This car is bad fast.

“I raced every now and then, got tired of it, sold all my stuff and then I'd come to the races, and buy another car. I really have to thank my wife for putting up with this. It must be hard, one day I hate it and selling everything, the next, I don't hate it and I'm buying everything back.”

Schoenbaum in Tuner sweep: As the USRA Tuner feature took the green Brian Schoenbaum Jr. and Brandon McCall stayed door to door with Schoenbaum edging out McCall at line. Dylan Kowalik, Charles Oebel and former track champ Jamie Garner fell in line behind the lead duo. Kowalik then moved along side McCall for second while Johnny Ervin took fifth from Garner.

Kowalik and McCall continued their battle for second as Ervin picked off Oebel for fourth. Kowalik got Second from McCall on a restart while Ryan McDonald and Garner swapped fifth. Kowalik was creeping in on Schoenbaum when a second debris caution helped him close the gap.

Back to green Schoenbaum got a slight edge while Kowalik and McCall again battled side by side. As the two continued this gave Ervin the chance to reel them in and join the fight. Up front it was Schoenbaum (San Antonio) in the Big A's BBQ/Bonham Recovery/Tracys Oil & Gas/Central Cedar/KR Promotions/Rabid Motorsports/five1seven Designs/Twisted iPhones/Superior Steering Wheels/IHFP Clothing Chevy Cavalier grabbing another victory.

“My son has been here and he's been my good luck charm reeling off three wins in a row,” said Schoenbaum. “I didn't know where Brandon (McCall) was when we took the green. When we start on the front row, if I can clear him, it's like, where is he going to be next. When I pulled up on the tech pad Dylan (Kowalik) and Johnny (Ervin) were there too. From looking at some of the video, they were a lot closer than I thought.

“Dylan is a good kid. He's 14 or 15 and is getting the handling down on these cars. Gone are days of coming here and running off from the field. The competition has definitely stepped up this year. Dylan's got it figured out and he's got a win coming.

“With the way USRA points structure is it's good to have car counts to get passing points. The guys up north don't have the count I have down here. It was a good night. Bouncing back and forth between north and south Texas kind of wears on you. Chasing this national championship we'll do it all again next week.”

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, Aug. 1, 2020

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

SUNOCO USRA FACTORY STOCKS

Heat #1:
1. (5) 30 Memphis Villarreal, Corpus Christi, Texas
2. (4) 24 John Leita, Inez, Texas
3. (3) 23 Kasey Krauss, San Antonio, Texas
4. (9) 34C Greg Carlucci Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas
5. (6) 6 Gary Butler, Bunnell, Fla.
6. (2) 8C Cameron Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas
7. (7) 2X Zach Courtney, Corpus Christi, Texas
8. (1) 43 Johnny Johnson, Spring Branch, Texas
DNS – 74 Jacoby McElveen, Victoria, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (4) 93 Aaron Leddy, Von Ormy, Texas
2. (5) 38 Joshua Sewell, Kingsville, Texas
3. (7) 9 Johnny Westfall, Victoria, Texas
4. (6) 3 Travis Slavik, Inez, Texas
5. (1) 28 Daniel Lopez, Somerset, Texas
6. (8) 24J Julio Reyes, Somerset, Texas
7. (2) 10 Scott Jerkins, La Vernia, Texas
8. (3) 75 Jerry Miller, Von Ormy, Texas

Heat #3:
1. (4) 7 Jesse Sandoval, Corpus Christi, Texas
2. (5) 747 G.W. Hessong, Edna, Texas
3. (2) 4D Dustin Hurley, San Antonio, Texas
4. (3) 36 George Quintanilla, Adkins, Texas
5. (6) 02 Shannon Maurer, Victoria, Texas
6. (7) 17E Jerry Evans, Refugio, Texas
7. (8) 98 William Saunders, Von Ormy, Texas
8. (1) 44K Katherine Keylich, La Vernia, Texas

Heat #4:
1. (2) 18S Jarrett Payton, San Antonio, Texas
2. (1) 44 Cord Beard, Edna, Texas
3. (3) 20 Mike Lyon, San Antonio, Texas
4. (5) 40P Paul Reyes, San Antonio, Texas
5. (4) 49K Michael Keylich, Lavernia, Texas
6. (8) 11D John Drexler, Victoria, Texas
7. (6) 29 Jason Gordon, Rockport, Texas
8. (7) 11 Jonothon Mcelveen, Victoria, Texas

"B" Feature #1:
1. (4) 02 Shannon Maurer, Victoria, Texas
2. (1) 34C Greg Carlucci Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas
3. (5) 8C Cameron Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas
4. (2) 36 George Quintanilla, Adkins, Texas
5. (6) 17E Jerry Evans, Refugio, Texas
6. (8) 98 William Saunders, Von Ormy, Texas
7. (3) 6 Gary Butler, Bunnell, Fla.
8. (10) 44K Katherine Keylich, La Vernia, Texas
9. (7) 2X Zach Courtney, Corpus Christi, Texas
10. (11) 74 Jacoby McElveen, Victoria, Texas
11. (9) 43 Johnny Johnson, Spring Branch, Texas

"B" Feature #2:
1. (4) 49K Michael Keylich, Lavernia, Texas
2. (2) 40P Paul Reyes, San Antonio, Texas
3. (3) 28 Daniel Lopez, Somerset, Texas
4. (6) 11D John Drexler, Victoria, Texas
5. (1) 3 Travis Slavik, Inez, Texas
6. (9) 75 Jerry Miller, Von Ormy, Texas
7. (8) 29 Jason Gordon, Rockport, Texas
8. (5) 24J Julio Reyes, Somerset, Texas
DNS – 10 Scott Jerkins, La Vernia, Texas
DNS – 11 Jonothon Mcelveen, Victoria, Texas

"A" Feature:
1. (4) 18S Jarrett Payton, San Antonio, Texas
2. (11) 4D Dustin Hurley, San Antonio, Texas
3. (10) 9 Johnny Westfall, Victoria, Texas
4. (15) 34C Greg Carlucci Jr., Corpus Christi, Texas
5. (17) 8C Cameron Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas
6. (12) 20 Mike Lyon, San Antonio, Texas
7. (13) 02 Shannon Maurer, Victoria, Texas
8. (16) 40P Paul Reyes, San Antonio, Texas
9. (6) 38 Joshua Sewell, Kingsville, Texas
10. (22) 3 Travis Slavik, Inez, Texas
11. (5) 24 John Leita, Inez, Texas
12. (3) 7 Jesse Sandoval, Corpus Christi, Texas
13. (2) 93 Aaron Leddy, Von Ormy, Texas
14. (18) 28 Daniel Lopez, Somerset, Texas
15. (9) 23 Kasey Krauss, San Antonio, Texas
16. (19) 36 George Quintanilla, Adkins, Texas
17. (20) 11D John Drexler, Victoria, Texas
18. (7) 747 G.W. Hessong, Edna, Texas
19. (8) 44 Cord Beard, Edna, Texas
20. (21) 17E Jerry Evans, Refugio, Texas
21. (14) 49K Michael Keylich, Lavernia, Texas
DQ – (1) 30 Memphis Villarreal, Corpus Christi, Texas

USRA LIMITED MODS

Heat #1:
1. (6) 89C Steven Whiteaker Jr., Robstown, Texas
2. (3) 9 Robert Minten Jr., La Coste, Texas
3. (4) 2 Talon Minten, Seguin, Texas
4. (7) 30K Chris Swenson, Edinburg, Texas
5. (2) 31L Sherrill Lewis, New Braunfels, Neb.
6. (8) 86 Alvin Featherston, Rensselaer, Ind.
7. (5) 12R Roland Rodriguez
8. (1) 107 Kody Parker, Canyon Lake, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (5) 66 Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas
2. (6) 184 Brian Rye, Corpus Christi, Texas
3. (4) 5R Ryan Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
4. (7) H14 Heath Stewart, Webberville , Texas
5. (3) 7 Kevin Parker, Canyon Lake, Texas
6. (1) 117 Johnathon Garcia, Uvalde, Texas
7. (2) 95S Sterling Tausch, San Antonio, Texas

Feature:
1. (1) 89C Steven Whiteaker Jr., Robstown, Texas
2. (2) 66 Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas
3. (3) 9 Robert Minten Jr., La Coste, Texas
4. (5) 2 Talon Minten, Seguin, Texas
5. (4) 184 Brian Rye, Corpus Christi, Texas
6. (8) H14 Heath Stewart, Webberville , Texas
7. (7) 30K Chris Swenson, Edinburg, Texas
8. (13) 12R Roland Rodriguez
9. (11) 86 Alvin Featherston, Rensselaer, Ind.
10. (14) 95S Sterling Tausch, San Antonio, Texas
11. (9) 31L Sherrill Lewis, New Braunfels, Neb.
12. (6) 5R Ryan Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
13. (10) 7 Kevin Parker, Canyon Lake, Texas
14. (12) 117 Johnathon Garcia, Uvalde, Texas
15. (15) 107 Kody Parker, Canyon Lake, Texas

USRA TUNERS

Heat #1:
1. (6) 14 Brandon McCall, Von Ormy, Texas
2. (2) 29K Dylan Kowalik, San Antonio, Texas
3. (4) 33 Jamie Garner, San Antonio, Texas
4. (5) 34 Adam Tracy, Stockdale, Texas
5. (3) 01T Adolph Tracy, Seguin, Texas
6. (7) 007 Devin Tracy, New Braunfels, Texas
7. (1) 11J Joshua Jones, San Antonio, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (6) 719 Brian Schoenbaum Jr., San Antonio, Texas
2. (2) 95O Charles Oebel, San Antonio, Texas
3. (4) 816 Ryan McDonald, Floresville, Texas
4. (3) 38 Kirk Ball, Adkins, Texas
5. (5) 44 Johnny Ervin, Adkins, Texas
6. (1) 35 Darrel Jones, San Antonio,, Texas

Feature:
1. (2) 719 Brian Schoenbaum Jr., San Antonio, Texas
2. (1) 14 Brandon McCall, Von Ormy, Texas
3. (3) 29K Dylan Kowalik, San Antonio, Texas
4. (10) 44 Johnny Ervin, Adkins, Texas
5. (6) 816 Ryan McDonald, Floresville, Texas
6. (7) 34 Adam Tracy, Stockdale, Texas
7. (8) 38 Kirk Ball, Adkins, Texas
8. (4) 95O Charles Oebel, San Antonio, Texas
9. (9) 01T Adolph Tracy, Seguin, Texas
10. (12) 35 Darrel Jones, San Antonio,, Texas
11. (5) 33 Jamie Garner, San Antonio, Texas
12. (11) 007 Devin Tracy, New Braunfels, Texas
13. (13) 11J Joshua Jones, San Antonio, Texas