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

As the 2020 season winds down... Wait a minute, didn't it just start or was that the restart? But I digress.

It's was a double points night Saturday as action resumed on the 1/4-mile, semi banked dirt oval just outside Pleasanton. With extra points up or grabs it gave drivers the chance to catch up with the points leaders, or to distance themselves from the rest of the field.

In the USRA Limited Mods it's multi-time, multi-class track champion Johnny Torres on top by nearly 100 over Talon Minten and Ryan Doyon with Sterling Tausch and Robby Minten fourth and fifth.

Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks are the tightest points battle of the classes. Josh Sewell is ahead of Jesse Sandoval by 16 and 20 over Michael Keylich. Former Street Stock track champ Mike Lyon holds down fourth over George Quintanilla.

Coming into the night with five wins, Brian Schoenbaum leads the group of USRA Tuners. Adam Tracy, defending track champ Jamie Garner, Brandon McCall and Adolph Tracy complete the top five.

Between on-track and online Johnny Torres and Steve Whiteaker Jr. have had a long-standing friendly battle along with being two of south Texas' best Limited Mod drivers and the 20-lap feature proved it once again.

The duo stayed side by side on lap 1 with Torres getting the edge on Whiteaker followed by Ryan Doyon, Talon Minten and Cody Beddoe. Whiteaker was able to wrestle the lead away from Torres on lap 3, but slipped too high in turns 3-4 giving the spot back to Torres on lap 5. On a restart for a Kevin Parker spin, Minten and Doyon got by Whiteaker for second and third.

As Minten and Doyon continued their family squabble, Caleb Hudgeons, Whiteaker and Beddoe were three wide for fourth. Coming the halfway point it was Torres, Doyon, Minten, Whiteaker and Beddoe in the top five. Whiteaker was able to work his way past Minten and Doyon for second, but was half a straightaway back.

Alvin Featherston made contact with Whiteaker while being lapped sending him around. Featherston tried to exit, but missed pit out, backed up and was drilled by Sterling Tausch for a red. Both drivers were alright, but done for the night, maybe longer with both cars having extensive damage.

This set up a four lap shootout that didn't disappoint the fans. Torres and Whiteaker got away with Doyon and Minten again wheel to wheel, but for third. Whiteaker took the low line in turns 1-2 to get along side Torres. They were side by side with Whiteaker reclaiming the top spot on lap 18.

It was a classic high side, low side battle until Whiteaker finally got a slight advantage. Whiteaker (Corpus Christi) in his D&SS Construction, First Class Towing Service, Parker Lee Project, Cottrell Racing, South Texas Speedway, Church's Chicken, G&M Oilfield Services, WW Bodies, Dark Horse Racing Shocks, Best Race Engines Innovative Chassis held Torres off for the win.

“It was another good battle between Johnny and I,” said Whiteaker. “I got the lead early and made a mistake and Johnny was able to capitalize on it. I was frustrated that I made a mistake and that when the caution came out I should have been the leader. It took me while to cool down and gather myself under that red.

“The top kind of went away so I patiently ran around the bottom and Johnny was just a sitting duck. Me and Johnny always have fun. It's easier for me because I come out on the winning side most of the time. We have a lot of friendly competition and talk a lot of smack. It definitely makes it fun.

“The track was really good tonight, slick top to bottom and that allows you to race multiple grooves. It's just a good time all around.”

Payton at pay window again: With so much “junk” going on in this race, I'll try to stick to the racing, what little of it there actually was. You'd have thought splitting the class would help, but nope.

The scheduled 20-lapper saw the two Hurley brothers, Dustin and Dakota, bring the 18-car field to green. Dustin Hurley got the lead with Jarrett Payton door to door with Dakota Hurley for second, Jesse Sandoval and Michael Keylich in pursuit. Payton had just gotten along side Dustin Hurley when points contender Keylich had a flat and stacked up the field trying to get to the hot pits.

On the ensuing restart, Dakota Hurley tried an outside run on brother Dustin Hurley but gave second back to Payton. Sandoval would be the next contender to have a right rear go down at the same time as a multi-car tangle in turn 2. Payton got a good restart getting side by side with Dustin Hurley as Johnny Torres made his way to the top five behind Sewell, who was dodging the bad luck bullet.

Payton got the top spot on lap 7 from Dustin Hurley. Keylichs bad night continued going off turn 2 for his second caution, ending his night. Officials cut the race to 15 laps for time as driver line up problems continued. On the restart Sewell got a run high on Dustin Hurley for second, with Torres looking low on Sewell, but another yellow slowed that action.

Officials then cut the race to a green white, checkered finish. Payton was able to sneak away on green as the white flag waved, finally. Dustin Hurley couldn't mount a challenge on Payton (San Antonio) took the checkers in his self-funded, crate-powered Outlaw Chassis.

Jarrett Payton won the Sunoco USRA Factory Stock main event.

“I had to prove that the car was fast and earned this one,” exclaimed Payton. “I showed that I could take that last win and keep going with it. It didn't seem that bad of a race to me. We've had a lot of cautions in other races.

'I was just following along behind him (Dustin Hurley) and waiting to see if he messed up and I would just put it underneath him. It started getting closer to the end so I thought I'd have to do something. I'd either try it on the outside and hope I didn't get passed on the bottom, or it's going to work. It worked.

“It's a little tough to find the best line in these cars with the slicks. I haven't had a whole lot of races on them. I was able to see the Limited Modified race and the lines Johnny and Steve were using. When they said on the radio, 'green, white, checker' I told myself, 'Just don't screw up.'”

Garner grabs first of 2020: The normally crazy USRA Tuner feature saw the 15-car, 20-lap feature go green to checkers but not without some excitement. Defending track champ Jamie Garner got out front on green chased by Adam Tracy, Brian Schoenbaum Jr., Brandon McCall and Johnathon Cervantes. McCall and Schoenbaum had early side-by-side battle with Schoenbaum holding the spot.

As the leaders entered traffic coming to the midway point it was Garner, Tracy, Schoenbaum, McCall and Justin Sitterle in the top five. With five to go they hit heavy traffic that saw Tracy slip by Garner for the lead. As they continued to slice through slower cars coming to the checkers it was three wide banging off traffic, and Garner coming across the line with the hard fought victory in his VW Sirocco.

Jamie Garner won the USRA Tuner main event.

“I can't keep up with these kids anymore,” exclaimed Garner. “They have to make a bunch of mistakes for me to be up front, like they did tonight. I think the throttle got stuck on that last lap. It was a desperate move. I didn't have a plan for that, it was pure luck. There's not much skill going on there.

“It's difficult to pick your way through traffic. Those guys aren't going slow. We may be coming up on them but they're going just about as fast as we are. Catching them and getting by them, it's a world of difference.

“Being the defending track champ puts a little pressure on me since we're not doing well this year. It's bringing me down. All you need is a win to turn it around.

“I need to thank my sponsors Joe and Adrian Shoemaker, Rick Pollaro, Darrel Jones and Gerald Higly.”

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
I-37 Speedway, Pleasanton, Texas
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020

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

SUNOCO USRA FACTORY STOCKS

Heat #1:
1. (3) 4D Dustin Hurley, San Antonio, Texas
2. (4) 49K Michael Keylich, Lavernia, Texas
3. (6) 23 Kyle Kirkland, Ingram, Texas
4. (5) 15 Ray Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
5. (1) 43 Johnny Johnson, Spring Branch, Texas
6. (2) 23K Kasey Krauss, San Antonio, Texas
7. (7) 122 Kevin Izzi, Slaton, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (1) 40 Dakota Hurley, Sandia, Texas
2. (4) 7 Jesse Sandoval, Corpus Christi, Texas
3. (3) 20 Mike Lyon, San Antonio, Texas
4. (2) 75 Jerry Miller, Von Ormy, Texas
5. (5) 18 Ramon Sevilla, San Antonio, Texas
6. (6) 33 Charles Earnhardt, St. Hedwig, Texas

Heat #3:
1. (3) 18S Jarrett Payton, San Antonio, Texas
2. (1) 98 William Saunders, Von Ormy, Texas
3. (4) 38 Joshua Sewell, Kingsville, Texas
4. (6) 44K Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas
5. (2) 8C Cameron Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas

Feature:
1. (3) 18S Jarrett Payton, San Antonio, Texas
2. (1) 4D Dustin Hurley, San Antonio, Texas
3. (9) 38 Joshua Sewell, Kingsville, Texas
4. (12) 44K Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas
5. (8) 20 Mike Lyon, San Antonio, Texas
6. (10) 15 Ray Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
7. (2) 40 Dakota Hurley, Sandia, Texas
8. (6) 98 William Saunders, Von Ormy, Texas
9. (7) 23 Kyle Kirkland, Ingram, Texas
10. (18) 122 Kevin Izzi, Slaton, Texas
11. (13) 43 Johnny Johnson, Spring Branch, Texas
12. (15) 8C Cameron Dinsmore, Kerrville, Texas
13. (14) 18 Ramon Sevilla, San Antonio, Texas
14. (17) 33 Charles Earnhardt, St. Hedwig, Texas
15. (4) 49K Michael Keylich, Lavernia, Texas
16. (16) 23K Kasey Krauss, San Antonio, Texas
17. (5) 7 Jesse Sandoval, Corpus Christi, Texas
18. (11) 75 Jerry Miller, Von Ormy, Texas

USRA LIMITED MODS

Heat #1:
1. (4) 66 Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas
2. (3) 5R Ryan Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
3. (5) 77 Cody Beddoe, Corpus Christi, Texas
4. (1) 86 Alvin Featherston, Rensselaer, Ind.
5. (6) 22M Anthony Gordon, San Antonio, Texas
6. (2) 7 Kevin Parker, Canyon Lake, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (4) 89C Steven Whiteaker Jr., Robstown, Texas
2. (3) 2 Talon Minten, Seguin, Texas
3. (2) 9 Robert Minten Jr., La Coste, Texas
4. (5) 90 Caleb Hudgeons, Corpus Christi, Texas
5. (1) 95S Sterling Tausch, San Antonio, Texas

Feature:
1. (2) 89C Steven Whiteaker Jr., Robstown, Texas
2. (1) 66 Johnny Torres, San Antonio, Texas
3. (3) 5R Ryan Doyon, LaCoste, Texas
4. (4) 2 Talon Minten, Seguin, Texas
5. (5) 77 Cody Beddoe, Corpus Christi, Texas
6. (8) 90 Caleb Hudgeons, Corpus Christi, Texas
7. (6) 9 Robert Minten Jr., La Coste, Texas
8. (11) 7 Kevin Parker, Canyon Lake, Texas
9. (10) 95S Sterling Tausch, San Antonio, Texas
10. (7) 86 Alvin Featherston, Rensselaer, Ind.
11. (9) 22M Anthony Gordon, San Antonio, Texas

USRA TUNERS

Heat #1:
1. (4) 33 Jamie Garner, San Antonio, Texas
2. (5) 14 Brandon McCall, Von Ormy, Texas
3. (2) 46 Johnathon Cervantes, Corpus Christi, Texas
4. (3) 95O Charles Oebel, San Antonio, Texas
5. (8) 93 Colton Borlace, Fredericksburg, Texas
6. (6) 816 Stephanie Green, Adkins, Texas
7. (1) 13 Hanna Miller, San Antonio, Texas
8. (7) 14T Shaun Tracy, Lavernia, Texas

Heat #2:
1. (4) 34 Adam Tracy, Stockdale, Texas
2. (5) 719 Brian Schoenbaum Jr., San Antonio, Texas
3. (7) 88 Justin Sitterle, Floresville, Texas
4. (1) 11J Joshua Jones, San Antonio, Texas
5. (2) 35 Darrel Jones, San Antonio,, Texas
6. (3) 01 Adolph Tracy, Seguin, Texas
DNS – 21 Kennedy Meeks, Pearsall, Texas

Feature:
1. (1) 33 Jamie Garner, San Antonio, Texas
2. (2) 34 Adam Tracy, Stockdale, Texas
3. (4) 719 Brian Schoenbaum Jr., San Antonio, Texas
4. (3) 14 Brandon McCall, Von Ormy, Texas
5. (6) 88 Justin Sitterle, Floresville, Texas
6. (11) 816 Stephanie Green, Adkins, Texas
7. (7) 95O Charles Oebel, San Antonio, Texas
8. (15) 14T Shaun Tracy, Lavernia, Texas
9. (10) 35 Darrel Jones, San Antonio,, Texas
10. (13) 13 Hanna Miller, San Antonio, Texas
11. (14) 21 Kennedy Meeks, Pearsall, Texas
12. (12) 01 Adolph Tracy, Seguin, Texas
13. (8) 11J Joshua Jones, San Antonio, Texas
14. (5) 46 Johnathon Cervantes, Corpus Christi, Texas
15. (9) 93 Colton Borlace, Fredericksburg, Texas