Ryan Bard Memorial 14th Annual Southern Challenge @ Abilene Speedway
Abilene Tx.- As Sunday dawned for the final day of the Ryan Bard Memorial, 14th Annual Southern Challenge, racers and teams were faced with a whole set of track conditions. With the sun shining brightly, and a gusty south wind, the track quickly became a one lane, dry slick challenge. The key for the day would be, patience, patience, patience.
Final heats, last chance qualifiers and the Big B-Mains were contested to finish setting the field for the evenings A-Main, Southern Challenge Grand Finale.
Sustaire Smooth in Modified Main
Emory’s Kevin Sustaire was Mr. Smooth on the tricky track throughout the 30-lap Big A-Main. Sustaire had to be, because Chris Dawson was stuck to his bumper for a big part of the race. Sustaire was able to hold Dawson at bay to grab the big win and
$3,000 payday.
Sustaire was first into turn 1 as green flew on the 20-car IMCA Modified main event. Hot on heels were, Dawson, Keith White, Trevor Egbert and Gabe Tucker. The top four stayed bumper to bumper as they eased away from Tucker who had a gap back to Jeremy Gossett. Tucker closed the gap back up on the lead quartet, with Gossett and Jeff Emerson heading the next pack.
Dawson was just starting to look under Sustaire for the lead when Gossett and Emerson tangled in turn 3 to bring out the races only caution. Sustaire got some breathing room on the restart and held it coming to halfway, with Dawson, White, Egbert and Tucker still holding the top five spots.
Sustaire lost some ground on lap 19 in traffic, giving Dawson the chance to reel him in. As the final ten laps wound down, Egbert was pressuring White for third, while Chris Elliott was looking for a way past Tucker for fifth. With five to go, Dawson inched ever closer and was on Sustaire’s bumper with two to go. Dawson gave him his best try on the final lap, but it was Sustaire driving the Darby Diesel Repair, Ken Parker Services, Cen-Tex Motorsports, TRE Chassis holding on for the win.
“Just like any other Abilene show you have to have a good draw,” commented Sustaire. “I really think we won this race on Friday night. I’ve won in the I-Stocks before and it was another good starting spot there too.”
“The track was real abrasive Sunday and we worked the tires pretty good. I break down a 30-lapper like that into ten lap heats and look at it like that. I don’t think much about who might be coming behind me and just try to hit my marks and run my own race.”
“I could feel someone behind me and fortunately it was Chris(Dawson). I knew he would race me clean and I appreciate that. During the caution my crew chief told me I needed to pick up the pace some. I didn’t want to use up my tires early and have
something left for the finish.”
“Racing IMCA is more a comradery deal since everyone out there is willing to help each other. The USMTS guys do that for a living and it’s a little different mentality. We did learn a lot of stuff about the car that we transferred over to running IMCA.”
Emerson Easily Sweeps SportMod weekend
New Mexico’s Jeff Emerson was on his game all weekend long, taking wins in every race. In the IMCA SportMod Big A-Main, Emerson jumped out from the pole and pulled out to a good lead. On restarts Emerson would be able to put distance on Tim Clonch, who would break in the final laps of the 30-lap event.
The start of the SportMod A-main was an emotional and heart felt tribute to Ryan Bard. With family and friends lining the infield, the field went four abreast, before breaking into a missing man formation. Drivers, teams and fans all rose holding up one finger in memory of Ryan’s number. Truly a stirring moment for all.
As the initial green waved, Emerson jumped out front, with Clonch hung on the high side and falling. In the pack Mark Patterson and Brandon Blaylock went around in turn 2 to bring the yellow quickly out. On the second start, Emerson again eased out front, while Clonch dove to the bottom for second. The top ten quickly sorted out single file one lap, with everyone in line but lap 2.
With the top five now separating out, sixth on back was still running nose to tail. Stephen Abbey closed back up on Clonch with a small challenge on lap 6. Brian Parks brought out the caution on lap 10 when he slowed and rolled to a stop on the front stretch. The restart was clean with everyone staying in line, not wanting to get out of line. Emersom again began inching away from Clonch, with Abbey, Matt Meuller and Keith White running nose to tail for third.
The multi-time SportMod National Champion, White put pressure on Mueller for fourth. Abbey slipped high on lap 14 giving Mueller and White an opening to get by. At halfway it was Emerson, with a good lead, Clonch, Mueller, White and Abbey. Josh McGaha, heading the pack battling for sixth, pulled off. This gave Justin Shaw, Danny Hogue and J P Dowell the chance to run down Abbey for fifth.
Michael Martin went around on the front straightaway to bring out the yellow on lap 17. Once back to green Emerson got a big jump on Clonch, who was now being pressured by Mueller for the second spot. As Emerson increased his lead, Clonch began to show some smoke and bunch up the pack.
Clonch’s troubles ended his night when he broke on lap 26, scattering the field behind him and shaking up the running order. With two to go, Emerson had built a half track lead over Mueller, Abbey, White and Hogue. As the checkers waved it was Emerson in the Skidmore Racing, SouthWest Racing Specialties, Red Dog Grafix, Emerson Race Car, grabbing the victory.
“This win rates right up there with taking the Southern SportMod Nationals last year,” replied Emerson. “It’s definitely the most money I’ve won.”
“It was pretty neat to be from New Mexico, where Ryan(Bard) was from, and be able to drive off with the win. I really didn’t know that I was that far ahead. I really thought (Tim) Clonch or Keith(White) or Stephen Abbey, who’s a good young shoe,
would be on me. I just tried to hit my marks and keep it on the bottom.”
“It was strange moment pulling out for the parade laps. I’ve done some four-wide parade laps before, but it was really different seeing the grandstands and the entire field holding up the #1. I didn’t really know Ryan, except from racing, but I’m sure he’s missed by all.”
“We just got the car ready for the A-Main when they were pulling onto the track. In hot laps we broke the transmission and rear end. I had a bunch of friends come over and help get everything changed just in time. Getting both cars in the show on Friday was nice and getting the pole was good. I just got to sit back Saturday and watch the races for once.”
“Next year I’ll probably slow down. We tried to make a run at the national points and it was a grind. I’ve got kids and their school sports so I won’t go as hard as this year. I’ll make some big shows, but I’m not going to run all over the state again.”
Estes Eradicates I-Stock Field
Chad Estes showed why he was the only Texas driver to crack the IMCA SuperNationals field with a good ol’ butt kicking in the 30-lap IMCA Stock Car final. The Troy, Texas driver was hardly ever challenged as he was able to put distance on the field after several restarts.
Estes grabbed the point early, while Tim Clonch had problems and pulled off. Kelly Brown and Cody Kays got together and found themselves in front stretch wall to bring out the yellow. On the restart, Allen Bradley and Doug Kennemer got hooked with Kennemer spinning in turn 2. Finally back under green, Estes began to inch away from Cory Davis, Matt Guillame and Harvey Wojtek.
Laps 3-4 saw Estes slowed by slower traffic giving Davis a chance to close the gap. Once clear of traffic Estes took off and pulled ahead until yellow waved for an infield tire on the track. On the restart Bradley got turned around and tagged the wall on the back straightaway. Back under green again, it was Estes edging ahead of Davis who had a gap back to Guillame and Wojtek, with former I-Stock Champion, Duain Pritchett was leading Jason Gore and Jason Batt in the battle for fifth.
Coming to the midway point Estes had a full straight on Davis, Guillame, Wojtek and Pritchett. Wojtek tried low on Guillame, but ended up losing ground as caution waved for the dreaded infield tire again. David tried to hang on to Estes once the green waved again, but Estes slowly stretched out his advantage. Pritchett and Gore got by Wojtek on lap 19 for fourth and fifth.
Wojtek got hung out, and freight-trained by Batt, David Phillips, Billy Wade, Kris Richards and Delmar Slone.
Up front Estes was motoring away rebuilding his margin over Davis to a full straightaway by lap 22. As the laps wound down, Phillips and Batt battled for sixth swapping the spot until Phillips got too high and lost spots. As the checkers waved it was Estes in the Dal-Tex Towing, Cen-Tex Motorsports, SCS Chassis easily taking the victory.
“I look forward to this race every year,” said Estes. “The car was alright Friday night and we made some changes Saturday on the shocks, tires and motor and that made all the difference in the world. I don’t think we’d have held them off and won if we didn’t make them.”
“I really didn’t know I had such a big lead, I thought I heard someone behind me so I just kept running hard. I didn’t know till afterwards how big of a lead I actually had.”
“Starting position means everything here and at the Super Nationals in Boone(Iowa). The car was pretty much the same as we ran up there, except shocks. Down here this track does take some rubber, where Boone just goes dry.”
“When we get our Modified program a little better, we may try of the USMTS races and I’d like to maybe try a Late Model if we can a series down here other than the Crate Models.”
Phillips Finds Way to Hobby Stock Win
Local driver and Abilene Speedway track champion, Tommy Phillips probably didn’t think he would end up in the Winner’s Circle, but he did. Phillips patiently waited and watched while Charles Cosper and Cody Hodges battled for the lead. Phillips was in the right spot to take over the lead after the two tangled. From there Phillips held off Allen Montgomery in the final laps for the biggest win of his career.
As green waved on the 30-lap, 20-car IMCA Hobby Stock A-main Cosper jumper out front with Phillips, A. Montgomery and Hodges in pursuit. Phillips stayed on Cosper’s bumper, while Hodges tried to find a way by A. Montgomery for third. Phillips keep
the pressure on Cosper getting along side on lap 6, while Hodges got third from A. Montgomery.
Brandon Taylor took a top five spot getting around Tobie Talk on lap 9. Hodges ran down the top two and was on their tail by lap 10. Hodges got the nose under Phillips on lap 12, but couldn’t complete the pass. Coming to halfway it was Cosper, Phillips, Hodges, A. Montgomery and B. Taylor still running in the top five. Hodges was taking a look low on Phillips again on lap 15 when Hayden Lusk brought out the caution stuck atop an infield tire in turn 4.
Once back to green, Cosper got a good jump, with the top three all easing away from the field. Jeff Kinnard brought out the yellow on lap 16 when he broke and stopped in turn 2. On the restart the top three were bumper to bumper, with Phillips giving Cosper a friendly hello tap. Hodges began his assault on Phillips in earnest ducking low on lap 20 and getting a run on lap 21 to make the pass for second.
Hodges was now on Cosper’s bumpers digging low and getting inside cosper on lap 22. The two traded some paint with Hodges getting by at the line. Cosper got into Hodges going into turn 1 sending him through the infield and into Phillips on his way back on track. Hodges had to pit under yellow for a flat, while Cosper was sent to the tail, handing the lead to Phillips for the restart.
Once back to green A. Montgomery stayed on Phillips tail, while Dustin Mims got by Talk for fifth, with Dennis Bissonette following to sixth. With five to go it was still anyone’s race as they were nose to tail. A. Montgomery gave a look high, then low on Phillips in the final laps, but ended up giving up second to B. Taylor. As the checkers waved it was Phillips in the Joe Colyer/Phillips built and powered car scoring the biggest win of his career.
“I just used a lot of patience,” replied Phillips. “I knew what was going to happen after (Cody) Hodges got by me. I just watched and waited when the leaders started battling. We pretty much do the same thing to the car as we do every week. We did go
over it closely and check everything.”
‘I think my track experience helped me out a lot, too. The track was pretty much like our regular Saturday night races. Some of the other guys don’t have the same knowledge of this track when it gets dry slick like it was.”
“This year has really been good for me and some luck. We had around 10 feature wins
and won the track championship. That’s the best I’ve done in the six years I’ve been
racing here.”
Pritchett Steals Young Guns Win
Bryce Pritchett worked his way up to the front of the Young Guns Jr. Mini Stock Shootout during the 15-lap race. B. Pritchett snuck by leader Brad Dudley in the final laps to steal the win, his first of the series.
Dudley was first into turn 1 as green waved on the 21-car field with Tyler Webb and Alex Smith falling into second and third. B. Pritchett started his march to the front getting by Tanner Houston on lap 1 for fourth. Webb’s top run ended on lap 2 when broke and rolled to a stop on the front stretch, while Hunter Garrison was spinning in turn 4. Dudley got a big jump on green while Don Yeargan made a run from the back up to fifth getting by Zach Raybourn.
B. Prichett used lapped traffic on lap 6 to snag second from A. Smith. Houston brought out the yellow on lap 8 with a spin in turn 4. Dudley again got a good lead on green , but Calton Pritchett spun to bring the yellow back out. Once back to green, Dudley and B. Pritchett got away clean, with Yeargans run to front ended when he slowed and pulled off. As laps wound down Courtney Garrison got past A. Smith for third, while Dudley and B. Pritchett battled for the lead. B. Pritchett got by Dudley on the back stretch to take the lead on lap 12 and held on for the victory.
