Cody Morris, HIGHLANDS, TEXAS (5-19-2012) - In their first event since late April, the Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region invaded Battlegrounds Speedway for the first of three events at Highlands, Texas oval (Craig Johnson Photo).
Reigning Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Champion Ray Allen Kulhanek absolutely decimated the field. Starting in the pole position of the $3,000 to win 30 lap main event, the Danbury, Texas racer earned his first Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South victory of the season aboard David Miller’s Don Ott-powered Miller’s RV Park/B&M Jr. No. 21T J&J.
Contending for a third consecutive ASCS Gulf South title and fourth overall, Kulhanek went totally unchallenged, capitalizing on 28 laps of green flag action to lap the 24 car field up to the seventh position.
A Harry Yerrington spin on the initial start was shortly followed by a left rear detachment aboard Bruce Griffith Jr’s ride. The two dustups marked the only stoppages of the 30 lap affair.
Clute Texas resident, former Gulf South champion, Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MavTV competitor Aaron Reutzel took runner up rights with Highlands’ hometown pilot Channin Tankersley advancing 7 spots to take show position honors.
Travis Elliott maintained his top five starting spot to a fourth place finish, with Wes Miller taking rounding out the top five finishing order with the Weld Wheels Hard Charger effort after passing ten cars en route to his fifth place finish.
The Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region blast back into action with a sensational Memorial Day Weekend tripleheader. A Friday night visit to Beaumont, Texas’ Golden Triangle Raceway Park precludes a Saturday night stand at Willis’ Gator Motorplex, before the Sunday night affair at Corpus Christi’s South Texas Speedway that marks the midway point of the twenty six events on the Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South 2012 schedule.
Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region
May 19th, 2012 / Round 9 of 26
Battleground Speedway / Highlands, Texas
A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek[1]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel[7]; 3. 0-Channin Tankersley[10]; 4. 15T-Travis Elliott[5]; 5. 2-Wes Miller[15]; 6. 25M-Michael McNeil[6]; 7. 93-Chris Sweeney[8]; 8. 51-Beau Smith[4]; 9. 66-J.J. Simmons[3]; 10. 31-Brandon Berryman[13]; 11. 28-Tommy Bryant[19]; 12. 3-Gary Watson[9]; 13. 35-Greg Rilat[16]; 14. 19-Klint Angelette[11]; 15. 52-Roger Oakes[18]; 16. 69-Larry Howery[14]; 17. 15-Andrew VanBlarcum[17]; 18. 24-Brandie Jass[20]; 19. 17-Bruce Griffith Jr[22]; 20. 02-Harry Yerrington[23]; 21. 88-Scottie McDonald[24]; 22. 12-Logan Bledsoe[2]; 23. 8-Bruce Crockett[21]; DNS 36-John Pate; DNS 7w-Dustin Welch
Lap Leaders: Kulhanek 1-30
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel; 2. 51-Beau Smith; 3. 25M-Michael McNeil; 4. 31-Brandon Berryman; 5. 69-Larry Howery; 6. 52-Roger Oakes; 7. 15-Andrew VanBlarcum; 8. 24-Brandie Jass; 9. 88-Scottie McDonald
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 66-J.J. Simmons; 2. 93-Chris Sweeney; 3. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek; 4. 0-Channin Tankersley; 5. 2-Wes Miller; 6. 28-Tommy Bryant; 7. 8-Bruce Crockett; DNS 7w-Dustin Welch
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 12-Logan Bledsoe; 2. 15T-Travis Elliott; 3. 3-Gary Watson; 4. 19-Klint Angelette; 5. 36-John Pate; 6. 35-Greg Rilat; 7. 17-Bruce Griffith Jr; 8. 02-Harry Yerrington
2012 Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region point standings:
1. Ray Allen Kulhanek 1136; 2. Michael McNeil 1050; 3. Brandon Berryman 1044; 4. Travis Ellott 1038; 5. Beau Smith 974; 6. Wes Miller 961; 7. Greg Rilat 922; 8. Larry Howery 917; 9. Klint Angellette 907; 10. Gary Watson 847