Cody Morris, Beaumont, Texas (5-25-2012) - Entering an ASCS-best tenth night of competition thus far in the 2012 season, the Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region kicked off their Memorial Day Weekend tripleheader with a Friday night outing at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas (Craig Johnson photo).
Montgomery, Texas native Tommy Bryant took to the high side of GTRP’s lightning fast and tacky 3/8 mile oval, charging by early race leader Travis Elliott on the sixth go round.
Bryant survived a two lap dash to the checkered flag following a lap 24 caution that wiped out the full straightaway lead he had in possession, but the caution proved inconsequential as Bryant placed the Wesmar powered Cooper Racing no. 28 Maxim in ASCS Gulf South victory lane for the first time of the season.
Consecutive two-time and reining Gulf South champion Ray Allen Kulhanek turned in a sensational charge to the runner up spot following an unlucky incident on the initial start of the race that moved the Danbury, Texas racer to the tail of the field. Scottie McDonald dropped two spots to claim the show position of the 25 lap Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South main event.
Killeen, Texas’ Michael McNeil advanced 7 spots to claim fourth at the stripe with Texas City’s Brandon Berryman finishing as he started to complete the top five finishing order.
Klint Angelette, Tommy Bryant, and Ray Allen Kulhanek each earned heat race honors over the twenty car field with Wes Miller earning his second consecutive Hard Charger award for his run from 18th to eighth in the 25 lap main event.
Bryant’s win marked the eighth pilot to garner a Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region victory in ten contests completed thus far in a twenty-six race 2012 campaign and puts the Montgomery native in prime position for a $1,000 added bonus if he can sweep the weekend or an extra $500 if he can split one of the next two.
Friday’s Gulf South outing is but the first of a Memorial Day Weekend Tripleheader that leads the ASCS Gulf South Region to the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas on Saturday before a Sunday night finale at Corpus Christi’s South Texas Speedway that will also feature the halfway mark of the twenty-six race ASCS Gulf South season.
Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region
May 25th, 2012 / Event 10 of 26 (1st of Memorial Day Tripleheader)
Golden Triangle Raceway Park / Beaumont, Texas
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 28-Tommy Bryant[3]; 2. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek[7]; 3. 88-Scottie McDonald[1]; 4. 25M-Michael McNeil[9]; 5. 31-Brandon Berryman[5]; 6. 0-Channin Tankersley[11]; 7. 69-Larry Howery[12]; 8. 2-Wes Miller[18]; 9. 3-Gary Watson[8]; 10. 12-Logan Bledsoe[4]; 11. 35-Greg Rilat[15]; 12. 51-Beau Smith[10]; 13. 24-Brandie Jass[19]; 14. 19-Klint Angelette[6]; 15. 8-Bruce Crockett[13]; 16. 52-Roger Oakes[16]; 17. 15T-Travis Elliott[2]; 18. 17-Bruce Griffith Jr[14]; 19. 15-Andrew VanBlarcum[17]; DNS 02-Harry Yerrington
Lap Leaders: Elliott 1-5, Bryant 6-25
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 19-Klint Angelette[1]; 2. 88-Scottie McDonald[2]; 3. 0-Channin Tankersley[3]; 4. 69-Larry Howery[5]; 5. 8-Bruce Crockett[7]; 6. 15-Andrew VanBlarcum[6]; 7. 02-Harry Yerrington[4]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 28-Tommy Bryant[1]; 2. 3-Gary Watson[2]; 3. 15T-Travis Elliott[4]; 4. 25M-Michael McNeil[6]; 5. 52-Roger Oakes[3]; 6. 35-Greg Rilat[7]; 7. 24-Brandie Jass[5]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek[1]; 2. 12-Logan Bledsoe[3]; 3. 31-Brandon Berryman[4]; 4. 51-Beau Smith[6]; 5. 17-Bruce Griffith Jr[5]; 6. 2-Wes Miller[2]
2012 Griffith Truck & Equipment ASCS Gulf South Region point standings (top ten):
1. Ray Allen Kulhanek 1278; 2. Michael McNeil 1180; 3. Brandon Berryman 1169; 4. Travis Elliott 1134; 5. Beau Smith 1080; 6. Wes Miller 1077; 7. Larry Howery 1036; 8. Greg Rilat 1030; 9. Klint Angelette 1009; 10. Tommy Bryant 977