LUCAS OIL I-10 SPEEDWAY WINTER BLAST OPENING NIGHT

Source: Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway Public Relations
Date: 10/14/2003

In the BANDOLERO Division, Connor Kassik (26) won the Trophy Dash, passing the leader Gina Yentes (88) on the last lap. Austin Murphy (07) won the Heat race. In the 20-lap Main Event, Connor Kassik started in the pole position with Broc Murphy (76) starting in the inside position third row and Austin Murphy (07) behind him in the fourth row. At the green flag, Broc Murphy quickly moved up into the lead position and was followed by Connor Kassik and Austin Murphy. On the second lap, Austin Murphy passed Connor Kassik to take 2nd place. For several laps Austin Murphy challenged Broc Murphy for the lead. Halfway through the race Austin Murphy was able to pass Broc Murphy for 1st place and built a significant lead over the remainder of the race. Connor Kassik got by Broc Murphy to take 2nd place. At the checkered flag, Austin Murphy finished 1st followed by Connor Kassik, Broc Murphy, and Gina Yentes.

The Budweiser MODIFIEDs also raced on Opening Night with ten cars showing up for the contests. Robert Davis (3), previously racing a Pure Stock, showed up in a newly built modified. Chris Gerchman (26), who drove a Legends Car last year, also moved up to the Budweiser MODIFIED Division. Steve Almquist (50) won the Trophy Dash and Chris Weiss (94) the Heat race. Larry Gerchman (25), with the best quick time, rolled a one to keep the pole position in the 35-lap Main Event. At the green flag Larry Gerchman pulled out into the lead position followed by Jerry Snell (9), Mike Schuringa (74) and Steve Almquist (50). Early in the race Steve Almquist spun out and had to go to the back. Chris Gerchman also spun out a couple of times, which put him at the back. Throughout most of the race Larry Gerchman held a comfortable lead. Similarly, Jerry Snell was able to hold onto his second place position throughout the race. However, over most of the race Chris Weiss (94) challenged Mike Schuringa for 3rd and was eventually able to get past Schuringa on lap 28. Lou Tompkins (1) ran into the wall between turns 3 and 4, which disabled his car for the night. Over the last 5 laps, Robert Davis challenged Mike Schuringa for 4th place but wasn’t able to get by. Larry Gerchman received the checkered flag first, followed by Jerry Snell, Chris Weiss, Mike Schuringa, and Robert Davis.

The INEX LEGENDS CARS were also billed for Opening Night. Austin Grabowski (72) won the Trophy Dash and Donnie Akers (09) the Heat race. In the 35-lap Main Event, Ralph Alexander (37) started on the pole position with Austin Grabowski to his right and Gary Scheuerell (13) and David Ross (57) in the second row. At the green flag, Austin Grabowski pulled into the lead with David Ross, Ralph Alexander, and Gary Scheuerell following. On lap 8 David Ross got by Austin Grabowski to take the lead. Grabowski accepted the challenge and rode on Ross’s bumper for the remaining 27 laps. There was also a battle going on between Ralph Alexander and Gary Scheuerell for 3rd place. Scheuerell eventually got by Alexander to take 3rd but was a considerable distance behind the leaders, Ross and Grabowski. On the final lap, the ever-so-patient Grabowski drove under an errant Ross at turn 4 and beat Ross to the finish line by a couple of feet. David Ross finished second with Gary Scheuerell and Ralph Alexander following in what was an expertly driven race. Wow! What a finish!

The Sunoco Fuel PURE STOCKS was the final division scheduled for Opening Night. Johnny del Pino (13) won the Trophy Dash. Benji Gallegos (6) won the First Heat Race and Michelle Rouse (90) the Second Heat Race. Jimmy Rouse (09) went into the wall between turns 3 and 4 during the Second Heat Race and was towed into the pits. In the 30-lap Main Event, Ryan Spencer (42) started on the pole position with Dusty Hope (33) to his right. Johnny del Pino and Brian Faulkner (2) were in the second row. At the green flag Ryan Spencer pulled into the lead but was quickly passed by Johnny del Pino, who would hold onto 1st place for the remainder of the race. On lap 14, Don Olmsted (79) passed Brian Faulkner to take 3rd place. Ryan Kerr (56) developed a serious leak and was towed from the infield into the pits. Benji Gallegos lost control of his vehicle and went into the wall between turns 3 and 4. His vehicle received moderate damage but was able to drive into the pits to finish the night. The battle in the race took place between the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place cars. Brian Faulkner and Don Olmsted changed positions several times. Eventually, Brian Faulkner was able to move up into 2nd place and hold it for the remainder of the race. At the checkered flag, Johnny del Pino finished 1st followed by Brian Faulkner, Don Olmsted, Dusty Hope, and Michelle Rouse.

Trophy Dash: Connor Kassik (26), Gina Yentes (88), Andre Prescott (80), and Ryan Bragdon (3). Heat: Austin Murphy (07), Connor Kassik (26), Gina Yentes (88), Broc Murphy (76), Jimmy Rouse Jr (9), Papa John (6), Chris Akers (09), Andre Prescott (80), and Ryan Bragdon (3). Main Event: Austin Murphy (07), Connor Kassik (26), Broc Murphy (76), Gina Yentes (88), Papa John (6), Jimmy Rouse Jr (9), Chris Akers (09), Andre Prescott (80), and Ryan Bragdon (3).

Trophy Dash: Austin Grabowski (72), Gary Scheuerell (13), Ralph Alexander (37), and David Ross (57). Heat: Donnie Akers (09), Andrew Murphy (70), Derek Frohlich (99), Travis Stockman (9), Tom Skahill (68), and David Ross (56). Main Event: Austin Grabowski (72), David Ross (57), Gary Scheuerell (13), Ralph Alexander (37), Donnie Akers (09), Tom Skahill (68), Travis Stockman (9), Derek Frohlich (99), Bill Voss (56), and Andrew Murphy (70).

Trophy Dash: Steve Almquist (50), Jerry Snell (9), Mike Schuringa (74), and Larry Gerchman (25). Heat: Chris Weiss (94), Lou Tompkins (1), Chris Golding (75), Chris Gerchman (26), Robert Davis (3), and Randy Forbis (46). Main Event: Larry Gerchman (25), Jerry Snell (9), Chris Weiss (94), Mike Schuringa (74), Robert Davis (3), Chris Golding (75), Steve Almquist (50), Chris Gerchman (26), Lou Tompkins (1), and Randy Forbis (46).

Trophy Dash: Johnny del Pino (13), Jimmy Rouse (09), Brian Faulkner (2), and Don Olmsted (79). Heat 1: Benji Gallegos (6), Ryan Kerr (56), Richard Ochoa (31), Chris Cook (35), and Jason Butler (71). Heat 2: Michelle Rouse (90), Don Olmsted (79), Dusty Hope (33), Johnny del Pino (13), Ryan Spencer (42), John Kelley (11), and Jimmy Rouse (09). Main Event: Johnny del Pino (13), Brian Faulkner (2), Don Olmsted (79), Dusty Hope (33), Michelle Rouse (90), John Kelley (11), Chris Cook (35), Ryan Spencer (42), Benji Gallegos (6), Ryan Kerr (56), Richard Ochoa (31), Jason Butler (71), and Jimmy Rouse (09).

See Also .:

• Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway Track Page

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