by John Rittenoure - MUSKOGEE, Okla. (March 25, 2022) - John Carney II took advantage of his outside second row starting position to study the early leaders and learn from their mistakes.
The homework paid off as Carney took the lead away from Whit Gastineau on lap five and never looked back to post his first AmeriFlex / OCRS IMCA Sprint Car victory Friday at Thunderbird Speedway.
“I really watched the guys in front of me and watched where they were hitting the holes for 3 or 4 laps,” Carney said of his move to the lead. “I just remembered where they were bouncing and just avoided that. Once we were in the lead we had clean air.”
The win came in an unfamiliar sprint car.
“I have never been here before or drove this car, but the way the track was flat reminded me of Oskaloosa (Iowa),” Carney said.
Former champion Zach Chappell wheeled into third behind Gastineau and the three stayed out front most of the race. On lap 21 Chappell spun out and Jake Martens moved into third. Sheldon Barksdale raced from ninth to fourth and Creek County Speedway winner Blake Edwards rounded out the top five.
AmeriFlex / OCRS IMCA Sprint Car Results
Thunderbird Speedway, Muskogee, Okla.
March 25, 2022
AmeriFlex Hose Accessories A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 22J-John Carney II[4]; 2. 2-Whit Gastineau[2]; 3. 17X-Jake Martens[8]; 4. 20S-Sheldon Barksdale[9]; 5. 17E-Blake Edwards[10]; 6. 22M-Rees Moran[1]; 7. 32K-Chris Kelly[5]; 8. 15P-Jack Potter[11]; 9. 77-Dean Drake Jr[19]; 10. 20-Luke Cranston[13]; 11. 22-Shane Redline[16]; 12. 16-Conner Thomas[12]; 13. 50Z-Zach Chappell[3]; 14. 10-Trevor Serbus[6]; 15. 08E-Elizabeth Phillips[18]; 16. 1-Johnny Kent[7]; 17. 22C-Charlie Crumpton[14]; 18. P78-Perry Pickard[17]; 19. 88-Terry Easum[15]; 20. 12M-Mitchell Barros[20]
Schure Built Suspension Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 50Z-Zach Chappell[3]; 2. 22M-Rees Moran[6]; 3. 1-Johnny Kent[4]; 4. 17X-Jake Martens[9]; 5. 16-Conner Thomas[5]; 6. 15P-Jack Potter[8]; 7. 22C-Charlie Crumpton[2]; 8. 88-Terry Easum[7]; 9. 08E-Elizabeth Phillips[1]
Lightning Wings Powder Coating Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 22J-John Carney II[3]; 2. 32K-Chris Kelly[1]; 3. 10-Trevor Serbus[2]; 4. 2-Whit Gastineau[10]; 5. 20S-Sheldon Barksdale[7]; 6. 17E-Blake Edwards[9]; 7. 20-Luke Cranston[8]; 8. 22-Shane Redline[4]; 9. P78-Perry Pickard[6]
??Lap Leaders: Whit Gastineau 1-4, John Carney II 5-25.
?D & G Contracting Hard Charger: Dean Drake, Jr. +10.
Top 10 Standings: 1. Blake Edwards 437; 2. Rees Moran 407; 3. Terry Easum 360; 4. Steven Shebester 334; 5. Tanner Conn 318; 6. Whit Gastineau 315; 7. Elizabeth Phillips 310; 8. Chris Kelly 293; 9. Johnny Kent 286; 10. Joe Bob Lee 281.
2022 Winners: 3/4 - Steven Shebester (Red Dirt Raceway); 3/5 - Tyler Drueke (Red Dirt Raceway); 3/19 - Blake Edwards (Creek County Speedway); 3/25 - John Carney II (Thunderbird Speedway).
About the AmeriFlex / OCRS Series -
Established in 2002, the Tulsa OK based AmeriFlex / OCRS series sanctions dirt track sprint car racing in the southern region of the central plains. Fan appeal and quality race teams, combined with our solid core of supporting sponsors are the nucleus of the series. Thrilling competition providing the ultimate quality family entertainment is the essence of what the AmeriFlex / OCRS series is all about.
Website: www.ocrsracing.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oil.series
About Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories -
Located in Tulsa OK, AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories is a family owned and operated company. From food grade hose to hoses for the petroleum industry, Ameri-Flex will strive to fill your needs. AmeriFlex can build a hose to your specifications or we will assist you in creating what you have designed while you wait. Ameri-Flex has several hard to find items that some vendors can’t get or find. Product can be shipped quickly and efficiently. If we do not have what you are looking for, we will direct you on where to find it. Give us a try, after all…………..
AmeriFlex Has The Stuff That Keeps You Going!
Website: www.AmeriFlexHose.com
AmeriFlex / OCRS IMCA Contingency Sponsors
AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories, Hoosier Racing Tires, Smileys Racing Products, Schoenfeld, Brodix, Lucas Oil, RacinDirt.TV, Schure Built Suspension, Lightning Wings & Powder Coating, Smith Titanium, MyRacePass.
Photo by Roy Wagner
- administrator on Mar 26, 2022
- Article Date: 3/26/2022 by John Rittenoure