Hello Texas... It's Shootout Time!
Ameri-Flex / OCRS Sprints Are On The Way
Lawton Speedway Part of ‘Red River Shootout’
Pictured:
Cody Wampler (22) & Gary Owens (33) in Ameri-Flex / OCRS action last week.
Mike Spivey photo
John Lemon
OCRS Public Relations
Tulsa OK (July 27, 2015) – There is always a first time for everything. This Friday will see the Ameri-Flex / OCRS sprint cars venture southward from Oklahoma into the Lone Star state for the first time in series history as the Red River Speedway in Wichita Falls Texas will play host.
On Saturday night, the series moves back across the Red River that splits the two states, to the Lawton Speedway for the third and final time in 2015. This makes for a complete Red River Shootout between the Texas and Oklahoma based race teams. In addition to the traditional purses the teams compete for, there is $1,000 in cash bonuses payable to the top three drivers who earn the most points for the weekend.
“We are elated to travel to the state of Texas for the first time,” said Ameri-Flex / OCRS promoter Barry Grabel. “When I bought the series a few years ago, I never really thought of going to Texas. When I found out Craig Martin (track owner) was working to re-open the place, the idea of a Wichita Falls / Lawton doubleheader was intriguing. I expect it’s going to be a great venture.”
Mustang Oklahoma’s Robert Sellers will bring his six Ameri-Flex / OCRS wins and series points lead to the shootout as well as son Shane, a two time winner on tour this year and the current second place point pilot. Moore Oklahoma’s Whit ‘Gasman’ Gastineau looks to be in attendance after scoring his first win of the season last Saturday night at the Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada Oklahoma.
Texas will look to send fighter pilots such as Morgan Fletcher, T.J. Herrell, T.J. Honkomp, Chad Koch and Brandon Long among others to confront the traveling vagabonds at each venue. While Texas drivers have done well in Ameri-Flex / OCRS competition, a win by a Lone Star state resident would be the first such scenario to unfold in a sanctioned event for the 14 year old series.
Nutz’ n’ Boltz’
Fire In The Hole:
Brett “The Jet” Wilson was quite the firestorm last Saturday at Oklahoma Sports Park when his engine let go. Wilson was so engulfed in flames; it was difficult at best to see him in the car before he ejected himself. Fire is by far the worst fear of them all, yet the 2015 Brodix rookie driver came out OK. The team is working feverishly to make the trip west this weekend. Kiss your fire suit young man.
$10 Tools Can Be Expensive:
Whit Gastineau has been scratching his head bald trying to figure out why the team cant get the Shell Rapid Lube special to work as they think it should. It has been costing the team good finishes and cash. They found out the tire pressure gauge the team was using was misreading by three pounds, that was messing everything up in getting the correct set ups. The faulty device is now a paperweight for collected beer receipts.
In House Education:
Michael Bookout and his father Bob are improving all the time with their Bigfoot Racing team. The duo chooses not to hire a wrench to do their work for them. Instead, they ask questions and do their own work. They recently earned two Action Auto Collision Hard Charger awards back-back and earned their first heat race win of the year at OSP Saturday while getting their second top five of the year. All this from guys who didn’t race anything before. NADA! Look for Bigfoot to start stomping the ground even harder.
Good That You Came:
Originally Brent Bates was going to take last weekends doubleheader off but then decided to run Saturday after all. Bates won a free case of Amsoil synthetic oil and was the Action Auto Collision Hard award recipient. The two combined were worth over $250 in cash and product in addition to his nights pay. Every bit helps out to get the bills paid.
Think We Might Do This Some More:
Southern Oklahoma Speedway promoters John & Nicky Webb put together the inaugural running of the ‘Summer Sprint Shootout’ with little time to promote the event, less than a month to be more precise. With that in mind, they were just shy of 60 sprints in the pits between the Ameri-Flex / OCRS sprint cars, the Sprint Series of Texas sprints and the E-Sprints, which were a non-sanctioned class. The crowd was good and it showed everyone there are sprint cars fans that will support SOS of they run all open wheel cars. Stay tuned for the 2016 schedule.
More Pilots Preparing For Take Off?
A couple of interesting names have crossed our desk as to who will look to take flight in the Ameri-Flex / OCRS series and it’s possible we will see them before the season is over. Keep tabs with us as we will drop names as this development begins to take hold.
Was There An Ice Block Party Somewhere?
The 16-car turn out at OSP Saturday was a season low for the series. We then find out there 16 with not one more, but two other sprint car series in the plains region the same night. Also on that night, there was a National midget doubleheader show that produced 13 cars at one venue and 15 at another. The scuttlebutt is maybe there have been too many triple digit heat indexes in a row and teams need a break. The other was centered on the fact there may have been an ice block party somewhere in Canada that everyone went to. It’s always easy to put a PR spin on a lower than normal car count show. That said, ask anyone who was at OSP Saturday and they will tell you the main event was……
in a word.…. Fantastic!
The weekends RED RIVER SHOOTOUT special is about to fire. The Itinerary:
Friday Night:
What: Red River Shootout (first half)
Where: Red River Speedway / Wichita Falls Texas
When: Friday July 31, 2015
Time: Pit gates open at 5pm – Grandstand gates at 6pm
Hot Laps at 7:30pm – Racing at 8pm –
OCRS drivers meeting at 7pm
Track Phone: 817-975-0527
Website: http://www.rrspeedway.com
GPS Address: 1633 FM 369 N. / Iowa Park, Texas / 76367
Directions: From HWY 287, Exit FM 369 and go North 1 mile. Track is on the Right
Saturday Night:
What: Red River Shootout (second half)
When: Saturday August 1, 2015
Where: Lawton Speedway / Lawton Oklahoma
Time: Gates open 6:00pm / Hot Laps 7:30pm / Racing starts at 8pm / (OCRS drivers meeting at 7:00pm)
Track Phone: (580) 355-6417
Website: http://www.lawtonspeedway.com
Track directions:
Take Interstate 44 to Lee Boulevard.
Go west onto Lee Boulevard to Sheridan Road.
Turn south (left) and go 1.5 miles to the racetrack.
If coming from the south of Lawton:
Exit Highway 36 and take the Faxon exit.
Go north onto Sheridan Road.
Racetrack will be approx. 5 miles.
A swarm of wild and dangerously wicked sprint cars are heading southwest……
~~ CAN YOU FEEL THE THUNDER? ~~
About the AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories / Oil Capital Racing Series -
Established in 2002, the AmeriFlex / OCRS series sanctions dirt track sprint car racing in the southern region of the central plains with its headquarters in Tulsa OK. Events are held at racetracks in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Texas with an average of 22 race dates per season. Series champions include: Jamie Passmore (4), Sean McClelland (3), Mike Goodman (3), Harli White and Andrew Deal (1 each).
Website: http://www.ocrsracing.com
About AmeriFlex 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, AmeriFlex 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. AmeriFlex 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: http://www.ameriflexhose.com
- John Lemon on Jul 28, 2015
- Article Date: 7/28/2015 by John Lemon