By John Rittenoure
Pictured:
Whit Gastineau wins a thriller at Red River Speedway / MIke Howard Photo
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (July 31, 2015) - The AmeriFlex Hose and Accessories Oil Capital Racing Series made its first trip to the state of Texas a memorable one thanks to Whit Gastineau, Robert and Shane Sellers.
In a thrilling three-wide race for the lead, Gastineau powered to the outside of the 1-2 running Shane and Robert Sellers coming off turn four and took away the lead at the start-finish line to end lap 26. Gastineau led the final five laps to record his second AmeriFlex / OCRS victory of the season Friday night at Red River Speedway.
“That was fun,” Gastineau said of his run from third to first. “Robert and Shane are both good drivers and that is why you can do that.”
Shane and Robert Sellers were battling side-by-side for the lead when Gastineau suddenly showed up.
“I don’t really set up for top or bottom,” Gastineau said of his move to the high groove. “I just go where ever they aren’t. The longer I went, the better I was. We were just getting better and better. The harder I hit it, the better it was.”
And a lot of the credit goes to Robert Sellers for the win according to Gastineau.
“I probably would not have won it if not for Robert,” he said. “He loaned me a torsion bar before the race for the right rear. Without that we would not have won.
“We made a ton of adjustments after the heat race. We were terrible in the heat.”
The finish was a dramatic change from the early laps of the race. Robert Sellers drove off the pole into the early lead and it looked like he was set to cruise to a seventh victory. But a lapped car slowed Sellers down on lap 22 and son Shane took advantage taking away the lead from dad.
“I felt sorry for my dad,” Shane Sellers said. “If it had not been for lapped traffic he probably had it won and I probably had second. From where Whit was sitting he had the best point of view to watch us get held up in lapped traffic and make a move.”
Robert chased Shane and pulled alongside of Shane for the lead setting the stage for Gastineau’s run at the leaders.
“That was good for the fans,” Sellers said of the finish. “This track is not very big so to go three-wide might be scary for the fans but it was fun for us.
“It is good when you can race wheel-to-wheel like that with Whit (Gastineau) and my dad like that. Anytime you can go three-wide like that it says something about the drivers the respect for each other. “
After Gastineau drove into the lead Robert moved ahead of Shane to finish second. Zach Chappell finished fourth and Kyle Ezell worked his way from a ninth place starting position to finish fifth.
AmeriFlex / Oil Capital Racing Series
Red River Speedway - Wichita Falls, Texas.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Car count: 19
(Pos-Car-Driver-Start)
Boyd Racing Engines Heat (8 laps) - 1, 4X-Robert Sellers[4]. 2, 5-Cameron Hagin[1]. 3, 50Z-Zach Chappell[7]. 4, 24-T.J. Herrell[2]. 5, 35K-Chad Koch[6]. 6, 2W-Whit Gastineau[5]. 7, P78-Perry Pickard[3].
Shock Doc Heat (8 laps) - 1, 31-Casey Wills[1]. 2, 98-Ryan Padgett[4]. 3, 53-Brett Wilson[5]. 4, 17-Brent Bates[2]. 5, 11-Nick Bates[3]. 6, 94-Dan Schnackenberg[6].
Drive Shafts Inc. Heat (8 laps) - 1, 4-Shane Sellers[1]. 2, 94F-Morgan Fletcher[2]. 3, 10K-Kyle Ezell[4]. 4, 76H-TJ Honkomp[5]. 5, 02-Brandon Long[6]. 6, 88S-Shayla Waddell[3].
AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories A Feature (30 laps) - 1, 2W-Whit Gastineau[16]. 2, 4X-Robert Sellers[1]. 3, 4-Shane Sellers[6]. 4, 50Z-Zach Chappell[7]. 5, 10K-Kyle Ezell[9]. 6, 98-Ryan Padgett[5]. 7, 17-Brent Bates[12]. 8, 76H-TJ Honkomp[10]. 9, 53-Brett Wilson[2]. 10, 24-T.J. Herrell[11]. 11, 5-Cameron Hagin[3]. 12, 35K-Chad Koch[13]. 13, 94F-Morgan Fletcher[8]. 14, 88S-Shayla Waddell[18]. 15, 94-Dan Schnackenberg[17]. 16, P78-Perry Pickard[19]. 17, 02-Brandon Long[14]. 18, 31-Casey Wills[4]. 19, 11-Nick Bates[15].
Lap Leaders: Robert Sellers 1-21, Shane Sellers 22-25, Whit Gastineau 26-30.
Margin of Victory: 1.672 seconds
Contingency Awards:
Boyd's Racing Engines Heat: Robert Sellers
Shock Doc Heat: Casey Wills.
Drive Shafts Inc Heat: Shane Sellers.
D&E Hard Luck Recipient: Casey Wills
Action Auto Collision Hard Charger Recipient: Robert Sellers (+6)
Wesmar Power Parts Recipient: Cameron Hagin
M&W Aluminum Products Recipient: Chad Koch
Lightning Wings Recipient: T.J. Herrell
Rod End Supply Recipients: Kyle Ezell, Brett Wilson, Dan Schnackenberg
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
About D&E Supply -
D&E Supply has over 35 years of experience towards serving Oklahoma builders, architects and independent contractors as a drywall and drywall supply source. Their years of experience mean you can rest assured you are getting the best quality product for your specific needs.
D&E Supply works with some of the most cutting edge manufacturers bringing to the drywall industry a source for green products, acoustic drywall, steel framing or soundproof drywall. Tools of the trade are available as well in their contractor supply department. For your professional drywall needs, call D&E Supply at 918 621-4600.
http://www.ocrsracing.com
- John Lemon on Aug 02, 2015
- Article Date: 8/2/2015 by John Rittenoure