By Bryan Hulbert
TULSA, Okla. (September 24, 2013) The final weekend for the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region of the ASCS Nation comes this Saturday, September 28 at the Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas and Sunday, September 29 at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas with the title chase between defending champion Ray Allen Kulhanek and Aaron Reutzel a mere six markers apart.
By the numbers, four time Gulf South Champion Ray Allen Kulhanek (2005, 2010, 2011, and 2012) has only a single victory but has consistency with 10 podium finishes, 13 top fives’, and 16 top tens’. Reutzel, who picked up the Regional title in 2009, has posted a season leading 5 wins, has matched Kulhanek with 10 podium finishes, has 14 top fives’, and 15 top tens’.
The difference between the two drivers? A matter of tenths of a point with Kulhanek averaging 132.333 points per show on the season. Aaron Reutzel’s average? An astonishingly close 132.000 per event.
The biggest difference? Failure to finish. Ray Allen Kulhanek has not posted a single DNF in Gulf South Regional competition in 2013. Aaron Retuzel has posted two DNF finishes, first on April 5 at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park then again on June 7 at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway.
In terms of the tracks, the Battleground Speedway has hosted the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region three times coming into Saturday’s final appearance of the season. Kulhanek has posted two podium finishes and a sixth at the high-banked oval. Retuzel posted his first victory of the season and backed it up with pair of fifth place runs.
Ray Allen Kulhanek’s lone victory of the season came at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park in the series season opener on March 1. Since then, the Danbury, Texas driver has not failed to finish off the podium. Aaron Retuzel’s record at the Beaumont oval stands at two podiums among three top five’s and a twenty-first place showing; Reutzel’s first DNF of the season.
In terms of money, the weekend has a potential worth of $5,000 if anyone can sweep the weekend plus an additional $500 for the best average finishing driver between the two nights. On top of that, any driver who is not a Gulf South Regional member who makes the trip can expect $100 in tow money as a thank you for playing.
Saturday, September 28 at the Battleground Speedway is scheduled to open at 5:00 P.M. with Hot Laps at 6:30 P.M. and will include Late Models, Mod Lites, and Eco Stocks as support classes. For more information on the Battleground Speedway, log onto http://www.battleground-
Sunday, September 29 at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park will have Hot Laps at 6:00 P.M. Support classes will include Limited Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. Gulf South officials have posted the A-Feature for the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region is to be on the track no later than 10:30 P.M. More information on the Golden Triangle Raceway Park can be found at http://www.motoramaspeedway.
Official news, results, and information regarding the ASCS Nation can be found at http://www.ascsracing.com.