From Lonnie Wheatley
EDNA, Texas (May 14, 2011) – After swapping the point several times along the way, Rilat survived a wild last lap to snare his 43rd career overall ASCS triumph aboard the F&J Construction/Murray & Sons/shoptheboss.com No. 29 Triple X.
While Johnson paced the initial ten rounds from the front row, it was second row starter Rilat racing into the lead on the 11th circuit. Johnson battled back into the lead a half dozen rounds later, only to have Rilat surge back in front.
Dicing for the point over the final rounds, Rilat ultimately edged ahead off the final corner to take the win. Johnson settled for runner-up honors, with leading ASCS National Rookie of the Year contender Aaron Reutzel claiming the show position.
Channin Tankersley was fourth, with reigning series champion Ray Allen Kulhanek rounding out the top five. Brandon Berryman raced from 16th to finish as the final car on the lead lap in sixth, with Travis Elliott, George White, Chris Sweeney and Larry Howery completing the top ten.
Crossing the stripe eleventh in the feature, Tommy Bryant escaped the night with a two-point advantage over White in the Gulf South championship points race.
Rilat, Reutzel and Tankersley topped heat race action, with Sweeney winning the “B” Main.
Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Results from Texana Raceway Park:
First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 29-Travis Rilat, 2. 54-Evan Pardo, 3. 3-Gary Watson, 4. 14e-Tommy Bryant, 5. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 6. 69-Larry Howery, 7. 7w-Dustin Welch, 8. 5c-Chris Coker.
Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 2. 51s-Beau Smith, 3. 35-Greg Rilat, 4. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 5. 15T-Travis Elliott, 6. 31-Brandon Berryman, 7. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 8. 15-Andrew Van Barcham.
Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. 71-Channin Tankersley, 2. 41-Jason Johnson, 3. 10-George White, 4. 19-Klint Angelette, 5. 93-Chris Sweeney, 6. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 7. 52-Roger Oakes.
“B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 93-Chris Sweeney, 2. 31-Brandon Berryman, 3. 69-Larry Howery, 4. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 5. 5c-Chris Coker, 6. 52-Roger Oakes, 7. 17-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 8. 15-Andrew Van Barcham, 9. 7w-Dustin Welch.
“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 29-Travis Rilat, 2. 41-Jason Johnson, 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 4. 71-Channin Tankersley, 5. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 6. 31-Brandon Berryman, 7. 15T-Travis Elliott, 8. 10-George White, 9. 93-Chris Sweeney, 10. 69-Larry Howery, 11. 14e-Tommy Bryant, 12. 3-Gary Watson, 13. 51-Jimmy Brooks, 14. 5c-Chris Coker, 15. 19-Klint Angelette, 16. 35-Greg Rilat, 17. 12b-Logan Bledsoe, 18. 52-Roger Oakes, 19. 54-Evan Pardo, 20. 51s-Beau Smith.
Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Tommy Bryant 978, 2. George White 976, 3. Ray Allen Kulhanek 891, 4. Brandon Berryman 882, 5. Chris Sweeney 849, 6. Channin Tankersley 834, 7. Travis Elliott 814, 8. Greg Rilat 776, 9. Gary Watson 749, 10. Aaron Reutzel 746.
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