Lonnie Wheatley, Tim Aylwin photo
, TEXARKANA, Ark. (May 21, 2011) – Reigning Lucas Oil ASCS National champion Jason Johnson picked off his fourth overall American Sprint Car Series feature win of the year by topping Saturday night’s 25-lap The Oil Medics ASCS Lone Star Region main event at Texarkana 67 Speedway.
“The Ragin’ Cajun” worked forward from the eighth starting position to take command on the tenth round en route to his third Regional score of the year aboard the Don Ott-powered Haynes/Mesilla Valley Transport No. 41 Maxim.
Pole starter Michael Lang paced the initial six circuits before pulling pitside with mechanical issues, handing the lead off to Claud Estes. Current ASCS Lone Star points leader Matt Covington challenged for the point before tangling with a lapped car, with Johnson then moving in to take command on the tenth round.
Johnson raced on to the stripe in front of fellow fourth-row starter Gary Wright, with Estes settling for the show position. Covington bounced back from the early race encounter to snare fourth, with Blake Hahn cracking the top five aboard a second Claud Estes mount in just his second Sprint Car outing.
Evan Pardo was sixth, with Martin Edwards, Justin Melton, Robert Byrom and Mark Huddleston completing the top ten.
Wright, Eric Baldaccini and John Ricketts topped heat race action.
The Oil Medics ASCS Lone Star Region Results from Texarkana 67 Speedway:
First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 9-Gary Wright, 2. 14-Michael Lang, 3. 11-Justin Melton, 4. 20-Chad Wilson, 5. 14b-Robert Byrom, 6. 40-Junior Jenkins, 7. 50-Carlos Ibarra, Jr.
Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 2. 95-Matt Covington, 3. 41-Jason Johnson, 4. 74-Blake Hahn, 5. 45-Martin Edwards, 6. 33-Mark Huddleston.
Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. 76-John Ricketts, 2. 74e-Claud Estes, 3. 17-Channin Tankersley, 4. 54-Evan Pardo, 5. 2-Logan Payne, 6. 88-Steven Schaberg.
“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 41-Jason Johnson, 2. 9-Gary Wright, 3. 74e-Claud Estes, 4. 95-Matt Covington, 5. 74-Blake Hahn, 6. 54-Evan Pardo, 7. 45-Martin Edwards, 8. 11-Justin Melton, 9. 14b-Robert Byrom, 10. 33-Mark Huddleston, 11. 76-John Ricketts, 12. 20-Chad Wilson, 13. 17-Channin Tankersley, 14. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 15. 50-Carlos Ibarra, Jr., 16. 40-Junior Jenkins, 17. 2-Logan Payne, 18. 14-Michael Lang, 19. 88-Steven Schaberg.
The Oil Medics ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Matt Covington 538, 2. Claud Estes 498, 3. Martin Edwards 438, 4. Eric Baldaccini 435, 5. Justin Melton 416, 6. Evan Pardo 410, 7. John Ricketts 396, 8. Junior Jenkins 394, 9. Robert Byrom 390, 10. Chad Wilson 383.