From Lonnie Wheatley
Little Rock, AR — (October 19, 2012) — One week from now the mud will be flying in Little Rock, AR, as 100 or so of the nation’s top Sprint Car drivers battle it out for the $15,000 winner’s share at I-30 Speedway’s 25th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.
With the prestigious event set for next Thursday through Saturday after a Test ‘N Tune Session on Wednesday, a total of 86 entries from 19 different states as well as Canada have already been submitted for the event that will pay out over $100,000 in cash over the course of the weekend.
While the grandstands will be packed each night at the high-banked, ¼-mile clay oval, the event will also be available at home worldwide via Pay-Per-View at www.shorttracknationals.com.
With entries still coming in, the current list is as follows:
#0m Andy McElhannon (Hernando, MS)
#0s Glenn Styres (Ohsweken, ONT)
#01 Paul McMahan (Elk Grove, CA)
#1g Cody Gardner (Benton, AR)
#1h Nic Jenkins (Bryant, AR)
#1m Danny Lasoski (Higginsville, MO)
#1p Curtis Evans (Norborne, MO)
#1s Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN)
#2 Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK)
#2x Patrick Moore (Moline, IL)
#3g Shane Stewart (Bixby, OK)
#3h Brandon Hanks (Burlison, TN)
#3n Nate Van Haaften (Otley, IA)
#3r AG Rains (West Memphis, AR)
#4j John James (Iowa Park, TX)
#4s Tommy Snellgrove (Little Rock, AR)
#05 Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, MO)
#5 Joe Bob Lee (Cache, OK)
#5k Jerry Kamer (Jacksonville, AR)
#6b Ryan Beechler (McKinney, TX)
#6s Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Olive Branch, MS)
#6t Tim Shaffer (Aliquippa, PA)
#7 Darren Long (Elida, OH)
#7s Jason Sides (Bartlett, TN)
#09 Timmy Thrash (Gulfport, MS)
#9jr Derek Hagar (Marion, AR)
#9k Kyle Sager (Alto, NM)
#9w Gary Wright (Hooks, TX)
#10 Terry Gray (Bartlett, TN)
#11c Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK)
#11m Justin Melton (Flower Mound, TX)
#11p Preston Peebles II (Lubbock, TX)
#11s Joe Wood, Jr. (Oklahoma City, OK)
#12h Jerrod Hull (Sikeston, MO)
#12m Kyle McCutcheon (Alamogordo, NM)
#13 Triston Tidmore (Hernando, MS)
#14k Kyle Bellm (Nixa, MO)
#14m Jordon Mallett (Greenbrier, AR)
#15h Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX)
#17b Ryan Bickett (Ramona, SD)
#17j Josh Baughman (Odessa, TX)
#17w Cole Wood (Auburn, CA)
#17r Aaron Reutzel (Clute, TX)
#18 Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS)
#19 Klint Angelette (Thibodaux, LA)
#w20 Greg Wilson (Benton Ridge, OH)
#21b Brian Brown (Grain Valley, MO)
#21k Ryan Kitchen (Weston, NE)
#21t Ray Allen Kulhanek (Conroe, TX)
#21tx Brandon Schure (El Paso, TX)
#22h Randy Hannagan (San Jose, CA)
#23b Brian Bell (Somerville, TN)
#23s Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA)
#26m Marshall Skinner (West Memphis, AR)
#26s Jon Stinson (Walls, MS)
#27 Andy Shouse (Oklahoma City, OK)
#28 Jonathan Cornell (Sedalia, MO)
#29 Brandon Hahn (Tulsa, OK)
#36b Jonathan Beason (Broken Arrow, OK)
#36 Robert Sellers (Mustang, OK)
#39 Brad Bowden (Hernando, MS)
#39c Travis Rilat (Forney, TX)
#39s Kevin Swindell (Germantown, TN)
#40b Christopher Bell (Norman, OK)
#41 Jason Johnson (Eunice, LA)
#45x Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM)
#46 Jan Howard (Byhalia, MS)
#47 Dale Howard (Byhalia, MS)
#48 Jake Martens (Fairview, OK)
#49 Shawn Dancer (Delphos, OH)
#52 Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK)
#57c Kyle Chady (Benton, IL)
#58f Gary Floyd (San Angelo, TX)
#58w Wade Oliver (Southaven, MS)
#64 Scotty Thiel (Sheboygan, WI)
#66 Geoff Dodge (Colorado Springs, CO)
#74e Claud Estes (Godley, TX)
#76 John Ricketts (Burleson, TX)
#77x Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK)
#81 Danny Wood (Norman, OK)
#82 Justin Henderson (Sioux Falls, SD)
#92h Richie Harris (Ward, AR)
#93 Chris Sweeney (Channelview, TX)
#94 Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN)
#99 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
#X Charlie Louden (Camden, AR)
Entry Notes:
Record Watch – With entries still streaming in, it’s likely that last year’s total of 100 competitors will be topped. Will the record of 125 in 2010 be matched? The high previous to that was 108 in 2007.
The States – Oklahoma and Texas are currently sending the largest contingent of drivers at 15 apiece, with host state Arkansas next at ten. Nineteen states are currently represented along with the Canadian province of Ontario.
The breakdown: Oklahoma 15, Texas 15, Arkansas 10, Mississippi 9, Missouri 7, Tennessee 7, California 3, New Mexico 3, Ohio 3, Illinois 2, Louisiana 2, South Dakota 2, Colorado 1, Iowa 1, Kansas 1, Nebraska 1, Ontario (CAN) 1, Pennsylvania 1, Washington 1, Wisconsin 1.
STN Kings – Eight past STN winners are among the current entries including defending STN champion Sammy Swindell. Others include the event’s only four-time winner, Gary Wright, along with two-time winner Tony Bruce, Jr., and single-time victors Jason Johnson, Paul McMahan, Jason Sides, Wayne Johnson and Terry Gray. Look for that number to increase to nine, as 1998 STN champion Tim Crawley has yet to enter aboard 2000 winner Mike Ward’s machine.
STN Experience – Thirty-six of the currently entered drivers have made the final cut for the STN Championship Main Event on at least one occasion. Hooks, TX, ace Gary Wright, set for his final STN run before hanging up the driver’s gloves at the end of the season, leads the way at 17 with Terry Gray (15) and Wayne Johnson (14) the only other drivers in double digits.
Career STN championship feature starts: Gary Wright 17, Terry Gray 15, Wayne Johnson 14, Sammy Swindell 9, Travis Rilat 8, Jason Sides 8, Shane Stewart 8, Dale Howard 7, Jan Howard 7, Jason Johnson 6, Brian Brown 5, A.G. Rains 5, Marshall Skinner 5, Jeff Swindell 5, Danny Wood 5, Sam Hafertepe, Jr. 4, Jerrod Hull 4, Tim Shaffer 4, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 4, Brady Bacon 3, Paul McMahan 3, Tony Bruce, Jr. 2, Cody Gardner 2, Danny Lasoski 2, Dustin Morgan 2, Wade Oliver 2, Kevin Swindell 2, Greg Wilson 2, Seth Bergman 1, Matt Covington 1, Claud Estes 1, Derek Hagar 1, Johnny Herrera 1, Ray Allen Kulhanek 1, Aaron Reutzel 1, Joe Wood, Jr. 1.
Rookie Crop – Nineteen of the currently entered drivers are set for their maiden STN voyage. Stevie Smith was last year’s top finishing rookie in sixth after Brandon Wimmer took the top rookie placing a year earlier in fifth.
Some added cash is up for grabs for this year’s rookie class as well, as Dixon Road U-Pull-It will award a $500 bonus to the highest finishing rookie in this year’s feature event. Some notable rookie contenders include South Dakota’s Justin Henderson, Ohsweken Speedway track owner and “King of the 360’s” winner Glenn Styres, Knoxville shoe Nate Van Haaften (third in 360 points), New Mexico’s Kyle McCutcheon (second in ASCS 305 points) and Oklahoma micro grads Christopher Bell and Blake Hahn. And, finishing fifth in Sooner Region points, Cache, Oklahoma’s Joe Bob Lee merits a mention based on the name alone.
This year’s STN rookie class includes the following: Josh Baughman, Christopher Bell, Kyle Chady, Shawn Dancer, Geoff Dodge, Blake Hahn, Brandon Hahn, Brandon Hanks, Richie Harris, Justin Henderson, Joe Bob Lee, Jake Martens, Kyle McCutcheon, Patrick Moore, Glenn Styres, Triston Tidmore, Timmy Thrash, Nate Van Haaften, Cole Wood.
Champions – While past STN champions Jason Johnson and Wayne Johnson battle it out for the top spot on the ASCS National point charts, several other 2012 series or track champions are among the mix. One of which will be decided tonight in Missouri, as the Warrior Region title will go to either Jonathan Cornell or Kyle Bellm.
Some other 2012 title holders among the mix include Tim Shaffer (All Stars), Jerrod Hull (MOWA 410’s), Randy Hannagan (NRA), Matt Covington (Lone Star and Sooner Regions), Ray Allen Kulhanek (Gulf South Region), Cody Gardner (I-30 Speedway), Dale Howard (Riverside International Speedway), A.G. Rains (COMP Cams Interstate Cup) and Ryan Bickett (I-90 Speedway and Huset’s Speedway).
Also, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., is just 13 points out of the top position in his bid for a second consecutive NASCAR Nationwide title as he makes his STN return.
While the pre-entry discount deadline of October 17 has come and gone, post-entries for the 25th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires may still be filed for $250 by calling the track at 501-455-4567 or at http://www.i-30speedway.com/
Fans can purchase advance tickets by calling 501-455-4567. Advance tickets are just $45 for all three nights of wild racing action. And, those unable to make the trip to Little Rock can still catch every lap of action as it happens live on Pay-Per-View. PPV details and pricing are available a www.shorttracknationals.com.
The Pertinent Info:
The What: 25th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.
The Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).
The When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 25-27, 2012. $15,000 to win the STN finale on October 27 with $2,500 to start the STN championship feature. Race time is 7:30 p.m. each night. Rain date is November 1-3. Test ‘N Tune session on Wednesday night, October 24.
The Format: The format introduced last year will once again be in effect. Approximately half the field will take to the track in the Thursday night qualifying event, with the other half in Friday’s qualifying event. The top three from each night will be locked into Saturday night’s $15,000-to-win, $2,500-to-start STN Championship Finale. Those six drivers will battle it out in Saturday’s Dash for Cash to determine the alignment of the front three rows of the championship main event.
Beyond that, drivers will be lined up on Saturday night in twin “B” Mains, twin “C” Mains, twin “D” Mains, twin “E” Mains and “F” Mains if necessary. Four drivers will transfer from each “F” to “E”, “E” to “D”, “D” to “C” and “C” to “B”, with seven advancing from each “B” Main to form the 20-car STN championship main event field.
The popular format of heats and qualifying races will once again be in place on qualifying nights. The top 14 in cumulative points from heats and qualifiers will be locked into that night’s main event, with two or three “B” Mains depending upon car count contested to fill out the qualifying night feature field.
Points earned in qualifying night heat races, qualifiers and features will set Saturday night’s feature lineups.
The Past Winners: Sammy Swindell (2011 and 1990), Brad Sweet (2010), Tony Bruce, Jr. (2009 and 2008), Jason Meyers (2007), Jason Johnson (2006), Tim Montgomery (2005), Gary Wright (2004, 2003, 1999 and 1995), Paul McMahan (2002), Jason Sides (2001), Mike Ward (2000), Tim Crawley (1998), Wayne Johnson (1997), Pete Butler (1996), Terry Gray (1994), John Gerloff (1993), Steve Kinser (1991, ’89 and ‘88). 1992 finale was rained out.
The Tickets: Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday, October 24, no advance sales after that. Tickets ordered in advance are just $45 for all three nights. Day of show prices are $15 on Thursday and Friday and $25 on Saturday. To order tickets in advance or for more information, call the track at 501-455-4567 or e-mail orders to racing@I-30speedway.com. Children’s tickets will be available at the event for just $2 on both Thursday and Friday and then $5 on Saturday. There is a $1 per ticket surcharge for orders placed via credit/debit cards. Pit passes are $30 on both Thursday and Friday and $35 on Saturday.
The PPV: Can’t make your way to Little Rock, AR, for this prestigious event? For the first time ever, this year you can still catch every lap of the action on your computer via live Pay-Per-View. Just check out www.shorttracknationals.com for pricing and ordering information. Orders are being taken now.
The Trade Show & Midway: This year’s rendition of the Short Track Nationals will also include the Eighth Annual Short Track Nationals Trade Show & Midway. Fans, drivers & crews will have the opportunity to visit vendor displays, which opens at noon on Thursday and then at 9 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The deadline for guaranteed vendor space is Monday, October 22. Inquiries regarding vendor space should be directed to dssm93@msn.com.
For more information regarding the 25th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, contact I-30 Speedway at 501-455-4567.