From Bryan Hulbert
Waco, TX — (April 18, 2014) — A packed house had hearts pounding on Saturday night as Blake Hahn captured his first ASCS triumph of the season, taking the Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Regional victory at the Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas.
Getting the victory in slower traffic, Hahn edged out Brandon Berryman in his first night back behind the wheel in almost a year after being fitted with a Pacemaker in 2013.
Gridding the Old School Racing No. 17 third, Hahn and company gave chase to Justin Melton the first sixteen laps with Berryman charging from sixth to take the lead on Lap 17. Hahn, who nearly went upside down on Lap 15 was able to work past Berryman on Lap 22, leading the following lap with the Baytown Ford No. 31 reclaiming the lead at the white flag.
With slower cars stacked ahead of the leaders entering turn one, Berryman committed to the bottom, just as the high line cleared for Hahn to sail by for the race win.
Brandon Berryman crossed a close second with Aaron Reutzel overcoming a failed engine in his Heat Race to shred from eighteenth to the final podium step. Justin Melton slipped to fourth with Kevin Ramey completing the top five.
Channin Tankersley, Chris Sweeney, Ray Allen Kulhanek, Zane Lawrence, and Jon Pate made up the top ten.
The Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region returns to the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas on Saturday, April 19 for the third annual Nolan Wren Memorial. Aaron Reutzel in the defending champion of the event. For more information on the American Sprint Car Series, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
Griffith Truck and Equipment Gulf South Region
Heart O’ Texas Speedway – Waco, Texas
Friday, April 18, 2014
Car Count: 19
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 36-John Pate; 2. 17T-Larry Howery; 3. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek; 4. 93-Chris Sweeney; 5. 11-Channin Tankersley; 6. 21-Michele Melton; 7. 5X-Tyson Hall
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 31-Brandon Berryman; 2. 76-Zane Lawrence; 3. 28-Tommy Bryant; 4. 24-Brandie Jass; 5. (DNF) 74E-Claud Estes III; 6. (DNF) 12-Scott Smith
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 17-Blake Hahn; 2. 11X-Justin Melton; 3. 19-Klint Angelette; 4. 1A-Kevin Ramey; 5. 29-Mike Walling; 6. (DNF) 87-Aaron Reutzel
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 17-Blake Hahn[3]; 2. 31-Brandon Berryman[6]; 3. 87-Aaron Reutzel[18]; 4. 11X-Justin Melton[1]; 5. 1A-Kevin Ramey[9]; 6. 11-Channin Tankersley[13]; 7. 93-Chris Sweeney[2]; 8. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek[10]; 9. 76-Zane Lawrence[5]; 10. 36-John Pate[7]; 11. 74E-Claud Estes III[15]; 12. 29-Mike Walling[14]; 13. 17T-Larry Howery[8]; 14. 5X-Tyson Hall[19]; 15. 24-Brandie Jass[12]; 16. (DNF) 28-Tommy Bryant[4]; 17. (DNF) 19-Klint Angelette[11]; 18. (DNF) 21-Michele Melton[17]; DNS 12-Scott Smith
Lap Leader(s): Justin Melton 1-16; Brandon Berryman 17-21, 24; Blake Hahn 22, 23, 25