By John Lemon
Tulsa OK (May 3, 2016) – Oklahoma Sports Park will host the 8th Annual Harold Leep Jr. Memorial race this Saturday night featuring the Ameri-Flex / OCRS sprint car series. One driver that looks forward to this event more than any other is Gary Owens. The Pauls Valley OK resident will be gunning for his fourth Harold Leep Jr. Memorial in a row having won in 2013-2015. The quick 4/10-mile oval suits Owens extremely well as he also has an Oklahoma State Championship victory at the facility, that win came in 2011.
This special race honors a longtime racer and friend of many that had the pleasure to cross paths with Harold who left us in 2008. The event will pay $1500 to win for the 25-lap affair with added cash up for grabs for positions two through five. Some of those that are a threat to break the string of wins by Mr. Owens include…….
Whit Gastineau, Robert Sellers (defending series champion), veteran hot shoe Zach Chappell, Sheldon Barksdale and Matt Sherrell, who will get a second opportunity to wheel the Paul Johnson Eagle sprinter. Sherrell has multiple feature wins in his Ameri-Flex / OCRS career.
Gastineau holds a slim 20 point lead over Chappell in the Ameri-Flex / OCRS points race (388-368) while Sellers lurks within striking distance with 346 points. Alex Sewell (289) and Sean McClelland (255) round out the top five. Sewell leads the series with 2 feature wins with Gastineau and Barksdale having one each. Including Saturday’s event, there are 19 remaining tour stops for the winged travelers.
Forecasted high temps are to be in the 80’s falling to the 70’s by race time. It will be a fantastic night to take in an outdoor sporting event.
Nutz n’ Boltz
Training For Indy Car?
The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 is later this month. The brothers of Whit Gastineau must feel like they are training for a spot on an Indy car crew as tire changers. The team had two trailer flats on the way to Tri State Speedway on April 23rd. If that wasnt enough practice, Gastineau had a tire go down during the Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories A-Feature after contact with another car. The guys got to apply their skills once more to get Gastineau back out onto the track where he would finish 5th. Roger Penske pays better. Say goodbye Whit.
May I Borrow That Again?
Johnny ‘Hotrod’ Kent wasn’t supposed to make the last race at Tri-State. Kent has a motor that is under going an operation and will need more time before recovery is complete. Unexpectedly, Kent did happen onto a power plant that he could borrow. That loaner produced a very solid 3rd place finish. Might want to see how long of a lease you can take out on that piece Hotrod.
Mongoose Set To Strike Again
As mentioned above, Matt ‘Mongoose’ Sherrell will slide into the Paul Johnson 5x at Oklahoma Sports Park Saturday for the second time. Sherrell produced a 6th place finish at the Outlaw Motor Speedway in his first stint in the ride. Like OMS, OSP is one of the faster tracks on the Ameri-Flex / OCRS circuit. A win this weekend would come as no shock should the team pull it off. Brent Swift who wheeled the car in the first two Ameri-Flex / OCRS events is expected to run the car some more. This gives Johnson two good pilots as Swift can wheel a car well also.
Long Time No See Jimmy
James Fabian participated in the recently conducted Tri-State Speedway event. It was the first Ameri-Flex / OCRS event Fabian has made since an October 4, 2013 outing at the Flint Creek Speedway (formerly West Siloam Speedway). Come around and play with us anytime Jimmy boy.
Don’t Test His Patience
Defending Ameri-Flex / OCRS champion Robert Sellers has had just about enough and is getting ready to put a can of whooping on the field soon. Sellers was knocked out of the Lawton event after coming into contact with another car. At Tri-State, Sellers had to give up his front row starting spot to re-enter the pits to tend to his car. He returned in time to start last (per rules) and finished a respectable fourth.
The itinerary for the 8th Annual Harold Leep Jr. Memorial is……………
What: 8th Annual Harold Leep Jr. Memorial featuring AmeriFlex / OCRS sprint cars
Where: Oklahoma Sports Park / Ada Oklahoma
When: Saturday May 7, 2016
Time: Main Gates open 5pm / Hot laps 7pm / Racing 7:30pm (AmeriFlex / OCRS drivers meeting will be held at 6:30pm)
Tickets: Adults: $15 / Seniors & Kids 11-15: $13 / 10yrs & Under Free / Pit Pass: $30
Oklahoma Sports Park is home to a 4/10-mile clay oval track and is located just 10 miles northwest of Ada, Oklahoma on state highway 3W.
Track Phone: 580-332-5535 / Promoters Phone: 580-332-5383
Track website: www.oklahomasportspark.com
About the Ameri-Flex / OCRS Series –
Established in 2002, the Tulsa OK based Ameri-Flex / OCRS series sanctions dirt track sprint car racing in the southern region of the central plains. Fan appeal and quality race teams, combined with our solid core of supporting sponsors are the nucleus of the series. Thrilling competition providing the ultimate quality family entertainment is the essence of what the Ameri-Flex / OCRS series is all about.
Website: www.ocrsracing.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oil.series