By John Rittenoure
Longdale Okla. (May 21, 2016) – Zach Chappell only led the final half straightaway in Saturday night’s Ameri-Flex / Oil Capital Racing Series feature at Longdale Speedway. But it was enough to snatch what appeared to be a victory for race-long leader Cameron Hagin.
Chappell could not have waited much longer to secure his first victory of the season.
Hagin was leading entering turn four with the checkered flag in site when Chappell roared by on the cushion to take away the lead and cross the finish line first.
“I really don’t like finishing races like that. It was just about too close,” Chappell said of his final turn heroics.
“The last ten laps we found the top in (turns) 3 and 4 and the car just came to me,” Chappell said. “Lapped traffic was hard to get around on the bottom. I had to try something else and luckily it worked out for us.”
For Hagin, who was only yards from what would have been his first career OCRS victory, it was heart-breaking.
“I led 24 and 7/8’s of the race,” Hagin said of the 25 lap distance. “To get passed on the last corner is a bummer. That is racing. “I thought I was good and in the last corner I heard a car and was not sure what it was. Sure enough it was Chappell. I was bummed, but happy to run second for the first time in the series.”
Hagin started outside front row and jumped past pole sitter Michael Bookout into the early lead. Robert Sellers drove into second and Sheldon Barksdale joined the chase of Hagin who was setting a fast pace.
On lap 16 Shane Sellers passed Barksdale for third in lapped traffic, however Barksdale moved back by Sellers on lap 19 and closed on second place Robert Sellers. The three battled for second while Hagin held a comfortable lead.
Meanwhile Chappell had charged to fourth from eighth starting position and suddenly started picking off the front runners with three laps remaining. Chappell looked like a runaway freight train as he picked off Robert Sellers and Barksdale who had moved back into second on lap 22. With the white flag waving Chappell set his sights on Hagin and caught him in turn four where he made the pass for the lead.
“I was riding the cushion in 3 and 4 and had so much momentum I probably gained ten car lengths,” Chappell said. Chappell credited Sellers and Gastineau for showing him the high groove.
“Shane Sellers and Whit (Gastineau) showed it to me and they blew by me like I was tied to a rock,” recalled Chappell. “I decided I had to get up there and try it.
“The last two laps I could see I was gaining on him (Hagin) real hard.”
Being out front the whole race Hagin did not have the benefit of seeing what was going on behind him.
“He passed me in turn four on the top and I was running the bottom,” Hagin said. “I should have blocked him, but I did not know he was there.”
Hagen hopes there is more to come.
“I really like this brand new car,” he said. “It is only the second night on it and it worked really good. I want to get one this year. That is my goal. I am pushing toward it.”
The run would not have been possible if not for the help of Shayla Waddell.
“I have to thank Shayla (Waddell) for letting me borrow her wing,” Hagin said. “I broke my wing in the heat race. They let us borrow their wing.”At the finish Barksdale held on to third ending his two-week winning streak, Robert Sellers was fourth and Whit Gastineau climbed into fifth.
Ameri-Flex / OCRS Official Results
Longdale Speedway, Longdale, Okla.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Car count: 19
(Pos-Car-Driver-Start)
Drive Shafts, Inc. Heat (8 laps)
1, 007-Michael Bookout[1]. 2, 88-Terry Easum[2]. 3, 5-Cameron Hagin[4]. 4, 88S-Shayla Waddell[3]. 5, 7D-David Baxter[6]. 6, 94F-Morgan Fletcher[5]. 7, 20-Beau Gastineau[7]. (DNS).
A1 Machine Shop Heat (8 laps)
1, 2W-Whit Gastineau[1]. 2, 4X-Robert Sellers[4]. 3, 3-Brian Gramm[3]. 4, 78-Steve Smith[6]. 5, P78-Perry Pickard[2]. 6, 8J-James Fabian[5].
Car and Fleet Parts Heat (8 laps)
1, 20S-Sheldon Barksdale[2]. 2, 50Z-Zach Chappell[4]. 3, 4-Shane Sellers[3]. 4, 31-Casey Wills[6]. 5, 79-Tim Kent[5]. 6, 88X-Jerry Bruner[1].
AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories A Feature (25 laps)
1, 50Z-Zach Chappell[8]. 2, 5-Cameron Hagin[2]. 3, 20S-Sheldon Barksdale[3]. 4, 4X-Robert Sellers[4]. 5, 2W-Whit Gastineau[7]. 6, 31-Casey Wills[5]. 7, 79-Tim Kent[14]. 8, 88-Terry Easum[6]. 9, 007-Michael Bookout[1]. 10, 88S-Shayla Waddell[11]. 11, 3-Brian Gramm[9]. 12, 7D-David Baxter[13]. 13, 4-Shane Sellers[10]. 14, 88X-Jerry Bruner[17]. 15, 78-Steve Smith[12]. 16, 20-Beau Gastineau[16]. 17, 8J-James Fabian[15]. DNS: P78-Perry Pickard, 94F-Morgan Fletcher.
Lap Leaders: Cameron Hagin 1-24; Zach Chappell 25.
Drive Shaft Inc. Heat: Michael Bookout
A1 Machine Heat: Whit Gastineau
Car and Fleet Parts Heat: Sheldon Barksdale
D&E Supply Hard Luck Recipient: Morgan Fletcher
Action Auto Collision Hard Charger Recipient: Tim Kent +7
Wesmar Power Parts #1 Recipient: Brian Gramm
M&W Aluminum Products Recipients: David Baxter
Rod End Supply Recipients: Whit Gastineau, Michael Bookout, Steve Smith
About AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories –
Located in Tulsa OK, AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories is a family owned and operated company. From food grade hose to hoses for the petroleum industry, AmeriFlex will strive to fill your needs. AmeriFlex can build a hose to your specifications or we will assist you in creating what you have designed while you wait. AmeriFlex has several hard to find items that some vendors can’t get or find. Product can be shipped quickly and efficiently. If we do not have what you are looking for, we will direct you on where to find it. Give us a try, after all:
AmeriFlex Has The Stuff That Keeps You Going!
Website: www.ameriflexhose.com
About D&E Supply –
D&E Supply has over 35 years of experience towards serving Oklahoma builders, architects and independent contractors as a drywall and drywall supply source. Their years of experience mean you can rest assured you are getting the best quality product for your specific needs. D&E Supply works with some of the most cutting edge manufacturers bringing to the drywall industry a source for green products, acoustic drywall, steel framing or soundproof drywall. Tools of the trade are available as well in their contractor supply department.
Checkout their website at: dandesupply.com