By John Lemon
Tulsa OK (August 30, 2016) – It was first scribbled on a napkin in a fast food restaurant. From there, it went to a thought that maybe this really could happen with the proper support. After sitting idle for a spell, it found its way into a casual conversation and before the last word was spoken, it was born. ‘It’ is the Ameri-Flex Challenge, a $5000 to win race that will take place this Saturday night at the Caney Valley Speedway in Caney Kansas. A full sprint car show with heat races and features is on the schedule as well, all of which is sanctioned by the Oil Capital Racing Series (OCRS).
Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories is the title sponsor of the challenge race (and OCRS) which will place 14 cars in the 15-lap affair. 12 cars are locked in by a season long qualification process (via car owner points) while Ameri-Flex will add two selections at the racetrack the day of the race. This will be the largest winning payout in the 15-year history of the series.
The following are the regular drivers for their respective teams that have automatically locked into the race. The order shown is also the order in which the drivers (or their car owners) will draw for their starting position. The drivers selected by Ameri-Flex will draw last. Here are the pre-qualified drivers:
Robert Sellers, Whit Gastineau, Zach Chappell, Sheldon Barksdale, Cameron Hagin, Johnny Kent, Tim Kent, Perry Pickard, Shayla Waddell, Shane Sellers, Alex Sewell and Casey Wills.
The racing industry has been gracious to provide their support of the Ameri-Flex Challenge and the Ameri-Flex / OCRS sprint car series. Without their support in this event, that paper napkin would have been the end rather than the beginning of this race. Here are some very special people to give thanks to:
David Stephenson of D&E Supply & DSO Racing Engines
Tom Lorenz of Smiley’s Racing Products
Dan Musselman of Maxim Racing
Doug Schoenfeld of Schoenfeld Headers
Jennifer Brotherton Woods of Brodix
Pat Grady of Amsoil (Grady Oil)
Bob Douglas of Rod End Supply
Kerry Gorby of Caney Valley Speedway
And the men that stepped up to the plate in the biggest way……
Corvan and Logan Robison of Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories
Caney Valley Speedway will also have their three regular classes of cars racing Saturday night. For the sprint car portion of the program, qualifying heat races will go first followed by the Ameri-Flex Challenge after intermission. If applicable, a sprint car B-Feature followed by the Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories A-Feature. Should a driver sweep the night, the total take could be over $6100 for their efforts. Caney Valley Speedway is just 1 hour north of Tulsa Oklahoma. Race time is set to get underway at 7:30pm.
NUTZ n’ BOLTZ
Who Will Prevail:
The battle for the 2016 Harold Leep Championship Trophy is as tight as it comes with so few races left. After the conclusion of the Harold Leep Classic last weekend which was won by Zach Chappell, it is a cluster for the top spot. Whit Gastineau went into the race with a 9 point lead over Robert Sellers and 45 points ahead of Chappell.
Gastineau battled issues and scratched & clawed his way to a 7th place finish. Meanwhile, Sellers took third behind Chappell and Alex Sewell in the HLC race. This resulted in Sellers coming out with a 6-point lead over Gastineau to be the top dog and just a 31-point lead over Chappell. Due to the Ameri-Flex Challenge this Saturday, all teams signing in will receive 50 points across the board. Then its GAME ON for the remainder three races of the season.
Leeping To The Call:
To say the Harold Leep Classic has been good to Zach Chappell would be a gross under statement. In last years HLC, Chappell led the most laps until finishing second to Whit Gastineau. Chappell still reeled in $1,902 when lap money was tallied. Last Friday, Chappell led the most laps in the HLC again but took the first place cash pot with it this time for a take of $2,340. This gives Chappell a 2-year take of $4,242 in the HLC race. Guess we know who cant wait for the 2017 HLC.
Tough Debuts:
Jonathan Beason and Chris Jensen had tough 2016 debuts with the Ameri-Flex / OCRS series. Each fought mechanical issues in their heat races (Jensen failed to start his) and started dead last in the Wesmar Power Parts B-Feature together. Luck failed to change as they were still on the wrong end of the spectrum when checkers fell. Hope to see you guys again soon and keep the faith.
Heck Yea Its Fast:
Two weekends ago, Shayla Waddell won at the Salina Highbanks with a motor borrowed by Paul Johnson. Last Weekend, Johnson had the motor back and ran very solid with Matt Sherrell behind the wheel. After Sherrell finished last in the A-1 Machine Shop heat race, the ‘Mongoose’ went from 12th to 5th in the Wesmar B-Feature and then earned the Action Auto Collision ‘Hard Charger’ with a 17th to 8th run in the main event. If not for the heat race results that set the team back, their results could have been vastly improved. This has been a good partnership this season.
Free Car Show & Free BBQ This Saturday:
In addition to the sprint car races at Caney Valley Speedway Saturday, the 3rd Annual Gary’s Garage Car Show & BBQ will take place in Caney (Kansas) as well. The event will be on the business district of HWY 75 near the southern end of town. The car show, will will feature various makes of cars and will be held from 9am – 2pm. Free BBQ will be available sometime after 11am and will be served while supplies last. Ameri-Flex / OCRS drivers Shayla Waddell & Zach Chappell will have their sprint cars on display for all to view as well.
The need to know facts for the biggest race in the history of the series:
What: $5,000 To Win Ameri-Flex Challenge PLUS Full Ameri-Flex / OCRS Sprint Car Program
Where: Caney Valley Speedway / Caney Kansas
When: Saturday September 3, 2016
Time: Gates open at 4p / Hot laps at 6:30p / Racing begins at 7:00p (OCRS drivers meeting at 5:45p)
Track Phone: (620) 330-0485
Track website: www.caneyvalleyspeedway.net
Directions: The track is easy to locate, as it is just 0.8 mile west of the junction (intersection) of US 75 and US 166 on CR 1600.
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