Doggett Heavy Equipment Weekend @ South Texas Speedway, By J M Hallas
Corpus Christi, Tx Sep 03, 2008 - South Texas Speedway's semi-banked 1/4 mile clay oval capped off the Labor Day weekend with a Sunday show for all of their regular classes. The weekends events were presented by Doggett Heavy Equipment, without their help the Friday event could have easily been a wash out after the rains hit just about race time.
Mikulencak Picks up Second Weekend Win For the second time in as many nights, Corpus Christi ace Lawrence Mikulencak found himself out front when the checkers waved. Mikulencak ran in the top three throughout the race and again took advantage of problems by others in the final laps. Similar to Saturday night at Texana Raceway Park, Mikulencak took over the top spot leading only the final two circuits for the win.
As green waved on the 13-car, 25-lap Outlaw Modified main, Adan Arambula grabbed the lead with a three wide battle for second. Lawrence Mikulencak out-dueled Josh Majek for the second spot, with Darin Leonard, David Schury, Danny Brown, Nick Hardcastle and Steve Whiteaker jr. falling in line. Brown, Schury and Whiteaker made contact, after Hardcastle slipped and fell back. Whiteaker rolled to a stop in turn 4 to bring out a caution and quickly pitted for repairs.
On the restart, Brown and Hardcastle got by Schury who slowed and stopped to bring the yellow back out. This was a big break for Whiteaker who was able to complete repairs and rejoin the field without losing a lap. On the next restart, Majek got into the infield, then got tangled with Brown and Dale Flanagan who spun in turn 4. Finally back to green, Hardcastle ducked inside Leonard for fourth.
Mikulencak then put the heat the young Majek, who got his spot back, with Hardcastle almost trying three wide. Mikulencak finally secured second leaving Hardcastle and Majek side by side for third, while Leonard and Eddy Ross ran wheel to wheel for fifth. Those two battled raged for three laps until Majek broke and rolled to a stop consecutive laps in turn 3.
On the restart, Ken Hobbs spun collecting Jed Rollins sending him into the turn 2 wall. As racing resumed, Whiteaker began his charge using the high groove. Whiteaker got by Leonard on the restart, then methodically picked off Ross, Hardcastle then Mikulencak on consecutive laps. Whiteaker then tried the high side of Arambula, with Mikulencak looking back under Whiteaker. As the trio battled for the lead Whiteaker go into Arambula sending him around. Arambula got th lead back, with Whiteaker sent to the tail.
Once back to green, Whiteaker again put on a high side driving clinic working his way back up and into the lead on lap 16. Whiteaker looked like he was going to run off from the field, but ended up in the turn 1 wall after breaking a pull bar, twisting the rear housing and snapping off the brake lines. Whiteaker was able to climb out uninjured, but the car was done.
Arambula got a good jump on Mikulencak and Hardcastle as green waved for the final laps. After following Arambula for a couple laps, Mikulencak moved to the high side and got along side teammate Arambula. The two ran side by side with Mikulencak taking the point on lap 23. On the white flag lap, Arambula slowed a bit giving Hardcastle and Ross an opening to get by. At the checkers it was Mikulencak in the Ace Transmissions, Youngs Auto Repair, Texas Battery, reworked HOT Chassis grabbing the victory.
“I've just had a lucky weekend,” said the grinning Mikulencak. “I wasn't laying
back, I just couldn't get by. When little Steve(Whiteaker) went by us on the top I just figured I'd try up there too. I figured Adan(Arambula) would go up to the top after the red. I thought I could get by him on the bottom then. He didn't go up there and I got a good run up there and got past.”
“Since he(Whiteaker) started in the back of the feature he was able to gamble
running up top. I've been in that position before. Running second I was afraid if I jumped up there I'd get freight-trained. I felt my best chance was to stay on the bottom. He had nothing to lose starting that far back, then being sent to the back. He had the winning car.”
“It's kind of hard racing your teammate. Randy(Young) owns both these cars and we try not to take each other out and make the boss mad. We may not have the newest cars out there, but I enjoy being able to win with something that we've built. I have as much fun building and experimenting with the cars as I do driving them”
