FORT WORTH, Texas (March 1, 2013) – The Port-A-Cool Texas World Dirt Track Championship got off to a fast start Friday evening with one of the most competitive fields of racing the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track has seen. Eleven former champions, accounting for 20 championships, hit the dirt for the first of two exciting nights of racing.
Friday evening’s competitive racing was slated with heats and qualifiers from the Limited Modified and Modified divisions. A total of 10 heats were run for the 123 cars entered in the Limited Modified division and seven heats accounted for the 75 Modified cars. Following all 17 heats, the two divisions began alternating 15-lap qualifiers listed “A” through “D” in the Limited Modified division and “A” through “C” in the Modified division. Each driver’s qualifier placement was based on their performance in their respective heats with the “A” qualifier representing those with the most passing points.
The “D” qualifiers for the Limited Modified division were the first to race the elimination round on the 0.4-mile oval. The top four finishers moved on to the “C” qualifiers and the top four in the “C” qualifiers moved on to the “B” qualifiers. This trend continued for both divisions with the top four in the “B” qualifiers moving on to set up a field of 24 for the final “A” qualifier in each division. During this final elimination race for Friday evening, drivers pushed their cars to the max for the opportunity to lock up one of seven early spots in the Pole Dash event on Saturday.
The seven drivers from the Limited Modified division include Derick Grigsby, Matt Mueller, John Whittington, Randy Timms, James Blaylock, J.J. Jennings and Robert Elliott. Those representing the Modified division include Ryan Gustin, Rodney Sanders, Chris Brown, John Whittington, Josh Landers, Chris Henigan and Garrett Gregory. Drivers on the outside looking in will still have one last chance early Saturday evening to make it into the final lineup for the championship races.
Whittington, a native of Vidor, Texas, has never won at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Nevertheless, Whittington has set himself up for a strong run on Saturday after finishing the evening as the only driver of the nearly 200 participants in the Limited Modified and Modified divisions to finish in the top seven for both.
The headlining O’Reilly Auto Parts SUPR Late Model division ran four practice sessions in the midst of the Limited Modified and Modified events to give the Texas Motor Speedway fans a little taste of what’s to come on Saturday. Champions for each division will be crowned Saturday night following the championship races for Limited Modified, Modified and SUPR Late Model divisions, respectively.
Friday Night Results
Limited Modified
D Qualifier 1
- Keith McCullough
- Ted Thomas
- Jeff Rowland
- Chad Fitzgerald
- Ryan Bohnstedt
- Ty North
- Craig Ridgeway
- Josh Short
- Joel Ball
- David Gailley
- Richard Anders
- Jeff London
- Bud Reed
- Michael Brown
D Qualifier 2
- JC Howell
- Kenny Morris
- Kyle Bridges
- Dustin Robinson
- Tony Marsh
- Paul Vines
- Keith Nolen
- Dillon Burks
- Gary Corbin
- Bobby McGehee
- Jimmy Curtsinger
- Robby Crabtree
- Donnie Shipp
- Shawn Marquez
C Qualifier 1
- Gene Bryce
- Chris Lanares
- Frank Gravens
- Josh Claborn
- Greg Deterding
- Glen Gordy
- Chris Balthrop
- David Loyd Jr
- Scotty Nichols
- Casey Bagwell
- Ted Thomas
- Courtney Tanner
- Russell Wade
- Jeff Rowland
- Brian Short
- Leroy Decker Jr
- Larry Bell
- Jason Martin
- Chris Webb
- Kyle Whitworth
- Scott Modl
- Gene Keel
- Keith McCullough
- Chad Fitzgerald
C Qualifier 2
- Steven Nabors
- JC Howell
- Scott Fincher
- Robert Vetter
- Kenny Morris
- Tom Lorenz
- Jason Hood
- Bryan Border
- Kristi Byrd
- Gary Fritchen
- Roy Petty Jr
- Bobby Edwards
- Rodney Walker
- Casey Hobson
- Kevin Dickson
- Rick Murray
- Derek Rashall
- Randy Bohnstedt
- Dustin Robinson
- Greg Moran
- Shane Hebert
- Jason Tiner
- Heath Marsh
- Kyle Bridges
B Qualifier 1
- Brandon Blaylock
- Curtis Allen
- Steve Whiteaker
- Paul White
- Billy Melton
- Erik Thorne
- Michael Daniels
- Ray Doyon
- Gary Stuckey
- Darrell Thompson
- Mark Harrison
- Austin Theiss
- Gene Bryce
- Rodney White
- Robby Minten
- Frank Gravens
- David Tanner
- Chris Lanares
- Andy Deterding
- J.D. Choate
- Josh Claborn
- Luke Fritchen
- Jacob Dirkle
- Creed Sherley
B Qualifier 2
- Randy Seal
- Braydon Dodson
- Michael Martin
- Jimmy Staats
- JC Howell
- Archie Whitt Jr
- Monty Nichols III
- Robert Metz
- Talon Minten
- Justin White
- Ryan Doyon
- Dakota Moore
- Tory Yant
- Robert Vetter
- Cullen Hill
- T.J. Steele
- Scott Fincher
- Robert Taylor
- Michael Newhard
- Jamie Wright
- Sean Glennon
- Michael McCullough
- Cleo Adams
- Steven Nabors
A Qualifier
- Derick Grigsby
- Matt Mueller
- John Whittington
- Randy Timms
- James Blaylock
- J.J. Jennings
- Robert Elliott
- Joe Adams
- Steve Whiteaker
- RJ Stroman
- Tim Clonch
- Mike Goodson
- Travis Johnson
- Curtis Allen
- David Phillips
- Paul White
- Brandon Blaylock
- Jimmy Staats
- Wally Beaty
- Braydon Dodson
- Michael Martin
- Ross McCartney
- Dennie Gieber
- Randy Seal
Modified
C Qualifier
- Eric Tomlinson
- David Hennan
- Jeff Allgayer
- Tony Batt
- Joey Price
- Jimmy Littlejohn
- Kody Mea
- Doug Byrns
- Brandon K. Riegle
- Danny Florence
- Nelson Allridge
- Greg Deterding
- Wesley Veal
- Brad Pannell
- Chris Cole
- Thomas Nunley
- Matt Martin
- C.A. Nix
- T.J. Steele
B Qualifier 1
- Randy Timms
- Troy Taylor
- Tim Clonch
- Bobby Ruffin
- Robert Shepard
- Bud Longpine
- Dillon Pike
- B.J. Blaze
- Brandon Watson
- Corey Burch
- Brad Doherty
- Joe Adams
- Rusty Trevathan
- Logan Cabbell
- Derek Perkins
- Steve McMackin
- Dustin Johnson
- Jason Hilliard
- Kody Mea
- Eric Tomlinson
- Joey Price
- Jeff Allgayer
- Kyle Sweeney
- Chase Allen
B Qualifier 2
- Dennie Gieber
- Clyde Dunn Jr
- John Allen
- Bryan Mewborn
- Justin Ingalls
- Paul White
- Triston Dycus
- Cody Simpson
- Wayne Brooks
- Morgan Bagley
- Bubba Gates
- Eiddie Martin
- Chris Huckeba
- David Hennan
- Sean Jones
- Tyler Townsend
- Justin McCay
- Greg Penny
- Robbie McClain
- Tony Batt
- Corey Bird
- Doug Byrns
- Wayne Patton
- Jimmy Littlejohn
A Qualifier
- Ryan Gustin
- Rodney Sanders
- Chris Brown
- John Whittington
- Josh Landers
- Chris Henigan
- Garrett Gregory
- Jamie Burford
- Mickey Lassiter
- Bobby Malchus
- Dennie Gieber
- Clyde Dunn Jr
- Randy Timms
- Dustin Hyde
- Tracy Denby Jr
- Tim Clonch
- Mike Dillard
- Bobby Ruffin
- John Allen
- Blaine Shives
- Troy Taylor
- Bryan Mewborn
- Steve Whiteaker
- Ronald Pilkington