May 23, 2021
Saturday May 22nd 2021 It was another great night of racing at the Thomas County Speedway, as track promoter Barrett Wagoner worked through the night Friday and continued on Saturday to get the track prepared. The track looked great and the drivers were really impressed. Eighty-three race teams checked in as well as a handful of the old school vintage cars. The fans always love when they get to see their favorites along with the antique cars. The weather was nice all night, other than some light sprinkles during the features. The fans also got a kick out of seeing long time fan favorite, Doug Holzmeister making his return to the track this weekend. Sport compacts started out the night with two six lap heat races, Billy Turner picked up the first heat race win after starting fifth, and Madison Reed won the second heat race after starting third. The sport compacts would run a twelve lap feature. Todd Trzcinski started on the pole of the feature, on the initial start the field got to turns one and two, and Billy Turner and Trey Nelson spun to bring out an early caution. Collin Rider would grab the lead on the restart, and would lead for a lap as Madison Reed got around him to take the lead. Zach Cardwell would go over the berm in turns one and two and bring out a caution. Madison Reed brought the field to a restart, and Madison would start to pull away from the field slightly but Jarrett Marker and Otto Schutte were chasing him. After halfway Madison had built a substantial lead, Cardwell would spin out a second time in turn two ending his night, he spun right in front of Madison Reed but the field was able to avoid him. The restart would put Reed out by himself with Jarrett Marker on the inside and Otto Schutte on the outside. Todd Trzcinski would go over the berm of turn four and bring out another caution. That would set up a green, white, checkered attempt, and Madison Reed was able to pull away from the field. Madison Reed picked up his first win at TCS this year, Jarrett Marker finished second, Otto Schutte third, fourth was Billy Turner and Ted Trumbo finished fifth. Reed, Marker and Turner all picked up five spots as hard chargers. Billy Turner now has a one point lead over Ted Trumbo and Otto Schutte is third, five points behind Turner. Second on the program was the sport mods, who ran three heat races, Brendyn Nordyke won the first one, after starting fifth. The second one went to Jasen Gray who started third. The third heat race went to Tyler Watts who started second. The twenty lap feature started with Ryan Kirchoff on the pole, there would be a spin by Jack Kirchoff in turn two that collected Brian Morris after the field had stacked up a bit. Brian Morris took his ride to the pits. Ryan Kirchoff would bring the field to the restart, and would lead the first lap. Caution came out again as Tony Acierno spun in turn two and collected Brendyn Nordyke, and Cody Williams. They both would be able to drive away, and the field would restart again. Ryan Kirchoff would continue to lead, while Tyler Watts was trying to run him down along with Adam Weber and Blaine Walt. Caution would come out on lap three for a Jimmy Brozek spin. Ryan Kirchoff would bring the field to a restart, with Tyler Watts behind him on the inside and Adam Weber on the outside. Watts would grab the lead coming out of turn two, Blaine Walt moved into the third place and would make several attempts to pass Ryan Kirchoff but was never able to. Tyler Watts was able to work lapped traffic well and able to build up a nice lead. Caution would come out just a lap shy of halfway, and it would set up a restart, and that gave the fastest car on the track at the time Blaine Walt another shot at a restart. Watts would bring the field to green with Walt on the inside in second and Ryan Kirchoff in third on the outside. Watts would once again start to build a lead, and would start working lapped traffic once again. Watts would end up winning by about two seconds, Ryan Kirchoff second, Blaine Walt third, Adam Weber fourth and Jasen Gray fifth. The hard charger would go to Blaine Walt who finished third after starting eleventh Brian May and Macen Shull also had nice runs picking up seven spots each. Blaine Walt now holds a twenty-two point lead over Adam Weber, and Monty Nordyke. Third on the program were the stock cars, who ran two eight lap heat races, Jeff Tubbs won the first one leading every lap after starting third. The second one went to Nick Tubbs who also led every lap, he had started second. Austin Janousek would start the fifteen lap feature from the pole, Jeff Tubbs was able to grab the lead, on the second lap Tathan Burkhart tried to throw a slider on Tubbs but it did not work. Burkhart would stay right on Jeff Tubbs and those two put on a good battle as Tathan kept attempting sliders to get by Tubbs. Jeff Tubbs was able to build a nice lead, but Tathan was not giving up. Jeff Tubbs was able to grab the victory despite Tathan putting up a really good fight. Jeff Tubbs picked up a much needed win, as he had been dealing with some tough luck on the season, rookie sensation Tathan Burkhart finished second. Third was Casey Woken, fourth Troy Burkhart, and fifth went to Jason Rogers. Casey Woken was the hard charger picking six spots up after starting ninth. Jason Rogers holds a two point lead over Casey Woken, and Tathan Burkhart is third in points, twelve back. The modifieds were fourth on the program, they ran three eight lap heat races. Clay Sellard dominated the first one after starting third, he was able to lead the whole time. Don Geist was able to win the second one, he led every lap as well, but Kyle Rohleder tried to make things interesting, Geist had started second. The third heat race went to Daniel Gottschalk who led the majority of the heat race after starting fourth. Lane Lithacum went for a spin and Gottschalk gained control after the restart. Danny Keller started the twenty lap feature on the pole, Clay Sellard was able to grab the early lead, after John Burrow briefly had the lead. Sellard ran away with this feature, dominating for a long time, Dominic Ursetta later on was able to slightly cut into the lead but Sellard still won by plenty. Sellard picked up his second TCS win on the year, Dominic Ursetta finished second, Greg Gustus third, fourth went to Ricky Alvarado, and fifth was Kyle Rohleder. Hard charger on the night was Dominic Ursetta and Ricky Alvarado who both gained eight spots each, Ursetta started tenth and Alvarado started twelfth. Dominic Ursetta holds a five point lead over Eddie Belec now. Third in points is Dylan Sherfick who is six points back from Ursetta. The hobby stocks finished the night out with two eight lap heat races, Josh Barnhart, who started sixth won the hectic first one as BJ Rogers, Keanna Weber, Mitchell Fischer and Brennen Nech all had spins. The second heat race was calmer and Cody Williams won by a lot after starting fourth. Billy Turner started the twenty lap feature from the pole, Cody Williams and Lyle Russell would be side by side for the lead, and they would battle for a while, and Josh Barnhart and Brady Bencken were battling behind the leaders. At the halfway mark the top four were Williams, Russell, Bencken and Barnhart. Cody Williams would spin in turn four from the lead, and bring out a caution. Williams headed to the pits and Lyle Russell would lead the field back to green, with nine to go. BJ Rogers spun in turn four but got back going without the yellow being displayed. Brady Bencken would end up with the win, his fourth TCS win on the year. Second was Trevor Schmidt, third Alex West, fourth Josh Barnhart, and Lyle Russell rounded out the top five. Hard chargers were Brady Bencken and Alex West who both picked up nine spots, Bencken started tenth and West started twelfth. Brady Bencken has a nine point lead over Josh Barnhart, third in points is BJ Rogers who is twenty-nine points behind. Five races in the books now at TCS, they will take a break with racing returning Friday June 11th, action starts at 8:00pm.
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