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Mothers Appreciation Night @ I-37 Speedway, 5-17-25

Late Model winner Cody Leonard
Factory Stock winner Johnny Torres
Fireball winner Brandon Spreen
Sport Compact winner Josh Jones

By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX,(May 17th, 2025) Summer has arrived early…

It was steamy night as I-37 Speedway celebrated Mothers Appreciation Night on the ¼ mile, semi-banked, dirt, oval just outside of town. With three other area tracks in action last weekend, I-37 Speedway opted to celebrate all the mothers a week later. Upon entry all mothers were given a raffle ticket giving them a chance to win one of several goodie bags during intermission.

In action tonight were the Late Models, running for $750 to win, Factory Stocks($600 to win), Limited Modifieds, Fireballs and Sport Compacts. The Fireballs had two sponsors(All Out Diesel Performance and Monty Chamberlain Motorsports) step up and add $400 into the top three spots. Mother Nature was finally cooperative enough to give points racers a break, well except for the heat, after the track lost 2 of the last four shows to rain. The track ran a quick, efficient show to just beat the approaching rain showers.

Late Model Loot to Leonard
As the Late Model main roared to life it was Ryan Doyon getting a good jump on the pack grabbing the early lead over Cody Leonard, Lawrence Mikulencak, Matt Fox and Ty Walley. Ray Doyon and Walley then swapped fifth until Walley slipped loosing spots to Ra. Doyon and Aaron Leddy. Leonard ran down Ry. Doyon for the lead on lap 5, with the two door to door on lap 6. Leonard took the top spot on lap 7.

Nearing halfway the lead duo began running up on traffic when Andrew Hesler and Walley tangled in turn 3 sending Michael Keylich over the hill for a yellow flag. As green waved again Leonard got away from Ry. Doyon, Mikulencak, Fox and Ra. Doyon as they came to halfway. Fox was able to snag third from Mikulencak on lap 12, but Mikulencak retook the spot a lap later.

Fox then fell back into a corner for corner slide job battle with Ra. Doyon for fourth. Up front, Leonard began to pull away from Ry. Doyon. Leonard(Sinton) built a good advantage as the final laps clicked off taking the victory in the Chris Swenson owned, Smileys, On Demand Shirts, All in Design, 366 Motorsports, DB Insurance, Swenson Racing Products, QA1 Shocks, VP Racing Fuel, Farm & Ranch, Daytona 1 Performance Lubricants, Ingram Race Engines, Swenson Racing Chassis.

“Ya, finding the high line first helped,” stated Leonard. “After starting third, we got to second and I was just kinda looking for something. I just didn't feel comfortable around the bottom. I probably could have made it work if I had to. It was inconsistent. I started moving around and found a groove up top that suited me. I just went to work with it.”

“I knew this was going to be one or two lines, around the tires or around the top. Once I got to the the top I figured it was best. Once I got past Ryan(Doyon) it was a decision on my part if I wanted to go back to the bottom or stay on top. I just didn't feel comfortable to run the bottom so I stayed on top. It worked out in our favor.”

“I was a little worried after the heat race. We weren't very good. Chris(Swenson) had made some changes in the right front and took a look at it to maybe revert back to some old stuff. When he took the shock off it had a broken line to the reservoir for the coil over. So we had no right front shock in the heat. It caused me to be tight, middle off. It really threw the car off.”

Nogalitos Gear Late Models
48 Cody Leonard, 5r Ryan Doyon, 87 Lawrence Mikulencak, 9r Ray Doyon, 53x Matt Fox, 08 Aaron Leddy, 89 Jeff Gieg, 52 AJ Dancer, 77 Mark Taylor , 14rm Michael Keylich, 14 Ty Walley, 4 Newton Barta, 1x Andrew Hesler, 24 Robby Minten

Late Model heats
Heat 1; 5r Ryan Doyon, 48 Cody Leonard, 9r Ray Doyon, 08 Aaron Leddy, 77 Mark Taylor, 14rm Michael Keylich, 52 AJ Dancer

Heat 2; 87 Lawrence Mikulencak,14 Ty Walley,53x Matt Fox, 1x Andrew Hesler, 89 Jeff Cieg, 4 Newton Barta, 24 Robby Minten

Torres Takes Trophy in Factory Stock Family Feud
The two Torres brothers led the Factory Stock field to green with Johnny getting the advantage on Allen on lap 1 followed by Dustin Hurley, Dillon Gaither and Paul Reyes completing the top five. A. Torres was, literally, on his brothers bumper for the lead on lap 3 when Jesse Sandoval spun in turn 2 for an early caution. On the restart, A. Torres then looked high on J. Torres while Gaither took third from Hurley.

The Torres brothers were side by side for the lead on lap 4 with Hurley battling back alongside Gaither for third. A. Torres worked past J. Torres on lap 5 and Gaither held off Hurley for third. J. Torres kept digging on the low side trying to get the lead back as Gaither closed up on both. J. Torres was able to get the lead back on lap 9 leaving A. Torres side by side with Gaither. At the crossed flags it was J. Torres, Gaither, A. Torres, Hurley and Reyes in the top five.

Gaither tried to dive low on J. Torres with the two making contact and Gaither spinning losing numerous spots but continuing until spinning again on the back stretch, Back to green, J. Torres would get away from Hurley and Reyes while Darryl Prosek got by Nathan Rachui for fourth. Hurley and Reyes made some contact battling for second, with Prosek and Rachui having their own paint trading scrap going on for fourth.

Stephanie Green would loop it off turn 2 for a lap 17 yellow setting a up a three lap shootout. J. Torres used the restart to clear Hurley and Reyes with Gaither having trouble on the back stretch again, this time collecting Treyler Caufield. After some non-verbal communication under yellow, J. Torres, Hurley and Reyes got away when Rachui slipped giving Prosek the spot. J. Torres(San Antonio) in the Ray Doyon owned, 3-D Landscaping, Best Engines, Empire Chassis.

“No, it wasn't easy,” commented Torres. “That car needs a lot of work. I've been trying to work on it but I can't get it where it needs to be. Ray(Doyon) is going to let me drive it at the 30K race at Boothill, but it's going to be a bunch of work to go there.”

“I was more concerned about getting the car around the race track than whether it was my brother or Dillon(Gaither) behind me. It was definitely not easy. I guess I got in Dillons way. I saw him flip me off down the back straightaway under yellow. I try to just worry about myself and if I just hit my marks it should be alright.”

“I don't worry about how I drive it because I know it's Ray's car,” added Torres jokingly. “He just wants to win. I didn't think after the heat race it had a chance to win. We've been struggling with this car and nothing seems to work. I just figured I'd keep it around the bottom and see what happens.”

All in Design Factory Stocks
5r Johnny Torres, 78 Dustin Hurley, 24 Paul Reyes, 19 Darryl Prosek, 25r Nathan Rachui, 14t Trey Heald, 03 Gabriella King, 82 Treyler Caulfield, 41 Dillon Gaither, 757 Stephanie Green, 94 Allen Torres, 7* Johnny Walker Brown, 7 Jesse Sandoval, 21r Zach Freeman---dns

Factory Stock heats
Heat 1; 5r Johnny Torres, 78 Dustin Hurley, 41 Dillon Gaither, 14t Trey Heald, 7 Jesse Sandoval, 03 Gabiella King, 21r Zach Freeman

Heat 2;, 94 Allen Torres, 24 Paul Reyes, 25r Nathan Rachui, 19 Darryl Prosek, 7 Johnny Walker Brown, 757 Stephanie Green, 82 Treyler Caulfield

Speen Sweeps for Fireball Funds
A big field of Fireballs took the green for the 20-lap feature. Brandon Spreen led the field into turn 1 chased by Dillon Gaither, with Eric Ramos, Howie Marcx and Shawn Paul Lehman three wide for third. Mark Pivarnik had trouble in turn 1 after hitting some fluid on track. On the restart Lehman got by both Marcx and Ramos for third. As Spreen and Gaither started to ease away, Ramos got third back from Lehman.

Gaither started to pressure Spreen for the lead looking low in turns 1-2. Birthday boy, Blaine Markgraf and Bobby Jack made some contact in the pack with Jack slapping the front stretch wall and going high in turn 1. On the restart Lehman took a wild ride after getting into an infield tire and rolling in turn 3 to bring out a red. Lehman was checked out by EMS and drove the car back to the pits later.

Once back to green, Gaither kept the pressure on Spreen for the lead. Talon Minten stopped on track with mechanical issues for a lap 9 yellow. As green waved the field came to halfway showing Spreen, Gaither, Ramos, Jack and Markgraf in the top five. With the top three inching away, Jack and Markgraf were door to door again. Jack would give up the spot and then Joe Boop moving him into the top five.

Just as the lead group was going to be into lapped traffic, Jacks trouble came to a head as he spun collecting Sammy Smith on lap 17. As green waved for the three lap shootout, Spreen(Boerne) got a couple car lengths away from Gaither and held on to the checkers in the Kelly Marbach owned, Swenson Shocks and Chassis, Spreen Carburetors and Race Engines, Body by DSM, “Scrap Metal” Chassis. The pack stacked up coming to the finish with several cars, and a truck, making contact and sliding across the line.

“It was definitely a fun race,” replied Spreen. “Starting on the front row helped out. Dillon(Gaither) was giving me some pressure the entire race. It was a clean race. We got the win at the end. I've driven both the dwarf car and this one, so much so, that I'm able to just forget about the other one wherever I show up.”

“Kelly(Marbach) keeps the car at his house and maintains it. My dad is the motor guy and he tunes on it. We all get together for the set up stuff. I'll come drive this car whenever he invites me.”

Johnson HVAC Supply Fireballs
6 Brandon Spreen, 5 Dillon Gaither, 21r Eric Ramos, 6m Blaine Markgraf, 67 Joe Boop, 86 Sammy Smith, 13 Howie Marcx, 18m Lance Gaither, 72 Paul Colter, h2s Shane Stonebraker, 28 Levi Hernandez, 64 Danny Dear, 15 William Cavender, 88 Bobby Jack, 08 Evahdent Ivy, 8 Talon Minten, 528 Shawn Paul Lehman, m5 Mark Pivarnik, 96 Justin Henley, 18s Jarrett Payton---dns,39 Mickey helms---dns

Fireball heats
Heat 1; 6 Brandon Spreen, 13 Howie Marcx, 528 Shawn Paul Lehman, 08 Evadent Ivy, 67 Joe Boop, 18m Lance Gaither , 86 Sammy Smith, m5 Mark Pivarnik, 39 Mickey Helms, 18s Jarrett Payton, 96 Justin Henley

Heat 2; 5x Dillon Gaither, 21r Eric Ramos, 88 Bobby Jack, 6m Blaine Markgraf, 72 Paul Colter, 8 Talon Minten, h2s Shane Stonebraker, 64 Danny Dear, 28 Levi Hernandez, 15 William Cavender

Jones Takes One for the Locals
After seeing out of town guys steal the Sport Compacts lunch money the past couple races, it was an all local field for the Sport Compact feature. Josh Jones was first into turn 1 as the green waved, but it was Justin Van Winkle leading lap 1 trailed by Jones, Fons Ponsioen, Sonny Kinnaman and Eric Wilson. Wilson got by Kinnaman for fourth then lost fifth to Rod Tait a couple laps later.

The race was like two separate races with the group of experienced racers and another group of relative rookies. The speed difference made for some skillful driving. For the most part, with some coaching from race director Chris Anderson on the raceciever, the newer drivers held their lines as the veterans sailed past.

At the midway point it was Van Winkle, Jones, Ponsioen, Wilson and Tait in the top five. Wilson was able to get by Ponsioen for fourth before Ponsioen pulled off. Kinnaman and Daelyn McQueen made contact for a lap 16 caution. Van Winkle got a good jump on green with Wilson and Jones side by side for second. Van Winkle would lose a wheel in the middle of turns 1-2 for a lap 17 yellow.

This put Jones out front for the final restart and he quickly pulled ahead while Wilson and Tait battled for second. Tait would get the position but was unable to mount a serious challenge on Jones who would score the win in his Keepin' Up Racing Team, Elliot Welding Services, Talbert Shop, Triple D Ranch, SBR Performance, Chevy Cavalier.

“I drew a one at the check-in shack, putting me pole for heat race. We had a short battle and ended up winning the heat by a few car lengths. Started the feature on the pole and dropped the hammer but fell to second for a spell. After a caution, the restart was good, that's when the leader(Van Winkle) lost his RR wheel and almost flipped right in front of me. I dodged the flying tire and lined back up in first. I got a good jump on the restart and brought it home from there. Can't thank all my sponsors, family, friends and fans enough for the support. I know I have a target on my back now, but I ain't letting up”

Sport Compacts
11j Josh Jones, 70 Rod Tait, 18 Eric Wilson, 76y Donald Lewis, 007 Yesinia Ruiz, 7 Mason McQueen, 43 Shaylee Edwards, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 83 Jessica Adams, 3 Daelyn McQueen, 825 Justin Van Winkle, 22 Fons Ponsioen

Sport Compact heats
Heat 1; 11j Josh Jones, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 18 Eric Wilson, 76 Donald Lewis, 70 Rod Tait, 83 Jessica Adams

Heat 2; 825 Justin Van Winkle, 22 Fons Ponsioen, 007 Tesinia Ruiz, 7 Mason McQueen, 43 Shaylee Edwards, 3 Daelyn McQueen

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