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Schweaty Balls 3 @ I-37 Speedway 6-7-25

1 South Texas Dirt Truck Series winner Anthony Gordon
2 Limited Modified winner Steven Whiteaker III
3 Factory Stock winner Rusty Head
4 Fireball winner GW Hessong
5 Sport Compact winner Josh Jones

By JM Hallas
Pleasanton, TX.,(June 7th, 2025) Ya, it's that time again….for racing, geez

After a slight hiatus it was time for I-37 Speedway to roar back into action for another night of racing on the semi-banked, ¼ mile, clay track a half hour south of San Antonio. Tonight marked the return of the South Texas Dirt Trucks Series making one of the three appearances this season. Regular track classes tonight were the Limited Modifieds, Factory Stocks, Fireballs and Sport Compacts.

It was a hot time at the old track tonight, literally, with temperatures over the century mark at one point. This would make for some tricky track conditions from moisture at the early heats, to dry slick for the late features. During hot laps the track pretty much a dust bowl before the track added water before the heat races and a spray down at intermission before the features.

The South Texas Dirt Truck Series, under new ownership, has been around for several years now. Most of the trucks are former ARTS pavement trucks converted to dirt, mainly springs, shocks and weight. Last year former asphalt Late model driver, Tommy Grimes, took the championship by only five points over Tony Bernal.

This season, after four races in the books, Russ Parker leads the points by 17 over Russell Vickery. Paul Colter, Preston Pehl and Evahdent Ivy are within six points in the battle for third. Parker and Dylan Kowalik have the split the wins with two each, but after missing one race Kowalik sits back in eighth place in the standings.

REMINDER; Next week(6-11) is the first of a three-race mini series on Wednesday nights with a slightly later start time and only three classes in action.(IMCA Modifieds by Sundowner Performance Diesel, Limited Modifieds by Comanche Concrete and Factory Stocks by All in Designs) All three classes will have series champion crowned, plus a top three points fund.

Gordon Golden for Truck Talley
As the thirteen truck field took the green it was Russell Vickery get the edge off turn 2, but Anthony Gordon was first back to the line. Vickery, Zach Freeman, Cody Earnhardt and Russ Parker filled in the top five. Gordon began to pull away leaving Vickery, Freeman and Earnhardt battling for second. Vickery would spin from the battle, but continue on, falling to sixth.

Gordon hit slower traffic before halfway giving up a little distance but at halfway still held a big lead over Freeman, Earnhardt, Parker and Daniel Gaudette. Gordon stretched his margin out while the pack for second hit traffic. Parker had to split the middle going three wide at one point. Gordon(San Antonio) would easily take the checkers in the Scott Walker owned, All Out Diesel Performance, Diffs by Dale, South Texas Dirt Truck and was declared the winner after tech. Earnhardt, who changed tires in the infield to also run the Fireball class, did not report to tech.

“I was just trying to be slow and steady,” commented Gordon. “I knew the track was pretty dry so it was just go slow, to go fast. Having a lot of laps here in different cars helps. Johnny(Torres) has always been a big part of my racing here too and help me out if I needed it. Tonight it was kind of back and white on what I needed to do. Just get to the bottom at the start.”

“I know Dylan(Kowalik) has won a couple features in this truck. But no, not really a lot pressure to do good. It is what it is. I didn't really know what I was going to get. Scott(Walker) dropped the truck off Thursday and it sat outside until I loaded up today. We did nothing at all.”

“The only problem I have with driving someone else's car, can I reach the pedals!”

South Texas Dirt Truck Series
29 Anthony Gordon, 27 Zack Freeman, 29 Russ Parker, 05 Daniel Gaudette, 02 Russell Vickery, 21r Eric Ramos, 08 Evahdent Ivy, 17 Scott Parker, 85 Ashley Walker, 05w Michael Gonzales, 9 Pete Arce, 72 Paul Colter, 33 Cody Earnhardt(dq---did not tech)

STDTS heats
Heat 1; 02 Russell Vickery, 33 Cody Earnhardt, 28 Russ Parker, 9 Pete Arce, 72 Paul Colter, 05w Michael Gonzales, 85 Ashley Walker

Heat 2;29k Anthony Gordon, 27 Zach Freeman, 21 Eric Ramos, 08 Evahdent Ivy, 17 Scott Walker, 05 Daniel Gaudette

Win to Whiteaker
Steven Whiteaker III(Robstown) picked up his second I-37 Speedway Limited Modified feature win in the 12-lap feature. Whiteaker jumped out front early ahead of Robert Wiggins and Lupe Gomez and never looked back. Whiteaker III stretched out his advantage easily taking the win in his D&SS Construction, On Demand Shirts, WW Bodies, Windshield Repairs of Texas, Billy Bobs Repair & Tire, 1st Class Towing, Starry Ranch, Sundowner Performance Diesel, Comanche Concrete, Rush Gear by Austin Witt, Double J Jerky, AT21 Spoiler and Body Components, Supreme Vinyl Works, Tru-Form Race Products, Dark Horse, Dynamic Drivelines, Innovative Chassis.

“It was more like a test session for us,” said Whiteaker. “The last couple races in Corpus we delaminated the right rear. So I was being careful. My dad set it up way too tight so instead of driving in soft, I hard to drive in harder. I was scared of the lapped car because I didn't know what he going to do. I knew I had a pretty good lead.”

Limited Modifieds
88 Steven Whiteaker III, 26 Robert Wiggins, 7 Lupe Gomez, 14 Trent Beaver---dns

Limited Modified heat
Heat 1; 88 Steven Whiteaker III, 14 Trent Beaver, 26 Robert Wiggins, 7k Lupe Gomez

Head Returns to Claim Honors
After the initial went yellow for debris, the second start saw Rusty Head, who destroyed his primary car several months back, grabbed the early lead ahead of Vince Kacir, Tim Sewell, Mason Casteneda and Jesse Sandoval. Kacir gave Head an early look low off turn 4 but couldn't get by. Casteneda took third from Sewell while Sandoval, Ryan Doyon and Paul Reyes were three wide for fifth.

Kacirs challenge ended when he spun in turns 3-4 and was unable to refire, ending his night. Head got away on green while Sewell and Castaneda were side by side with Sewell getting second. Michael Keylich would spin on lap 8 collecting Stephanie Green. Head and Sewell got out on the restart while Darryl Prosek took third from Casteneda who began to surrender positions.

Coming to halfway it was Head, Sewell, Prosek, Paul Reyes and Doyon in the top five. Reyes then picked off third from Prosek followed by Doyon to fourth. Head was inching away with five to go while Sandoval, Casteneda and Keylich were three wide for sixth. In the final laps both Reyes and Doyon were able to get past Sewell. Up front Head(Buda) was cruising to victory in his SWL Inc, Mike Terry Motorsports, Quality Trailer Sales, Supreme Vinyl Works, Mission Race Engines, back up car.

“Ya, I kind of returned to the scene of the crime,” said Head. “That was a pretty bad wreck. Probably the worst one I've had. Luckily I had two cars. This one was sitting in the shop, so we took the motor out of that new car and put it in this old car.”

“They put water on the track before our heat race and feature. I was like oh no. On the start whoever was behind me nudged me a couple times getting into (turn) 1. So I left turn 2 open but once I got it hooked up around the tires, away we went. I don't change gears and stuff as much as a lot of these guys do switching tracks. I pretty much run the same between here and Waco. We may change a spring or shock between here and Waco since the banking is a little different.”

“I don't know if you call those big money deals races or demolition derbies. I'd love to race some of those races but, there's a lot of talent up in north Texas and I'm not getting any younger. It's been fun, a good, hard, long ride and I've got a new car coming. We'll just have to see what happens. I may go to a few of them.”

“I'm not a points racer. At the end of the day if you set up to points race you'll be at the same track all the time and run every night. I did that back in the 90's at Longhorn Speedway and we ran twenty-two weekends in a row. I'm not about that any more. I like the people at I-37 and Waco so I'll just come and take their money.

Factory Stocks by All in Designs
55 Rusty Head, 24 Paul Reyes, 5r Ryan Doyon, 22 Tim Sewell,19 Darryl Prosek, 44k Michael Keylich, 7 Jesse Sandoval, 28m Mason Casteneda, 329 Eric Robins, 757 Stephanie Green, 07 Vince Kacir, 82 Treyler Caulfield, 81 Johnny Torres---dns

Factory Stock Heats
Heat 1;55 Rusty Head,22 Tim Sewell, 28m Mason Casteneda, 82 Treyler Caulfield, 757 Stephanie Green, 44k Michael Keylich, 81 Johnny Torres---dns

Heat 2;
07 Vince Kacir, 7 Jesse Sandoval, 19 Darryl Prosek,24 Paul Reyes, 329 Eric Robins, 5r Ryan Doyon

Hessong Hauls to Fireball Sweep
Twenty-one cars took the green for the 20-lap Fireball feature with GW Hessong taking the top spot off turn 2 trailed by Shawn Paul Lehman, Sammy Smith and Ray Doyon III side by side with AJ Dancer for fourth. Lehman was able to close up slightly with a better turns 3-4 while Dancer and Doyon swapped fourth. Smiths night ended when he cut down the right rear and limped off on lap 8.

At halfway it was Hessong, now pulling away, Lehman, Dancer, Doyon and Tim Sewell in the top five. During the final half, which ran green to checkers, traffic was the only thing to slow Hessong down but no one got close enough to mount a challenge. Hessong(Edna) scored the victory in the Tony Blankenship owned, Titan Factory Direct, Tonys Mobile Home Service, Mickeys Auto Repair home built chassis and motor.

“I haven’t been back to race here since the DTK race last year,” replied Hessong. “I have been driving this car down in Edna the past couple times. Tony Blankenship has been kind of under the weather so I picked up his slack. We've been working on it, working on it and it's getting way better. The orange car I thought was fast, and it probably still is. I've been playing with this car and it's really good too.”

“We didn't go back to anything from last year in the other car. It's a completely different car. I knew with this weather it was going to be slicked off so we just tightened it up. Even more than we do in Edna. It worked out good. I'm starting to learn this car more. We're on a roll, and we're building a new Factory Stock.”

“I knew around the tires was the place to be, but halfway through in lapped traffic I started getting in my head and over driving the car. I finally slowed down and got back around the tires and tried to hit my marks. I turned out alright, we did good.”

Fireballs by Johnson HVAC Supply
35 GW Hessong, 528 Shawn Paul Lehman, 52 AJ Dancer, 8 Ray Doyon III, 6m Blaine Markgraf, 22x Nate Robbins, 39 Mickey Helms, 67 Joe Boop, 96 Justin Henley, 18s Jarrett Payton, 28 Levi Hernandez, 64 Danny Dear, 33 Cody Earnhardt, 4 Brandon Eure, h2s Shane Stonebraker, m5 Mark Pivarnik, 22k Mel Krauss, 98 Ronnie Schoefeldt,15 William Cavender, 44k Michael Keylich, 86 Sammy Smith, 14 Lance Gaither---dns, 21r Eric Ramos---dns

Fireball Heats
Heat 1; 35 GW Hessong, 52 AJ Dancer, 22x Nate Robbins, 39 Mickey Helms, 64 Danny Dear, 28 Levi Hernandez, 22k Mel Krauss, 14 Lance Gaither

Heat 2; 86 Sammy Smith, 8 Ray Doyon III, 96 Justin Henley, m5 Mark Pivarnik, 4 Brandon Eure, 18s Jarrett Payton, 15 William Cavender

Heat 3; 528 Shawn Paul Lehman, 67 Joe Boop, 6m Blaine Markgraf, 21r Eric Ramos, 44k Michael Keylich, h2s Shane Stonebraker, 98 Ronnie Schoenfeldt, 33 Cody Earnhardt

Jones Jousts for Sport Compact Lunch Money
At the start of the 20-lapper for the Sport Compacts Josh Jones jumped to the lead ahead of Rod Tait, Fons Ponsioen, DJ Schroat and Eric Wilson. Ponsioen was able to get by Tait for second while Jones was quickly into slower traffic. Jones was three wide with Daniel Casas and Yesenia Ruiz at one point. When the 3-car battle behind behind caught the slower traffic Ponsioen got upside down in turn 1 to bring out a red.

Jones got a good launch back under green with Wilson and Schroat side by side for third. Wilson got the spot and got along side Tait for second. During that battle Taits hood flew up blocking his view so officials called for a yellow. On the restart at halfway it was Jones, Wilson, Schroat, Sonny Kinnaman and Daelyn McQueen in the top five. Wilson was able to close the gap on Jones for the lead.

While battling with Tait, who was working his way back up, D. McQueen clipped the infield tire in turn 2 sending the car rolling down the back stretch for another red. Once back to green, Jones and Wilson took off leaving Schroat and Kinnaman battling for third. Wilson gave Jones a look high with two to go and gave him a tap on the bumper as they took the white flag. Tait was making progress getting by Schroat and Kinnaman. Up front it was Jones(San Antonio) holding off Wilson for the win in his Keepin' Up Racing Team, Elliot Welding Services, Talbert Shop, Triple D Ranch, SBR Performance, Sweet Texas Creations, Chevy Cavalier.
***Both drivers were alright after being checked out my safety crews.

“I stuck it straight down to the bottom,” reported Jones. “I just held it, played with the throttle a bit and pulled it off. Those restarts I felt a little pressure. I could feel Eric(Wilson) on my real bumper, literally. He's a good driver, good sport. I'm glad he did that though I couldn't hear his car until I felt the bump. Then I knew he was right there. I knew it was time to strap down, stay focused and hit the bottom.”

“I expect Eric, Rod(Tait), Fons to be there all the time. We went a different set up with tires tonight. I was able to hug the bottom line pretty good. I figured with heat and summer time coming up the track conditions would be different than earlier in the year. There's always pressure knowing those guys are back there. I just held my line and they were going to have to pass me on the outside.

“The track had a lot of character tonight,” added Jones regarding the two class rollovers. “These cars with the struts on them they get worked pretty hard. If you hit it just right it will dig in a little, get the car sideways. Next thing you know, you're on your roof. Thankfully I haven't had that happen. I'm glad see Fons was ok. He gave me a 'thumbs up' on the cart going back to the pits. You just have to pick a good line with no character.”

Sport Compacts
11j Josh Jones, 18 Eric Wilson, 70 Rod Tait, 39 DJ Schroat, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 23 Yesenia Ruiz, 7 Mason McQueen, 3 Daelyn McQueen, 22 Fons Ponsioen, 007 Daniel Casas, 21t Shaun Tracy

Sport Compact Heats
Heat 1; 11j Josh Jones, 39 DJ Schroat, 7 Mason McQueen, 007 Daniel Casas, 23 Yesenia Ruiz, 21t Shaun Tracy

Heat 2; 70 Rod Tait, 22 Fons Ponsioen, 18 Eric Wilson, 38 Sonny Kinnaman, 3 Daelyn McQueen

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