5.19.19 American Ethanol Late Models Results
Gas City, IN (Monday, May 20, 2019) – Heavy rains and thunderstorms could not claim Sunday’s American Ethanol Showdown from Gas City I-69 Speedway. The American Ethanol Late Model Tour (AELMT) and the American Ethanol Modified Tour Presented by Allstar Performance (AEmods) were scheduled to do battle around the quarter mile bullring, and they did just that.
Afternoon showers forced American Ethanol officials to alter the original schedule of events, all in an effort to ensure that mother nature did not take another event this spring. On track action was delayed roughly two hours, to 8:00 p.m. and qualifying was scrapped for both Tours, as well as hot laps for the AEmods and Heat Races for the AELMT.
In the Allstar Performance Heat Race Number One, drivers struggled to get a hold of the slick racing surface for the first couple of laps. Once things were rolling though, drivers put on a great seven lap shootout to the finish that saw Rick Swartout get the win over Bub Roberts and Will Krup. In Heat Race Number Two, Todd Sherman picked up the win over Chad Bauer and Andy Bishop as the event went green to checkered.
In the main event for the AELMT, Travis Stemler started outside of current points leader Brandon Thirlby and jumped out to the early lead. Stemler opened up an impressive lead over the other drivers, and was never challenged for the lead. Thirlby and Rusty Schlenk did battle, swapping spots on the only restart of the race following a single car spin by Collin Shipley. Stemler went on to the dominating win, his first career AELMT victory, ahead of Schlenk and Thirlby.
In the AEmods event, it was another dominating performance, this time from Chad Bauer. Bub Roberts and Rick Swartout lead the field to green, as drivers wasted no time searching for a fast line around the speedway.
The caution flew early for a single car spin which set up a huge moment for Krup, as he made contact with the right front of Swartout, sending his K19 machine airborne out of the corner. Krup set the car back down on all fours and took the spot into turn four. Just three laps later, a single car spin set the field up for another restart that quite possibly was the difference maker in the race. Bauer fought off a hard charging Krup going into turn three, as he did, Krup found a rut in the center of the turn and nearly overturned, but instead set the car back down and held onto the second spot. Bauer drove on for the win, and Roberts brought home the third spot.
Next up, the AELMT faces a triple-header Michigan Memorial Weekend this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday, the AELMT unloads at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan for the first time in 2019, before going to Thunderbird Raceway on Saturday, and Merritt Speedway on Sunday. Next for the AEmods is the first trip to Hartford Speedway on Friday, June 7th, before going to Montpelier Motor Speedway June 8th.
Unofficial Results:
American Ethanol Showdown:
1. 2 Travis Stemler
2. CJ1 Rusty Schlenk
3. M14 Brandon Thirlby
4. 27 Eric Spangler
5. 21A Logan Arntz
6. 10 Brett Milelr
7. 44 Colin Shipley
8. 21B Rich Bell
American Ethanol Showdown:
1. 19 Chad Bauer
2. K19 Will Krup
3. T5X Bub Roberts
4. 3W Dylan Woodling
5. 77 Andy Bishop
6. 10 Bradley Jameson
7. 0 Garrett Jameson
8. 23 Luke Hubbell
9. 81 Rick Swartout
10. 8 Darren Mallery
11. E85 Jesse Stange
12. 9 Garrett Rons
13. 65 Todd Sherman
14. 96 Terry Sroufe
15. 14B Josh Bretts
16. 14S Jessica Sroufe
Heat Race 1:
1. 81 Rick Swartout
2. T5X Bub Roberts
3. K19 Will Krup
4. 96 Terry Sroufe
5. 23 Luke Hubbell
6. 8 Darren Mallery
7. 14S Jessica Sroufe
8. 14B Josh Bretts
Heat Race 2:
1. 65 Todd Sherman
2. 19 Chad Bauer
3. 77 Andy Bishop
4. 0 Garrett Jameson
5. 3W Dylan Woodling
6. 10 Bradley Jameson
7. 9 Garrett Rons
8. E85 Jesse Strange