By John Rittenoure
CANEY, Kansas (September 1, 2018) – Zach Chappell could have easily loaded up and headed home after blowing a motor during qualifying for the Ameri-Flex / OCRS Sprint Spectacular Summer Showdown on Saturday at the Caney Valley Speedway.
Instead, the defending series champion and his team rolled up their sleeves and went to work. As a result of their work Chappell started on the outside front row of the 30-lap feature and drove his Ameriflex Hose and Accessories DSO powered sprinter to victory for the second time this season.
“We blew a motor in the qualifier. We broke a cam,” Chappell said of his run in a qualifier race early in the evening. “We started at the rear and ran fourth. We came in and changed a motor in about 30 minutes.
“These guys (my crew) worked their tails off on this Ameriflex car. From popping a motor to winning an A feature you go from a low to a high.”
Chappell started outside front row, but it was pole sitter Mickey Walker that jumped into the lead on the start. However, by the end of the first lap, Chappell had the lead and tucked in at the bottom of the track as the field gave chase.
Chappell continued to lead Walker in a parade on the low side of the track until Shane Sellers moved up to the high groove and started moving toward the front. Sellers passed Walker for second on lap 12. Two laps later Sellers pedaled his Larry Collins owned sprinter around Chappell for the lead.
“The bottom was really good on the start then it blew off eight laps into it,” Chappell said of the groove he was running. “I was waiting to hear or see somebody. But that did not happen till Shane (Sellers) passed me. I did not know what I was going to do so I just tucked in and towed.
“He showed it to me. I was going so slow on the bottom I was almost waiting for someone to pass me. When you are leading it is hard to make a lead change when no one is messing with you.
“My only thought was to follow him and see if I could better him a little bit.”
Chappell got an opportunity to take the lead back when a lap 18 yellow forced a restart. Chappell surprised Sellers with a move to the outside and went back to the front. This time he held it for the win.
“Once the fuel load came off near the end we had a really good restart,” Chappell said. “I was able to slide him and keep it.
“You got to take luck every now and then. I would rather be lucky than good.”
Chappell put some distance between himself and the field in the closing laps. On lap 23 the yellow waved again and that changed the race for second. Andrew Deal passed Sellers but could not close on Chappell who had built a three-second advantage. Deal held on to the runner-up position with Sheldon Barksdale passing Sellers for third. Sellers settled for fourth and Johnny Kent rounded out the top five.
Sixth place went to Alex Sewell and Joe Bob Lee earned the York Plumbing Hard Charger award for climbing from 13th to finish 7th.
Ameri-Flex / OCRS Results
Caney Valley Speedway
August 31, September 1, 2018
Car count: 20
Stranglehold Production Time Trials
1, Zach Chappell, 13.184. 2, Mickey Walker, 13.326. 3, Andrew Deal, 13.350. 4, Sheldon Barksdale, 13.370. 5, Shane Sellers, 13.375. 6, Robert Sellers, 13.380. 7, Johnny Kent, 13.399. 8, Whit Gastineau, 13.406. 9, Shayla Waddell, 13.428. 10, Alex Sewell, 13.467. 11, Casey Wills, 13.552. 12, Jared Sewell, 13.597. 13, Noah Gass, 13.655. 14, Perry Pickard, 13.663. 15, Joe Bob Lee, 13,810. 16, Tim Kent, 13.900. 17, Joseph Miller, 13.922. 18, Alison Slaton, 13.938. 19, Frank Taft, 14.433. 20, James Shoun (NT).
Drive Shafts, Inc Heat 1 (8 laps)
1, Alex Sewell. 2, Johnny Kent. 3, Sheldon Barksdale. 4, Zach Chappell. 5, Tim Kent. 6, Noah Gass. 7, Frank Taft.
A1 Machine Shop Heat 2 (8 laps)
1, Whit Gastineau. 2, Casey Wills. 3, Mickey Walker. 4, Shane Sellers. 5, Perry PIckard. 6, Joseph Miller. 7, James Shoun (DNS).
Car and Fleet Parts Heat 3 (8 laps)
1, Shayla Waddell. 2, Jared Sewell. 3, Andrew Deal. 4, Joe Bob Lee. 5, Robert Sellers. 6, Alison Slaton.
Grand National Trailer Dash for Cash (12 laps)
1, Alex Sewell. 2, Casey Wills. 3, Noah Gass. 4, Joe Bob Lee. 5, Tim Kent. 6, Joseph Miller. 7, Frank Taft. 8, Alison Slaton. 9, Jared Sewell. 10, Perry Pickard.
Qualifier 1 (6 laps)
1, Joseph Miller. 2, Shane Sellers. 3, Casey Wills. 4, Whit Gastineau. 5, Perry Pickard. 6, Mickey Walker. 7, Rayden Voigt.
Qualifier 2 (6 laps)
1, Tim Kent. 2, Robert Sellers. 3, Sheldon Barksdale. 4, Noah Gass. 5, Frank Taft. 6, Alex Sewell. 7, Zach Chappell.
Qualifier 3 (6 laps)
1, Joe Bob Lee. 2, Shayla Waddell. 3, Alison Slaton. 4, Andrew Deal. 5, Johnny Kent. 6, Jared Sewell.
A Feature (30 laps)
1, 50Z-Zach Chappell. 2, 15D-Andrew Deal. 3, 20S-Sheldon Barksdale. 4, 22X-Shane Sellers. 5, 55-Johnny Kent. 6, 8-Alex Sewell. 7, 5L-Joe Bob Lee. 8, 2-Mickey Walker. 9, 44-Jared Sewell. 10, 31-Casey Wills. 11, 30-Joseph Miller.12, 2A-Alison Slaton. 13, 76S-Shayla Waddell. 14, P78-Perry Pickard. 15, 22T-Frank Taft. 16, 1-Robert Sellers. 17, B52-Brayden Voigt. 18, 79-Tim Kent. 19,2W-Whit Gastineau. 20, 20G-Noah Gass.
Lap Leaders: Zach Chappell 1-13, 18-30; Shane Sellers 14-17.
Margin of victory: 3.074 seconds.
Contingency Award Recipients:
Ameri-Flex Hose A Feature Winner: Zach Chappell
Drive Shafts Inc. Qualifier: Mickey Walker
A-1 Machine Qualifier: Zach Chappell
Car & Fleet Qualifier: Joe Bob Lee
York Plumbing Hard Charger Award: Joe Bob Lee +6
Wesmar Racing Engines Recipient: Casey Wills
M&W Aluminum Hard Luck Award: James Shoun
Amsoil High Point Driver Award: Mickey Walker
Rod End Supply Recipients: Joseph Miller, Alison Slaton, Shayla Waddell
About the Ameri-Flex / OCRS Series –
Established in 2002, the Tulsa OK based Ameri-Flex / OCRS series sanctions dirt track sprint car racing in the southern region of the central plains. Fan appeal and quality race teams, combined with our solid core of supporting sponsors are the nucleus of the series. Thrilling competition providing the ultimate quality family entertainment is the essence of what the Ameri-Flex / OCRS series is all about.
Website: www.ocrsracing.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oil.series
About Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories –
Located in Tulsa OK, Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories is a family owned and operated company. From food grade hose to hoses for the petroleum industry, Ameri-Flex will strive to fill your needs. Ameri-Flex can build a hose to your specifications or we will assist you in creating what you have designed while you wait. Ameri-Flex has several hard to find items that some vendors can’t get or find. Product can be shipped quickly and efficiently. If we do not have what you are looking for, we will direct you on where to find it. Give us a try, after all…………..
Ameri-Flex Has The Stuff That Keeps You Going!
Website: www.ameriflexhose.com
About Grand National Trailer –
With 30 years in the industry, Grand National Trailer has based their foundation on the knowledge that in the eyes of a trucker, time is money. To meet this understanding, Grand National Trailer provides prompt, quality and friendly customer service while giving their undivided attention to all jobs until the end.”
“Grand National Trailer’s goal is to help you to get back out on the roads as quickly and safely as possible, at the best value possible. Stuck on the side of the road? Grand National Trailer offers 24/7 roadside service for those “Need Assistance Now” moments.
Located in the Tulsa Metropolitan area, adjacent to the I-244 and I-44 interchange, Grand National Trailer offers easy access for semis and secure parking. Allow Grand National Trailer the opportunity to meet and exceed your expectations and bring them your repair needs today!
Website:www.grandnationaltrailer.com