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note: some video clips & pics have been uploaded at www.darinshort.com/race.html - scroll to 4/18 link
Track Beats Weather, Cowtown Challenge Kicks Off In Dramatic Fashion
Kennedale TX (4/19/09) DarinShort.com. After heavy storms dumped over two inches of rain on
Cowtown Speedway the previous 24 hours, track workers got the facility in shape just in time for the
first-ever Cowtown Challenge. Nearly 500 gallons of fuel were consumed in worker and track vehicles
to pull off the feat, and the pits were opened within 15 minutes of usual time.
And the race fans in attendance were rewarded for their efforts in a big way.
It would turn out to be the nicest weather night of the season, with temperatures hovering around 80
degrees at race time.
In excess of 165 teams from as far away as San Antonio, Houston, Louisiana and Oklahoma
participated in what would go down as a wild night of fast racing action on Cowtown’s high banks. And
due to the large car count, there was no scheduled intermission, and the show ran straight through
and concluded in about 4½ hours yet finishing up before midnight.
Highlighting the evening’s action was the first-ever Cowtown Challenge for the Winged 600 division.
On the line was a whopping Cowtown Challenge bonus of $1,550; on top of the $1,000 first place prize.
A four lap dash with the four heat winners in the 34-car field would determine the lineup for the
feature and the two drivers given the option to relinquish their front row starting position, to start
24th. And if that driver ended up taking the checkers first, they would not only win the $1,000 first
place prize, but the Cowtown Challenge bonus of $1,550.
ASCS Sprint Car ace Kevin Ramey (www.KevinRamey.com) out dueled the lightning quick Hunter
Jones for the first option to take the Challenge. After being confronted in his own right by Darin Short
in is interview on the front stretch, the fans all went wild pleading for him to take the Challenge.
And he did.
Once again, the large crowd voiced their approval and excitement filled the air as the 24-cars came
out onto the track for their 25-lap feature.
But that’s not all. Hunter Jones pleaded with track officials to also relinquish his front row starting
potion to join Kevin in the 12th row and go for the Cowtown Challenge as well. Hunter was allowed to
start at the tail, and once again the crowd cheered him on as the announcement was made. Hunter
recently won $1,500 in ASCS2 non-winged action at the February Fast 50 at Cowtown, and was up for
the ‘challenge.’
At the start of the feature event, the track could best be described as ‘pick a lane and floor it’ as there
was racing and passing from top to bottom.
This would play into the hands of both Jones and Ramey as they would methodically pick of car after
car, and in the first five laps would each pass about 8 cars.
At the half way point, Hunter Jones would drop out from mechanical problems and Kevin Ramey would
still be gaining momentum and was up to 12th place.
As the laps wound down an epic battle would ensue between the first and second place drivers of
Cowtown 600-driver-turned-ASCS sprinter, Travis Reutzel, and east Texas hot shoe Tyson Hall. The
two would swap the lead several times a lap and it was anyone’s guess as to who was going to pick up
the win.
Meanwhile, Kevin Ramey had worked his way into the top 5 as flagman Ronny Goad gave the battling
duo at the front the 2-laps to go signal. As Reutzel and Hall entered corner one they encountered C.J.
Duarte, and when the flying parts all landed, Duarte would end up on is lid, Reutzel would have a flat
left rear tire and Hall would be sent to the pits.
The stage was set for the last few laps between new leader, 2008 Cowtown 600 Champion Jeb
Sessoms, Colby Estes and Kevin Ramey.
Jeb would get a great restart and hold off the challenges of Estes and Ramey. The appreciative crowd
cheered wildly as Jeb accepted his award for winning the first ever Cowtown Challenge, taking home
$1,000 for the win, plus his share of the $1,550 Cowtown Challenge sponsor money collected, that was
paid out equally to the top 10 finishers.
The top five finishers were all torn down after the race and each passed tech inspection.
We would like to thank the following sponsors who brought the Cowtown Challenge to life, resulting
in it becoming inked into the 2010 event calendar:
- $300 Pro-Tech Service Company www.Pro-Tech-Service.com
- $200 City Vending www.CityVending.net
- $200 Robby Fox Drywall, 817-572-9636
- $500 Skyvue Funeral Home: www.skyvuememorialgardens.com
- $300 Excel X-Ray LLC: pkduarte83@hotmail.com (and Pam at Excel X-Ray really worked hard to help
build sponsorship money for the group)
- $50 donated from fans at Cowtown Speedway
$1,650 was also added to the purse from Cowtown Speedway and special event marketing services
were provided at no charge by DarinShort.com.
Moving on to the Cowtown Sprint Cars, the field could best be described as a ‘mini-ASCS’ event; as
drivers from the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Dirt Series, ASCS Gulf South, ASCS Sooner Region and ASCS
Lone Star region filled the pit area to near capacity.
Early feature leader Rodney Henderson (www.rh67.com) would find himself in a battle with Kevin
Ramey with Ramey taking over the point several laps into the event. A front stretch tumble by John
Ricketts would result in a red flag stoppage. Ricketts was obviously uninjured in the crash as he
jumped from the car, climbed the fence to wave to the relieved, cheering crowd.
While the cars were lining back up for the restart, Ramey would drop out of the race from mechanical
woes. Henderson would resume the point and led the majority of the race.
Meanwhile, coming from several rows back, Kolt Walker was working his way through the field
passing cars on the low, middle and high side of the track; as he could put his car wherever he
wanted it.
Walker would battle Henderson briefly, then take over the lead for good with just a few laps
remaining. Henderson would come home in a strong second place finish,
A sidebar note to the Walker victory (which also resulted in Walker climbing the Cowtown fence much
to the delight of the cheering fans), was an additional crew member joining the team for the night.
Just off a long flight from Australia was chassis tuning specialist Wayne Priddy. A victory for their team
would surely help burn off some of Priddy’s jet lag in the days to follow.
Two more 'Cowtown Challenge' events are scheduled for later this summer for the Limited Modifieds
and the Street Stocks. Please click www.CowtownSpeedway.com for the 2009 event schedule, plus
due to the huge field of cars on hand in all divisions, complete results will be posted HERE SOON.
We would like to once again thank everyone from the tireless efforts of the track crew, to the teams
that towed a great distance and fans, for beating the odds the weather dealt us all; resulting in a great
night of action and affordable family fun at the Fastest Li’l Dirt Track in Texas, Cowtown Speedway.
4/15/09: BREAKING NEWS - COWTOWN CHALLENGE JUMPS TO $1,500 MINIMUM FOR SATURDAY!
The Cowtown Challenge has now reached a record amount for this Saturday, eclipsing the $1,050
amount raised by the Bomber drivers, and is now at a staggering $1,500!
That means the winner of the Winged 600 feature will win a minimum of $1,150 to $2,500 Saturday night!
The following three new sponsors are responsible for the increase (please make sure to thank them):
- $300 Pro-Tech Service Company
- $200 City Vending
- $200 Robby Fox Drywall, 817-572-9636
Those three sponsors total $700 added to the already $800 in place provided by sponsors Skyvue
Funeral Home and Excel X-Ray/Duarte Motorsports make up the $1,500 Cowtown Challenge Bonus.
This sudden surge of sponsor money also guarantees the Winged 600 Cowtown Challenge to become
inked on the 2010 Cowtown Speedway schedule - congratulations and thank you to all that have made
it happen!
We still anticipate this number to grow further, as many drivers plan to add money to the Bonus when
they arrive at the track on Saturday night.
Here's an interesting scenario to consider:
Let's say 25 of the Winged 600 drivers put an additional $50 each into the Cowtown Challenge bonus
fund when they arrive at the track Saturday night. That would equal $1,250. Added to the existing
$1,500 would result in a total Cowtown Challenge of $2,750.
In other words, if a front row qualifier takes the Cowtown Challenge, starts 24th and wins, they will
leave Cowtown Speedway with $3,750 in their pocket on Saturday night! (Well, they may have to stuff it
into 2 pockets!)
Or, if no one takes the Cowtown Challenge (or takes it, but doesn't win), each of the top 10 finishers
will split the Cowtown Challenge bonus of $2,750 by EACH taking home an additional $275! (That would
make it a total of $1,275 to win the feature!)
One thing's for sure: Saturday is going to be a WILD night of racing at Cowtown Speedway; with sprint
cars, all points classes running and the Winged 600 Cowtown Challenge - don't miss it!
4/14/09 NEWS FLASH: RaceMom83 'Pounds The Pavement' For 600's Last Night...
...and she shook a few trees, and so far, this is what has fallen out for the Winged 600 Cowtown
Challenge on Saturday night:
- $500 being added to the Challenge bonus from Skyview Funeral Home.
- $300 being added to the Challenge bonus from Excel X-Ray/Duarte Motorsports.
That means, as of Tuesday morning, the Winged 600 Cowtown Challenge now sits at $800 guaranteed!
If your group raises at least $200 more (and I hope it's about $1200 more when it's all over with), then
this event will continue on the 2010 schedule with another $1000 to win night for your division!
For complete Cowtown Challenge details, please click:
www.cowtownspeedway.com/1000.html
THANKS to RaceMom83, Skyvue Funeral Home and Excel X-Ray for getting the ball officially rolling.
Now, are other 600 teams out there going to help her out to make your special night as big as it can
be?
100% of the sponsor money you collect will be paid out to your purse on Saturday!
I know there are some drivers that plan to bring money with them to the track Saturday to add to the
Bonus fund, which is great too. We just won't know until race time how much that becomes.
And make sure to support the businesses that support auto racing! Please visit the following
sponsors and send them a thank you for their support of Cowtown Speedway racing!
Skyvue Funeral Home: www.skyvuememorialgardens.com
serenity@skyvuememorialgardens.com
7220 FM 1187, Mansfield 76063
817-478-6955
Excel X-Ray LLC: pkduarte83@hotmail.com
Track Beats Weather, Cowtown Challenge Kicks Off In Dramatic Fashion
Kennedale TX (4/19/09) DarinShort.com. After heavy storms dumped over two inches of rain on
Cowtown Speedway the previous 24 hours, track workers got the facility in shape just in time for the
first-ever Cowtown Challenge. Nearly 500 gallons of fuel were consumed in worker and track vehicles
to pull off the feat, and the pits were opened within 15 minutes of usual time.
And the race fans in attendance were rewarded for their efforts in a big way.
It would turn out to be the nicest weather night of the season, with temperatures hovering around 80
degrees at race time.
In excess of 165 teams from as far away as San Antonio, Houston, Louisiana and Oklahoma
participated in what would go down as a wild night of fast racing action on Cowtown’s high banks. And
due to the large car count, there was no scheduled intermission, and the show ran straight through
and concluded in about 4½ hours yet finishing up before midnight.
Highlighting the evening’s action was the first-ever Cowtown Challenge for the Winged 600 division.
On the line was a whopping Cowtown Challenge bonus of $1,550; on top of the $1,000 first place prize.
A four lap dash with the four heat winners in the 34-car field would determine the lineup for the
feature and the two drivers given the option to relinquish their front row starting position, to start
24th. And if that driver ended up taking the checkers first, they would not only win the $1,000 first
place prize, but the Cowtown Challenge bonus of $1,550.
ASCS Sprint Car ace Kevin Ramey (www.KevinRamey.com) out dueled the lightning quick Hunter
Jones for the first option to take the Challenge. After being confronted in his own right by Darin Short
in is interview on the front stretch, the fans all went wild pleading for him to take the Challenge.
And he did.
Once again, the large crowd voiced their approval and excitement filled the air as the 24-cars came
out onto the track for their 25-lap feature.
But that’s not all. Hunter Jones pleaded with track officials to also relinquish his front row starting
potion to join Kevin in the 12th row and go for the Cowtown Challenge as well. Hunter was allowed to
start at the tail, and once again the crowd cheered him on as the announcement was made. Hunter
recently won $1,500 in ASCS2 non-winged action at the February Fast 50 at Cowtown, and was up for
the ‘challenge.’
At the start of the feature event, the track could best be described as ‘pick a lane and floor it’ as there
was racing and passing from top to bottom.
This would play into the hands of both Jones and Ramey as they would methodically pick of car after
car, and in the first five laps would each pass about 8 cars.
At the half way point, Hunter Jones would drop out from mechanical problems and Kevin Ramey would
still be gaining momentum and was up to 12th place.
As the laps wound down an epic battle would ensue between the first and second place drivers of
Cowtown 600-driver-turned-ASCS sprinter, Travis Reutzel, and east Texas hot shoe Tyson Hall. The
two would swap the lead several times a lap and it was anyone’s guess as to who was going to pick up
the win.
Meanwhile, Kevin Ramey had worked his way into the top 5 as flagman Ronny Goad gave the battling
duo at the front the 2-laps to go signal. As Reutzel and Hall entered corner one they encountered C.J.
Duarte, and when the flying parts all landed, Duarte would end up on is lid, Reutzel would have a flat
left rear tire and Hall would be sent to the pits.
The stage was set for the last few laps between new leader, 2008 Cowtown 600 Champion Jeb
Sessoms, Colby Estes and Kevin Ramey.
Jeb would get a great restart and hold off the challenges of Estes and Ramey. The appreciative crowd
cheered wildly as Jeb accepted his award for winning the first ever Cowtown Challenge, taking home
$1,000 for the win, plus his share of the $1,550 Cowtown Challenge sponsor money collected, that was
paid out equally to the top 10 finishers.
The top five finishers were all torn down after the race and each passed tech inspection.
We would like to thank the following sponsors who brought the Cowtown Challenge to life, resulting
in it becoming inked into the 2010 event calendar:
- $300 Pro-Tech Service Company www.Pro-Tech-Service.com
- $200 City Vending www.CityVending.net
- $200 Robby Fox Drywall, 817-572-9636
- $500 Skyvue Funeral Home: www.skyvuememorialgardens.com
- $300 Excel X-Ray LLC: pkduarte83@hotmail.com (and Pam at Excel X-Ray really worked hard to help
build sponsorship money for the group)
- $50 donated from fans at Cowtown Speedway
$1,650 was also added to the purse from Cowtown Speedway and special event marketing services
were provided at no charge by DarinShort.com.
Moving on to the Cowtown Sprint Cars, the field could best be described as a ‘mini-ASCS’ event; as
drivers from the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Dirt Series, ASCS Gulf South, ASCS Sooner Region and ASCS
Lone Star region filled the pit area to near capacity.
Early feature leader Rodney Henderson (www.rh67.com) would find himself in a battle with Kevin
Ramey with Ramey taking over the point several laps into the event. A front stretch tumble by John
Ricketts would result in a red flag stoppage. Ricketts was obviously uninjured in the crash as he
jumped from the car, climbed the fence to wave to the relieved, cheering crowd.
While the cars were lining back up for the restart, Ramey would drop out of the race from mechanical
woes. Henderson would resume the point and led the majority of the race.
Meanwhile, coming from several rows back, Kolt Walker was working his way through the field
passing cars on the low, middle and high side of the track; as he could put his car wherever he
wanted it.
Walker would battle Henderson briefly, then take over the lead for good with just a few laps
remaining. Henderson would come home in a strong second place finish,
A sidebar note to the Walker victory (which also resulted in Walker climbing the Cowtown fence much
to the delight of the cheering fans), was an additional crew member joining the team for the night.
Just off a long flight from Australia was chassis tuning specialist Wayne Priddy. A victory for their team
would surely help burn off some of Priddy’s jet lag in the days to follow.
Two more 'Cowtown Challenge' events are scheduled for later this summer for the Limited Modifieds
and the Street Stocks. Please click www.CowtownSpeedway.com for the 2009 event schedule, plus
due to the huge field of cars on hand in all divisions, complete results will be posted HERE SOON.
We would like to once again thank everyone from the tireless efforts of the track crew, to the teams
that towed a great distance and fans, for beating the odds the weather dealt us all; resulting in a great
night of action and affordable family fun at the Fastest Li’l Dirt Track in Texas, Cowtown Speedway.
4/15/09: BREAKING NEWS - COWTOWN CHALLENGE JUMPS TO $1,500 MINIMUM FOR SATURDAY!
The Cowtown Challenge has now reached a record amount for this Saturday, eclipsing the $1,050
amount raised by the Bomber drivers, and is now at a staggering $1,500!
That means the winner of the Winged 600 feature will win a minimum of $1,150 to $2,500 Saturday night!
The following three new sponsors are responsible for the increase (please make sure to thank them):
- $300 Pro-Tech Service Company
- $200 City Vending
- $200 Robby Fox Drywall, 817-572-9636
Those three sponsors total $700 added to the already $800 in place provided by sponsors Skyvue
Funeral Home and Excel X-Ray/Duarte Motorsports make up the $1,500 Cowtown Challenge Bonus.
This sudden surge of sponsor money also guarantees the Winged 600 Cowtown Challenge to become
inked on the 2010 Cowtown Speedway schedule - congratulations and thank you to all that have made
it happen!
We still anticipate this number to grow further, as many drivers plan to add money to the Bonus when
they arrive at the track on Saturday night.
Here's an interesting scenario to consider:
Let's say 25 of the Winged 600 drivers put an additional $50 each into the Cowtown Challenge bonus
fund when they arrive at the track Saturday night. That would equal $1,250. Added to the existing
$1,500 would result in a total Cowtown Challenge of $2,750.
In other words, if a front row qualifier takes the Cowtown Challenge, starts 24th and wins, they will
leave Cowtown Speedway with $3,750 in their pocket on Saturday night! (Well, they may have to stuff it
into 2 pockets!)
Or, if no one takes the Cowtown Challenge (or takes it, but doesn't win), each of the top 10 finishers
will split the Cowtown Challenge bonus of $2,750 by EACH taking home an additional $275! (That would
make it a total of $1,275 to win the feature!)
One thing's for sure: Saturday is going to be a WILD night of racing at Cowtown Speedway; with sprint
cars, all points classes running and the Winged 600 Cowtown Challenge - don't miss it!
4/14/09 NEWS FLASH: RaceMom83 'Pounds The Pavement' For 600's Last Night...
...and she shook a few trees, and so far, this is what has fallen out for the Winged 600 Cowtown
Challenge on Saturday night:
- $500 being added to the Challenge bonus from Skyview Funeral Home.
- $300 being added to the Challenge bonus from Excel X-Ray/Duarte Motorsports.
That means, as of Tuesday morning, the Winged 600 Cowtown Challenge now sits at $800 guaranteed!
If your group raises at least $200 more (and I hope it's about $1200 more when it's all over with), then
this event will continue on the 2010 schedule with another $1000 to win night for your division!
For complete Cowtown Challenge details, please click:
www.cowtownspeedway.com/1000.html
THANKS to RaceMom83, Skyvue Funeral Home and Excel X-Ray for getting the ball officially rolling.
Now, are other 600 teams out there going to help her out to make your special night as big as it can
be?
100% of the sponsor money you collect will be paid out to your purse on Saturday!
I know there are some drivers that plan to bring money with them to the track Saturday to add to the
Bonus fund, which is great too. We just won't know until race time how much that becomes.
And make sure to support the businesses that support auto racing! Please visit the following
sponsors and send them a thank you for their support of Cowtown Speedway racing!
Skyvue Funeral Home: www.skyvuememorialgardens.com
serenity@skyvuememorialgardens.com
7220 FM 1187, Mansfield 76063
817-478-6955
Excel X-Ray LLC: pkduarte83@hotmail.com
