Tri-State Speedweek Wednesday report, results

Darren Stewart snares ASCS Speedweek round five triumph at Tri-State

ASCS - POCOLA, Okla. (June 4, 2003) - Darren Stewart capped a stellar evening of racing action at Tri-State Speedway on Wednesday night, slipping past older brother Shane Stewart on the eleventh round en route to victory lane in the fifth leg of the 11th Annual American Sprint Car Series Speedweek. The 25-lap victory marked the second O'Reilly ASCS National Tour presented by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores and United Trailers triumph of the season for the series point leader.

The Stewart siblings led the feature field to the green flag after each won their respective heats from the third row. Darren led through the first two corners from the pole position, with Shane charging by on the backstretch and taking command as the field entered turn three on the opening round.

Following a brief caution after two rounds, Shane and Darren Stewart battled wheel-to-wheel for the lead for several rounds. Darren ducked underneath Shane exiting turn two on laps four and five, only to have Shane fend off Darren's assault for the lead.

Shane Stewart gradually established an eight car-length lead over the next few rounds, as Darren Stewart held off third-starter Brooke Tatnell for second. Tatnell tipped off the fast way around the three-eighths mile clay oval, briefly ducking under Darren Stewart on the tenth round. Darren Stewart quickly responded by moving to the low side, quickly reeling in Shane Stewart and racing into the lead a lap later exiting turn two.

"I think I owe Brooke one for that win," proclaimed the happy winner following the race. "I saw his nose underneath me there, and I knew I better get on the bottom. I went down there and the car just took off. The Sparks Construction Ostrich Racing Engines Avenger was running great, it made my job a lot easier tonight."

Darren Stewart took the checkered flag to become the fourth different winner in five ASCS Speedweek events with a ten car-length advantage over Shane Stewart, as the Stewart brothers swept the top two positions for the second time in three races. Tatnell finished a close third, with Garry Lee Maier a strong fourth. Gary Wright's fifth-place finish allowed him to keep ASCS Speedweek point leader Shane Stewart within striking distance, as Shane Stewart holds a 16 point advantage with three races remaining.

Travis Rilat and Billy Alley swapped positions several times before Rilat secured sixth place, with Alley finishing seventh. Kevin Ramey earned the race's Hard Charger award by crossing the stripe eighth after starting 17th, while Dale Howard and California's Rick Williams completed the top ten.

Darren Stewart, Maier, Shane Stewart, Tatnell and Wright each claimed heat race victories for the 35-car field. Zach Chappell limped across the finish line with an ailing powerplant to win the first 12-lap B Feature, while Nick Smith prevailed in an early duel with Tony Bruce, Jr., to win the second B Main. Chappell took the green flag in the feature and pulled out early, while Smith was eliminated from feature competition following a turn three spin after two rounds.

ASCS Speedweek continues Thursday night at Paris (TX) Motor Speedway, then moves on to Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX, Friday night. ASCS Speedweek then comes to a conclusion Saturday night at Lawton (OK) Speedway.

Results:

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. Darren Stewart, 2. Shane Stewart, 3. Brooke Tatnell, 4. Garry Lee Maier, 5. Gary Wright, 6. Travis Rilat, 7. Billy Alley, 8. Kevin Ramey, 9. Dale Howard, 10. Rick Williams, 11. Larry Neighbors, 12. Cody Branchcomb, 13. Tony Bruce, Jr., 14. Kelly Angelette, 15. J.D. Johnson, 16. Rick Behr, 17. Terry Gray, 18. Jan Howard, 19. Nick Smith, 20. Zach Chappell.

First B Feature (12 Laps): 1. Zach Chappell, 2. Kevin Ramey, 3. Cody Branchcomb, 4. Toby Brown, 5. Brian Harvill, 6. Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 7. Bryce Vowan, 8. Tim Crawley, 9. Ronny Howard, 10. John Pate, 11. Matt Clevenger.

Second B Feature (12 Laps): 1. Nick Smith, 2. Tony Bruce, Jr., 3. J.D. Johnson, 4. Sean McClelland, 5. Henry Gustavus, 6. Stephanie Chappell, 7. Stephen Chevallier, 8. Jimmy Taylor, 9. Jeff Dodd, 10. Greg Merritt.

First Heat (8 Laps): 1. Darren Stewart, 2. Larry Neighbors, 3. Rick Behr, 4. Brian Harvill, 5. J.D. Johnson, 6. Stephanie Chappell, 7. Matt Clevenger.

Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. Garry Lee Maier, 2. Rick Williams, 3. Nick Smith, 4. Zach Chappell, 5. Tim Crawley, 6. Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 7. Jimmy Taylor.

Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. Shane Stewart, 2. Dale Howard, 3. Travis Rilat, 4. Tony Bruce, Jr., 5. Sean McClelland, 6. Stephen Chevallier, 7. Ronny Howard.

Fourth Heat (8 Laps): 1. Brooke Tatnell, 2. Billy Alley, 3. Terry Gray, 4. Kevin Ramey, 5. Toby Brown, 6. Bryce Vowan, 7. Greg Merritt.

Fifth Heat (8 Laps): 1. Gary Wright, 2. Kelly Angelette, 3. Jan Howard, 4. Henry Gustavus, 5. Cody Branchcomb, 6. Jeff Dodd, 7. John Pate.

O'Reilly ASCS Points (Top Ten): 1. Darren Stewart 2,122, 2. Travis Rilat 2,046, 3. Zach Chappell 2,032, 4. Gary Wright 2,008, 5. Cody Branchcomb 1,908, 6. Toby Brown 1,810, 7. Shane Stewart 1,550, 8. Rick Behr 1,253, 9. Matt Clevenger 1,120, 10. Kevin Ramey 1,084.

ASCS Speedweek Points through Five of Eight Events (Top Ten): 1. Shane Stewart 732, 2. Gary Wright 716, 3. Darren Stewart 694, 4. Zach Chappell 672, 5. Kevin Ramey 652, 6. Travis Rilat 650, 7. Jan Howard 620, 8. Rick Williams 616, 9. Cody Branchcomb 582, 10. Kelly Angelette 522.

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