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Hidalgos, Rowlands Make Father’s Day Weekend Family Affair at Pine Valley; Brinkley Doubles

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

It was a very happy Father’s Day weekend for the IHRA Summit Pro-Am Division 4 series, as racers from three states rolled into Pine Valley (Texas) Raceway to compete in 11 different categories of drag racing. Fittingly, fathers and sons (and daughters) found themselves in the winner’s circle, as Matt and Jake Levatino (Top Dragster), and Vernon and Brittany Rowland (Hot Rod and Super Rod) all won Ironmen. Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. outdueled his dad Jimmy Sr. for Stock and Super Stock wins, while Shannon Brinkley doubled in the weekend’s Quick Rod races. In all, 18 different drivers won Ironmen.

Top Sportsman

Leslie Dugas won Saturday’s Good Vibrations Top Sportsman with an excellent run in the final. Dugas, Grandview, Texas, defeated Gilmer, Texas’ Roger Massey with a 7.45 time against a 7.40 dial-in (.0135 RT). Massey was close behind, cutting a .0538 light on a 7.12 run against a 7.05 dial-in. Dugas overcame Marlon Goates in the semifinal, while Massey bested Michael Cobb.

Sunday saw Massey in the final pair once again, but he lost out to Saturday semifinalist Marlon Goates. The Houston, Texas native was sharp in his run to the Ironman, posting a 7.219 time on a 7.20 dial-in with a .042 light. Massey broke out, finishing .02 seconds ahead of his 7.13 dial. Massey defeated Lonnie Sumner to make the finals; Goates had a bye run.

Top Dragster

The Levatino family found first place to their liking, as the father and son duo from La Place, Louisiana swept the weekend’s Top Dragster Ironmen. Son Jake picked up the win Saturday with a brilliant run, crossing the line only .006 seconds off his 7.37 dial and cutting a .0126 light. Curt Harvey II (Greeneville, Texas) was also very good, running 7.49 against 7.47 with a .0168 reaction time. Harvey bested Wynette Hudgins in his semifinal run, and Levatino had a bye.

Fittingly enough, it was a Father’s Day win for Matt Levatino, who bested David Johns of Floresville, Texas, to complete the family affair. Levatino ran 7.48 on a 7.46 dial-in with a .017 light against Johns’ 7.01 time on a 6.98 dial-in and .019 light. In the semis, Johns defeated Kohl Weaver to advance, while Levatino ran unopposed.

Super Stock

Saturday’s Super Stock final saw a close finish between Louisianians Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. and Kevin Bakies. Bakies, Alexandria, Louisiana, cut a .067 light and was .050 seconds off his 11.03 dial-in, but couldn’t quite match Hidalgo Jr. (La Place), who was .048 off his dial-in (10.31 against 9.83) with a great .007 reaction time. Bakies had a bye run through to the final, while Hidalgo Jr. had a phenomenal semifinal jaunt, clocking 9.788 on a 9.78 dial-in to defeat Tom Gordon.

Sunday brought another Magnolia State finish, as Joe Teuton of Schriever, Louisiana defeated Jarrod Granier of Labadieville. Teuton had some trouble in the semifinals, topping out at 32.03 mph during his bye run, but rose to the occasion against Granier, recording a 8.77 time against 8.66 with a .033 light. Granier finished with a 10.17 time on a 9.70 dial-in and a .107 reaction time. Granier topped Brandon Bakies in his semifinal race.

Stock Eliminator

Jakob Pitt picked up the Stock Eliminator Ironman on Saturday with a win over Parker DeVore. Pitt, of Mansfield, Texas, just barely ran under his 10.54 ET (10.531), while DeVore, Tulsa, Oklahoma, finished with an 11.72 time against an 11.77 dial-in. Pitt advanced over J. Allen Shermen in the semifinals; DeVore had a bye.

Jimmy “Cooter” Hidalgo Jr. picked up his second Ironman of the weekend, taking Sunday’s Stock Eliminator over Jake Howard. Hidalgo Jr. was just .0256 off his 10.66 dial-in (.029 reaction time), bested Howard’s 10.696 against a 10.67 ET (.042 RT). Howard had a bye run in the semis, while Hidalgo Jr. advanced over his father Jimmy Hidalgo Sr.

 

Hot Rod

Ed Ridenhour saved his best for last to win Saturday’s Hot Rod final. Ridenhour, Kennedale, Texas, was right around his 10.90 ET all day, but finished with a scintillating 10.9068 and .032 RT to defeat Van Arnold (Houston, Texas), who broke out. Ridenhour was nearly as good in the semis, clocking a 10.91 run to advance past Ray Dew. Arnold had an excellent run to move on as well (10.901 on 10.90) to best Reggie Lytch.

Sunday saw Blanchard, Oklahoma’s Brittany Rowland take the Ironman over Danny Brossman of Garden Ridge, Texas. Rowland made a nice run in the final, with a 10.94 time on a 10.90 dial-in with a .030 reaction time, while Brossman ran out in the other lane. Rowland derailed Ed Ridenhour’s repeat bid in the semifinals, and Brossman beat Dennis Clark.

 

Quick Rod

Shannon Brinkley took home Quick Rod Ironmen on both Saturday and Sunday, registering some excellent reaction times along the way. In Saturday’s final pair, Brinkley, Highlands, Texas, got off the line in .003 seconds and finished with a 9.16 time on a 8.90 dial to best Jake Levatino (9.67/8.90, 0.17 RT). Brad Core had a red-light foul in the semis to boost Brinkley to the finals; Levatino beat David Freeman.

Brinkley was even better on Sunday to defeat Christopher Snyder and complete the weekend sweep. With both drivers estimating an 8.90-second time, Snyder, Austin, Texas, made a solid 8.94 run with an .014 light, but Brinkley finished the quarter-mile in 8.91 (.016 light). Brinkley topped Chase Murray in his semifinal run, while Snyder had a bye.

 

Super Rod

The Saturday Super Rod Ironman went to James Carter in a close finish over Charlie Stewart. Stewart, Azle, Texas, was a mere .018 seconds off his 9.90 dial-in and cut a .023 light, but Carter (Forney, Texas) grabbed the holeshot win on the strength of a .014 reaction time (9.92 against 9.90). Carter reached the finals with a win over Vernon Rowland, who broke out, while Stewart knocked off Jerry Pollard.

Vernon Rowland was not to be outdone by daughter Brittany, winning Sunday’s final over Clark Mundt. Rowland, Blanchard, Oklahoma, clocked 9.943 on a 9.90 dial-in against Mundt’s 9.941, but Rowland’s .021 reaction time bested Mundt’s .044 light, giving him the holeshot win over the Longview, Texas driver. Mundt defeated Max McGlothin in the semis, while Rowland got past Kip Guenzel.

 

Jr. Masters

Bryce Granier of Labadieville, Louisiana, took home Saturday’s Junior Masters Ironman. Granier’s solid run of 7.91 on a 7.90 dial-in with a .047 RT beat out Jackson Core, Crowley, Louisiana, who left before the green light. Granier advanced to the final via a bye, while Core moved on past Ty (?) Casey in the other semifinal.

Sunday’s final featured a close race between Aaron Jordan and Matthew Murdock, with Jordan coming out victorious. Murdock, Orange, Texas, made a great showing, coming off the line in .068 seconds and running just .012 off his 7.90 dial-in, but Jordan, Fort Worth, Texas, was even better, registering a .028 RT and a 7.926 time on a 7.91 dial-in. In the semis, Jordan bested sister Regan Jordan, while Murdock had an unopposed run.

 

Jr. Advanced

Van Vleck, Texas’ Trace Casey took Saturday’s Junior Advanced Ironman in a victory over Bacliff, Texas’ Audrey Wenske. Casey made a great run in the final with an 8.91 against 8.90 with a .131 light, while Wenske committed a red-light foul. Casey made a bye run in the semis; Wenske defeated Kaylee Brenk.

Casey had a shot to sweep the weekend, but lost out in the final to Cody Hughes of Decatur, Louisiana. Hughes cut a .035 light and registered an 8.93 final time against an 8.90 dial-in; Casey broke out on the other side. Casey was unopposed in the semis for the second straight day, and Hughes bounced Graeme Rufenacht.

Jr. Beginner

Joshua Nelson got past Charlie Bakies in the Saturday finals of the Junior Beginners. Nelson, (Tomball, Texas), stayed close to his 12.10 dial-in all day and finished up with a 12.14 time and a .124 light. Bakies, Alexandria, Louisiana, broke out in the finals to seal Nelson’s win. In the semifinals, Nelson defeated Claudia Murdock and Bakies advanced over Jada Rapp from Magnolia, Texas.

It was another Nelson win on Sunday, as Alden defeated his brother Joshua to snag the Ironman. The two Texans from Tomball squared off in the final, with Aiden’s 14.44 time on a 14.40 dial-in giving him the holeshot win; Joshua just barely broke out (12.08 against 12.12). Claudia Murdock lost in the semifinals once again, this time to Alden Nelson. Joshua got past Charlie Bakies.

 

For complete weekend results for the San Antonio Summit Pro-Am double weekend, click here:  http://motormaniatv.com/event-results/ihra/

 

Day 1 Champions

 

Good Vibrations Top Sportsman:  Leslie Dugas, Grandview, TX

Good Vibrations Top Dragster:  Jake Levatino, Laplace, LA

Super Stock:  Jimmy Hidalgo, Jr, Donaldsonville, LA

Stock:  Jacob Pitt, Mansfield, TX

Quick Rod: Shannon Brinkley, Highlands, TX

Super Rod:  James Carter, Forney, TX

Hot Rod:  Ed Ridenhour, Kennedale, TX

Junior Master:  Bryce Granier, Labadieville, LA

Junior Advanced:  Trace Casey, Van Vleck, TX

Junior Beginner:  Joshua “Lugnut” Nelson, Tomball, TX

 

 

Day 2 Champions

 

Good Vibrations Top Sportsman:  Marlon Goates, Troy, TX

Good Vibrations Top Dragster:  Matt Levatino, Laplace, LA

Super Stock:  Joe Teuton, Shriever, LA

Stock:  Jimmy Hidalgo, Jr, Donaldsonville, LA

Quick Rod:  Shannon Brinkley, Highlands, TX

Super Rod:  Vernon Rowland, Blanchard, OK

Hot Rod:  Brittany Rowland, Blanchard, OK

Junior Master: Aaron, Jordan, Fort Worth, TX

Junior Advanced:  Cody Hughes, Decatur, TX

Junior Beginner:  Alden “Bob” Nelson, Tomball, TX

Last modified on Tuesday, 12 July 2016