4/21/2019
RacinBoys
Sewell uses restart to his advantage in win OCRS main at Caney Valley Speedway
By John Rittenoure, OCRS PR (Caney, KS) -- Alex Sewell used the element of surprise to drive around Sheldon Barksdale and win the Ameri-Flex / OCRS Sprint Car main event at Caney Valley Speedway on Saturday night.
PHOTO CREDIT: OCRS Photo
The Ameri-Flex / OCRS defending champion took advantage of a lap 13 yellow to jump around Barksdale for the lead in his Action Auto Collision / Sewell Mechanical sponsored sprinter and he stayed there for the remaining 17 laps to capture his first victory of 2019.
"I think it was all about catching him by surprise," Sewell said of his move around Barksdale for the lead.
Barksdale raced off the pole into the early lead over rookie front row starter Avery Goodman and Sewell in third. For 13 laps, Goodman and Sewell chased Barksdale. On lap 11, Sewell was able to get around Goodman for second and started looking for a way to challenge Barksdale when the yellow waved.
"I was going to do the move on him but luckily the yellow came out when it did because he would have probably protected the line," Sewell said of Barksdale.
Early in the race, Sewell was trying to figure out the track surface which had dried out and the yellow flag allowed him to make a move.
"I think I found the rubber a little earlier than the other guys off of (turn) two and I think that propelled me into a spot where Sheldon (Barksdale) was not ready for me," Sewell said. "We took the lead after that restart and took Sheldon by surprise."
"I found it a little earlier by mistake when I got into turn one a little to sideways and came off the bottom. It felt like a lot of grip. When I was in third, I made a move on Avery Goodman and got by him. Then I knew I was going to have to do something with Sheldon."
Barksdale fell off the pace after the restart and Layne Himebaugh, who started 10th, worked his way up to second where he finished in the 30-lapper. Travis Jenkins managed to finish third ahead of Zach Chappell and fifth place Whit Gastineau.
Gastineau earned the York Plumbing Hard Charger award for coming from 17th position to fifth.
Ameri-Flex / OCRS Results
Caney Valley Speedway
April 20, 2019
Car count: 17
Drive Shafts, Inc. Heat 1 (8 laps)
1, 15D-Andrew Deal [1]. 2, 8-Alex Sewell [3]. 3, 20S-Sheldon Barksdale [5]. 4, 62-James Shoun [2]. 5, 15-Jase Randolph [6]. 6, 18J-Cody Jarvis [4].
Bravado Wireless Heat 2 (8 laps)
1, 5-Joe Bob Lee [1]. 2, 9-Kinzer Edwards [3]. 3, 4PM-Travis Jenkins [6]. 4, 79-Tim Kent [5]. 5, 22T-Frank Taft [2]. DQ: Whit Gastineau (Did not report to scales).
Car and Fleet Parts Heat 3 (8 laps)
1, 11-Avery Goodman [1]. 2, 88-Terry Easum [3]. 3, 50Z-Zach Chappell [4]. 4, 94L-Layne Himebaugh [5]. 5, 51-Ryan Dean [2].
Ameri-Flex Hose & Accessories A Feature (30 laps)
1, 8-Alex Sewell [4]. 2, 94L-Layne Himebaugh [10]. 3, 4PM-Travis Jenkins [6]. 4, 50Z-Zach Chappell [9]. 5, 2W-Whit Gastineau [17]. 6, 15D-Andrew Deal [3]. 7, 15-Jase Randolph [11]. 8, 88-Terry Easum [8]. 9, 11-Avery Goodman [2]. 10, 22T-Frank Taft [16]. 11, 20S-Sheldon Barksdale [1] 12, 18J-Cody Jarvis [15]. 13, 62-James Shoun [12]. 14, 9-Kinzer Edwards [7]. 15, 79-Tim Kent [13]. 16, 51-Ryan Dean [14]. 17, 5-Joe Bob Lee [5].
Lap Leaders: Sheldon Barksdale 1-13, Alex Sewell 14-30.
Margin of victory: 2.922 seconds.
Contingency Award Recipients:
Ameri-Flex Hose A Feature Winner: Alex Sewell
Drive Shafts Inc. Heat Award Recipient: Andrew Deal
Bravado Wireless Heat Award Recipient: Joe Bob Lee
Car & Fleet Heat Award Recipient: Avery Goodman.
York Plumbing Hard Charger Award: Whit Gastineau +12
M&W Aluminum Hard Luck Award: Joe Bob Lee
Amsoil High Point Driver Award: Andrew Deal
Wesmar Racing Engines Recipient: Frank Taft
Rod End Supply Recipients: Sheldon Barksdale, Cody Jarvis, James Shoun
Website: http://www.ocrsracing.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oil.series
Website: http://www.ameriflexhose.com
Next up: May 11 - Salina Highbanks Speedway / Salina Oklahoma
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
