OilCapitalRacingSeries Archives

Sewell continues Salina Highbanks success

By John Rittenoure SALINA, Kan. (May 28, 2022) – Over the past four years, Salina Highbanks Speedway has become one of Alex Sewell’s favorite places to race. But that has not always been the case. On Saturday, he won for the fifth time in six straight trips to the Highbanks. “Used to when we came here we kind of dreaded it, but now we look forward to it,” recalled Sewell after the Ameriflex/Oil Capital Racing Series IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature. In 2019 Sewell won at the one event held that year at the highbanks. Sewell swept both Salina races in 2020 and won again early in 2021 before losing the AmeriFlex Challenge VI to Blake Hahn in September. Sewell got off to a slow start Saturday night but came on strong in the final laps for the win. “When they dropped the green, I did not get off to a very good start,” said Sewell. “When we had that yellow, we had 17 or 18 laps left and I knew it was go time.” [Read More]

Shebester becomes first repeat OCRS winner at 81 Speedway

By John Rittenoure PARK CITY, Kans. (May 21, 2022) – It took eight events but a repeat winner has finally emerged in the AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series. Steven Shebester, who won the March 4 IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car series season opener at Red Dirt Raceway, fought his way past a determined Kyle Clark and went on to win the 25-lap feature in a combined event with the Drive to Zero United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Saturday at 81 Speedway. Shebester started outside front row and gunned into the early lead. But fourth starting Kyle Clark drove around Shebester for the lead on lap 10. “He kept his momentum up and the lapped cars kept me bound up,” Shebester said of losing the lead to Clark. “I got a little worried when he passed me. But I just stayed steady and gained on him the next lap so I figured I would just stay where I was at and figured I would get him back and it went pretty good for me.” [Read More]

Smith outduels stepson to win OCRS feature at Tulsa Speedway

By John Rittenoure TULSA, Okla. (May 20, 2022) – It was a family affair in Friday night’s AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car main event at the New Tulsa Speedway. Danny Smith and stepson Kyle Clark battled for the top spot. But dad got the last word, passing Clark for the final time late in the 30-lap feature to pick up the win. It was the 12th OCRS career victory for Smith. “I will probably have to eat dinner somewhere else,” laughed Smith of what life at home will be like in the coming week. “I get to talk some trash for another week.” Clark led for most of the race before dad caught him at the halfway point. Smith tried to mount a pass for the lead on the high side of lap 15 and at one time slightly bumped Clark. “He changed his line and I ran into the back of him,” Smith said. “But it was not hard enough to make him mess up. He was just a sitting duck. [Read More]

Winning the best medicine for Kent at Creek County

By John Rittenoure KELLYVILLE, Okla. (April 23, 2022) – Win or lose, Johnny Kent has had better days behind the wheel of a sprint car. It was all Kent could do to climb behind the wheel of his IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car for Saturday’s AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series feature at Creek County Speedway. Apparently his lunch did not agree with him. “Yes, we did not feel good for sure,” said Kent after winning Saturday’s 30-lap feature. “I had some bad pizza for lunch apparently and I spent the evening being sick.” Despite not feeling 100 percent Kent went the distance to become the sixth different winner this season. Kent started on the pole after scheduled front row starter Noah Harris was late for the lineup and started on the rear. “We got a break with Noah (Harris) having issues and started on the pole,” Kent said. “Car was great, just knew we had to hold them off on the restarts. You can’t give those guys that many shots at you, but it worked out and [Read More]

Easum turns luck around with Oil Capital win at Ada

By John Rittenoure ADA, Okla. (April 9, 2022) – After a couple nights of costly engine failures Terry Easum was more than ready to see things turn around. And that happened Saturday at Oklahoma Sports Park. Easum drove his Premier Self Storage IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car into the early lead and went the 25-lap distance to win the AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series main event. “It has been awhile,” said Easum, who had not won since 2021. “We had some bad luck the past few weeks. I think we got it turned around now.” The tough luck started last month at Lawton. “We broke a motor,” Easum said. “The block started leaking. Just a freak deal. But Greg Meyers got it fixed up for us.” “At Thunderbird it would not run and we had an issue there. It has been one thing after another,” he continued. “Hopefully this is the turning point for the year.” When the green flag dropped on the main event, Zach Chappell chased Easum for the first lap before giving way to Whit [Read More]

Conn wires Oil Capital RaceSaver field at Lawton

By John Rittenoure LAWTON, Okla. (March 26, 2022) – Tanner Conn took advantage of his pole starting position to lead start-to-finish in Saturday’s AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature at Lawton Speedway. Conn outran Jake Martens to become the season’s fifth different winner and pick up his second OCRS career victory. Sheldon Barksdale earned D & G Contracting hard charger honors with his third place finish. Ross Moran finished in fourth and Whit Gastineau charged from 14th to finish fifth. Feature results – 1. Tanner Conn; 2. Jake Martens; 3. Sheldon Barksdale; 4. Rees Moran; 5. Whit Gastineau; 6. John Carney II; 7. Blake Edwards; 8. Steven Shebester; 9. Fred Mattox; 10. Shane Redline; 11. Dane Fields; 12. Cody Whitworth; 13. Terry Easum; 14. Duane Baker; 15. Jeremy Allen; 16. Morgan Fletcher; 17. Elizabeth Phillips; 18. Taylor Hanson; 19. Joe Bob Lee; 20. Conner Thomas; 21. Brady Courtney; 22. Ryan Dean.

Edwards off to fast 2022 start, wins Oil Capital main at Creek County

By John Rittenoure KELLYVILLE, Okla. (March 19, 2022) – Blake Edwards came close to winning his first AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car main event two weeks ago with a second place finish at Red Dirt Raceway. Saturday at Creek County Speedway, Edwards got the win, taking the lead after a lap 14 restart and pacing the field to the checkers for his first OCRS career victory. “We have been fast the first three races, almost won the second night at Meeker and finally won tonight,” said the smiling Edwards. Two-time 2021 Creek County OCRS winner Noah Harris jumped into the early lead from the outside front row and was chased by pole sitter Alex Sewell in second and Edwards in third after two lap one restarts. Edwards passed Sewell for second on lap 12. On lap 14, the yellow waved for a mishap that saw Edwards and Harris make contact. Harris left the race and Edwards was able to continue and took over the lead. “We made a little contact there,” Edwards [Read More]

Nebraska’s Drueke wins first career OCRS Sprint feature

By John Rittenoure MEEKER, Okla. (March 5, 2022) – Tyler Drueke traveled a long ways to race his IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car on Saturday. But the trip was worth it. The Eagle, Neb., resident took the lead with 10 laps remaining and went on to win his first career AmeriFlex Oil Capital Racing Series feature during the second day of the Spring Nationals at Red Dirt Raceway. After a restart on lap 18, Drueke saw his chance to pass Blake Edwards and Sheldon Barksdale for the lead and never looked back. “I just went around on the outside,” Drueke said of his pass of the two for the lead. It was heartbreak for Barksdale who started on the pole and led from the opening lap. Edwards and Rees Moran gave chase and the trio stayed 1-2-3 ‘til the yellow waved on lap 18. Edwards shot around Barksdale for the lead on lap 20 then quickly gave way to Drueke on lap 21. Barksdale fell to fourth. “I was leading those laps and was trying to [Read More]

Shebester wins OCRS season opener

By John Rittenoure MEEKER, Okla. (March 4, 2022) – Steven Shebester led start to finish in Friday’s AmeriFlex Oil Capital Racing Series IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car season opener at Red Dirt Raceway, but the 25-lap distance was more grueling then Shebester expected. “It was getting a little tough toward the end,” Shebester said about going the distance on opening day of the Red Dirt Raceway Spring Nationals. “Being the first race of the season, I got a little wore out. I need to get back into race shape.” Part of the problem stemmed a fast tacky track that made for a very competitive field. “The track was good,” Shebester said. “I came up on lapped traffic about 15 laps in and they were fast. Everyone was fast. It was good everywhere. You could move around a little bit. On top you could get that momentum going and just rip it.” The race almost went green to checkered until the yellow waved with about seven laps remaining for a turn four spin. “I hated to see that [Read More]

Gastineau unstoppable at Thunderbird Speedway

By John Rittenoure MUSKOGEE, Okla. (Sept. 24) – Whit Gastineau always looks forward to a chance to race at Thunderbird Speedway. After Friday night, you can see why. Gastineau moved into an early lead and stretched it out on the way to winning his 31st AmeriFlex/Oil Capital Racing Series IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car career feature Friday on the historic Muskogee half-mile. Gastineau, who seems to excel on the bigger ovals, also won OCRS events at Thunderbird in 2018 and 2017. Sheldon Barksdale, who won at Thunderbird in 2019, raced into second on lap six but could not run down Gastineau and settled for second. Veteran Danny Wood worked his way from seventh to third, Jordan Knight finished fourth and Joe Bob Lee rounded out the top five. Feature results – 1. Whit Gastineau; 2. Sheldon Barksdale; 3. Danny Wood; 4. Jordan Knight; 5. Joe Bob Lee; 6. Joe Wood Jr.; 7. Zach Chappell; 8. Tyler Knight; 9. Dean Drake Jr.; 10. Tim Kent; 11. Terry Easum; 12. Casey Wills; 13. Johnny Kent; 14. Alison Slaton; 15. [Read More]