The 34th edition of I-30 Speedway’s COMP Cams Short Track Nationals

Hahn Hustles to Third Career Short Track Nationals Triumph at I-30 Speedway!

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 23, 2021) – The tone was set with Friday night’s “Twin 20’s” and Saturday delivered an absolute race for the ages.

And when the final checkered flag flew upon I-30 Speedway’s 34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires, it was Sapulpa, Oklahoma’s Blake Hahn putting an exclamation point on his first Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour championship by notching his third career STN triumph.

Following several lead changes along the way, Hahn ultimately battled past Jordon Mallett on the 39th round to take the $10,041 winner’s share in the 41-lap STN championship feature event.

“I know Jordon is so good running the bottom that I had to keep working the top and it came in for me,” Hahn explained after the triumph aboard the Drive WFX No. 52 Sprint Car.

Hahn crossed the stripe ahead of Sam Hafertepe, Jr., who fell one position short of going back-to-back in the Short Track Nationals while Mallett settled for the show position.

Hahn gridded the feature fourth after Cody Gardner earned the pole position for the feature by topping the Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash”.  Gardner gunned into to the early lead and paced the opening seven rounds ahead of Mallett, Hahn and Hafertepe, Jr.

But when Gardner jumped the cushion exiting turn four on the eighth round, Mallett pounced for the lead.

Traffic came into play within a dozen laps with Hahn disposing of Gardner for second on the 11th round and then racing past Mallett for the point the next time around.  Mallett battled right back to recapture the lead on the 16th round and paced the next 23 rounds as Hahn, Hafertepe, Jr., and Dylan Westbrook continually traded positions right behind the leader.

Westbrook’s strong run was sidelined by a cut tire after 34 laps that precipitated the race’s first of just two cautions.

While trying to fend off Hafertepe, Jr., in the process, Hahn went to work on Mallett and edged into the lead only to have it waved off when Garet Williamson spun in turn one with 36 laps in the books.

Set for a five-lap dash to the stripe, Mallett moved to the topside to try to slow Hahn’s advances but to no avail as Hahn was able to slip by with just three laps to go.  He brought Hafertepe, Jr., with him and was able to hold on to the stripe.

J.J. Hickle followed the lead trio of Hahn, Hafertepe, Jr., and Mallett across the stripe in fourth with Derek Hagar rounding out the top five.

Matt Covington was sixth with Gardner, Eric Baldaccini, Miles Paulus and Eric Lutz completing the top ten.

In addition to Hickle, Baldaccini, Paulus and Lutz, others making the cut for their first STN championship feature included Jason Barney, Slater Helt, Justin Zimmerman and Dustin Gates.  At the other end of the spectrum, Tim Crawley made it into an STN record 24th championship feature before making an early exit.

Marshall Skinner, Helt, Crawley, Howard Moore, Williamson and Gardner topped heat race action before Chase Porter and Gary Floyd won “C” Mains and Gates and Crawley topped “B” Mains.

After Michigan’s Ryan Ruhl turned a pirouette and turned over exiting turn four on the final lap of the fifth heat, Landon Crawley went for a wild ride off the turn on embankment in the sixth heat.  There were no injuries.

Sixty-three drivers from 13 different states as well as Canada and Australia took part in the 34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires Saturday Night Results:

Locked-in from Friday Preliminaries:  14-Jordon Mallett, 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 9jr-Derek Hagar, 63-J.J. Hickle.

Heat Races (Top 10 in combined points from Friday night and Saturday night heat race passing points to the “A” Main – Balance to Twin “B” and “C” Mains):

First Heat (8 Laps):  1. 26-Marshall Skinner (1), 2. 19-Jason Long (2), 3. 21m-Spencer Meredith (4), 4. 12-Tony Bruce, Jr. (5), 5. 42p-Preston Perlmutter (6), 6. X-Charlie Louden (9), 7. 21r-Gunner Ramey (8), 8. 0v-Michael Vaculik (3), 9. 13-Chase Howard (10), 10. 27J-Joseph Poe (7).

Second Heat (8 Laps):  1. 22s-Slater Helt (4), 2. 98p-Miles Paulus (3), 3. 44m-Chris Martin (5), 4. 13m-Chance McCrary (1), 5. 24-Jeffrey West, Jr. (7), 6. 27w-Austin Wood (6), 7. 21b-Brandon Hinkle (8), 8. 10L-Landon Britt (9), 9. 44h-Ronny Howard (2).

Third Heat (8 Laps):  1. 0c-Tim Crawley (2), 2. 52-Blake Hahn (4), 3. 95-Matt Covington (3), 4. 21k-Kevin Hinkle (1), 5. 91x-Michael Day (5), 6. 2c-Chase Porter (8), 7. 6-Dustin Gates (9), 8. 12m-Greg Merritt (6), 9. 92-Cody Hays (7).

Fourth Heat (8 Laps):  1. 3-Howard Moore (1), 2. 1s-Joey Schmidt (3), 3. 74-Tucker Boulton (2), 4. 28a-Keith Ainsworth (4), 5. 91a-Ernie Ainsworth (7), 6. 88-Travis Reber (5), 7. 3g-Paxton Gregory (6), 8. 8x-Tony Higgins (8), 9. 3b-Chris Banja (9).

Fifth Heat (8 Laps):  1. 24w-Garet Williamson (1), 2. 5L-Eric Lutz (6), 3. 72p-Gary Floyd (2), 4. 28b-Scott Bogucki (9), 5. 87-Jason Barney (8), 6. 69-Jamey Mooney (3), 7. 38-Rick Pringle (7), 8. 3J-Junior Jenkins (5), 9. 16w-Ryan Ruhl (4).

Sixth Heat (8 Laps):  1. G6-Cody Gardner (4), 2. 17b-Ryan Bickett (1), 3. 0b-Eric Baldaccini (8), 4. 1z-Justin Zimmerman (7), 5. 47x-Dylan Westbrook (9), 6. 30-Joseph Miller (6), 7. 44-Jason Howell (5), 8. 0z-Landon Crawley (3), 9. 23p-Hunter Poe (2).

“C” Mains – Top 3 from each transfer to corresponding “B” Main:

First “C” Feature (10 Laps):  1. 2c-Chase Porter (2), 2. 13m-Chance McCrary (1), 3. 3g-Paxton Gregory (3), 4. 88-Travis Reber (6), 5. 12m-Greg Merritt (5), 6. 92-Cody Hays (8), 7. 8x-Tony Higgins (10), 8. 28a-Keith Ainsworth (4), 9. 69-Jamey Mooney (7), 10. 27J-Joseph Poe (11), 11. 0v-Michael Vaculik (9).

Second “C” Feature (10 Laps):  1. 72p-Gary Floyd (1), 2. 44-Jason Howell (4), 3. 21k-Kevin Hinkle (3), 4. 38-Rick Pringle (6), 5. 3b-Chris Banja (7), 6. 44h-Ronny Howard (8), 7. 19-Jason Long (2), 8. 3J-Junior Jenkins (5), 9. 16w-Ryan Ruhl (DNS), 10. 23p-Hunter Poe (DNS).

Pack Building Materials Dash for Cash:

Dash for Cash (6 Laps):  1. G6-Cody Gardner (1) [$500], 2. 14-Jordon Mallett (2) [$250], 3. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (4) [$150], 4. 52-Blake Hahn (6) [$100], 5. 9jr-Derek Hagar (5) [$100], 6. 63-J.J. Hickle (3) [$100].

“B” Mains – Top 3 from each transfer to “A” Main:

First “B” Feature (10 Laps):  1. 6-Dustin Gates (2), 2. 24w-Garet Williamson (3), 3. 1z-Justin Zimmerman (1), 4. 74-Tucker Boulton (5), 5. 28b-Scott Bogucki (10), 6. 21r-Gunner Ramey (6), 7. 91x-Michael Day (7), 8. 17b-Ryan Bickett (4), 9. 24-Jeffrey West, Jr. (9), 10. 42p-Preston Perlmutter (8), 11. 2c-Chase Porter (13), 12. 3g-Paxton Gregory (15), 13. 13-Chase Howard (12), 14. 21m-Spencer Meredith (11), 15. 13m-Chance McCrary (14).

Second “B” Feature (10 Laps):  1. 0c-Tim Crawley (1), 2. 26-Marshall Skinner (2), 3. 87-Jason Barney (3), 4. 10L-Landon Britt (8), 5. 12-Tony Bruce, Jr. (4), 6. X-Charlie Louden (9), 7. 91a-Ernie Ainsworth (7), 8. 1s-Joey Schmidt (5), 9. 30-Joseph Miller (6), 10. 44-Jason Howell (12), 11. 27w-Austin Wood (10), 12. 21k-Kevin Hinkle (14), 13. 72p-Gary Floyd (13), 14. 21b-Brandon Hinkle (11), 15. 0z-Landon Crawley (DNS).

“A” Feature:

A Feature (41 Laps – Starting position in parentheses):  1. 52-Blake Hahn (4) [$10,041], 2. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (3) [$5,000], 3. 14-Jordon Mallett (2) [$2,500], 4. 63-J.J. Hickle (6) [$2,200], 5. 9jr-Derek Hagar (5) [$2,000], 6. 95-Matt Covington (12) [$1,700], 7. G6-Gody Gardner (1) [$1,500], 8. 0b-Eric Baldaccini (8) [$1,300], 9. 98p-Miles Paulus (11) [$1,200], 10. 5L-Eric Lutz (10) [$1,100], 11. 87-Jason Barney (20) [$1,000], 12. 24w-Garet Williamson (17) [$950], 13. 47x-Dylan Westbrook (7) [$900], 14. 44m-Chris Martin (14) [$880], 15. 3-Howard Moore (13) [$850], 16. 22s-Slater Helt (9) [$800], 17. 1z-Justin Zimmerman (19) [$800], 18. 6-Dustin Gates (15) [$800], 19. 0c-Tim Crawley (16) [$800], 20. 26-Marshall Skinner (18) [$800].

Lap Leaders:  Cody Gardner 1-6, Jordon Mallett 8-11, Blake Hahn 12-15, Mallett 16-38, Hahn 39-41.

Mallett and Hafertepe, Jr., Score in Short Track Nationals Prelim “Twins 20’s”!

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 22, 2021) – The 34th edition of I-30 Speedway’s COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires kicked off in rousing fashion Friday night with Jordon Mallett and Sam Hafertepe, Jr., racing to victory lane in the evening’s Twin 20-lap feature events.

While Greenbrier, AR, shoe Jordon Mallett emerged from a spirited battle with Derek Hagar to capture his first career Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour win in the first 20-lapper, reigning event champion Sam Hafertepe, Jr., of Sunnyvale, TX, solidified his status as an odd-on favorite with a convincing triumph in the second 20-lapper.

Marion, Arkansas’ Hagar and Quilcene, Washington’s J.J. Hickle secured positions in Saturday night’s Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash” as well and a top-three row position at worst for the $10,041-to-win, 41-lap STN championship feature event.

After a pair of aborted starts for an Austin Wood turn two spin and then a third turn flip, Mallett gunned into the lead at the outset of the night’s first 20-lapper with Hagar and Canada’s Dylan Westbrook in hot pursuit.

Hagar kept the pressure on and used traffic to his advantage to take the lead away from Mallett on the 12th circuit as he vied for a third consecutive STN preliminary win aboard the No. 9jr entry.  Westbrook challenged Mallett for the runner-up position, but the young shoe got busy and soon turned the tables on Hagar in traffic to recapture the lead with a handful of laps to go aboard the Water for Christ No. 14 machine.

Mallett kept Hagar at bay in the closing laps of the frenzied feature with Westbrook settling for the show position as Matt Covington and Miles Paulus filled out the top five.  Cody Gardner crossed the stripe sixth with Slater Helt climbing from 14th to seventh as Gunner Ramey, Eric Lutz and Justin Zimmerman completed the top ten.

“I thought it was going to be kinda boring out there, just out front and minding my own,” Mallett explained.  “I knew it would get dicey in lapped traffic and you can’t ever count Derek, he’s such a good driver.  I’m just glad we were able to get that back.”

After posting the only qualifying lap in the 11-second bracket of 11.987-second for the night’s quickest overall time, Hafertepe, Jr., flexed his muscle with a dominant win in the second of the “Twin 20’s” for his 58th career Lucas Oil National Tour feature win aboard the Townline Variety/Heidbreider Foundation Service No. 15h.

“We had an awesome car all night long, that’s actually the best car that we’ve ever had here,” Hafertepe, Jr., commented in victory lane.

Gridding the feature field outside the front row, Hafertepe, Jr., gunned ahead of fellow front row starter J.J. Hickle at the drop of the green flag and never looked back en route to his fourth career STN preliminary feature triumph.

The action in his wake was compelling with 1998 STN champion Tim Crawley holding off two-time event winner Blake Hahn for the runner-up position until the halfway mark.  Power steering woes soon brought Crawley’s run to a premature end, bringing about a caution that set the stage for a seven-lap dash to the checkered.

With a handful of lapped cars separating himself from his pursuers, Hafertepe, Jr., dashed on to take the win by a healthy 6.979-second margin Hahn and Hickle diced for the coveted runner-up position.

Hickle emerged with the position in the closing rounds as Hahn settled for third.  Dustin Gates worked his way from ninth to fourth with Chris Martin rounding out the top five.  Reigning I-30 Speedway track champion Howard Moore was sixth with Eric Baldaccini, Joseph Miller, 16th-starter Tucker Boulton and Landon Britt completing the top ten.

While Hafertepe, Jr., turned the quickest overall lap in qualifying, Missouri’s Gunner Ramey set the standard in Program A with a lap of 12.126 seconds.

Covington, Westbrook, Hagar and Mallett scored heat races win in Program A with Garet Williamson best in the “B” Main.  Tim Crawley, Hahn, Michael Day and Hafertepe, Jr., posted heat wins in Program B with Ryan Bickett topping the “B” Main.

The 34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires at I-30 Speedway concludes with Saturday night’s $10,041-to-win tilt that features a full card of heat races, “C” Mains, “B” Mains, the Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash” and the 41-lap STN championship “A” Main.  Racing action goes green at 7:30 p.m.

34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires Friday Night Results:

PROGRAM A:

Qualifying:

Group One:  1. 95-Matt Covington 12.297, 2. G6-Cody Gardner 12.358, 3. 98p-Miles Paulus 12.427, 4 1s-Joey Schmidt 12.661, 5. 21b-Brandon Hinkle 12.668, 6. 0v-Michael Vaculik 13.041, 7. 3b-Chris Banja 13.311, 8. 69-Jamey Mooney 13.365.

Group Two:  1. 47x-Dylan Westbrook 12.138, 2. 24w-Garet Williamson 12.227, 3. 1z-Justin Zimmerman 12.428, 4. 5L-Eric Lutz 12.500, 5. 26-Marshall Skinner 12.630, 6. 44h-Ronny Howard 12.677, 7. 2c-Chase Porter 12.763, 8. 8x-Tony Higgins 13.041.

Group Three:  1. 21r-Gunner Ramey 12.126, 2. 9jr-Derek Hagar 12.434, 3. 27w-Austin Wood 12.449, 4. 16w-Ryan Ruhl 14.454, 5. 91a-Ernie Ainsworth 12.509, 6. 44-Jason Howell 12.568, 7. 72p-Gary Floyd 12.579, 8. 92-Cody Hays 12.842.

Group Four:  1. 14-Jordon Mallett 12.360, 2. 87-Jason Barney 12.450, 3. 24-Jeffrey West, Jr. 12.509, 4. 13-Chase Howard 12.536, 5. 22s-Slater Helt 12.626, 6. 21m-Spencer Meredith 12.759, 7. 19-Jason Long 13.054, 8. 3J-Junior Jenkins NT.

Heat Races (Top 4 Transfer from each):

First Heat (8 Laps):  1. 95-Matt Covington (4), 2. 98p-Miles Paulus (2), 3. G6-Cody Gardner (3), 4. 1s-Joey Schmidt (1), 5. 21b-Brandon Hinkle (5), 6. 3b-Chris Banja (7), 7. 0v-Micahel Vaculik (6), 8. 69-Jamey Mooney (8).

Second Heat (8 Laps):  1. 47x-Dylan Westbrook (4), 2. 5L-Eric Lutz (1), 3. 1z-Justin Zimmerman (2), 4. 26-Marshall Skinner (5), 5. 44h-Ronny Howard (6), 6. 2c-Chase Porter (7), 7. 8x-Tony Higgins (8), 8. 24w-Garet Williamson (3).

Third Heat (8 Laps):  1. 9jr-Derek Hagar (3), 2. 27w-Austin Wood (2), 3. 21r-Gunner Ramey (4), 4. 16w-Ryan Ruhl (1), 5. 91a-Ernie Ainsworth (5), 6. 44-Jason Howell (6), 7. 72p-Gary Floyd (7), 8. 92-Cody Hays (8).

Fourth Heat (8 Laps):  1. 14-Jordon Mallett (4), 2. 13-Chase Howard (1), 3. 87-Jason Barney (3), 4. 22s-Slater Helt (5), 5. 24-Jeffrey West, Jr. (2), 6. 3J-Junior Jenkins (8), 7. 21m-Spencer Meredith (6), 8. 19-Jason Long (7).

“B” Main – Top 4 Transfer to “A”:

“B” Feature (12 Laps):  1. 24w-Garet Williamson (1), 2. 91a-Ernie Ainsworth (2), 3. 21b-Brandon Hinkle (4), 4. 44-Jason Howell (6), 5. 24-Jeffrey West, Jr. (3), 6. 2c-Chase Porter (7), 7. 21m-Spencer Meredith (11), 8. 92-Cody Hays (14), 9. 72p-Gary Floyd (10), 10. 3J-Junior Jenkins (9), 11. 69-Jamey Mooney (16), 12. 19-Jason Long (15), 13. 0v-Micahel Vaculik (12), 14. 44h-Ronny Howard (5), 15. 3b-Chris Banja (8), 16. 8x-Tony Higgins (13).

“A” Feature – Top 2 Lock-in to Saturday’s STN Championship Feature

A Feature (20 Laps – Starting position in parentheses):  1. 14-Jordon Mallett (1), 2. 9jr-Derek Hagar (2), 3. 47x-Dylan Westbrook (4), 4. 95-Matt Covington (5), 5. 98p-Miles Paulus (7), 6. G6-Cody Gardner (6), 7. 22s-Slater Helt (14), 8. 21r-Gunner Ramey (3), 9. 5L-Eric Lutz (9), 10. 1z-Justin Zimmerman (11), 11. 24w-Garet Williamson (17), 12. 26-Marshall Skinner (15), 13. 87-Jason Barney (12), 14. 21b-Brandon Hinkle (19), 15. 91a-Ernie Ainsworth (16), 16. 16w-Ryan Ruhl (13), 17. 13-Chase Howard (10), 18. 44-Jason Howell (20), 19. 1s-Joey Schmidt (16), 20. 27w-Austin Wood (8).

Lap Leaders:  Jordon Mallett 1-11, Derek Hagar 12-14, Mallett 15-20.

PROGRAM B:

Qualifying:

Group One:  1. 63-J.J. Hickle 12.293, 2. 10L-Landon Britt 12.329, 3. 12-Tony Bruce, Jr. 12.417, 4. 0c-Tim Crawley 12.439, 5. 42p-Preston Perlmutter 12.460, 6. 88-Travis Reber 12.843, 7. 13m-Chance McCrary 12.929, 8. 8-Joseph Wray 13.429.

Group Two:  1. 52-Blake Hahn 12.205, 2. 28b-Scott Bogucki 12.304, 3. 0z-Landon Crawley 12.638, 4. 0b-Eric Baldaccini 12.715, 5. 3g-Paxton Gregory 12.731, 6. 74-Tucker Boulton 12.807, 7. 12m-Greg Merritt 12.812, 8. 28a-Keith Ainsworth 12.940.

Group Three:  1. 44m-Chris Martin 12.312, 2. 11-Roger Crockett 12.403, 3. 91x-Michael Day 12.441, 4. 30-Joseph Miller 12.650, 5. 82-Austin Saunders 12.809, 6. 29h-Pete Butler 12.815, 7. 38-Rick Pringle 12.833, 8. 27J-Joseph Poe 13.070.

Group Four:  1. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 11.987, 2. 3-Howard Moore 12.211, 3. 6-Dustin Gates 12.404, 4. 17b-Ryan Bickett 12.435, 5. X-Charlie Louden 12.456, 6. 23p-Hunter Poe 12.657, 7. 21k-Kevin Hinkle 12.937.

Heat Races (Top 4 Transfer from each):

First Heat (8 Laps):  1. 0c-Tim Crawley (1), 2. 63-J.J. Hickle (4), 3. 12-Tony Bruce, Jr. (2), 4. 10L-Landon Britt (3), 5. 42p-Preston Perlmutter (5), 6. 13m-Chance McCrary (7), 7. 88-Travis Reber (6), 8. 8-Joseph Wray (8).

Second Heat (8 Laps):  1. 52-Blake Hahn (4), 2. 0b-Eric Baldaccini (1), 3. 0z-Landon Crawley (2), 4. 74-Tucker Boulton (6), 5. 12m-Greg Merritt (7), 6. 3g-Paxton Gregory (5), 7. 28a-Keith Ainsworth (8), 8. 28b-Scott Bogucki (3).

Third Heat (8 Laps):  1. 91x-Michael Day (2), 2. 30-Joseph Miller (1), 3. 11-Roger Crockett (3), 4. 44m-Chris Martin (4), 5. 29h-Pete Butler (6), 6. 82-Austin Saunders (5), 7. 38-Rick Pringle (7), 8. 27J-Joseph Poe (8).

Fourth Heat (8 Laps):  1. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (4), 2. 6-Dustin Gates (2), 3. 3-Howard Moore (3), 4. X-Charlie Louden (5), 5. 17b-Ryan Bickett (1), 6. 21k-Kevin Hinkle (7), 7. 23p-Hunter Poe (6).

“B” Main – Top 4 Transfer to “A”:

“B” Feature (12 Laps):  1. 17b-Ryan Bickett (1), 2. 42p-Preston Perlmutter (2), 3. 12m-Greg Merritt (3), 4. 3g-Paxton Gregory (5), 5. 13m-Chance McCrary (6), 6. 21k-Kevin Hinkle (7), 7. 38-Rick Pringle (9), 8. 23p-Hunter Poe (8), 9. 88-Travis Reber (10), 10. 28a-Keith Ainsworth (11), 11. 29h-Pete Butler (4), 12. 27J-Joseph Poe  (12), 13. 8-Joseph Wray (13), 14. 28b-Scott Bogucki (DNS), 15. 82-Austin Saunders (DNS).

“A” Feature – Top 2 Lock-in to Saturday’s STN Championship Feature

A Feature (20 Laps – Starting position in parentheses):  1. 15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (2), 2. 63-J.J. Hickle (1), 3. 52-Blake Hahn (3), 4. 6-Dustin Gates (9), 5. 44m-Chris Martin (5), 6. 3-Howard Moore (7), 7. 0b-Eric Baldaccini (11), 8. 30-Joseph Miller (10), 9. 74-Tucker Boulton (16), 10. 10L-Landon Britt (8), 11. 17b-Ryan Bickett (17), 12. 12-Tony Bruce, Jr. (13), 13. 42p-Preston Perlmutter (18), 14. 0z-Landon Crawley (14), 15. 3g-Paxton Gregory (20), 16. 91x-Michael Day (6), 17. 12m-Greg Merritt (19), 18. 0c-Tim Crawley (4), 19. 11-Roger Crockett (12), 20. X-Charlie Louden (15).

Lap Leaders:  Sam Hafertepe, Jr., 1-20.

STN Events Points after Friday Night (Friday Total added to Saturday heat race passing point totals to set “C”, “B” and “A” Main Lineups):

Short Track Nationals Entries at 57 & Counting!

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 19, 2021) – With entries continuing to roll into the I-30 Speedway track office by the hour, the current count is at 57 pre-entries for this weekend’s 34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

With the count expected to climb to approximately 70 by the time the first official green flag flies on Friday, a handful of past STN champions are among the current crop of entries for the prestigious event that draws fans and competitors from throughout the nation to the heart of Arkansas.

This weekend’s $10,041-to-win event kicks off with a Thursday night Test ‘N Tune before moving into a Friday preliminary that culminates with a pair of $1,500-to-win “Twin 20” lap feature events.  It all sets the stage for Saturday’s championship card that wraps up with the 41-lap STN Championship feature that offers up $800 just to make the starting grid in pursuit of the lucrative winner’s share.

Along with defending race winner Sam Hafertepe, Jr., of Sunnyvale, TX, a pair of two-time STN winners are on the entry list as well along with another duo taking a shot at a second win as well.

Sapulpa, Oklahoma’s Blake Hahn, the current Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour points leader, tries for a third STN win after going back-to-back 2018 and 2019.

Liberal, KS, native Tony Bruce, Jr., makes a return to the Short Track Nationals and eyes a third win as well after racing to victory lane in both 2008 and 2009.

Another pair of entries have past STN glory on the record as well including Tim Crawley and Pete Butler.  Crawley tops the charts with 23 career STN championship feature starts including a 1998 win that is the best of 11 career top-tens.  Butler was an early rendition winner as well in 1996.

Advance tickets are available on-line at https://i-30speedway.com/short-track-nationals/,  just click the Tickets tab.  Two-day advance tickets are $45, a savings of $5 compared to day-of prices. 

Current entries are as follows:

0b-Eric Baldaccini (Spring, TX)

0c-Tim Crawley (Benton, AR)

0v-Michael Vaculik (Hot Springs, AR)

0z-Landon Crawley (Benton, AR)

1z-Justin Zimmerman (Athens, TX)

3-Howard Moore (Memphis, TN)

3b-Chris Banja (Beebe, AR)

3g-Paxton Gregory (Poplar Grove, AR)

5L-Eric Lutz (Sioux Falls, SD)

5R-Richard Reynolds (Doyline, LA)

6-Dustin Gates (Haughton, LA)

G6-Cody Gardner (Camden, AR)

9-Chase Randall (Waco, TX)

9jr-Derek Hagar (Marion, AR)

11-Roger Crockett (Medford, OR)

12-Tony Bruce, Jr. (Liberal, KS)

12m-Greg Merritt (Nesbit, MS)

13-Chase Howard (Nesbit, MS)

14-Jordon Mallett (Greenbrier, AR)

15h-Sam Hafertepe, Jr. (Sunnyvale, TX)

15J-Jeremy Middleton (N. Little Rock, AR)

16-Koty Adams (Doyline, LA)

17b-Ryan Bickett (Sioux Falls, SD)

19-Jason Long (Benton, AR)

21b-Brandon Hinkle (Pangburn, AR)

21k-Kevin Hinkle (Cabot, AR)

21m-Spencer Meredith (Olive Branch, MS)

21r-Gunner Ramey (Sedalia, MO)

23b-Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA)

23J-Junior Jenkins (Greenville, TX)

23p-Hunter Poe (Heber Springs, AR)

24-Jeffrey West, Jr. (Memphis, TN)

26-Marshall Skinner (W. Memphis, AR)

27J-Joseph Poe (Scott, AR)

27w-Austin Wood (Memphis, TN)

28-Keith Ainsworth (Munford, TN)

29-Pete Butler (Mabelvale, AR)

30-Joseph Miller (Cove, AR)

38-Rick Pringle (Benton, AR)

42p-Preston Perlmutter (San Antonio, TX)

44h-Ronny Howard (Nesbit, MS)

44m-Chris Martin (Ankeny, IA)

46-Jan Howard (Byhalia, MS)

47-Dale Howard (Byhalia, MS)

47x-Dylan Westbrook (Scotland, ONT)

52-Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK)

63-J.J. Hickle (Quilcene, WA)

67-Hayden Martin (Olive Branch, MS)

69-Jamey Mooney (Heber Springs, AR)

87-Jason Barney (Brewerton, NY)

91a-Ernie Ainsworth (Memphis, TN)

91x-Michael Day (Farmersville, TX)

92-Cody Hays (Wynne, AR)

94-Jeff Swindell (Bartlett, TN)

95-Matt Covington (Glenpool, OK)

95s-Asa Swindell (Bartlett, TN)

X-Charlie Louden (Camden, AR)

The Pertinent Info:

The What:  34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

The Where:  I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR).  I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).

The When:  October 21-23, 2021.  (Test ‘N Tune on Thursday, October 21, followed by two full cards of racing action on October 22-23).

The Entries:  Entry forms are available at https://i-30speedway.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021STN.pdf.  Early entry by October 18 is just $100 with a two-day pit pass for the driver.  Entries after October 18 are $100 with no pit pass.

The Format: 

Friday Night

Pill draw establishes Hot Lap/Heat Race groups. 

The field will be split into Programs “A” and “B” based upon pill draw.  The lower half of numbers drawn will comprise Program “A” with the higher half of numbers comprising Program “B”.  Both Programs will be contested concurrently, i.e., Program “A” hot laps will be followed by Program “B” hot laps, Program “A” Qualifying will be followed by Program “B” Qualifying and so on.

Each Program will be contested as follows:

Group qualifying (3-4 cars per group) will determine heat race lineups.  Qualify only against cars that will be in your hot lap group and subsequent heat race.

Heat races will feature an invert of four with the fastest qualifier among that heat race group starting fourth.  Top four (or five if three heat races) from each Heat Race will transfer to corresponding Program main event. 

Heat Race winner and fastest qualifier among transfers in that Heat go to the redraw.  If the heat race winner is also that heat’s fastest qualifier, only one car will go to the redraw from that heat.

Fastest two overall qualifiers will line up behind the redraw cars.  Balance of Main event lineup set by heat race finish and then qualifying time (i.e., 2nd place finishers not in redraw lined up by qualifying time, 3rd place finishers not in redraw lined by qualifying time, 4th place finishers not in redraw lined by qualifying time).

Balance to “B” Mains(s), top two fastest non-transfers awarded first two positions with balance of “B” Main lineups determined according to heat race finishes.  If two “B” Mains, two transfer from each.  If one “B” Main, four transfer.

Two 20-lap “A” Mains will conclude the night (one for Program “A” and one for Program “B”).  The top two finishers in each “A” Main will lock into Saturday’s Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash”.

Event points will be awarded on Friday night as follows:

Qualifying per Group – 1st - 20, 2nd - 18, 3rd – 16, 4th – 14, etc. (two points per position)

Heat Race Finish – 1st – 30, 2nd – 27, 3rd – 24, 4th – 21, etc. (three points per position)

A Feature Points:  1st – 100, 2nd – 95, 3rd – 91, 4th – 88, 5th – 85, 6th – 82, 7th – 79, 8th – 76, 9th – 73, 10th – 70, 11th – 68, 12th – 66, 13th – 64, 14th – 62, 15th -60, 16th – 58th, 17th – 56, 18th – 54, 19th – 52, 20th – 50.

B Main Non-Transfers – 1st – 48, 2nd -46, 3rd – 44, etc.

Event points will carry over to Saturday night for all with the exception of four lock-ins.  Event points will be combined into one Program for Saturday night.

Saturday Night

Draw for heat race starting position (minus the four lock-ins).  Passing/finishing points in effect. (100 for 1st, 93 for 2nd, 86 for 3rd and so on at seven points per position.  Additionally, 5 points per position gained and minus 1.5 points per position lost).

Saturday Heat Passing/Finishing points are added to Friday night event point totals.  Top two in combined points from Friday night and Saturday heat races join the four lock-ins in the Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash”.  The next eight in combined points earn “A” Main starting positions 7-14.

The balance of field is split into “B” Mains and “C” Mains as necessary, with three transferring from each “B” Main to complete the 20-car “A” Main event.

21st starting position reserved for I-30 Speedway track champion (Howard Moore) if needed.

The Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash” lineup will be determined by draw.  The finish will set the first three rows of the STN championship finale. 

34th Annual STN Championship feature is scheduled for 41 laps.

* - Format details tentative and subject to change in best interest of the program. 

The Past Winners: 

2020 – Sam Hafertepe, Jr.

2019-Blake Hahn

2018-Blake Hahn

2017-Sammy Swindell

2016-Sammy Swindell

2015-Rained Out

2014-Christopher Bell

2013-Sammy Swindell

2012-Paul McMahan

2011-Sammy Swindell

2010-Brad Sweet

2009-Tony Bruce, Jr.

2008-Tony Bruce, Jr.

2007-Jason Meyers

2006-Jason Johnson

2005-Tim Montgomery

2004-Gary Wright

2003-Gary Wright

2002-Paul McMahan

2001-Jason Sides

2000-Mike Ward

1999-Gary Wright

1998-Tim Crawley

1997-Wayne Johnson

1996-Pete Butler

1995-Gary Wright

1994-Terry Gray

1993-John Gerloff

1992-Rained Out

1991-Steve Kinser

1990-Sammy Swindell

1989-Steve Kinser

1988-Steve Kinser

The Tickets:  Advance two-day tickets are $45.

Day of show prices are $20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday. 

Children under 12 are admitted free on both nights courtesy of Dairy Queen.

To order tickets or for more information, check online at https://i-30speedway.com/short-track-nationals/ or call the track at 501-455-4567.

Pit passes are $35 on both Friday and Saturday.  Driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday is included in the $100 entry fee if submitted by the deadline.

The Broadcast:  If you can’t make it to the STN to catch all the breathtaking action in person, no need to fret as you can catch it all live online at www.floracing.com.

For more information regardi

Last Call for Short Track Nationals Pre-Entries

Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 18, 2021) – The clock is ticking on getting pre-entries in for this weekend’s 34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires atop Little Rock’s I-30 Speedway clay oval.

Drivers can secure a free two-night pit pass by getting entries in by the end of business on Monday, October 18.

Postponed by inclement weather earlier in the month, the 34th edition o the prestigious event fires off with a Thursday night Test ‘T Tune before two full nights of action follow on Friday and Saturday.

Friday will feature an All Star Circuit of Champions-style format, culminating with a pair of 20-lap feature events with the top two from each locking into Saturday night’s $10,041-to-win STN championship finale.

Another set of heat races will follow on Saturday with points added to Friday night totals to set the balance of the championship feature events.

Reigning champion Sam Haferetepe, Jr., of Sunnyvale, TX, is among the loaded field of entries set to vie for the 2021 crown this weekend.

Advance tickets are available on-line at https://i-30speedway.com/short-track-nationals/,  just click the Tickets tab.  Two-day advance tickets are $45, a savings of $5 compared to day-of prices. 

The Pertinent Info:

The What:  34th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.

The Where:  I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR).  I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).

The When:  October 21-23, 2021.  (Test ‘N Tune on Thursday, October 21, followed by two full cards of racing action on October 22-23).

The Entries:  Entry forms are available at https://i-30speedway.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021STN.pdf.  Early entry by October 18 is just $100 with a two-day pit pass for the driver.  Entries after October 18 are $100 with no pit pass.

The Format:  Friday’s preliminary event will be contested under a derivative of the All Star Circuit of Champions format, with group qualifying establishing heat race lineups with an invert of four in each heat race.  The Friday preliminary will conclude with “Twin 20’s”, a pair of $1,500-to-win 20-lap “A” Main events.

The top two from each of the “Twin 20’s” will be locked into Saturday night’s “Dash for Cash” and the championship main event.

Friday events points accumulated will be carried over to Saturday night, with another set of heats utilizing passing points added to the Friday total to set the championship feature lineups.  The top two in combined points from Friday night and the Saturday heat races with join Friday’s four lock-ins in the Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash”.  The next eight in points will occupy STN championship feature positions 7-14 with the balance of the field in “B” and “C” Mains.  Three will transfer from both “B” Mains to set the 20-car feature field.  The 21st position is reserved for I-30 Speedway track champion Howard Moore should he find it necessary.

The STN championship feature offers up a winner’s share of $10,041 with a minimum of $800  to start.

The Past Winners: 

2020 – Sam Hafertepe, Jr.

2019-Blake Hahn

2018-Blake Hahn

2017-Sammy Swindell

2016-Sammy Swindell

2015-Rained Out

2014-Christopher Bell

2013-Sammy Swindell

2012-Paul McMahan

2011-Sammy Swindell

2010-Brad Sweet

2009-Tony Bruce, Jr.

2008-Tony Bruce, Jr.

2007-Jason Meyers

2006-Jason Johnson

2005-Tim Montgomery

2004-Gary Wright

2003-Gary Wright

2002-Paul McMahan

2001-Jason Sides

2000-Mike Ward

1999-Gary Wright

1998-Tim Crawley

1997-Wayne Johnson

1996-Pete Butler

1995-Gary Wright

1994-Terry Gray

1993-John Gerloff

1992-Rained Out

1991-Steve Kinser

1990-Sammy Swindell

1989-Steve Kinser

1988-Steve Kinser

The Tickets:  Advance two-day tickets are $45.

Day of show prices are $20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday. 

Children under 12 are admitted free on both nights courtesy of Dairy Queen.

To order tickets or for more information, check online at https://i-30speedway.com/short-track-nationals/ or call the track at 501-455-4567.

Pit passes are $35 on both Friday and Saturday.  Driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday is included in the $100 entry fee if submitted by the deadline.

The Broadcast:  If you can’t make it to the STN to catch all the breathtaking action in person, no need to fret as you can catch it all live online at www.floracing.com.

For more information regarding I-30 Speedway’s Short Track Nationals, check at www.i-30speedway.com or call the track at 501-455-4567.