Port City Raceway: 2013 Year in Review By Brian Walker Tulsa, OK | 10/28/13 – As the first Saturday of the off-season has already ran through it’s time we take a look back on what was a stellar 2013 season of micro action at the famous high banked 1/8 mile known as Port City Raceway. A total of 34 nights of racing action took place at the track, from the warm, beautiful month of March all the way until the chilly, cold month of October. A new season as always brings in a countless number of shocking wrecks, amazing domination and intense battling. All in a span of seven months those who took to the track were always in for a surprise. From a car flying through the back stretch wall to an intense Multi feature to finish the season and even to a mechanics race that led to a hospital visit, the Port City Raceway saw more than a season’s worth of action. A track always popularly renowned for its micro action, this season included a dabbling into the Midget side of racing. A test session with a couple of former Port City micro racers in Tyler Thomas, Andrew Felker, and Alex Sewell proved the track could be just as suitable for a Midget race next season. With none of the vicious yellow infield tires on the track and a heavy berm in place, the track instantly became wider and racier for the powerful Midgets. So don’t count out the option of something other than micros hitting the track next year. A very successful season in the micros led to a total count of 512 drivers hitting the track in 34 races spread amongst six different divisions. The Non-Wing class provided the biggest count with 129 drivers pulling the wings off and running topless this season. A-Class brought in another impressive count with 123 drivers running the always intense and action packed A-Class division. Jr. Sprints pulled 38 drivers, Restricted had 54 racers, and Sportsman reeled in 78 drivers, while the Outlaw division had 90 drivers. JR. SPRINTS! The youngest division at PCR reeled in 38 drivers across the season. Cannon McIntosh, the overall points champion had a very impressive season with a track high of seven A-Main wins. McIntosh proved consistency and being at the front was a key factor as he claimed 18 top five’s in his 27 point races. Winning the championship by a slim 59 points, McIntosh had stiff competition all year long. The future of racing stands very firm and well-kept with youngsters such as McIntosh, point’s runner up Jake Nail, Hank Davis, Holley Hollan, Cole Roberts, and the rest of the field coming through the micro ranks. In a field of 38 drivers, nine of those grabbed a victory at some point throughout the season and four individuals scored multiple wins. Jake Nail and Hank Davis were no doubt McIntosh’s biggest threats all season long as Nail ended the year with three wins and 59 points away from the title, while Davis scored four victories and missed the championship by 173 markers. Plenty of the talented Jr. Sprint racers will be moving up to the restricted division with hopes of furthering their race careers, while a new set of young racers will take on the Jr. Sprint division in 2014! FINAL TOP 10: 1. 08 - Cannon McIntosh (2171), 2. 14r – Jake Nail (-59), 3. 1h - Hank Davis (-173), 4. 14h – Holley Hollan (-332), 5. 14 – Blake Battles (-471), 6. 46s – Shawn Mahaffey (-492), 7. 28 – Garrett Bias (-532), 8. 46 – J. Brady Hilton (-736), 9. 3 – Cole Roberts (-804), 10. 15j – Joey Gray (-830). A-CLASS! Always one of the most intense and action packed division at Port City, the A-Class division brought in 123 drivers for the 2013 season. A division that was full of excitement all season long provided some of the best racing and memories of the 2013 season. Almost every week there were 7-8 drivers that could win on a weekly basis. Those drivers proved it week in and week out providing some of the best racing while throwing slidejobs, having 5-car battle for the leads and much more. Eight out of the 123 drivers won a race in the A-Class division as Frank Flud led the pack with a division high of 6 wins. Flud not only dominated in the win column, but proved to be the overall best, as the #81 himself captured the 2012 A-Class championship by a whole 81 points over Jason Tracy. The year was never easy for Flud nor Tracy, with both having to put up with tough competition like Jason McDougal, Chris Andrews, Kris Carroll, Steven Curbow, Jordan Herrman, and Chad Bell to name a few. The 2013 season definitely delivered in the A-Class division and with the likes of Flud, Tracy, McDougal, Andrews, and more returning to the division you can expect another exciting season in 2014! FINAL TOP 10: 1. 81 - Frank Flud (2065), 2. 25 - Jason Tracy (-81), 3. 5 - Kris Carroll (218), 4. 25r - Chad Bell (-401), 5. 92 - Jordan Herrman (-467), 6. 79 - Wes Little (-588), 7. 10 - David Baker Jr. (-662), 8. 73 - Jason McDougal (-682), 9. 20s - Steven Curbow (-715), 10. 47 - Austin Helt (-778). RESTRICTED! A division that was overtook by the female group this year, was certainly different than the past. Another developmental division used to gain experience and grow as a driver, the restricted class was quite different this year. With a new change in racing lines as multiple of the young guns in the class began working the high side of the track. A sight not very common in such a slower class, the cushion that came in effect no doubt came in for the better with races throughout the season becoming quite interesting with an additional line into the mix. Bailey Hughes, the 2013 restricted track champion is a perfect reference. The young driver powered her way to a high of six wins with most coming by way of the cushion, using the extra help to pass car after car, week after week. Hughes clinched her championship before the final point’s race ended the season with 54 point lead over 2nd place Taylor Reimer. Both drivers were a part of the 12 that claimed a win this season out of the 54 racers that ran in the restricted division. The 2013 season was one of the most competitive the division had ever seen. From the likes of Trenton Jackson, Jase Randolph, Noah Harris, Kaylee Bryson, to Austin Lambert the division was filled with thrilling races, exciting drivers and an overall awesome season. With it looking like Hughes moving into the A-Class division, the 2014 season could be full of an all new bag of surprises with new winners, new memories and possibly a new champion. FINAL TOP TEN: 1. 777 – Bailey Hughes (1935), 2. 25 – Taylor Reimer (-54), 3. 49 – Trenton Jackson (-151), 4. 15 – Jase Randolph (-178), 5. 11b – Kaylee Bryson (-179), 6. 20 – Noah Harris (-234), 7. 95 – Quinton Standlee (-316), 8. 2w – Josh Wakley (-425), 9. 222 – Jaiden Hughes (-478), 10. 97b – Bailey Stringer (-549). NON-WING! The biggest division of micros at Port City, the Non-Wing class drew in an impressive total of 129 different drivers. The only wingless class at PCR always brought in plenty of excitement, speed and thrill to the raceway. As always the spectacular division brought in many amazing races, memories, and battles throughout the season. Who could forget the F16 of Jason White flying through the backstretch fence at the Firecracker 40? There was for sure no doubt of shortage in action for the Non-Wing division. Jason Tracy, a weekly front runner at PCR proved consistenct: 17px;>Jason Tracy, a weekly front runner at PCR proved consistency was a key factor in claiming a championship. Tracy clinched the Non-Wing championship by 104 points with only two wins, 12 top five’s. Most likely the most competitive class at the track, Tracy never received a break all year with competition like Harlan Hulsey, Jordan Herrman, Jeffrey Newell, Chris Andrews, Jarrett Crouch, and Steven Curbow breathing down his neck week in and week out. Out of all 129 drivers that raced topless 11 of those wound up victors at the track. Multiple drivers claimed numerous victories such as Herrman who claimed five victories on the year. After such an amazing 2013 season in the Non-Wing division, the class could possibly grow even more next year and produce even more excitement! FINAL TOP TEN: 1. 25 – Jason Tracy (1925), 2. 11 – Harlan Hulsey (-104), 3. 92 – Jordan Herrman (-358), 4. 73w – Dylan Ward (-422), 5. 24 – Hunter Fischer (-488), 6. 1 – Jeffrey Newell (-504), 7. R1 – Rayce Bowen (-558), 8. 51b – Bailey Felkins (-560), 9. 77 – Chris Andrews (-577), 10. 89 – Jarrett Crouch (-716). SPORTSMAN! The one division most people expected to show off the least was one of the most interesting classes at PCR this year. With a staggering 13 drivers all claiming wins in the season. A track high for highest amount of different winners in all divisions. Only three of those drivers claimed multiple wins and rightfully so, the driver with a track high of seven victories claimed the championship. Almost every week you saw a new, different winner and the only thing you knew was that you were in store for quite the show. Craig Carroll finished a very impressive 2013 season by capping off seven victories, 14 top five’s and clinching the championship by 151 points over Ken Simmons. Out of all 78 drivers Carroll proved to be the most efficient, winning multiple special events and being at the right place when it counted. Simmons, Ricky Glover Sr, Dave Nicholson, Danny Clum, Mark Lutz, Ryan Cody, and many others all had plenty of great runs throughout the year, but none the caliber of Carroll’s. After capping off an impressive 2013 season there is no word on what is next, but we do Sportsman 2014 will be yet another exciting season full of action. FINAL TOP TEN: 1. 33 – Craig Carroll (2080), 2. 14 – Ken Simmons (-151), 3. 32 – Ricky Glover Sr. (-282), 4. 84 – Dave Nicholson (-369), 5. 7 – Ryan Cody (-405), 6. 6 – Randy Myers (-418), 7. 71 – Danny Clum (-477), 8. 56 – Mark Lutz (-572), 9. 14b – Brandon Henson (-628), 10. 16 – Darrius Myers (-723). OUTLAW! The most prestigious class at Port City, the Outlaws are the fastest, the baddest, the toughest, and the biggest micros that fly around PCR year after year. The division is full of the best Oklahoma has to offer from Frank Flud, Chris Andrews, Kevin Bayer, Scott Sawyer, Jake Rosario, Jason McDougal to Harlan Hulsey. The division has proven to be a gateway to huge success, look at examples of the late, great Donnie Ray Crawford who carried his success in an Outlaw to Sprint Car and Midget success. Now it’s Christopher Bell who is flying through the open wheel ranks in USAC, WoO, and POWRi rides after racing here just a short 2-3 years ago. Frank Flud, marked his name on the open wheel this world by joining an impressive list of drivers to conquer the 600cc Outlaw class at Port City. Flud, who earned four wins and 11 top five’s in his first year aboard the Mike Ross Racing #81 claimed the 2013 Outlaw track championship by 74 points. The track provided action, intensity, and insanity at almost all points throughout the season. From Andrews lapping to 3rd, Sawyer claiming the DRC, and even a crazy slidejob city type finale, the high banked 1/8 mile was never short of action this season. Most all drivers will be making a return to the division next year which should make for yet another exciting 2014 season at the Port City Raceway. FINAL TOP TEN: 1. 81 – Frank Flud (1892), 2. 17 – Harlan Hulsey (-74), 3. 21 – Ty Hulsey (-218), 4. 08 – David McIntosh (-228), 5. 29r – Ryan Ratliff (-332), 6. 8 – Chris Andrews (-334), 7. 91 – Kevin Bayer (-471), 8. 23 – Hannah Adair (-544), 9. 25j – Delaney Jost (-550), 10. 14 – Harley Hollan (-559). All in all it was another amazing and great season at the Port City Raceway. With great special events, a great facility, and great promoter the track is in tip top shape. 2014 looks to be very promising with even more exciting moments and races to all combine into another amazing season. Be on the lookout for more info on the 2014 season!
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 22:51:42 +0000
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