Twitchy Race Reports

(BRASELTON, GA) Who races in December? Well ASRS does, for the first time December Dirt Week kicked off Tuesday night. The 3-day miniseries saw 7 different classes of cars run with drivers combining their best 6 of 7 races to determine who would be crowned the first ever December Dirt Week Champion. A point system that made finishing inside the top 10 and winning races even more important made for some great racing action throughout the 3 nights of racing.

First on the track was the Dirt Legends taking to the track first. 26 drivers unloaded their Legends to do battle. Following qualifying it was Brad Cross grabbing the pole, Justin Kruithof 2nd, Jared Mogard 3rd, Tim Berner 4th, and Mitch Brown rounded out the top 5. The first event saw a bit of a rough start and half of the race was run under caution flag conditions.

However, when the checkers did fly it was Brad Cross leading all 30 laps to grab the first Trophy of Dirt Week, Jared Mogard 2nd, Justin Kruithof 3rd, Zac Bozanich who returned to ASRS competition after months away wound up 4th, and Tim Berner rounded out the top 5. Brad’s win would be his 15th career ASRS victory and as many expected set the tone winning yet another Dirt event.

The 410 Non-Winged Sprint Cars would be next on the schedule and with 30 drives making the call that would be 4 drivers would have to go home. Following qualifying it was Ray Farlow grabbing the pole with Brad Dyer 2nd, Brad Cross 3rd, Zac Bozanich 4th, and Justin Kruithof 5th. The caution flag was the star of the night it would appear as much like the Legends the Non-Wings would run half of their 30-lap event under caution conditions.

Track conditions made it difficult as everyone was fighting for the top side of the track while some guys were trying to make the bottom work. When the checkers flew for the 2nd event of the night it was Ray Farlow cruising to the Win, Brad Cross 2nd, Brady Dyer 3rd, Justin Kruithof 4th, and Jared Mogard rounded out the top 5. Ray Farlow a non ASRS “regular” cruised to his first career ASRS victory.

The final event for Night 1 would be the newly release Dirt Midgets. The midgets were just released last week on iRacing and the popularity of got them added to December Dirt Week just weeks before the event. Another full field would make the call with 29 drivers showing up. After qualifying it would be Todd LaBoube grabbing the pole with Brad Cross 2nd, John Kennedy 3rd, Daniel Deffler 4th, and Steve Ritter rounded out the top 5.

The Midgets kept the theme of the night going running half of the race under yellow. These yellows made for multiple restarts and Todd Laboube who lead 25 of the 30 laps would go on to win the race. However, on a restart Laboube would get crossed up on the bottom which caused him to make contact with the inside wall thus allowing John Kennedy to pounce and grab the lead with just 5 laps remaining. Kennedy would have to withstand 1 last restart before he would cruise to Victory. Brad Dyer wound up 2nd, Tim Knott 3rd, Justin Kruithof 4th, and Jared Mogard rounded out the top 5. Zac Bozanich put on the show though going 26th to finish 6th. This would be John Kennedy’s 4th career ASRS Win.

When the dust settled it was Brad Cross the point leader after Night 1 with Justin Kruithof 2nd, and Jared Mogard rounding out the top 3. Going into Night 2 everyone was hoping for more green flag racing with less yellows.

The Wednesday Night program saw the Street Stocks taking to the track for a 25-lap event that would conclude with a #Run50 Super Late Model feature event. Following qualifying for the Streeters it was Justin Kruithof grabbing the pole, John Kennedy 2nd, Brad Dyer 3rd, Trevor Brownlee 4th, and Tim Knott rounded out the top 5.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to talk about in this race as 15 of the 25 laps were ran under yellow. Not the way everyone wanted to start the evening but, when the Checkers flew it was Justin Kruithof coasting to the Win, Jared Mogard 2nd form his 9th starting spot, Zac Bozanich 3rd from 10th, Danny Rodgers 4th, and Brad Dyer rounded out the top 5. This would be Justin’s first career ASRS Victory.

The Late Models concluded the action qualifying saw Trevor Brownlee grab the pole, Brad Cross 2nd, Todd LaBoube 3rd, Steve Ritter 4th, and Brad Dyer 5th. The Supers were a tad bit better as they ran just over half the race under yellow. Trevor Brownlee and Brad Cross would have a great race for the lead but following a slip up by Brownlee it would allow Cross to grab the lead.

He would not look back as he would go on to win the Late Model portion of Dirt Week grabbing his 2nd on the week. Jared Mogard finished 2nd from his 7th starting spot, Kris Titus who raced with heavy hearts as his mom is battling cancer and is currently in the hospital grabbed 3rd place from his 9th starting spot, Zac Bozanich was 4th from his 14th starting spot, and Trevor Brownlee was able to rebound from his slip up to round out the top 5. As mentioned this was Brad’s 2nd win on the week and his 16th career ASRS Victory.

Following Night 2 it was Jared Mogard grabbing the point lead over Brad Cross and Justin Kruithof.

Thursday Night Thunder and Championship Night saw the Modifieds and the 410 Sprint Cars take to the track before crowning a champion. The Mods put on a show to kick off the evening. Qualifying saw Jared Mogard grab the pole with Brad Cross 2nd, Todd LaBoube 3rd, Brady Dyer 4th, and Justin Kruithof 5th.

As mentioned the Mods would put on a show as they would go the first 17 laps green before the yellow flew. The yellow was a break for the leaders as they were just beginning to get into lap traffic before the yellow flew.

When the checkers flew no one would have anything for Jared Mogard as he would cruise to victory with Brad Cross 2nd, Todd Laboube 3rd, Brad Dyer 4th, and Trevor Brownlee rounded out the top 5. This would be Mogard’s 28th career ASRS Victory.

The Sprint Cars closed out the December Dirt Week and they would end the week’s action with a bang. Qualifying saw Steve Ritter grab the pole, Trevor Brownlee 2nd, Jared Mogard 3rd, Brad Dyer 4th, and Brayden Shepherd 5th. The Sprints did not disappoint as they put on a show.

Lots of green flag racing saw one outstanding race for the lead and eventual win. Jared Mogard would grab the lead early and looked to be on his way to the sweep of the night. However, Brownlee had other plans as he would ride the top-shelf to grab the race lead away from Mogard.

Unlike the previous 6 races there were 2 different grooves of racing action as Brownlee was committed to the top of the race track and Mogard kept working the bottom of the track. Brownlee would lead a majority of the race with Mogard grabbing the lead with roughly 15 to go. Again, it appeared as if it were time to get the broom ready for Mogard as he was the leading on the final lap. But a late race surge with 3 laps to go by Brownlee made for a last lap last corner thriller that saw Trevor Brownlee steal the win away from Mogard. Jared Mogard wound up 2nd, Brayden Shepherd 3rd, Justin Kruithof 4th, and Tim Knott rounded out the top 5.

This was Trevor’s first career ASRS Victory and it came in very dramatic and exciting fashion.

After 7 classes of cars, 3 nights of racing, we crowned 1 Champion and them honors went to Jared Mogard as his is your 2017 December Dirt Week presented by Ares Sportswear Champion!!! Justin Kruithof was 2nd, Brad Cross 3rd, Trevor Brownlee 4th, Brad Dyer 5th, Zac Bozanich 6th, John Kennedy 7th, Kris Titus 8th, Brandon Boyd 9th, and Tim Knott rounded out the top 10 in the final point standings.

On behalf of ASRS Officials and owner Jim Foose we want to thank EVERYONE who participated in the first annual December Dirt Week. Be sure to mark your calendars for December 11th-13th of 2018 for the 2nd annual December Dirt Week. We want to also thank ALL our sponsor for their support of the event and to Steve Ritter with Ares Sportswear for being the title sponsor of the event.

Lastly, we want to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season and we’ll see you in 2018!!!!!!