• Home
• About LSS
• Dirt Calendar
• Paved Calendar
• Touring Series

Subscribe

• Login
• Forums
• Audio
• Live Blogs
• Video

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Let’s give thanks for the many blessing that the Good Lord has provided for us and remember to share with those less fortunate at this special time of year.

Nick

Thunderhill Raceway has joined the NASCAR family, teams-up with Houston Motorsports Park

Thunderhill Raceway (THR) has just signed a sanctioning agreement with NASCAR to become part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

This short track racing program will give Thunderhill Raceway plenty of exposure with the NASCAR name and will also provide a great opportunity for THR drivers to compete for track, state and national championships.

Houston Motorsports Park (Houston, TX) is headed into its third season with NASCAR and is now proud to welcome Thunderhill Raceway (Kyle, TX) to the NASCAR family.

As part of the same NASCAR organization, racers and fans alike can expect to see Houston Motorsports Park (HMP) and Thunderhill Raceway work closely together to bring more competition and excitement to both race tracks.

“All of us at HMP are very excited about the opportunities that NASCAR will bring for both racers and fans alike as we move forward with our plans for the upcoming racing season,” said John Mandabach, HMP’s Vice President & General Manager. “As we build stronger racing programs, more people will build race cars. It will certainly become more enticing for the drivers and fans.”

Mary Ann Naumann, THR’s Owner/Promoter, is also looking forward to an exciting 2011 racing season, especially with this new relationship with HMP.

“After recently announcing that Thunderhill Raceway had been selected for a reality TV show that will be produced by the Paul Hogan and Sarah Platt duo, I didn’t think the 2011 racing season could get more exciting,” Naumann proclaimed. “Now with this big NASCAR announcement and our partnership with HMP, I know we’ll have some incredible opportunities for our drivers and teams.”

Taking their first big step with this new partnership, both HMP and THR will host the NASCAR Modifieds as their Feature NASCAR Division in 2011. The NASCAR Modified racers can compete for a NASCAR Track Championship at each track ($10,000 points fund for each track) and a NASCAR State Championship ($7,500 points fund).

In addition, NASCAR currently uses a driver’s best 18 finishes in the feature division to determine the National Champion. With 30 combined scheduled races during the 2011 NASCAR season (14 at THR, plus 16 at HMP), Texas NASCAR Modified racers will have a real opportunity to compete for a NASCAR National Championship that awards $40,000 among the top three drivers.

“I feel very confident this opportunity could easily produce a NASCAR National Champion right here in Texas,” bragged Mandabach.

Thunderhill Raceway has also named three support divisions that will be eligible for a NASCAR-sanctioned recognition program and track point funds, namely the NASCAR TSRS Late Models, NASCAR Trucks and NASCAR Super Stocks.

HMP’s Late Models will continue to be NASCAR-sanctioned and run for the same purse structure as in 2010. The sanction will also remain in effect for the NASCAR 360 Trucks. More details regarding HMP purse and points funds will be announced later this week.

Known as “The Palace of Power,” Houston Motorsports Park, is a 3/8-mile, high-banked asphalt oval track that’s located in Northeast Houston. For more information on HMP, visit the track website at www.houstonmotorsportspark.com.

Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, D-shaped asphalt oval track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, on the access road just south of Kyle (TX) near Yarrington Road (Exit #210). THR is proud to be entering its 13th year of providing great auto racing action in Central Texas. Information on Thunderhill Raceway may be found on the track website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.

by Houston Motorsports Park and Thunderhill Raceay

Tommy Bryant Bags ASCS Lone Star Sprint Car win at Cowtown/s November Sprint Shootout

Tommy Bryant bagged his third American Sprint Car Series regional win of the year by topping Cowtown Speedway’s Fourth Annual November Sprint Shootout 35-lap championship feature event on Saturday night.

While Bryant tacked the season-ending ASCS Lone Star feature win on to a pair of previous ASCS Gulf South wins, it was Eric Baldaccini coming away with the 2010 ASCS Lone Star championship.

Bryant started Saturday night’s main event from the pole position, but it was fellow Gulf South shoe and 2009 champ Aaron Reutzel leading the initial handful of laps before running afoul of lapped traffic.

Bryant assumed the point and led the rest of the way aboard Todd Evans’ Sport Clips No. 14e machine for his seventh career ASCS Regional win in front of Justin Melton, with Andy Shouse, newly-crowned ASCS Gulf South champ Ray Allen Kulhanek and Kevin Ramey rounding out the top five.

Brandon Berryman was sixth, with Claud Estes, 20th-starter Travis Elliott, 19th-starter J.P. Bailey and Rafe Essary completing the top ten.

Despite a 19th place finish in the season finale, 22-year-old Baldaccini of Keller, TX, claimed the ASCS Lone Star title by an 81-point margin over Claud Estes.

Kolt Walker, D.J. Estes, Melton, Ramey and Brian McClelland won Saturday night’s heat races, with Bailey and Elliott winning the “B” Mains.

ASCS Lone Star Saturday Results from Cowtown Speedway’s November Sprint Shootout:

Locked in from Friday Night’s Feature: 1x-Gary Taylor, 87-Aaron Reutzel, 14e-Tommy Bryant, 30-Brandon Corn.

First Heat (10 Laps): 1. 45k-Kolt Walker, 2. 74e-Claud Estes, 3. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 4. 31-Brandon Berryman, 5. 0-Chris Morgan, 6. 26-Dalton Steed, 7. 22a-Dan Adkins, 8. 45x-Martin Edwards. DNS: 22k-Kevin Barksdale.

Second Heat (10 Laps): 1. 74d-D.J. Estes, 2. 36-Jonathan Beason, 3. 45-J.P. Bailey, 4. 22-Koby Barksdale, 5. 29-Greg Rilat, 6. 4j-Jamie Passmore, 7. 8a-Alan Myers, 8. 05-Dustin Woods. DNS: 33-Mark Huddleston.

Third Heat (10 Laps): 1. 11-Justin Melton, 2. 9-Justin Sturch, 3. 15T-Travis Elliott, 4. 67-Rodney Henderson, 5. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford, 6. 15b-Michael Brown, 7. 16-Koty Adams, 8. 58-Gary Floyd, 9. 79-Ryan Hall.

Fourth Heat (10 Laps): 1. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 2. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 3. 85-Jerry Bell, 4. 1r-Scott Reneau, 5. 66-J.J. Simmons, 6. 24-Evan Pardo, 7. 40-Junior Jenkins, 8. 010-Brian Roberts. DNS: 5m-Raven Culp.

Fifth Heat (10 Laps): 1. 25-Brian McClelland, 2. 26x-Rafe Essary, 3. 27-Andy Shouse, 4. 76-John Ricketts, 5. 17g-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 6. 2-Logan Payne, 7. 7-Roger Wayne Brown, 8. 15-Curtis Wayne Brown.

First “B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 45-J.P. Bailey, 2. 29-Greg Rilat, 3. 66-J.J. Simmons, 4. 1r-Scott Reneau, 5. 24-Evan Pardo, 6. 67-Rodney Henderson, 7. 45x-Martin Edwards, 8. 17g-Bruce Griffith, Jr., 9. 2-Logan Payne, 10. 40-Junior Jenkins, 11. 010-Brian Roberts, 12. 16-Koty Adams, 13. 7-Roger Wayne Brown. DNS: 33-Mark Huddleston, 79-Ryan Hall.

Second “B” Main (12 Laps): 1. 15T-Travis Elliott, 2. 22-Koby Barksdale, 3. 15b-Michael Brown, 4. 76-John Ricketts, 5. 4j-Jamie Passmore, 6. 58-Gary Floyd, 7. 26-Dalton Steed, 8. 0-Chris Morgan, 9. 8a-Alan Myers, 10. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford, 11. 05-Dustin Woods, 12. 22a-Dan Adkins, 13. 15-Curtis Wayne Brown. DNS: 22k-Kevin Barksdale, 5m-Raven Culp.

“A” Feature (35 Laps): 1. 14e-Tommy Bryant, 2. 11-Justin Melton, 3. 27-Andy Shouse, 4. 21T-Ray Allen Kulhanek, 5. 7m-Kevin Ramey, 6. 31-Brandon Berryman, 7. 74e-Claud Estes, 8. 15T-Travis Elliott, 9. 45-J.P. Bailey, 10. 26x-Rafe Essary, 11. 29-Greg Rilat, 12. 15b-Michael Brown, 13. 36-Jonathan Beason, 14. 1x-Gary Taylor, 15. 22-Koby Barksdale, 16. 45k-Kolt Walker, 17. 30-Brandon Corn, 18. 25-Brian McClelland, 19. 4-Eric Baldaccini, 20. 9-Justin Sturch, 21. 74d-D.J. Estes, 22. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 23. 85-Jerry Bell, 24. 66-J.J. Simmons.

ASCS Lone Star Region Points (Top 10): 1. Eric Baldaccini 1,862, 2. Claud Estes 1,781, 3. Justin Melton 1,702, 4. Brandon Corn 1,631, 5. Martin Edwards 1,572, 6. John Ricketts 1,540, 7. Kolt Walker 1,513, 8. Brian McClelland 1,407, 9. Kevin Ramey 1,367, 10. Preston Peebles II 1,333.

by Lonnie Wheatley
Photos by Rudy Garcia

Austin Environmental Board unanimously approves the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™ site

Developers for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix™ today announced that the Austin Environmental Board unanimously approved the site plans for the future Formula 1 United States Grand Prix venue, in a 6-0 vote, that is scheduled to host its first event in 2012.

This week’s City Hall vote with the Austin Environmental Board (considered the most difficult of the permits) is one of the last few hearings the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix developers will need from city/county boards and commissions to begin construction of the world-class facility.

“This project is on track,” said Richard Suttle, an attorney for the F1 promoters. “In fact, the development plan is right on schedule. And, with the help from the city and county, we’ve been able to not only stay on track, but may even be ahead of schedule,” he continued.

“Meeting with city officials to ensure the future facility meets all environmental and zoning requirements is not only standard procedure to move this project forward, but also an opportunity for us to show that we are committed to partnering with city officials in the construction of this international venue,” said Suttle.

“We are pleased with the unanimous approval from the Austin Environmental Board and know that the site will continue to remain on schedule for the 2012 opening,” Formula 1 United States Grand Prix Chairman Tavo Hellmund said.

The Formula 1 United States Grand PrixTM 3.4-mile circuit combines modern features with details reminiscent of traditional races from the 1960’s. The surrounding landscape will allow for a maximum elevation change of 133 feet, a feature that is sure to please drivers as well as fans. In addition, the circuit includes a strategic combination of over 20 turns, including variations of classic corners such as Istanbul Turn 8, Maggots–Becketts-Chapel and Hockenheimring’s Stadium Section. The multifunctional facility, hosting the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, is ideally situated on a 900-acre site in southeast Austin along the SH 130 corridor near FM 812.

For more information, visit www.formula1unitedstates.com.

Story and photo by Formula 1 United States

Copyright © 2005-2009 Lone Star Speedzone · 139 E. Hopkins, Suite 200-E, San Marcos, TX 78666 · Log in