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Fiesta Pro LM Champ Joe Aramendia leaves Houston Motorsports Park 2009 Awards Banquet with $15K check; David Starr keynote speaker

Lone Star Speedzone traveled to Houston Motorsports Park’s annual awards banquet this past weekend and it turned out to be quite an impressive affair with about 250 in attendance, a $15K check being handed out and a rousing speech by NASCAR star David Starr.

HMP’s announcer, “Uncle Bob,” did his usual professional job as the MC making sure we were all done and dancing by 9:30 after giving out numerous awards and trophies – we’ll go over some of those in a minute.

HMP General Manager John Mandabach took over the podium early in the evening and sincerely thanked everyone for their professionalism and for putting on such an impressive, entertaining show every race night. He went over some of the progress the track has made over the past four years and told the story of how he met Keith Jacobson, the Marketing Manager for Fiesta Mart, Inc, the company that has played an important role in that progress by teaming up with the speedway in numerous, mutually beneficial ways. I’ll let John tell the story the next time you talk with him.

As for 2010, John announced the following:

1. NASCAR Sanctioning - 3 sanctioned classes this year – Must have license to be eligible for points, purse & awards

NASCAR Fiesta Late Models – Feature Division – ages 16 and up

- $25,000 Track Points Fund thanks to Fiesta
- $3,500 State Points Fund & $40,000 National Points Fund
- Track Champion receives a Commerative Helmet
- State Champion receives a Custom Championship Driver Uniform
- State Champon Crew Chief gets $500
- State R.O.Y. gets $1,000
- Will pay $950 to Win, $100 to Start

NASCAR Cricket Modifieds – ages 14 and up

- $750 Win - $75 Start
- $10,000 Points Fund thanks to Cricket Wireless

NASCAR 360 Trucks – ages 14 and up

- $10,000 Points Fund thanks to 360 Motorsports
- $750 Win - $100 Start

2. Legends

- Nine Race Summer Shootout
- Some Purse and Points Fund
- If class develops will be full schedule class in 2011

3. Fiesta’s SpeedFest presented by Cricket Wireless

- All Purses Guaranteed with No Minimum Car Counts for Full Purse – All Classes
- $5,000 Win NASCAR Fiesta Late Models “Delmar Systems 75”
- $3,000 Win NASCAR Modifieds “Cricket 50”
- $1500 Win NASCAR 260 Trucks “DDC 50”
- $500 Win Pro Stock – possibly more based upon sponsorship
- $300 Win Eco Stock

4. Fiesta Gift Cards - 1st, 2nd, 3rd – all classes including Trucks & Legends

5. Improving Points System - Hybrid of NASCAR’s points system for all classes for feature (no bando or leg)
- Based upon # of licensed cars starting the Feature
- Winner gets 2 points per car up to 23 cars plus 5 point bonus
- Each finishing position after that will be decrease by 2 points
- 23rd position and lower all get 2 points
- Heats will be same system but based on 1 point per car with no win bonus.

6. Race Format remains the same

- Best Practice lap is qualifying time for heat
- Coin toss at Drivers Meeting
- How finish heat is how start feature

7. 2010 Advertisement

- TV Commercials – All Events
- Ad in the Houston Chronicle – All Events
- Posters at Fiesta & O’Reilly Auto Parts – All Events

8. Email & Internet presence

- HMP Facebook Page – over 1000 members already
- Email database added everyday
- Lone Star Speedzone “Live Updates” when available

Sounds like a great year coming up for HMP!

Next, David Starr, a Houston area racer who has successfully moved up into the NASCAR upper racing divisions and who was asked to be the keynote speaker for the evening delivered a very inspirational speech which centered on the need for all of us involved in local racing to remain passionate about our hobby. David detailed how he got his start and how important it is to form positive relationships within, as well as apart from, the racing community. The one thing that kept coming through as he spoke was the pride he takes in being a part of the Texas stock car racing community and how he keeps his “racing roots” in sight wherever he goes. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see David back racing at HMP from time to time next season. The guy’s a racer. I had a chance to talk for a while with David with the digital audio recorder after the banquet. Hopefully that interview will be up on the front page of Lone Star Speedzone some time in the near future.

Now, on to the awards.

The Houston Motorsports Park “Extra Mile Awards” went to:

Amy Hogan, who contributed in many way to HMP’s success in 2009 including taking care of the banquet decorations and table arrangements, which were very impressive.

Brad Dixon, who together with Brian Stipe were instrumental in putting the new Eco Stock class on the map at HMP in 2009.

Jim Beasley, who has done for the Pro Trucks what Dixon and Stipe have done for the Eco Stocks.

Bandoleros:
R.O.Y. - Chase Schubert
Most Improved Driver - Jon Fernandez
3rd Place - Taylor Myers
2nd Place and Bandit Track Champ - Christopher Hogan
Champion – Travis Benson

Legends:
Champion Zach Hausler

Eco Stocks:
R.O.Y and 3rd Place – Bob Berndt
2nd Place – Brad Dixon
Champion – Brian Stipe

Limited Modifieds:
3rd Place – Todd Manchester
2nd Place and R.O.Y. – Quentin Epler
Champion – Kalif Sellier

Pro Stocks:
R.O.Y – JT Schild
3rd Place – Richard Smith, Jr.
2nd Place – Richard Smith, Sr.
Champion – Lynn Hardy, Jr.

Pro Trucks:
3rd Place and R.O.Y. – Lynn Hardy, Jr.
2nd Place - Jim Albert
Champion – DL Wilson

NASCAR Cricket Modifieds:
3rd Place – Justin Long
2nd Place and R.O.Y. Brent Seeley
Champion – Denny Burton

NASCAR Fiesta Late Models
R.O.Y. Jacklyn Harris
3rd Place – Brandon Bendele
2nd Place – Carl Smith
Champion – Joe Aramendia

It was pretty impressive to see all the loot Joe took home – a large-size $15,000 check, a beautiful commemorative helmet, a custom made fire suit, a handsome trophy or two and probably some other stuff I missed. Keith Reithmeyer and Homer Pitner, both of whom work on the Aramendia team, were co-winners of the NASCAR Crew Chief of the Year Award.

By Nick Holt
Photos by Steve Steinle

NASCAR Late Models, NASCAR Modifieds on tap Houston Motorsports Park Saturday, 5/30/09

Beautiful Houston Motorsports Park is hosting the NASCAR Late Models and NASCAR Modifieds tonight in their “Adrenaline on Asphalt” stock car racing program at the 3/8-mile paved oval in Northeast Houston.

Two San Antonio-area drivers - Joe Aramendia and Brandon Bendele - sit atop the Late Model point standings but are expected to face strong challenges in their “Fiesta 50″ main event from Houston-area drivers Greg Davidson, Thad Felton and Carl Smith.

A fast field of NASCAR Modifieds including expected entrants Denny Burton, who leads the NASCAR Modified point standings, Justin Long, who won the season opener back in March, the always quick Tuffy Hudson and Brad Hudak will compete in the “Cricket 40.”

Also on the full racing lineup are the Houston Pro Stocks, the fun-to-watch Limited Modifieds, the Legends, Bandoleros and the newest HMP class - the Eco Stocks.

Racing action gets started at 6:00 p.m. with heat races and features in all divisions.

For more information log onto the HMP website at http://www.houstonmotorsportspark.com.

by Nick Holt

Houston Motorsports Park to fire up “Fiesta’s Super Spring Fling” this Saturday

The fire-breathing NASCAR Fiesta Late Models, the low-slung, lightning-quck NASCAR Cricket Modifieds and the always-competitive Texas Pro Trucks will be the featured racing divisions this Saturday at Houston Motorsports Park.

Two San Antonio area Late Model drivers - Joe Aramendia and Brandon Bendele - will lead a strong contingent into the “Fiesta 50″ at the immaculate, 3/8-mile, Northeast Houston facility. Aramendia sits atop the Late Model point standings, but Bendele - winner of the first Late Model event in March - is only three points behind. Also expected to make a strong showing is Greg Davidson who won the last Late Model show earlier this month.

Veteran campaigner Denny Burton, Justin Long and Corpus Christi hotshoe Tuffy Hudson are the NASCAR Cricket Modified point leaders and all three are expected to be near the front at the finish line of Saturday’s “Cricket 40.”

The Pro Trucks will be making their second stop of the season at the HMP oval to compete in the “Specialty Supply 30.”

Also on tap are the Houston Pro Stocks, the Limited Modifieds, Bandoleros, Legends and Eco Stocks in heat and feature races.

Racing action gets underway at 5:00 p.m. For more information visit the Houston Motorsports Park website at http://www.houstonmotorsportspark.com.

Staff Report

Veteran Greg Davidson overcomes adversity, bides time, wins in NASCAR Late Model “Fiesta 50″ at HMP

Veteran NASCAR Late Model driver Greg Davidson experienced some unexpected adversity before the race, but enjoyed some unexpected good fortune in winning the “Fiesta 50″ for the NASCAR Fiesta Late Models at Houston Motorsports Park on Saturday.

During the pre-race practice, Davidson couldn’t avoid a spin by another driver and the collision resulted in major damage to the right front suspension of his sleek, black Late Model. Davidson’s experienced pit crew quickly got to work and by race time the right front suspension had been completely rebuilt and his ride declared race ready.

Davidson lined up towards the back of the 12-car field and patiently worked his way past a few cars and was running comfortably in fifth behind Kyle Sirizzotti and Carl Smith with 20 laps in the books.

Meanwhile up front, Thad Felton, who had led from the drop of the green, was busy fending off a very determined Joe Aramendia. The pair had been battling for the lead for the better part of the first half of the race as Larry Schild, III, watched from his third place spot. Not far behind Schild Carl Smith, youngster Kyle Sirizzotti, Davidson, and points-leader Brandon Bendele battled nose-to-tail for the fourth spot.

Schild drifted a bit too wide at one point and suddenly Smith, Sirizzotti, Davidson and Bendele roared by and the quartet set sail for Felton and Aramendia who were continuing to play bumper tag up front. But Smith seemed to be losing some of his cornering speed as the laps wound down giving Sirizzotti, Davidson and Benedele a chance to freight train past just before the halfway point.

Bendele, watching the laps wind down, put some pressure on Davidson and after a bit of bumper tag made a clean pass under Davidson to take over fourth. And it wasn’t long before both Sirizzotti and Bendele had caught Felton and Aramendia to make it a four-car battle for the lead with 15 laps remaining.

By now Felton was really beginning to feel the heat and at one point grazed a lapped car as the foursome sped down the front straight. Felton bobbled a bit but quickly recovered to retain the lead as the cars behind checked up anticipating a possible spin.

With 14 to go Aramendia got into the back of the leader who spun in turn four after the contact to bring out the caution flag. Under the track’s “all-involved” rule, both Aramendia and Felton were sent to the rear and Sirizzotti inherited the lead with Bendele now in second with just 14 laps left.

For the next 10 laps Bendele did everything he could think of to get by Sirizzotti for the lead but the wily veteran couldn’t find a way as Sirizzotti would find a way to slam the door in every corner. Davidson patiently watched the fierce battle a car length or two behind anticipating that the leaders would eventually take each other out.

With four laps to go, Bendele got a great run, ran up under Sirizzotti , pulled alongside and seemed ready to take over the lead. The pair traded a bit of paint and came off the turn with Sirizzotti able once again to hold off the inevitable.

Two laps later Bendele got another great run, poked his nose under Sirizzotti but had to back off as Sirizzotti held his ground. By this time the good crowd on hand was on its feet and cheering as the white flag flew.

Then, the inevitable - with Bendele on the inside and Sirizzotti to the outside, they scrape a bit too hard in turn three and the pair spin to a stop with the caution flag flying instead of the checkered.

Both Bendele and Sirizzotti take their place at the rear of the pack for the restart with Davidson now in the catbird seat in front of Aramendia, Schild and Johnny Walker for a “green- white-checkered” finish.

Davidson wasn’t to be denied and held off Aramendia for the popular win.

“We had a third place car, but I’ll take the win,” Davidson said after the race. “After all we went through just to make the race it feels good to win it. We really had the car to beat before we got in that wreck in practice, so I don’t feel too bad about winning.”

Official results:

Finish, Car number, Name, Best lap time, Laps completed

1. 96 Greg Davidson, 14.403, 51 laps
2. 79 Joe Aramendia, 14.308, 51
3. 7 Larry Schild III, 14.506, 51
4. 72 Johnny Walker, 14.552, 51
5. 29 Thad Felton, 14.338, 51
6. 40 Craig Roper, 14.517, 51
7. 93 Kyle Sirizzotti, 14.272, 51
8. Brandon Bendele, 14.342, 51
9. 14 Carl Smith, 14.371, 51
10. 28 Hanna Baker, 14.610, 50
11. 2 Jacklyn Harris, 14.701, 48
12. 99 Bryan Schild, 14.595, 13

by Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone

Front page photo by Jeff Garvin
Photos in story by Chris David

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