Cody Smith and the “Young Guns” sweep top spots in Texas Super Racing Series “Operation Interdependence 75″ at Thunderhill Raceway
May 25, 2009
Like the week before at Houston Motorsports Park, the young guns of the Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS) Late Model division swept the top spots at Thunderhill Raceway during the running of the annual “Operation Interdependence 75.”
Teen drivers Cody Smith, Jake Kruger and Dillon Spreen swept the top three spots at the tricky three-eight-mile, D-Shaped oval in Kyle, Texas. And another youngster, Levi Krauss finished fifth to take four of the top five finishing spots!
Cody Smith all smiles after his TSRS feature win
Veteran driver Robert Barker finished fourth after a race-long tussle with Spreen for position.
The cleanly-run, seventy-five lap affair only was slowed by one caution period - and that was for some debris on the racing surface on the eighteenth lap.
TSRS point leader Bobby Teer, Jr, took the early lead from his front-row starting-spot on the grid which was set by point standings due to the weather conditions, but Smith and Kruger were quickly into second and third.
After several laps of constant pressure from Smith, Teer finally gave up the lead on the ninth circuit and a good portion of the field, which had pretty much bunched up behind the leaders, freight-trained under the Teer machine, dropping him back to sixth behind another youngster, Kendall Bumbera.
Kendall Bumbera (72), Bobby Teer, Jr. (2) and Levi Krauss battle for position
From that point on Smith and Kruger - two very evenly matched drivers in two very evenly matched racing machines – went nose-to-tail at the front while the rest of the field battled for position.
Youngsters Cody Smith (05) and Jake Kruger battled for the most of the 75 laps
At halfway it was Smith, Kruger, Spreen, Cary Stapp, Barker, Krauss, Teer, Bumbera, Jeff O’Neil, Robert Walton and Todd Farris.
One of the more exciting battles back in the pack was between Teer and Krauss for third. Every time Krauss was able to get his nose under Teer, Teer would slam the door. Finally, after many tries, Krauss made it by on the 50th circuit. Another good battle was waged between Barker and Spreen with Spreen coming out on top in that one.
By the time the checkered flag flew, Smith and Kruger had almost a half lap on Spreen and Barker. Smith took the well-deserved win after running a flawless race. Kruger gave it a great try but came up a bit short for second. Spreen crossed the line a few car lengths over Barker and even further back Krauss and Teer rounded out the top six.
Official TSRS Late Model results:
1. 05 Cody Smith, La Vernia, 75 laps
2. 14 Jake Kruger, Bastrop, 75 laps
3. 81 Dillon Spreen, Boerne, 75 laps
4. 17 Robert Barker, Boerne, 75 laps
5. 4 Levi Krauss, Seguin, 75 laps
6. 2 Bobby Teer, Jr., Comfort, 74 laps
7. 72 Kendall Bumbera, Sealy, 74 laps
8. 99 Cary Stapp, San Marcos, 74 laps
9. 28 Jeff O’Neil, Round Rock, 73 laps
10. 49 Robert Walton, Bastrop, 70 laps
11. 96 Todd Farris, College Station, 70 laps
12. 3 Mike Reininger, San Antonio – DNS
By Nick Holt
The “Young Guns” of the TSRS Late Model Series took the “Old Timers” to school at Houston Motorsports Park
May 6, 2009
The ‘young guns” of the Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS) took the “old timers” to school last Saturday at Houston Motorsports Park during the running of the TSRS Late Model “Insty Print 75.” It was fifteen year-old Jake Kruger who ended up in victory circle while the best the veterans could manage was a fifth place finish.
Young Jake Kruger celebrates his TSRS win at Houston Motorsports Park
Nineteen year-old Kyle Sirizzotti, fourteen year-old Dillon Spreen and sixteen year-old Kendall Bumbera filled the top four spots behind Kruger in the finishing order.
And it wasn’t because there weren’t any quality “old school” Late Model drivers at the at the well-maintained 3/8-mile oval that night.
Chris Schild - who currently sits at the top of the “most TSRS Late Model wins” column along with Tommy Gural - lined up on the front row next to seventeen year-old Levi Krauss, who set fast time during time trials. And multi-race winner Robert Barker started in row two next to another rookie, fourteen year-old Dillon Spreen. And Bobby Teer, Jr, Cary Stapp, Robert Walton, Todd Farris and Mike Williams – all top-notch racers with years of racing experience - haven’t sat through a fourth-period study hall in quite a while.
Winner Jake Kruger (14) battles Robert Barker (White car), Dillon Spreen (81) and Levi Krauss (Blue car)
Schild grabbed the early lead when Krauss drifted high in the first turn after solid contact with another competitor. Krauss was freight trained by a good portion of the 15 car field as he struggled to re-gain contol. Barker took over second with Kruger assuming the third spot.
Schild soon had his mirror full of Barker’s borrowed race car and the pair battled for the lead for a dozen laps. Meanwhile, Spreen had moved up through the field to challenge for fourth, then third as the field sorted itself out.
The race was only a few laps old when - for no apparent reason - Schild spun. The caution flag flew as the track personnel checked for possible fluid on the track surface as Barker wheeled what appeared to be a broken race car into the pits, his night over early.
Despite the spin, TSRS officials reinstated Schild as the race leader as Spreen, Kruger, Teer Jr., and Sirizzotti lined up behind him for the restart.
Over the next several laps Spreen took a few good looks under Schild, but the leader was able to handle the repeated challenges even though Spreen may have had the faster car at that point.
On the 32nd lap, Spreen and Schild made contact with Schild spinning to a stop to bring out the caution flag once again. Race officials ruled that Spreen was at fault for the contact and Schild resumed the race from the front while Spreen was sent to the rear.
A few laps laterTeer, Jr, running in third behind Kruger at the time, lost control in turn four , drifted up out of the groove and held on. Teer was able to regain control after Cody Smith scooted by to take over that spot.
A lap later both Kruger and Smith were able to work their way past Schild, who seemed to be experiencing growing problems with the handling. But as Krauss tried to get by, he and Schild made solid contact and the pair ended up in a wad on the back straight. Krauss was able to return, but without some of his bodywork.
The race was restarted on lap 51 with Kruger, Smith, Schild – reinstated to his third place spot after it was determined that Krauss was at fault for the accident - Mike Williams and Teer, Jr, the new top five.
With 20 to go, Kruger and Smith began to separate themselves from the pack as Sirizzotti and Teer Jr battled for third and fourth a short distance back. A few laps later Schild spins again to bring out the yellow flag.
The lap 65 restart has Kruger, Smith, Sirizzotti, Teer, Spreen and Kendall Bumbera at the front. But a lap later Smith and Kruger tangle in turn two to bring out yet another caution flag. Smith was deemed at fault in this one and was sent to the rear with Kruger retaining his first place position.
This restart had Kruger, Sirizzotti, Teer, Spreen and Bumbera the top five combatants.
Sirizzotti was soon hot on Kruger’s heels with Teer and Spreen right there to form a tight four-car pack. But with two laps remaining, Teer spun solo in turn three to bring out the final caution period of the night.
Kruger, Sirizzotti, Spreen, Bumbera, and Cary Stapp were now facing a two-lap shootout for the win.
Sirizzotti gave it all he had, first looking low, then high, then low again, but Kruger retained his composure and held off the determined Sirizzotti for the win. Spreen, Bumbera and Stapp finished in that order.
“I want to thank Kyle (Sirizzotti) for running me clean those last few laps,” Kruger said after the race. “We wanted to run a clean, steady race and we did. It feels good to win.”
Official results:
Finishing position, Car number, Name, Hometown, Laps completed, Starting position, Qualifying time, Points awarded, Notes
1 14 Jake Kruger Bastrop, TX 75 5 15.084 180
2 93 Kyle Sirizzotti Helotes, TX 75 6 15.138 170
3 81 Dillon Spreen Boerne, TX 75 4 15.072 165
4 72 Kendall Bumbera Sealy, TX 75 10 15.509 165 Hard Charger Bonus Points (5)
5 99 Cary Stapp San Marcos, TX 75 11 15.471 160 Hard Charger Bonus Points (5)
6 49 Robert Walton Bastrop, TX 75 13 15.921 0 Broke Impound - Scratch Start Non TSRS member - No Points
7 33 Mike Williams Hockley, TX 75 9 15.442 150
8 05 Cody Smith La Vernia, TX 75 7 15.192 146
9 2 Bobby Teer, Jr. Comfort, TX 75 8 15.262 142
10 4 Levi Krauss Schertz, TX 75 2 14.952 143 Fast Qualifier Bonus Points (5)
11 7 Chris Schild Leander, TX 74 1 15.123 134
12 96 Todd Farris College Station, TX 56 12 DNQ 130
13 1 Robert Barker Boerne, TX 12 3 14.992 127
14 56 Todd McLemore Austin, TX 0 DNS DNQ 5 Broke in Friday practice
By Nick Holt
Photos by Jeff Garvin
Fifteen year-old Jake Kruger takes charge in TSRS event at Corpus Christi Speedway
April 20, 2009
Fifteen year-old Jake Kruger from Bastrop, TX – known by his team as “The Boss” – cracked the whip in Saturday night’s 75-lap Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS) Late Model race at Corpus Christi Speedway.
Young Jake Kruger takes a victory lap in following his TSRS Late Model win
Although Kruger has raced at Corpus Christi Speedway before with the Allison Legacy Racing Series, he is only in his second year in the TSRS Late Model class. He finished fifth in the 2008 TSRS Late Model points race and captured the TSRS Late Model Rookie of the Year title.
Kruger had his sights set on breaking the track record and began his weekend by turning in some impressive practice laps on Friday evening. Not surprisingly, Kruger turned in the top qualifying time on Saturday afternoon – clocking in with 14.072 seconds and shattering the track record of 14.515 seconds set by Ervin Breiten, Jr., on September 18, 2004.
Kruger’s good fortune continued when he grabbed the pole position in a post-qualifying draw. After leading the starting lineup to the green flag, Kruger quickly pulled ahead by several car lengths. He never looked back for the rest of the 75-lap event.
Kruger was eager to share his race strategy following his win. “I drove the car at half throttle throughout the entire race. I only used the brakes to set the nose, and then I’d just ease into the gas.”
“I was also able to get some really good starts after the cautions,” added Kruger. “I could usually gain two-three car lengths on the starts, which helped me stay in the lead.”
Kruger credits John Heil, known as “The Corpus Christi King,” with giving him the advice he needed to pull off the win. “John told me to take it easy on the throttle, don’t use the brakes much and save the tires. And John knows his stuff when it comes to Corpus Christi Speedway.”
Kruger is sponsored by Kruger Motorsports, Turner Motorsports, TRC Racecars and BMF Shocks.
Prior to the TSRS Late Model race, the newly acquired TSRS Allison Legacys awed the fans with their 50-lap feature race.
Rusty Mirth from Austin, TX, had clocked the second-fastest qualifying time earlier in the day and had also drawn the pole starting position. Similar to Kruger, Mirth held off the remaining field for the entire race.
Rusty Mirth won the TSRS Allison Legacy 50-lapper at CC Speedway
Even though Mirth was a strong competitor with the Pro Trucks during the last few years, it’s his first season with the TSRS Allison Legacys. With just one prior race under his belt, he was able to capture his first victory this season.
Mirth is sponsored by Austin Boat Clinic, Austin Auto Signs and Graphi-Tees.
Interestingly enough, Kruger is currently mentoring 12-year-old Jake Wright in the TSRS Allison Legacy Series. After starting in the seventh position, Wright was able to battle his way up through the field to claim the second position – showing his mentor that he could also pull off a strong finish.
The TSRS Late Models will make the next stop on their tour at Houston Motorsports Park on May 2 as part of the “Adrenaline on Asphalt” show.
The TSRS Allison Legacys will be racing again this Saturday night (April 25) at Thunderhill Raceway – along with the Pro Trucks, Pro Modifieds, the ASA A-Line Super Stocks, Thunder Stocks, Grand Stocks, Mini Stocks and NasKarts.
Grandstand gates will open at 5 p.m. The racing action will begin with qualifying at 5:30 p.m., heat races at 6 p.m. and feature races at 7 p.m.
Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, D-shaped asphalt oval track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, just north of San Marcos (TX) near Yarrington Road (Exit #210).
For more information on Thunderhill Raceway and a detailed schedule of this Saturday’s activities, visit the THR website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.
TSRS Results - Corpus Christi Speedway -April 18, 2009
TSRS Allison Legacys
1. 07 Rusty Mirth, Austin, TX, 50 laps, QT 15.814
2. 96 Jake Wright, Shenandoah, TX, 50 laps, QT 16.724
3. 53 Charles Evans, Jr., Friendswood, TX, 50 laps, QT 15.748 **New Track record**, Penalized one position for jumping restart
4. 56 Lauren Runco, Spring Branch, TX, 49 laps, QT 16.703
5. 32 James Huff, Houson, TX, 49 laps, QT 16.552
6. 88 Kyle Harding, Conroe, TX, 48 laps, QT 16.452
7. 08 Gavin Boyett, Buda, TX, 12 laps, QT 15.887
8. 19 Cole Runco, Spring Branch, TX, 11 laps, QT 15.959
TSRS Late Models
1. 14 Jake Kruger, Bastrop, TX, 75 laps, QT 14.072 **New Track record**
2. 2 Bobby Teer, Jr., Comfort, TX, 75 laps, QT 14.270
3. 4 Levi Krauss, Schertz, TX, 75 laps, QT 14.515
4. 81 Dillon Spreen, Boerne, TX, 75 laps, QT 14.237
5. 96 Todd Farris, College Station, TX, 75 laps, QT 14.620
6. 51 Chad Menard, Castroville, TX, 75 laps, QT 14.255
7. 79 Brian Moczygemba, 75 laps, QT 14.438
8. 05 Cody Smith, La Vernia, TX, 59 laps, QT 14.229
9. 99 Cary Stapp, San Marcos, TX, 21 laps, QT 14.516
10. 17 Robert Barker, Boerne, TX, 4 laps, QT 14.285
11. 72 Kendall Bumbera, Sealy,TX, 0 laps, QT 14.896
12. 00 Beau Bukowski, San Antonio, TX, DNQ- Broke in practice
By Debbie Williams, TSRS Public Relations Director
Photos by Jeff Garvin
Green flag flies on 2009 ASA Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil National Championship
April 10, 2009
All across the United States the American Speed Association Member Tracks have either started - as Thunderhill Raceway did three weekends ago - or gearing up for their 2009 racing season. It is also a clean slate as the drivers at each of these tracks will start competing for an opportunity of a lifetime.
Those drivers will be competing to become the second American Speed Association Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Member Track National Champion. One driver, either from an asphalt quarter-mile track to a dirt half-mile track will emerge as the best in the nation.
Last year, Cary Stapp of Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, TX won the championship and got an opportunity to show his talents to Joe Gibbs Racing in a special tryout. That opportunity is again available for the 2009 champion.
ASA National Champ Cary Stapp chats with Joe Gibbs and his wife Kelli
“Last year was just incredible, we had a championship battle that literally came down to the last lap of racing,” Dennis Huth, American Speed Association President stated. “We had Cary Stapp in Texas holding off Linny White from California for the championship. It was awesome to have two drivers from different parts of the United States battling for it.”
As the 2008 ASA Member Track National Champion, Stapp took full advantage of his tryout with Joe Gibbs Racing. The experience itself was one that Stapp will always remember, “Oh man, it was more than what I expected,” Stapp stated. “Joe & JD Gibbs and their entire staff treated us so well; this is something I will never forget.”
The San Marcos, TX driver got to tour the Joe Gibbs Racing shop and had a test session at South Boston Speedway where he logged over 100 laps in testing two Toyota Camry’s for Gibbs.
Cary Stapp poses with one of two Joe Gibbs Toyotas he tested as part of the Championship award
Speednetdirect.com will again keep track of the unique point standings through out the season until the September 27, 2009, deadline. The point calculations are “weighted” and will consist of: number of cars competing in a feature event, invert of the main event, average finishing position, number of races competed in, and wins. These will create an average that resembles a batting average in baseball.
The key to getting an accurate point average is that a competitor will need at least 14 races that are competed at an ASA Member Track. Some tracks may run double feature events in one night to reach the minimum of 14 events. All sanctioned races will count towards the championship.
The biggest item to remember is that to have an opportunity at the National Championship, the driver must also be a Feature Division 2009 track champion at the Level 1 ASA Member Track.
“We have a few new tracks joining us this year and I expect the competition that we will see for the National Championship will be as close to the competition that fans and other competitors will see each week at an ASA Member Track,” Huth stated. “The ASA Member Tracks will have some exciting races this summer and the fans will be on the edge of their seats every week, guaranteed. And in the end, we will take their best driver and put them up against the best from the other tracks and have our National Champion.”
“Last year was an awesome opportunity that the American Speed Association gave us by bringing their National Champion to our shop and trying out with Joe Gibbs Racing,” JD Gibbs stated. “The American Speed Association Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil National Championship has a unique formula to find the best driver from their member tracks across the United States. I had a privilege to meet and get to know Cary Stapp and he is a great representative of the drivers who race every week at the various ASA Member Tracks. We at Joe Gibbs Racing cannot wait to meet and test this year’s champion.”
Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the American Speed Association National Short Track Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.
Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs - a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame - JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.
The American Speed Association Short Track National Championship is another step by the industry leader in creating new and innovative programs. This follows the recent announcement about extending the insurance coverage for ASA members traveling to, from, and during an ASA-sanctioned event. For updated ASA National Points, just click on the “Points” link at www.asa-racing.com.
ASA members in good standing are eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American Speed Association, in conjunction with WSIB Motorports Insurance, is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (complete details are available online at www.ASA-Racing.com).
The ASA Member Track program is comprised of more than 35 short tracks around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.
By Kevin Ramsell
Lone Star Speedzone Video Cast - 1/26/2009
January 26, 2009
In this week’s show, the crew headed out to Kyle to see what Thunderhill Raceway will have in store this season. We caught up with Debbie Williams and Mary Ann Naumann along with a few other characters we ran into in the pits!
Join Chris Doelle and Nick Holt for all the great racing action.
Stick with Lone Star Speedzone for all of your racing coverage in 2009!
ASA’s Dennis Huth honors Stapp Racing at Thunderhill Raceway awards ceremony
January 26, 2009
Tiffany Vogel, Cary Stapp, Kelli Stapp and Dennis Huth share the spotlight at THR.
Dennis Huth, President of American Speed Association (ASA) Racing, the fast-growing short track sanctioning body based in Daytona Beach, Florida, was on hand at the Thunderhill Raceway annual awards ceremony this past Saturday, January 24, 2009.
Thunderhill Raceway (THR) is an ASA Racing member track and Huth was there to recognize the 2008 American Speed Association Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Member Track National Champion Cary Stapp and present the Stapp team with their championship hardware.
Dennis Huth addresses the large crowd on hand at the THR Awards Ceremony
Huth, a former high-ranking NASCAR official, was largely responsible for the founding of the very entertaining NASCAR Truck series and for several years headed the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series that included more than 100 short tracks accross the country at one time.
Photos by Jeff Garvin
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