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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

Lone Star Speedzone Video - Inteview with HMP’s John Mandabach

Lone Star Speedzone’s Nick Holt and TexasHighDef’s Duke O’Connor caught up with Houston Motorsports Park Vice President and Marketing Director John Mandabach before the racing program on Saturday, April 10, 2010, and slowed him down long enough get an informative interview.

John shares some insight into the so-called “Madhouse rule” and explains some of the thought behind his marketing endeavors and the recent increase in fan support HMP has enjoyed.

Live Updates from Houston Motorsports Park “Speedfest,” 3/13/10

Lone Star Speedzone invites you to check out our Live Interactive Updates from the “Fiesta Speedfest presented by Cricket Wireless” at Houston Motorsports Park this Saturday.

Nothing ever can take the place of being at a race in person, but we do our best to bring you the flavor and action as the evening progresses. Since the Live Updates blog software is “interactive,” folks who follow along can make comments or ask questions during the evening.

Since the racing action is set to get started at 5:00 p.m. I will try to fire up the Live Updates at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Please keep in mind that the software has built-in controls to prevent spammers and those intent on causing harm, etc, from posting. So there may be a few minutes delay between when you post your comment or question and when it shows up in the dialogue box.

Houston Motorsports Park to host “Fiesta’s Speedfest presented by Cricket Wireless” this Saturday, March 13th.

Houston Motorsports Park is hosting their annual “Fiesta Speedfest presented by Cricket Wireless” this Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the well-maintained 3/8-mile oval located in Northeast Houston.

Big purses and big fields of cars will be the norm as the Houston area racing season heats up.

John Mandabach, HMP Vice President and General Manager, is enthusiastic about the upcoming Speedfest event. “The weather forecast for Speedfest is great,” Mandabach said, “And we’re expecting to start 24 NASCAR Fiesta Late Models, 24 NASCAR 360 Trucks and 20 NASCAR Cricket Modifieds.”

Those are some good numbers for any local racing track.

And the numbers advertised for the purses are equally good.

Featured races will include:

$5000 to Win for the NASCAR Fiesta Late Models for the “Delmar Systems 75”
$3000 to Win for the NASCAR Cricket Modifieds for the “Cricket 50”
$1500 to Win for the NASCAR 360 Trucks for the “DDC 50”
$500 to Win for the Pro Stocks – 30 Laps
$300 to Win for the Eco Stocks – 20 Laps
$75 Fiesta Gift Card to Win for the Bandoleros – 15 Laps

Two weeks ago the racing was fast and furious on the concrete/asphalt surface with new race procedures - including double-file restarts and “driver self policing” – in force during the racing action.

Racing at the track located at 11620 N. Lake Houston Parkway is set to take the green flag at 5:00 p.m.

Five dollar adult tickets are available at any Houston area Fiesta Mart and $10-off coupons are available at select Cricket Wireless locations. And with $1 beer, $1 cokes and $1 hot dogs, a family of four can afford to take in all the racing excitement.

Further information is available at http://www.houstonmotorsportspark.com/ or by calling the track at 281-458-1972.

by Nick Holt, Admin, Lone Star Speedzone
Photos by Steve Steinle

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

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