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Lone Star Speedzone-TexasHighDef Spotlight on Bobby Chaffee and 360 Motorsports

TexasHighDef’s Duke O’Connor and Lone Star Speedzone’s Nick Holt caught up with a very busy Bobby Chaffee at Houston Motorsports Park recently and got him to stand still if front of the video camera and mic long enough to get a pretty good interview.

Bobby was driving the Terry’s Body Shop-360 Motorsports “High 5″ Mini Stock with the HMP Eco Stocks that night and was also filling in for Uncle Bob, the popular HMP announcer who has been a bit under the weather lately. But Bobby wanted to let folks know about the 360 Motorsports Grand Opening and give a shout out to Jim Beasley, the man behind 360 Motorsports and the NASCAR 360 Trucks, so he made time for us.

First Timers steal the show at Thunderhill Raceway

Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas, had several first-time feature winners for the eighth race of the 2009 racing season – in the Mini Stocks, Grand Stocks, Thunder Stocks and NasKarts.

Bobby Chaffee (New Braunfels, TX) started on the inside of the second row and passed newcomer Jerry Woolf on the last lap to claim victory in the Mini Stock feature race. Chaffee is one of the THR announcers, and he switched hats to win his first race on Thunderhill Raceway’s (THR) 3/8-mile asphalt oval.

Marcia Moore (Cedar Creek, TX) was the first female racer to claim a Grand Stock victory this year. Moore started on inside of the second row, and she quickly grabbed the lead on the first lap. She was able to hold off the hard charge by the previous feature winner, Floyd Reed, for the 25-lap feature event. Moore started racing with the Grand Stocks when the class was introduced in 2005 and is currently in fifth place in the 2009 Grand Stocks points’ race.

Aaron Brungot (Cedar Park, TX) has been racing in the Thunder Stock class since 2005, and he finally pulled off his first career feature win. Brungot took over the lead at the halfway point by passing teammate and 2008 Thunder Stock champion, Joey Tschoerner. He maintained the lead for the rest of the 30-lap Thunder Stock feature race – barely holding off the current points’ leader Mason Teague.

Clint LaFont (Volente, TX) claimed another victory after patiently working his way up through the field of the ASA A-Line Super Stock feature race. LaFont started in the 10 position in the 40-lap feature race and finally took over the lead with only three laps left to go. He held off Shawn Paul Lehman, who is currently running second in track points, for the victory. LaFont is currently leading the THR ASA A-Line Super Stock points’ race, and he has turned in some very impressive results so far this year (three wins and eight Top 3 finishes). He was also heading up the ASA Joe Gibbs National Championship competition going into Saturday’s race, so this win should help him maintain the lead.

Richard Gonzales (San Antonio, TX) is a NasKart rookie, and he was also a first-time feature winner on Saturday night. The fans were treated to some close racing action, especially when Lyndon Kirk and Chris Terry threatened Gonzales for the lead near the end of the 27-lap NasKart feature race.

Gavin Boyett (Buda, TX) is on a two-race winning streak following his victory on Saturday night in the 50-lap TSRS Allison Legacys race. This 13-year-old youngster started on the outside pole and took over the lead from Lauren Runco on the first lap. Kris Kerr passed Boyett on Lap 4 and remained in the lead until the last lap. The two drivers tangled coming out of Turn 4, and Boyett was the first to cross the finish line. Boyett is currently leading the TSRS Allison Legacys points’ race.

Jason Marshall (Leander, TX) grabbed his second win in the Pro Trucks at Thunderhill Raceway this year. He turned in the fastest qualifying time with 16.420 seconds. Following a draw for the inversion, Marshall started in the fourth position. He worked his way up to the front and took over the lead from D.L. Wilson on Lap 20 and held on for the win. Marshall is currently leading the Pro Trucks points’ race at THR – only four points ahead of Wilson.

Top five report - Thunderhill Raceway - ASA TRACK MEMBER - JUNE 27, 2009

Mini Stocks
01 Bobby Chaffee, New Braunfels, TX 10 laps
10 Jerry Woolf, San Antonio, TX 10 laps
02 Gunnar Frid, Cedar Park, TX 10 laps
77 Eric Robbins, Jr., Red Rock, TX 10 laps

Grand Stocks
91 Marcia Moore, Cedar Creek, TX 25 laps
65 Floyd Reed, Spicewood, TX 25 laps
88 Mike Farish, Kempner, TX 25 laps
12 Art Ganss, Driftwood, TX 25 laps
03 Chris Trevino, San Antonio, TX 25 laps

Thunder Stocks
50 Aaron Brungot Cedar Park, TX 30 laps QT 17.740
16 Mason Teague, Paige, TX 30 laps QT 17.753
92 Jason Stanley, San Antonio, TX 30 laps QT 17.591
22 Anthony Gordon, San Antonio, TX 30 laps QT 17.778
20 Steve Joyce Buda, TX 30 laps QT 18.228

ASA A-Line Super Stocks
3 Clint LaFont, Volente, TX 40 laps
28 Shawn Paul Lehman, Manchaca, TX 40 laps
80 Allen Alexander, San Antonio, TX 40 laps
99 Chase Stapp, San Marcos, TX 40 laps
7 Rodney Rodriguez Round Rock, TX 40 laps

NasKarts
17 Richard Gonzales, San Antonio, TX 27 laps
5 Lyndon Kirk, Austin, TX 27 laps
24 Chris Terry, Oklahoma City, OK 27 laps
48 Kevin Hummell, Lake Travis, TX 27 laps
88 Kayleb Kreis, Lake Travis, TX 27 laps

TSRS Allison Legacys
08 Gavin Boyett Buda, TX 50 laps QT 17.401
24 Kris Kerr San Antonio, TX 50 laps QT 17.364
07 Rusty Mirth® Austin, TX 50 laps QT 17.681
53 Charles Evans, Jr. ® Friendswood, TX 50 laps QT 17.311
19 Cole Runco® Spring Branch, TX 50 laps QT 17.650

®Rookie

Pro Trucks
42 Jason Marshall Leander, TX 50 laps QT 16.420
6 D.L. Wilson China Spring, TX 50 laps QT 15.559
28 Shawn Paul Lehman Manchaca, TX 50 laps QT 16.749
31 Jim Albert Lockhart, TX 50 laps QT 16.740
72 Brent Bell, 50 laps QT 16.968

by Debbie Williams, THR Media & Public Relations Director
Photos by Jeff Garvin

Thunderhill Raceway’s Super Stocks promise plenty of excitement in 2009

One thing that can be expected with the start of any new season at Thunderhill Raceway (THR) in Kyle, Texas, is the close competition in the track’s weekly ASA A-Line Super Stock class – and 2009 will be no exception. To make things more interesting, multiple-time class champion and reigning ASA National Champion Cary Stapp has exited this class to race with the Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS) Late Models – leaving this year’s competition in THR’s premier local class wide open.

Many of 2008’s contenders are back for another run at the crown – including second-place 2008 finisher Duane Toyne (#4, Leander, TX) and Terry Tschoerner (Taylor, TX), who drives the #01 TBS Racing car. Toyne was last year’s third-place finisher, and he’s expected to be at the top of the championship hunt in 2009. The TBS Racing team will also field cars for Terry’s daughter, Tracy Tschoerner (#11, Taylor, TX) and Kevin Bowen (#2, Taylor, TX), who has moved up from the Thunder Stock class. All of these talented drivers are sure to be contenders as well.

The always-fast #3 race car driven by Clint LaFont (Volente, TX) is back to compete in the chase – along with his dad, veteran and past track champion Bobby LaFont (#88, also from Volente, TX). Both of these drivers are lightning-quick and can always be found near the front of the pack in the Super Stock class.

Former San Antonio Speedway Sportsman drivers Keith Garrett (#31, New Braunfels, TX) and Mark Mathias (#20, San Antonio, TX) have made smooth transitions to the 3/8-mile asphalt oval in Kyle, and both of them have picked up several feature wins in previous seasons. Mathias will also be pulling double-duty this year as he has also joined the ranks of the TSRS Late Models.

Throw all these drivers in with the veteran base of local talent, such as Doug Ayers (#02, Pflugerville, TX), Mickey McKim (#18, Manchaca, TX), Shawn Paul Lehman (#28, Manchaca, TX), Rodney Rodriguez (#7, Round Rock, TX) and Chris Birmingham (#9, Leander, TX), and it will make for lots of exciting, door-to-door action.

Also at stake is the opportunity for any of these drivers to grab the ASA Joe Gibbs National Championship title for Thunderhill Raceway again this year. Allen Alexander (#80, San Antonio, TX) will also race in this division, along with Jim Teague (#73, Paige, TX) and Mel Krauss (#32, Seguin, TX).

An interesting roster of rookies will join this group – including Chase Stapp (San Marcos, TX), who is the brother and former crew chief for Cary Stapp. Chase will take over the reins of the #99 winning Camaro in 2009, and he’s been turning in some impressive lap times in pre-season testing at THR. His experience as a crew chief and knowledge about the car’s setup will undoubtedly make him one of the drivers to watch in this year’s battles on the track.

Another rookie in this division is Ja Lane (#85, Katy, TX). Lane formerly raced with the Texas Pro Sedans and claimed several feature wins in that series. He is also the son of former San Antonio Speedway driver Pat Lane, who has lots of experience in building a fast race car. So, be on the lookout for this driver to make an impact on the competition as well.

It’s probably pretty safe to say that the ASA A-Line Super Stock division at Thunderhill Raceway will continue to provide the non-stop, exciting racing action it has produced for many years. This class has continued to grow, and many other drivers are also on this year’s registration list.

The first 2009 event for the ASA A-Line Super Stocks will be held at the THR season opener that’s scheduled for Saturday, March 21. The racing agenda for that night will also include the Thunder Stocks, Grand Stocks, Mini Stocks and NasKarts – along with the TSRS Allison Legacy Series, Pro Modifieds and SportMods. The racing action will begin at 6 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, visit the THR website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.

Special Report by Rodney Rodriguez. Photo by Jeff Garvin

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