Texas Thunder Speedway Results

[Sarge]

Dr. Pepper fueled another great night of racing at Central Texas' premiere race track.

 

Rain washed out racing across most of the state Saturday night. But the only washing done at Texas Thunder was a bunch of delicious Dr Pepper down race fans throats.

 

 

For immediate release

Contact Pat Wilson 254-290-6262

pwilson1@hot.rr.com

http://www.texasthunder.com

 

 

By Bill “Sarge” Masom

Killeen, Tx

 

 

Most other Texas tracks were wet, dark, and silent. Not so the ¼ mile bull ring called Texas Thunder Speedway. With rain and thunder storms all around, the only thunder we were concerned with was that coming from the racing on the track. Despite 2.5 inches of rain falling overnight, the track produced some great racing.

 

Four youngsters were the first to test the track for feature races. The Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Jr Mini Stocks were scheduled for ten laps. On the drop of the green flag, Colten Monroe would get the lead from his fourth starting position. Joseph Charnock slotted into second followed by Ryan Ellis and Nathan Robbins. Monroe would not be caught as he ran away and hide from his competitors. The tenth lap had the running order exactly the same as the first. Monroe won his forth race this year.

 

Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Jr Mini Stocks

 

1.712 Colton Monroe

2.22 Joseph Chamock

3.14e Ryan Ellis

4.4r Nathan Robbins

 

The cars that race, not race cars, the Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters were next for their fifteen lap feature race. On the start Chris Burnett would use his first row starting position to get the lead. Following him were Harvey Howerton, Gary White, and Jesse Call. On the second circuit, the battle for second went three wide. White would come out of the scrum with second, Call would get third and Howerton would be pushed back to fourth. Burnett would be the next to fall victim to White's charge when he got to the outside coming out of turn four on lap two and took the lead at the flag stand. Positions were changing hands behind the battle for the lead.

 

On the third trip around the oval, the race for second would again go three wide. Burnett would beat back the attack from Call and Nasty Nate. Those three would continue to fight tooth and nail for second, going three wide again on lap four. Deane would get that spot in the exchange. Lap five would see a caution for debris in turn one. The running order for the restart was White, Call, Larry Tuerck, Nasty Nate, and Burnett. Tuerck, last weeks winner was in a brand new car this week, as his ride got claimed last week for $500 by Brian Mendenhall. Mendenhall was in the car, rebadged as #88, for his first race ever.

 

On the restart, Mendenhall would get to fourth place, getting around Nasty Nate and Burnett. Mendenhall would get to third on lap seven as he got around the former owner of his car, Tuerck in turn three. On lap nine, Call was all over White like a cheap suit. Points leader, Nasty Nate was racing hard as well, challenging Tuerck for fourth. But Tuerck hung on to the spot. As the leader White went in turn four he set up to pass the lapper, Howerton. The two touched and Call tried to pounce but White recovered in time and retained the lead .

 

A yellow flag came out on lap thirteen for the stricken car of Deane who stopped on the back straight. On the same lap Nasty Nate had finally put Tureck behind him to get to fourth, but with the caution, had to give the spot back. The top five were White, Call, Mendenhall, Tuerck, and Nasty Nate. On the restart, Tuerck would suffer problems and fell back in the pack. Nasty Nate would get around Mendenhall for third. As the white flag waved, Call dove under White in turn one in the battle for the lead. As they went door handle to door handle around the track to turn four, Call would finally get the top spot. Call only lead about 300 feet of the race, but it was the best 300 feet to lead as he took his first win of the year.

 

Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters

 

1.20 Jesse Call

2.1 Gary White

3.107.3 Nasty Nate

4.00 Chris Ware

5.88 Brian Mendenhall

6.72 Harvey Howarton

7.2 Larry Tuerck

8.71 Chris Florio

9.35 Kari Williams

10.37 James Deane

11.84 Chris Burnett

12.7 Jared Bouchie

13.17t James Tanner

 

 

It was with a heavy heart that the Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks took to the track. Ronnie Elias Jr took a tour of the track by himself in tribute to his father, Ronnie Ellis Sr who passed away earlier in the week. All of us at Texas Thunder have the Ellis family in our prayer. Rest in peace Ronnie Sr.

 

Eleven of the four cylinder cars lined up to race fifteen laps. On the green flag, Ellis Jr would take the lead followed by Ralph Nelson Jr, Mike Autrey, and PJ. Egbert. In turn four of the initial lap, Egbert wouldn't stay in fourth long, as he would get by both Nelson and Autrey and take over second. On the next lap, Egbert would get by Ellis Jr and take over the lead. On the next lap, Nelson would go high in turn four and fall back three positions.

 

As they completed halfway, Autrey would push Ellis Jr back to third with a low move into turn four. In turn two Ellis Jr would try to take back the spot but couldn't get the needed run off of the corner. On lap eight, Egbert was in heavy lapped traffic. Julie Zweifelhofer was blacked flagged on lap nine for a fuel leak, she had been in fifth. By the twelfth lap Egbert had lapped the fifth place car of David Stewart. Egbert would go on to win by a margin of a straight over Autrey. It is Egbert's fourth win of the year in his little brother's car.

 

Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks

 

1.712 PJ Egbert

2.1 Mike Autrey

3.20 Travis Zwiefelhofer

4.14 Ronnie Ellis Jr

5.5 David Stewart

6.18 Jared York

7.9 Eric Robbins Sr

8.51 Ralph Nelson Jr (driving the #39)

9.38 Daniel Shipler

10.202 Julie "Kelly" Zwiefelhofer

11.44 Rickey Reid

 

 

The Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Street Stocks were out in force as twenty-one drivers took to the track. Michael Legore would get the top spot on the drop of the green, with Ryan Anderson, Lee Chasse, Danny Dunn, and Joe Fuller following in his tracks. On lap one Chasse and Dunn banged doors in a fight for third, with Dunn getting that spot. Defending track champion Robert Simmerman was getting into fourth by lap two. On lap three Fuller would almost loop his ride in turn four, Simmerman would collide with Fuller. Both would continue on, with Simmerman taking over third from Fuller.

 

On lap five, Simmer would get around Anderson on the front straight to haul himself up to second. A lap later and the leader, Legore was already catching the back of the field. Dunn would spin his machine in turn four on the same lap bringing out a caution. The top five at this point were Legore, Simmerman, Anderson, Fuller and Trevor Sparkman. Lurking just outside the top five were Albert Winniger Jr, Mitch Tierney, and Ty Hawkey. On the restart, Hawkey would jump past Winniger Jr in turn one. As the pack headed down the back stretch, Simmerman, the seventh place starter, would get inside of Legore and take over the lead. On lap seven in turn two, Winniger Jr and Fuller would get together causing a caution. Both cars would have to restart at the back of the pack. Anderson took his car to the red-yellow area, giving up third spot.

 

Restart order was Simmerman on point followed by Legore, Hawkey, Tierney, Sparkman. Just behind the top five were new comers to Texas Thunder, William Purdy and Joe Garcia. Gene Burnett, Cody Cooper and Tim Fasano rounded out the top ten. On the restart Sparkman get by Tierney as the green flag waved, then he would dive under Hawkey in turn one to get to third.. Hawkey was suffering from a flat tire and would park his stricken car in turn three, bringing out a yellow flag. The restart order was Simmerman, Legore, Sparkman, Tierney, Purdy, Garcia, Burnett, Winniger Jr, from the back of the pack, Fasano and Kevin Ashley.

 

On the lap ten, Winniger Jr dove to the bottom of the track to make it three wide in a bid to get around Burnett. The lapped car of Dunn was the meat in the middle, and Winniger Jr raced into seventh. On the next lap, Garcia got around Sparkman, taking over third. Another caution was displayed on lap thirteen, when Burnett rolled to a stop in turn two. At this point there were only eight cars left on the lead lap. In order they were Simmerman, Legore, Garcia, Sparkman, Tierney, Winniger Jr, Purdy and Carl Boettcher.

 

On the green , white, checkered restart, Legore banged doors with the now lapped Fasano in turn two. There was no damage and Legore managed to hold on to his spot. As the field raced to the white flag hot on Simmerman's heals, Simmerman's left rear tire deflated, leaving him stranded on the top of turn one. Legore swept by Simmerman stricken car and into the lead. Legore completed the last lap successfully and pulled into victory lane for the first time this year, and only his second time ever.

 

In post race tech, it was found that Mitch Tierney did not have the required muffler installed. He was DQ'ed.

 

Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Street Stocks

 

1.69 Michael Legore

2.j2 Joe Garcia

3.20 Trevor Sparkman

4.40 Albert Wininger, Jr

5.177 William Purdy

6.9 Carl Boettcher

7.63 Danny Dunn

8.27 Tim Fasano

9.8k Kevin Ashley

10.26 Scott Wilson

11.1 Robert Simmerman

12.36x Lisa Parent

13.43 Gene Burnett

14.17 Ty Hawkey

15.7 Jeremy Adkins

16.11 Cody Cooper

17.00 Joe Fuller

18.05 Ryan Anderson

19.82 Lee Chasse

20.9x Joey Hughes

21.48 Mitch Tierney (DQ – no muffler)

 

 

The Corbin & Associates, Atty's I. M. C. A. Stock Cars were the next class of racers to hit the track. Eighteen of the evenly matched racer gridded up for their fifteen lap feature race. On the drop of the green flag, Don Lewis, from his outside pole position, used a cross over move to take the lead from Scott Bowles in turn two. They were followed by Robin Rasmussen, Cham Savage and Toby Miller. One the next lap Savage would get a run out of two and dove his car under Bowles to take over second. Rasmussen would do the same, using the low groove in turn three to push Bowles to fourth.

 

There was a lot of heavy racing going on behind the top three and positions were in transition. The first caution was thrown for Duian Pritchett's stopped car. Pritchett had gotten up to fourth before he had his trouble. The restart order was Lewis, Savage, Rasmussen, Preston Ellis, Miller, Eric Jones, Shac Stevens, Bowles, Jacob Dunn and Zana Craig.

 

As the race was restarted, Lewis and Savage would bang doors in turn one in the fight for the lead. Lewis would hang on to the top spot. Just behind those two Miller was taking third from Rasmussen. The next lap saw Jones take fourth from Rasmussen in turn one, sliding her back to fifth. On lap five, Savage would get around Lewis for the lead. Lewis would lose a couple more spots as both Miller and Jones pounced on him, pushing him back to fifth. Savage would start to pull away from the battles behind him. On lap seven Stevens was shown the black flag. He had a flat left rear tire and needed to get it changed to be able to continue racing. The racing continued to be hot and heavy behind the lead pack, with a lot of positions being swapped back and forth.

 

On lap eight, Jones would pull alongside Miller in a bid for second, but Miller held strong. Those two would continue scrapping for that spot, until lap ten when Miller reasserted his right to the position. On lap tewlve, Ron Simpson who had been sneaking his way through the top ten was able to crack the top five by getting around Rasmussen for fifth. As the white flag fluttered in the breeze, and the race in the top five being steady, Pritchett would get around Rasmussen in turn one for sixth spot, but Rasmussen would get back by him, using the high line is turn three to get back the spot. Up front, Savage cruised to his second win of the season.

 

1.c4 Cham Savage Jr

2.25 Toby Miller

3.84x Eric Jones

4.44 Ron Simpson

5.51 Donald Lewis

6.3 Robin Rasmussen

7.22 Duain Pritchett

8.86z Zana Craig

9.43 Jessie James Cox Jr

10.318 Scott Bowles

11.8 Vernon "Buck" Owens

12.21 Jeremy O'Brian

13.93 Jacob Dunn

14.58 DJ MacWilliams

15.23 Shad Stevens

16.02x Preston Ellis

17.97 Doug Lorenz

18.79x Anthony Otken

 

 

Eighteen of the ground pounding, fire breathing, Dodge Country I. M. C. A. Modifieds were up next for their twenty lap feature race. On the pace lap, three time winner this year and fourth place starter, Pat McGuire pulled off of the track and out of the race. Outside pole sitter Ken Old took the lead coming off of turn for at the start of the race. Following Old was Allen Waltimire, Danny Gribble with Pole sitter Chuck Bayles and PJ Egbert side by side for fourth. Bayles and PJ Egbert stayed side by side until turn two of lap one, when Egbert took over the spot.

 

On lap three, Glen Derks II would get into the fifth pposition, getting around Bayles. By lap five the leaders were in heavy lapped traffic. Derks II would have problems, dropping a couple of positions. The first yellow of the race came out for debris in turn two on lap eight. Johnny Sheets, fresh off a big win in California was deemed to be the car that dropped the debris. He would have to restart in the back. The top ten were Old, Waltimire, Gribble, Bayles, PJ Egbert, Jarrod Jennings, Derks, Dan Roberts, Chuck Bish, and Marc Beltz.

 

On the restart PJ Egbert would get around Bayles in turn one. But his time in fourth was short lived as he pulled off into the red-yellow area on the same lap. On lap nine, Roberts who had a great restart, jumping by Derks and Jennings, would get by Bayles for fourth. Bayles would get that spot back and then one more as he got around both roberts and Gribble. The race was slowed by caution once again on lap ten, when the third place driver in National points, Trevor Egbert rolled to a stop in turn four. Top seven at half way were Old, Bayles, Gribble, Waltimire, Roberts, Beltz and Andrew Simmerman.

 

As the race was restarted the top four started to pull away from the battle for fifth on back. On lap eleven they could have been covered by a blanket, as they were all racing hard for the lead. On lap twelve, Derks' race would go south as he rolled to a stop in turn two. At this time attrition was taking its toll as only eight cars remained in the race. They were, in order, Old, Gribble, Waltimire, Roberts, Beltz, Simmerman, Bayles, Bill Lecompte. On the restart Simmerman and Beltz went wheel to wheel, from turn one on lap twelve, to turn four on lap fourteen. Simmerman was high, wide and handsome with Beltz finally getting the drive he needed from the bottom groove to hold onto the sixth spot.

 

The top four were once again breaking away from the pack. Gribble would through everything including the kitchen sink at Old, but the cagey old veteran was able to hold off all challenges on his way to winning his first of the season, and his seventy-ninth career I. M. C. A. Modified feature race.

 

Dodge Country I. M. C. A. Modifieds

 

1.52 Ken Old

2.27 Danny Gribble

3.44 Allen Waltermire

4.25 Dan Roberts

5.412 Marc Beltz

6.15 Andrew Simmerman

7.247 Bill Lecompte

8.66 Chuck Bayles

9.71 Glenn Derks II

10.19 George Lamphere Jr

11.96 Jonny Sheets

12.98j Jarrod Jennings

13.78 Trevor Egbert

14.420 Shawn O'Bannon

15.707 PJ Egbert

16.20x Chuck Bish

17.97 Douglas Lorenz

18.9 Pat McGuire

 

 

Last, but defiantly not least, were the seventeen Hertz Rent A Car I. M. C. A. Southern SportMods lined up to do battle for fifteen laps. On the green flag Kevin Green would get the lead, followed by Larry Ware and Eric Tomilson racing wheel to wheel for second. Ware would get that spot, Tomilson dropped into third, and Chase Jupe slotted into fourth.

 

On the second circuit, Tomilson would get back alongside L. Ware in turn one. They raced down the back stretch with L. Ware holding onto his second position. Jupe around Tomilson for third. The next lap and Ware would be side by side again in turn three, only this time it was with Jupe. Jupe would get the second spot as they raced into turn three. On lap four the leader was under attack as Jupe and Ware made it three wide with Green. Ware would shoot past both Jupe and Green, with Green slipping back to second, Jupe to third.

 

The first caution came out on lap five when Tomilson and Mike McDougal got tangled up in turn two. Also involved was Robert Carr. Those cars would have to restart at the back of the pack. The restart had L. Ware as the leader, Green in second with Jupe, Keith White, and K. Ware rounding out the top five. On the restart Jupe got around Green in turn one for second. Green would problems in two, stacking up the pack and allowing Brandon Stewart to get by him and into the third spot. On lap seven Duain Pritchett had hauled himself up to fifth.

 

On lap eight Stewart would get get by Jupe on the front stretch and took over second. The defending national champion Kieth White was on the move towards the front. On lap nine, White was side by side with Jupe in turn two in a bid for the third place. White would finally get the spot in turn four. On lap ten, Stewart would get around L. Ware to take over lead. Two laps later and White dive under L. Ware in turn four to slot into second. On the last lap, Pricthett would get around L. Ware for the fourth position. Stewart would go on to record his first win at Texas Thunder this year.

 

In post race tech, in which headers were pulled, it was found that both Pritchett and Jupe did not have the required muffler installed. Both would be DQ'ed. There were no evidence of porting or polishing in the inspections.

 

Hertz Rent A Car I. M. C. A. Southern SportMods

 

1.2 Brandon Stewart

2.1 Keith White

3.83 Kenny Ware

4.45t Eric Tomlinson

5.5d Kevin Green

6.63c Trace Crawford

7.52 Mark McDaniel

8.7 Cody Frank

9.17w Billy White

10.231 Shad Stevens

11.77 Larry Ware

12.11w Kevin West

13.27 Robert Carr

14.424 Mike McDougal

15.07 Michael Walter

16.30 Chase Jupe (DQ'ed – muffler)

17.22 Duain Pritchett (DQ'ed – muffler)

 

Track promoter, Pat Wilson would like to thank all the drivers and fans that braved questionable weather. He also acknowledged the fact that the track wasn't as good as they would have liked it to be. “We had 2.5 inches of rain fall on the track during the overnight period” said Wilson. “But we believe it was the best track in Central Texas, as all the others were shut down”. Despite some roughness, the track was fast and produced some great racing.

 

Just a reminder to all drivers in all classes. I. M. C. A. mufflers are required on all cars, in all classes. The muffler must be the I. M. C. A. approved part, and must be properly attached after the race. Failure to run the required muffler will result in a disqualification.

 

Join us next week as The Car Shop presents the racing. Also we will have a Mothers Day Celebration and the ever popular Dodge Country Kid's rides. Mark your calenders for June 17th. You will want to get to the track early for the first of our Demolition Derbies. In addition to the $1000 purse, the track is putting up an extra $100 for the car that has the best cartoon themed paint job.

 

Gates open at 6:00 PM and racing starts at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for Adults, $3 for kids 6-12 and kids under 6 are free. Season passes are available as well.

 

New for fans this year is the ability to purchase their tickets online with a credit card. Just go to the Texas Thunder Speedway web site, and click on the “Buy and Print Tickets” button. Also you can use your Visa or Master Card in the tracks souvenir and concession stands.

 

For all track information, weather, directions, and to purchase your tickets, go to http://www.texasthunder.com.

 

Texas Thunder Speedway is a 1/4 mile semi-banked oval dirt track. Races Every Saturday Night March through September! With Seven SUPER EXCITING classes of cars to entertain the entire family.

 

Featured classes include; Dodge Country IMCA Modifieds, Corbin & Associates, Attys IMCA Stock Cars, Hertz IMCA SportMods, Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Street Stocks, Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks, Jr Mini Stocks & Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters. Special Events designed especially for the kids as well as Powder Puff Races, Pit Crew Tire Contest and our all time crowd pleaser, the Demolition Derby.

 

Come join the fun, at Texas Thunder Speedway

 

Bill "Sarge" Masom

Texas Thunder Speedway PR/Media

[Budman]

I can't find their site Sarge. What's up with that? What time do they start tonight? I plan to come up there tonight. What time do I need to be there?

 

OK, never mind. I found it in your post above. Gates open 6. Races at 8.

[Budman]

I'm coming up there the watch the White boys run. Here's a picture of my favorite..... "Wild Bill"

[gundogC3]

Went saturday nite, stands full, lots of cars..had a good time..will be back! Trying to talk Robert into a street stock

good job Chuck Shoenfeld 10TH TO 3RD..