Texas Thunder Speedway Full Results

[Sarge]

Texas Thunder Speedway claims to be the best, and a record number of claims were had Saturday night.

 

For immediate release

Contact Pat Wilson 254-290-6262

pwilson1@hot.rr.com

http://www.texasthunder.com

 

 

By Bill “Sarge” Masom

Killeen, Tx

 

 

Dodge Country has hot deals on new and used cars, and they sponsored another hot night of great racing at Texas Thunder Speedway. A record number of claims was seen in the Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters, and the Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks saw an engine swap.

 

First up for their fifteen lap feature race was the Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Street Stocks. Nineteen, of the twenty-one cars on hand lined up to do battle. They wasted no time in showing their aggression, as it was three wide into turn one for the lead at the drop of the green flag. It was Scott Wilson on the bottom, Ryan Anderson up top, and Dean Silva the meat in the middle. As the pack raced down the back straight, it was Wilson in the lead followed by Danny Dunn, Carl Boettcher, Silva and Lee Chasse as the top five.

 

On lap one, Chasse got around Silva in turn one to get fourth, Dunn would try Wilson low in turn four for the lead, but couldn't get the pass made. On lap two, as the pack up front was racing hammer and tongs, last weeks winner, Corey Stepan was making a charge, getting into fourth, with Anderson moving to fifth. On lap four, defending track champion, Robert Simmerman, and current points leader, Albert Wininger Jr were in a side be side battle down the back stretch. They would both go under Anderson in turn four to be battling for fifth. They stayed door handle to door handle all the way to turn four on lap five before Wininger Jr took over fifth from Simmerman. Just in front of the battle for fifth, Stepan and Boettcher crashed in turn four. Stepan was able to rejoin the fight, though losing two places, but a yellow was eventually needed for Boettcher's stranded car.

 

The top five for the lap six restart was Wilson, Dunn, Wininger Jr, Simmerman and Stepan. There were no positions changed in the top five on the restart. On lap seven another yellow was thrown for the stranded car of Dennis Simmons in turn four. On the restart, Stepan would get by Simmerman for fourth, then both he and Wininger Jr would get around a spinning Dunn in turn four. Dunn would rejoin the fight with out a yellow, but he would be almost tail end on the field. That promoted Mike McLaughlin to fifth.

 

Lap eleven saw Simmerman get back by Stepan for third. Bradley Sims, who moved down from I-Stocks, got around McLaughlin for fifth. Lap twelve saw another yellow flag, as Don Watson stopped in turn three. A black flag was shown to Watson, for bringing out a solo caution. His night would be done. The top five was Wilson, Wininger Jr, Simmerman, Stepan and Sims. The first single file restart was aborted when Trevor Sparkman and Boettcher wrecked in turn two. Both cars would go to the red-yellow area.

 

The second attempt at a lap twelve restart saw no position change amongst the top five. But lap thirteen was different, as Wininger Jr went side by side with Wilson in a battle for the lead in turn one. As the raced out of turn two, Wininger was in the lead. On the white flag lap, Stepan would get around Simmerman in turn one to get third. And then Stepan would get around Wilson in turn two to get second. Then as Wininger Jr was taking the checkered flag, Stepan spun in turn four, then did a 360 and hit the front straight wall just thirty feet from the line. Several cars got caught up in the scramble to miss Stepan's car, among them Sims and Silva, both of whom had to leave the track on the hook. Many positions were won and lost during that mad scramble at the line.

 

Wininger Jr increased his points lead over Sparkman with his class leading seventh race of the year, from his tenth starting spot. After the race, Wilson was accessed a black flag for rough driving in the last lap incident involving Stepan.

 

Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Street Stocks

 

1.40 Albert Wininger, Jr

2.1 Robert Simmerman

3.00 Joe Fuller

4.80 Bradley Sims

5.0 Chris Ochoa

6.19r Dean Silva

7.2 Mike McLaughlin

8.63 Danny Dunn

9.05 Ryan Anderson

10.27 Tim Fasano

11.82 Lee Chasse

12.85 Corey Stepan

13.9 Carl Boettcher

14.20 Trevor Sparkman

15.36c Don Watson

16.83 Dennis Simmons

17.84 Wayne Neff

18.26 Scott Wilson

19.43 Gene Burnett

 

 

A record number of Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Jr Mini Stocks took the grid for their ten lap feature. Seven of the youngest drivers at the track took to the track. As they hit the back stretch after the green flag, it was Clayton Hartzog with the early lead, followed by Ryan Ellis, Colton Monroe, Joseph Charnock, Nathan Robbins, and Brad Van Marter and Bill Siegman Jr rounding out the field. In turn three Monroe would get by Ellis,and then in turn four, he would get by Hartzog for the lead.

 

On lap two, Charnock was moving up, getting around both Ellis and then Hartzog, in turn one and two respectively to get into second. Lap two saw Ellis get around Hartzog to get third. Then in turn three, Charnock would dive under Monroe in a bid for the lead. They raced side by side all the way to the flag stand, where Charnock finally pulled his car into the lead. A yellow would come out on lap three when Ellis spun to a stop in turn four. The top five were Charnock, Monroe, VanMarter, Hartzog, and Robbins.

 

On the restart, Robbins would sweep by Hartzog to get fourth. Then on lap four Hartzog would lose another spot, this time to Ellis who was trying to charge back to the front. The pack stayed static until lap seven, when Robbins went to high on the back stretch and ended up last. Then VanMarter spun in turn four, and he would be tail end charlie. Charnock drove a good race, pulling steadily away from points leader Monroe. Charnock would win the race by a straight over Monroe, for his fourth win of the year, from the fourth starting spot. Only eight points now separate the two youngsters in the championship battle.

 

Kwik Kar Oil & Lube Jr Mini Stocks

 

1.22 Joseph Chamock

2.712 Colton Monroe

3.14e Ryan Ellis

4.14 Clayton Harzog

5.244 Brad VanMarter

6.4r Nathan Robbins

7.32 Bill Siegman Jr

 

 

The Corbin & Accosiates, Atty's I. M. C. A. Stock Cars were next on the track for their fifteen lap feature race. Thirteen of the always exiting cars lined up in a bid for victory lane. As the field raced to the back stretch on the drop of the green flag, it was Robin Rassmussen in the lead, followed closely by Jessie James Cox Jr, Anthony Otken, Gary Norman and Vernon “Buck” Owens. In turn three, Cox Jr would go to high and almost spin out, dropping three spots to fifth. A lap later and Cox Jr would again get to high, this time in turn four and he lost many positions as he struggled to keep the car under him.

 

Lap two would see the first yellow flag thrown. Wayne Neff, in a car he bought from Zana Craig, rolled to a stop in turn four. The top five for the restart were Rassmussen, Otken, Norman, Owens, and Benji Kirkpatrick, who entered the weekend fifth in national points. On the restart, Norman would get around Otken for second in turn two. On lap three, Kirkpatrick would put Otken back another spot, with a move in turn two to get into fourth. It would end up being a move for third, as Owens looped his car on the back straight.

 

Lap four saw the battle for the lead heat up, as Norman would get by Rassmussen for the lead in turn three. But the lady driver wouldn't give up easily, and she retook the lead in turn four. Lap five wouldn't be kind to Norman as he stormed to high in turn one, loosing many positions. That promoted Kirkpatrick to second. On lap six Kirkpatrick dove under Rassmussen in a bid for the lead in turn four. The two made contact, and Rassmussen's car spun to a halt, necessitating a yellow flag. In the scramble to miss Rassmussen, Ron Simpson got into second. The top five were Kirkpatrick, Simpson, Otken, Shad Stevens, and Eric Jones.

 

The single file restart saw no changes in the top five. Lap eight would see Jacob Dunn spinning in turn four, and Cox Jr spinning on the front stretch, but both were able of continue without a caution. The pack started to string out, and Kirkpatrick was pulling out a large lead as he was lapping traffic. As Kirkpatrick was taking the checkered flag, Stevens dove under Otken in turn four in a bid for third. Otken got a better run to the flag stand and held on to the spot. Kirkpatrick won his class leading sixth race of the year by a half straight over Simpson. Kirkpatrick started ninth.

 

Corbin & Accosiates, Atty's I. M. C. A. Stock Cars

 

1.47 Benji Kirkpatrick

2.44 Ron Simpson

3.79x Anthony Otken

4.23 Shad Stevens

5.84x Eric Jones

6.3 Robin Rasmussen

7.43 Jessie James Cox Jr

8.318 Scott Bowles

9.8 Vernon "Buck" Owens

10.93 Jacob Dunn

11.09 Gary "Storming" Norman

12.34 Justin McCullough

13.86 Wayne Neff

 

 

Fourteen Dodge Country I. M. C. A. Modifieds were on hand for their always crowd pleasing twenty lap feature race. It was Johnny Sheets with the early lead, followed by Paul Mullins, Andrew Simmerman, Danny Gribble and George Lamphere as the top five. They wouldn't get far however, as outside pole sitter Mullins spun in turn three, collecting Gribble in the process. Meanwhile, Pat McGuire rolled to a stop in turn two. All three would be out of the race. Orginal restart, minus those cars that left on the hook, saw the top five as Sheets, Bill Lecompte, Lamphere, A. Simmerman, and Ken Old.

 

As they raced to the back straight after the green waved, it was Sheets leading A. Simmerman, PJ Egbert, Lamphere and Old. Lamphere wouldn't be in fourth for long, as he spun in turn four, but would get it going again, so no yellow was needed. That promoted Glen Derks II to fifth. A. Simmerman would dive under Sheets on the back straight on lap two in a bid for the lead. They raced wheel to wheel to turn four where Sheets was able to maintain his lead. A Simmerman would try the low side again, this time in turn one. He raced Sheets in a side by side battle to turn three, where A. Simmerman lost the handle and spun, but got going before a yellow was needed. A. Simmerman lost many positions as he was sideways to the traffic. That promoted Jared Jennings to fifth.

 

On lap five, Egbert got a good run out of two and move under Sheets for the lead. They raced wheel to wheel to turn three, where the high line worked better for Sheets. But Egbert wasn't going to give up easily, and he again got inside of Sheets in turn four. They again race side by side to turn two, where again Sheets got a better run out of the turn on the high side. On lap six, Egbert tried the low line again in turn four, but was once again rebuffed in turn two by Sheets. Lap seven saw the battle for the lead race down the back stretch where Sheets tried to hold off Egbert by going low into turn three. But 2002 co-track champion, Egbert saw the move coming and swept around to the high side, using that move to finally get the top spot in turn four.

 

With Egbert getting the top spot, and starting to put some distance between himself and Sheets, the race was for third. A. Simmerman finally got around Old for third on lap eight. From there the leader would be in heavy lapped traffic for the duration of the race. The only position that changed was Derks getting by Jennings for fifth late in the race. Egbert cruised to a half straight away win over Sheets. It was his sixth victory of the year in his “PJ Pink” modified, coming from his ninth starting position.

 

Dodge Country I. M. C. A. Modifieds

 

1.707 PJ Egbert

2.96 Johnny Sheets

3.52 Ken Old

4.15 Andrew Simmerman

5.71 Glenn Derks II

6.98j Jarrod Jennings

7.00 Jason Hoffman

8.24 Gary Simmerman

9.19 George Lamphere Jr

10.247 Bill Lecompte

11.27 Danny Gribble

12.9 Pat McGuire

13.39 Paul Mullins

14.44 Allen Waltermire

 

 

History was made at the end of the fifteen lap Budweiser Racing Texas Twister feature race. But more about that later. Fourteen of the cars that race, not race car gridded up to take the green flag. It was a three wide battle for for the lead on the drop of the green, as Kevin Myers, Robert Embry, and James Deane went into turn one all trying to come out with the lead. It would be Deane on the high side getting the lead, followed by Myers, Gary White, Keith Desmarais, and Sean Carr as the top five. Myers would go side by side with Deane in turn two, lap one in at bid for the lead. They race that way all the way around to turn four, where Myers finally got the lead. But Deane fought back and retook the lead in turn two on lap two. Chris Florio was getting around White on the same lap on the back stretch for third.

 

Myers good run would was hurt when he spun on the front stretch to begin lap three. Myers lost fire in his ride and a yellow was thrown to get him restarted. G. White would also see his race take a hit as he pulled into the red-yellow area for service on his “Tijuana Taxi”. He would return however before the green flag. Robert Embrey should have been in the lead for the restart, but he to had problems and retired from the race under caution. So for the lap two restart the top five were Florio in the lead, followed by Desmarais, Carr, Jared Bouchie and Howard Twardokus.

 

On the restart, Desmarais was swallowed up by the pack, as it appeared he was having trouble finding the right gear. Twardokus was on a charge and swept around both Bouchie and Carr to get third. But it would be short lived as Twardokus slowed dramatically on the front stretch and would eventually drop out of the race. On lap three, Jessie Call would sweep around both Bouchie and Carr and into second place going down the back straight. On lap four, Bouchie and now fifth place Aaron White banged doors in their fight on the back stretch, but Bouchie would hold on to both his car and his fourth place. On lap five, A. White would get around Bouchie in turn one to move up to fourth.

 

 

G. White was moving back through the field and on lap six he challenged Bouchie in turn four for the fifth spot. G. White would get that spot. On lap eight A. White got around Carr in turn two to get to third. On lap ten, the first ever winner in the class, “Nasty” Nate Cullifer would get by G. White on the back straight to get into the top five. The leader, Florio would have problems on the same lap, going high in turn four and losing two spots. Call picked up the lead followed by A. White. Call would go on to lead the final five circuits and won his second race, from the thirteenth starting position.

 

After the race, it was announced that history had been made in the short time the class has existed, All of the top four cars were claimed. The previous record was the top two, which has happened twice. But this was the first time that all the eligible cars left the track with new owners. Call said in victory lane that he has a backup and will be racing next week. He also said that the car he won with cost no more than $200.

 

Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters

 

1.20 Jesse Call

2.12 Aaron White

3.71 Chris Florio

4.6 Sean Carr

5.116s Kevin Myers

6.1 Gary White

7.7 Jared Bouchie

8.829 JD Hardcastle

9.9 Victoria Twardokus

10.11 Keith Desmarais

11.107.3 Nasty Nate

12.37 James Deane

13.171 Robert Embry

14.223 Howard Twardokus

 

 

Ten Hertz Rent A Car I. M. C. A. Southern SportMods lined up for fifteen laps. Last weeks winner, Hardy Henderson was the early leader, followed by Shad Stevens, Corey Homan, Brandon Stewart, and Jason Hoffman. Homan looped his ride in turn four, and went to the end of the pack. That moved Pat McGuire up to fifth. On lap two, McGuire would get by Hoffman when he bobbled in turn one. McGuire was now fourth. Lap four and McGuire would put Brandon Stewart behind him going down the back stretch. Kenny Ware spun in turn three, but he kept the file lit and rejoined at the back of field.

 

On lap seven, Homan would again spin his car, this time in turn two. And again he was able to get going and we continued under the green flag. At the other end of the track, David Goode spun in turn three and collected David Stewart, bringing out the yellow flag. Both cars were able to continue. Top five were Henderson, Stevens, McGuire, B. Stewart, and Hoffman.

 

The race was restarted on lap seven. McGuire and Hoffman jumped around Stevens in turn two to get second and third respectively. In turn four, McGuire swept around Henderson and was the leader coming to lap eight. Hoffman followed McGuire by Henderson on the next lap, while Ware was getting around both B. Stewart and a fading Stevens, to get to fourth. On lap twelve, B. Stewarts time in the top ten came to an end with a spin in turn four. No caution was needed, but B. Stewart was relegated to tail end charlie. Billy White moved into fifth with B. Stewart's troubles.

 

Over the final three laps Hoffman hounded McGuire, and on the white flag lap stuck his nose under McGuire in turn three. The battle heroically through turn four, but McGuire had the car to beat. He pulled into victory lane for the second time in this class from the fifth starting position.

 

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

 

1.91 Pat McGuire

2.9x Jason Hoffman

3.6 Hardy Henderson

4.83 Kenny Ware

5.17w Billy White

6.231 Shad Stevens

7.3 David Stewart

8.107 David Goode

9.2 Brandon Stewart

10.34 Corey Homan

 

The first claim in a class other than the Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters took place in the Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks. And it was a history making event as well, but more of that later.

 

Orie Shipler lead his son, Daniel Shipler at the drop of the green flag, ahead of ten cars racing for fifteen laps. following the family affair upfront were Bill Siegman in thrid, Julie Zwiefelhofer in fourth, and Josepgh Gregoire rounding out the top five. O. Shipler's time up front was short lived as he spun out in turn four, giving his son, D. Shipler the lead. Also in turn four, Mike Autrey was getting around Gregoire for fourth.

 

Turn four would see another car making small circles on lap one, as Liegman looped his ride. Again, no yellow was needed. With all the spins, the top five was scrambled a bit. On lap three it was D. Shipler's truck out front, followed by J. Zwiefelhofer, Autrey, PJ Egbert, and Travis Zwiefelhofer. On lap five, Autrey used turn one to get around J. Zwiefelhofer to get to second. In turn two, Egbert followed Autrey by J. Zwiefelhofer to get third.

 

On lap six it was another family affair back in the pack, as little brother T. Zwiefelhofer was getting around big sister J. Zwiefelhofer on the back stretch. A lap later, Egbert used the back stretch to get around Autrey for second. T. Zwiefelhofer would go high in turn two on lap eight and he gave up two spots to end up in sixth. On the ninth lap, J. Zwiefelhofer and Ronnie Ellis Jr getting around Autrey on the back stretch, for third and fourth. But as they got to turn three, J. Zwiefelhofer spun her ride. No yellow was needed as she was able to right herself and continue, though after loosing many places in the process. Autrey got back around Ellis Jr as they dodged to avoid the spun car.

 

The twelfth lap was exiting as Ellis again got back by Autrey. T. Zwiefelhofer also got by Autrey on the same lap, moving Autrey back to fifth. On lap thirteen D. Shipler's lead was being contested by Egbert in turn two. Egbert used the high line to take over the top spot. On the white flag lap, D. Shipler slowed and pulled into the infield. T. Zwiefelhofer pulled to a stop in turn four, but did not cause a caution. Egbert went on to win a track leading eleventh win in this class, and eighteenth over all. He went from worst to first to end the race with his little brother's car in victory lane.

 

The checkered flag did not single the end of the action though, as both J. Zwiefelhofer and D. Shipler pulled up to the claim barrel. The officials deemed J. Zwiefelhofer to un-eligible to claim, as she was not on the same lap as the fourth place car. But D. Shipler was eligible to claim, and he claimed Egbert's engine. But the history making was in the fact that Egbert chose to swap engines with D. Shipler instead of selling it outright. This is a new option this year, since all classes at Texas Thunder follow I. M. C. A. claim rules. So this is the first time ever at the track a swap has taken place after a claim.

 

Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks

 

1.712 PJ Egbert

2.14 Ronnie Ellis Jr

3.1 Mike Autrey

4.39 Orie Shipler

5.38 Daniel Shipler

6.32 Bill Siegman

7.20 Travis Zwiefelhofer

8.43 Joseph Gregoire

9.202 Julie "Kelly" Zwiefelhofer

10.9 Eric Robbins Sr

 

 

A brand new event was debuted during intermission. It was the “Hoosier Daddy!” contest. Fifteen pit crew members signed up to see who could toss a Hoosier racing tire the furtherest. The winner was in line to win $50 and a brand new Hoosier racing tire. In the end it was Jeff Bauser, a crew member for Michael Walter's SportMod, winning with a toss of thirty-seven feet, six inches. The winning margin was just two inches.

 

Come out next week as Cooper and Bright Plumbing presents the Budweiser Racing Texas Twister “King of the Hill” race. The cars that race, not race cars will take to the track two at a time for two laps. The winner will stay, the looser has to go home. The final pair will decided who will be crowned the first ever, Budweiser Racing Texas Twister “King of the Hill”.

 

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