Sergio Hexsel wins TPS Race

[NeilTPS]

Sergio Hexsel wins TPS Race-Donnie Moore wins TPS Title

 

Thunder Hill Raceway, Kyle, Texas (October 28, 2006)

By: Neil Upchurch, Texas Pro Sedans – Race Director

 

It was the final race of the Texas Pro Sedans 31st consecutive season. It was the biggest race at the 3/8 mile D shaped oval in Kyle, Texas. It was the 10th Annual Thunder Hill Raceway “Texas Stock Car Spectacular”. Eleven classes, including the Texas Pro Sedans, showed their class to a large grandstand crowd. TPS shared “largest class honors” with the USRA Modifieds with 21 cars through the pit gate. It was a “Stock Car Spectacular” race night.

 

In Qualifying Time Trials, Sergio Hexsel posted the fastest time among the field of 21 Texas Pro Sedans. His fastest non-record lap time was 17.318 in his #20 VW Rabbit. The standing record of 16.830 is still held by Bill LaBarge in his BMW. The starting grid was shuffled due to an inversion draw of six cars which was made known to all drivers after they timed. Hexsel started 6th.

 

Donnie Moore won the 2006 TPS Driver Championship in the #70 George Merrell VW Scirocco. It was his second TPS championship in which he won 8 of the 12 scheduled feature races, a new Texas Pro Sedans record. Moore won his first TPS title in 1990. Joshua Tuttle won the TPS “Rookie of the Year” award in his #4 Chevrolet Cobalt.

 

On the first lap of the TPS Feature Race, Joshua Tuttle took the lead for 1 lap. Lalo Leal moved his Mustang/svo into the lead on lap 2 thru 25. Behind Leal was Bill LaBarge’s BMW. He and Jesse Sandoval were involved in a yellow on lap 18 and went to the rear. On lap 25, Leal and Tom Johnson were involved in a contact yellow and went to the rear. On re-start lap 25, Sandoval, John Wasek and Moore went to the pits with crash damage. Meanwhile, Hexsel had been saving his equipment and inherited the lead on lap 26 without passing other race leaders. He led the last two laps and crossed the finish line with only 1.01 seconds separating his car in front of the second place VW Rabbit driven by Tom Johnson. Joshua Tuttle, Bill LaBarge and Randy Larsen’s “Herbie” rounded out the top five on the lead lap. The race was shortened 3 laps due to the above-reported late race crashes and debris removal problems encountered by the track safety crew.

 

The race win was Hexsel’s third in Texas Pro Sedans competition during the 2006 racing season.

 

Donnie Moore of Hutto, TX won the TPS Championship by a total of 48 markers ahead of defending champion Sergio Hexsel who finished second in TPS point standings. Moore topped third place point earner Tom Johnson by 68 points. His 4th place finish in the race clinched the “TPS Rookie of the Year” title for Joshua Tuttle of San Antonio.

 

Their awards will be presented at the Texas Pro Sedans annual Awards Dinner on November 11, 6:00pm at Carlos Kelly’s Restaurant in San Antonio on Highway 87, two miles east of Loop 410.

 

OFFICIAL TPS RACE RESULTS:

 

Thunder Hill Raceway - Race # 12 - October 28, 2006

Finish… Car # r Driver/Hometown, Car Type/Engine CC… Qual Time ... Laps

 

1 20 Sergio Hexsel/Live Oak, TX VW Rabbit/1984 17.318 .. 28 Laps

2 15 Tom Johnson/Kingsland, TX VW Rabbit/1781 17.787 .. 28 Laps

3 4 r Joshua Tuttle/San Antonio, TX Chevrolet Cobalt/2210 17.757 .. 28 Laps

4 27L Bill Labarge/Bryan, TX BMW/2085 17.335 .. 28 Laps

5 53 Randy Larsen/Wimberley, TX VW Karmen Ghia/2332 17.874 .. 28 Laps

6 19 Lloyd Hart/San Antonio, TX Honda CRX/1798/4-valve 18.273 .. 27 Laps

7 70 Donnie Moore/Hutto, TX VW Scirocco/1690 17.371 .. 26 Laps

8 74 John Wasek/Austin, TX VW Scirocco/1628 17.772 .. 26 Laps

9 7 Jesse Sandoval/Corpus Christi, TX Ford Pinto/2338-arca 17.404 .. 26 Laps

10 22 Harry Osburn Jr./San Antonio, TX Ford Mustang/2338 18.710 .. 26 Laps

11 78 r Adam McCosh/Cibolo, TX VW Sedan/1835 19.802 .. 26 Laps

12 29L Lalo Leal/Corpus Christi, TX Ford Mustang/2338 17.593 .. 25 Laps

13 3 r Jesse Sandoval Jr/Corpus Christi, TX Ford Pinto/2338 18.713 .. 25 Laps

14 23 r Harry J.J. Osburn III/San Antonio, TX Ford Pinto/2338-svo 19.948 .. 24 Laps

15 94 Harlon Hatcher/Converse, TX VW Rabbit/1784 dnt .. 22 Laps

16 48 Mike Knotts/Universal City, TX VW Scirocco/1648 18.607 .. 20 Laps

17 66 Ariel Arredondo/Kingsville, TX Ford Taurus/2030 18.277 .. 12 Laps

18 55 r John Miesen/Marion, TX VW Sedan/1835 18.826 .. 0 Laps

19 72 Candi Hogan/Cedar Park, TX VW Sedan/2160 18.921 .. 0 Laps

20 71 Bruce Mabrito/San Antonio, TX VW Scirocco/1648 20.105 .. 0 Laps

21 2 Jack Dishman/Devine, TX Ford Pinto/2349-svo dnt .. dns Laps

dna -- Filed entry - did not arrive at THR

dna 1 Bryce Dishman/Devine, TX Ford Mustang/2349-svo dna

dna 84 r D. J. Roggenkamp/Lumberton, TX Ford Taurus/2030 dna

dna 38 Dave Parks/San Antonio, TX 2001 VW Sedan/1588 dna

dna 97 Kevin Hallman/Cibolo, TX Ford Mustang/2338 dna

dna 18 Lanny Young/Kingsland, TX VW Karmen Ghia/2275 dna

dna 11 Chip Harmon/Portland, TX Ford Mustang/2338-arca dna

dna 33s Kevin Sullivan/Corpus Christi, TX 2005 VW Sedan/1715 dna

dna 5 r Gage Guevara/Corpus Christi, TX Ford Mustang/2338 dna

dna 01 Mike O'Connor/Weatherford, TX Pontiac Sunfire/2348 dna

dna 24 r Joshua Freeman/Adkins, TX Ford Probe/2338 dna

 

Margin of Feature Race Victory - 1.01 seconds. Note: Car # 20's - 17.318 not new THR/TPS record.

Feature race leaders: Car # 4 led lap 1, Car # 29 led laps 2 -25, Car # 20 led laps 26-28

Penalty notes: No driving or technical inspection penalties were issued.

Note: Due to numerous crashes and debris near end of the scheduled 31 laps,

the race was shortened to 28 laps with a green-white-checkered finish.

dna - did not arrive dnt - did not time dns - did not start

r - eligible for 2006 TPS "Rookie Of The Year" Award

TPS thanks race sponsors:

Hoosier Racing Tires Southwest, Tom Lorenz

Instant Imprints of San Antonio - Larry Willis,

Richard & Bea Villanueva

Nelson Skinner, Attorney at Law

Mark O'Donnell of Custom Control Modules

TPS thanks Thunder Hill Raceway for hosting and completing the 31st consecutive Texas Pro Sedan racing season.

 

TEXAS PRO SEDANS 2006 REMAINING SCHEDULE:

 

Nov 11 n/a 2006 Awards Dinner - 6:00pm Carlos Kelly's Restaurant, Highway 87 East of San Antonio

 

Official race results certified by:

Neil Upchurch

Race & Administrative Director

Texas Pro Sedans

210/655-3222

 

 

FINAL TEXAS PRO SEDANS 2006 POINT STANDINGS:

 

Position Car # r Driver / Hometown .....Total Points

 

1 70 Donnie Moore/Hutto, TX … 176 points

2 20 Sergio Hexsel/Live Oak, TX … 130 points

3 15 Tom Johnson/Kingsland, TX … 108 points

4 4 r Joshua Tuttle/San Antonio, TX … 99 points

5 74 John Wasek/Austin, TX … 87 points

6 48 Mike Knotts/Universal City, TX … 84 points

7 53 Randy Larsen/Wimberley, TX … 61 points

8 19 Lloyd Hart/San Antonio, TX … 57 points

9t 22 Harry Osburn Jr./San Antonio, TX … 56 points

9t 2 Jack Dishman/Devine, TX … 56 points

11 29L Lalo Leal/Corpus Christi, TX … 54 points

12 33 Jamie Garner/San Antonio, TX … 52 points

13 1 Bryce Dishman/Devine, TX … 51 points

14 66 Ariel Arredondo/Kingsville, TX … 50 points

15 94 Harlon Hatcher/Converse, TX … 48 points

16 71 Bruce Mabrito/San Antonio, TX … 45 points

17 55 r John Miesen/Marion, TX … 42 points

18 78 r Adam McCosh/Cibolo, TX … 40 points

19 7 Jesse Sandoval/Corpus Christi, TX … 37 points

20 72 Candi Hogan/Cedar Park, TX … 36 points

21 84 r D. J. Roggenkamp/Lumberton, TX … 29 points

22 38 Dave Parks/San Antonio, TX … 27 points

23 29 G Rico Gutierrez/Corpus Christi, TX … 26 points

24 50 r Rick Dawdy/San Antonio, TX … 23 points

25 23 r Harry J.J. Osburn III/San Antonio, TX … 20 points

26t 3 r Jesse Sandoval Jr/Corpus Christi, TX … 16 points

26t 97 Kevin Hallman/Cibolo, TX … 16 points

28 18 Lanny Young/Kingsland, TX … 15 points

29t 27L Bill Labarge/Bryan, TX … 11 points

29t 27 F Todd Farris/College Station, TX … 11 points

31 11 Chip Harmon/Portland, TX … 9 points

32 27 E r Frank Eggers/College Station, TX … 5 points

33 33s Kevin Sullivan/Corpus Christi, TX … 4 points

34t 5 r Gage Guevara/Corpus Christi, TX … 2 points

34t 01 Mike O'Connor/Weatherford, TX … 2 points

36t 24 r Joshua Freeman/Adkins, TX … 0 points

36t 01 Eddie Orr/Weatherford, TX … 0 points

38 8 Pete Arce/Corpus Christi, TX … - points

39 14 r Will Robertson/Corpus Christi, TX … - points

40 17 Bubba Ford/Corpus Christi, TX … - points

41 77 G.B. Carter/Harlingen, TX … - points

42 85 r Ja Lane/Houston, TX … - points

43 88 Nellie Kelley/Corpus Christi, TX … - points

44 56 r Jason Krueger/Seguin, TX … - points

 

t - tied in final 2006 TPS point standings

r - eligible for 2006 TPS "Rookie Of The Year" Award

 

Official point standings certified by:

Neil Upchurch

Race & Administrative Director

Texas Pro Sedans

[EVOLUTION]

GREAT DRIVING BY THE#15 CAR IF YOU CANT PASS THE LEADER TAKE HIM OUT.

[KISS_Racing]

Congrats to Sergio and to all the TPS drivers and crews. Great race! It was a privelge to be one of the Sponsors of the race....

 

Enjoy the off season and the Best to drivers, crews and your family's.

 

Neil, thanks for another great show/race.....

 

Mark O'Donnell

[top dog]

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS . HOW ABOUT THAT RICO BUILT FORD MUSTANG IT WAS FAST. WANT TO THANK RICO & GILBERT , LALITO, JOEY & ALL THE TOP DOG CREW. CONG. TO SEGIO ON YOUR WIN.

[Crazyhorse]

GREAT DRIVING BY THE#15 CAR IF YOU CANT PASS THE LEADER TAKE HIM OUT.

depends on your point of view. mine saw the 15 car up to the 9 on the 29 on the driver side door , damage marks would prolly show that to. looked like 29 didn't realize the 15 was there.

good run lalo , just one of those racing things

[HiTech]

well that all or nothing rule is good sometime but we got burned by getting spun in the middle of turn 1 and 2 where when hit no one can save it spot .lalo just got took out period your the lead car your fast your not holding any one up cuz your slow you have the right to pic your lines . lap cars didnt help much as for as getting out of the way for 29 and 15 .lalo knows when to give room and take it . so the 15 was not where he was notice to lalo he should have pulled back .if he was faster then he could of helt off . but i quess raceing .for once this year a rwd could of hit the winners circle .congratz to my friend sergio ,its true the fastes cars dont always win notwith a randy porch motor ..

[adam78]

Jeez, if I hadn't have spun out there towards the end I coulda walked away with a top 10. But that car handled soooo good, maybe just a bit loose, but it was that "fast loose". I want to apologize to anyone I got in the way of. I got as low as I could when I was racing by myself. The only thing that bugs me is that I shouldn't be forced to give up a position just to get out of the way. The only place I could get by anyone was up on the outside. And I want to pass people, what fun is it to just sit there and putter around the track just so the leaders can race. And just to clear things up, me and the 94 made contact only once, the rest was just close racing (mostly brought on by my attempts to get as low as I could so the lead lap cars could go by). From the cockpit of the 78, that was definately one of the most fun races I've been in. Great BBQ Lalo, gonna miss it over the next four months. But, TPS drivers, I want to thank y'all for being patient with me , and making this year an absolute blast. I have a lot of respect for all of y'all, and I can't wait to go back racing on March 3rd. I also gotta send thanks out to Mike for letting me race this car, I've never had more fun in my life.

[Randy Larsen]

Congrats to Brazilnut(Sergio) I have my eyes on you for next year,I'm watching you!!!........Well,I had a great time even though good ole Herbie suffered some major front end damage,and heck he even held together to finish in 5th place on the lead lap,I am very glad that John Wasek wasnt hurt to bad because myself and Jessie both knocked the dudu out of him,I think he got his bell rung and some real sore ribs,sorry John............I hope that everyone gets all the wreckage fixed and gets ready for the 2007 season,be looking for my car to get a little better with some better gears in the trans,and some suspension work maybe I can get closer to you front runners.........and oldtimer,Jessie did have a kick a-- engine I was giving it all I had,yalls car is just faster,Oh well just gotta keep wrenching to catch the leaders(but at least I didnt leak any oil ).......Randy

[adam78]

Congrats to Brazilnut(Sergio) I have my eyes on you for next year,I'm watching you!!!........Well,I had a great time even though good ole Herbie suffered some major front end damage,and heck he even held together to finish in 5th place on the lead lap,I am very glad that John Wasek wasnt hurt to bad because myself and Jessie both knock the dudu out of him,I think he got his bell rung and some real sore ribs,sorry John............I hope that everyone gets all the wreckage fixed and gets ready for the 2007 season,be looking for my car to get a little better with some better gears in the trans,and some suspension work maybe I can get closer to you front runners.........and oldtimer,Jessie did have a kick a-- engine I was giving it all I had,yalls car is just faster,Oh well just gotta keep wrenching to catch the leaders(but at least I didnt leak any oil ).......Randy

I don't think any of the bugs leaked oil for once. I know of at least two that never got the chance to. I was REALLY looking foward to racing John.

[HiTech]

randy thats good news no oil leek with all those coolers you have could have been some .i wish our motor was as purty as yours .ill give you an A for getting that motor togetther and doing as well as you could be.ing the first night with it .i really believe you. have something there .and all you other buggers good race .oh randy i told you buggers yah were going to beat us with numbers .isnt it great we can race with out tearing each other up bugs and pinto.s and chevy . .mustang its some other profesional drivers you have to watch out for .

[maz1438]

I am very glad that John Wasek wasnt hurt to bad because myself and Jessie both knock the dudu out of him,I think he got his bell rung and some real sore ribs,

Well, John is pretty sore all over and frankly couldn't remember who the other car besides the #7 car was that hit him. Hopefully as time goes on, himself and his car will be healed.

[Tps_55]

Im glad everyone was ok. I just wish we could have run even 1 freakin lap. I was lookin forward to a good run to finish the season, just like the other 5 races we ran but those are the breaks. Look out next year we will be back and hopefully up front.

[Randy Larsen]

Johns pretty tough,and that scirocco they built is awesome,go look at it sometime,the cage and welds are fantastic and thats probably what kept him from being seriously hurt...........he has got a great engine in the car and I hope for next year he lays some awesome paint on the car and has better luck(two major wrecks this year)for next season.........I also found out who ownes the old Jamie Garner,Lanny Young vw bug.............Jason Krueger(teamate of John Meisen #55)will be running this car next year,its already painted blue and yellow their team colors(the sneaky young farts).so good luck to them and I bet there will be more aircooled race motors being built out of the Larsen Aircooled Thunder Racing Engines Shop..............WOW the dinosaurs are making a comeback.....................Randy

[Tps_55]

hey randy we will get you those pics as soon as we can so we can pass them out. Hopefully soon we will be getting the funds for the 2 liter and bringing you the 1835 so we can rebuild it. Gotta go faster so we dont get involved in dumb accidents.

[Randy Larsen]

Sounds great, as I said ya'll will be so much luckier than I was,since I have been through all the problems of building a big bug motor,the next ones (should????) be alot easier,I might only have to assemble them once ...............Only 5 more months and the bug swarm returns...............also if you can send me the pictures somehow I will get them blown up to 8x10's..............is there anyone who wants a 8x10 of the aircooled vw drivers?,I can get them autographed for you!!!!!........They wont be cheap as we are an unique group of racers.........

[maz1438]

Yeah, John is pretty tough and the car #74 was put together pretty well, but as the car can be fixed pretty easy, we all have to remember that 50 yr old bodies dont bounce back like they used to. But, not to worry, this was the so-called break in session for his car and come next season, he will have his car back to full capabilities (with a full paint job) and is looking forward to making a run for the championship.

I hope for next year he lays some awesome paint on the car

the main reason it never had a nice paint job was due to jr dishman in john's first race. After that, john figured why make it look nice if someone is just going to hit him and screw it up.

[HiTech]

john was the most .rachet jawing walking around hurt driver i.ve ever saw 2600 pound car must have knock ed something loose in his kaaboossal.glad he.s ok .havent talk to jessie . but i know he was not in good shape after the wreck . word of advice when yah paint that car you need to paint with anti ford paint .seems to be a ford magnet after a vw hits it first .and yah have built a very safe car .jessie hit him with a ton of dynamite .and then there was an after explodetion.with little herbie pinging into him with only enough power of a blasting cap .or firecracker .

[HiTech]

well now something to ponder .what do yah think of me driveing a few races next year . along with another driver in the 7 car .

[maz1438]

i think that would be scary for everyone on the track. J/k But seriously, everyone on here might no like it all that much. If your racing, then you will have even more to say/type on here.

[tps22]

I just wanted to say thanks to Lalo, Rico, Mike, Harlon and Rusty. Without their help on fri and sat I wouldn't have been able to race. And thanks for the help during the entire season. Would also like to thank Mrs Leal for keeping me "fueled up." If ya'll missed the blueberry muffins and homemade cinnimon rolls you missed some mouth watering desserts. But everyone had those great "hubcap" tortilla's filled with great Rico BBQ.

 

Congrats to the BrazilNut on the victory!

[HiTech]

i think that would be scary for everyone on the track. J/k But seriously, everyone on here might no like it all that much. If your racing, then you will have even more to say/type on here.

yes that could happen lol maybe not a good ideal .what the heck i type to much on here anyway .+-we would have to call me oldtimer terror .besides guys im a or once was a good driver just like to give back what i get .well sometimes i give

[HiTech]

I just wanted to say thanks to Lalo, Rico, Mike, Harlon and Rusty. Without their help on fri and sat I wouldn't have been able to race. And thanks for the help during the entire season. Would also like to thank Mrs Leal for keeping me "fueled up." If ya'll missed the blueberry muffins and homemade cinnimon rolls you missed some mouth watering desserts. But everyone had those great "hubcap" tortilla's filled with great Rico BBQ.

 

Congrats to the BrazilNut on the victory!

48 mike didnt want you to say he helped you on that ford .darn you didnt did you .oops that car is getting faster along with the driver .keep it up .

[Tps_55]

hey randy i dont know what the price for your autograph is, but mine is pretty pricey . I will get you the pics asap.

[Randy Larsen]

I guess I can include a genuine busted peice off of Herbie with every autographed picture of the aircooled cars .............Randy

[adam78]

Sounds great, as I said ya'll will be so much luckier than I was,since I have been through all the problems of building a big bug motor,the next ones (should????) be alot easier,I might only have to assemble them once ...............Only 5 more months and the bug swarm returns...............also if you can send me the pictures somehow I will get them blown up to 8x10's..............is there anyone who wants a 8x10 of the aircooled vw drivers?,I can get them autographed for you!!!!!........They wont be cheap as we are an unique group of racers.........

Make sure to send me one.