Texana Race Summary

[TRP]

A Helping Hand and Some Divine Intervention Produce Feature Win for Rodriguez

Texana Raceway Park Results from April 28, 2007

 

With the Hot Stock Trucks scheduled off for the night and several of the Limited and Modified drivers running with the USMTS show near Houston, Texana Raceway Park kicked off the night with 96 racers on hand. In addition the track held its first ever Spectator Race during intermission which was a big hit with the fans.

 

The Spectator Race was held with some basic rules for any licensed driver over 18 operating any street legal car or truck. After receiving an overview of instructions from track owner Bruce Tesch, the competitors rolled onto the track for the bracketed single elimination competition. To the surprise of the competitors, the purse was increased from the originally announced $125 and moved up to $250. The competitors ran their street rides just as aggressive as the regular stock car drivers with some side by side racing in the turns and straightaway. When the mud all settled it was Adam Perks walking away with the gold after winning three straight rounds in his Dodge Truck. He left everyone asking the question “Did that thing have a Hemi in it?”

 

Another good car count in the Mini-Stock class started up the night for regular stock car competition. Always the first class of the night to take the track, the young Mini-Stock drivers provide the testing ground for the other classes to determine how the track is reacting. With quite a bit of moisture coming up it was a tad slick in the heats, setting the ground work for a heavy track throughout all of the latter heats and the early part of the features. In the feature for the Mini-Stocks, the drivers took the green and quickly demonstrated that just because they are young, they are not intimidated by the power in their cars. Interestingly, two sets of siblings claimed the top four out of the top five spots. Garret Hayes of Victoria, driving is Pinto in only his second night of competition held off last years track champion, Justin Bloom to take feature win.

1st – 5th Results: 1st- #9 Garret Hayes, 2nd- #84 Justin Bloom, 3rd- #6 Nicholas Moore, 4th- #49 Jason Bloom, 5th- #2 Emily Hayes

 

The Texana Classic Dwarf Class brought in a full field of 24 cars, posting some of the fastest laps on the track for the night, with two wide racing routinely and even three wide at times. While all of the competitors were rolling well, the lead pack of cars pulled away from the rest of the group. Frank Fruia was back to showing his winning form pulling off the feature win. Following close behind Fruia was the driver who exemplifies the definition of good sportsmanship, it was El Campo’s Doug Schmidt, followed by Steven Gilbert in third.

1st – 5th Results: 1st- #3x Frank Fruia, 2nd - #79 Doug Schmidt, 3rd- #7 Steve Gilbert, 4th- #8 Donnie Hunt, 5th- #13 Mike Christians

 

Once again, the Bomber Class carried in a good count of cars with 18 making the call for the feature. In somewhat of a repeat of the first night of competition, the three ladies in the class took some of the gentlemen to school, as they once again claimed three of the top five spots. If there was a “dedication to the sport award” for the class, this week it would go to Danny Bennett for his quick return to competition after repairing the mangled mess of his car as it decided to get up close and personal with the front straight wall during the first night’s events. For the majority of the feature, it was Janet Perks and Diana Russom running 1st and 2nd. Sandra Hudgeons demonstrated her patience and careful maneuvering to work her way up through the pack to a 5th place finish.

1st – 5th Results: 1st - #12 Janet Perks, 2nd- #33 Charlie Mills, 3rd- #19 Diana Russom, 4th- #R4J Danny Bennett, 5th - #88 Sandra Hudgeons

 

In the Super Stock Class, AJ Dancer was dancing with the stars as performed a two-step over the competition. In the heat races Lucky Gilbert took his car up the back wall for a ride, but worked feverishly in the pits to bring his car back and make an appearance during the feature. Making his first appearance at Texana Raceway Park, Angelton’s Mike Davenport posted a very respectable 4th place finish in his #70. John Gay drove his #44 consistently to pull off a 3rd place finish, and for the second event in a row, Eric Floyd of Edna took his #26 to the 2nd finishing position. But, no one could touch Dancer as he took his #52 lap after lap with no mistakes to take the feature win.

1st -5th Results: 1st - #52 AJ Dancer, 2nd- #25 Eric Floyd, 3rd- #44 John Gay, 4th - #70 Mike Davenport, 5th - #72 Billy Perry

 

The Late Model Class welcomed back veteran Driver Randy Kacir in his #36. The small field produced some relatively close competition with no one car showing true dominance over the rest of the field with the exception of Buck McFarlin. McFarlin had his #65 hooked up and doing three wheel action in the turns.

Results: 1st - #65 Buck McFarlin, 2nd- #36 Randy Kacir, 3rd - #18 Michael Wagner, 4th - #23j Chris Jewel

 

Close competition is always the rule in the Limited Modified class. By the time feature rolled around, with many laps laid down on the track, the group of drivers had to calculate how to set up their cars. The front runners definitely got their set ups right as they put on a show to the delight of the fans.

1st – 5th Results: 1st - #22 Art Rodriguez, 2nd - #18 Ricky Dye, 3rd - #174 Mickey Helms, 4th - #37 Bill Pittaway, 5th - #4 Luke Cantu

 

While most other drivers and the fans had no idea, an incredible story of Sportsmanship and a little Devine Intervention was unfolding in the Pits for one Modified driver. Roly Rodriguez traveled many hours to Texana from the Texas Valley to participate in the evenings events. Unfortunately, as Rodriquez and the crew unloaded the car, they found a major problem. A hole in the oil pan appeared just as if they had thrown a rod. With quick action, the crew pulled the pan to find that indeed a rod had punched through the oil pan due to a broken rod bolt. They carefully inspected the bottom end of the motor and determined that if they could locate a rod bolt, they could compete. As anyone who follows dirt track racing knows, the racing community is one of closeness where everyone tries to help each other out. Rodriguez set out to find the not some common part. As it turned out, Super Stock driver Eric Floyd had the needed rod bolt at his shop in town. They headed out to get the bolt for Rodriquez. The crew worked diligently to put the motor back together, and after applying some JB Weld to the bottom of the oil pan, Rodriguez made the call. The help provided by Eric Floyd, which he probably thought little of, was that which many of us remember for a lifetime and what keeps us loving dirt track racing. With Rodriguez ready to compete, he needed a little Devine Intervention for everything to hold together. As it turned out, he received a tad more than a little intervention as he powered his way up to the front in the feature and was the first of the field to take the checker flag. An incredible turn of events for Rodriguez, which initially looked like a doomed night after traveling so far to compete and a testament to not throwing in the towel.

1st – 5th Results: 1st - #12 Roly Rodriguez, 2nd- #14 Tracy Bear, 3rd- #82 Rick Green, 4th - #14m Wad Moyer, 5th - #17m Johnny Thomas.

 

The next scheduled event at Texana Raceway Park is May 12th. All Mothers attending that night will be presented a Rose in recognition of Mothers Day. Texana Raceway Park is located 2 miles south of Edna on SH 111. Pit gates open at 4pm, general admission at 5:30 and racing starts at 7:30.