Boerne’s Barker Takes First Win for a Ford in TSRS

[tqj3]

Boerne’s Barker Takes “Popa New 75” in First Win for Ford in TSRS Late Model Series History; Bobby Joe New of Buda Second

 

Houston – When 35-year-old Boerne driver Robert Barker crossed the finish line in his Mission Auto Parts Ford Fusion at Houston Motorsports Park (HMP) Saturday night to win the “Popa New 75” it marked the first time a Ford car and engine have made it to the winner’s circle in the nearly five-year history of the Austin-based Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS). Chasing Barker to the checkered flag was Bobby Joe New of Buda, son of Luther “Popa” New for whom the race is named. For Barker, a two-time NASCAR Late Model series champion at the now-closed San Antonio Speedway (SAS), it was also his first win on a track other than SAS.

 

“This is our first season in a Ford,” Barker said afterward, “and we’re still working on it. We also haven’t run very much on the two tracks we race in TSRS, Thunderhill and Houston. We’ve also only had the car since the beginning of the season, and we crashed it pretty badly in the opening race at SAS this year.

“Our sponsor, Mission Auto Parts, is big on Fords, so we are running a Ford Fusion with a Ford engine, even though the Ford engine is heavier than the Chevrolet. We think we can get the balance right on the Ford.”

 

Barker and his bunch apparently had it right on Saturday night, as he was the second-fastest qualifier behind “San Antonio Joe” Aramendia. Even better, Barker drew the number one starting position for the race, with Bobby Teer, Jr. on the outside and Bobby Joe New, who had qualified third, also starting third. Aramendia was fourth with the last race winner, Gary Chancellor II fifth and Brian Moczygemba sixth. Moczygemba had broken a motor in practice and the crew, with a lot of help from others in the pits, swapped engines in time for the #50 to qualify.

 

Unfortunately, Moczygemba and Chancellor had relatively short nights, as Chancellor holed a radiator and was the first car out while Moczygemba’s second engine of the day also gave up the ghost fairly early. The race wasn’t quite as clean as the last race at Thunderhill, but there weren’t a lot of incidents and caution flags, which was a good thing as the rains came right after the TSRS race.

 

“Starting on the pole was definitely a good break,” Barker said. “We don’t have a lot of time on either Thunderhill or HMP, and the trick is to take the low line and stay there. There seems to be a better outside line at HMP, but we don’t feel comfortable out there yet.”

 

That’s okay. Uncomfortable or not, Barker had a great run on Saturday. The field of 17 cars (all of which made the race) was pretty strong despite the fact a few semi-regulars were missing. Added to the field were Larry Bendele, Bill Hamilton and Deed Dupont. As Mary Ann Naumann said before practice, “We have 17 cars here, 17 good cars.”

 

Two cars elected to pull out of impound and start at the back, the #7 of 2005 champ Chris Schild (winner of three races this year) and the #28 of Leland Waddell. Schild would finish tenth with Waddell credited with 13th.

 

The TSRS Late Model series returns to Thunderhill on September 15 for the “Operation Interdependence 75.”

 

Texas Super Racing Series “Popa New 75”Results, September 1, 2007

(Position, car number, name, hometown)

 

1. #17 Robert Barker, Boerne

2. #3 Bobby Joe New, Buda

3. #79 Joe Aramendia, San Antonio

4. #2 Bobby Teer Jr., Comfort

5. #38 Craig Sellman, Buda

6. #13 Ian Webster, Spring

7. #23b Larry Bendele, San Antonio

8. #5 Bill Hamilton, Red Oak

9. #12 Adam Haugh, Leander

10. #7 Chris Schild, Leander

11. #11s Brian Schild, Leander

12. #71 Deed Dupont, Houston

13. #28 Leland Waddell, Austin

14. #6 Jason Hollander, Round Rock

15. #22 Shane Harris, Austin

16. #50 Brian Moczygemba, San Antonio

17. #44 Gary Chancellor II, Bastrop

-30-

 

T. Q. Jones, TSRS Media & Public Relations Director

P. O. Box 341706, Austin, TX 78734

PH: (512) 261-5236 Email: tqi@mindspring.com

[thomasghamilton]

Many thanks to Robert on his win in Houston. We at Mission Auto want to thank you for the super job by Robert Barker and all the people that work so hard to prep his car. Best of luck in the 15th race.

Tom G Hamilton