Texas Pro Sedans results, 10/18/03

[NickHolt]

Jack Dishman wins close race at San Antonio Speedway’s OktoberFast

 

A pair of Mustangs sat on the front row for 25-lap Texas Pro Sedan feature race at San Antonio Speedway Saturday night. Tony Johnson Schertz set fast time (22.107 seconds) and held the pole position while Jack Dishman of Devine was the second fastest qualifier (22.153 seconds) and lined up on the outside pole at the high-banked, half-mile paved oval.

 

At the start, Dishman won the drag race to the first turn and assumed the lead while Johnson glued himself to Dishman’s rear bumper. Newly crowned TPS champion Bill LaBarge, who started third in his BMW, did the same to Johnson’s bumper. Not to be outdone, fourth place starter Sergio Hexsel of San Antonio, driving a VW Scirocco, made it a four-car traffic jam. Hexsel would get caught up in some lapped traffic on a couple of occasions during the race to fall back from the lead trio a bit, but the top three stayed glued together the entire race.

 

LaBarge tried on several occasions to get by Johnson’s Mustang but was never able to complete the pass even though he was able to pull alongside at least twice. On the 18th circuit Dishman got his car nearly sideways in turn one, but was able to hang on to it and fend off Johnson and LaBarge who checked up slightly as it looked like Dishman might spin out if front of them.

 

At the checkered it was Dishman by less than a car length over Johnson and LaBarge. Hexsel crossed the line in fourth, five or six car lengths back. Corpus Christi’s Lalo Leal finished fifth, the last car on the lead lap of the caution-free event.

 

With his third place finish, LaBarge won his fifth Texas Pro Sedan championship, more than any other driver in the 28-year history of the TPS.

 

Results of the 25-lap Texas Pro Sedan Feature race at San Antonio Speedway’s OktoberFast on 10/18/03, showing finishing position, car number, driver’s name, hometown, car, and laps completed:

 

1. (2) Jack Dishman, Devine, Ford Mustang, 25

2. (6) Tony Johnson, Schertz, Ford Mustang, 25

3. (27) Bill LaBarge, Bryan, BMW, 25

4. (20) Sergio Hexsel, San Antonio, VW Scirocco, 25

5. (26) Lalo Leal, Corpus Christi, Ford Mustang, 25

6. (48) Mike Knotts, Universal City, VW Scirocco, 24

7. (66) Ariel Arredondo, Corpus Christi, Ford Pinto, 24

8. (91) Andy Tindell, Bruceville, Mercury Capri, 23

9. (38) Dave Parks, San Antonio, VW Rabbit, 22

10. (88) Nellie Kelley, Corpus Christi, Ford Mustang, 22

11. (72) Candy Hogan, Cedar Park, VW Sedan, 22

12. (29) Rico Gutierrez, Corpus Christi, Ford Mustang, 21

13. (55) Earnie Holdbrook, Rockport, Ford Mustang, 21

14. (3) Bryce Dishman, Devine, Ford Mustang, 20

15. (18) Lanny Young, Kingsland, VW Sedan, 19

16. (40) Bubba Ford, Corpus Christi, Ford Pinto, 16

17. (7) Jesse Sandoval, Corpus Christi, Ford Pinto, 9

18. (28) Lisa Avalos, Corpus Christi, Ford Pinto, 4

19. (78T) Dennis Taylor, San Antonio, VW Sedan, 2

20. (71) Harlon Hatcher, Converse, VW Scirocco, 0

21. (33) Jamie Garner, San Antonio, 2001 Send Scirocco, DNS

22. 21. (70) Donnie Moore, Hutto, VW Scirocco, DNS

 

Margin of Victory 0.223 seconds

Dishman led laps 1-25

Johnson set fast time – 21.107 seconds