NickHolt Posted May 4, 2003 Report Share Posted May 4, 2003 LaBarge Wins Big in Texas Pro Sedan Feature at Thunder Hill Raceway Four-time Texas Pro Sedan Champion Bill LaBarge of Bryan won his first feature race of the season Saturday night at Thunder Hill Raceway in Kyle. LaBarge started his BMW on the outside pole by virtue of winning his heat race, but slipped to third place at the start when inside pole-sitter Sergio Hexsel of San Antonio and fourth-place starter Lalo Leal of Corpus Christi got under him using the faster inside groove. Leal, driving a Ford Mustang, made several attempts to take the lead from VW Scirocco driver Hexel on the first two laps, but was unable to pull off the pass. Meanwhile, VW Karmann Ghia driver Randy Larsen of Wimberley and VW Scirocco drivers Mike Knotts of Universal City and Donnie Moore of Hutto were right on LaBarge’s rear bumper producing a tight six-car formation for the first few laps. By the third lap LaBarge was able to get under Leal as Leal went high in an attempt to pass Hexsel using the outside groove. Two laps later LaBarge carefully squeezed by Hexsel for the lead and never looked back. As LaBarge slowly pulled away, Hexsel, Leal, Knotts and Larsen battled door-to-door and bumper-to-bumper for second position. A few laps later, Larsen pulled off a stunning three-wide pass with a lapped car on the inside and Knotts on the outside going into the first turn to secure the third spot. Larsen was then able to get past Leal, who was slowing slightly with minor suspension damage sustained in a skirmish with Knotts. LaBarge was able to extend his lead towards the end of the 20-lap event as the field diced for positions behind him and took the checkered flag nearly five seconds ahead of Larsen. With the win LaBarge took over the TPS Championship points lead from Randy Lee of Corpus Christi. The race was caution-free in spite of the close racing action in the pack. Results of the 20-lap Texas Pro Sedan Feature Race at San Antonio Speedway, showing finishing position, car number, driver’s name, hometown, car, and laps completed: 1. (27) Bill LaBarge, Bryan, BMW, 20 2. (50) Randy Larsen, Wimberley, VW Karmann Ghia, 20 3. (26) Lalo Leal, Corpus Christi, Ford Mustang, 20 4. (20) Sergio Hexsel, San Antonio, VW Scirocco, 20 5. (33) Jamie Garner, San Antonio, VW Scirocco, 20 6. (70) Donnie Moore, Hutto, VW Scirocco, 20 7. (54) Harlan Hatcher, Converse, VW Rabbit, 19 8. (72) Candy Hogan, Cedar Park, VW Sedan, 19 9. (78) Chris Garner, San Antonio, VW Sedan, 17 10. (48) Mike Knotts, Universal City, VW Scirocco, 15 11. (2) Jack Dishman, Devine, Ford Mustang, 0 12. (34) Shane Hill, Austin, Ford Mustang, 0 Sergio Hexsel led laps 1-4 Bill LaBarge led laps 5-20 Margin of victory: 4.8 seconds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted May 13, 2003 Report Share Posted May 13, 2003 Nick, I forgot to ask you, but what was wrong with Dishman's car that night? Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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