TAMS at THR this Saturday, 5/14/2005

[NickHolt]

For Immediate Release – May 11, 2005

Contact: Nick Holt, TAMS Media Director

(210) 690-8564

cnholt@sbcglobal.net

 

Texas Asphalt Modified Series will Thunder at Thunder Hill Raceway this Saturday

 

Kyle TX, - The Texas Asphalt Modified Series (TAMS) will make their first Austin-San Marcos area appearance of the 2005 stock car racing season this Saturday evening, May 14, at Thunder Hill Raceway (THR) in Kyle. More than 20 of the powerful open-wheeled stock cars are expected to do battle at the 3/8-mile, D-shaped speed plant in a 50-lap feature event.

 

Defending TAMS champion and current points leader Joey Heinaman of Robstown, winner of the last TAMS event at San Antonio Speedway two weeks ago, will face a stiff challenge from Comfort’s Chris Swenson, who has finished in the top four in every TAMS race held so far this season. Swenson is second in the TAMS standings after three of 13 scheduled TAMS events while veteran Bruce Beddoe of Robstown is third with three top-six finishes.

 

“There are several teams that can win at Thunder Hill,” Swenson said while on his way to the paved Kyle facility for a Thursday afternoon practice session. “Joey (Heinaman) is always tough but Jerry (Schild of Katy) knows how to get around this track too. But I think my main competition is going to be from (USRA Super Late Model driver) John Heil (of San Antonio). John has won at Houston and he’ll be very fast and hard to pass.”

 

TAMS race director Wayne Norrell is expecting a full field of the lightning-quick, low-slung modifieds to take the green flag this Saturday. “There’s been a lot of interest in our series lately,” Norrell said. “We have some of the best drivers in Texas competing with us and the word is starting to get out that we’ve got something pretty neat going on. We always like coming to Kyle because there are no walls in the turns and the people running the track are really nice folks.”

 

Rookie sensation 19-year old Matt Merrell of Portland, who won in his very first TAMS race at the season-opener at Corpus Christi and is fourth in the TAMS point standings, has been practicing at THR and is expected to challenge the more experienced drivers for the win. “I respect the veterans and basically just try to stay out of trouble,” Merrell said. “But if the opportunity is there I’m not afraid to go for the win.”

 

In addition to the TAMS modifieds, Thunder Hill we be hosting the Texas Dwarf Car as well the THR A-Line Auto Parts Street Stocks, the THR Late Models, the THR Hobby Stocks and the always-entertaining THR Grand Stocks.

 

TAMS qualifying will begin 6:00 p.m. and the racing action set to start promptly at 7:00.

 

The TAMS series - one of the fastest growing touring series in Texas - also competes at San Antonio Speedway, Houston Motorsports Park and Corpus Christi Motor Speedway during their 13-race season and will return to THR on June 25 and September 24 for the annual Stock Car Spectacular. For additional information about the Texas Asphalt Modified Series, call Norrell at (210) 566-5553 or check out the TAMS website at http://www.texasmodifieds.com/index.asp.

 

Thunder Hill Raceway is located at 24801 IH-35 North at Exit 210. Call the Raceway at (512) 262-1352 for ticket information. Their website is found at http://www.thunderhillraceway.com/.