Texas Speedzone - Stewart Scores First TSRS Trophy, Allstate Texas Thunder 50 4/19/08

Kyle, TX (April 20, 2008) - Heath Stewart used his track experience and driving skills to lead flag to flag in the 50-lap TSRS feature race.

Allstate Texas Thunder 50 Also on the nights racing card, was the first race of 2008 season for the Texas Super Racing Series Late Models in the Allstate Texas Thunder 50, with 26 entries signing in for qualifying which was held on Friday evening. Former USRA Super Late Model Series Champion, Heath Stewart in the Southside Wrecker, Lefthander Chassis powered by Lozano Brothers Race Engines, posted the fastest time, with a 15.425. Brian Moczygemba, Cody Smith, Joe Aramendia and former TSRS Champ, Chris Schild rounded out the top five. "We did some adjustments on he car, and I just took my time with it," stated Stewart. "It wasn't really the way I wanted it. We've got a fast car, it gets faster after about four laps. It should be real good in the race. " "These cars are a little harder to drive than the Super Late Models. With the SLM's you use the horsepower to get through the corners smooth. With these you have to drive them in deeper, and you have a smaller tire. These car are actually a lot more fun to drive than the SLM's." "It's a lt more pressure when you start on the pole. It might be more fun to be inverted and start sixth. But in a new car, than you never raced, it's little more pressure. I think the car is good enough to do it." "We really won't change from how we usually run the car even with only a 50 lap race. I might just t drive it a little harder the whole race and not worry about saving as much." Stewart Scores First TSRS Trophy Stewart used his track experience and driving skills to lead flag to flag in the 50-lap TSRS feature race. Smith tried numerous times to find a way by and put on strong late charge only to come up short. Stewart got a good jump on green with Moczygemba, on the high side falling into the clutches of Smith. As those two ran side by side, former series champ, Chris Schild and San Antonio Speedway late model champion, Joe Aramendia were door to door for fourth. Smith secured second on lap 2 with Schild filling the hole for third leaving Moczygemba and Bobby Teer jr. side by side for fourth and Aramendia door to door with another SAS track champ, Robert Barker. Yellow waved on lap 5 when Craig Sellman and Tater Mason tangled in turn 4. Coming to yellow, Cary Stapp and Allen Alexander both got turned around. On the restart, Stewart got a car length on Smith, with the top ten staying in line nose t tail. Mason spun on lap 16 to bring out the second caution. Once back t green, Aramendia tried the high side giving Leland Waddell the chance to fill in low. Aramendia made temporary headway getting along side Barker on lap 21, before falling back n line sixth on lap 22. At the halfway point it was Stewart, Smith, Schild, Teer and Barker in the top five. Several cars n the back of the pack took side trips through the infield grass, with Moczygemba losing several spots sliding to the infield. The top six had just begun to put some distance on the field when yellow waved for a spin by Jason Stanley in turn 1. Once back to green, Michael Cullen got punted out of mid pack to the infield grass, while Aramendia got past Barker for position. Aramendia and Teer then began a battle for fourth until yellow waved after Allen Alexander got turned in the wrong direction and Jesse Salazar found himself in the infield grass. When green waved again, Smith got a little sideways after contact with Schild, giving Stewart a chance to move ahead slightly. Smith quickly recaught Stewart and began a challenge for the lead. Smith would close u in the corners, but Stewart was faster off the turns and move out by a car length. The final yellow waved on lap 47 for Moczygemba who spun in turn 2 setting up a green, white checker finish. As the race resumed, Smith was able to stay in touch with Stewart's bumper, literally, as they fought it out for the win. Smith gave Stewart a couple love taps, but nothing hard enough to get Stewart out of shape. As the checkers waved it was Stewart in the Southside Wrecker, Lozano Brothers Race Engines, Lefthander Chassis holding on for the win. “It wasn't that easy,” said Stewart. “We didn't quite have the car where I wanted it. I took my time at the first of the race and thought I had a good car. In the end I had to push it, because it wasn't quite there. But we got it done.” “The restarts at the end were killing me. I could feel him. The car too about three laps to come in and then it would get real stable. I didn't like those last few restarts.” “ We're going to drive and run for it. As long as Bobby(New) keeps letting me drive he car, we'll try for the championship. I don't know if you'd call me a hired gun, but I'm having a good time.” “I'm looking forward to going to Red River(Wichita Falls). I haven't run a Ľ mile like that since we ran Longhorn. Corpus is a quarter mile, but Red River is flatter, like Longhorn. I actually like running Houston better than Kyle, so we should be pretty good there too,” Allstate Texas Thunder 50 1. 1 Heath Stewart 2. 05 Cody Smith 3. 7 Chris Schild 4. 2 Bobby Teer jr 5. 17 Robert Barker 6. 79 Joe Aramendia 7. 28 Leland Waddell 8. 50 Brian Moczygemba 9. 00 Beau Bukowski 10. 81 Dillon Spreen 11. 01 Allen Alexander 12. 02 Ugo Bevione 13. 49 Robert Walton 14. 92 Jason Stanley 15. 6 Jason Hollander 16. 61 Cory Lovell 17. 33 Mike Williams 18. 38 Craig Sellman 19.18 Jesse Salazar 20.19 Scott Lowey 21. 51 Chad Menard 22. 55 Michael Cullen 23. 16 Tator Mason 24. 99 Cary Stapp 25. 15 Bradley Burke 26 14 Jake Kruger---DNS