Texas Speedzone - Chrudimsky claims win in Express-Jet 50 at Thunderhill Raceway

Express-Jet 50 @ Thunderhill Raceway, 10/13/07
By J M Hallas

Kyle, Texas(Oct. 13th, 2007) With many tracks having already wrapped up their racing season's, Thunderhill Raceway continues to finish out the year with make up dates from earlier rain-outs. Along with the regular THR weekly classes, the Texas Pro Modified series returned for the Express-Jet 50 on the 3/8 mile semi-banked asphalt track just south of Austin.

In Pro Modified qualifying, Tuffy Hudson posted the fastest time of the 12 drivers to take laps. Hudson's time of 15.423 barely edged out local vetaran Mark Chrudimsky for the fastest time as a mere 1/100th of a second separated the two drivers. Jason Boyd, John Heil and John Paul Kliewer rounded out the top five qualifiers. Hudson, driving the Roy Culver, Motors by Clete, FRED Chassis, would draw a five to start inside row three, with Crudimsky getting the pole after his wife drew the number 1 spot.

"I don't know how we did it," said the surprised Hudson. "I wasn't really expecting that. I saw we were second on the first lap and thought that was all we were going to get. I came around for the checkers and found out we were fastest. I pulled that one from somewhere."
"I'm just going to have to stay in line. Mark's(Chrudimsky) on the pole, (John) Heil's behind him and I'm third in line. So I'll just stay in line and see what we get."
" The Modifieds are totaly different than our Late Model, but I think the experience we got in the Late Model helped us. These cars are a lot more fun though. We're fourth in points here, third in Houston and leading in overall points for the Texas state championship."

Pro Modified qualfying
1. 7 Tuffy Hudson, 15.423
2. 39 Mark Chrudimsky, 15.433
3. 9 Jason Boyd, 15.531
4. 15 John Heil, 15.569
5. 22 John Paul Kliewer, 15.680
6. 6 Mike Blood, 15.880
7. 8 Jim Nides, 16.092
8. 65 Bubba Menard, 16.189
9. 98 Jay Guthrie, 16.357
10. 19 Marc Madison, 16.526
11. 48 Rick Wycough, 16.611
82 Shane Richard---DQ, left side weight

Chrudimsky Flies to Express-Jet 50 Honors
Mark Chrudimsky and Jason Boyd paced the field to green for the start of the Pro Modified, Express-Jet 50 and action got started quickly. As Chrudimsky got the lead, Jim Nides got into John Paul Kliewer in turn 1. Jay Guthrie, Marc Madison and Shane Richard all got tangled in the back of the pack to bring out a caution. The second start saw Chrudimsky again jump into the lead, John Heil moved to second, Boyd dropped into third and Tuffy Hudson got fourth.

The top four had just started to pull ahead when Mike Blood spun on the back stretch. The top four got out clean on the restart, leaving Nides, Kliewer and Bubba Menard battling for fifth. Nides slipped up high on lap 8 allowing Kliewer and Menard to get by for position. By lap 10 the top four had checked out to a straightaway lead over Kliewer. The top four then settled into race pace with three car lengths between each as they ran up on slower traffic.

Blood brought out a second caution on lap 21 when spun while trying to get under Madison in turn 3. On the restart, Blood again looped his ride as he slid off the backstretch to the infield. Once the green waved again Boyd and Heil made contact giving Chrudimsky a big advantage over the second place battle. At the crossed flags it was Chrudimsky, Heil, Boyd, Hudson and Kliewer in the top five.

Chrudimsky then began to increase his lead as the scrap for second heated up with Hudson joining the fray. Hudson first had to dispense with Boyd and was taking looks inside on the front stretch. Hudson was able to get along side and by going into turn 3 on lap 35. Nides brought out the yellow on lap 35 when he spun in turn 2 erasing Chrudimsky's big lead.

Hudson was pressuring Heil for second as soon as the green came back out giving Chrudimsky the chance to build his margin again. Hudson and Heil made contact as Hudson made the move for second. Once past, Heil dove back to the bottom trying to get back at Hudson. The move would stack up Boyd who spun to avoid tagging Heil. Officials would send Heil to the tail.

Once green was shown the top four hung together as it appeared the Chrudimsky's car was losing the handle. Hudson stayed on Chrudimsky's bumper. literally, as the two bumped in the corners. In the pack, Heil was on a personal mission using the high side to get back to the front. As the laps wound down Hiel worked his way back to fifth, while up front Chrudimsky in the Austin Vol-Tech, Westside Performance car was holding off Hudson for his third THR Pro Modified win in a row.

"The car was real good the first 35 or so laps," replied Chrudimsky. "When John(Heil) was behind us we were comfortable getting away. There towards the end we started losing grip. Tuffy(Hudson) was right there at the end, but I knew our car was good enough to stay up there. The last the 10 laps was a little interesting."
"After that one restart we had gotten a good lead and my spotter let me know that I had a comfortable lead and was running good right there. Then we had the caution that John got sent to the back and Tuffy was there. He told me Tuffy was a little better. So with ten to go, I had play a little defense and tell myself not to mess up."
"This is our third win in a row here and fourth for the year. I've run a couple times in Houston, but we enjoy being at home with the kids. We enjoy goofing off and having some time together. Just racing here allows us time for that. Next year we're going run the Modified again and maybe look more at travelling to the east coast and see how we compare. We took a trip there once this year and it rained out both tracks. It was a little disappointing going that far and never getting to turn a lap."
"I couldn't do all this without the help of my brother JD who helped me build the car, my wife's support and all the family. My wife drew the number one for me tonight, I've never done that and my kids aren't having much luck at the draw. I think I better take her to a nice dinner out."

1. 39 Mark Chrudimsky
2. 7 Tuffy Hudson
3. 9 Jason Boyd
4. 22 John Paul Kliewer
5. 15 John Heil
6. 65 Bubba Menard
7. 19 Marc Madison
8. 8 Jim Nides
9. 6 Mike Blood
10. 48 Rick Wycough
11. 98 Jay Guthrie
12. 82 Shane Richard

Garrett Grabs Gold in Super Stock Scramble
Polesitter, Robert Mayberry beat Chris Birmingham into turn 1 to get the early lead in the 40-lap A-Line Auto Parts, Super Stock feature. Birmingham looked to move under Mayberry as he drifted too high. The two were side by side for the lead wih Birmingham edging out Mayberry at the line. In the pack Mickey McKim was spinning after contact with Tracy Tschoerner to bring out a yellow. The caution put Mayberry back to the lead on the restart.

On the restart Birmingham quickly ducked under Mayberry who again slid high in the corner. The two made some contact as Birmingham got the top spot on lap 4. Keith Garrett, Duane Toyne, and Matt Hodge also got by Mayberry for position. McKim got turned around again but slowly continued on while Terry Tschoerner spun to the infield with a flat left front to bring out a yellow.

Garrett wasted little time on the restart as he got inside Birmingham in turns 1-2 and by on the back stretch to get he lead on lap 6. Toyne followed Garrett through the hole to second. Hodge got too high on lap 7 giving Mayberry and Shawn Paul Lehman and the rest of the pack the chance to get by. Lehman then got Mayberry hung out on the high side with Larry Stein, Cary Stapp, Cliff LaFont and Mark Mathias all sailing past.

Stapp then dove inside Stiein for fifth opening a hole for LaFont to follow trough. Stein then gave up another spot to Mathias on lap 11. The defending champion and current points leader, Stapp moved in on Lehman and was looking inside on lap 15. Stapp made the move on lap 16, with LaFont getting by for fifth as well. At halfway it was Garrett, Toyne, Birmingham, Stapp and LaFont in the top five.
The Stapp/LaFont duet then got by Birmingham for third and fourth on lap 22.

Toyne's chance for a top finish ended on lap 25 when he slowed from second, leaving Stapp a full straight behind Garrett for the lead. Lehman and Mathias had to go three wide past the slowing car of Toyne on lap 28. Garrett caught traffic on lap 30 , with Stapp taking 1/4 off his lead. Stapp had cut the lead in half on lap 35 as Garrett finally cleared slower cars. Garrett now had clear track, while Birmingham, Mathias, Lehman and Stein were battling through the traffic.
Garrett held the advantage over Stapp, who wrapped up the years championship, in the final laps to grab the victory.

A-Line Auto Parts Super Stocks
1. 13 Keith Garrett
2. 99 Cary Stapp
3. 3 Clint Lafont
4. 9 Chris Birmingham
5. 20 Mark Mathias
6. 28 Shawn Paul Lehman
7. 14 Larry Stein
8. 21 Robert Mayberry
9. 18 Mickey McKim
10. 11 Tracy Tschoerner
11. 51 Greg Rohmer
12. 4 Duane Toyne
13. 01 Terry Tschoerner
14. 58 Matt Hodge
15. 29 Jamie Evans
5 Chad Menard---DNS

Jenkins First Time Winner in Thunder Stocks
The Thunder Stock feature got off to a rocky beginning with front row driver Tom Smith breaking on the initial start, sending cars spinning in the pack to avoid him. The second try wasn't much better as they tried to go three and four wide on the back stretch. A multi-car tangle saw several cars spin on the back side and turn 3 prompting officials to call for a single file start.

The third time was a charm with polesitter Paul Lipp now leading the way as green waved. Jason Stanley spun on lap 2 collecting Aaron Brungot driving a car borrowed from Kevin Bowen after motor woes hit in practice. On the restart, Joey Jenkins looked inside Lipp and got by for the top spot on lap 4 with Steve Osborne following to second. Lipp then got freight-trained by Mona Turner, Gary Chancellor, Brungot, Joey Tschoerner and Jody Wayne Stuart.

Chancellor then took third from Turner, while Tschorner and Staurt both got past Brungot for fifth and sixth. On lap 9 Chancellor was looking to get by Osborne using the high side as Tschoerner got under Turner for fourth. Osborne and Tschoerner were door to door for second while Stuart took fifth from Turner. A lap 15 yellow for debris from Brungot's borrowed ride would slow the pace.

The top four stayed nose to tail on the restart as they put distance on the rest of the field. Mason Teague tried to dive under Turner on lap 19, but got into her quarter panel and blew out the right front tire sending Turner around. Jenkins got a car length edge on Osborne when green came back out and was inching away while Osborne, Chancellor and Tschoerner fought it out for second. Jenkins held that lead in the final laps while Chancellor was trying to fend off Tschoerner and Stuart. As the checkers flew it was Jenkins taking his first ever win in memory of his racing father.

Hobby Stocks
1. 56 Joey Jenkins
2. 04 Steve Osborne
3. 14 Joey Tschoener
4. 4 Gary Chancellor
5. 12 Jody Wayne Stuart
6. 19 Mona Turner
7. 2 Aaron Brungot
8. 18 Scott Schweisfurth
9. 66 Leonard Flores
10. 24 Marc Roy
11. 58 Lary Reeves
12. 16 Mason Teague
13. 83 Paul Lipp
14. 44 Jason Stanley
15. 5 Randy Schoerner
16. 15 Tom Smith
20 Steve Joyce---DNS

Lynch Lasso's Grand Stock Checkers

John Heil jumped into the lead of the Grand Stock feature, with an additional 10 laps added and money put up by Aramendia Plumbing. In the pack, points leader James Lynch was working his way to the front getting by Richard Fitch for third, then Jarrett Payton for second. Heil and Lynch then pulled away, while Fitch, Floyd Reed, Joe Aramendia, Brad Burke and Carolyn Aramendia battled for fourth.

After a brief side by side battle, Lynch grabbed the top spot. C. Aramendia brought out caution on lap 26 when she spun in turn 2 from the pack battling for position. Under yellow Heil was black flagged for leaking fluid on the track. On the restart, a multi-car melee on the back stretch brought caution back out. Once back to green, Lynch was motorng away as Fitch drove into J. Aramendia sending him around between turns 1-2. Fitch received the black flag and threw a temper tantrum pulling a "Robby Gordon" doing do-nuts, but with track officials in harms way.

Once order was restored, the race resumed with Lynch again putting distance on Payton and J. Aramendia battling for second. The two were door to door with J. Aramendia getting the spot. Payton then slipped high allowing Burke and Reed to get past as well. Up front it was all Lynch as he pocketed another win for the season.

Grand Stocks
1. 13 James Lynch
2. 79 Joe Aramendia
3. 47 Brad Burke
4. 65 Floyd Reed
5. 2 Jarrett Payton
6. 92 Art Ganns
7. 57 Terry Thames
8. 91 Marcia Moore
9. 00 Carolyn Aramendia
10. 18 Brian Moczygemba
11. 30 John Heil
12. 48 Jerry Canavati
13. 5 Randy Schoener
139 J D Dusek---DNS
07 Richard Fitch---DQ, rough driving/unsportsmanlike conduct

Spreen Sweeps Legacy Series Again.
After qualifying first, Dillon Smith started fourth in the 12-car Lone Star Legacy Series feature. Jake Kruger grabbed the early lead with John Riley second and Spreen and points leader, Taylor Brandes side by side for third. Spreen got the spot as the top four broke away from a second pack led by Mel Krauss. As Spreen battled with Riley for second, Brandes took advantage to retake third.

After a caution for spins by John Martin and Tom Harwell, who hit the grass to avoid Martin, the battle for second and third resumed. Once again a caution for a spin, this time by Charles Akins, slowed that fight. Spreen got the edge on Riley during restart, with Brandes getting by a couple laps later for third. Spreen then ran down Kruger for the lead and took the top spot on lap 26. As Spreen increased his lead, Kruger was trying to hold off Brandes for second. At the checkers it was Spree getting the win, while Kruger held off a hard challenge by Brandes.

Lone Star Legacy feature
1. 81 Dillon Spreen
2. 71 Jake Kruger
3. 3 Taylor Brandes
4. 69 John Riley
5. 24 Kris Kerr
6. 87 Charles Akins
7. 72 Arden Vikre
8. 321 Mel Krauss
9. 15 Eric Schmidt
10. 44 James Lee
11. 14 Tom Harwell
12. 58 John Martin

Naskarts
1. 32 Driscoll Stillworth 25 laps
2. 1 Mike Steinman 25 laps
3. 14 Kelli Garrett 25 laps
4. 10 Brian Kuemple 25 laps
5. 42 Robert Yuras 25 laps
6. 9 JM Skaggs 25 laps
7. 20 Gary Smith 25 laps
8. 8 Stephen Pepper 25 laps
9. 6 Kevin Hummel 24 laps
10. 07 Megan Smith 24 laps
11. 36 Allen Robbins 24 laps
12. 29 Marty Krels 3 laps