Texas Speedzone - Points season winds down at Thunderhill Raceway, 9-20-08

Points season winds down at Thunderhill Raceway, 9-20-08
By J M Hallas

With only two points races in the Thunderhill Raceway local classes, the points battle is still up for grabs for two of the three classes. In Super Stocks, National ASA Short Track Series points leader, Cary Stapp has the Super Stock title in the bag, his fifth in Super Stocks. Thunder Stocks points are tight as Joey Tschoerner holds a slim 33 points lead over past champion Gary Chancellor. Homer Pitner leads Team Aramendia in Grand Stocks, with James Aramendia 62 markers back, and Carolyn Aramendia another 11 points behind brother-in-law, James.

As the always competitive ASA, A-Line Auto Parts Super Stock feature roared to life, Rodney Rodriguez jumped out front in turn 1, while outside front row driver, Mickey McKim got freight-trained hung out on the high side. Terry Tschoerner got a little loose on lap 2 giving Duane Toyne an opening to get along side. Once clear Cary Stapp filled the void for third before Te. Tschoerner slammed the door on Mark Mathias.

As the top three began to pull away, Mathias and Te. Tschoerner got together in turn 3. As Te. Tschoerner spun he body slammed Mathias sending him into the grass off turn 4 and bringing out a caution. On the restart Rodriguez left an opening on the bottom, with Toyne quickly diving in to grab the lead on lap 9. Stapp followed Toyne through to second, with Levi Krauss keeping Rodriguez hung out to dry.

Stapp ducked inside Toyne on lap 11 taking the point on lap 12 and quickly beginning to pull ahead of Toyne, Krauss and Rodriguez running nose to tail. Krauss then put the pressure on Toyne for second with the two trading some paint on lap 19 before Toyne surrendered the spot. With five to go Stapp was stretching out his advantage pulling out to almost a full straightaway lead. In the final five laps Krauss cut that gap in half, but was no match for Stapp as he cruised on for yet another win.

A-Line Auto Parts ASA Super Stocks1. 99 Cary Stapp, San Marcos, Texas 40 laps
2. 32 Levi Krauss, Schertz, Texas 40 laps
3. 4 Duane Toyne, Leander, Texas 40 laps
4. 18 Mickey McKim, Manchaca, Texas 40 laps
5. 11 Tracy Tschoerner, Taylor, Texas 40 laps
6. 7 Rodney Rodriguez, Round Rock, Texas 40 laps
7. 01 Terry Tschoerner, Taylor, Texas 39 laps
8. 19 Brent Reeves, Converse, Texas 39 laps
9. 97 Ken Tyler, La Grange, Texas 39 laps
10. 20 Mark Mathias, San Antonio, Texas 8 laps
11. 75 Tim Sowell, 7 laps
12. 13 Dale Caswell, 5 laps
13. 14 Joey Tschoerner, Bartlett, Texas 3 laps
14. 50 (9) Chris Birmingham, Leander, Texas 2 laps

Super Stock heat winners, 01 Terry Tschoerner, 18 Mickey McKim

Aaron Leddy and David Sevilla stayed side by side most of lap 1 with Sevilla leading back to the line. Leddy then got the top spot on lap 2 leaving Sevilla side by side with Bryon Reed. Reed grabbed the spot with Jason Stanley moving in on Sevilla for third. Stanley kept marching forward getting second from Reed on lap 5. Yellow waved on lap 6 when Butch Teague slowed and stopped on the front stretch.

As green waved again, Stanley ducked under Leddy for the lead, with James Lynch taking third from Reed. Lynch then got by Leddy for second on lap 9. Mason Teague brought out yellow on lap 9 when his motor expired. On the restart, Sevilla got by Leddy for third, while Jody Wayne Stuart, who lost power, slowed and got run over ending his night.

Joey Tschoerner got fourth from Leddy on lap 14, with Stanley now putting distance on Lynch. Tschoerner picked off another spot taking third from Sevilla on lap 17. Jeff Smith moved into a top five spot getting around Leddy on lap 19. With the top three pulling away, Sevilla and Smith traded a few body blows as they fought it out for fourth.

A lap 26 caution for debris rebunched the field, but Stanley got a huge jump on Lynch as the green flew for the final four laps. Stanley increased his margin during final few circuits and easily took the checkers. In post race inspection Stanley was found illegal(valve seat pressure) with the victory awarded to Lynch.

Thunder Stocks

1. 13 James Lynch, Cedar Park, Texas 30 laps
2. 14 Joey Tschoerner, Bartlett, Texas 30 laps
3. 4 Gary Chancellor, Bastrop, Texas 30 laps
4. 50 Aaron Brungot, Cedar Park, Texas 30 laps
5. 18 Anthony Gordon, San Antonio, Texas 30 laps
6. 73 Bryon Reed, Kyle, Texas 30 laps
7. 15 Jeff Smith, LaVernia, Texas 30 laps
8. 8 David Sevilla Jr,. San Antonio, Texas 24 laps
9. 93 Aaron Leddy, Von Ormy, Texas 22 laps
10. 29 Jody Wayne Stuart, San Antonio, Texas 17 laps
11. 75 Duane Sanders, Killeen, Texas 12 laps
12. 16 Mason Teague, Paige, Texas 9 laps
13. 72 Butch Teague, Paige, Texas 6 laps
14. 20 Steve Joyce, Buda, Texas 5 laps
15. 66 Leonard Flores, San Antonio, Texas DNS
16. 0 Scott Schweisfurth, San Antonio Texas DNS
17. 56 Joey Jenkins, Del Valle, Texas DNS
18. 83 Paul Lipp, San Antonio, Texas DNS
19. 92 Jason Stanley, San Antonio, Texas Tech Infraction--Too much valve seat pressure

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Thunder Stock heat winners, 18 Anthony Gordon, 8 David Sevilla

The 17-car, 25-lap Grand Stock started out as wild as it ended. When green flew Layton Carroll was first out of turn 2 while in the pack it was getting ugly. The field went four-wide, with another two lanes in the grass. Suprisingly everyone made it through but officials threw the yellow for a complete restart. The second try was somewhat tamer, with Mark Rahn getting the point and only three wide in the pack.

Rahn and Carroll began to edge away from Michael Weaver, with a four wide fight for fifth in turn 3. Carroll lost his top spot after a spin from second on lap 6 to bring out a yellow. The restart was clean, with Homer Pitner challenging Weaver for second. The two battled side by side on laps 7-8 until they made contact sending both around on the back straight. Weaver was charged with yellow, Pitner put back in second.

Once back to green, Pitner wasted little time getting past Rahn for the lead on lap 11. Back in the field, Cody Smith, Richard Fitch and Carolyn Aramendia sailed past Kenneth Wright for fourth, fifth, sixth, respectively. Smith made contact with Mike Farish battling for third, with Smith getting the position and C. Aramendia coming along to fourth. Carroll brought out yellow on lap 17 when he stopped in turn 4 just off the racing surface.

On the restart C. Aramendia tried the high side of Smith, who looking to get under Rahn about the same time. Smith got into Rahn sending him spinning in turn 2. Rahn got his spot back, Smith sent to the tail. When green waved again C. Aramendia got inside Rahn for second and was tracking down Pitner when Carroll finally ended his night breaking in turn 2.

Officials called a time limit on the scheduled 25-lap event, with the field given one chance at a green, white, checkered finish. As the field hauled into turn 1 C. Aramendia was pushing teammate Pitner into the corner. Pitner locked down the brakes with both overshooting the turn sending Pitner around. Trying to avoid the melee, Floyd Reed took a wild ride through the grass into the pit catch fence. It took a while for the results to be sorted out, but Rahn was declared the winner at night’s end.

Feature

1. 46 Mark Rahn, San Antonio, Texas 21 laps
2. 07 Richard Fitch, Buda, Texas 21 laps
3. 97 James Aramendia, Seguin , Texas 21 laps
4. 08 Mike Farish, Copperas Cove Texas 21 laps
5. 65 Floyd Reed, Spicewood, Texas 21 laps
6. 91 Marcia Moore, Cedar Creek , Texas 21 laps
7. 68 Kenneth Wright, McQueeney, Texas 21 laps
8. 7 Kris Wilson, Austin, Texas 21 laps
9. 53 Cody Smith, Kyle, Texas 21 laps
10. 44 Mason Teague, Paige , Texas 21 laps
11. 79 Homer Pitner, New Braunfels, Texas 21 laps
12. 50 Carolyn Aramendia, San Antonio, Texas 21 laps
13. 12 Tator Mason, Cibolo, Texas 20 laps
14. 11 James Laljer, Austin , Texas 20 laps
15. 58 Layton Carroll, Yoakum, Texas 19 laps
16. 29 Jody Wayne Stuart, San Antonio, Texas 17 laps
17. 81 Michael Weaver, Elmendorf, Texas 8 laps
18. 32 Terry Thames, Bastrop , Texas DNS

Grand Stock heat winners, 46 Mark Rahn, 79 Homer Pitner

NasKart Feature
1. 9 Chris Terry, Oklahoma City, Ok.
2. 10 Brian Kuempel, Austin , Texas 20 laps
3. 20 Lyndon Kirk, Austin, Texas 20 laps
4. 71 Mike Steinman, Austin, Texas 20 laps
5. 14 Travis Roberts, Denver, Co. 20 laps
6. 17 Gary Smith, Austin, Texas 20 laps
7. 07 Megan Smith, Austin, Texas 20 laps
8. 29 Marty Kreis, Austin , Texas 20 laps
9. 77 Jim Mullins, 20 laps
10. 42 Mike Bell, 16 laps
11. 47 Kalob Krers, 16 laps

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