Texas Speedzone - Season Opener at Texas Thunder Speedway

Texas Thunder Speedway Official Results 3-25-06

For Immediate Release
Contact Pat Wilson 254-290-6262
pwilson1@hot.rr.com
http://www.texasthunder.com

By Bill “Sarge” Masom
Killeen, Tx

The temperatures were cool, but the racing was flat out H-O-T, HOT

The packed grand stand that was bundled up for the cool temperatures was treated some absolutely sizzling racing on the track as Texas Thunder Speedway, sponsored by Dodge Country, kicked off the 2006 racing season.

The Kwik Kar Oil and Lube Street Stocks started off the night. Eighteen cars would take the track for the feature race. In the draw/redraw format, it was 2005 Street Stock Track Champion Robert Simmernam getting a good draw and starting on the pole. He would use that advantage to go on to take the first feature race checkered flag of the year.

Kwik Car Street Stocks

1. 1 Robert Simmerman
2. 00 Joe Fuller
3. 40 Albert Wininger, Jr
4. 48 Mitch Tierney
5. 69 Michael Legore
6. 121 Tim Worthy
7. 85 Corey Stepan
8. 63 Danny Dunn
9. 20 Trevor Sparkman
10. 82 Lee Chasse
11. 9 Carl Boettcher
12. 30 Kelvin Sears
13. 44 Jesus Dones
14. 7 Jeremy Adkins
15. 43 Gene Burnett
16. 84 Wayne Neff
17. 53 Robert VanRaalte
18. 26 Scott Wilson

Next up on the racing program was the Corbin & Associates, Attys I. M. C. A. Stock Cars. Defending track champion, Cham Savage didn't have the good luck in the draw/redraw that Simmerman did in the Kwik Kar Street Stocks. Savage would have to start shotgun on the fourteen car field. His drive for a consecutive track championship took a hit when he broke late in the race as he was challenging for the second place. Jacob Dunn would hold off all challengers and started his 2006 season with a win. Second place finisher, Justin McGehee fell one spot short of giving his new bride a feature win as a wedding present. They were married in the afternoon, and was racing that night

Corbin & Associates, Attys I. M. C. A. Stock Cars

1. 93 Jacob Dunn
2. 79 Justin McGehee
3. 58 DJ MacWilliams
4. 80 Bradley Sims
5. 86z Zana Craig
6. 51 Donald Lewis
7. 44 Ron Simpson
8. 43 Jessie James Cox Jr
9. 23 Shad Stevens
10. 84x Eric Jones
11. c4 Cham Savage Jr
12. 8 Vernon Buck Owens
13. 3 Robin Rasmussen
14. 318 Scott Bowles

The Hertz I. M. C. A. Southern SportMods were the next class to take to the fast ¼ mile of dirt. Kenny Ware took home the top spot, but had a bunch of fast and furious drivers right on his heals

Hertz I. M. C. A. Southern SportMods

1. 83 Kenny Ware
2. 424 Mike McDougal
3. 11w Kevin West
4. 63c Trace Crawford
5. 14 Chuck Schoenfeld
6. 15 William Scotty McKinney
7. 27 Robert Carr
8. 9 Olin Dillard
9. 77 Larry Ware
10. 17w Billy White
11. 231 Shad Stevens

The big boys of the race program would hit the tacky track next for their twenty lap feature race. The Dodge Country I. M. C. A. Modifieds started twenty-one cars. The race would go flag-to-flag, with the eventual winner finally tracking down and passing pole sitter Glen Dirks. PJ Egbert started twelfth and use about fifteen of the laps to get to the front. Egbert caught Dirks in traffic to make the winning pass.

Dodge Country I. M. C. A. Modifieds

1. 707 PJ Egbert
2. 71 Glenn Derks II
3. 63 Hardy Henderson
4. 78 Trevor Egbert
5. 44 Allen Waltermire
6. 97 Douglas Lorenz
7. 717 G.W. Egbert
8. 27 Danny Gribble
9. 4 David Hanusch
10. 66 Chuck Bayles
11. 19 George Lamphere Jr
12. 25 Dan Roberts
13. 555 Ken Old
14. 24 Gary Simmerman
15. 39 Paul Mullins
16. 7 J.D. Schiels
17. 247 “Wild” Bill Lecompte
18. 17m Rick Michael
19. 70 George Egbert
20. 15 Andrew Simmerman
21. 11 Wesley Hamilton

Capping a thrilling night of racing would be the Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks. Daniel Shipler started outside row one and took the early lead. He would hold off a very determined pack of 4 cylinder cars for half of the race. As the laps wound down the fight for the lead would go three wide as 2005 Rookie of the Year, Travis Zwiefelhofer would get under Shipler in turn four. Joining the fray, trying to shoot the gap in the middle was Eric Robbins Sr. Those three would almost make an entire lap three wide in a no holds barred race for the top spot. Zwiefelhofer would get the lead and wouldn't look back, even though Robbins pressured him to the checkered flag.

Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks

1. 20 Travis Zwiefelhofer
2. 39 Orie Shipler
3. 9 Eric Robbins Sr
4. 43 Joseph Gregoire
5. 81 Michael Crandall
6. 202 Julie Kelly Zwiefelhofer
7. 4 Clinton Byrne
8. 38 Daniel Shipler
9. 1 Mike Autrey
10. 14 Ronnie Ellis Jr
11. 17 Billy White
12. 5 David Stewart
13. 44 Rickey Reid

Pat Wilson, Promoter of Texas Thunder Speedway wants to thank all the hardy fans that showed up for opening night. He said, “I couldn't do anything about the temperature, but the on track action was as hot as we could make it.”

Come join us on April 1st for another fantastic night of racing sponsored by Hertz. Joining the program will be the Jr. Mini Stocks in their first run of the season. This exciting and safe class is open to youngsters 13 to 15 years old. The judging for Best Appearing Car Award for the Jr. Mini Stocks will also take place.

New for fans this year is the ability to purchase their tickets online with a credit card. Just go to the Texas Thunder Speedway web site, and click on the “Buy and Print Tickets” button. Also you can use your Visa or Master Card in the tracks souvenir and concession stands.

Gates open at 6:00 PM and racing starts at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for Adults, $3 for kids 6-12 and kids under 6 are free. Season passes are available as well.

For all track information, weather, directions, and to purchase your tickets online, go to http://www.texasthunder.com.

Texas Thunder Speedway is a 1/4 mile semi-banked oval dirt track. Races Every Saturday Night March through September With Seven SUPER EXCITING classes of cars to entertain the entire family.

Featured classes include; Dodge Country IMCA Modifieds, Corbin & Associates, Attys IMCA Stock Cars, Hertz IMCA SportMods, Street Stocks, Cottman Transmissions Mini Stocks, Jr Mini Stocks & Budweiser Racing Texas Twisters. Special Events designed especially for the kids as well as Powder Puff Races, Pit Crew Tire Contest and our all time crowd pleaser, the Demolition Derby.

Come join the fun, at Texas Thunder Speedway

Bill “Sarge” Masom
Texas Thunder Speedway Co-Announcer