Texas Speedzone - Davidson and Merrell Set for USRA SLM event at THR this Saturday

For Immediate Release – July 19, 2006

Contact: Nick Holt, USRA Media Director
cnholt@sbcglobal.net
(210) 415-1251 (cell)

USRA Super Late Models Set for Thunder Hill Raceway Show this Saturday

San Antonio, TX (July 19, 2006) – Some of the fastest short-track stock cars in the Southwest are ready to tackle the tricky Thunder Hill Raceway (THR) paved oval in Kyle, Texas, this weekend. The United States Racing Association (USRA) Super Late Model Series will be competing in an action-packed 125-lap feature event at the three-eighth-mile, D-shaped oval this Saturday evening, July 22, 2006.

USRA Super Late Model Series points leader Chris Davidson will be trying to extend his slim 24-point margin over USRA Rookie of the Year contender Matt Merrell in the “TexasSpeedZone.Com 125” presented by Magnum Trailers.

Davidson, winner of the USRA SLM event at Texas Motor Speedway in June, says Merrell has proven to be a formidable foe in spite of his rookie status.

“Sure, I’d love to put a few points between me and Matt,” Davidson said when asked about this weekend’s race. “But anyone who thinks Matt is a pushover is just fooling themselves,” “There’s no question they’re not stupid over there. They have good equipment and they pay attention to what they’re doing. Matt will probably win a race or two this season. I just hope it’s not this one. And, believe me Todd McLemore always runs well at his home track. I expect the three of us will be right there at the finish.”

Merrell, on the other hand, believes he has a really good shot at picking up some points on Davidson this time out.

“We were able to run with the leaders the last time we ran Thunder Hill,” Merrell said. “And we always ran strong here when we ran the modified. No doubt about, though – Christopher (Davidson) is always tough to beat no matter where he runs.”

When asked about his chances of becoming the first USRA rookie to win both the Rookie of the Year title and the season championship Merrell was cautiously optimistic.

“I guess we have as good a chance as anyone to win the championship right now,” Merrell said. “We have been running strong and my team has been giving me some great setups and engines. It would be awesome to win it all. But being a rookie and second in points sandwiched between Chris and Casey (Smith) at this point in the season is pretty awesome – and to win it all would be huge!”

“Even though a couple of our top Super Late Model teams are committed to run out of state this weekend, we are looking for a pretty decent car count,” USRA Race Director Rick Day said. “We have heard from several teams that normally don’t run with us who will likely make the trip to Kyle. And the battle between Chris and Matt should really be something to see.”

The USRA Super Late Models be sharing the THR spotlight with the always exciting Texas Pro Sedans, the Lone Star Legacy Series, the Dwarfs, NASKARTS and the regular weekly THR racing divisions – the Street Stocks, the Hobby Stocks and the Grand Stocks.

The THR grandstands open at 4:00 p.m. with time trials getting under way at 5:00 p.m. For more information about Thunder Hill Raceway visit www.thunderhillraceway or call their box
office at (512) 262-1352. For more information about the USRA Super Late Model Series log onto http://www.USRAspeed.com.

Thunder Hill Raceway is located just south of Austin at 24801 IH 35 in Kyle, Texas.

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