For
Immediate Release
Texana Raceway Park
-Monty Chamberlain
Saturday, April 12th was an action filled night at Texana Raceway Park. With the Hot Stock Trucks scheduled off, the raceway welcomed in 104 entries for the night. The high north winds caught track preparers by surprise and although the track was expected to go dry slick given the high car count, the high winds dried out the track quicker than expected and provide a somewhat difficult situation for the fans and some of the drivers that may have been expecting more tacky conditions.
With the first event being shortened by rain, everyone was ready for a complete program. It is always difficult to guess from one season to the next what class will see a surge in growth. This year, it’s obvious that several teenagers have caught the racing bug with the mini-stock division on the rise, and there are surprises with the number of cars in super stock.
After qualifying events were completed, it was time to get the much anticipated feature events underway. With a new twist this year, each class entered the track for their feature with a designated theme song that will become theirs for the season.
First up, were the mini-stocks. The age range for 2008 is 13 years to 16 years. The class carried in 16 entries and several new drivers for the 2008 season. When the green flag waved, Dakota Taylor took the early lead and looked as if he would be the car to beat. Taylor was followed closely by Jacob Burnet and Chase Sanchez in a not too distant 3rd. As the race progressed, Taylor and Burnet began distancing themselves from the field. But, as everyone knows, it ain’t over til it’s over. The group experienced several cautions and with each start newcomer Zach Tesch was carefully driving his way to the front eventually walking away with the win, and newcomer Sanchez was driving well and holding his position in the top five. Taylor experienced a late race tire failure and was sidelined before the checker flew. Jason Bloom and Haley Jansky both had a good run finishing inside of the top five. The hard-charger / determination award for this event would go to Lauren Chamberlain. After spinning during her heat, Chamberlain started at the tail of the 16 car field. But carefully driving through the event, she worked her way up to finish with an official top five position. An impressive car count by the group and admirable driving by all in the class.
1st # 72 Zachary Tesch, #63 Chase Sanchez, #49 Jason Bloom, #31 Haley Jansky, #55 Lauren Chamberlain
22 Classic Dwarf Cars made the call to the feature. The Classic Dwarf Cars are always a guarantee for close racing and lots of action. The event got off to a rough start with a caution before the first lap could be completed. But, the second try was the charm. Frank Fruia started out as the early race leader, but experienced problems and was sidelined. This gave the lead to Victor Vargas. Vargas took the lead with Andrew Cline close in 2nd position. Cline worked his way to the front position and there was no looking back as he drove his way to the win. A favorite with the fans, the Classis Dwarf Cars had lots of close racing action and provided a great show.
1st #19 Andrew Cline, 2nd #30 Ronny Fikes, 3rd #4 Stew Savage, 4th #13 Mike Christians, 5th #25t Dave Tedford
With a couple of cars sidelined from the heat races, 17 Bombers made the call for the feature. Heat winners Nick Moore and Danny Bennett led the field to green and provided close racing action side by side for two laps. As the field started to separate, 2007 class champion Charlie Mills was working his way up to the front pack. Unfortunately Mills got loose in turn two and spun. With no where to go and trying to stop, veteran driver Randy Kacir was able to avoid a direct hit to Mills and was able to lessen the impact with his quick action of bringing his car sideways and providing a side to side impact with Mills. Also, tangled in the mishap was Al Perez. Perez and Kacir were both able to continue, but Mill’s car received significant visible damage and was sidelined for the remainder of the event. As the race progressed and approaching lapped traffic, Moore and Bennett still running together approached on lapped car that Moore negotiated. Bennett went low, but the lap car did as well collecting Bennett and sending him to the infield with a spin. From a spectator standpoint, one would assume Bennett was done with his right A-arm bent badly. Another determination award for the night would have to be handed to Bennett. He went to the back of the field, kept cool, and worked his way up to a 2nd place finish with a very visibly damaged right front. After being involved in the earlier incident, Kacir and Perez would both score top five finishes. Working through the event, hardly noticed was the driving talents of Michael Wagner. Wagner worked through the event without incident and score a 4th place finish. Leading the event, from start to finish the young Moore did an excellent job and gave a driving lesson to a few folks. Moore scored his first ever Bomber feature win.
1st #1 Nick Moore, 2nd #R4J Danny Bennett, 3rd #36 Randy Kacir, 4th #18 Michael Wagner, 5th #60 Alvaro Perez
In the Limited Modifieds, the masterful driver Paul White and young Joshua Majek led the field to green and set the early race lead. White, known in many facets of dirt and asphalt racing demonstrated why he shines at any track he tackles. But the talent of Majek was very impressive as the young driver proved he has talent well beyond his years and can drive with the best of them. As the race progressed, the group experienced several cautions. Eventually, with White leading, Aaron Hudgeons and Mickey Helms had worked into 2nd and 3rd respectively. Also on the move was the always reliable Vince Louden. Nearing the final couple of laps on a restart, a pile up in turn four getting ready to take the green, White was tangled up the car was damaged. White was sidelined. It opened the door for Hudgeons to pick up and he carried it in for the win with Vince Louden in 2nd and Art Rodriguez in 3rd.
1st #10 Aaron Hudgeons, 2nd #6 Vince Louden, 3rd #22 Art Rodriguez, 4th #9 David M Meredith, 5th #12 Adam Perks
The Super Stocks carried in one of the largest field of cars than the group has been seen in quite some time. An action packed event with lots of paint shared, it was one of the best super stock events seen in quite some time. Visiting the track for the first time was Robert Danielsen. Danielsen proved that the full frame stock body car can be a contender against the sheet metal contenders as he scored a top five finishing position. Up front it was AJ Dancer and Randy Stevenson running contending for the lead. Danbury’s Mike Davenport and Chris Jewell both drove well and scored top five’s. But the two cars contending for the win remained with Dancer and Stevenson. Dancer was able to hold off Stevenson and took the win. The group will be scheduled off for the next event, but when they return on Mothers Day Weekend, that sure to provide a show.
1st# 52 AJ Dancer, 2nd #83 Randy Stevenson, 3rd #70 Mike Davenport, 4th 32x Chris Jewell, 5th #49 Robert Danielson
The final event of the night was the Modifieds. Several drivers in the class perform double duty between Limited Modifieds and Modifieds, with a couple of the Classic Dwarf Car drivers doing so as well. Trying to eliminate the misfortune from the Limited Modified feature, Paul White was back at it in his Modified. White took the early lead and skillful John Armstrong was on the move as a contender for the lead. The only group to accomplish the feat, the Modifieds went from green to checker with no cautions. White led the event from green to checker with smooth driving through every turn. While Armstrong didn’t have an opportunity to try and pass White, he ran solid as well and finished a very respectable 2nd.
1st #2w Paul White, 2nd #39 John Armstrong, 3rd #94 Nick Hardcastle, 4th #76 Jesse Manning, 5th #3x Frank Fruia
New to the track will be the “Featured Driver” each event. A randomly selected driver will be in the General Admission area with his or her car to meet fans and sign autographs from 6:30 pm to 7pm. Come out to the track early on April 26th, and see who the first Featured Driver will be.
Texana raceway is located 2 miles south of Edna on SH 111. We’ll see you at the races!