Published: October 14, 2009 10:11 am      

Auto Racing: Spectacular weekend at THR

Kyle — Thunderhill Raceway hosted its annual Stock Car Spectacular on the always tricky, semi-banked, 3/8 mile, D-shaped, paved track just south of Austin last weekend. Mother Nature played havoc with the two-day schedule, turning the show into a one-day event with 12 classes on the racing card.

Highlighting the schedule of classes were the Texas Super Racing Series Late Models and Legacy Series, Texas Pro Sedans, Pro Modifieds, Pro Trucks, SportMods, Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas, along with local hotshots from the ASA A-Line Auto Parts Super Stocks, Thunder Stocks, Grand Stocks, Mini Stocks and NASKarts.

With more than 500 feature laps of racing over the one-day event, it was only fitting that the last lap of the season was one of the most exciting. Race-long leader Cody Smith and former San Antonio Speedway Late Model track champion Robert Barker had a classic battle in the TSRS feature, in a race which wasn't decided until turn four of the final lap.

Barker, who had shown Smith the nose several times, finally got alongside going into turn three. The two locked horns, traded paint, and when the dust (or in this case mud) settled, it was Boerne's Barker crossing the finish line, while Smith ended up in the turn-four tire barrier and wall.

As green waved on the 16-car, 75-lap race, Smith jumped into the lead, but Mike Reininger spun in turn two to bring the yellow quickly back out.

On the second try, Smith got a huge jump when Brian Moczygemba got sideways out of turn four in front of the field. Remarkably, he was able to straighten out with no contact and hung on for second.

As Barker looked for a way around Moczygemba, Smith edged away. Barker finally got along side Moczygemba on lap five taking the lead spot, with Spreen tagging along to third.

As the front-runners gapped themselves out and settled into click-off laps, Bobby Teer, Jr. got by Jake Kruger for fifth. After lapping a couple stragglers Smith caught the back of a big pack on lap 25. Smith was able to dice through the traffic without losing ground to Barker trying to negotiate the same traffic.

Barker stuck the nose under Smith on lap 73 and Smith closed the door abruptly. Coming to the white flag, Barker stayed on Smith's tail and made his move coming out of turn two.

Barker got along side going into turn three. Smith tried to slam the door, but Barker was already in and the two locked wheels and slid up the track until Smith found the turn four wall and tire barrier.

Barker won the scramble back to the line to the cheers and jeers of the standing crowd, with Moczygemba going around in the turn 4 melee. Smith recovered for a sixth place finish, but refused post-race tech for the top points chasers.

“I got up next to him (Smith) and he didn't want me to pass,” Barker said about the last lap incident. “I don't know what his spotter told him, but it clearly wasn't a good move. Three times I got the nose under him and he chopped me off. I wasn't just going to give it to him. If he wants a wrecked racecar, fine. I was just going to wait until the last lap.”

The Pro Modified got off to an auspicious start when outside polesitter, Jason Marmon, got sideways in front of the field. As the field spun and scattered, John Paul Kliewer got the worst of it, tagging the wall hard in turn four. Kliewer, Brett Boyd and Mike Williams were unable to make the restart. Once green waved, Cory Lovell got out front with John Schultz, Anthony Gordon and Michael Umscheid in pursuit.

It wasn't long until Umscheid ran down Lovell for the lead and after a try high, Umscheid ducked low getting by Lovell on lap 13 for the lead.

Umscheid, who was 5/10th quicker in qualifying, had no problem stretching out his advantage. Once safely out front, Umscheid put it on cruise control easily taking the win and Pro Modified Championship.

The TSRS Allison Legacy Series feature saw James Huff jump out front on lap one, but give way to Charles Aiken on the second lap, with Rusty Mirth and Cole Runco getting by for second and third. Mirth got inside Aiken on lap 3 taking over the point on lap 4, with Cole Runco taking second after a side by side battle with Aiken. Runco chased down Mirth for the lead taking the top spot on lap 18.

The race got ragged at the end with numerous spins in the final 10 laps. With the race cut to a green, white, checkered finish Runco held off Stephen McCurley in the shootout to the flag.

Coming into the final race for the ASA A-Line Auto Parts Super Stocks, Cliff Lafont had already secured the track championship as well as the ASA western Regional title. It also marked the return of multi-time track champ and defending ASA National Champion, Cary Stapp in the familiar #99 car.

Stapp wound up winning the race after Jason Stanley was disqualified with a technical infraction taking the checkered flag.

The Grand Stock feature was claimed by Cody Smith, while Jim Johnson was first in the Texas Pro Sedans feature.

Mason Teague claimed the checkered flag in the Thunder Stock feature, Jerry Young won the Dwarf Car feature, Tracy Tschoerner won the Mini Stock feature, Lyndon Kirk was first in the NASKART feature and Johnny Lewellan won the Sportmods feature.



Thunder Hill Results



Here are the results from last weekend Texas Stockcar Spectacular held at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle:

Mini Stock Feature

1. 01 Tracy Tschoerner, Taylor 15 laps

2. 88X Brandy Ramzinski, San Antonio 15 laps

3. 18 Michael Espinoza 15 laps

4. 10 Jerry Woolf, San Antonio 15 laps

5. 03 Kris Wilson, Austin 15 laps

6. 02 Dalton Wall, Kyle 14 laps

7. 68 Kenneth Wright, McQueeney 14 laps

8. 88 Brandon Spreen, Boerne 12 laps

9. 77 Eric Robbins, Red Rock 11 laps



Grand Stock Feature

1. 53 Cody Smith, Niederwald 30 laps

2. 50 Carolyn Aramendia, San Antonio 30 laps

3. 12 Art Ganss, Driftwood 30 laps

4. 58 Layton Carroll, Yoakum 30 laps

5. 91 Marcia Moore, Cedar Creek 30 laps

6. 03 Chris Trevino, San Antonio 30 laps

7. 79 James Aramendia, San Antonio 30 laps

8. 7 Kris Wilson, Austin 30 laps

9. 8 Brandon Gaither, La Vernia 20 laps

10. 65 Floyd Reed, Spicewood 18 laps

11. 23 Bob Meyers DNS



Thunder Stock Feature

1. 16 Mason Teague, Paige 30 laps

2. 14 Joey Tschoerner, Bartlett 30 laps

3. 10 Terry Tschoerner, Taylor 30 laps

4. 50 Aaron Brungot, Cedar Park 30 laps

5. 4 Gary Chancellor, Bastrop 30 laps

6. 20 Steve Joyce, Buda 30 laps

7. 15 James Cole, San Antonio, 30 laps

8. 58 Patrick Burow, San Antonio 30 laps

9. 13 Stan Easty 30 laps

10. 37 Del Harris, Huntsville 30 laps

11. 74 Jim Teague, Paige 30 laps

12. 22 Anthony Gordon, San Antonio 30 laps

13. 93 Aaron Leddy, Von Ormy 16 laps

14. 8 David Sevilla, Jr., San Antonio 11 laps

15. 88 Eric Robbins Red Rock 10 laps

16. 56 Joey Jenkins, Del Valle 4 laps

ASA A-Line Super Stock Feature

1. 99 Cary Stapp, San Marcos 40 laps

2. 28 Shawn Paul Lehman, Manchaca 40 laps

3. 9 Chris Birmingham Leander 40 laps 

4. 3 Clint LaFont, Volente 40 laps

5. 27 Tommy Gural Elgin 40 laps

6. 15 JC Pilcher, Castroville 40 laps

7. 19 Brent Reeves, Converse 40 laps  

8. 36 Roger Davis, Orange Grove 40 laps

9. 97 Ken Tyler, La Grange 40 laps 

10. 33 Bubba Gustafson, Austin 40 laps  

11. 97X John Witzsche, Corpus Christi 33 laps

12. 48 Duane Toyne, Leander 31 laps  

13. 80 Allen Alexander, San Antonio 27 laps  

14. 88 Bobby LaFont Volente 17 laps  

15. 11 Tracy Tschoerner, Taylor DNS 

16. 21 Jason Stanley, San Antonio – TI – Illegal Rear End



TSRS Late Model Feature

1. 17 Robert Barker, Boerne 75 laps

2. 1 Bobby Teer, Jr., Comfort 75 laps

3. 92 (81) Dillon Spreen, Boerne 75 laps

4. 18 Jesse Salazar, San Antonio, TX, 75 laps

5. 14 Jake Kruger, Bastrop 75 laps

6. 50 Brian Moczygemba, San Antonio 75 laps

7. *33 Mike Williams, Hockley 74 laps

8. *54 Steve Green, Marble Falls 74 laps

9. 72 Kendall Bumbera, Sealy 74 laps

10. 38 Craig Sellman, Buda 72 laps

11. 15 Brad Burke, Johnson City 68 laps

12. 28 (4) Levi Krauss, Schertz 57 laps

13. 02 Ugo Bevione, Austin 55 laps

14. 3 Mike Reininger, San Antonio 48 laps

15. 00 Beau Bukowski, San Antonio 37 laps

16. 05 Cody Smith, LaVernia QT 15.424 – TI – Declined Tech





Pro Truck DWIDUDE.COM 35 Feature

1. 42 Jason Marshall, Leander 35 laps

2. 31 Jim Albert, Lockhart 35 laps

3. 3 David Lewien, Blanco 35 laps

4. 99 Cary Stapp, San Marcos TX 35 laps

5. 28 Shawn Paul Lehman, Manchaca 35 laps

6. 41 Keith Riethmeyer, Hutto TX. 35 laps



SportMod Feature

1. 27 Johnny Lewallen, San Marcos 42 laps

2. 10 Don Painter, Buda 42 laps

3. 79 Cody Beddoe, Waco 41 laps

4. 68 Rusty Head, Buda 34 laps

5. 88 Duane Sanders, Killeen 9 laps

6. 48 Chris Swenson, Boerne 3 laps

7. 19 Benton Kemp, Corpus Christi

8. 28 (5) Junior Medlock, Manchaca QT

9. 64 Abel Arredondo, Kingsville, DNS  

10. 82 Anthony Monroe, Corpus Christi, TI – Vacuum Test

11. 5 (28) Shawn Paul Lehman, Manchaca, TI – Too Light



Pro Modified “PrismStream 50” Feature

1. 5 Michael Umscheid, Austin 50 laps

2. 61 Cory Lovell, Lockhart 50 laps

3. 14 John Schultz, 50 laps

4. 18 Anthony Gordon, San Antonio 50 laps

5. 65 Bubba Menard, Castroville 50 laps

6. 04 Brad Hudak, 50 laps

7. 07 Matt Kaminski, Corpus Christi 47 laps

8. 26 Bob Slezinsky, Beeville 47 laps

9. 78 Greg Baber, Uvalde 4 Laps

10. 33 Jason Mormon, Seabrook 0 laps

11. 3 Mike Williams, Hockley 0 laps

12. 22 John Paul Kliewer, Boerne 0 laps

13. 9 Brett Boyd, Magnolia 0 laps

14. 44 H. E. Naumann, Del Valle, DNS

15. 10 Robert Walton, Bastrop, DNS



Dwarf Car Feature

1. 18 Jerry Young, Helotes 20 laps

2. 3 Mike Young, Helotes 20 laps

3. 6 Jim Rogers, Ingleside 20 laps

4. 55 Coby Young, Helotes 20 laps

5. 72 Arden Vikre, San Marcos 20 laps

6. 15 Dwain Groff, Helotes 20 laps

7. 27 Butch Havelka, Portland 20 laps

8. 16 Chris Knandel, Corpus Christi 20 laps

9. 30 Billy Groff, Helotes 30 laps

10. 60 Richard Smith, Wimberley 30 laps

11. 8 Chuck McCormick, Helotes 30 laps

12. 13 John Flake, Austin 30 laps

13. 32 Hoppy Malatek, Fentres 30 laps

14. 05 Keith Roach, Buda 16 laps



NasKart Feature

1. 5 Lyndon Kirk, Austin 27 laps

2. 17 Richard Gonzales, San Antonio 27 laps

3. 71 Mike Steinman, Austin 27 laps

4. 12 Frank Mena, Leander 27 laps

5. 24 Chris Terry, Oklahoma City, OK 27 laps

6. 88 Kayleb Kreis, Lake Travis 27 laps

7. 07 Megan Smith Austin 27 laps

8. 29 Marty Kreis, Lake Travis 27 laps

9. 77 Andy Taylor 27 laps

10. 18 Chris Birmingham, Leander 27 laps

11. 8 Gary Smith, Austin 11 laps

12. 48 Kevin Hummell, Lake Travis DNS



Texas Pro Sedans Feature

 1. 15 Tom Johnson/Kingsland - 34 Laps

2. 70 Mike Merrell/Kingsland - 34 Laps

3. 20 Sergio Hexsel/Live Oak - 34 Laps

4. 73 Cody Limerick/Corpus Christi,TX - 33 Laps

5. 04 Nathan Robbins/Bastrop - 32 Laps

6. 27 Bill Labarge/Bryan 32 Laps

7. 48 Mike Knotts/Universal City - 32 Laps

8. 22 Harry Osburn Jr./San Antonio - 31 Laps

9. 3 Bob Sherland/San Antonio - 31 Laps

10. 01 Tory Christopher/Universal City - 31 Laps

11. 75 Daniel Wilkerson/Corpus Christi - 31 Laps

12. 23 J.J. Osburn III/Converse - 30 Laps

13. 18 Lanny Young/Kingsland - 30 Laps

14. 97 Kevin Hallman/Cibolo - 29 Laps

15. 71 Bruce Mabrito/San Antonio - 29 Laps

16. 50 Rick Dawdy/San Antonio - 29 Laps

17. 40 Robert Robbins/Bastrop, 29 Lap

18. 55 John Miesen/Marion - 28 Laps

19. 88 Dennis Taylor/Live Oak - 26 Laps

20. 26 Lalo Leal/Corpus Christi - 6 Laps

21. 38 Dave Parks/San Antonio - 1 Lap

22. 77 Pete Wright/Ft. Worth - DNS