New shoes and the race track.
06/29/2008
I headed down the interstate to shop and to go to the local races.
I was more than half way to the outlet mall and my shoes are in a bit of disrepair. I stopped off and found a couple of pairs for a great price. They had some others that were a lot less expensive, but they looked cheep and trendy. I got a pair of brown sandals and a pair of black clogs. It was off to the races next.
The local track was filled with spectators; I headed down through the pit gates to pick up my pass. I often help out when a company broadcasts the races on the internet, but once I arrived in the press booth, it was apparent I wasn’t going to be needed last night. The company was only doing the track announcement and the booth was packed. I chatted with a few folks and then headed back down to the grandstands to watch after the Thunder Stocks, Super Stocks and the Grand Stocks did their qualifying laps. The Texas Pro Sedans took the track and thy always have a good car count and fast races. Tom Johnson first, and Mike Merrell: both from Kingsland, TX took the first and second slots.
Next up was the Pro Trucks. There is quite the battle for point between Rusty Mirth, Jim Albert and Jason Riddle all within 20 of each other as they started for the green flag 50 lap race. When the checkers dropped; it was Marshal, Albert and Mirth for the finish. The reverse finish from the points standing will keep that series on an even tighter battle for the next race.
The Express Jet 50 laps brought the cars out to the track and waited until the kid’s bike races were complete before they got started. The drives were brought down through the stands and there was fence climbing, bleacher jumping and runs and strolls through the crowd. It brought an exciting start for an exciting race. It was starts and full restarts to get these fast cars moving through the 50 lap feature. Cares were sliding off the track, parts broke and then the racing got into full action. H.E. Nauman took the checkers followed by JC Umscheid. The quickest qualifier Tuffy Hudson managed to pull off a 4th place finish.
The local classes were up next: Thunder Stock with Anthony Gordon, Gary Chancellor, Joey Tschoerner and Steve Joyce fighting it out in a push and tug battle to take their checkers. It was a battle for the 2nd through 4th spots that kept the crowd on their feet and the drivers tight up on the steering wheels.
The Super Stocks had a scary start with Micky McKim’s car catching fire on the start. It was a spectacular site as the evening had jut gotten darker and the flames were flying out the back of the car. Lucky it was only fuel on top of the fuel cell burning. The track officials, the Kyle Fire Department and the other drivers managed to get that car to the fire truck, get the flames out and get the race back underway after a short red flag to a full restart of the field. Ten cars started and seven finished the race. From the Tschoerner clan: Tracy sat out the race so her dad Terry could use her car since he is higher in the point standings. Cary Stapp, Doug Ayers and Shawn Paul Lehman took the top 3 spots.
The last race of the night was the Grand Stocks: The Areamendia’s put 3 cars in this race: Carolyn the points leader, James and Joe. Some how Art Ganss managed to keep the clan in his rear view mirror as the checkers flew.
