Still plenty to run for this Saturday for TSRS drivers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 23, 2008
Contact: K-MAC Sports, 512.219.1090; MAN Racing Promotions, 512.844.3582
Still plenty to run for this Saturday for TSRS drivers

(Austin, TX) Heath Stewart (Del Valle, TX) and Jake Kruger (Bastrop, TX) pretty much have the TSRS (Texas Super Racing Series) points championship and Rookie of the Year (respectively) titles wrapped up before the season-ending 75-lap race during Saturday’s Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular at Thunderhill Raceway (Kyle, TX).

TSRS rules state each driver can drop their lowest-points race of the season. Doing that, all Stewart and Kruger have to do is take the green flag during Saturday’s finale to wrap up their hard-earned championships.

Still, there’s plenty of drama going into the Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular for Texas’ premier touring late-model series:

• After winning the Fast Qualifier Award during last Saturday’s “Deb Williams 75,” Stewart said: “Based on tonight, we’ll more than likely see someone set a new (qualifying record) next weekend.” Thus, the mark set by San Antonio’s Joe Aramendia last Oct. 27 (a time of 15.317) is in danger during Friday’s qualifying.
• Speaking of Aramendia…his nephew, Brian Moczygemba, won last weekend’s TSRS race. That victory ties the student (Moczygemba) with the teacher (Aramendia) at two career victories apiece. Both drivers are expected to compete in Saturday’s season finale. Will the student pass the teacher?
• Speaking of career wins….Chris Schild (Leander, TX) remains tied at the top of the TSRS charts with Tommy Gural (Elgin, TX). Both drivers have eight wins apiece. Schild, the 2005 series champion, has won at least once series race the past three seasons. Schild, incidentally, has won the most career Fast Qualifier Awards with 13; Heath Stewart is second with eight.
• If Stewart can win Saturaday’s race, he’ll have five career victories – that would put him in a tie with Jeff Pollard and put him one behind his car owner, Bobby Joe New, the reigning TSRS champion.

Information on TSRS can be found at http://www.manracingpromotions.com/. Information about THR and the Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular can be found at http://www.thunderhillraceway.com/.

- 30 –

Championship Showdown at Thunderhill Raceway this weekend

Close battles wind up 2008 racing season at Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular

KYLE, TX (Sept. 23, 2008) – Stock car fans all over Texas are in for a real treat with two full days of racing action at Thunderhill Raceway (THR) this weekend – the last racing weekend of the 2008 regular season.

Allstate will present the Texas Stock Car Spectacular this year, and the jam-packed agenda will feature 10 classes of race cars and trucks over a two-day span – starting at noon on Friday (Sept. 26) and ending with several feature events on Saturday night (Sept. 27).

One of the THR’s tightest track-championship battles will be a team affair by the Grand Stocks, and the top drivers will get two shots at mixing up the points’ chase.

The Grand Stock drivers will compete in two separate feature events – one each on Friday night and Saturday night. The best finish in either race will be used to determine the 2008 track champion, so any of the Grand Stock drivers could put on a last-minute charge for the points’ lead.

Currently, the Premier Motorsports team has three drivers at the top of the Grand Stock standings. Homer Pitner (New Braunfels, TX) is in the lead with 1,274 points, James Aramendia (San Antonio, TX) follows with 1,250 points and Carolyn Aramendia (San Antonio, TX) sits third with 1,192 points.

Although Pitner is not directly related to the Aramendia clan, he works for Aramendia Motorsports, owned by Carolyn’s husband, Joe. And James is Carolyn’s brother-in-law, so these team members really get to experience some “family-friendly” competition on the track.

Pitner is a bit apprehensive about this weekend’s races. “Right now, I’m not sure who will win the championship,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of bad finishes the last two races, and I think any of us has a shot at taking over the points’ lead. Carolyn seems to have the fastest car, but James has been more consistent throughout the year. With the double-race format for this weekend, it’s anybody’s guess on how things will end up, especially with the large car counts and close racing.”

The Thunder Stock class drivers have also faced some tough competition this year, and Joey Tschoerner (Bartlett, TX) has been occupying the top spot for most of the season. But Gary Chancellor (Bastrop, TX) isn’t far behind.

Tschoerner will go into Saturday’s race with a narrow 38-point lead over Chancellor, and the battle for the championship will all ride on qualifying rounds and one last feature race. Tschoerner has claimed two feature victories this year while Chancellor has visited the Winner’s Circle three times. Both drivers have shown that they know what it takes to win.

Tschoerner is feeling pretty confident about this weekend’s race and has high expectations for holding on to the points’ leads.

“I feel good about this weekend, and I think I can hang on to the lead as long as I don’t break (my car) or get put out of the race by someone else,” said Tschoerner. “I know Gary is a good competitor and I feel he’ll race me hard and clean for the Thunder Stock championship title. If I finish in at least the top 7-8 positions, I should end up in good shape in the points’ race.”

Another factor that might throw these two drivers a curve ball are some possible bonus points (5) that will be awarded to the driver who qualifies the fastest and/or breaks the track record.

The points’ battle for the ASA A-Line Super Stock has already been decided. With seven feature wins and 14 top-five finishes, Cary Stapp (San Marcos, TX) already has that championship title in the bag. However, Stapp is currently leading in the ASA Short Track National Championship battle so another win could help him clinch this coveted title.

Joining the local classes at the Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular will be the fast and exciting TSRS Late Models, ExpressJet Pro Modifieds, Pro Trucks, Texas Pro Sedans, Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas, SportMods and NasKarts. Preceded by qualifying rounds, the races will start at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

A wild and crazy post-season event – called Crash-A-Rama – is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 pm. Included in this event are a Demolition Derby, Enduro Race, Bus Race, Car-Boat Race and Chain Race.

Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, asphalt D-shaped oval track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, just north of San Marcos (TX) near Yarrington Road (Exit #210). For more information and a complete schedule of events for this weekend, visit the Thunderhill Raceway website at http://www.thunderhillraceway.com/.

- 30 -

Anticipation builds for ASA National Championship title

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Debbie Williams, 210-685-0400 (cell), debbie@thunderhillraceway.com
Thunderhill Raceway Public Relations Director

Anticipation builds for ASA National Championship title

Cary Stapp adds another victory to his resume

KYLE, TX (Sept. 22, 2008) – Following his victory in his ASA A-Line Super Stocks at Thunderhill Raceway (THR) on Aug. 30, Cary Stapp (San Marcos, TX) grabbed the lead in the national standings for the ASA Joe Gibbs championship title.

And the winning didn’t stop there. Stapp claimed first- and second-place finishes on Sept. 6 in double-feature events.

This past Saturday night, Stapp visited the Winner’s Circle yet again – for the seventh time this season. Fourteen cars took the green flag and Stapp started in the seventh position. He took the lead from Duane Toyne (Leander, TX) on Lap 11 of the 40-lap feature race.

“I followed Duane as I worked my way up to the front. He created the holes, and I followed closely behind him,” Stapp commented. “When Duane took the lead, he held his own and I had to try several times to pass him. Even though he’s a friend of mine, Duane is a racer first. I knew he wouldn’t just give me the lead without a challenge.”

Stapp’s latest victory gave him the THR track championship in the ASA A-Line Super Stocks with one race to go. However, the national standings don’t get posted until Tuesday each week, so Stapp is forced to sit on “pins and needles” for a couple more days to see if his latest victory will help him maintain his national lead.

“I was concerned about the car count on Saturday,” said Stapp. “I know that Linny White from Orange Show Speedway (San Bernadino, CA) is close behind me in both the regional and national rankings. And he’s been doing well while running in bigger (car) fields. I just hope my win on Saturday will help me stay on top.”

Looming on the horizon is the final race of the 2008 season – the Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular, set for September 26 and 27 at Thunderhill Raceway. This race could affect Stapp’s standings in the regional competition. Although another possible victory this weekend could be a big boost to Stapp’s point average, the team is unsure of what they’re up against with all of the other tracks involved in this title championship quest. ASA member tracks all over the nation have a September 28 deadline to complete their races for this title.

At least 14 races are required to give drivers a fair chance to win the coveted title, so getting the most recent race in the record books has helped Stapp breathe a small sigh of relief. But he’s not sure how the additional race next weekend will affect his national standings.

“From what I’ve read, I’m not sure how my finish in the 15th race will be figured into the point average,” Stapp stated. “We’ll be lining up by qualifying results instead of point averages, so hopefully I can come up with a good finish, especially since I’m uncertain how a bad finish next week would affect my point average.”

Chase Stapp, who is Cary’s crew chief and “race analyst,” is feeling a little more hopeful about this brother’s chances to win the national title.

“I think we now know a little more about what it takes to win the national title and I’m feeling a little better about it than I was a few weeks ago,” said Chase. “I really didn’t think Cary had a chance about a month ago, and I was thinking that a driver in the East Region would come out on top. But now our biggest threat is coming from someone in our own (West) region. If Cary manages to hold on to the national lead going into the last weekend of the competition, it will certainly be a good thing.”

Several known factors that are considered in the performance indicator computation include track point standings (must be the track’s leader in points), the field sizes (number of cars competing in each race), the starting/finishing positions, the number of races entered and the number of wins and top finishes.

Since Stapp’s victory on Saturday clinched his championship title in the track’s ASA A-Line Super Stocks class, one factor is in the bag towards the national title.

The ASA Short Track National Champion will win bragging rights for a year (actually, a lifetime), the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Champion Award, a cash prize and something that money cannot buy – a test session with Joe Gibbs Racing and a chance to show his talents to those who can get things done at the pinnacle of motorsports.

Much of Stapp’s success on the track can be attributed to his family who helps give his team the winning combination. “I’m responsible for setting up the car,” said Chase. “Dad (Ed) helps provide the finances and Cary can drive well in anything we put together for him.”

Cary is also competing as a rookie the TSRS Late Models and he finished eighth in the “Deb Williams 75” on Saturday night.

To track Cary’s progress, visit the Speednet website at http://www.speednetdirect.com/ for the official ASA results for all competing tracks.

For more information on Thunderhill Raceway, visit the THR website at http://www.thunderhillraceway.com/.

- 30 -

TPS at THR - September 27 - $500 to win

Saturday night, September 27th will mark the next-to-last 2008 season race for the Texas Pro Sedans touring series. TPS will hold the tenth event of their 33rd consecutive racing season at Thunderhill Raceway as part of the 12th annual “Stock Car Spectacular”.

TPS Race & Administrative Director, Neil Upchurch recently announced that $500 is guaranteed to the winner of the 33 lap TPS feature race in the “THR Stock Car Spectacular” race. In addition, the field purse has been significantly increased over traditional field purse payouts for the expected twenty car starting field.

Upchurch credited the $500 to win purse to “Stock Car Spectacular ”primary sponsor: Tom Lorenz of Hoosier Tires Southwest and Jerry Spencer, Hoosier Tires at Thunderhill Raceway, and to “Stock Car Spectacular ” Associate Race Sponsors: Richard and Bea Villanueva of San Antonio; Nelson Skinner, Attorney at Law, San Antonio; Buggy Warehouse of San Antonio thru Steve Foster.

The race will nearly determine the Texas Pro Sedans 2008 Championship. Going into the September 27th event, Mike Merrell of Kingsland, Texas leads defending Champion Sergio Hexsel of Live Oak by 21 points for the 2008 TPS Title. A total of 23 points is within reach of a driver scoring a “clean sweep” on September 27th by earning all 3 pre-race bonus points, breaking the existing TPS track record of 16.832 seconds worth 3 points and then by winning the race and 17 points.

An extremely close 2008 “Rookie-of-the-Year” title chase is being contested between Lisa Sandoval of Corpus Christi and Bob Sherland from San Antonio. Only two points separate the two TPS “Rookies”.

A late entry was received from Mike McCain of Corpus Christi, who is also known as “Oldtimer” and his unique spelling and grammar in composing frequent posts on Texas Speed Zone.

The Texas Pro Sedans racing format will consist of 2 Qualifying time trial laps followed by a 33 lap Feature Race for the TPS four cylinder stock cars. The Feature Race length of 33 laps will salute TPS’s 33rd consecutive season. A large field of 25 TPS cars and drivers have filed their entries.

The “Stock Car Spectacular” special event is the largest race of the season at Thunderhill Raceway and will include the following racing touring series and THR classes:
TSRS – TEXAS SUPER RACING SERIES, EXPRESS JET PRO MODIFIEDS, PRO TRUCKS, TEXAS PRO SEDANS, NasKarts and DWARF CAR RACING SERIES of TEXAS and THUNDERHILL RACEWAY CLASSES: ASA A-LINE SUPER STOCKS, GRAND and THUNDER STOCKS will contest their races.

For race entry information contact:Neil Upchurch, TPS Race & Administrative DirectorTPS Office > 210/ 655-3222 Phone & Faxor by e-mail > neilupchurch@sbcglobal.net

Thunderhill Raceway sponsoring Food Drive to help with Hurricane Ike Disaster

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Debbie Williams, 210-685-0400 (cell), debbie@thunderhillraceway.com
Thunderhill Raceway Public Relations Director

Thunderhill Raceway sponsoring Food Drive to help with Hurricane Ike Disaster

KYLE, TX (September 17, 2008) – Much of the Texas coastal area felt the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Ike, and the racing community is all set to help out the survivors of this disaster. A Food Drive is scheduled at Thunderhill Raceway this Saturday (September 20), starting at 9 am.

This Food Drive is being coordinated with the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, and the Food Bank is excited about the potential donations by the Thunderhill Raceway drivers, crews, staff and fans – and the general public.

Boxes will be placed at the front entrance of the race track located off IH-35 at Yarrington Road (Exit #210) in Kyle, TX, to make it convenient for anyone to stop by and drop off food and personal items for the evacuees. Suggested items needed are cash donations, bottled water, granola bars, canned meat (pop-top lids), peanut butter, diapers and wipes (adult and baby) and personal car items, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Lori Fitch has taken the lead in coordinating this drive for Thunderhill Raceway. Lori’s husband, Richard, drives the #07 Grand Stock, and this racing family has often helped with Thunderhill Raceway special events and projects.

“We’re all very concerned about the people who were affected by Hurricane Ike,” said Fitch. “I’ve heard about big food drives in the north Austin area, but I hadn’t heard about any donation sites in the South Austin, Buda, Kyle or San Marcos areas. I know people want to help, and we want to make it easier for them to make donations – without having to drive across town or another city.”

Donations will be securely handled by Fitch and the Capital Area Food Bank. Anyone who makes a monetary donation may request a receipt from the Food Bank, and an on-line registration process has been established to track all donations.

Thunderhill Raceway is also participating in a city-wide effort by the media in the North Austin area today by donating 2,000 admission tickets to the evacuees for this Saturday’s race.

This Saturday’s racing event features the TSRS Late Models “DW 75” and will include local classes, along with the ever-popular JRA Kids’ Bike and Power Wheel Races. The grandstand gates open at 4 pm and qualifying and heat races will begin at 6 pm.

Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, asphalt D-shaped oval track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, just north of San Marcos (TX) near Yarrington Road (Exit #210).

For more information on Thunderhill Raceway, visit the THR website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.

- 30 -

TSRS to finish 2008 with back-to-back races starting with “DW 75”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 15, 2008
Contact: K-MAC Sports, 512.219.1090; MAN Racing Promotions, 512.844.3582

TSRS to finish 2008 with back-to-back races starting with “DW 75”

(Austin, TX) The Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS) will finish its high-charged 2008 racing season on back-to-back weekends starting this Saturday night with the “DW 75” at Thunderhill Raceway (THR), a 3/8th-mile asphalt oval in Kyle, TX.

“We’re looking forward to some great racing action both this weekend and next weekend – for the Sept. 27th Texas Stock Car Spectacular,” stated TSRS Owner/Founder Mary Ann Naumann. “This will be two great weekends for racing, with the finish of the season and the cooler weather approaching. We hope everyone turns out to give our drivers the great support they deserve the next two weekends.”

Naumann added, “We’re calling this week’s race the ‘DW 75’ for a reason but we’re not going to reveal why until Friday morning. Race fans are welcome to take a guess what it stands for.” Some notes about TSRS going into the DW 75:

This will be the first race for the series since Aug. 30, when La Vernia’s Cody Smith won the “Back to School 75” at THR.

• Smith was the sixth different TSRS race winner in 2008 – that’s the most since 2006. There were eight (8) different winners in the series in 2004 and 2005.
• Chris Schild (#7) of Leander is tied with Tommy Gural for the all-time number of wins (8) by one driver in the series. Schild is expected to race in both upcoming races. Schild also holds the all-time series record for being fast qualifier (13 times). Schild is the 2005 series champion; Gural won the TSRS title the next season (2006).
• Heath Stewart (Del Valle, TX) holds a 114-point lead over Robert Barker (Boerne, TX) going into the final two series races. Stewart drives for former TSRS series champion Bobby Joe New (2007).
• The chase for the ’08 Rookie of the Year title remains close – Dillon Spreen (Boerne) and Jake Kruger (Bastrop, TX) are separated by just 31 points. Kruger wasn’t able to start the first race of the season and has one less start than Spreen.

Naumann added, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who suffered losses during Hurricane Ike last weekend. We pray that everyone involved will get back on their feet and get back to their normal lives in a timely manner.”

Information on TSRS can be found at www.manracingpromotions.com. Information about THR can be found at www.thunderhillraceway.com.
- 30 –

Thunderhill Raceway event postponed by Hurricane Ike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Debbie Williams, 210-685-0400 (cell), debbie@thunderhillraceway.com
Thunderhill Raceway Public Relations Director

Thunderhill Raceway event postponed by Hurricane Ike

KYLE, TX (September 10, 2008) – Thunderhill Raceway was all set to present the A-Line Auto Parts Night at the Races this Saturday (September 13), but Mother Nature looks like she will be disrupting any outdoor activities planned for this upcoming weekend.

Hurricane Ike is expected to make landfall on the Texas coast as early as Friday afternoon, and most of South and Central Texas will likely feel its effects – including Thunderhill Raceway.

Saturday’s racing events – including the 75-lap feature race by the TSRS Late Models – will be postponed until the following Saturday, September 20.

Mary Ann Naumann, Thunderhill Raceway’s Owner/Promoter, feels that making this early decision will help the racing teams deal with the uncertainty and possible effects of the hurricane.

“Although it may seem that we’re making our decision to postpone a bit early, we feel it’s in the best interest of the safety of our teams,” said Naumann. “Most of the current weather predictions indicate tropical force winds and heavy rains from the coast all the way up through Kyle and North Texas. We just don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the safety of our fans and race teams. I’ve even heard that some of the race teams have already headed to the coast to help move out their families.”

Thunderhill Raceway’s agenda for the following Saturday, September 20, will feature the local classes and the ever-popular TSRS Late Models and JRA Kids’ Bike Races. Qualifying and heat races will begin at 6 p.m.

The 12th Annual Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular is scheduled for September 26 and 27 – highlighted by the TSRS Late Models, Pro Sedans, ExpressJet Pro Modifieds, Pro Trucks and Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas.

The last event scheduled at Thunderhill Raceway for 2008 will be a Crash-A-Rama that will be held on Sunday, October 26, starting a 2 p.m. – featuring a Demolition Derby, Enduro Race, Bus Race, Chain Race and Car-Boat Race.

Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, asphalt D-shaped oval track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, just north of San Marcos (TX) near Yarrington Road (Exit #210).

For more information on Thunderhill Raceway, visit the THR website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.

- 30 -

Cary Stapp attempts to widen gap on ASA West Regional Championship lead

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Debbie Williams, 210-685-0400 (cell), debbie@thunderhillraceway.com
Thunderhill Raceway Public Relations Director

Cary Stapp attempts to widen gap on ASA West Regional Championship lead

KYLE, TX (September 7, 2008) – Cary Stapp (San Marcos, TX) has turned in some impressive results at Thunderhill Raceway (THR) during the 2008 racing season – and this past Saturday (September 6) was no exception.

Stapp had regained the lead in the ASA Joe Gibbs West Regional standings following his win a week ago (August 30), and he went into Saturday’s ASA A-Line Super Stock Twin 25 races with high hopes for yet another win – or two.

During the first Super Stock feature race, Stapp fought hard for the lead. He started in the 11th position and charged forward on the 3/8-mile asphalt oval – settling in for the second position during the final few laps. Young Levi Krauss (Schertz, TX) managed to hold off Stapp and claimed his first feature win of his rookie season.

Stapp faced some tough competition again in the second feature race – charging hard to the front from the 10th starting position. Stapp grabbed the second position with only four laps to go, and he again finished in the second position – behind Doug Ayers (Pflugerville, TX). Ayers was charged with a technical infraction due to ride height during a post-race inspection, and Stapp was awarded the winning trophy.

Stapp is hoping that his strong finishes on Saturday night will help him maintain his regional lead and improve his chances to move up the ladder in the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship.

“Although I felt like I was under a lot of pressure to get to the front each race, it was really fun,” said Stapp. “The racing was rougher than usual, and I had to drive hard all the way from the drop of the green flag to the finish. Normally, I use a lot of patience to get to the front, but I felt I had to make my moves quickly to get a good finish. I really hope that getting a first (by default) and a second-place finish, it will help my standings with ASA, especially with only two more races to go.”

With six wins and 13 Top Five finishes, Stapp is closing in on Jimmy Mullins from Franklin County Speedway (Callaway, VA) who is currently leading the national standings with a performance indicator of 4.607. Stapp was shown with a 4.3652 point average in last week’s ASA standings, and he holds the lead in the Thunderhill Raceway Super Stock points’ race – with a solid 313 point lead ahead of Toyne.

Several factors are considered in the performance indicator computation – including track point standings (must be in track points’ lead), the field sizes (number of cars competing in each race), the starting/finishing positions, the number of races entered and the number of wins and top finishes. The national competition was introduced by ASA earlier this year, and it’s the first time the Thunderhill Raceway drivers have been eligible to compete for the coveted national and regional titles.

In other racing action, Mike Farrish (Copperas Cove, TX) grabbed the feature win in the Grand Stocks. Shawn Cannon (Fourney, TX) claimed the win in the first Allison Legacy Race Series (ALRS) feature race, and Taylor Brandes (Garden Ridge, TX) found his way to victory lane in the second ALRS feature race.

Thunderhill Raceway will be back in action this Saturday night (September 13) – featuring the local classes and the ever-popular TSRS Late Models and JRA Kids’ Bike Races. Qualifying and heat races begin at 6 p.m.

The 12th Allstate Texas Stock Car Spectacular will close out the THR season on September 26 and 27 – highlighted by the TSRS Late Models, Pro Sedans, ExpressJet Pro Modifieds, Pro Trucks and Dwarf Car Racing Series of Texas.

A post-season event has also been added to the Thunderhill Raceway calendar. The first-ever Crash-A-Rama will be held on Sunday, October 26, starting a 2 p.m. Events included in the Crash-A-Rama are an Enduro Race, Demolition Derby, Chain Races, Car-Boat Races and a Bus Race.
Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, asphalt D-shaped oval track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, just north of San Marcos (TX) near Yarrington Road (Exit #210).

For more information on Thunderhill Raceway, visit the THR website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.

- 30 -