Austin Wayne Self Wins NASCAR Whelen All-American Late Model Race on 15th Birthday

Austin Wayne Self gave fans at Thunderhill Raceway a great show on a windy Saturday night that also was his 15th birthday. After having practiced a total of less than 75 laps, Austin nearly recorded an upset, and finished in 2nd place in his first ever NASCAR Modified race, finishing behind only his teammate and 2010 Pro Modified champion Michael Umscheid.

Exactly 32 minutes after leaving the track from his Modified race, Austin hustled over to #07 Late Model where he finished in 1st place, just ahead of the 2010 TSRS Late Model champion Bobby Teer, Jr.

“It’s a great birthday present to win the season opener and do so well with the Modified,” Self said to those gathered around. “But you can’t win anything without a great team and lots of support from lots of people. I feel very fortunate to have so many great people believe in me.”

Austin’s driving coach Chris Baker adds, “His transition to the Modified has been absolutely brilliant. He gave us all a birthday present. It was a wonderful experience, and I hope the momentum just keeps going from here.”

For additional details on the race, please visit:
http://www.lonestarspeedzone.com/2011/03/07/austin-wayne-self-celebrates-15th-birthday-with-his-first-official-nascar-win/

Photo credit Jeff Garvin

About Austin Wayne Self

Austin Wayne Self is a 15-year-old Late Model stock car and kart-racing champion. In 2011, Austin starts his second Late Model stock car season in the NASCAR Whelen All-America Series, and his first Pro Modified season at Thunderhill Racetrack located in Kyle, Texas. In 2010, he was named Rookie of the Year, 3rd Overall in Points and Best Looking Team in the Texas Super Racing Series. Austin is a consistent podium finisher and has been “Engineered to Win” in any racing environment. Learn more at www.austinwayneself.com.

Contact:
Terri Hartley
terri@marketingrefresh.com
Phone 281.702.2573

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More information can be found online at http://www.austinwayneself.com

TSRS & Thunderhill Raceway 2010 Awards Banquet on January 29

You’re invited to the following event:

THUNDERHILL RACEWAY & TSRS 2010 AWARDS BANQUET

JANUARY 29, 2011

6:00 P.M.

Community Renaissance Market

6800 Westgate Blvd.

Austin, TX 78745

Shown below is a flyer with more information about the banquet.  Here’s a link to the order form to purchase tickets for the banquet.

THR & TSRS 2010 Awards Banquet Ticket Order Form

We will be sending out hotel information for the banquet soon, if you plan to stay at a nearby hotel following the banquet.

We hope you’ll choose to join us for this fun, exciting event!

Rookie Collin Alexander captures his first TSRS Allison Legacy victory

Collin Alexander, who is the 14-year-old rookie driver of the #80 TSRS Allison Legacy snagged his first feature win on Saturday, September 11, at Thunderhill Raceway.

Alexander started on the pole and was able to hold off the hard charge by another rookie, Kate Dallenbach, for the lead. 

Multiple caution flags at the end of the race resulted in the race being cut short, and Alexander was awarded the win on the 21st lap.  The complete results are shown below.

TSRS Allison Legacys*
Feature Race

1. 80r Collin Alexander San Antonio, TX 21 laps QT 17.887
2. 24 Kris Kerr San Antonio, TX 21 laps QT 17.396
3. 32 James Huff Tomball, TX 21 laps QT 17.635
4. 96 Jake Wright Shenandoah, TX 21 laps QT 17.960 Hard Charger
5. 99 Matt Yevcak Kyle, TX 21 laps QT 17.775
6. 19 Cole Runco Spring Branch, TX 21 laps QT 18.471
7. 88 Kyle Harding Conroe, TX 21 laps QT 17.380
8. 56 Lauren Runco Spring Branch, TX 21 laps 17.557
9. 87 Charles Aikin Round Rock, TX 21 laps QT 17.191 Fast Time
10. 5 Kate Dallenbach Spring Branch, TX 21 laps QT 17.773

*The TSRS Allison Legacy Race was cut short due to time limit.   Changes in the finishing positions were made after the race due to several yellow flags after 21 laps had been completed, which resulted in several drivers either being sent to the rear or regaining their positions.

Rookie Taylor Brandes snags his first TSRS Late Model victory

Taylor Brandes, who is the 17-year-old rookie driver of the #92 red Monte Carlo, claimed his first feature win in the 40-lap TSRS Late Model Race on Saturday, August 28, at Thunderhill Raceway.

Brandes started out on the outside of the third row in the 10-car field.  Following an incident that involved several cars on the first lap, Brandes went to the pits and restarted at the rear of the field.  He quickly worked up through the field, passing almost half of the remaining cars before the caution flag flew on Lap 5.  

At the halfway point, Brandes strongly challenged TSRS Late Model points’ leader Bobby Teer, Jr., and veteran race JC Umscheid for the lead.  Following a caution on Lap 23, the battle resumed on Lap 30 when the green flag was thrown again (yellow flag laps count until the last ten laps).   Brandes passed both leaders on the restart and held onto the lead for the last ten laps.

The official TSRS Late Model results are shown below:

TSRS Late Model Race
Feature Race

1. 92 Taylor Brandes Garden Ridge, TX 40 laps QT 15.630
2. 54 J.C. Umscheid Austin, TX 40 laps QT 15.604 Hard Charger
3. 2 Bobby Teer Jr. Comfort, TX 40 laps QT 15.385 Fast Time/ Hard Charger
4. 25 JT Schild Leander, TX 40 laps QT 15.849
5. 56 Joey Jenkins Del Valle, TX 40 laps QT 16.425 Hard Charger
6. 28 Jeff O’Neill Round Rock, TX 40 laps QT 16.010
7. 38 Craig Sellman Buda, TX 40 laps QT 16.035
8. 37 Mark Ackerman 32 laps QT 15.996
9. 07 Austin Self Austin, TX 0 laps QT 15.715
10. 3 Mike Reininger San Antonio, TX 0 laps QT 15.718
11. 5 Heather Ables Whitney, TX DNS  DNQ

QT – Qualifying Time
DNQ – Did Not Qualify
DNS – Did Not Start

Austin Self notches third TSRS Late Model victory in a thriller

Fourteen year-old Austin Self continues to impress the Texas stock car racing community as he notched his third Texas Super Racing Series Late Model race of the season and his second-in-a-row at the D-shaped, 3/8-mile speedplant in Kyle, Texas, on Saturday, August 15, 2010.

Self, who started his #07 TSRS Late Model in the seventh spot due to the inversion, quickly moved into second, but fast-qualifier and TSRS points leader Bobby Teer, Jr, slipped under the youngster a lap or two later and to claim the spot and set sail for the leader, JT Schild.

And it wasn’t long before Teer worked his way past Schild to grab the lead and took off, opening a several car-length lead over Schild and Self, who seemed content to stay behind Schild for the time being.
Teer’s lead evaporated on lap 21, however, after a caution flag and subsequent red flag on 27 for liquid on the racing surface.

On the restart Self got under Schild to grab second, but cagey veteran and multi-race winner Robert Barker was quickly moving up through the field after a pit stop during the previous caution.

A lap-33 spin by Kristin Bumbera, who broke a suspension part while running in third place, brought out the second yellow, which then put Barker on Self’s rear bumper and Self on Teer’s rear bumper for the restart.

As the green waved, Self nosed under Teer which moved the leader over just enough to allow Self to get under and pass for the lead. Barker followed Self through the opening which dropped Teer to third. For the next few laps the trio raced nose-to-tail with the large crowd in attendance on their collective feet.
After some paint exchanges up front, Teer got into Barker a bit too hard and Barker spun to bring out the yellow on lap 43. After some discussion, the track ordered Teer to the rear of the pack for the restart with Barker retaining his second place spot behind Self.

On the restart, Barker gave Self a tap, but the youngster held on and retained the lead. But Teer was on a tear and a couple of laps later was filling Barker’s mirror to make it a three car shootout up front with five to go. Barker again tried the bump and run, but this time it backfired and it was Barker who spun to bring out the yellow with five to go.

Would Teer return the favor that Self had used to grab the lead earlier in the race? The large crowd on hand thought so and was on its collective feet as the green waved. And sure enough, the lead pair made a bit of contact and Teer squeezed by to re-take the lead. But as fate would have it, Mike Reininger spun in turn 3-4 to bring out the final yellow of the race before the lap was completed, nullifying the pass for the lead.
So once again the fans were on their feet waiting for the sparks to fly as the green waved with five to go, but this time Self in the FEP Chevrolet was ready and hammered down with Teer having to settle for a last-lap try on the outside which came up a half-car-length short at the finish line. Taylor Brandes, JT Schild and Jeff O’Neil rounded out the top five.

“I have to credit my team and FEP for this one,” Self said. “Heath and JR gave me an awesome car that was there at the finish. We were a little loose earlier in the day, but the car came to me as the track cooled. That was really an exciting race and I’m glad the fans enjoyed it as much as I did.”

Official Results Texas Super Racing Series Late Model event, August 14, 2010
1.07 Austin Self, Austin, TX, 50 laps, QT 15.668
2. 2 Bobby Teer, Jr., Comfort, TX, 50 laps, QT 15.503
3. 92 Taylor Brandes, Garden Ridge, TX, 50 laps, QT 15.624
4. 25 JT Schild, Leander, TX, 50 laps, QT 15.844
5. 28 Jeff O’Neill, Round Rock, TX, 50 laps, QT 16.168
6. 3 Mike Reininger, San Antonio, TX, 50 laps, QT 15.872
7. 17 Robert Barker, Boerne, TX, 45 laps, QT 15.810
8. 04 Cory Roper, Baytown, TX, 36 laps, QT 15.892
9. 06 Kristin Bumbera, Cypress, TX, 35 laps, QT 16.072
10. 5 Heather Ables, Whitney, TX, 31 laps, QT 16.490
11. 9 Jason Campbell, Cibolo, TX, 3 laps, QT 18.891

QT = Qualifying Time

by Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone
Photo by Tory Christopher

Rookie Austin Self claims second TSRS Late Model victory

Rookie driver #07 Austin Self started the 50-lap TSRS Late Model Reagan Smith Memorial Race in the second row on the outside.   He took the lead after the complete restart following an incident on the first lap.  Self held off two hard-charging veteran drivers, #17 Robert Barker and #2 Bobby Teer, Jr., for the win.  It was Self’s second win of the season. 

The complete results are shown below:

TSRS Late Model Reagan Smith Memorial Race

Feature Race

1. 07 Austin Self Austin, TX 50 laps QT 15.677
2. 2 Bobby Teer Jr. Comfort, TX 50 laps QT 15.383 Fast Time/ Hard Charger
3. 17 Robert Barker Boerne, TX 50 laps QT 15.476
4. 92 Taylor Brandes Garden Ridge, TX 50 laps QT 15.581
5. 28 Jeff O’Neill Round Rock, TX 50 laps QT 15.869
6. 56 Joey Jenkins Del Valle, TX 48 laps QT 16.628
7. 5 Heather Ables Whitney, TX 48 laps QT 16.418
8. 04 Cory Roper Baytown, TX 37 laps QT 15.885
9. 3 Mike Reininger San Antonio, TX 2 laps QT 15.966
10. 25 JT Schild Leander, TX 0 laps QT 15.703

QT – Qualifying Time

Dillon Spreen claims victory in TSRS Allison Legacy feature race on Saturday

Dillon Spreen, driver of the #5 TSRS Allison Legacy, started near the back of the field and quickly worked his way up to the front of the pack in the 25-lap TSRS Allison Legacy feature race on Saturday, July 17.  He took the lead from Kyle Harding on Lap 13 and held off a hard charge by points leader Charles Aikin to claim the win.  Complete results are shown below.

TSRS Allison Legacys

Feature Race

1. 5 Dillon Spreen Boerne, TX 25 laps QT 17.057 Fast Time/Hard Charger
2. 87 Charles Aikin Round Rock, TX 25 laps QT 17.323 Hard Charger
3. 19 Cole Runco Spring Branch, TX 25 laps QT 17.390
4. 56 Lauren Runco Spring Branch, TX 25 laps 17.804
5. 24 Kris Kerr San Antonio, TX 25 laps QT 17.645
6. 99 Matt Yevcak Kyle, TX 25 laps QT 17.715
7. 88 Kyle Harding Conroe, TX QT 17.727
8. 80r Collin Alexander San Antonio, TX 25 laps QT 18.258

Sizzling summer action at Thunderhill Raceway this weekend

The plans for this weekend’s activities (July 16 & 17) at Thunderhill Raceway (Kyle, TX) are heating up – for both on and off-the-track action.

Starting off the weekend will be an Open Test-n-Tune practice session on Friday (July 16) that will run from 4P until dark. Pit admission is only $10 for non-drivers, and grandstand spectators will be admitted free. During the practice session, fans can come to watch the drivers and crews tune in their race cars and trucks for Saturday’s racing action.

Following the Open Test-n-Tune, everyone is invited to join in some extra pit action at a Tailgate Party that’s being sponsored by Gen-Tech, LaFont Racing, Bobby Teer Racing (TSRS) and Thunderhill Raceway. Fans (and race teams) can bring their own coolers, chairs, food and drinks and enjoy spending some time with the drivers and other racing fans. Cookers (grills) will be available during the party, and entertainment will be provided by a live DJ – Steve “Mad Dog” Sommo (Big Dog Entertainment)/ Tailgate Party admission is free, and (free) overnight camping in the parking lot is encouraged.

“We’ve been off for a few weeks, and we’re all so ready to get back to racing,” said Mary Ann Naumann, THR Owner/Promoter. “We have lots of activities planned for this weekend, and I know everyone will have great time hanging out at the track.”

To start off a full day of racing on Saturday (July 17), Thunderhill Raceway will open its pit gates at 11A, and the grandstand gates will open at 4P.  Qualifying for all classes starts at 4:15P. Grandstand admission is $12 for adults, and children 12 and under are free.

A Fan Appreciation Happy Hour is scheduled from 5:30P – 6:30P. Thanks to H-E-B in Kyle (TX) and Thunder Grill (track concession), fans can purchase a hot dog or soft drink for only $1 during the Happy Hour.

Openings ceremonies are set for 6P, and special guests for the evening will be Miss Kyle, Jennifer Hamzy, and Miss Kyle Teen, Christina Nunez. The Texas Corvette Association will kick off the evening’s activities with a few hot laps right after opening ceremonies.

Ten classes of racing are scheduled for Saturday – including the TSRS Late Models and Allison Legacys, Pro Trucks (featured class), SportMods, Dwarf Cars, Bandoleros, ASA A-Line Super Stocks, Thunder Stocks, Grand Stocks and Mini Stocks.

The TSRS Late Model Race will be held in memory of Steven Longley, a longtime racing fan who passed away on June 29. His son, Christopher (Longley), will be the Grand Marshall for Saturday’s race.

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

For information on Thunderhill Raceway visit the track’s website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.

Austin Self claims his first TSRS Late Model victory

Austin Self (#07), who is a 14-year-old rookie from Austin, TX, was the polesitter for the 35-lap TSRS Late Model race on June 19.

When the green flag was thrown, J.T. Schild (#25), who is also a rookie, followed Self in the second position.  The winner of the previous two races, Bobby Teer, Jr., (#2) had passed Schild on the second lap.  By Lap 3, Robert Barker (#17) had also passed Schild and settled into the third position.

Following the yellow flag that was thrown on Lap 24, Barker passed Teer for second and then set his sights on Self.  Although Barker made some strong challenges for the lead, Self was able to hold him off for the win.

It was Self’s first victory in his fifth TSRS Late Model start.

The complete results are shown below:

TSRS Late Models

Feature Race

1. 07 Austin Self Austin, TX 35 laps QT 15.664 
2. 17 Robert Barker TX 35 laps QT 15.427 Hard Charger
3. 2 Bobby Teer Jr. Comfort, TX 35 laps QT 15.292 Fast Time 
4. 25 JT Schild Leander, TX 35 laps QT 15.684
5. 38 Craig Sellman Buda, TX 35 laps QT 16.045
6. 28 Jeff O’Neill Round Rock, TX 35 laps QT 16.182
7. 5 Heather Ables Whitney, TX 26 laps QT 16.421

QT – Qualifying Time

Bobby Teer, Jr., claims second consecutive TSRS Late Model victory

After turning in the fastest qualifying time for the TSRS Late Models on Saturday, June 5, Bobby Teer, Jr. (#2), drew the pole position.  He held off hard charges by Robert Barker (#17) and Austin Self (#07) and managed to maintain the lead until the end of the 35-lap feature race.  Teer was excited about his second consecutive career win.

Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce TSRS Late Model 50

Feature Race

1. 2 Bobby Teer Jr. Comfort, TX 35 laps QT 15.261 Fast Time 
2. 17 Robert Barker Boerne TX 35 laps QT 15.422
3. 25 JT Schild Leander, TX 35 laps QT 15.690 Broke Impound (started at rear)
4. 38 Craig Sellman Buda, TX 35 laps QT 15.778 Broke Impound (started at rear)
5. 28 Jeff O’Neill Round Rock, TX 35 laps QT 16.009 Post Qualifying Tech Infraction – too low (started at rear)
6. 56 Joey Jenkins Del Valle, TX 35 laps QT 16.528
7. 5 Heather Ables Whitney, TX 35 laps QT 16.450
8. 07 Austin Self Austin, TX 35 laps QT 15.518 Tech Infraction – too low

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