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

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

Robert Barker blasts to third-straight Texas Super Racing Series Late Model win

Robert Barker has a pretty decent Texas Super Racing Series Late Model (TSRS) batting average this season – three-for-three – with the latest coming this past Saturday at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, Texas.

Barker set fast second- fast time in qualifying at the 3/8-mile, D-shaped oval with his Mission Auto Parts Ford Fusion, drew the pole in the line-up draw and led all 50 laps to complete a nearly flawless race weekend.

But that perfect batting average may soon be in jeopardy as youngsters JT Schild and Austin Self, along with seasoned veteran Bobby Teer, Jr. are coming on strong.

Schild, who started on the outside pole next to Barker, got hung out a bit at the drop of the green which allowed Self , who had lined up on the inside row two, to grab the second spot early, but Schild quickly returned the favor, dropping Self to third in the early going.

Barker (#17) battles Self (#07) for lead

Meanwhile, Teer,  who was quickest in time trials, had worked his way up to Self’s bumper from his sixth starting spot while Barker and Schild went nose-to-tail for several laps until Schild slipped a bit exiting a turn and Barker took off, never to be seriously challenged again.

At that point all eyes were on the heated battle for third between Self and Teer, who was using every trick in the book to force Self to make a mistake, but the youngster, driving only his second TSRS Late Model race, proved his second place finish in the last TSRS event was no fluke and hung tough.

Finally on lap 16 Teer made a textbook inside pass – no paint whatsoever traded – to take the spot.

At just past the halfway point, a caution bunched the nine-car field. 

On the restart Barker got away cleanly, but Self made a huge move on Teer and grabbed third while veteran Mike Reininger took command of the fifth spot behind Teer.

A couple of laps later Teer got into the back of Self coming off turn four getting him a bit sideways, but Self was able to recover and hold the spot as while Barker and Schild pulled away once again.

For the next several laps Teer backed off a bit, cooling his tires and plotting his next move. And with five to go he gave Self a bit of a nudge in turn one and scooted by on the inside as the pair exited turn two to claim third once again.

Up front, Barker was long gone, but Teer and Self seemed to be closing in on Schild, who had faded a bit in second with handling issues. The pair ran out of laps, however, and at the checkered it was Barker by several car lengths over Schild, a fast-closing Teer, a determined Self and a fast-improving Reininger the top five.

Texas Super Racing Series Late Model 50-lap feature results:
1. 17 Robert Barker Boerne, TX, 50 laps QT 15.234
2. 25 JT Schild Waller, TX, 50 laps QT 15.853
3. 2 Bobby Teer Jr. Comfort, TX, 50 laps QT 15.202 Fast Time/Hard Charger
4. 07 Austin Self Austin, TX, 50 laps QT 15.407
5. 3 Mike Reininger San Antonio, TX, 50 laps QT 15.806
6. 92 Taylor Brandes Garden Ridge, TX, 50 laps QT 15.420
7. 28 Jeff O’Neill Round Rock, TX, 50 laps QT 15.879
8. 5 Heather Ables Whitney, TX, 48 laps QT 16.852
9. 56 Joey Jenkins Del Valle, TX, 48 laps QT 16.177

Special Report by Nick Holt, Lone Star Speedzone

Close battle for position in TSRS Late Model race

Robert Barker (not pictured), the current points’ leader, started the 50-lap TSRS Late Model race on the pole and held off the entire field for all 50 laps.  Throughout the race, several drivers jockeyed for the next three positions, including the #07 driven by Austin Self (not pictured), the #25 driven by JT Schild,  and the #3 driven by Mike Reininger and the #2 driven by Bobby Teer, Jr.

The final race results are shown below:

TSRS Late Models

 Feature Race

1. 17 Robert Barker Boerne, TX 50 laps QT 15.234
2. 25 JT Schild Waller, TX 50 laps QT 15.853
3. 2 Bobby Teer Jr. Comfort, TX 50 laps QT 15.202 Fast Time/Hard Charger
4. 07 Austin Self Austin, TX 50 laps QT 15.407
5. 3 Mike Reininger San Antonio, TX 50 laps QT 15.806
6. 92 Taylor Brandes Garden Ridge, TX 50 laps QT 15.420
7. 28 Jeff O’Neill Round Rock, TX 50 laps QT 15.879
8. 5 Heather Ables Whitney, TX 48 laps QT 16.852
9. 56 Joey Jenkins Del Valle, TX 48 laps QT 16.177

QT – Qualifying Time

TSRS Late Model Drivers