By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – While most racers are trying to stay warm while finishing their off-season rebuild, San Antonio Raceway held its first event of the year. The day began with an open test-n-tune giving those ready for the long season ahead the chance to try out new parts, new set ups and break in those new slicks.

The weather was nearly ideal with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-upper 70’s with a bit of a tail wind. This kept the track in good condition to get the ‘hook up’ down the quarter mile, strip just outside of San Antonio. Over 150 racers checked in to give it a go, including two of the heavy hitters in No-Prep/Grudge racing circles. San Antonio’s Mike Murillo rolled out ‘LaFawnduh’ along with James ‘Birdman’ Finnney, out of the Houston area, in his Camaro.

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By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – With two days of racing behind them, drivers had one more shot to pick up some cash as the South Texas Winter Shootout concluded on the drag strip just outside of San Antonio. After near freezing temperatures overnight the sun was a warm welcome with temperatures again rising to a comfortable high-60’s during the day. Time trials were delayed a bit giving track temperatures a chance come back.

Today it was another $6000 in (Electronics), $3250 in (Foot Brake) and $350 for the Jr. Dragster winners ready for the taking. Quite a nice chunk of change available for a Sunday afternoon drive and to cap off any racers season.

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By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – After a chilly Friday night of racing action shifted to a day time start. A bit of a nip was still in the air during early time trials, but as the day progressed temperatures rose to the 60’s, with a 75 degree track temperature at the start of eliminations. As the Electronics and Foot Brake additional Shootout took the track, temperatures were again headed down, cooling rapidly as night set in.

Today the big money was on the line, plus half the purse from Friday nights cancellation. So it was now $6000 for the Electronics bracket race winner, plus the extra money for the “Shootout.” Foot Brake now had a winners share of $3250 for the bracket race and another payday up for grabs in that “Shootout” race. That made between a potential of $6000 or more available for Electronics racers and $3250-plus in Foot Brake.

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By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – San Antonio Raceway hosted one last big blowout bracket race as the racing season draws to a close. The South Texas Winter Shootout had some nice pay outs awaiting the winners in the three classes.(Electronics, Foot Brake, Jr. Dragster) All three classes are in action each day vying for the big purses that are up for grabs.

Friday was night racing beginning with an open test session as the sun went down followed by time trials in each class. After the front passed during the day and dropped temperatures drivers and crews looked to adjust for the added horsepower before the nights eliminations.

In Electronics(Box) $2000 were there for the taking Friday night along with $1500 for the Foot Brake(No-box) winner and $350 for the Jr. Dragsters. Unfortunately after fluid was laid down on the track, in Foot Bake time trials, officials were forced to cancel the nights event. Friday nights payout will now be added into the rest of the weekend.

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By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – It was time again for another ‘Night of Fire’ event on the 1/8 mile, San Antonio Raceway surface. The action was high-lighted by the Texas Outlaw Pro Modified Association(TOPMA), Southwest Superchargers(SWSC) and the Outlaw Fuel Altered Association(OFAA) in some of the wildest, fire breathing racecars around. Also on the nights racing card were the Nogolitas Gear 5.80 and 7.00 index classes.

TOPMA is a ‘run what ya brung’ series featuring some of the baddest door slammers on the planet. Current points leader, Steve Wiley, had a rough outing in the Memorial weekend show at SAR when he crashed in the first qualifying session. Ed Hickl and Bob Alexander were scheduled to meet in the finals, but Mother Nature ended the night earlier than expected. Wiley, who also took a big 50k to win No-Prep race here in March, basically had to just show up to secure the TOPMA championship over Alexander.

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By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – With two days of racing in the rear view mirror and the team finals championships already decided, another ‘Gamblers Race’ was on the card with racers vying for extra money to cap off their weekend. Also running were the track operators from the six tracks.(San Antonio, Pine Valley, Edinburg, Little River, Wichita Falls and Amarillo) shooting for bragging rights until next year.

The weather conditions once again changed from the previous day, more like Friday. Sunny skies replaced yesterdays cloudy conditions making for much hotter track temperatures. Instead of a tail wind, today it was a head wind, gusty at times.

Drivers also had a chance to pick up some extra coin with a “Run for the Money” time trial session. Similar to “Dialing for Dollars”, but each class is run individually, instead of as one group. The object is to run closest to your dial in than anyone else in the class.

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By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – After a beautiful Friday that saw the husband-wife duo of Michael and Cassie Pennington get the lions share of the pool for Electronics when they split the money in the finals. Bryan Day scored in the Foot Brake and Conner Rivers in Jr. Dragsters during the Gamblers Race, it was time Team Finals in all three classes.

Team Finals; Each track brings its best racers in the Electronics(Box), Foot Brake(No-box) and Jr. Dragster classes. Each round win earns their respective track one point towards the team championship. Rules are similar to Summit Series bracket races, but they try to not have team members run against one another.

The weather Saturday was entirely different than the previous day with overcast skies now the order of the day versus yesterdays when it was mostly sunny. The southwest wind caught several drivers off guard in round 1, with a slew of break outs, especially in the Foot Brake class from the tail wind. With no sun beating on the track surface temperatures held around 95-100 most of the day.

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By JM Hallas

Marion, TX – It was another big Saturday show at San Antonio Raceway beginning with the second to last round of Summit Super Series bracket racing. Later in the evening it was MOPARS vs. the world show along with the Nogalitos Gear Door Slammers running their 4.90, 5.80 and 7.00 index classes scheduled to race.

After losing the August 20th race to rain, drivers in each class only have a couple more chances to pick up points in the chase for the track championships and seatings in the slots up for grabs in the Division 4 Team Finals held at the end of the month/beginning of October.

San Antonio Raceway, along with Pine Valley Raceway, will be hosting two separate teams along with competitors from Little River Dragway, Edinburg Raceway, Ben Bruce Memorial Raceway, State Capitol Raceway(La.), Amarillo Dragway and Wichita Falls Dragway. Team Finals winners become eligible for the Summit Super Series Wold Championships near the end of October at Memphis International Raceway.

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Marion, TX – Saturday afternoon was another round for the IHRA Summit Super Series bracket racers on the 1/8 mile drag strip outside of San Antonio. With only five more points races scheduled before Team Finals, the points chases are taking shape in all four classes.[Electronics(Box), Foot Brake(No-box), Street and Jr. Dragster] and today, double points were on the line

To say it was hot, would probably be an understatement. As air temperatures hovered around the century mark, track temps soared to well over 140 by the time first round of eliminations hit the track. From there, it only got hotter reaching 150 at times depending on the occasional cloud giving momentary relief.

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