San Antonio, TX (March 26, 2006) – NASCAR Late Model driver Joe Aramendia of San Antonio had the field covered Saturday night in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series 40-lap feature at San Antonio Speedway (SAS).
Until the final two laps, that is.
Fresh off last week’s opening-night victory in one of the NASCAR “Twin 50” races, Aramendia set fast time in qualifying (18.810 seconds) to establish a new Late Model track record at the half-mile, high-banked paved oval, and then stretched out a seven- or eight-second lead over Justin Oates of La Vernia and a tight grouping of San Antonians Mike Reininger, Brian Moczygemba and Danny Garcia as well as Robert Barker of Boerne.
The big lead evaporated, however, when a caution flag flew with only two laps remaining.
On the restart Oates was practically glued to Aramendia’s back bumper as the pair screamed into the first turn. Unfortunately for Oates, his ride got loose in the middle of the turn and he spun to bring out another yellow before the lap was completed.
This time Oates had to start at the rear of pack while Aramendia again took the green with two laps remaining. Reininger, who had inherited the second position from Oates, wasn’t able to mount an attack on Aramendia who went on to win by two or three car lengths over Reininger, Barker, Donny Horelka of Jourdanton and Garcia who were nose to tail as the checkered flag flew.
Oates recovered to finish sixth while San Antonio’s Jim Creech of San Antonio came home seventh, the last two cars on the lead lap.
“Justin’s car is real quick on the starts,” Aramendia said in victory circle. “But my car, I kinda have to wind it up a little bit, but once it gets going it’s pretty tough. I got a little love tap coming down the front straight on that restart but I don’t know why he lost it after that.”
Oates more or less agreed. “I guess Joe just decided not to drive in hard going into the corner, so I had to lock up my brakes and when I tried to get back in the gas it just spun out. He said that last week I was “brake checking” him the whole race, so I guess he did it to me this week.”
In the wild and wooly SAS Sportsman 25-lap feature, Allen Alexander of San Antonio led wire to wire while fellow San Antonio’s Greg Rhomer, Boerne’s Eric Knudtson and Mark Mathias of San Antonio battled fiercely a few car lengths back.
Alexander almost spun out coming off the fourth turn late in the race but made a nice save. “I got a bit too anxious there on that one lap,” Alexander said. “It takes patience and not overdriving the car. After that I told myself to just calm down and sit back in the seat and drive.”
In the Road Runner 15-lap feature, Irish O’Leary of Adkins and J.R. Eichelberger III of San Antonio raced within inches of each other for the entire race with Eichelberger taking the checkered.
Byron Reed of Kyle took the 10-lap Grand Stock race after passing Ray Riley of Buda on the fourth lap. The Grand Stock drivers then turned their cars around and raced a fun-to-watch five-lap race in the wrong direction – clockwise instead of counter-clockwise. And they were joined by USRA Management Group’s CEO, Terry Dickerson, who drove the SAS pace truck much to the delight of the small, but enthusiastic crowd.
The pace truck made it through without a scratch, much to the relief of track’s insurance company.
San Antonio Speedway is located 3.5 miles south of Loop 410 on Texas Highway 16 towards Poteet. The San Antonio Speedway website can be found at http://www.sanantoniospeedway.com.
San Antonio Speedway Results March 25, 2006
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Hometown NASCAR Late Model Feature
1. (79) Joe Aramendia, San Antonio, 40 Laps 2. (3) Mike Reininger, San Antonio, 40 3. (17) Robert Barker, Boerne, 40 4. (41) Donny Horelka, Jourdanton, 40 5. (97) Danny Garcia, San Antonio, 40 6. (0) Justin Oates, La Vernia, 40 7. (2) Jim Creech, San Antonio, 40 8. (32) Michael Lampton, Dallas, 39 9. (50) Brian Moczygemba, San Antonio, 38 10. (20) Jeff Wills, San Antonio, 36 Lap Leaders: (3) Reininger led 1 (79) Aramendia led 2 - 40
Qualifying Times: 1. (79) Aramendia, 18.81 seconds (New Track Record) 2. (0) Justin Oates, 19.20 3. (3) Mike Reininger, 19.35 4. (97) Danny Garcia, 19.35 5. (17) Robert Barker, 19.42 6. (50) Brian Moczygemba, 19.49 7. (2) Jim Creech, 19.61 8. (41) Donny Horelka, 19.64 9. (20) Jeff Wills, 19.77 10. (32) Michael Lampton, 20.25
SAS Sportsman Feature
1. (80) Allen Alexander, San Antonio, 25 Laps
2. (51) Greg Rohmer, San Antonio, 25
3. (27) Eric Knudtson, Boerne, 25
4. (20) Mark Mathias, San Antonio, 25
5. (09) Clint Montanio, Cibolo, 25
6. (92) Jason Stanley, San Antonio, 25
7. (32) Robert Stewart, Austin, 22
8. (12) Tater Mason, San Antonio, 19
9. (29) Jamie Evans, Cuero, 7
10. (31) Keith Garrett, New Braunfels, 7
DNS (93) Jamie Fuller, San Antonio
Lap Leaders:
(80) Alexander led 1 - 25
Heat 1
1. (20) Mathias, 8 Laps
2. (12) 8
3. (51) 8
4. (31) 8
5. (92) 8
6. (32) 6
Heat 2
1. (80) Alexander, 8 Laps
2. (09) 8
3. (27) 8
4. (29) 8
5. (93) 1
Road Runner Feature
1. (55) Irish O'Leary II, Adkins, 15 laps
2. (1) JR Eichelberger III, San Antonio, 15
3. (21) Leland Frautschi, Von Ormy, 15
4. (83) Paul Lipp, San Antonio, 15
DNS (29) Donald Pierce, Bandera
Lap Leaders:
(55) O'Leary led 1 - 15
Heat
1. (55) O'Leary, 6 Laps
2. (1) 6
3. (83) 6
4. (29) 1
DNS (21)
Grand Stock Feature
1. (83) Bryon Reed, Kyle, 10 laps
2. (65) Ray Riley, Buda, 10
3. (12) Jody Wayne Stuart, San Antonio 10
4. (77) Jamie Draper, San Antonio, 8
DNS (11) Missy Jones, San Antonio
Lap Leaders:
(65) Riley led 1 - 3
(83) Reed led 4 - 10
Heat
1. (12) Stuart, 5 Laps
2. (83) 5
3. (65) 5
4. (11) 5
5. (77) 4
Grand Stock Reverse Race (Winner Take All)
1. (83) Bryon Reed, 5 laps
2. (12) Jody Wayne Stuart, 5
3. (77) Jamie Draper, 5
4. (65) Ray Riley, 5
5. (Pace Truck) Terry Dickerson, 5
