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San Antonio, Tx.,(Jan 7^th, 2012) While the majority of people are still trying to recover from holiday festivities and/or procrastinating on the time to take down all those Christmas decorations, San Antonio Raceway held a Hangover Bracket race to start their 2012 season running on the 1/8^th mile. With weather more like early spring than the middle of winter, racers took advantage of the opportunity to try out all those new Christmas parts or shake down new cars before the points race season gets into full swing.

San Antonio Raceway, who boasts seven IHRA Division 4 Renagades championships, looks forward to another action packed schedule of events throughout the year. The track will again host an IHRA Nitro Jam event on March 30-31, with an additional Divisional race on April 1^st.(No foolin’) Feb. 18^th the Kick Off Classic officially begins the season, with Summit Super Series Bracket events beginning in March.

May racing shows include Texas Nostalgia Thunder (4^th-5^th) and a three-day Sportsman Spectacular on Memorial Day Weekend (25^th, 26^th, 27^th). The Big Money Bash III highlights the start of summer with a two-day show on June 29-30. Along the way weekly Import nights, Motorcycle nights, Truck nights, Midnight Madness and Test-n-Tunes fill the slate of activities.

The 2011 San Antonio Raceway banquet will have the track go silent on Saturday, Feb. 4^th to honor track champions, Scott Ball (Electronics), Chad Herbold (Footbrake) and Ashley Hubbell (Jr. Dragster.)

Hangover Bracket racing

After a round of time trials drivers from both Footbrake and Electronics’ classes were able to ‘buy in’ to a “dialing for dollars” race. For 10 bucks you picked your dial in and closest to their number picked up the pot. RJ Doerr in his Mustang led early through the Footbrake class, but E. Galbrath in his dragster bettered that number with a 5.5511 on a 5.55. Galbrath had all but sewn up the cash until the next to last pair and Michael Kennedy (Fulshear) posting a 4.7010 on a 4.70 beating Galbrath by .0001(or 1/10,000 of a second.) For being early in the year most of these guys are on their game with reaction times going as low as .001 so far. Only major catastrophe in time trials was a broken axle.

Kennedy Kashes In

As the old saying goes, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, Michael Kennedy was a little of both. After taking home some bonus money in the “dialing for dollars” jackpot race, Kennedy made his way to the finals. On his way to the last pairing Kennedy picked up two red light wins (rounds #1 and #4) and was the lesser offender in a round 2 double break out.

Kennedy was matched up in the final round with Robert Gregory (Houston) who had consistently run in the 4.45-4.46’s throughout eliminations. During the burnouts, Gregory’s car began to spew oil the side forcing him to shut off. Kennedy made an easy bye run of 7.49 @ 72.65mph as he lifted at about the 100’ mark and coasted across the line.

Hernandez outhustles Friedeck for Footbrake win

Prior to the final round in the two combatants, Gabriel Hernandez(San Antonio) and Allen Friedeck opted to pool first and second monies for a split and make the run for bragging rights only. Both Hernandez and Friedeck used consistent numbers and goo reaction times to make it through the Footbrake ladder to the finals.

Allen left on Hernandez by .030, but Hernandez, in his 68 Camaro, quickly drove around Allen tripping the lights with a 7.57 @ 83.13mph on a 7.55 dial in. Allen, driving his 92 Mustang, picked the wrong time to have one of his worst runs of the day turning a 7.66 on a 7.58 after several rounds of 7.57’s

Garcia Grabs Green

The all girl Jr. Dragster finals pitted Brianna Maitland (Brenham) up against Victoria Garcia (Del Rio). Garcia got the victory gift when Maitland in her Matco Tools sponsored 08 RPC Chassis went red by .0017 wasting a 7.904 on a 7.90 dial in. Garcia ran it out in her Garcia Racing 06 Spitzer Chassis posting an 8.02 @ 81.20 0n a 7.93 dial in.

During Jr. Dragster eliminations, 9 year old Gracelyn Snider (Rio Medina) had a run in with the fire truck at the turn off when she went too wide. She was alright, but the car suffered significant front end and body damage.

Overall nearly 100 cars took to the track for racing or time only test runs with only two incidents under an early full moon. In both cases the drivers were able to walk away, though the same can’t be said for their cars that will need repairs before hitting the track again.

For more information, and a full schedule you can visit www.sanantonioraceway.com or call the track 210-698-2310, 830-914-4646.The track is located in Marion, Texas between San Antonio and Seguin on I-10 and Santa Clara Rd. (exit 597)