images/s5_nd_31.jpg HOUSTON, TX (January 20, 2011)- The National Late Model Series is in sunny Texas this week at the Houston Raceway Park.  Not a cloud in the sky and 70°F.  There is however a cloud of doubt about the tracks future.  It has been announced that a deal has been struck for the purchase of the facility.

 

With so many local tracks closing, you have to wonder just what could be in store for this one’s future.  On the bright side one of the bidders will be Royal Purple.  That sounds like an owner that would keep the track going. 

A quick ride through the pits finds a couple of ERL’s 2010 champs.  We find the Hauler of VLR_Shock who won the ERL Monday Madness Series late season and not to far away we find ERL_BLKJAK, the 2010 winner of the BZB Late Model Series. 

The drivers hit the track for hot laps then off to the pits to make final adjustments for the heat races.  Tonight’s format will have 3 cars transfering to the A-main from each heat and 4 from the B-Main to transfer.

BLS_34 wins the 1^st heat with ERL_BLKJAK coming in second.  The third position, and last transfer spot, is taken by BLS_Deadbolt followed by IFRT_14, and ERL_DON.

Capturing the checkered flag in heat 2 was ERL_Goat.  Coming in second was IFRT_Jim, and the last transfer spot goes to Simon with a 3^rd place finish, followed by ERL_Turbo, XCR_58, and ERL_Mindstorm.

The BZB Embroidery Dash winner is ERL_Goat.  Second place goes to BLS_34 followed by ERL_BLKJAK, IFRT_Jim, Simon, and BLS_Deadbolt.

Down to the final transfer spots in the B-Main.  Showing up late and tagging the back to try and qualify is VLR_Shock who runs through the field from last place and gets the win.  2^nd place IFRT_14 is followed by XCR_58 and ERL_Turbo for the final transfer spots.  ERL_Mindstorm and ERL_DON finish out the race and the evening in 5^th and 6^th place.

The Feature lines up.  Looking at the lineup is exciting enough, but add one of the fastest in the game starting towards the rear of the pack after making it in through the B-Main.  You know there is going to be some action in this race!

The flagman waves the green and turns the green light on… and we’re off!  The action starts immediately.  ERL_BLKJAK leads the charge through turns one and two.  BLS_34, ERL_Goat and IFRT_Jim charge away from the pack with ERL_BLKJAK putting some distance between the 4^th and 5^th place positions.

 VLR_Shock makes a daring pass for 6^th place and it sticks as he then chases down Simon in the 5^th position and overtakes him just before the start finish line for a 2 position gain on the 1^st lap.  But on lap two ERL_Goat finds the gate opening in the backstretch and collects IFRT_Jim.

 They both get shuffled to the rear leaving VLR_Shock in 3^rd place and charging up to 2^nd quickly.  BLS_34 falls victim to VLR_Shocks charge as he passes for the second place position.  Now we’re winding down to the last few laps and VLR_Shock has caught ERL_BLKJAK.

 Now the battle begins for the top spot.  VLR_Shock dives low and ERL_BLKJAK holds him off.  Back and forth they run side by side and finally VLR_Shock runs in low and makes the pass stick.

VLR_Shock wins the A-Main coming from the back.  ERL_BLKJAK finishes second with BLS_34 coming in third.  Finishing fourth is Simon followed by BLS_Deadbolt, IFRT_14, ERL_Goat, XCR_B58, ERL_Turbo, and IFRT_Jim.  Hard chargin by VLR_Shock for that win.

Join us next week when the National Late Model Series races at Battlegrounds Speedway.  Put the baja shocks on boys, this one’s rough.

                                                                               Written By:  ERL_Turbo