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The Checkered Flag

Thursday, October 5, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - IHRA may hold drag-racing events at two Abilene tracks (Al Pickett) Except for one time a year, drag racing enthusiasts in the Big Country have to drive to Hobbs, N.M., Idalou (near Lubbock), Penwell (near Odessa), Wall (near San Angelo), Kennedale (near Fort Worth) or Walters, Okla., to enjoy their hobby.

Sunday, October 1, 2000 -- Rare loss for Fort Worth racer (Mark Wilson) After 45 years in drag racing, Fort Worth’s Ancel Horton finally ran into something that has him stumped

Saturday, September 30, 2000 -- Shootout won’t shortchange race fans today (Mark Wilson) Fans who attend the 8th annual Abilene Shootout drag race looking for action won’t be shortchanged.

Thursday, September 28, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - Abilene Shootout continues expansion (Mark Wilson) The Big One continues to get bigger. The Abilene Shootout drag race — the country’s largest two-day bracket race — is expected to expand again this year.

Thursday, September 21, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - More than 500 cars expected for Abilene Shootout (Al Pickett) The eighth annual Abilene Shootout drag race is just around the corner.

Thursday, August 31, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - Sprint cars to meet in challenge at Abilene Speedway (Al Pickett) What is faster, a V-8 Sprint car or a V-6 Sprint car? Fans at Abilene Speedway will find out Saturday night.

Thursday, August 24, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - Destruction derby to be held Saturday at Abilene Speedway (Al Pickett) There will be plenty of crashes Saturday night at Abilene Speedway, but at least this time they will be planned.

Thursday, August 3, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - Groundbreaking today for Abilene Dragway Park (Ted Dunnam) Abilene Dragway Park, a permanent drag racing facility, will have its groundbreaking ceremony at 7 p.m. today at its site located approximately one-half mile west of Abilene Speedway on west highway 80.

Thursday, July 27, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - Dwarf cars in town; drag strip ceremony slated (Ted Dunnam) The Texas Dwarf Car Association will bring its 5/8th scale replicas of American-built two-door sedans or coupes manufactured between 1928 and 1948 to Abilene Speedway Saturday for the TDCA’s final appearance at the track this year.

Thursday, July 20, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - At least one drag strip will come to Abilene - Land deal near Abilene Speedway almost complete for building smaller-scale facility (Ted Dunnam) When plans fell through to bring big-time drag racing to Abilene, Orville and Virginia Pirraglia figured that they had to stomp their foot on the accelerator.

Thursday, July 13, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - Crowd support is reason TMS has every form of racing (Ted Dunnam) Texas Motor Speedway now has everything it could possibly want — except a second NASCAR Winston Cup date.

Thursday, July 6, 2000 -- The Checkered Flag - Abilene’s Browder second in Odessa drag racing (Ted Dunnam) Eddie Browder of Abilene finished second this past weekend in the Lunati Super Stock Division of the Holley Sportsman Championship drag racing event at West Texas Raceway in Odessa.

Thursday, June 29, 2000 -- Checkered Flag - Destruction Derby to be held Saturday at Abilene Speedway (Ted Dunnam) A smashing good time will be had by all — or at least one — when the Prime Equipment Co., Destruction Derby is held Saturday night at Abilene Speedway.

June 15 -- Checkered Flag - TMS’ Thursday Stampede opens tonight (Ted Dunnam) Tonight’s racing at Texas Motor Speedway kicks off the Thursday night Stampede, featuring legends car and bandolero racing that will continue its once-a-week run through Aug. 17.

June 11 -- Abilene’s loss may become Baird’s gain (Ted Dunnam) Score two more for David against Goliath. Abilene’s loss will be Baird’s monumental gain, according to Bill Davidson, president of Central Texas Raceway Park near Thorndale, if the proposed Star of Texas Raceway is built in the small community 20 miles east of Abilene.

June 8 -- Checkered Flag - NASCAR trucks, Indy cars invade TMS this weekend - Night races scheduled Friday, Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway (Ted Dunnam) For fans of open-wheel racing whose season didn’t end with the Indianapolis 500, Texas Motor Speedway hosts the Casino Magic 500 on Saturday.

June 7 -- Proposed drag strip plans crash and burn in Abilene - Baird considered as alternate site for three-phase facility (Ted Dunnam) Because Lytle Shores residents have bared all, the strip search is on. The Star of Texas Raceway — a proposed three-phase race facility — will not be built on land adjacent to the Abilene Regional Airport, according to Paul Lenker, president of Abilene Motor Sports, Inc.

June 1 -- Checkered Flag - After Juan more setback, what’s in store for IRL? (Ted Dunnam) The CART drivers were probably snickering Sunday. The IRL drivers had to be shaking their heads. In the boldest statement yet about which of the two rival Indy-car racing series is superior, talented Juan Montoya left the IRL with egg on its face Sunday in the Indianapolis 500.

May 27 -- Foes could drag building of strip (Ted Dunnam) Lytle Shores homeowners are planning to make as much noise as possible — on just that subject — in an effort to prevent a drag racing strip from being built adjacent to the intersection of state highway 36 and FM 18.

May 25 -- Checkered flag - Castrol Nationals will give outlet for area fans (Ted Dunnam) For those still waiting for Abilene’s proposed drag strip to become a reality, the real deal gets under way this week in the fourth annual Castrol Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis.

May 18 -- The Checkered Flag - Race fans will have variety to choose from (Ted Dunnam) All right, so you know the classes of cars race every week at Abilene Speedway. But do you know which is the most competitive? The fastest series? The most difficult to drive? The series with the most wrecks?

May 11 -- Checkered Flag - Elsass’ car to promote anti-tobacco education (Ted Dunnam) John McNulty, president of State of Health Products, and drag racer Fred Elsass of Abilene have joined forces to bring anti-tobacco educational material to children across the United States as well as sanctioned drag racing.

May 4 -- Checkered Flag - Sunburn Grand Prix a success despite lower car count (Ted Dunnam) It won’t ever be confused with Monaco or the French Grand Prix, but last weekend’s 10th annual Abilene Area-Wide Phone Book Sunburn Grand Prix was another winner.

May 1 -- Hill reaches summit in Sunburn again (TED DUNNAM) Not only did Steven Hill collect his three-peat Sunday, he kept his perfect record intact.

April 27 -- Checkered Flag - Abilene to have plenty of action for race fans (Ted Dunnam) For those with a hearty racing appetite, there will be no shortage of action this weekend. Up first is the 10th annual Abilene Area-Wide Sunburn Grand Prix to be held Saturday and Sunday at Abilene Regional Airport.

April 20 -- The Checkered Flag - Open-wheeled cars on display (Ted Dunnam) Several multi-million dollar cars will be available for public viewing Friday and Saturday at Bill Williams Tire Center, 1201 South Treadaway.

April 13 -- Checkered Flag - Sunburn on horizon; drag strip a reality? (Ted Dunnam) The 10th annual Abilene Area Wide Phone Book Sunburn Grand Prix (say that real fast three times) will commence in less than three weeks, and work on Abilene’s proposed drag strip may not be far behind.

April 6 -- Checkered Flag - TMS forming reputation as circuit’s toughest track (Ted Dunnam) The first two years Texas Motor Speedway hosted NASCAR Winston Cup races, it took a verbal bashing from the circuit’s drivers. For the past two years, TMS has been afforded respect.

March 30 -- Checkered Flag - NASCAR returns to TMS for Sunday race (Ted Dunnam) The second largest sporting event in the United States at the world’s third-most spacious facility unfolds Sunday with the fourth running of a 500-mile NASCAR Winston Cup race in Fort Worth.

March 23 -- Checkered Flag - Aspermont is the latest to capitalize on racing craze (Ted Dunnam) Count Aspermont Raceway Park, a proposed $632,500 drag racing facility, as another attempt to capitalize on the quickly expanding world of motor sports.

March 16 -- Checkered Flag - Make use of Aviators’ tickets (Ted Dunnam) For hockey fans who feel they’ve been high-sticked, cross-checked and slashed with the Abilene Aviators folding, you’re not completely out of luck.

March 9 -- The Checkered Flag - More racers to make debut (Ted Dunnam) Limited late models will make their 2000 debut Saturday night at Abilene Speedway. In addition to the featured late models, the regular Saturday classes — IMCA modified, super stocks, street stocks, mini modifieds and pure stocks — will also run. The Abilene mini sprint cars will also be on hand for the first time.

Mar. 2 -- The Checkered Flag - Weather not a problem for local drivers early this year (Ted Dunnam) Last weekend’s 2000 Icebreaker event at Abilene Speedway resulted in a major success for track owner Tommy Simons, who finally won a battle with the weather.

Feb. 24 -- The Checkered Flag - 2000 Icebreaker to jump-start season at Abilene Speedway (Ted Dunnam) The 2000 Icebreaker will kick off Abilene Speedway’s season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night followed by Sunday’s IMCA series.

Feb. 23 -- Boys basketball playoffs: Amarillo Tascosa 59, Cooper 56 - Cougars falter after 14-point lead fades (TED DUNNAM) LUBBOCK — Playoff losses are never easy to swallow, but for Dan Harris, the last couple must have felt like cantaloupes plummeting down his throat.

Feb. 22 -- Cooper hopes for strong playoff efforts (TED DUNNAM) It doesn’t take a genius to determine that the Cooper Lady Cougars will have to do a better job on Lubbock Coronado guard Erika Valek today than they did in the teams’ first meeting this season.

Feb. 17 -- The Checkered Flag - Abilene racing facility crawling toward reality (Ted Dunnam) It would certainly be fitting if the first race at the newly proposed drag racing facility in Abilene is between the tortoise and the hare.

1999 Checkered Flag

Oct. 28 -- The Checkered Flag - Special event Saturday at Speedway (Ted Dunnam) A brief rain Sunday at the Southern Challenge didn’t dampen the spirits or halt the competition in the record-setting three-day event at Abilene Speedway.

Oct. 21 -- The Checkered Flag -- O’Reilly Nationals are this weekend (Ted Dunnam) Pro Stock Truck qualifying will kick off the action in the 14th annual O’Reilly Fall Nationals, the 20th of 22 events on the $40 million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series.

Oct. 14 -- The Checkered Flag - Southern Challenge begins tonight (Ted Dunnam) The 1999 Southern Challenge, with a purse of $34,000, begins its four-day run at Abilene Speedway with practice and registration from 6-10 p.m. today.

Oct. 7 -- The Checkered Flag - Record turnout is expected (Ted Dunnam) Race fans can whet their appetites for the fourth annual Southern Challenge when practice unfolds Sunday at Abilene Speedway. Gates open at 11 a.m. Sunday and practice will be from noon until 4 p.m. Track owner Tommy Simons said he is anticipating a record number of entries.

Sept. 30 -- The Checkered Flag - Drag races are this weekend (Ted Dunnam) More than 600 racing teams are expected to attend the 7th annual Abilene Shootout Drag Race that begins Saturday and concludes Sunday at the Abilene Regional Airport.

Sept. 23 -- The Checkered Flag -- Rookies doing well this year (Ted Dunnam) There’s a lot of hoopla over rookie Tony Stewart’s Winston Cup victory this past Sunday, and deservedly so, but CART driver Juan Montoya is making mincemeat of that series in his debut season.

Sept. 16 -- The Checkered Flag - Edwards, Newton among season award winners at Abilene Speedway
(Ted Dunnam) Robby Edwards of Eastland won the super stocks division and Bo Newton of Brownwood claimed the street stocks title in the season-ending championships determined at Abilene Speedway.

Sept. 9 -- The Checkered Flag - Shootout just a few weeks away (Ted Dunnam) The International Hot Rod Association will be sanctioning the 1999 Abilene Shootout Drag Race to be held Oct. 2-3 at the Abilene Regional Airport.

Sept. 2 -- The Checkered Flag-- Earnhardt had better watch out (Ted Dunnam): Forget the season-opening race at Daytona. You won’t find a race that has fueled as much eager anticipation as Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Aug. 26 -- The Checkered Flag-- Speedway hosts destruction derby (Ted Dunnam): Only two nights of racing remain on Abilene Speedway’s regular season schedule and Saturday’s penultimate evening will feature a destruction derby.

Aug. 18 -- Trip certainly won't be a drag (Ted Dunnam): Normally, the 22nd Mopar Parts World Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio wouldn't have any local significance, but that was before Abilene learned a few months ago that it would host two International Hot Rod Association events in 2001.

Aug. 12 -- The outlaws are coming to Texas Motor Speedway (Ted Dunnam): If you want to get away from the in-laws, you can go see the outlaws now.

Aug. 5 -- Deal for drag strip land may be finalized soon (Ted Dunnam): Paul Lenker, president of Abilene Motor Sports Inc., said he hoped to have a deal finalized by the end of the month on land to be purchased for International Hot Rod Association races scheduled here in 2001.

July 29 -- Texas dwarf cars to make final appearance in Abilene (Ted Dunnam): The Texas Dwarf Car Association will make its second and final appearance of the season Saturday night at Abilene Speedway.

July 22 -- The Checkered Flag--IHRA expanding its race schedules into new regions (Ted Dunnam): For those with a strong interest in the International Hot Rod Association, here are a couple of noteworthy items. The IHRA recently held its first two World Championship Series North races at New England Dragway in Epping N.H., and at Tri-State Dragway in Hamilton, Ohio.

July 8 -- Derby raises over $800 for Ben Richey Boys Ranch (Ted Dunnam): More than $800 was raised for the Ben Richey Boys Ranch during last week's racing at Abilene Speedway.

July 1 -- IHRA announcement expected today (Ted Dunnam): Drag racing fans will obviously have the plugs out of their ears today when an announcement is made concerning bringing a possible International Hot Rod Association event to Abilene in the near future.

June 30 -- Drag racing in Abilene closer to reality: Officials from the city of Abilene are expected to announce Thursday that professional drag racing in Abilene will become a reality in 2001.

June 24 -- Destruction derby slated to help Ben Richey Boys Ranch (Ted Dunnam): One week from Saturday, Abilene Speedway will host a destruction derby with proceeds benefitting the Ben Richey Boys Ranch.

June 17 -- Full weekend at Abilene Speedway (Ted Dunnam): A rare full weekend of racing is scheduled Saturday and Sunday at Abilene Speedway, featuring the IMCA Sunoco Modified Super Series on Sunday.

June 10 -- Sunburn Grand Prix raises $12,000 for children’s charity (Ted Dunnam): A $12,000 check was presented Sunday to the Children’s Miracle Network from proceeds raised at the Abilene Area Wide Sunburn Grand Prix.

June 3 -- History Channel Great Race will visit Sweetwater June 14 (Ted Dunnam): The History Channel Great Race will make its way through Sweetwater on June 14 and car clubs are being urged to participate in the national event.

May 27 -- Dwarf cars in town Saturday (Ted Dunnam): The Texas Dwarf Car Association brings its 5/8 scale replicas of American-built two-door sedans and coupes to Abilene Speedway Saturday night for a first-ever appearance.

May 20 -- Special kids get a special race day (Ted Dunnam): Drag racing aficianado Fred Elsass of Abilene hopes to make the day of 60 youngsters at the O'Reilly NHRA Divisional Races to be held May 28-30 at Texas Motorplex in Ennis.

May 16 -- Driver is a Stout competitor: Speeding is one of the things Pro-Vee race car driver Brad Stout does best — on the track.

May 13 -- Earlier date may not bring cooler temperatures for weekend race (Ted Dunnam): This weekend’s Abilene Area Wide Sunburn Grand Prix is being held a month earlier than last year’s date so it won’t be too hot for the drivers.

May 6 -- The Checkered Flag--Can sports ever be safe enough?: After the incident at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., that killed three people, questions immediately arise if racing’s sanctioning bodies are doing everything possible to protect fans and drivers.

Apr. 29 -- The Checkered Flag--ABC's race coverage needs repair (Ted Dunnam): ABC’s coverage of the Die Hard 500 from Talladega Superspeedway last Sunday began much in the same fashion as Jeff Burton’s start — leaking oil with a DNF looming.

Apr. 22 -- The Checkered Flag--Castrol Nationals begin today (Ted Dunnam): If you like your race cars traveling in excess of 300 miles per hour or sitting absolutely still, then you need to be in the Metroplex the next two weekends.

Apr. 8 -- The Checkered Flag--Late models to try again (Ted Dunnam): Hopefully, the third time will be a charm for the limited late models this Saturday night at Abilene Speedway.

Mar. 29 -- Primestar 500--Terry Labonte claims victory in home state: FORT WORTH — Terry Labonte didn’t need any lucky charms. His corn flakes worked just fine. Labonte, patiently stalking leader Dale Jarrett for 30 laps, passed the No. 88 car with 11 laps remaining and brought the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes No.5 to victory under the yellow flag in the Primestar 500 Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Mar. 29 -- Gordon takes worst career finish and other 500 notes (Ted Dunnam): FORT WORTH — Collecting notes and quotes from the Primestar 500 while determining that the strongest right arm at Texas Motor Speedway belongs to the guy that waves the yellow flag.

Mar. 28 -- Gordon’s team in good shape, if they get to race today (Ted Dunnam): FORT WORTH — Plenty of rainbows, but no warriors.

Mar. 25 -- The Checkered Flag--Action at TMS kicks off today (Ted Dunnam): Race week officially begins today at Texas Motor Speedway as practice and qualifying for the Coca-Cola 300 Busch Grand National race unfolds, igniting three hectic days at the world’s third largest sports facility.

Mar. 11 -- The Checkered Flag--AFD team headed to TMS (Ted Dunnam): For the third consecutive year, the Abilene Fire Department will be sending off-duty firefighters to work the Coca-Cola 300 and PRIMESTAR 500 races at Texas Motor Speedway at the end of the month.

Mar. 4 -- Coca-Cola 300 could be a showdown (Ted Dunnam): While the PRIMESTAR 500 is expected to the be the featured attraction at Texas Motor Speedway on March 28, don’t be surprised if it is upstaged by the Coca-Cola 300 Busch series race on the previous day.