The final day of racing was another “Chamber of Commerce” day for drivers, crews and fans. An estimated 12,000 people packed the grandstands to cheer for their favorite drivers as championship titlists were crowned, or in this case ‘Stetsoned’.
The remainder of the IMCA fields would be filled by Last Chance Qualifiers in the Modified, Southern SportMod and Stock Car classes. Also on the night’s agenda was a full race program for the Sprint Series of Texas.
Taylor Tops Tough Modified Field The grand finale of the IMCA Lone Star Nationals was the 25-lap, $2,000 to win IMCA Modified championship race. Tim Clonch and Tommy Fain paced the 24-car field and the excitement started early in turn 1. Clonch, Fain and Troy Taylor came out of turn 2, three wide for the lead. Fain was out front coming to line for lap 1. Taylor began to look under Fain, who was running the top side, on lap 2, while Kenny Stone passed Clonch for third.
Yellow waved on lap 2 when Wesley Veal rolled to a stop on track. On the restart, Taylor was again trying the bottom on Fain, with Stone having to get by Clonch again. Scotty Brown moved in to batle with J P Dowell for fifth on lap 3. Dowell eased by both Brown and Clonch on lap 4, but Brown came back to retake the spot a half lap later.
Up front Taylor was doing his best to duck under Fain through the corners and tried a good old fashoined slide job on lap 6. Taylor came up a bit short of completing that move and backed off to regroup. Behind the leaders fight, Brown was getting by both Dowell and Stone for third. Brown then ran down Taylor for second using the bottom. Taylor was now forced to be defensive at the same time trying to get by Fain for the lead.
Tayor tried to get to the bottom groove, but Brown wouldn’t give up the real estate and got along side Taylor on lap 10 and by on the backstretch. Brown, still stuck on the bottom caught Fain on lap 11 and got a run coming off the corner to pull ahead on lap 12. As the crossed flags were shown the crowd was on it’s feet as it was Brown, Fain and Taylor nearly three wide for the lead, with Stone and Clonch rounding out the top five.
With Brown on the bottom, Taylor in the middle and Fain up top it still three abreast on lap 14 until caution waved for a spin in turn 2. On the restart the top three all tried the bottom in turns 3-4, but Fain went back to the top and Taylor to middle. The duo now had Clonch breathing their backs and going three wide for second on lap 16. Fain and Taylor continued their personal little war until Taylor finally secured the spot on lap 18, with Clonch also getting by Fain for third.
Taylor then closed on Brown as they ran wheel to wheel down the back stretch for the lead. Taylor got the nose ahead on lap 21 as they stayed in side by side formation. Taylor finally gained control of the top spot and began to inch away on lap 23. Coming to the checkers, the crowd saluted the long-time area hotshoe as he took the win in the Ameritech Pest Control, Wells Racing Engines, Ameritech Automotive, Snap On Tools, Ace Hardware, NAPA, D&D Automotive, Larsen Chassis.
“I was watching Scotty(Brown) drive around us on the bottom, but I felt the top of turns 1-2 was better. ” stated Taylor. “So I tried his line, and didn’t think turn 4 was good. So I changed my line and picked up more momentum. That get me clear of Tommy(Fain) and I set sail after that. “
“I believe this track kind of owes me one, ” added Taylor who once worked his way from the J-main to the A-main during the first Texas World Dirt Track Championship event. “Hopefully we can come back the first of year and carry this momentum over to that. We had this car for sale, but I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sell it. It’s got a lot of sentimental value now. “
“I think this passing poits format is better than the heats, b-mains and that. You can draw a bad number and it can work out good and if you draw a good number you have a chance to stay up there. If you draw a bad number, you should be rewarded for doing good. Passing points is a better deal. “
“I believe this race here may surpass Boone(SuperNationals) in the coming years. This race here will get bigger and bigger. This is a great facility and the location is good. It’s the nicest place I’ve ever been to. “
IMCA Modified Champiopnship results
1. 56 Troy Taylor
2. 144 Scotty Brown
3. 181 Tim Clonch
4. 90.5 Fain
5. 5K Kenny Stone
6. 715 J P Dowell
7. 02 Kyle Robinson
8. 4 Jeff Turner
9. 68 Brandon Watson
10. 1 Keith White
11. 71K Kevin Sustaire
12. 00 Nathan Long
13. 718 Cody Smith
14. 24B Chris Bragg
15. T2 Todd Short
16. 41 Monte Bolton
17. 60 Jason ILich
18. 78 Trevor Egbert
19. 199 Charlie Harmon II
20. 59 Kelly Allen
21. 707 P J Egbert
22. 84 Tom Lorenz
23. 5 Keith Green
24. 11x Wesley Veal
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