Austin Self Takes 3rd In His TSRS Late Model Debut

KYLE, April 26, 2010: Any doubts as to whether Austin Self could transfer his Karting skills to Stock Car Racing were dispelled Saturday night, when the 14-year-old Karting Champion lead half of the TSRS (Texas Super Racing Series) Late Model feature, set fast lap time and finished third behind veteran drivers Barker and Teer.

Starting from the pole in his first ever car race, and his first oval track race, there was skepticism among the veterans drivers behind him as to what kind of start he was going to give the field, and what might play out in turn 1.

When asked if he was nervous about starting on the pole, Austin replied, “I’ve started from the pole a hundred times before. Just not in a car on an oval,” he says with a big grin. “But seriously, I’m used to leading the field into one (turn). I’m just wondering if the cars behind me are going to stay in line or try something crazy”.

Sure enough, when the Late Model field came roaring out of 4, heading to one on the start, Austin looked every bit the veteran driver as he stood on the pedal and got on the wheel. The only car keeping up by the time they crossed the stripe for lap one complete was the 17 car of Robert Barker. It was a two car breakaway with Barker on his tail until the field regrouped following a lap 5 yellow. It didn’t take long for Teer to join the group as the three cars of Austin, Barker and Teer pulled away from the rest of the 12 car field.

They would stay in that order until lap 26 when Self went too hot into 4 trying to shake Barker and lost the car in the marbles. Barker and Teer slipped by as Self was able to keep the car off the wall and get it back down on the track to hold off the 92 car. “It amazed me that he was able to get the car back before hitting the wall. Most drivers would have over corrected and slammed the wall," said his Spotter, Curtis Drosche. The race would finish in that order, with Austin setting the fastest lap of the race and finishing 3rd.

“I owe Heath and JR (from my pit crew) an apology. If I hadn’t lost the car in 4, I may have been able to give them the win that they deserve. The FEP Chevrolet handled well from the beginning to the end. I also need to thank Chris Baker and Curtis for the coaching and spotting. Thanks to my family, friends and all my fans out there for all the moral support they gave me leading up to this 1st race. Oh yeah, and good luck to my sister. She has finals at TCU next week,“ said Austin.

When asked what’s next; “Well, we head to Indy and then on in to South Bend, Indiana next week for a WKA National Kart race. Then, it’s back home to Texas for some more Late Model Racing the week after that.”

Self will race his TSRS Late Model again at Thunderhill Raceway on Saturday, May 8.

For more information on Austin Self, visit his website at http://www.austinself.com. Information on the TSRS Late Models can be found at http://www.texasuperracingseries.com and Thunderhill Raceway at http://thunderhillraceway.com.