San Antonio Speedway - Bill LaBarge wins TPS Race #1 at SAS

Bill LaBarge of Bryan, Texas started 2nd but finished 1st in the Texas Pro Sedans 25 lap race at San Antonio Speedway. The TPS series contested their first race of the new 2007 season at the SAS half mile high banked asphalt oval.

Bill LaBarge wins TPS Race #1 at SAS By: Neil Upchurch, Texas Pro Sedans – Race & Administrative Director San Antonio, Texas (March 3, 2007) Bill LaBarge of Bryan, Texas started 2nd but finished 1st in the Texas Pro Sedans 25 lap race at San Antonio Speedway. The TPS series contested their first race of the new 2007 season at the SAS half mile high banked asphalt oval. The event marked the beginning of the 32nd consecutive racing season for the San Antonio based Texas Pro Sedans organization. Qualifying saw the fastest time trial lap posted by TPS “Rookie” driver Ja Lane of Houston in his Ford Focus. He turned a new TPS/SAS track record of 21.480 seconds. His electronically timed lap betters the previous record of 21.910 set on March 11, 2006 by Bryce Dishman in his Ford Mustang/svo. No other driver topped the standing TPS lap record. Six time TPS Champion Bill LaBarge piloted his BMW to a 2nd fast clock. The Texas Pro Sedans four cylinder stock cars provided the “B Main” racing event for the large grandstand crowd who were awaiting the ASA “Alamo 200” feature race. The TPS race was highlighted by a 24 TPS car entry. Three TPS cars experienced engine failure during practice, never-the-less, the largest support race field of the night saw 17 TPS cars take the green flag for their 25 lap Feature Race. Ja Lane led the race from the green flag. He spun between turns 1 and 2 and went to the rear of the field by TPS rule. LaBarge took the lead for the restart with 25 laps to go and won the race 0.21 seconds ahead of eventual runner-up 2005 TPS Champion Sergio Hexsel’s VW Rabbit. From the restart, the race was run all green without the need of a yellow flag. A total of four Texas Pro Sedan drivers completed the race on the lead lap. Recording 25 laps were #26 Lalo Leal who placed 3rd in his Ford Mustang/arca. He was followed by Mike Knotts who finished in an impressive 4th place driving his familiar #48 VW Scirocco. The TPS Championship Points standings for the new season list LaBarge with a four point lead over Hexsel with a challenging eight month 2007 race schedule yet to be contested. The next Texas Pro Sedans race will see the four cylinder stock car series return to San Antonio Speedway on Saturday night, April 7th for two 8 lap qualifying heat races and a 20 lap Feature Race.