Motor Sports Ranch Cresson is located southwest of Fort Worth, Texas. With two road-course tracks of 1.7 miles and 1.3 miles, it also can be combined for a 3.1-mile road course. NASA Texas uses the 1.7-mile course. In addition, the wind is always a factor at MSRC, especially in March. Chilly winds gusted up to 40 mph on Friday and Sunday. Sandwiched in between on Saturday was sunny and downright hot! You’ve got to love the weather in Texas!
On Saturday, Chris Haldeman led the field of 44 strong after grabbing pole with a 1:25.134. Yes, 44 Miatas! This was one of, it not the biggest field of Miatas at a NASA race at MSRC. Race one was a good, clean contest. Haldeman led the field from the drop of the green and never looked back. Trevor McCallion finished P2 and Justin Crickenberger rounded out the podium in P3. The fastest lap was Haldeman with a 1:25.986 and hard charger was Gale Corley up 13 spots to finish P12. Teen Mazda Challenge drivers had last year’s Texas Champion Danny Soufi finishing P8, Ben Rail P14 and newcomer Andretta Young in P43.
As if the first race weren’t interesting enough, we tried something new for race two: a standing start. While in the pits I overheard veteran driver, Stephen Jeu giving advice to fellow drivers on the best way to handle the standing start. He said if the ‘seas are parting’ it means something is happening in the middle. Part the sea!’ The field was lined up by the finishing order of race one. It was a bumpy-but-clean start as the line made it into Rattlesnake Bend. Haldeman again took the green and never looked back, getting a big jump from the start. Haldeman again took the win, with McCallion P2 and Crickenberger in P3. Fastest lap was Alex Bachoura with a 1:25.983, and hard charger was Bill Agha, up 15 places to finish P21. Teen Mazda Challenge drivers finished with Soufi P7, Rail P42 and Young in P41.
For race three on Sunday, Haldeman sat on pole for this long race with the fastest lap of 1:24.886. Lap two found several cars sideways after Turn 11, causing most of the field to drive through smoke, dirt and other hazards. For those who made it through, they again were chasing Haldeman for the win, with Bachoura P2 and Soufi P3. Fastest lap of the race was — surprise! —Haldeman with a 1:25.722. The hard charger was Mark Curlee up 14 spots to finish P25. Teen Mazda Challenge drivers were Soufi in third and Rail in P36.
