EDNA, Texas (Mar. 2, 2023) — Some nights, it isn't the big name drivers who steal the headlines. When it's a test of man and machine against the clock, just about anything can happen. It's wide open.
Just ask young Factory Stock hot-shoe Cody Tesch, who set Fast Time in Thursday night's Qualifying session for Owen Pittman's Makeup Clash event at Texana Raceway Park. Inclement weather wiped the 2022 edition off the map last Fall, so before a new season gets rolling, they'll crown a winner at TRP.
Tesch, of Cuero, toured the Edna oval with a blistering lap of 19.497 seconds to earn $200 and lock himself into Saturday night's rich A Main. South Texas stalwart GW Hessong set the official second quickest time with a lap of 19.530. Dennis Folkerts (Corpus Christi) had set the second fastest time with a 19.512 but his time was disqualified when he did not go to the infield after making this lap.
Jared Maupin, of College Station, the 2022 Texas Short Track Driver-of-the-Year in weekly action, laid down a time of 19.585 seconds to qualify third, while Donald Cain (Willis) completed the top four with a solid lap of 19.693 seconds. Most of these drivers know this place like the back of their hands.
“From the moment I drove out onto the track for practice, I knew we had hit the setup better than we have all season,” Tesch said via cell phone on Friday morning. “The first few laps of qualifying didn't go well; I couldn't quite figure out where the car wanted to run.
“Luckily, I found it on the very last lap to set the first Quick Time. I got knocked off by my car owner, Johnny Westfall, then was sent to the pits when Jared Maupin bumped Johnny back shortly after that. I pulled off, then went right back out with no changes and ran the fastest time of the night. I'm excited.”
Maupin is always a threat to win at TRP, and says his car should be strong on Saturday.
“The Factory Stock was really good right out of the box,” he said. “Jamie and I went right back to our baseline; I feel like the car is very comfortable and consistent for multiple conditions. During qualifying, we set fast time but then got knocked back to second.
“We only ran two sessions, and probably sat in the infield for a total of 40-50 minutes. Even though we weren't allowed back onto the track to improve our time, I feel very confident in our car. We'll be geared up and ready to go for tonight.
Also a part of the 2022 Makeup Clash at Texana Raceway Park this weekend are the East Side Hot Rods IMCA Modifieds; the Tony's Mobile Home Service Limited Mods, Koehne's Welding E Mods, USRA Tuners and 604 Crate Late Models. It's a full slate of action at Cord Beard's popular facility.
In the 2021 version of The Clash, Faulkner, of Cut and Shoot, Texas, led all 40 laps of the prestigious Factory Stock tilt, earning $5,000 for his efforts. Bryan Rye put in an impressive effort to finish second, while Donald Cain Jr. was third. Nathan Rachui and Craig Pursley Jr. completed the top five.
You can replay all of the action from Thursday night's Qualifying rounds for the Makeup Clash at Texana Raceway with a subscription at RaceOnTexas.com. With 450-plus events on the Live stream schedule this year, it's your best choice for a variety of entertaining short track racing content online.
When you sign up today, select one of two options (OnDemand or All Access), choose your favorite or hometown track, start enjoying great content while supporting your local track even when you can't attend in person. Half of your monthly payment goes directly to the track you select at sign-up. SIGN UP here to watch every lap from Texana!
By Phil Whipple, RaceOnTexas.com Staff Writer
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