Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 63

-1 1 wwwstar-telcgrancom Friday March 10 2000 1 2D MOTORSPORTS ME SCOOOLS It i te''''''''-' 7 It 1 1 r---4 r--- r---1 r) r-- 1----- i 1 11 (I A 1J 1--- i r---J i olu A -N 0 LOCA I' t- 4 1 I 1 4 11 i I 1 5 i LW OL 14 1 Al 1 1 LA i LEN HAYVVARD l' ite i i Outlaws drivers say TMS track dirt-rich ORT WORTII Instead was far from a plowed field but Southern Bleacher Classic the ru of having drivers sur 1 ti dthrievreerswastarts concern the will nni around around 1' 1 A round him like a pack of 2 wolves to tell him the racetrack around the track yesterday onds and maybe even some 't i was junk Eddie Gossage had a The drivers and teams were times will be in the high 12-sec- I' 1 -o FE 31fF Outlaws drivers say TMS track is dirt-rich FORT WORTH Instead of having drivers stir- round him like a pack of wolves to tell him the racetrack was junk Eddie Gossage had a JjT LEN HAYWARD was far from a plowed field but there was concern before the drivers started to make laps around the track yesterday The drivers and teams were Southern Bleacher Classic the drivers will be running around the dirt track in around 13 seconds and maybe even some times will be in the high 12-second I 4 in me area tor Ims weeKena 01103 range er 1 Spring Nationals at Devils The dirt was not down until Bowl Speedway in Mesquite three days ago" Gossage said and they arrived only a few "The key is keeping the mois- clays after the surface had been ture content up but we proved 11 completed enough We have three weeks Since the last load of dirt to get the moisture content up" was put on Saturday afternoon The test was not without a the TMS operations crew had few glitches though The tun- been working feverishly to nel located under the first and make sure the surface would be second turn was blocked at one 1 good for the drivers time and some drivers could What they got was a surface not get back to the pit area StAr-TelegrailliDALE BLACKWELL 'a )i that dried out quickly because of But other than that series offi- Peaster coach Danny Henderson has his team back at the Class 2A state boys basketball tournament but he took the mid-afternoon sun and Texas eta's track officials and drivers plenty of time off to be with his father wind but top drivers such as liked what they saw It remains Mark Kinser and Steve Kinser to be seen what kind of show the t- were turning laps in the mid-13- Outlaws will put on the new second range And they were not track at the end of the month but lifting off the accelerator the Outlaws have brought a As Peaster High School boys basketball players 0 At night this is going to be breath of fresh air to TMS which take aim at a second consecutive state title a whale of a show" said has had its ups and downs I defending Outlaws champion "These guys are still at the i they're celebrating with their coach's father -i Mark Kinser who only turned point where they appreciate about five laps and then loaded coming to a place that sets the Three months ago doctors said he had terminal up his car "We expected a lot standard a little higher" Gos- cancer Now he's expected to recover fully said worse than it was Most places sage said "This was by no i- that we run they've got a lot of means perfect today but they green areas things that needed saw what they needed to see to be worked out Actually they and we saw what we needed to ii i 9 I If the surface is prepared hungry It is a pleasant thing are ready to race here" see They are still happy and to I right for the March 30-31 deal with these guys" i TH 1 Ay 1 defending Outlaws champion "These guys are still at the they're celebrating with their coach's father -i Mark Kinser who only turned point where they appreciate about five laps and then loaded coming to a place that sets the up his car "We expected a lot standard a little higher" Gos- worse than it was Most places sage said "This was by no an Three months ago doctors said he had terminal ccer Now he's expected to recover fully 0- that we run they've got a lot of means perfect today but they green areas things that needed saw what they needed to see to be worked out Actually they and we saw what we needed to are ready to race here" see They are still happy and 9 I) S- I If the surface is prepared hungry It is a pleasant thing to I right for the March 30-31 deal with these guys" 1 1 1) I i 010 TE in the area for this weekend's Spring Nationals at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite and they arrived only a few days after the surface had been completed Since the last load of dirt was put on Saturday afternoon the TMS operations crew had been working feverishly to make sure the surface would be good for the drivers What they got was a surface that dried out quickly because of the mid-afternoon sun and Texas wind but top drivers such as Mark Kinser and Steve Kinser were turning laps in the mid-13- second range And they were not lifting off the accelerator "At night this is going to be a whale of a show" said defending Outlaws champion Mark Kinser who only turned about five laps and then loaded up his car "We expected a lot worse than it was Most places that we run they've got a lot of green areas things that needed to be worked out Actually they are ready to race here" If the surface is prepared right for the March 30-31 range "The dirt was not down until three days ago" Gossage said "The key is keeping the moisture content up but we proved enough We have three weeks to get the moisture content up" The test was not without a few glitches though The tunnel located under the first and second turn was blocked at one time and some drivers could not get back to the pit area But other than that series officials track officials and drivers liked what they saw It remains to be seen what kind of show the Outlaws will put on the new track at the end of the month but the Outlaws have brought a breath of fresh air to TMS which has had its ups and downs "These guys are still at the point where they appreciate coming to a place that sets the standard a little higher" Gossage said "This was by no means perfect today but they saw what they needed to see and we saw what we needed to see They are still happy and hungry It is a pleasant thing to deal with these guys" Peaster coach Danny Henderson has plenty of time off to be with his father Star-TelegramDALE BLACKWELL his team back at the Class 2A state boys basketball tournament but he took As Peaster High School boys basketball players take aim at a second consecutive state title they're celebrating with their coach's father Three months ago doctors said he had terminal cancer Now he's expected to recover fully 9 '1 I 4 tr- it- ON BY MAC ENGEL and 1 don't get around as good but 1 am going to the i 1- I 1 1 I 011 By MAC ENGEL and I don't get around as good but I am going to the By MAC ENGEL and I don't get around as good but I am going to the smile on his face yester- day after- -It 1 noon and 1 the drivers did as well Fifteen A Pennzoil LEN World of Outlaws HAYWARD Sprint Car II teams tested COMMENTARY the new Texas Motor Speedway dirt track and words like "awesome" were used to describe the facility and racing surface World of Outlaws competition director Bobby Jackson went so far as to describe the 13000-seat facility as the nicest dirt-track facility in the United States "I can't believe they can build a racetrack and on the first day on it not have a ripple in the racing surface" said Danny Lasoski of Dover Mo last year's Outlaws points runner-up "I really didn't expect it to be this nice 1 figured it would be like a plowed field" The black gumbo dirt surface STOPS Dodging rain When the 27th annual Spring Nationals featuring the Pennzoil World of Outlaws opens tonight at Devil's Bowl Speedway ownerpromoter Lanny Edwards will have an eye on the weather It seems as though he has had to do that the last two years the Outlaws have been at the half-mile dirt track outside of Mesquite The past four times the series has run at Devil's Bowl rain has been involved Last October only one night of a two-day show was run and Saturday night's finale was rained out with the largest crowd in Devil's Bowl history on the grounds Edwards will try again this weekend Gates are scheduled to open at 4 pm today and tomorrow Time trials are scheduled for 7 pm For ticket information call (972) 222-2421 Upset at Motorples Todd Simpson of Ponder defeated Federal-Mogul Funny Car veteran Pat Austin in the final round of Sunday's O'Reilly Shootout NHRA South Central Division race at the Texas Motor') lex in Ennis Simpson had a pass of 5791 seconds in his Dodge Avenger alcohol Funny Car for a top speed of 24958 mph Jay Meyer of Freeport won the Federal-Mogul Dragster final Nathan Martin of Fort Worth won the Super Comp division and was one of seven different winners in Sportsman divisions Sunday at the all-concrete quarter-mile drag strip Randy Paddock of Garland won the Super Street category and Keith Mawhee of Carrollton took the Super Stock final Pro Mods The Texas Outlaw Pro Mods will highlight a busy weekend of racing for Texas Raceway in Kennedale Gaylen Smith of De Soto won last year's points championship at the one-eighth-mile drag strip The track has a new racing surface Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 8 tonight with eliminations set tomorrow night Saturday will also be the opening weekend for the track's National Hot Rod Association Bracket Racing program Bracket racing time trials are scheduled for 10 am with eliminations slated after two time-trial rounds The Pro Mods will start eliminations after two rounds of bracket racing eliminations 1 I i 1 To contact LEO Hayward call smile on his day after- face yester- -It noon and 1 7 the drivers -7 did as well Fifteen Pennzoil World of LEN Outlaws HAYWARD sprint Car II teams tested COMMENTARY the new four-tenths- mile Texas Motor Speedway dirt track and words like "awe- some" were used to describe the facility and racing surface World of Outlaws competition director Bobby Jackson went so far as to describe the 13000-seat facility as the nicest dirt-track facility in the United States "I can't believe they can build a racetrack and on the first day on it not have a ripple in the racing surface" Danny Lasoski of Dover Mo last year's Outlaws points run- ner-up "I really didn't expect it like a to be this nice I figured it would be plowed field" The black gumbo dirt surface faciliii in the United States "I can't believe they can build a racetrack and on the first day on it not have a ripple in the racing surface" said Danny Lasoski of Dover Mo last year's Outlaws points run- ner-up "I really didn't expect it to be this nice 1 fiured it would be like a plowed field" The black gumbo dirt surface STOPS 1 STOPS Dodging rain When the 27th annual Spring Nationals featuring the Pennzoil World of Outlaws opens tonight at Devil's Bowl Speedway ownerpromoter Lanny Edwards will have an eye on the weather It seems as though he has had to do that the last two years the Out laws have been at the half mile dirt track outside of Mesquite The past four times the series has run at Devil's Bowl and two-day show was run rain has been involved Last Otober only one night of a Saturday night finale was rained out with the largest crowd in Devirs Bowl history on the grounds Edwards will try again this wee es are scheduled weekend Gates open at 4 pm today tomorrow Time trials are sched- uled for 7 pm For ticket infor- mation call (972) 222-2421 Upset at Motorples Todd Simpson of Ponder defeated Federal-Mogul Fun- fly Car veteran Pat Austin in the final round of Sunday's O'Reilly Shootout NHRA South Central Division race at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis Simpson had a pass of 5791 seconds in his Dodge Avenger alcohol Funny Car for Freeport the a top speed of 24958 mph Jay Meyer of won Federal-Mogul Dragster final Nathan Martin of Fort Worth won the Super Comp division and was one of seven different winners in Sportsman divisions Sunday at the a ll-concrete quarter-mile drag strip Randy Paddock of Garland won the Super Street category and Kei- th Mawhee of Carrollton took the Super Stock final Pro Mos The Texas Outlaw Pro Mods will highlight a busy weekend of racing for Texas Raceway in Kennedale en 1ast r's points champi- Gayi Smith of DeSoto won yea onship at the one-eighth-mile drag strip The track has a new racing surface Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 8 tonight with eliminations set tomorrow night Saturday will also be the opening weeken for the track's National Hot Rod Association Bracket Racing program Bracket racing time trials are scheduled for 10 am with eliminations slated after two time trial rounds The Pro Mods will start eliminations after two rounds of bracket racing eliminations To contact LEO Hayward call 1 I Star- le legrain Staff Writer state tournament i TH Moments after winnin tournament seinntcienhie9w547mt teoreAlyuswfinatcfohrinhgisthfiresgtaes has smta te ORT WOR regional title Saturday Peaster guard Neil a i1 Graves approached his coach with a freshly been bliss for Dave Henderson When he started tak- clipped basketball net in hand ing his kids it grew When he hugged his son at cen- 1 I "The guys talked about it" Graves said "and we ter court after the Greyhounds won last season's want your dad to have this" title it was elation a -)'" This net was their season The white twine was "I knew someday he would win it' My prayers meant to be placed around sweaty necks while pos- and dreams were answered" Dave Henderson said i mg for photos before it was placed in the front hail "My highlight is going to the state tournament with way trophy case at Peaster Peaster and those boys It gives me something to adl But these players these teen-agers wanted strive for" lc I lc Dave Henderson their coach's dad to have this For coach Henderson the fact that his dad's con- '''cl "1 -It '''g 4 symbol of their achievement dition improves daily never mind that he will attend --44i-: la -lc I junior guard Shaun Harney said doctors had said the cancer was terminal "He's always going to be a part of this team" the tournament is a small miracle especially after 7 4t- a tv II 7' tij-'- lb i Normally the players could have given the net to "I was braced for that" said Danny Henderson ti u0 I coach Danny I lenderson's father in person But who lost his mother to cancer in 1979 when he was a frrA: -409 Dave Henderson was at home recovering from high-school senior "I learned my lesson from my e'4- surgery that removed mom the first time I didn't i ''11 ''i colon cancer and cancer of '----7-' spend enough time with hen- 1 1 '44 the esophagus I I' "This time I missed $---tce 1 ZZ Irc- "I think not being at the 4 some games and a lot of s'41 game was going to kill him '''''( practices to see him I know i ttt 41 -171 1 '4''''44 4 more than the cancer was during those 32 minutes of I i i IN coach Henderson said a game you might not con -if They can laugh now I I vince me but this stuff just I ThDave Henderson 68 is pales in comparison to what no longer fighting for his 1 he was going through It Star-TelegramRom JENKINS life Although his cancer 1 just basketball" was originally onsidered 's The players realized Playing in the dirt at Texas Motor Speedway's new track are World of 1 5 i terminal he had surgery in this too After winning a Outlaws drivers Randy Hannagan rear and Jeff Shepard December and doctors 't i tournament in Godley they i i now expect a full recovery gave Dave Henderson i' the 1 negative talk 4 Fighting negati oach Henderson is no 4-4 I I tro Jacksboro bo bas- 1 longer missing games or ketball coach Chris Hicks 4 I practices to spend what he it' 4 sent him flowers with a 1- i not new for Mark Kinser thought was borrowed signed basketball from his time with ff team while he awaited The players are no 4 't i surgery omputer literacy is not a 35-year-old resident of longer worrying about the --k "He always talks to us rt one of Mark Kinser's Oolitic Ind With the last name possible loss of an adopted i- before the games in the strengths His strength of Kinser and racing on the teammate and how it could locker room wherever" i lies in being able to wheel Petmzoil World of Outlaws effect their mentor leader '1 Graves said "We took it t- I it around an 800-horsepower there were always comparisons and friend -I I for granted him coming to 1200-pound Sprint Car with his cousin and 15-time For the 47th consecu- '4 1 '1'4' the games making the dri- But this winter after earning champion Steve and people tive season Dave 'lender- A ve He usually comes to all his second Pennzoil World of talking about how he is only son has made the trip to the games but this year I Outlaws championship Kinser fast because he is Karl Kinser's his Graceland the Univer- Star-TelegramAt ISBN WOODWORTH think he came to two It turned on a computer- for the son Karl a longtime Outlaws sty Interscholastic League Peaster coach Danny Henderson and his father was a lot different him not i I first time And part of the rea- car owner was the mechainc on boys' state basketball tour- Dave are in Austin for the U1L boys' state basketball being there" son was the rumors that were 14 of Steve's championships nament in Austin Ile will tournament Tuesday "is the first time in about two On New Year's Eve the floating around about him in He has proved them wrong be sitting at the end of the months 1 have eaten a whole meal" Dave Henderson Henderson family received a i Internet chat rooms In 15 seasons on the Outlaws bench as a floor marshal said "ihave lost about 25 pounds since then and I don't belated Christmas gift: Doc- The rumors of his being tour Mark Kinser has won 119 when defending Class 2A get around as good but I am gdrig to the state tournament" tors said they had discovered i I thrown in jail for some kind of races many of those coming champion Peaster (32-4) the cancer early enough to criminal activity were unfound- when he paired up with his faces Hale Center (27-6) at 9:30 this morning in the remove it all 1 ed and untrue but instead of father Karl in 1996 That ranks semifinals "I didn't know how to react" Danny Henderson 1 basking in the glory of a sec- him third on the all-time Out- "We wanted to give back to him for what he's said "I was there with my family and we just broke ond championship he was hay- laws feature victory list behind done for us We know how much he loves us" liar- down and cried It was a total relief" i ing to answer questions about perennial stalwarts Steve ney said "Ile lives 312 hours away but he comes to The cancer forced Dave Henderson to retire from the rumors Kinser and Sammy Swindell every home game" the air-c onditioning business he started more than 40 "I don't really even deal "It has always been some- The games are family time for the Longview resi- years ago It forced him to miss some basketball with it" Kinser said last week thing about me Either I am not dent It's time spent with his son his granddaughter games he would have otherwise attended It forced 1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway a racer or Steve's cousin or I and the players whom he considers grandchildren him to drop some weight i "The only thing enlightening am not a racer and Karl's boy" But his body and doctors prevented him But it didn't defeat him i about the whole deal is that it said Kinser who was one of 16 from going Henderson suffered a stroke early in "Ile always said 'I am going to live' Danny did teach me how to turn on a Outlaws drivers to participate December and while he was hospitalized doctors Henderson said "Ile never gave us the choice to computer and maybe see what in a test at the new TMS dirt found something worse: cancer think otherwise i is being said" track yesterday afternoon "I The initial prognosis was so dire that surgery was It a heavy dose of reality of hat is important' But negative rumors and have never even tried to figure considered worthless coach Henderson said But the The reality is that as important as the net is to the press is nothing new to Kinser it out" family sought a second opinion and opted for surgery players who won it the people who were there along Yesterday Tuesday is the first time in about the way mean more i i (817) 685-3873 or e-mail him at lahaytiardstar-telegramcom two montlbk I have eaten a whole meal" Dave Fin- Nine Engel (817)19(1-7407 1 derson said "I have lost about 25 pounds since then sports OP star-telegramscom ra' 1 Star-TelegramRom JENKINS Playing in the dirt at Texas Motor Speedway's new track are World of Outlaws drivers Randy Hannagan rear and Jeff Shepard Fighting negative talk not new for Mark Kinser Computer literacy is not one of Mark Kinser's strengths His strength lies in being able to wheel around an 800-horsepower 1200-pound Sprint Car But this winter after earning his second Pennzoil World of Outlaws championship Kinser turned on a computer for the first time And part of the reason was the rumors that were floating around about him in Internet chat rooms The rumors of his being thrown in jail for some kind of criminal activity were unfounded and untrue but instead of basking in the glory of a second championship he was having to answer questions about the rumors "I don't really even deal with it" Kinser said last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway "The only thing enlightening about the whole deal is that it did teach me how to turn on a computer and maybe see what is being said" But negative rumors and press is nothing new to Kinser (817) 685-3873 or e-mail him at a 35-year-old resident of Oolitic Ind With the last name of Kinser and racing on the Pennzoil World of Outlaws there were always comparisons with his cousin and 15-time champion Steve and people talking about how he is only fast because he is Karl Kinser's son Karl a longtime Outlaws car owner was the mechainc on 14 of Steve's championships He has proved them wrong In 15 seasons on the Outlaws tour Mark Kinser has won 119 races many of those coming when he paired up with his father Karl in 1996 That ranks him third on the all-time Outlaws feature victory list behind perennial stalwarts Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell "It has always been something about me Either I am not a racer or Steve's cousin or I am not a racer and Karl's boy" said Kinser who was one of 16 Outlaws drivers to participate in a test at the new TMS dirt track yesterday afternoon "I have never even tried to figure it out" lahaytiardstar telegramcom Star-lelegrain Staff Water ORT WORTH Moments after winning a regional title Saturday Peaster guard Neil Graves approached his coach with a freshly clipped basketball net in hand "The guys talked about it" Graves said "and we want your dad to have this" This net was their season The white twine was meant to be placed around sweaty necks while posing for photos before it was placed in the front-hallway trophy case at Peaster But these players these teen-agers wanted Dave Henderson their coach's dad to have this symbol of their achievement "He's always going to be a part of this team" junior guard Shaun Harney said Normally the players could have given the net to coach Danny I lenderson's father in person But Dave Henderson was at home recovering from surgery that removed colon cancer and cancer of a 4 the esophagus '41 4 1 "I think not being at the 4 game was going to kill him ''( more than the cancer was" coach Henderson said They can laugh now 1 i Dave Henderson 68 is no longer fighting for his life Although his cancer -k 1 was originally onsidered terminal he had surgery in December and doctors now expect a full recovery Coach Henderson is no longer missing games or practices to spend what he thought was borrowed time with his dad 1 t't The players are no 4-- I longer worrying about the ip possible loss of an adopted A teammate and how it could effect their mentor leader and friend i' r1 rt For the 47th consecu- 1' I tive season Dave 'lender- son has made the trip to his Graceland the University Interscholastic League Peaster coach Danny boys' state basketball tour- Dave are in Austin for the nament in Austin Ile will tournament Tuesday "Is I be sitting at the end of the months I have eaten a MI bench as a floor marshal said "I have lost about 25 134 when defending Class 2A get around as good but! aml champion Peaster (32-4) faces Hale Center (27-6) at 9:30 this morning in the semifinals "We wanted to give back to him for what he's done for us We know how much he loves us" Harney said "He lives 312 hours away but he comes to every home game" The games are family time for the Longview resident It's time spent with his son his granddaughter and the players whom he considers grandchildren But his body and doctors prevented him from going I lenderson suffered a stroke early in December and while he was hospitalized doctors found something worse: cancer The initial prognosis was so dire that surgery was considered worthless coach Henderson said But the family sought a second opinion and opted for surgery "Yesterday Tuesday is the first time in about two montlbk I have eaten a whole meal" Dave Finderson said "I have lost about 25 pounds since tfien Star-TelegramAtisoN Woo mom Peaster coach Danny Henderson and his father Dave are in Austin for the U1L boys' state basketball tournament Tuesday "is the first time in about two months I have eaten a whole meal" Dave Henderson said "I have lost about 25 pounds since then and I don't get around as good but tam gdng to the state tournament" state tournament" Ever since he went to Austin for his first state tournament in 1954 merely watching the games has been bliss for Dave Henderson When he started taking his kids it grew When he hugged his son at center court after the Greyhounds won last season's title it was elation A "I knew someday he would win it My prayers and dreams were answered" Dave Henderson said "My highlight is going to the state tournament with Peaster and those boys It gives me something to strive for" For coach Henderson the fact that his dad's con- 3' dition improves daily never mind that he will attend the tournament is a small miracle especially after 7 doctors had said the cancer was terminal 3 "I was braced for that" said Danny Henderson who lost his mother to cancer in 1979 when he was a high-school senior "I learned my lesson from my mom the fust time I didn't -r spend enough time with her1 "This time I missed some games and a lot of practices to see him I know during those 32 minutes of a game you might not con- vince me but this stuff just pales in comparison to what he was going through It's just basketball" The players realized this too After winning a tournament in Godley they gave Dave Henderson the trophy Jacksboro boys basketball coach Chris Hicks 4 sent him flowers with a 1 signed basketball from his 0: team while Ile awaited surgery "He always talks to us 0 before the games in the locker room wherever" 1i' Graves said "We took it for granted him coming to the games making the drive He usually comes to all the games but this year I think he came to two It was a lot different him not 1 being there" On New Year's Eve the Henderson family received a belated Christmas gift: Doe- tors said they had discovered the cancer early enough to remove it all 1 "I didn't know how to react" Danny Henderson said "I was there with my family and we just broke 1 down and cried It was a total relief" The cancer forced Dave Henderson to retire from the air-conditioning business he started more than 40 years ago It forced him to miss some basketball games he would have otherwise attended It forced him to drop some weight But it didn't defeat him "Ile always said 'I am going to live' Danny I Henderson said "Ile never gave us the choice to think otherwise "It's a heavy dose of reality of what is important" The reality is that as important as the net is to the players who won it the people who were there along the way mean more Mac Engel (817)194)-7407 1 sports star-telegramscom 1.