By Lee Roberts

TIAA Executive Director

FORT WORTH, Texas – With feet pressed hard to the floorboard, several Texas Independent Automotive Association members sped 155 mph and experienced the ride of a lifetime here today at Texas Motor Speedway.

Gary Pundt of Alamo Heights Garage speeds around Texas Motor Speedway Aug. 22, 2009.  Photos by Lee Roberts

Full Service Auto Parts in San Antonio, also a TIAA associate member, sponsored the event for qualifying automotive repair shops.  Participants were afforded the opportunity to drive real Sprint Cup Race Cars with current NASCAR SB2 racing engines from Earnhardt Childress Racing.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Chris McCoy of Clark’s Automotive in New Braunfels, Texas.  “I went really fast.  I had it pegged on the back stretch every time.”

Wayne Van Den Berghe (Left) of Thrash Automotive and Chuck Denney of Clark's Automotive get ready to drive at Texas Motor Speedway Aug. 22, 2009.

Even though speed was on every driver’s mind, Team Texas – NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Driving School that operates year-round at the track – took every safety precaution to ensure everyone made it into pit row without a scratch.  Up to 10 cars were on the track at one time and faster cars were allowed to pass slower ones at the discretion of the instructor riding shotgun.

All drivers signed liability waivers and then spent nearly an hour in the garage being oriented on how to maneuver on the track and received training on operating in a racing environment.  Then, racing school officials assigned drivers to groups and then to cars that were set up to accommodate specific body sizes and weights. 

Within minutes the track was abuzz with sounds of automotive repair shop owners and employees who were putting the petal to the metal on the 1.5 mile oval.   

“It was great, a fantastic ride,” said Mike Van Den Berghe of Thrash Automotive, who drove the No. 38 M&M race car.  “I was running 155 mph and passed five or six cars.”

The track also gave participants the chance to purchase four-lap rides with professional drivers to experience speeds of 165 mph while passing and riding close up to other cars on the track.

Lance Huff, brother of Howard Huff, owner of Full Service Auto Parts, took advantage of this experience and had few words after exiting the thrill ride.  “It was great… exciting,” he said.

Mike Van Den Berghe drives the No. 38 M&M car at Texas Motor Speedway Aug. 22, 2009.

TIAA shops that participated in the day’s racing experience were Alamo Heights Garage, Car Pro of San Antonio, Clark’s Automotive, Thrash Automotive, WA Automotive, Thousand Oaks Automotive, Belden’s Automotive, B&S Automotive, and Blackmon’s Garage.

“It was a great time for all participating TIAA shops,” said Gary Pundt, Alamo Heights Garage owner and TIAA state president.  “Just getting the chance to get on the same track and to experience the same things NASCAR drivers get to each November during the Dickies^® 500 is incredible.”

(Editor’s note: Additional photos and videos from this event are available on TIAA’s Facebook page. A link to the page and button to become a fan of TIAA’s Facebook page is available at www.tiaa.net)