Weekend Rewind! Goodguys 13th LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals Presented by Tremec
Goodguys sprang ahead this weekend in Texas and got a jump start on the 2023 event season with the 13th LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals presented by Tremec! We experienced a variety of springtime weather and got a full dose of cool cars and trucks and Goodguys Good Times throughout the weekend as we shook off the winter doldrums, revved up our rides, and gathered with thousands of other gearheads to launch into the season in style.
Spring showers earlier in the week tapered off just in time for us to have a dry and comfortable Friday and a sunny and warm Saturday, reminding us that it’s time to start cruising again! Rodders responded with enthusiasm, streaming into the Texas Motor Speedway infield to show off their rods, customs, muscle cars, classics, and trucks.
Speaking of trucks, event sponsor LMC Truck once again sponsored the Ultimate Truck Showcase, a massive specialty parking area that did Texas proud by corralling a spectacular variety of pickups and SUVs for spectators to enjoy. It’s a springtime tradition that continues to grow every year and leads into the Saturday evening Track Cruise, which was led off by dozens of trick trucks making laps on the high-banked TMS oval.
A double dose of Builder’s Choice Top 10 trophies highlighted the awards selections, with Jason Hill of Hill’s Hot Rods and KC Mathieu of KC’s Paint Shop each choosing their favorite ten rides. Here are Hill’s favorites:
And here’s the Top 10 lineup from KC Mathieu.
The Goodguys team got back into the swing of awards selections, too, choosing dozens of fine rides to showcase in Sunday afternoon’s awards ceremony. Some of the standouts included Johny Stocklin’s ’70 Plymouth Superbird winning a finalist spot for Snap-on Muscle Car of the Year; Darren and Andrea Gartell’s ’55 Chevy becoming a finalist for Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year; Bob and Kelly Ward’s ’67 Chevy dual cab grabbing the Dakota Digital Truck of the Year Late; and Killer Hot Rods’ ’53 Chevy pickup claiming the finalist spot for Scott’s Hotrods ‘N Customs Truck of the Year Early finalist spot. Killer Hot Rods doubled up by also becoming a finalist for the Chevrolet Performance GM Iron Builder of the Year, and Scott Chontos’ ’32 Ford coupe earned the GM Retro Iron Builder of the Year finalist award for Customs and Hot Rods of Andice. The Goodguys Media team selected the ’56 F100 built by Sampson Performance Restoration for the Fuel Curve Pick, and Darrell Moseley’s chopped ’40 Mercury for the Goodguys Feature Pick.
The Goodguys CPP AutoCross Series got off to a fast start with a new track layout giving racers a fresh challenge and a capped number of entries giving them lots of runs leading up to the Speedtech Performance Lone Star Shootouts on Saturday afternoon. The season started with some familiar winning faces, with Josh Leisinger earning the class and shootout wins in the Speedtech Performance PRO-X class in his Crusher II Corvette; Bob Bertelsen claiming the Summit Racing PRO class and shootout wins in his C2 Vette; Roger Burman winning the Forgeline Street Machine class win in a ’85 Corvette, but Tim Molzen bettering Burman in the Street Machine shootout final round in his familiar ’63 Dart now sporting Summit Racing livery and other off-season upgrades; Rob MacGregor doubling-up in the No Limit Engineering Truck class behind the wheel of Bill Holt’s Squarebody; and Jared Cash doing the same in the Sports Car class in a ’94 Corvette. On Sunday it was a split decision with Jim Lynch winning the class with the overall fastest time in his C8 Corvette, but Chris Wheelock taking home the All American shootout victory in a 2010 Corvette.
The action-filled weekend included many engaging activities throughout the TMS infield. The massive Swap Meet was full of deals on parts and project vehicles to keep you busy this year, while Goodguys favorites like Nitro Thunderfest exhibitions and a smokin’ Saturday Burnout Competition gave spectators plenty of eye and ear candy. Team Texas stayed busy giving rides in NASCAR-spec racers and their special limo, while kids had fun games and the Auto World Make ’n Take model car giveaway to keep them occupied. Add in dozens of top aftermarket vendors, a great lineup of cool Volkswagens from our Featured Car Club, the Crash Dummies, plus live music and more, and there was no shortage of ways to enjoy yourself throughout the weekend.
Of course, the main attraction is always the cars and trucks, and we were happy to have a Texas-sized turnout of those filling the infield, too. We thank all of you who came out to join us for this fantastic springtime kickoff in the Lone Star State, and we look forward to seeing even more Goodguys gearheads as we head west in the next three weeks for events in Scottsdale, Arizona, Pleasanton, California, and Del Mar, California. It’s shaping up to be a great season – come join us for some Good Times!
Photos by Damon Lee, Steven Bunker & John Jackson
