Div. 4 Jr.'s Finish Their Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour at Lone Star

September 2004 - IHRA Drag Review - Green Light Gang, story by Jeanne Gendreau
Junior Master - In a close competition between two accomplished drivers, Austin Cowan, from San Antonio, Texas, took the win with a .024 reaction, running 7.93 on his 7.90 dial. Runner-up Alesi Gerthe, from Rockdale, Texas, was also on target with a .023 reaction, running 8.17 on her 8.12 dial, but Cowan took home his first Iron Man with the better package. Austin finished ninth in the points and since this is his last year as a junior racer, winning the Iron Man at his last event was a double victory for him. He turns sixteen in January and you'll find him racing Quick Rod next season. Austin would like to thank his sponsors, Premier Custom Homes, Northside Collision and his newest sponsor MK Prosthetic and Orthotic Services, Ameritek RV, his crew chief Dan Roberts, parents Darryl and Julie Cowan and teammate Dylan Lee. Alesi Gerthe has had a spectacular year and finishes second in division. Lisa Gerthe said, "The weekend delivered high temperatures, sweltering humidity, swarms of love bugs and the landing of a private plane on the drag strip. Alesi whittled her way through tough competition to meet Austin Cowan in the final round. Her goal for the weekend was to take home another 'little man' but Austin put together the better package." Although Alesi fell short of her goal she was happy for Austin. She said, "Austin will be moving into his big car soon and winning his first Iron Man was a great way to end his junior career. Cowan Racing is a tough team but when you come up on the short-end, it makes it a bit easier when you are trailered by an all around great team." Alesi and her New Breed Racing team partner, brother Ayrton, thank RCI of Tyler, Texas for their sponsorship and support, Hardens Racecars and Blossom Racing Engines. Alesi said, "I'd also like to thank my crew chief/dad Duane Gerthe for hanging in there. Dad, you're the BEST! Ayrton and Mom, thanks for everything. Thanks to the following members of our racing family; Chuck and Chris Talley, Bub, Teresa, Bubster and Chigger Johnson, Rusty, Zack and Cody Kagels, Luther and Justin Cox, Kurt, Angela and Daniel Baughman and everyone else that has cheered us on." Lisa Gerthe said, "Thank you Sherrie Barbour, Bill Bader and IHRA for allowing us to spend this time together as a family and for the opportunity to make so many new friends. This was our first year to run the entire divisional schedule and we met a multitude of wonderful people. Junior racing teams and families are a unique group of people and we feel blessed to have been on the receiving end of so many helpful hands extended to us by junior teams past and present. Last but not least, thank you to Jeanne Gendreau for writing about our kids in Drag Review and for reminding the racing parents, 'It's Saturday night and we do know where our kids are!' That is the biggest return on our investment."