Team TXSpeed dominated the 2011 season opener of the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) at MSR Houston on January 29-30. Coming off a spectacular 2010 season which saw driver Jay Matus in No. 171, the Porsche 996, win the German Touring Series 3 (GTS3) National Championship at Miller Motorsports Racetrack in Utah, and NASA Texas Regional Championship.

Team TXSpeed is looking towards accomplishing new goals in 2011. The Team has added car No. 172, a 2000 Porsche Boxster S, which is competing in the GTS 3 class. In the No. 172 car is Kevin Mixon, a veteran driver, and long time friend. Mr. Mixon is an intelligent and talented driver that is thoroughly familiar with all the venues that the NASA Texas region will host this season. Back in car No. 171 is team owner and driver Jay Matus, who has now advanced to GTS4. Both drivers are aiming at first place finishes at both the Texas Regional Division and the National Championships this season.

The high quality preparation and presentation of Team TXSpeed was at hand again at MSR Houston. For the first time in NASA Texas’ history, MSR would be run in a clockwise direction. This did not stop the team from leading their respective classes. Saturday qualifying times were impressive to start. Matus lead the GTS 4 group with a 1:41.66. Matus’ consistent winning style, along with an impressive setup of the No. 171 car, would see him dominate throughout the weekend, rain or shine. Surprisingly enough, the only changes made to the No. 171 car to advance to GTS 4 at was the removal of weight and the engine air restrictor. No major set-up changes have yet to be made to the car. Although this was the first time the No. 172 car was on track, and the first time Mixon drove the car, both melded immediately. There were a few minor tuning issues that were fixed within the first part of Saturday, and by the first race, both car and driver were ready to take on the competition. Matus turned his best lap time of the weekend in the first race of the weekend: a 1:40.621. Mixon finished the very first race for car No. 172 with a 1:46.413. Mixon would only continue to shave off time as he became more comfortable in the car. By race 2, he would finish with his best lap time of the weekend: a 1:44.592. Sunday brought significant rainstorms and consequently slowed the race times. However, both cars continued to finish first in their respective classes. The season opener was an impressive start to a beginning of an exciting season for Team TXSpeed with the setting of track records and four first place finishes in GTS 3 for Mixon in Porsche No. 172 and four first place finishes in GTS 4 for Matus in Porsche No. 171. The next race of the season will be March 12 and 13 at MSR Cresson in the Dallas area.

Team TSSpeed is grateful to their partners and industry advisors, each of whom contributes greatly to the ongoing success of this race team.