The Arkansas mod lite scene lost one of its greatest influences, Tex Myers, on December 4, 2020. Myers, 75, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, quietly served as one of racing’s greatest ambassadors, helping countless racers during his long career in the sport.
Myers enjoyed the mechanical aspect of racing as much as driving. He graduated from Henderson State University in 1967, with a degree in business administration and engineering. While Myers yearned to become an engineer, his family’s janitorial supply company called. Racing, however, provided him with an outlet to exercise his engineering passion. Myers liked that part so much that he installed a CNC machine in his garage. He used it to create many unique components for his race car and other projects he had.
“When Tex was bored during Corona [pandemic closings] earlier this year, he built a 3-D printer — from scratch,” said Chet Johnson, a friend who raced out of Myers’ shop. “And, it was way bigger than anything you can buy off the shelf. He also built his own plasma table, from scratch.”
Myers left his greatest mark on the sport by not necessarily creating parts, but by creating racers. Johnson serves as an example of that. Johnson, a lifelong fan, connected with Myers through a mutual friend, Marvin Watts. Soon after, Johnson started helping Myers out. After four races of helping Myers, one of Myers’ mod lite drivers quit. That left Myers with a seat open.
“Tex looks over at me and asks, ‘Do you got a helmet?’” Johnson said.
Johnson’s first race didn’t go well. Electrical gremlins prevented him from getting seat time during hot laps and heat races. The first laps Johnson turned in a mod lite came during the feature, on a extra slick surface. Johnson made it unscathed … until lap 28.
“I come out of turn four, I get on the gas a little too hard, and the car fishtails,” said Johnson. “Almost right in the front of the flag stand, into the outside wall. [The impact damaged] everything on the right front.
“I’m about to have a panic attack, getting towed back into the pits, thinking, ‘I’m going to get killed here. So much for this opportunity.’
“In true Tex Myers fashion, he walks over, looks down, and he goes, ‘Huh. We might have to fix that.’”
Under Myers’ tutelage, Johnson improved immensely. This year, at Diamond Park Speedway, in Nashville, Arkansas, Myers and Johnson sat first and second in the points throughout most of the year.
The second-to-last race of the season, Myers won, boosting his lead to 15 points over Johnson. The following Wednesday, Myers developed a fever. He then tested positive for Covid-19 and landed in the hospital. Prior to the final race, Diamond Park Speedway’s Justin Newman called Johnson.
“[Newman] said, ‘Almost everybody racing [mod lites] either got started because of [Tex] or someone else who got started because of [Tex],’” said Johnson. “[Newman said,] ‘A number of people had called me. It ain’t his fault he’s going to miss the last points race.’”
Drivers wanted to end the points season early. Johnson agreed.
Myers won the championship.
Then, one week later, he passed away.
Myers went out a winner, but not for the reasons you may think. Sure, he won his last race. And, yes, he won the championship. But, the most lasting impression Tex Myers left on the sport are the legion of racers he created. That’s what many will remember him for.
Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Corrected Justin Newman’s role with Diamond Park Speedway (2020-12-23).
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
