TUCSON, Arizona - - The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series returned to Tucson Raceway Park Saturday Night with five NASCAR divisions of competition in action. The Bud Five Star Series competition was supplied by the NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, the Grand American Modifieds, Mighty Compacts and Factory Stocks. The NASCAR Super Late Model Main Event was won by three time track champion, Chuck Wares, on this the opening night of the 2005 race season. Chuck Wares battled his way to the front after starting from the fifth spot on the starting grid. Wares got his big break on lap 2 when pole sitter Matt Levin and Chad Bowden tangled coming off of turn four. After the smoke settled, six cars fell victim to the early incident. On the restart Joe Paladenic was in the lead followed by defending champ Ron Norman, Dusty Fielden in Third with Chuck Wares and Larry Kayton in Fourth and Fifth. Paladenic was able to hold off Wares in the early going putting on a great show for all those in attendance. Caution came out again as the #45 of Chris Barr took a spin after hitting oil on lap 18. It only took Wares one lap to power past Paladenic on the low side and Wares never looked back. Chuck Wares went on to a dominating win in the season opener with Paladenic taking second and Norman, Fielden and Larry Kayton rounding out the top five. In the NASCAR Late Model Division Richard Kerr from Blythe, CA pulled off a Main Event win on his first trip to Tucson Raceway Park. Kerr started on the pole but by lap eight Kerr was feeling the pressure from TRP veterans Tim Blodgett and David Nekula. Kerr and Blodgett fought door to door until Blodgett took the lead at the stripe on lap twelve only to relinquish it back to Kerr after Blodgett lost the handling in turn one. As the battle went on for first Nekula was able to close the gap on Blodgett. The stage was set for a spectacular finish and nobody was disappointed. On the 23rd lap Kerr went high off turn four giving the led to Blodgett. With the white flag in the air, Kerr once again took the lead with a pass on the high side taking back the lead for good this time. Kerr pulled of the victory with Blodgett taking second And Nekula a close third. Fourth and fifth going to Brad Moyer and Scott Strachan respectively.
In the NASCAR Grand American Modified Main Event defending Champion driver Billy Johanneck started where he left off with another victory to open the season. Starting in the second row, it only took Johanneck two laps to pull in front of P.J. Megna and Chuck Wares, who pulled double duty tonight. Johanneck was able to stretch his lead as Megna and Wares staged a hard fought battle for second with Carl Thomae and Denver Dodd ran fourth and fifth. Wares tried every race line to get around Megna but to no avail. Johanneck went on to win as Megna, Wares, Thomae and Dodd were the top five finishers.
The NASCAR Factory Stocks Main Event saw Jerry Gaede top the field for the first time this season in the 20-lap feature. Mike Levin lead the field to the green flag with Mike Shipyor in second Gaede in third and Paul Gastreich and John Levin in fourth and fifth. On lap four Gaede made his move on the back stretch making the pass on the high side going into turn three. With Gaede in firm control of first, Mike Levin and Gastriech waged war for second with Shipyor and Doug Paxson in tow. With Gastriech passing Mike levin on lap fourteen, Gastreich set his sites on Gaede, however, Gaede was able to pass the back markers to take the victory. Mike Levin took second and Gastriech third. Shipyor and Paxson took fourth and fifth.
In the NASCAR Mighty Compact Main Event Michael Vaughan defending champion started off proving to everyone he will be the driver to beat in the 2005 season. Steve Douglas and Jason Neve lead the field to the green flag in the first main event race of the evening. Jim Bates would soon take over the lead from Neve on lap two with a slashing move to the inside. Douglas would drop to third and David Bosley would hold fourth and Vaughan in fifth. Vaughan methodically moved through traffic allowing him to take the lead with an aggressive move to the inside of Bates coming out of turn two. After taking the lead Vaughan never looked back. Unable to close the gap Bates would finish second behind Vaughan. Douglass, Neve, Bosley would round off the leader board.
The Bud Five Star Series continues next Saturday, April 2nd , as Transwestern Publishing presents the NASCAR Super Late Models (50 Lap Triple Crown), Late Models, Factory Stocks, Legends and Bandoleros. Results from Tucson Raceway Park RW- March 26, 2005 Super Late Models: Main Event: 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Joe Paladenic, 3. Ron Norman, 4. Dusty Fielden, 5. Larry Kayton, 6. Kelly Germain, 7. Chris Barr, 8. Paul Banghart, 9. Mike Egurola, 10. Pat Bush, 11. Brian Pannone, 12. Mark Cirillo, 13. Matt Levin, 14. Chad Bowden, 15. Brandon Schilling, 16. Brice Bonnett Trophy Dash: 1. Matt Levin, 2. Joe Paladenic, 3. Chad Bowden, 4. Ron Norman, 5. Dusty Fielden, 6. Chuck Wares Heat Two: 1. Larry Katyon, 2. Brice Bonnett, 3. Pat Bush, 4. Brandon Schilling, 5. Chris Barr, 6. Mike Egurola Heat Three: 1. Brian Pannone, 2. Kelly Germain, 3. Mark Cirillo, 4. Paul Banghart, 5. Bobby Collister Fast Time Qualifier: Dusty Fielden - 15.406 seconds NASCAR Late Models: Main Event: 1. Richard Kerr, 2. Tim Blodgett, 3. David Nekula, 4. Brad Moyer, 5. Scott Strachan, 6. Robin Boomgaarden, 7. Alan Levin, 8. Brent Lewis Heat One: 1. Tim Blodgett, 2. Scott Strachan, 3. Brad Moyer, 4. Richard Kerr, 6. Alan Levin, 7. David Nekula
Grand American Modifieds: Main Event: 1. Billy Johanneck, 2. PJ Megna, 3. Chuck Wares, 4. Carl Thomae, 5. Denver Dodd, 6. Robert Cramb, 7. TJ Simmons, 8. Bill Slocum, 9. Jim Rogel Heat One: 1. Chuck Wares, 2. PJ Megna, 3. Carl Thomae Heat Two: 1. Billy Johanneck, 2. Denver Dodd, 3. Robert Cramb, 4. Bill Slocum, 5. TJ Simmons
Mighty Compacts: Main Event: 1. Mike Vaughan, 2. Jim Bates, 3. Steve Douglas, 4. Jason Neve, 5. David Bosley, 6. Tammy Lynn, 7. Dan Ritenour Heat One: 1. Mike Vaughan, 2. Jim Bates, 3. Steve Douglas, 4. Jason Neve, 5. David Bosley, 7. Dan Ritenour, 8. Tammy Lynn
Factory Stocks:
Main Event: 1. Jerry Gaede, 2. Paul Gastreich, 3. Mike Levin, 4. Mike Shipyor, 5. Doug Paxson, 6. Alan Levin, 7. Buddy Tuttle, 8. John Levin, 9. David Rooyakkers, 10. Ben Sheppard, 11. JP Tarabek, 12. Phillip Lopez, 13. Chris Smith
Heat One: 1. Jerry Gaede, 2. Mike Levin, 3. Phillip Lopez, 4. Alan Levin, 5. Buddy Tuttle, 6. Ben Sheppard, 7. Chris Smith
Heat Two: 1. Paul Gastreich, 2. Mike Shipyor, 3. John Levin, 4. David Rooyakkers, 5. JP Tarabek, 6. Phillip Lopez
