"FRONT ROW JOE" PALADENIC CAPTURES FIRST VICTORY OF 2005


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Nov 21, 2008

TUCSON RACEWAY PARK

Source: Tucson Raceway Park Public Relations
Date: 04/17/2005

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Tucson, Arizona -- The NASCAR Super Late Model Event saw Hereford, AZ. resident, “Front Row Joe” Joe Paladenic capture his first win of the 2005 season at Tucson Raceway Park’s Budweiser Night at the Races. Matt Levin led the field from the pole position with Joe Paladenic on the outside. Paladenic beat Levin to the line and lead the first lap. Mike Egurola, trying to make back to back feature wins, grabbed second from Levin. Egurola was looking for the lead when rookie Brice Bonnett tried to put his ride to the inside of Egurola and they raced side by side for 5 laps. Caution flew on lap 8 when Bonnett washed up the track in Turn 4 and collected Egurola sending both cars sliding down the front stretch and out of harm’s way. Both cars were able to continue and restarted at the rear of the field. On the restart, Brice Bonnett and Kelly Germain got collected in Turn 3. Germain was able to return with a bruised car while Bonnett’s night was over. On the second restart, Paladenic led the field with Matt Levin in second and Chuck Wares in third. Wares made several attempts to get by Levin but Levin was able to keep Wares off and stay in second place. Charging from his 7th starting position, Dusty Fielden was able to catch Wares and pass him for 3rd place on lap 17. Defending Super Late Model Champion, Ron Norman, moved past Pat Bush for 5th position on lap 21. Two laps later, Mike Egurola, who came from the back of the pack, made the pass on Norman and moved into 5th as time was running short. Paladenic kept the field behind him and posted his victory and making him the third different winner in as many races. Matt Levin came home in second with Dusty Fielden 3rd, Chuck Wares, 4th and Mike Egurola rounding out the top 5.

In the NASCAR Grand American Modified Division, Phoenix resident, Denver Dodd captured his first win of the 2005 season. Dodd used his outside front row starting spot to his advantage and moved into the lead, past pole sitter Bill Slocum. Behind the two front cars, Carl Thomae and rookie sensation, T.J. Simmons battled back and forth for the 3rd spot. Simmons won the battle over Thomae and then powered past Slocum on lap 11 for second. Bob Cramb was able to move past Thomae into 4th position while Dodd maintained his lead with Simmons in his wake. Then on lap 15, Cramb moves into 3rd and pressured Simmons for second. After 6 laps of side by side racing, Cramb makes it stick and gets past Simmons on lap 21 for second. Dodd grabs the win with Bob Cramb in second, T.J. Simmons holds on to third and Carl Thomae finishes 4th with Bill Slocum in 5th.

Jim Bates took home his first win of 2005 in the NASCAR Mighty Compact division. Pole sitter, Jeff Bennett, led the fist lap as Bates came from inside row 3 to power past rookie Dan Ritenour, Jason Neve and David Bosley to take the lead on lap 2. Defending Champion and 2 time 2005 feature winner, Mike Vaughan, was able to move past Jeff Bennett into second on lap 4. Vaughan was able to catch Bates and began to look for a chance at the lead. Just as Vaughan started to make his move to the lead, the caution flew on lap 16 when Jason Neve and David Bosley traded some paint and went sliding down the front stretch. On the restart, Vaughan dived to the bottom of the track underneath Bates. They raced side by side for 2 laps. On lap 19 Vaughan slides coming out of Turn 2 and spins to the infield. Bates held on for the win, Jeff Bennett places second, David Bosley and Jason Neve made their way back and finished 3rd and 4th and rookie, Tammy Lynn, takes her best finish ever in 5th.

Legend Cars made their second appearance at Tucson Raceway Park. The 10 lap main event saw Mathew Williams take his first win. Williams was able to power past pole sitter, Chris Weilenmann on lap 3 and never looked back. Mathew Williams comes home winner with Chris Weilenmann holding on for second, Cassie Gannis grabs third, Suave Brachowski in fourth and Kevin Wall in fifth.

Bandoleros, also, made their second visit to TRP and it was full of action. Blake Leuth took the 15 lap main event win. The race started with a wild 8 car spin coming out of Turn 4. Everyone was able to continue with no damage to any of the cars. A complete restart sent the field back to green, Greyson Weaver led 2 laps but was posted for jumping the start. That opened the door for “Blazin” Blake Leuth to take the lead. The battle for second place brewed between Connor Kassik and Austin Trebilcock with Kassik taking second place. Houston Franco came from his 8th starting spot to move into 3rd position on lap 9. Franco then moved to second on lap 11, passing Trebilcock. Caution flew on lap 13 for a spin and bunched the field for a restart. Leuth was able to hold off the charge of Franco and capture his first win. Houston Franco came home second, Connor Kassik placed third, Austin Trebilcock in fourth, Romero Cionni rounds out the top 5.

Tucson Raceway Park will be dark on Saturday, April 23, 2005 due to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Race at Phoenix International Raceway. Visit us on Saturday, April 30th to see the NASCAR Late Models, Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks, Hornets, Tuff Trux, and Spectacular Drags - where you can drive your street legal car in a one on one elimination on the 3/8 mile high banks of Tucson Raceway Park.

Super Late Models:

Feature: 1. Joe Paladenic, 2. Matt Levin, 3. Dusty Fielden, 4. Chuck Wares, 5. Mike Egurola, 6. Ron Norman, 7. Chad Bowden, 8. Pat Bush, 9. Chris Barr, 10. Brian Pannone, 11. Larry Kayton, 12. Kelly Germain, 13. Brice Bonnett

Heat 1: 1. Mike Egurola, 2. Joe Paladenic, 3. Chuck Wares, 4. Dusty Fielden, 5. Ron Norman, 6. Larry Kayton, 7. Kelly Germain

Heat 2: 1. Brice Bonnett, 2. Matt Levin, 3. Pat Bush, 4. Chris Barr, 5. Chad Bowden, 6. Brian Pannone

Grand American Modifieds:

Feature: 1. Denver Dodd, 2. Robert Cramb, 3. T.J. Simmons, 4. Carl Thomae, 5. Bill Slocum, 6. P.J. Megna, 7. Gary Sparks

Heat 1: 1. P.J. Megna, 2. Carl Thomae, 3. Denver Dodd, 4. Bill Slocum, 5. Robert Cramb, 6. T.J. Simmons, 7. Gary Sparks, 8. A.J. Davis

Mighty Compacts:

Feature: 1. Jim Bates, 2. Jeff Bennett, 3. David Bosley, 4. Jason Neve, 5. Tammy Lynn, 6. Mike Vaughan, 7. Brian O’Brien, 8. Dan Ritenour, 9. Robert VonColln

Heat 1: 1. Jason Neve, 2. Dan Ritenour, 3. Jeff Bennet, 4. Brian O’Brien, 5. Robert VonColln

Heat 2: 1. Mike Vaughan, 2. Jim Bates, 3. David Bosley, 4. Tammy Lynn, 5. Steve Douglas

Legends:

Feature: 1. Mathew Williams, 2. Chris Weilenmann, 3. Cassi Gannis, 4. Suave Brachowski, 5. Kevin Wall

Heat 1: Mathew Williams, 2. Chris Weilenmann, 3. Suave Brachowski, 4. Cassi Gannis, 5. Kevin Wall

Bandoleros:

Feature: 1. Blake Leuth, 2. Houston Franco, 3. Connor Kassik, 4. Austin Trebilcock, 5. Romero Cionni, 6. Jennifer Link, 7. Tyler Stores, 8. Jacob Corneliusen, 9. Andrew Norman, 10. Greyson Weaver, 11. Michael Cionni

Heat 1: 1. Blake Leuth, 2. Austin Trebilcock, 3. Romero Cionni, 4. Jennifer Link, 6. Michael Cionni

Heat 2: 1. Connor Kassik, 2. Greyson Weaver, 3. Andrew Norman, 4. Houston Franco, 5. Tyler Stores, 6. Jacob Corneliusen ####