TUCSON, Arizona -- The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at Tucson Raceway Park saw rookie drivers capture their first wins. First ever winners included: in the NASCAR Super Late Model division Brice Bonnett and Grand American Modified rookie driver, T.J. Simmons. Jerry Gaede, in his second season, grabbed his third win in the Factory Stocks. Legends driver, Tim Blodgett, scored his first win in that division and Steve Sussex won his second Bandolero main event on a Mother's Day weekend event.
In the NASCAR Super Late Model feature event rookie driver, Brice Bonnett, claimed his first win as the fourth different winner in as many races. Bonnett moved to Super Late Models this season after a winning year in the NASCAR Late Model division. Bonnett took advantage of his front row starting spot to lead lap one. Pat Bush took the lead from Bonnett on lap two. Mike Egurola ran third while Phoenix resident, Larry Kayton, held on to the fourth spot. As Bush and Bonnett battled for the top spot, points leader, Joe Paladenic, moved into fourth by passing Kayton on lap four. Bonnett mounted his charge on lap nine and made the pass for the lead. Bush followed in second until lap 11 when Mike Egurola moved into second. Paladenic moved into third on lap 14 and three laps later gave the third position back to Bush. Dusty Fielden got past Kayton and moved into the fifth spot. Bonnett and Egurola were able to pull away while Bush and Paladenic competed for third. Paladenic was able to get by Bush for two laps but on lap 21 Bush took the position back. With time running out, Fielden, Chuck Wares and Kayton battled for the fifth position, each getting a chance to hold the spot, with Wares ahead by inches on the last lap. Brice Bonnett took the win, Mike Egurola took second, Pat Bush gathered his best finish in third, Paladenic hung onto fourth and Chuck Wares rounded out the top 5.
In celebration of Mother's Day, the traditional Mother's Egg Toss was held for competitors, fans and their mothers. Brice Bonnett and his mother, Rosemary Bonnett claimed victory. The defending champions of the egg toss took home a $50 prize, beating 10 other teams with their final toss at 43 feet.
Grand American Modifieds main event saw 16 year old Phoenix rookie, T.J. Simmons, gather his first win in only 3 starts. Simmons, a former quarter midget racer, had both luck and skill play into his winning effort. Pat Bush, driving in both the Super Late Model and Grand American Modified divisions, led from the pole ahead of P.J. Megna. Megna was able to power past Bush and take the lead on lap five. Denver Dodd, who was coming off a feature win, moved past Bush on lap nine to take over second. Carl Thomae took advantage of Bush's ill-handling car and moved into third on lap 11. Thomae was on the charge and battled with Dodd. As they entered the back stretch the two tangled and Dodd spun, bringing out the caution on lap 15. On the restart, Megna held the lead with Thomae in second and Simmons in third. Megna began to pull away from Thomae until lap 21 when Megna spun into the infield in turn four. Simmons took over the lead and Thomae dove to the inside of Simmons as they each battled for their first wins. Thomae gave his best, but Simmons was able to hold on and grab the checkered. Thomae came in second, Denver Dodd recovered from his earlier spin to finish third, Bill Slocum, of Phoenix, came in fourth and Pat Bush finished fifth.
Jerry Gaede won his third main event of the 2005 season in the Factory Stock division. Gaede started in the third position after pole sitter, John Levin, was forced to scratch from the event with mechanical problems. Paul Gastreich started from the pole and lead lap one. Gaede made an inside move and led lap two. Gastreich took the lead back on lap three from Gaede with Mike Shipyor in third. Gastreich, coming off an impressive main event win last week, had his rear view mirror full of Gaede. Gaede, after blowing his engine last week and only getting his new motor fired up five hours earlier, kept his car inches from Gastreich. On lap 17 of the 20 lap main, Gaede made the move to the inside of Gastreich and took the lead by inches. Gastreich stayed door to door until the final lap when Gaede pulled ahead and into Victory Lane. Gaede took his third win while Gastreich took second, Mike Shipyor third, Dave Rooyakkers fourth, and Buddy Tuttle fifth.
The INEX Legends car competed in their third event of 2005. In the 15 lap main event, the second lapped showed Matt Williams, who came from his sixth place starting position, take the lead from Greg Jayko. Tim Blodgett pulled into second place and Chris Weilenmann running third. Williams, coming off his previous feature win, began to pull away from Blodgett until the caution flew for Greg Campbell's spin down the front stretch on lap 10. On the restart, Williams took the green and led until lap 12 when mechanical problems sent him to the pits. Blodgett took over the top spot and the win followed by Greg Jayko in second, Terry Lipscomb in third, Cassie Gannis in fourth and Chris Weilenmann rounded out the top five.
Steve Sussex saw his second main event win at Tucson Raceway Park in the INEX Bandolero feature. Sussex started from the pole with Austin Trebilcock on his outside. Greyson Weaver grabbed the second spot from Trebilcock and Romano Cionni moved into third. Cionni moved into second on lap five with Blake Leuth on his tail. Sussex was able to pull away from the field as the battle for second was 4 cars wide. When the dust settled, Sussex took home his second win, Romano Cionni held onto second, Greyson Weaver in third, Houston Franco came from his 11th starting position took fourth and Austin Trebilcock took fifth.
The next event at Tucson Raceway Park will be Saturday, May 14th as the U.S. Army Presents the NASCAR Late Models in their first race of the Red, White and Blue series, Grand American Modifieds, Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks and Auto Soccer competitions. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with the green flag waving at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for Adults, $7 for Juniors / Seniors and Military and Kids 11 and under are Always Free!!!
Tucson Raceway Park Results from Saturday, May 7, 2005
Super Late Models Main Event: 1. Brice Bonnett, 2. Mike Egurola, 3. Pat Bush, 4. Joe Paladenic, 5. Chuck Wares, 6. Dusty Fielden, 7. Larry Kayton, 8. Ron Norman, 9. Chad Bowden, 10. Kelly Germain, 11. Matt Levin
Heat 1: 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Pat Bush, 3. Mike Egurola, 4. Dusty Fielden, 5. Chad Bowden, 6. Jean Schilling
Heat 2: 1. Joe Paladenic, 2. Larry Kayton, 3. Brice Bonnett, 4. Ron Norman, 5. Kelly Germain, 6. Matt Levin, 7. Brandon Schilling
Grand American Modifieds Main Event: 1. T.J. Simmons, 2. Carl Thomae, 3. Denver Dodd, 4. Bill Slocum, 5. Pat Bush, 6. P.J. Megna, 7. Jim Rogel
Heat Race: 1. Denver Dodd, 2. P.J. Megna, 3. Carl Thomae, 4. Pat Bush, 5. T.J. Simmons, 6. Bill Slocum, 7. Jim Rogel
Factory Stocks: Main Event: 1. Jerry Gaede, 2. Paul Gastreich, 3. Mike Shipyor, 4. David Rooyakkers, 5. Buddy Tuttle, 6. Alan Levin, 7. Jeremy Smith, 8. Ben Sheppard, 9. John Levin, 10. Mike Levin
Heat 1: 1. Mike Levin, 2. Mike Shipyor, 3. David Rooyakkers, 4. Alan Levin, 5. Jeremy Smith
Heat 2: 1. Jerry Gaede , 2. Paul Gastreich, 3. John Levin, 4. Buddy Tuttle, 5. Ben Sheppard
INEX Legends Main Event: 1. Tim Blodgett, 2. Greg Jayko, 3. Terry Lipscomb, 4. Cassie Gannis, 5. Chris Weilenmann, 6. Kevin Wall, 7. Suave Brachowski, 8. Greg Campbell, 9. Mathew Williams
Heat 1: 1. Mathew Williams, 2. Tim Blodgett, 3. Chris Weilenmann, 4. Terry Lipscomb, 5. Suave Brachowski
Heat 2: 1. Cassie Gannis, 2. Greg Jayko, 3. Greg Campbell, 4. Kevin Wall
INEX Bandoleros Main Event: 1. Steve Sussex, 2. Romano Cionni, 3. Greyson Weaver, 4. Houston Franco, 5. Austin Trebilcock, 6. Blake Leuth, 7. Connor Kassik, 8. Andrew Norman, 9. Jennifer Link, 10. Jacob Corneliusen, 11. Michael Cionni, 12. Tyler Stokes
Heat 1: 1. Romano Cionni, 2. Greyson Weaver, 3. Blake Leuth, 4. Jennifer Link, 5. Michael Cionni, 6. Houston Franco
Heat 2: 1. Steve Sussex, 2. Austin Trebilcock, 3. Connor Kassik, 4. Andrew Norman, 5. Forrest Sussex, 5. Tyler Stokes
