TUCSON, Arizona -- The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series returned to Tucson Raceway Park for Arizona's version of "All-stars". The fifth different winner in five Super Late Model races put Super Late Model rookie, Larry Kayton, in victory lane. P.J. Megna won his consecutive Grand American Modified feature while Mike Vaughan won his fourth Mighty Compact event. Matt Williams charged to a INEX Legend Car win and Blake Leuth won with a crash marred INEX Bandolero feature.
The NASCAR Super Late Model event had Larry Kayton earn his first win as a Super Late Model driver and was the fifth different winner in as many races. Kayton, a Phoenix native made his move to asphalt racing in the NASCAR Grand American Modified division and stepped up to the Super Late Model's this season. Kayton and his wife, Penny, also recently adopted twins to the racing family. With his wife tending to the new family at home, Larry Kayton was determined to bring home good news with his first win. Kayton started in ninth position after a first lap mad dash with 3 wide racing moving Kayton into third spot with pole sitter, Brandon Bonnett, former champion now based out of Penske Racing Shops in North Carolina, able to use his position to lead the first 6 laps. Outside pole sitter, Chad Bowden, brought out the caution flag on lap two with a flat right front tire and was able to keep the car off the wall and return to the race. On the restart, Brandon Bonnett charged ahead bringing along defending champion, Ron Norman, Kayton and rookie Kelly Germain. Kayton turned up the heat and powered past Norman for the second spot on lap five. As the smoke flew from Brandon Bonnett with a tire rubbing on his fender, Kayton made his way into the lead on lap seven. Bonnett maintained second position as the battle for third got 3 wide as Ron Norman, Dusty Fielden and Joe Paladenic jockeyed for position. Norman, battling a growing tire with a stuck tire bleeder, gave way to Paladenic and Fielden. Paladenic got loose on lap 14 and Fielden went to the bottom for the pass. Paladenic gathered it up and ran side by side with Fielden. They battled for 10 laps and again, on lap 25, Paladenic got loose and Fielden took the advantage and moved into third. Hard charging, Matt Levin and Brice Bonnett, who suffered engine problems all night, battled for fifth. Levin made the charge on Paladenic with two laps to go as Fielden got side by side with Brandon Bonnett for second. With his first Super Late Model win, Kayton went to victory lane as Brandon Bonnett got the best finish of the brothers in second, Fielden took home third, points leader Joe Paladenic ended up fourth and Matt Levin took fifth.
The NASCAR Grand American Modifieds returned with P.J. Megna getting his second consecutive win. Megna powered past pole sitter, Bill Slocum, to lead the first three laps of the 25 lap main event. Denver Dodd took the lead from Megna on lap four and held the top spot for two laps when Megna was able to muscle past Dodd for the top spot. Megna kept the field at bay and moved the battle for second between Dodd and Carl Thomae. Dodd and Thomae battled for the position until lap 23 when Dodd developed engine problems and brought the caution out with fluids on the track. A green, white, checkered finish gave the opportunity for Thomae to get his long awaited first win. Megna held the point on the restart as Thomae dove to the inside and pressured Megna for the lead. With the white flag waiving Thomae got loose and pushed up the track into Megna. They traded paint and slowed but Megna got to the line first to win his second feature event of the season. Thomae took the bridesmaid spot again in second, rookie, T.J. Simmons came home in third after solving clutch problems and Bill Slocum ran fourth and Denver Dodd rounded out the top five.
The NASCAR Mighty Compact division had defending track champion, Mike Vaughan grab his second consecutive win and the fourth win of the season. Vaughan was able to maneuver past pole sitter, Robert VonColln and David Bosley to the top spot. Jim Bates, who came into the night tied in points with Vaughan, moved into second past the "Flying Dutchman" Robert VonColln. Vaughan pulled away from the field and put rookie, Larry Frankenstein of Sedona one lap down. The battle for fourth position heated up as David Bosley and Jason Neve worked each other over for the position. With three laps to go, Bosley and Neve traded some paint and sent Neve spinning in turn four, bringing out the caution. Bates used the caution to his advantage and on the restart dove to the inside of Vaughan. As they battled to the checkered, Vaughan held on to grab the win, Bates got second, Robert VonColln got his best finish yet in third, David Bosley came in fourth and Jason Neve recovered from his spin to grab the fifth position.
INEX Legend Cars returned with a fast and furious 20 lap main event. Energized by an additional three race events added to their schedule in 2005, the Legend main event saw Gregg Campbell use his pole position to lead the first lap. Greg Jayko powered past Campbell and took the lead on lap two. Matt Williams used his Legend Car experience and snuck by Jayko for the lead on lap four. Williams pulled away as the battle for second spot wasn't decided until the last lap. Campbell, Jayko and Chris Weilenmann swapped positions each lap. Weilenmann, from Prescott, gained the advantage and took over third position. With time running out, Williams won his second Legend Car feature, Jayko held off Weilenmann for second by 1 foot and Campbell took home fourth and Wes Fry rounded out the top five.
A 15 lap main event for the INEX Bandoleros had Blake Leuth grabbing his second win in 2005. Pole Sitter, Andrew Norman, led the first eight laps until slow traffic and a hard charging Houston Franco pressured Norman going into turn four. Norman's car got loose and spun while clipping the rear of Franco. The caution flew as Norman and Jacob Corneliusen were relegated to the pits, Franco stayed on the track and restarted from the rear. Blake Leuth took over the lead on the restart and was able to hold off Connor Kassik of Lake Havasu and Austin Trebilcock. "Blazin" Blake Leuth pulled off his second win, Kassik came home in second, Trebilcock held on for third, Greyson Weaver got fourth, Houston Franco recovered from his earlier spin and pulled home fifth.
Next Saturday, May 28, at Tucson Raceway Park O'Rielly Chevrolet and Quik Mart will present the Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks and Spectacular Drags (where anyone can bring their street legal car on the track for one on one drags). Gates open at 5:00 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00. Admission is $10 for Adults, $7 for Juniors, Seniors and Military and Kids 11 & Under are always free! For more information contact (520) 762-9200 or visit www.tucsonracewaypark.com.
Tucson Raceway Park results for Saturday, May 21, 2005
Super Late Models Main Event: 1. Larry Kayton, 2. Brandon Bonnett, 3. Dusty Fielden, 4. Joe Paladenic, 5. Matt Levin, 6. Brice Bonnett, 7. Kelly Germain, 8. Mike Egurola, 9. Ron Norman, 10. Chris Barr, 11. Richard Kerr, 12. Chad Bowden, 13. Mark Cirillo
Heat Race One: 1. Ron Norman, 2. Kelly Germain, 3. Chad Boden, 4. Matt Levin, 5. Larry Kayton, 6. Chris Bar
Heat Race Two: 1. Dust Fielden, 2. Brandon Bonnett, 3. Joe Paladenic, 4. Mike Egurola, 5. Brice Bonnett, 6. Richard Kerr, 7. Mark Cirillo, 8. Dennis Slaughter
Grand American Modifieds Main Event: 1. P.J. Megna, 2. Carl Thomae, 3. T.J. Simmons, 4. Bill Slocum, 5. Denver Dodd
Heat Race: 1. P.J. Megna, 2. Carl Thomae, 3. Bill Slocum, 4. Denver Dodd, 5. T.J. Simmons
Mighty Compacts Main Event: 1. Mike Vaughan, 2. Jim Bates, 3. Robert VonColln, 4. David Bosley, 5. Jason Neve, 6. Tammy Lynn, 7. Dan Ritenour, 8. Larry Frankenstein
Heat Race One: 1. Mike Vaughan, 2. Jim Bates, 3. Jason Neve, 4. Larry Frankenstein
Heat Race Two: 1. Robert VonColln, 2. David Bosley, 3. Tammy Lynn, 4. Dan Ritenour
INEX Legends Main Event: 1. Matthew Williams, 2. Greg Jayko, 3. Chris Weilenmann, 4. Greg Campbell, 5. Wes Fry, 6. Cassie Gannis, 7. Suave Brachowski, 8. Kevin Wall, 9. J. Neighbors
Heat Race One: 1. Matthew Williams, 2. Chris Wilenmann, 3. Suave Brachowski 4. Kevin Wall, 5. J. Neighbors
Heat Race Two: 1. Greg Campbell, 2. Greg Jayko, 3. Wes Fry, 4. Cassie Gannis
INEX Bandoleros Main Event: 1. Blake Leuth, 2. Connor Kassik, 3. Austin Trebilcock, 4. Greysen Weaver, 5. Houston Franco, 6. Jennifer Link, 7. Tyler Stokes, 8. Romano Cionni, 9. Forrest Sussex, 10. Andrew Norman, 11. Jacob Corneliusen, 12. Michael Cionni, 13. Stevie Sussex
Heat Race One: 1. Greysen Weaver, 2. Connor Kassik, 3. Blake Leuth, 4. Jennifer Link, 5. Romano Cionni, 6. Michael Cionni
Heat Race Two: 1. Stevie Sussex, 2. Austin Trebilcock, 3. Andrew Norman, 4. Tyler Stokes, 5. Houston Franco, 6. Forrest Sussex, 7. Jacob Corneliusen
