SIXTH DIFFERENT WINNER IN SIX SUPER LATE MODEL RACES AT TUCSON RACEWAY PARK

TUCSON, Arizona -- Memorial Day racing was completed after numerous rain delays and the sixth different winner in as many races for the Super Late Model rain shortened feature was Brandon Bonnett. Scott Strachan scored his second NASCAR Late Model win while Mike Vaughan led the last two laps and pocketed his fifth Mighty Compact win. Factory Stock driver, Paul Gastreich won his second Factory Stock feature event with an impressive win.

Brandon Bonnett returned back to his home track for the second week in a row to win the rain shortened Super Late Model feature event. Bonnett, who took a second week off from Penske Racing Shops in North Carolina had come off a previous second place finish. Bonnett and Matt Levin made up the front row for the start of the scheduled 30 lap main event. They kept their side by side position for the first 10 laps. Bonnett led lap one when Levin got his car nose in front and led laps two through seven. Bonnett edged ahead on lap eight and finally moved in front of Levin on lap 10. Levin then had to hold off a hard charging Mike Egurola for the second spot. The battle for fourth was a four way tussle between Dusty Fielden, Joe Paladenic, Larry Kayton and Chad Bowden as they raced three wide for position when Fielden came out ahead. As the sprinkles of rain kept falling the caution flew on lap 17. Officials decided the rain was too heavy and the checkered flag flew for Brandon Bonnett driving the 07 Dix Motorsports car. Matt Levin hung on to second, Mike Egurola came in third, Dusty Fielden took fourth and Joe Paladenic rounded out the top five.

Scott Strachan scored his second NASCAR Late Model win of the 2005 season. Strachan, who started in fifth gained positions when pole sitter, Matt Levin, was sent to the pits with a fuel leak. Joey Maytorena who would have started in row two also had mechanical problems and relinquished his starting spot. Strachan powered his way to the lead while Brad Moyer got by Scott Walker for second place. Gary Alvarez, making his first race of the season, settled in third and Robin “BoomBoom” Boomgaarden held unto fourth. Brandon Schilling muscled past Boomgaarden on lap eight and began to pressure Alvarez for position when Schilling developed electrical problems and left the track for the pits. Tim Blodgett, coming off a first race win, took over fourth. Caution flew for debris on lap 14. One the restart, Strachan and Moyer battled for the lead racing side by side until Moyer slipped in turn two and Strachan regained the top spot. Strachan kept steady and won his second NASCAR Late Model main event. Blodgett ended up second, his fifth bridesmaid finish, Gary Alvarez came in third, Robin Boomgaarden fourth and Brad Moyer held on to get the fifth spot.

The Mighty Compact event had Mike Vaughan grab his fifth win of 2005. Pole sitter, Dan Ritenour led the field to the green with Robert VonColln on his outside. VonColln jumped to the lead and began to pull away from the pack. Mike Vaughan ran down David Bosley and took over second. Jim Bates maneuvered past Bosley and moved into third. VonColln , a former drag racer in his rookie season as a Mighty Compact driver, maintained the lead while Mike Vaughan hunted VonColln down. With three laps to go in the 20 lap main event, Vaughan caught VonColln and they raced side by side with Vaughan leading at the line by inches. VonColln went high in turn four as the white flag flew. The “Flying Dutchman” VonColln regained his momentum and charged for the lead. At the finish line, Mike Vaughan got his fifth win by two feet over VonColln. Jim Bates gathered third, David Bosley in fourth and Jason Neve in fifth.

The Factory Stock main event was won by Paul Gastreich. Pole Sitter, Brian Harrington, Jr. in his first race of the season took the early lead in the 20 lap main event. Mike Levin moved into second with John Levin in third. Mike Shipyor powered into third past John Levin on lap three. Gastreich made his move on Shipyor and took over the third position on lap five. Gastreich was on a rail as he took the lead from Brian Harrington, Jr. on lap seven and began to pull away. The battle for second was a four way melee between Harrington, Jr., Shipyor, Jerry Gaede and Mike Levin. The four drivers traded paint and positions until the checkered flag. Paul Gastreich won his second Factory Stock main event, Mike Shipyor survived and finished second, Brian Harrington, Jr. got the third position, Jerry Gaede ended up fourth and Mike Levin rounded out the top five.

Next Week on Saturday, June 4th - SuperCuts presents the Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Factory Stocks, INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with Racing beginning at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for Adults, $7 for Juniors, Seniors and Military and Kids 11 & Under are always Free!

Tucson Raceway Park Results - May 28, 2005