TUCSON, Arizona -- The 2006 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series roared to life at Tucson Raceway Park under blue skies and Southern Arizona sun. Chad Bowden claimed the first NASCAR Super Late Model victory by holding back second place finisher Ron Norman. Norman, who set fast time in qualifying, raced Bowden door to door for the major part of the 30 lap feature on Coca-Cola Night at the Races. Joe Paladenic ended up in third after falling from the pole position to the seventh position due to contact on the first lap. Matt Levin grabbed the fourth position after winning the Trophy Dash and Brice Bonnett fought a loose car to round out the top five.
NASCAR Late Model action running on a new Goodyear race tire program along with an additional rear spoiler and a lighter overall weight saw Brad Moyer take the Trophy Dash win and the 25 lap feature win. Moyer had lots of pressure from rookie, Matt Williams as they battled side by side for 20 laps. Williams, the 2005 INEX Legend Champion in his second NASCAR Late Model race, settled for second place. Alan Levin ended up in third, David Rooyakkers finished fourth after claiming the Factory Stock win earlier in the program. Scott Strachan recovered to finish fifth after loosing the pole position as he was forced to repair his car during pace laps. Rookie Mike Shipyor, set fast time in qualifying at 16.447.
2005 Modified Champion, P.J. Megna, scored the first victory in the new IMCA Modified Division. IMCA sanction and rules were implemented in 2006 for the modifieds who run a different tire and weigh less than the former Grand American Modifieds. Carl Thomae finished second and rookie driver, Chris Stress gathered third after brushing the wall in turn 2 to bring out the races only caution flag.
NASCAR Mini Stocks, formally the Mighty Compacts, saw Chris Bates take his first victory in the main event. Jeff Bennett finished second while Becky Harrington grabbed third. Steve Douglas recovered from an early spin to finish fourth and David Bosley rounded out the top five.
NASCAR Factory Stock main event action saw David Rooyakkers lead the last lap and score the win. Mike Levin who had led 19 of the 20 lap main event ended up second. 2005 Factory Stock champion, Jerry Gaede, held on for third, Alan Levin grabbed fourth and Ken Huizenga finished fifth.
Next Saturday, April 15th, Tucson Raceway Park will host the NASCAR Late Models, Mini Stocks, Factory Stocks, INEX Legends, INEX Bandoleros and the all new Hornet Challenge. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. and Racing begins at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for juniors, seniors and military and kids 11 and under are FREE! For more information contact (520) 762-9200 or visit www.tucsonracewaypark.com
Results for Saturday, April 8, 2006
NASCAR Super Late Models:
Heat One: 1. Matt Levin, 2. Brice Bonnet, 3. Chad Bowden, 4. Ron Norman, 5. Brandon Schilling, 6. Joe Paladenic
Heat Two: 1. Mike Egurola, 2. John Foley, 3. Bobby Collister, 4. Tim Blodgett, 5. TJ Simmons, 6. Curtis Lansing
Main Event: 1. Bowden, 2. Norman, 3. Paladenic, 4. Levin, 5. Bonnett, 6. Schilling, 7. Egurola, 8. Collister, 9. Blodgett, 10. Foley, 11. Simmons, 12. Lansing, 13. JD White
Fast Qualifier: Ron Norman at 15.705
NASCAR Late Models:
Heat One: 1. Brad Moyer, 2. Mathew Williams, 3. Mike Shipyor, 4. Scott Strachan
Heat Two: 1. Alan Levin, 2. Jesse Nekula, 3. David Rooyakkers, 4. Brent Lewis, 5. Joey Maytorena, 6. Duane Hunt, Jr.
Main Event: 1. Moyer, 2. Williams, 3. Levin, 4. Rooyakkers, 5. Strachan, 6. Nekula, 7. Shipyor, 8. Lewis, 9. Maytorena, 10. Hunt, Jr.
Fast Qualifier: Mile Shipyor at 16.447
IMCA Modifieds:
Heat Race: 1. P.J. Megna, 2. Carl Thomae, 3. Chris Stress
Main Event: 1. Megna, 2. Thomae, 3. Stress
NASCAR Mini Stocks
Heat Race: 1. Chris Bates, 2. Jeff Bennett, 3. Jim Bates, 4. David Bosley, 5. Becky Harrington, 6. Terry Bosworth, 7. Steve Douglas
Main Event: 1. Bates, 2. Bennett, 3. Harrington, 4. Douglas, 5. Bosley, 6. Bates, 7. Bosworth
NASCAR Factory Stocks
Heat One: 1. Jerry Gaede, 2. David Rooyakkers, 3. Loren Sheffield, 4. Casey Rohrer, 5. JP Tarabek
Heat Two: 1. Mike Levin, 2. Alan Levin, 3. Ken Huizenga, 4. Ben Shepherd, 5. John Levin, 6. Duane Hunt, Sr., 7. Ken Hunt
Main Event: 1. Rooyakkers, 2. M. Levin, 3. Gaede, 4. A. Levin, 5. Huizenga, 6. shepherd, 7. Sheffield, 8. Rohrer, 9. J. Levin, 10. Hunt, Sr., 11. Hunt, 12. Tarabek
