The weather was once again a Home Run and visitors from all across North America had come to see the Soul of NASCAR at Tucson Raceway Park "Where Racers are Made and Legends are Born."
With the Winter Thrill event timelines in place through the end of March, racing got underway at 3:30 pm with the Lucas Oil NASCAR Late Model qualifying and once again, Scott Ruescheberg set the mark with his Blue Oval Ford. Rueschenberg had set quick time on opening day and won the Feature his last time out so it was no surprise when he set on top of the hill.
The Lucas Oil Trophy Dash saw Joe Paladenic in Victory Lane sporting a new paint job as he thrilled the crowd with his well deserved win over Victor Pfluger and Dave Larson.
The five classes of action started with the TRP Bomber Lites heat race and Karl Griggs would take the win over Kyle Milburg and Mike Schaffer. The TRP Bombers were swept up by Rick "The Butler" Butler over Shawn Austin. The NASCAR Sport Compact class keeps growing and Veteran David Bosley made his TRP return fruitful with a win over last week's winner, Josh Davis. The NASCAR Factory Stocks also keep growing with the addition of Joel Johnson to the field but the end result was the same as usual as last year's champion, Tom Mikla, won again over Loren "Shef" Sheffield and Ray Johnson sporting a new paint job on the DJ Safety number 24.
The first of two Lucas Oil NASCAR Late Model heat races saw front row starters Duane Hunt Jr. and Ned Champine finish where they started with Mike Egurola taking a well deserved third. The second heat was much different as last week's feature winner; Rueschenberg would start in the rear and patiently work his way up to second behind Paladenic at the finish with Brian Harrington Jr., taking third.
After a twenty minute intermission, where children hit the midway for face painting and a Monster Truck jumping castle, while adults sampled the new selection of various adult beverages in the newly remodeled TRP Beer Well, it would be time for the GAS City feature events.
The TRP Bomber Lites were first up and with ¾ of a lap in, contact put young Ashley Woolridge into the 3rd turn wall causing a lengthy red flag situation to get her out of her brand new ride for a short trip to the hospital for a check up. We have received news that young Ashley is a little sore, but otherwise OK! When the race was restarted, the action would be hot and heavy with Mike Schaffer holding off Karl Griggs until two to go as Griggs would make the inside pass and take another win over Schaffer and hard charging Jason Davis.
The "Butler" would lead flag to flag in the TRP Bomber class and thrill the crowd after the checkers with a thrilling display of one handed smoking donuts with the crowd on their feet!
The NASCAR Sport Compact division was next to take the high banks and at the end of fifteen laps it was Bosley over the 2007 Rookie of the Year, Karen Heyse, returning to TRP for the first time this season. Rookie Cindy Martinez would take a well deserve4d third over husband Jon.
The NASCAR Factory Stock feature was again a great race between the Fast Racing teammates of Mikla and Sheffield with Mikla taking yet another win over "Shef" and Ray Johnson. Due to Mikla's domination of the division, both last season and in the first three races of this season with his GM Crate engine Camaro, TRP Competition Director assessed a forty pound penalty weight on Mikla's ride to help level the playing field for next weeks 20 lapper. Stay tuned! Will this slow the ever popular "Lighting McQueen" down?
The Lucas Oil NASCAR Late Models were staged on the front straight just before sundown and it was sure to be another great show with Zero/NADA/None Under 21 driver, Dave Larson setting the pace with the 2007 ASA Speedtruck Champion, Victor Pfluger to his right. At the drop of Tony Helm's green flag, Pfluger took the lead with Larson in tow followed by Duane Hunt Sr. While Pfluger set sail out front the exciting battle was between Paladenic and Rueschenberg way out back. At the end of twenty laps, Pfluger was holding court out front with Egurola a distant second while Duane Hunt Jr. held his own battle with Champine as Rueschenberg had gotten around Paladenic. With thirty laps in the books Rueschenberg had worked his way up to third over Hunt Jr., while Paladenic was just holding on to a car that had just lost the handle. With five to go, Rueschenberg was twenty car lengths back of the leading Pfluger and driving his Ford to the Limit. With the crowd on their feet, Rueschenberg closed the gap lap after lap and with one to go the question was could he catch and pass Pfluger. At the checkers it was Pfluger by six feet over point's leader Rueschenberg and Hunt Jr.
Remember that name! Pfluger wins first NASCAR Feature Event after only three tries. Visit your NASCAR Home Track soon where True Racers are made and True Fans are Always Welcome.
