The Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, dropped the green flag on round two of their 2011 season, April 16th, at the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway. When the checkers fell on the CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food 75, it was Las Vegas veteran Doug Hamm who parked his open wheel modified in the Sunoco victory lane after scoring his first series win.
When you consider the bad racing luck Hamm endured during the final portion of 2010, combined with a devastating start to the new racing season last month, this first series win was a dream come true. It was also a very popular win among the fans as well as the driver's fellow competitors.
The Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway, located in Blythe-California, is a challenging quarter mile bull ring. There was a time when Hamm would not have listed this particular speedway among his favorite racing venues. But, after collecting the $1,000 winner's check, it's a good possibility that opinion has changed.
But getting to the Sunoco Fuels victory lane was not an easy accomplishment for the veteran driver. The process began during qualifying where Arizona's Chris Gerchman won the bonus award for setting the Budweiser Fast Time. The pre race inversion ceremony turned up the number five which placed drivers Dave Arce and Aaron McMorran on the front row for the 75 lap feature.
Right from the start of the race McMorran jumped into the lead and quickly proved that he had the right set up for the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway. By lap 20 of the race, Hamm moved into second with reigning series champion Jim Mardis behind him in third. This trio would become the focal point of the race and were often locked to together like a freight train.
Coming off of lap 36 McMorran and Hamm were racing side by side. One circuit later Hamm worked his way into the lead only to lose it again, due to a caution flag, before he could complete a lap as the new race leader. Choosing to give the fans a full 75 laps of green flag racing, the series does not count yellow caution flag laps. In this case the official scoring reverted back to the previously completed lap which reinstated McMorran back into the lead.
Back under green flag conditions again, the same top three drivers resumed their freight train style of driving with McMorran fending off repeated challenges from Hamm. It appeared that this talented young driver, also from Las Vegas, was going to hang on to the lead and score his first series win.
But that all unravelled, following the conclusion of lap 71, when Hamm finally was able to get underneath the race leader coming out of turn one. That race winning move also left enough racing room for Jim Mardis to slide underneath McMorran to take over third. That particular move also earned Mardis the bonus for the Magnaflow Exhaust Products' Clean Pass of the race.
Finishing fourth was series veteran Tim Morse. Earlier in the evening the Burbank-California driver received the $200 bonus for winning the Dart Machinery Trophy Dash. Completing the top five was Doug Carpenter who did a nice job of working his way to the electronic scoreboard after starting the race from the mid pack area. Because of that effort, Carpenter was awarded the E3 Spark Plugs Hard Charger Award after the race.
After parking his car in the Sunoco Fuels victory lane, a very happy Doug Hamm said "this is awesome, it's the best feeling I could have right now after winning one of these events especially after the way we had to race for it especially with Aaron and Mardis. I've just got to thank all of my sponsors especially Sonny Beckman for putting me in this car as well as Jimmy Parker, the entire crew, Discount Dumpsters, Silver State Truck and Trailer, Vegas Machine, Stout Roofing, Mahon 3 H&B and Salm Engineering. Mike Salm was grateful for us buying this car from him and now we've put it in victory lane, I love it."
Commenting on the final laps of the CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food 75, Hamm said the 22, (McMorran), was running a great race but we had a car that was just a little bit better on the long run. He started getting a little loose off of (turn) four, we had a hole with a couple of laps to go and we went for it. Aaron's a great competitor and we just raced for the checkers."
Additionally commenting on having to deal with a hard charging Jim Mardis during the final three laps, the race winner said "that 51, (Mardis), what else can you say? He's tough wherever goes and that's why he's the champ. He gave just a little leeway on the last lap and I was hoping to keep it all in one piece to bring it home."
Jim Mardis was also smiling after the race and said "it was a lot of fun from where I was sitting. Our Rockstar-Makita car was fast tonight but we only bought two tires tonight and kind of handicapped ourselves a little bit but I knew in the long runs we would be okay. The 22 car, (McMorran), and Doug, (Hamm), kind of beat on each other for awhile so I just let them do their thing hoping that maybe they would take each other out or figure it out. Finally Doug got by with a couple of laps to go and I did everything I could but spin him to get by. Second is not a bad night, it's good for the points so we'll take it. I love this race track. We've got a little bit of work to do and I could improve a little bit but I'll take second. Doug got his first win, and I hate finishing second, but Doug is an awesome guy and congratulations to him."
Making it a point to thank his supporters, Mardis said "I've really got to thank Rockstar Energy Drink, Makita Tools, Jam Sportswear, Scoreboard Two Bar and Grill, Premiere Wraps and Arce Racing who is just awesome. I also have to thank Dave and Daniel, the other Dave, and everybody who helps us. I'm not a one man band so I really don't have to do that much anymore so it makes these nights really fun."
Despite slipping to third during the final moments of the race, Aaron McMorran had a smile on his face and was justifiably proud of his race team. "We definitely didn't have the fastest car out there by any means but we did everything we could to stay out front and we led 71 laps. I really think that we showed these guys that we are really going to be a force on the tour this year," he said.
The young Las Vegas native made it a point to thank his supporters saying "we have Absolute Air Technologies out of Phoenix, that's my uncle, and we have Jack's Machine Shop who has sponsored me with motors since I was 16 years old. Also there's Wahl Traction, Sonny Wahl, along with my step father, my mom, my grandpa and all my crew guys. We have a large team effort with about 15 guys who work on this thing."
To say that the CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food 75 was a little on the aggressive side would be a major understatement. This race had nine yellow caution flags which is totally uncharacteristic for the series. Greg Scheidecker, promoter of the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Racing Series, said "the spectators tonight really go their dollars worth without doubt. What's really a shame is: when the spectators are that excited it's usually the result of carnage on the race track. Aggressive would be a very good word for our race tonight. In any situation, this is still short track racing. Sometimes things happen, and tempers flare, but it's still Saturday night racing."
Examining the top five finishers of his race, Scheidecker said " Doug Hamm has paid his dues. The Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway for a long time has been a race track that doesn't favor Doug Hamm's style of driving. But let me tell you, after he finished third here last year and then coming back to win this one, Doug knows the secret and he knows what it takes to get around here."
The series is well known for its competitive blend of veteran drivers and young newcomers hoping to launch their racing careers. "In all of racing the drivers are getting younger and younger. We have a generation gap in our series that sometimes rubs people the wrong way but, at the same time, you've got to give these young people respect but they also have to pay their dues," Scheidecker said.
The series returns to action, on May 14th, with the running of the GEICO Powersports 75 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. This is expected to be a exciting event because this race track is larger and faster, at three eights of a mile, as well as wider which means better passing opportunity.
This outstanding racing series is strongly supported by a highly potent marketing concept known as "Team Lucas." Team members include Lucas Oil Products, Magnaflow Exhaust Products, E3 Spark Plugs, General Tire, K&N Performance Filters, GEICO Powersports, CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food, MAV-TV, Dart Machinery, Rockstar Energy Drink and Mastercraft Safety Equipment.
The series is also strongly supported by a group of associate sponsors featuring Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tire West, Budweiser, Blue Water Resort and Casino, Sunoco Race Fuels, Frank's Radio and Racing Plus.
