The showdown came to an end Saturday night before a record 1,400 fans at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s 3/8-mile paved oval when Chris Lowden was crowned track champion in the NASCAR Late Model division.
Lowden trailed Scott Gafforini by 10 points going into the season finale. He needed to finish seven places ahead of Gafforini to earn the title.
The feat seemed impossible after Lowden spun early in the 40-lap feature and was forced to the pit area with suspension damage. Thanks to another caution, his crew was able to fix the no. 11 machine and get it back on the track without losing a lap.
"We never really gave up," said Lowden. "At first, we wanted to hurry up and get it fixed, and we did. But it was luck that gave us the extra time to get back out without losing a lap."
Lowden charged through the pack seeking the title, but Gafforini was racing strong in the fourth-place position. The scene changed drastically at halfway when Ken Holt hit the rear of Gafforini’s car forcing the points leader out of the race.
"It was unfortunate that this event happened. We worked really hard for this championship for Fletcher Jones Jr., and to lose it on the final night is unfortunate," said Gafforini. "For as young as they are, my team has been very dedicated and professional this whole year. Regardless of what happened, we know that we are a championship level team."
Kurt Busch, winner of the main event, shared victory lane with Lowden as he celebrated his first championship of his three-year racing career.
"When I saw that Gafforini-Holt-Spilsbury incident unfold, I just couldn’t believe it," said Lowden. "I asked my crew how far back Scotty was, and they wouldn’t tell me. When the checkered fell I asked them again and they said he had parked it a long time ago. I just couldn’t believe it.
"I feel lucky most of all. Scotty has worked very hard this year. At the end of the day it is perhaps racing luck. You could not have asked for a more dramatic finish to a season."
In the Grand American Modified division, Fabian Bray and Rick Rochelle took home feature wins while Doug Hamm captured the title.
"It was good to win the championship, but I want to support all of the people who have supported me," Hamm said. "My family, friends and sponsors made me the 1999 track champion."
Rookie Kyle Busch captured the victory in the Legends feature as well as the series title.
"It is a great deal. It has been a lot of work this year for us. My dad has done most of the work, and I have to thank my brother, Kurt, for setting up the car," said the 15-year-old. "This is my first full competitive year of racing. That makes it that much better. It wasn’t that easy. There are a lot of great drivers out there. Tyree Brown struggled at the beginning of the year, but he got back out and was right there last night."
Other champions were Mark Schottmuller in Mini Stock, Jack Bass in Street Stock and Alex Haase in Bandoleros. The Limited Late Model results are under review.
NASCAR WINSTON RACING SERIES – September 11, 1999 – Unofficial Results
NASCAR LATE MODELS
First Heat – 1. Kurt Busch; 2. Scotty Gafforini; 3. Greg Schindler; 4. Jerry Spilsbury; 5. George Antill.
Second Heat – 1. Gerald Lair; 2. Rich Attisani; 3. Ken Holt; 4. Chuck Trickle; 5. Sam Crow.
Third Heat – 1. Dick Cobb; 2. Joe Kirsch; 3. Chris Lowden; 4. Richard Bridges; 5. Dave Quartaro; 6. Randy Becker; 7. Joe Chapman.
Main Event – 1. Kurt Busch; 2. Dick Cobb; 3. Gerald Lair; 4. Dave Quartaro; 5. Chris Lowden; 6. Richard Bridges; 7. Chuck Trickle; 8. Eric Martin; 9. Randy Becker; 10. Rich Attisani; 11. Sam Crow; 12. Joe Kirsch; 13. John Manke; 14. Mike Flake; 15. Scott Gafforini; 16. Jerry Spilsbury; 17. Lance Magin; 18. Greg Schindler; 19. George Antill; 20. Rick Chelberg; 21. Joe Chapman.
GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIEDS
First Main Event – 1. Fabian Bray; 2. Kurt Busch; 3. Randy Swalwell; 4. Jerry Walton; 5. Jack Dessaints; 6. Tim Richter; 7. T.J. Clark; 8. Doug Hamm; 9. Greg Albright; 10. Pat Petrie Jr.; 11. Greg Haase; 12. Rick Rochelle; 13. Ken Boardman; 14. David Boardman; 15. Bill Vint Jr.; 16. Jim Petrie; 17. Rick Durica.
Second Main Event – 1. Rick Rochelle; 2. Greg Haase; 3. Fabian Bray; 4. David Boardman; 5. Randy Swalwell; 6. Pat Petrie Jr.; 7. Jerry Walton; 8. Jim Petrie; 9. Tim Richter; 10. Ken Boardman; 11. T.J. Clark; 12. Doug Hamm; 13. Rick Durica; 14. Greg Albright; 15. Kurt Busch; 16. Jack Dessaints.
LEGENDS
First Heat – 1. Kurt Busch; 2. Jimmy Spillar; 3. Michael Hansen; 4. Greg Albright; 5. Paul Pate.
Second Heat – 1. Kyle Busch; 2. Les Bunte; 3. Greg Haase; 4. Kurt Minnick; 5. Joe Christensen.
Third Heat – 1. Steve Legg; 2. Bob Woodsford Sr.; 3. Gary Warren; 4. Chris Clyne; 5. Bill Everett; 6. Brian Kizer; 7. Dennis Jeanbuenat.
Fourth Heat – 1. Blake Hansen; 2. Bob Ruppert Jr.; 3. Tyree Brown; 4. Chris Sutton.
Main Event – 1.Kyle Busch; 2. Kurt Busch; 3. Blake Hansen; 4. Tyree Brown; 5. Ron Stone; 6. Bob Ruppert Jr.; 7. Les Bunte; 8. Steve Legg; 9. Bob Woodsford Sr.; 10. Jimmy Spillar; 11. Greg Albright; 12. Gary Warren; 13. Greg Haase; 14. Chris Clyne; 15. Chris Sutton; 16. Kurt Minnick; 17. Charlie Wahl; 18. Dennis Jeanbuenat; 19. Joe Christensen; 20. Cyndi Gaskin; 21. Jim Galza; 22. Michael Hansen; 23. Paul Pate; 24. Morris Sealy; 25. Steve Peters; 26. Daren Rabago; 27. Brian Kizer; 28. Jeff Perkins.
LIMITED LATE MODELS
First Heat – 1. Garry Fuller; 2. Dave Quartaro; 3. Mark Ayers; 4. Joey Kerekes; 5. Keith Danser. Second Heat – 1. Glen Burke; 2. Jim Dawson; 3. John Spilotro; 4. Larry Sunderland; 5. Stoney Gray.
Main Event – 1. Dave Quartaro; 2. Glen Burke; 3. Stoney Gray; 4. Mark Ayers; 5. Larry Sunderland; 6. Ron Moffatt; 7. Jim Dawson; 8. Garry Fuller; 9. John Spilotro; 10. Len DeJoria; 11. Dennis Rock Jr.; 12. Keith Danser; 13. Thane Alderman; 14. Joey Kerekes; 15. John Fayt.
BANDOLEROS
Main Event – 1. Johnny Ray; 2. Jim Bunty Jr.; 3. Spencer Clark; 4. Joey Mogar; 5. Justin Johnson; 6. Joshua Gross; 7. Alex Haase; 8. Eric Chelberg; 9. Zach Woodsford.
MINI STOCK
Main Event – 1. Mark Schotmuller; 2. Roger Kingsland; 3. Shane Coons; 4. Mike Aleknewicus; 5. Tony Leonard; 6. Keith Merrell; 7. Rich Schotmuller.
