WARES WINS FIRST SUPER LATE MODEL MAIN EVENT IN 2003

Source: Tucson Raceway Park Public Relations
Date: 05/18/2003

The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Chuck Wares post his first win of the 2003 season in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-lap main event on Arizona Honda night at the races.

Wares came into the action on the heels of five consecutive second place finishes. He didn’t take command in this race until lap 24, when he passed Joe Paladenic.

The race was plagued with two yellow flags before one lap was run, prompting a single file start. Wares was forced to begin the race sixth in line and didn’t reach the top five to stay until lap four.

Wares was elated and relieved in his post race comments, “We’ve been struggling a little this season, after winning so many last year it was a little different coming in second. I need to thank my crew for working so hard to get me back in the winner’s circle.”

Behind Wares was Sierra Vista’s Joe Paladenic in second. For Paladenic it marked his highest finish of season to go along with a fourth and a fifth.

Four-time winner Branden Bonnett was third, while John Sweeney was fourth, his third such finish of the campaign, with Billy Kann of Tempe in fifth, his first top five finish of the year.

In the NASCAR Grand American Modified Main Event P.J. Megna won the 25-lap feature. His first win ever at the Grand American Modified Division.

For Megna it marked his first win in three years dating back to his Factory Stock days. He was beaming from the winner’s circle; “It feels great! I have to thank my mother and father for hanging in there with me. The last couple of years have been a struggle, but I’d like to think we’ll do this again.”

The 28-year old Tucsonan’s best performance this season prior to tonight was a sixth place finish back on April 5. Megna led the feature dash from start to finish.

Behind Megna across the finish line was Billy Johanneck from Phoenix in second place, Dusty Fielden in third, Ruben Federico for the second week in a row in fourth and Chad Bowden, who came in on a two race win streak finished in fifth.

The NASCAR Mighty Compact main event saw Chris Bates post his second straight win in the 20-lap feature.

Bates led from start to finish as he topped Russell Bratka defending division champ and three-time winner in 2003. For Bates he has now led for 40 Main Event Laps over the last two weeks.

“It was great to win. I would like to thank my wife, crew, friends and sponsors,” said Bates. “We looked at the car after the heat races, made a few adjustments and just worked hard in feature and came away with a tough win,” he added.

The race saw one yellow flag on lap 13 when Jeff Dwight and Gary Goodrich got together on the backstretch. After the cars traded paint Dwight brushed the wall loosing a tire and having to leave the race.

It allowed the field to draw close to Bates, but by the checkered flag there was no doubt he had his second straight win in the Mighty Compact feature.

In the Hornets 30-lap Main Event Rod Nielson topped the field and posted his first win in this novice division of car racing.

Following Nielson across the finish line was Richard Hill, running third was James Badertscher, while Karl Griggs, the winner of the last Hornet dash was fourth and Eric Bennett finished fifth.

The race saw mayhem and fire and wild action for 30 laps, a signature of the newest racing division at Tucson Raceway Park. The good news all participants were o.k. and looking forward to next Hornet competition on Saturday, July 5.

The Tuff Trux returned to Tucson Raceway Park and Grant Wilson topped the field of 18 competitors covering the course in 45.977 seconds.

This timed struggle of man; machine and racecourse saw two contestants roll over in the final round of competition but were able to hold on for fourth and fifth place. Following Wilson was Ruben Federico, who finished second, while Carl Husted was third, followed by Tomas Melero, who won the last Tuff Trux competition in fourth and Tom Baird in fifth. The Tuff Trux return on Thursday, July 3.

In tonight’s Tug of War Showdown between the Mighty Compact Division Drivers and the Grand American Modified Drivers it was all GAM participants, who pulled to victory in a record 11.749 seconds.

Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks and The Specialists’ Spectacular Drags all presented by the Tucson Shopper.

MAIN EVENT

1. Chuck Wares, 2. Joe Paladenic, 3. Branden Bonnett, 4. John Sweeney, 5. Billy Kann, 6. Ron Norman, 7. Mike Egurola, 8. Ron Wear, 9. Wayne Cassidy, 10. Buddy Nelson, 11. Ron Searle, 12. Chris Barr

TROPHY DASH

1. John Sweeney, 2. Chuck Wares, 3. Joe Paladenic, 4. Ron Norman, 5. Billy Kann, 6. Branden Bonnett

HEAT TWO

1. Ron Searle, 2. Ron Wear, 3. Wayne Cassidy, 4. Mike Egurola, 5. Chris Barr, 6. Buddy Nelson

FAST TIME

Chuck Wares - 15.766 seconds

MAIN EVENT

1. P.J. Megna, 2. Billy Johanneck, 3. Dusty Fielden, 4. Ruben Federico, 5. Chad Bowden, 6. Dennis Fetter, 7. Larry Kayton, 8. Patrick Bush, 9. Denver Dodd, 10. Steve Piper, 11. Cris Pastika, 12. Jim Rogel

HEAT ONE

1. P.J. Megna, 2. Dennis Fetter, 3. Billy Johanneck, 4. Patrick Bush, 5. Denver Dodd, 6. Cris Pastika

HEAT TWO

1. Dusty Fielden, 2. Ruben Federico, 3. Larry Kayton, 4. Steve Piper, 5. Chad Bowden, 6. Jim Rogel

MAIN EVENT

1. Chris Bates, 2. Russell Bratka, 3. Ken Barnett, 4. Wade Simmons, 5. Clayton Clark, 6. Mike Vaughn, 7. Gary Goodrich, 8. Ron Catlin, 9. Rick Wood, Jr., 10. Jeff Dwight

HEAT ONE

1. Clayton Clark, 2. Rick Wood, Jr., 3. Ron Catlin, 4. Mike Vaughn

HEAT TWO

1. Russell Bratka, 2. Chris Bates, 3. Ken Barnett, 4. Gary Goodrich, 5. Wade Simmons, 6. Jeff Dwight

MAIN EVENT

1. Rod Nielson, 2. Richard Hill, 3. James Badertscher, 4. Karl Griggs, 5. Eric Bennett, 6. Resolve Savage, 7. Tammy Lynn, 8. John Callans, 9. Josh Burdick, 10. Mark Staggs, 11. Jeff Badertscher, 12. Richard Jisko, 13. John Furrier, 14. Jim Wilson, 15. Alan Hardesty, 16. Nick Cameron, 17. Jerome Zane, 18. John Hudson, 19. J.D. Badertscher

MAIN EVENT

1. Grant Wilson, 2. Ruben Federico, 3. Carl Husted, 4. Tomas Melero, 5. Tom Baird

FASTEST TIME

Grant Wilson - 44.281 seconds

See Also .:

• Tucson Raceway Park Track Page

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