WARES WINS 100 LAP SUPER LATE MODEL MAIN EVENT AT TUCSON RACEWAY PARK

Source: Tucson Raceway Park Public Relations
Date: 06/08/2003

The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Chuck Wares post his third win of the 2003 season in the NASCAR Super Late Model 100-lap main event on Supercuts and Berryman night at the races.

Wares, who was slotted on the pole after the pre-race pill draw was never headed in the Super Late Model marathon and was able to claim victory this year in a race he was unable to win a year ago.

The race saw two yellow flags fly, the first coming out on lap six when Mike Egurola and John Sweeney got together in the front stretch forcing Egurola from the race and Sweeney to the back of the pack.

The second yellow flag came out when Ron Norman and Branden Bonnett touched fenders on lap 12 causing Bonnett to strike the back wall forcing him from the race.

Wares was relieved in his post race comments, "I'd like to thank all my sponsors who helped get me here. It's nice to get this long distance dash under our belts."

Behind Wares was Buddy Nelson in second. For Nelson it marked the second week in a row he filled the bridesmaid role. In the last three weeks since his return Nelson has posted a third and two seconds.

The Rons rounded out the top five in the longest Super Late Model race of the season. Ron Norman was third, Ron Searle, Jr. was fourth, with Ron Wear in fifth.

In the NASCAR Late Model Main Event Brian Brown won the 25-lap feature.

It marked his first win of his career and sixth top five effort this year. Brown had been second as recently as three weeks ago, but the win was something special as he burnt some serious rubber on the donut pad after the race to the delight of the crowd.

Brown commented, "I got a pep talk from Track Chaplain Mark Staggs in the pits before the race and he kind of got on me about getting to the victory circle. I guess it worked because here I am."

Brown took the lead on lap five following a yellow flag that was brought out when the race's early leader Brad Moyer and Matt Levin traded paint in turn four causing Moyer to leave the race. Levin was black flagged and forced to do a stop and go which put him in the back of the pack

David Nekula was second in the race, and entered the action as the Late Model division points leader. Nekula has posted seven top five finishes, but has yet to win his first race of the season.

Matt Levin, who after some early race difficulties was able to come back and finish third in the race. Following the top three was Tim Blodgett in fourth while Gary Alvarez rounded out the top five in fifth place.

The NASCAR Factory Stock Main Event saw Alan Levin win for the first time this season in the 20-lap feature.

Levin was able to get to the front on the opening lap and kept the balance of the field of 20 cars behind him until the checkered flag.

The race saw a red flag on lap two when Davidson Wyatt and Matt Sevits collided in front of the grandstand forcing Wyatt from the race.

Levin was challenged by Mike McGullam, who came into the race off of a win last time out. McGullam was able to make his way through traffic and moving into second place to stay on lap 14.

Behind Levin and McGullam was George Sims in third, who now has two seconds and a third in last three starts. Behind Sims in fourth was Doug Paxson, while Greg Jayko filled out the top five in fifth.

In the NASCAR Mighty Compact 20-lap Main Event Russell Bratka topped the field and posted his fifth win of the season.

Bratka took command on the second lap of the race and was never headed in route to his fifth win in eight Mighty Compact Main Events.

Bratka was relieved in the post race interview and said, "It was a close one. Bates was coming at the end of the race, but I had enough to hold him off."

Behind Bratka was the always close Chris Bates, who was coming in off a win last week and now has two seconds to go with three wins and one fourth this season.

In third place was Mike Vaughn, who now has three third place finishes to his credit this season. Fourth place went to Ken Barnett, while Jim Bates was fifth.

Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with a visit from the USAC Western State Sprint Cars along with the NASCAR Late Models, NASCAR Grand American Modifieds and Factory Stocks all presented by Jiffy Lube.

MAIN EVENT

1. Chuck Wares, 2. Buddy Nelson, 3. Ron Norman, 4. Ron Searle, Jr., 5. Ron Wear, 6. Steve Piper, 7. Scott Walker, 8. Billy Kann, 9. Pat Bush, 10. Tony Izzo, 11. Chris Barr, 12. John Sweeney, 13. Wayne Cassidy, 14. Branden Bonnett, 15. Mike Egurola

TROPHY DASH

1. Branden Bonnett, 2. Mike Egurola, 3. Ron Searle, 4. John Sweeney, 5. Ron Norman, 6. Chris Barr

FASTEST TIME

Ron Norman - 15.608 seconds

MAIN EVENT

1.Brian Brown, 2. David Nekula, 3. Matt Levin, 4. Tim Blodgett, 5. Gary Alvarez, 6. Bobby Collister, 7. Scott Strachan, 8. Brad Moyer

HEAT ONE

1. David Nekula, 2. Tim Blodgett, 3. Brad Moyer, 4. Brian Latta

HEAT TWO

1. Matt Levin, 2. Brian Brown, 3. Bobby Collister, 4. Gary Alvarez, 5. Scott Strachan

MAIN EVENT

1. Alan Levin, 2. Mike McGullam, 3. George Sims, 4. Doug Paxson, 5. Greg Jayko, 6. Mike Shipyor, 7. Mike Levin, 8. Kelly Germain, 9. Chris Smith, 10. Matt Levin, 11. Brian O'Brien, 12. Dan Burdick, 13. Dustin Jones, 14. Becky Harrington, 15. Fred Stephens, 16. Bill Harrington, 17. Gannon Pritchard, 18. Ken Huizenga, 19. Matt Sevits, 20. Davidson Wyatt, 21. Clayton Roberts

HEAT ONE

1. Matt Levin, 2. Alan Levin, 3. Dan Burdick, 4. Becky Harrington, 5. Davidson Wyatt, 6. Kelly Germain, 7. Ken Huizenga

HEAT TWO

1. George Sims, 2. Doug Paxson, 3. Brian O'Brien, 4. Chris Smith, 5. Dustin Jones, 6. Fred Stephens, 7. Matt Sevits

HEAT THREE

1. Mike McGullam, 2. Greg Jayko, 3. Mike Shipyor, 4. Mike Levin, 5. Gannon Pritchard, 6. Clayton Roberts, 7. Bill Harrington

MAIN EVENT

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

HEAT ONE

1. Chris Bates, 2. Russell Bratka, 3. Jim Bates, 4. Jeff Dwight

HEAT TWO

1. Mike Vaughn, 2. Wade Simmons, 3. Clayton Clark, 4. Rick Wood, Jr., 5. Ken Barnett

See Also .:

• Tucson Raceway Park Track Page

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