TUCSON, Ariziona -- The 2003 Bud Five Star Series continued at Tucson Raceway Park with three NASCAR divisions of racing and the traveling USAC Western State Sprint Cars.
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Brian Brown post his second straight win of the 2003 season in the NASCAR Late Model 25-lap main event on Jiffy Lube night at the races.
The race had one yellow flag when Brad Moyer did a solo spin in the 15th lap of the race. Outside of that slow down Brown was able to maneuver into the lead on lap nine and hold his competitors at bay for the balance of the race.
Brown commented on his car's behavior, "It was handling well down low and I was able to get through from the second row on the outside, and I was sure happy to get the lead and hold on."
Behind Brown was Matt Levin in second. For Levin it marked his first second place finish of the year to go along with three wins and three thirds. In third place was Tim Blodgett, who now has one third on the season to go along with two seconds and two fourths. In fourth place was Bobby Collister, who now has six top five finishes in 2003. In fifth place was David Nekula, who entered the night as the division points leader.
In the NASCAR Grand American Modified Main Event John Sweeney won the 25-lap feature. It marked his first win of the season in this division after posting a Super Late Model win back on May 31.
Sweeney in his post race comments said, "I'm glad I got another win and I know I couldn't have done it without the help of my crew. I was pushing hard to keep in front of the rest of the pack."
In a race that saw one yellow flag and one red flag the field of racers paid the price as nine competitors were forced to end their night of racing early. The first flag came out on lap one when Cris Pastika and Jim Rogel got together in turn four forcing both drivers from the race.
The red flag came out on lap six when Larry Kayton, Billy Johanneck, Chad Bowden, Joe Changose and Denver Dodd got together in turn two, with Bowden the only one to be able to continue.
The order of finish behind Sweeney saw Ruben Federico finish second his best finish this season, while Chad Bowden recovered from early race difficulties to finish third, his sixth top five finish this year. Rounding out the top five saw Patrick Bush finish fourth and division points leader Dusty Fielden finish fifth.
The NASCAR Factory Stock Main Event was on by Mike Shipyor marking his first win this season in the 20-lap feature.
Shipyor was able to get to the front on the fifth lap and kept the balance of the field of 20 cars behind him until the checkered flag.
Shipyor was challenged by Dustin Jones who held on for second place his first such finish of the season.
Shipyor was beaming from the winner's circle, "Boy this was fun and I'm wore out." In posting his first win Shipyor thanked his crew and sponsors and especially his wife for helping him live his dream of being a race car driver. Shipyor was also very aware of keeping an eye on his tire management for continued success at this division.
Shipyor's best outing before tonight was a fourth place finish on May 24. He now has four top five finishes in 2003.
Behind Shipyor and Jones was Kelly Germain in third, who now has two third place finishes to go along with her two wins, two seconds and one fourth in this campaign. Behind Germain in fourth was Mike McGullam, while Matt Levin filled out the top five in fifth.
In the USAC Western State Sprints 40-lap Main Event Michael Lewis topped the field and kept his lead in the 2003 points race.
Lewis from Noblesville, Indiana, took the lead on lap 15 and held off the field in posting a convincing victory. "We love coming to Tucson and can't wait to comeback," said Lewis.
Behind Lewis was Tony Hunt from Fair Oaks, California, who followed Lewis to the front of the pack on lap 15 holding second place to the checkered flag.
In third place was Brian McClish, out of Santa Rosa, California, while Shauna Hogg, the lone female in the field finished fourth. Hogg traveled into Tucson from Roseville, California. In fifth place was Brian Bumgarner out of Chico, California.
Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Grand American Modifieds, Factory Stocks and the Trailer Race of Destruction all presented by Craftsman Tools.
- MAIN EVENT
- 1. Brian Brown, 2. Matt Levin, 3. Tim Blodgett, 4. Bobby Collister, 5. David Nekula, 6. Gary Alvarez, 7. Brad Moyer, 8. Scott Strachan, 9. Larry Collins
- TROPHY DASH
- 1. Gary Alvarez, 2. Brian Brown, 3. Matt Levin, 4. Bobby Collister
- HEAT TWO
- 1. Brad Moyer, 2. Scott Strachan, 3. David Nekula, 4. Larry Collins, 5. Tim Blodgett
- FASTEST TIME
- Brian Brown - 17.676 seconds
- MAIN EVENT
- 1. John Sweeney, 2. Ruben Federico, 3. Chad Bowden, 4. Patrick Bush, 5. Dusty Fielden, 6. P.J. Megna, 7. Billy Johanneck, 8. Larry Kayton, 9. Joe Changose, 10. Jim Rogel, 11. Cris Pastika, 12. Denver Dodd
- TROPHY DASH
- 1. Dusty Fielden, 2. Billy Johanneck, 3. Ruben Federico, 4. Joe Changose, 5. Denver Dodd
- HEAT TWO
- 1. Larry Kayton, 2. John Sweeney, 3. Patrick Bush, 4. Chad Bowden, 5. Cris Pastika, 6. Jim Rogel
- FASTEST TIME
- Billy Johanneck - 15.951 seconds
- MAIN EVENT
- 1. Mike Shipyor, 2. Dustin Jones, 3. Kelly Germain, 4. Mike McGullam, 5. Matt Levin, 6. Greg Jayko, 7. Mike Levin, 8. Doug Paxson, 9. Chris Smith, 10. Alan Levin, 11. Fred Stephens, 12. Dan Burdick, 13. Becky Harrington, 14. Gannon Pritchard, 15. Davidson Wyatt, 16. George Sims, 17. Clayton Roberts, 18. Brian O'Brien
- HEAT ONE
- 1. Mike Shipyor, 2. Dustin Jones, 3. Chris Smith, 4. Mike Levin, 5. Gannon Pritchard, 6. Davidson Wyatt
- HEAT TWO
- 1. Mike McGullam, 2. Kelly Germain, 3. Greg Jayko, 4. Doug Paxson, 5. Alan Levin, 6. Fred Stephens
- HEAT THREE
- 1. George Sims, 2. Matt Levin, 3. Dan Burdick, 4. Becky Harrington, 5. Clayton Roberts, 6. Brian O'Brien
- MAIN EVENT
- 1. Michael Lewis, 2. Tony Hunt, 3. Brian McClish, 4. Shawna Hogg, 5. Brad Bumgarner, 6. Michael Newman, 7. Jimmy Waters, 8. Michael Trimble, 9. Rick Hendrick, 10. Greg Taylor, 11. Tylor McCrerry, 12. Jeff Gardner, 13. Scott Hansen, 14. Chad Nichols
- HEAT ONE
- 1. Tony Hunt, 2. Michael Lewis, 3. Michael Trimble, 4. Jeff Gardner, 5. Chad Nichols, 6. Greg Taylor, 7. Rick Hendrick,
- HEAT TWO
- 1. Brian McClish, 2. Brad Bumgarner, 3. Scott Hansen, 4. Shawna Hogg, 5. Jimmy Waters, 6. Michael Newman, 7. Tyler McCrerry
- FASTEST TIME
- Michael Lewis - 14.684 seconds
