TUCSON, Arizona -- The 2003 Bud Five Star Series continued at Tucson Raceway Park with three NASCAR divisions of racing.
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Ron Searle, Jr. top the field for the second time this season in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-lap main event on Budweiser night at the races.
Searle, Jr. commented on his racing success, "This car was awesome. I had a great setup and was able to keep Chuck (Wares) from getting past me on the last lap and sure felt good to post that second win."
Searle, Jr. was able to win for second time with his second car of the campaign. He was able to acquire this new ride just a few short weeks ago and it hasn't taken long for him to get the handle on this Super Late Model. His first win of 2003 came back on opening night.
He took the lead on lap 15 when he passed the races' early leader Buddy Nelson. Searle, Jr. had come from the second row and was able to move up to second place by lap 12 before taking the lead and holding that advantage for the last half of the race.
Behind Searle, Jr. was Chuck Wares in second. For Wares it marked his sixth second place finish of the year to go along with four wins and one third. In third place was Branden Bonnett, who now has three third place finishes on the season to go along with four wins and two fifths. In fourth place was Buddy Nelson, who now has five top five finishes since returning to racing just a little over a month ago. In fifth place was John Sweeney, who now has six top five finishes this season.
In the NASCAR Grand American Modified Main Event Chad Bowden won the 50-lap feature. Posting his fifth win of the 2003 season.
Bowden in his post race comments said, "I just kept thinking I can't let up, this is the longest I've raced this year and I didn't want to give up the lead late."
Bowden started on the inside of the third row and was able to get to the front by lap 12. He moved up on the early leader Buddy Nelson, who did double duty running both Grand American Modified and Super Late Model races on the evening.
Following Bowden past Nelson was Billy Johanneck, from Phoenix, who on lap 13 was able to move into second place and remain in that position until the checkered flag.
The race saw one yellow flag on lap two when Paul Banghart and Denver Dodd traded paint in turn one forcing Dodd from the race for over half the action.
Bowden, who now has five wins on the season and is the only multi-race winner in the division was, followed Billy Johanneck, who has two seconds in 2003. In third was Buddy Nelson, the defending Grand American Modified Champion, who was making his first GAM start this year. Dusty Fielden was in fourth, his 10th top five finish this year, and Patrick Bush, who ran second last week, finished fifth.
The NASCAR Factory Stock Main Event was won by Alan Levin marking his second win this season in the 20-lap feature.
Levin was able to get to the front on the first lap and kept the balance of the field of 22 cars behind him until the checkered flag.
Levin was humble in victory. "This is something special. It's really great to come out and compete and have the support of family. Winning is a great bonus," he said.
The race was marred with two red flag stoppages and two yellow flag slow downs. The first incident came on lap two when Bill Briles and John Levin got together in turn, but were able to continue. The second yellow flew when Becky Harrington did a solo spin in turn one, but was able to continue.
The red flags flew first on lap 13 when Dan Burdick, Gannon Pritchard and Bill Briles all got together on the homestretch forcing all three competitors from the race. The last red flag was flown on lap 16 when Greg Jayko, Kelly Germain and Becky Harrington got together on the backstretch forcing Harrington from the race.
Behind Levin was Mike McGullam in second, which marked his fourth second place finish of the season. In third place was Mike Shipyor, who now has six top five finishes this season, while Rod Jurado finished in fourth, while Dustin Jones filled out the top five in fifth.
Next Thursday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Late Models, Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks, Wranglers On Wheels, Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, The Specialists' Spectacular Drags, Tuff Trux and a Fireworks Extravaganza presented by Coca-Cola.
Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues as Reproductions Inc. presents the Mid Season Championship. Snap-On Tools and Formula One honor the top five division leaders at the season's halfway mark. On the track NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Mighty Compacts, Hornets, Driver's Tug of War and the Kid's Penny Goldrush make for a full night of entertainment.
- MAIN EVENT
- 1. Ron Searle, Jr., 2. Chuck Wares, 3. Branden Bonnett, 4. Buddy Nelson, 5. John Sweeney, 6. Mike Egurola, 7. Ron Norman, 8. Ron Wear, 9. Scott Walker
- TROPHY DASH
- 1. Chuck Wares, 2. John Sweeney, 3. Ron Searle, Jr., 4. Mike Egurola
- HEAT TWO
- 1. Ron Wear, 2. Branden Bonnett, 3. Buddy Nelson, 4. Ron Norman, 5. Scott Walker
- FASTEST TIME
- Mike Egurola - 16.022 seconds
- MAIN EVENT (50-Laps)
- 1. Chad Bowden, 2. Billy Johanneck, 3. Buddy Nelson, 4. Dusty Fielden, 5. Patrick Bush, 6. Larry Kayton, 7. Chuck Wares, 8. Steve Piper, 9. Ruben Federico, 10. John Sweeney, 11. Carl Thomae, 12. Cris Pastika, 13. P.J. Megna, 14. Paul Banghart, 15. Shane Olson, 16. Jim Rogel, 17. Denver Dodd
- TROPHY DASH
- 1. Buddy Nelson, 2. Billy Johanneck, 3. Dusty Fielden, 4. Steve Piper, 5. Chad Bowden, 6. John Sweeney
- HEAT TWO
- 1. Ruben Federico, 2. P.J. Megna, 3. Patrick Bush, 4. Chuck Wares, 5. Carl Thomae, 6. Larry Kayton
- HEAT THREE
- 1.Denver Dodd, 2. Cris Pastika, 3. Paul Banghart, 4. Shane Olson, 5. Jim Rogel
- FASTEST TIME
- John Sweeney - 15.873 seconds
- MAIN EVENT
- 1. Alan Levin, 2. Mike McGullam, 3. Mike Shipyor, 4. Rod Jurado, 5. Dustin Jones, 6. Mike Levin, 7. George Sims, 8. Doug Paxson, 9. Clayton Roberts, 10. Chris Smith, 11. John Levin, 12. Kelly Germain, 13. Greg Jayko, 14. Bill Harrington, 15. Davidson Wyatt, 16. Ken Huizenga, 17. Becky Harrington, 18. Gannon Pritchard, 19. Bill Briles, 20. Dan Burdick, 21. Fred Stephens, 22. Toby Olds
- HEAT ONE
- 1. Mike Levin, 2. George Sims, 3. Kelly Germain, 4. Dustin Jones, 5. Bill Briles, 6. Clayton Roberts, 7. Chris Smith
- HEAT TWO
- 1. Greg Jayko, 2. Alan Levin, 3. Rod Jurado, 4. Becky Harrington, 5. Gannon Pritchard, 6. Ken Huizenga, 7. John Levin
- HEAT THREE
- 1. Doug Paxson, 2. Mike McGullam, 3. Mike Shipyor, 4. Fred Stephens, 5. Dan Burdick, 6. Bill Harrington, 7. Toby Olds, 8. Davidson Wyatt
