NORMAN WINS FIRST THIS SEASON

Source: Doug Leary
Date: 07/27/2003

The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Ron Norman win for the first time in the NASCAR Super Late Model 40-lap main event on Dodge Night at the Races.

Norman was elated and exhausted following the race as he came from the fourth row to top a field of 16 competitors. “I hit the bottom groove and the car really responded. The race was clean and I am just glad I was able to hold on,” said Norman.

Ron Searle, Jr. was the races early leader and held the race advantage for 38 laps before Norman made his move. Norman’s margin of victory was barely six inches!.

Behind Searle, Jr. was Chuck Wares, who posted his second third place finish this season and 13th top five finish on the year. In fourth was Jamie Throckmorton, who posted his best finish this year, while birthday boy Branden Bonnett rounded out the top five in fifth place.

The Sammy Salazar Memorial saw Bobby Collister survive three yellow flags and one red in posting his sixth win in the NASCAR Late Model 44-lap Main Event.

The race was led early by Gary Alvarez for eight laps, before Collister took the lead on lap nine and stayed there until lap 32. Brian Brown took over the race’s lead at that point and held the advantage for 10 laps until he spun out in turn one made contact with the wall and was forced from the race while on the lead.

After Brown’s bad luck Branden Bonnett tried to force the issue with on the restart with Collister and jumped the start and was black-flagged and moved back to 11th place.

Running second to Collister was Brad Moyer, who posted his best showing of the year. In third place was Matt Levin, who posted his 10th top five finish of the year. Running fourth was Ron Wear making his second straight weekend appearance at the Late Model division. Wear was the 2002 Late Model Champion, but has moved up to the Super Late Model division on a regular basis in 2003. Rounding out the top five was David Nekula, who won last week and entered the night as the Late Model points leader.

In the Factory Stocks 20-Lap Main Event Greg Jayko posted his first win in the 2003 season. Jayko, who finished second last year in the standings in the Factory Stock division, had been kept out of the winner’s circle in 13 previous starts.

Jayko had posted a second place finish back on June 21st, and has totaled eight top five finishes for the year.

Running second to Jayko was Mike Shipyor, who posted his ninth top five finish, while Dustin Jones was third, Alan Levin was fourth and Mike McGullam was fifth.

The race saw one red flag before it started when Kelly Germain and Chris Smith were victims of some paint trading in turn four causing both drivers to leave the race.

In tonight’s NASCAR Mighty Compact 20-lap Main Event Russell Bratka posted his seventh win of the season.

Bratka, who entered the night with a commanding points lead in the 2003 division standings was able to get the lead and the win when Chris Bates spun out on lap 14 and gave up the top position he had held for the races first 13 laps.

Bratka now has 11 top five finishes, posting four seconds to go with his seven wins.

Behind Bratka was Mike Vaughn, who tallied his third second place finish this season, while Chris Bates was able to regroup and climb back into contention finishing in third place, with Jeff Dwight running fourth and Rod Hummel rounding out the top five in fifth place.

In tonight’s Specialists’ Spectacular Drags a strong field was topped by Tom Wedic in 2002 Corvette, as he muscled his way to victory over previous winner John Hall.

The men did battle moving quite convincingly through the preliminary rounds until their mammoth showdown in a best two out of three head to head matchup.

Wedic’s machine was too much for Hall’s mighty Astro Van, which had been a two-time winner so far this season, as he swept the two head to head showdowns.

Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Grand American Modifieds, Mighty Compacts (40-Lap Main Event), Factory Stocks and The Outhouse Race all presented by Waste Management.

TUCSON RACEWAY PARK RESULTS FOR JULY 26, 2003

NASCAR SUPER LATE MODELS-

MAIN EVENT – 1. Ron Norman, 2. Ron Searle, Jr., 3. Chuck Wares, 4. Jamie Throckmorton, 5. Branden Bonnett, 6. John Sweeney, 7. Buddy Nelson, 8. Joe Paladenic, 9. Chris Barr, 10. Mike Egurola, 11. Billy Kann, 12. Jeff Huebner, 13. Ron Wear, 14. Scott Walker, 15. Van Knill, 16. Joey Inocencio

FAST TIME – John Sweeney – 16.011 seconds

NASCAR LATE MODELS-

MAIN EVENT (44-Laps) – 1.Bobby Collister, 2. Brad Moyer, 3. Matt Levin, 4. Ron Wear, 5. David Nekula, 6. Chuck Wares, 7. Tim Blodgett, 8. Gary Alvarez, 9. Larry Collins, 10. Scott Strachan, 11. Branden Bonnett, 12. Brian Brown, 13. Billy Johanneck, 14. Sammy Salazar, Jr., 15. Bob Cramb, 16.Scott Walker, 17. Mike Villandry, 18. Matt Nethery

NASCAR MIGHTY COMPACTS-

MAIN EVENT – 1. Russell Bratka, 2. Mike Vaughn, 3. Chris Bates, 4. Jeff Dwight, 5. Rod Hummel, 6. Jim Bates, 7. Ron Catlin, 8. Ken Barnett, 9. Wade Simmons

NASCAR FACTORY STOCKS-

MAIN EVENT – 1. Greg Jayko, 2. Mike Shipyor, 3. Dustin Jones, 4. Alan Levin, 5. Mike McGullam, 6. Doug Paxson, 7. George Sims, 8. Rod Jurado, 9. Brian O’Brien, 10. Mike Levin, 11. Will Roland, 12. A.J. Jurado, 13. Fred Stephens, 14. Clayton Roberts, 15. Kenny Kranzler, 16. Toby Olds, 17. Brent Richard, 18. Ken Huizenga, 19. Dan Burdick, 20. John Levin, 21. Davidson Wyatt, 22. Kelly Germain, 23. Chris Smith (HEAT RACES WERE POSTPONED BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER)

See Also .:

• Tucson Raceway Park Track Page

News Index | E-mail to a Friend