The 2003 Bud Five Star Series continued at Tucson Raceway Park on Saturday with four NASCAR divisions of racing highlighted by the 2ND Annual Outhouse Race.
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Branden Bonnett win for the fifth time in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-lap main event on Waste Management Night at the Races.
Bonnett took the lead on lap 10 was able to hold off the field for the balance of the race. It marked Bonnett’s first win since May 3rd. In the division it marked the fourth different winner in the last four weeks that the Super Late Models have raced.
For Bonnett it was his 12th top five finish on the year. Branden was able to catch the races early leader Ron Wear, who was on top through lap nine.
Following Bonnett across the finish line was the division’s points leader Chuck Wares, who now has seven bridesmaids finishes to his credit in 2003. Behind Wares was last week’s winner Ron Norman, who has four third place finishes to his credit this season. In fourth was Ron Wear, who now has five top five finishes in his first full season in the division, while John Sweeney was in fifth place rounding out the top five.
In the NASCAR Grand American Modified 25-lap Main Event Steve Piper won for the first time at Tucson Raceway Park. In addition it marked the ninth different winner in the Grand American Modified division this season. The only driver with more than one win in the GAM is Chad Bowden, who has finished on top five times in 2003.
Piper was in complete command from green flag to checkered flag as he was never headed over the races’ 25 laps. In the winner’s circle after climbing the track’s catch fence Piper commented, “It feels great to be here. We’ve worked real hard this year and maybe that effort will payoff with a few more finishes like tonight.”
Running second to Piper was Ruben Federico, who posted his third such showing of the year. In third place was Dusty Fielden, who posted his 11th top five finish of the year. Running fourth was Billy Johanneck, who races out of Phoenix, while Pat Bush rounded out the leader board in fifth.
In the NASCAR Factory Stocks 20-Lap Main Event Brian O’Brien posted his first win in the 2003 season. His win marked the fifth different winner over the last five weeks of Factory Stock competition.
O’Brien had posted a fifth place finish back on May 24th, which until tonight was his best effort on the season. His effort shifted into high gear on lap seven when he caught and passed the races’ early leader A.J. Jurado. Once in front O’Brien weathered a yellow flag on lap 17 to hold off the field of 19 competitors.
Running second to O’Brien was Jurado, who posted his fourth top five finish, while Kelly Germain was third, George Sims was fourth and Fred Stephens was fifth.
Tonight’s Factory Stock Main Event finish was still under post race inspection at press time.
In tonight’s NASCAR Mighty Compact 40-lap Main Event Chris Bates posted his sixth win of the season. The race marked the most laps run for this division in 2003.
Bates was able to catch the races’ early leader Wade Simmons on lap 31, when a yellow flag came out an forced the field to get close together and when the green flag flew Chris took control.
Two more yellow flags were flown before the races’ final outcome. On lap 33 Clayton Clark did a solo spin in turn two, but was able to continue in the race. On lap 36 Ron Catlin was not as lucky as his car spun in turn one and saw his transmission lock up, forcing him from the race.
In tonight’s novelty event Mike McGullam topped a field of eight NASCAR Factory Stocks in winning the 2nd Annual Outhouse Race. McGullam posted a time of 54.914 seconds topping his closest competitor by six seconds.
When asked what he attributed his success to in this specialty event, he equipped, “ I work on construction sites most of the time and I use these port-a-johns everyday. So, I kind a know my way around these things.”
Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Factory Stocks and The Driver’s Tug of War presented by Giant Industries.
