BONNETT WINS BACK TO BACK IN THE SUPER LATE MODEL MAIN

TUCSON, Arizona -- The 2003 Bud Five Star Series continued at Tucson Raceway Park on Saturday with four divisions of exciting NASCAR racing over the 3/8th mile paved oval.

The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Branden Bonnett win for the sixth time this year and second straight week in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-lap main event on Giant Industries Night at the Races.

Bonnett took the lead on lap one and was able to hold off the field for the balance of the race. It marked his second straight win in as many weeks and makes him the top winner in the Super Late Model division in 2003.

For Bonnett it was his 13th top five finish on the year. Branden was able to hold off Ron Norman who challenged the leader from start to finish.

The race saw one yellow flag on lap 27 giving the field one last run at Bonnett. Branden rose to the challenge and kept his competitors at bay for the race’s last three laps.

Following Bonnett across the finish line was Norman, who now has a second, third and a first in the last three weeks. Behind Norman was last year’s Grand American Modified champion Buddy Nelson in third. It marked Nelson’s fifth top five finish on the year. Running fourth was Ron Searle, Jr., who now has seven top five finishes in 2003. Rounding out the top five was division point’s leader Chuck Wares in fifth place.

In the NASCAR Late Models 25-lap Main Event Brian Brown won for the fourth time this season. It marked Brown’s 11th top five finish this year.

Brown started on the outside of row one and was forced to run down Gary Alvarez, who took the lead early holding off Brown for the races’ first six laps. Once Brown got by Alvarez, he wasn’t able to run away with the race as Alvarez made it interesting for the 25-lap tour.

Brown commented, “Gary was tough to catch and tough to shake, but it was great to get by and hold on for the win.” Brian added, “The car has worked well and I have had help from Ron Wear and Paul Banghart in getting it into winning shape.” The second place finish for Alvarez was his best this season as he moves up from the Factory Stock division. He has posted seven top five finishes in 2003.

Following Alvarez was division points leader David Nekula in third, while Matt Levin finished fourth and 17-year old first time driver in this division Dustin Jones finished fifth.

In the NASCAR Grand American Modified 25-lap Main Event Chad Bowden won for the sixth time at Tucson Raceway Park. Bowden is only driver with more than one win in the GAM division this season.

Steve Piper last week’s winner, who led the race for the first 12 laps, challenged Bowden, but was only good enough for second place in this week’s feature event.

The race saw one red flag when division points leaders Dusty Fielden and Pat Bush got together in turn one forcing Fielden from the race. Another victim in the lap seven mishap was Ruben Federico, who got caught up late in the fray and was unable to avoid Fielden. Federico was able to continue, but retired from the race early on lap 12.

Following Bowden and Piper was Phoenix’ Larry Kayton in third. Kayton was a winner in this division just several weeks ago back on July 19th. Behind Kayton was P.J. Megna in fourth, while Pat Bush rounded out the top five in fifth place.

In the NASCAR Factory Stocks 20-Lap Main Event Brian O’Brien posted his second straight win topping a field of 18 competitors.

O’Brien took the lead on lap one and was never headed. He overcame two yellow flags and never wavered in his control of the race. “I got new Goodyear tires and the car seems to be hooked up”, said O’Brien from victory from lane.

Running second to O’Brien was Dustin Jones, who posted his ninth top five finish, while Alan Levin was third, his fifth top five finish of the season. Mike Shipyor was fourth, his 10th top five finish in 2003 and George Sims rounded out the top five in fifth place.

In tonight’s Championship round of the 2003 Driver’s Tug of War competition the NASCAR Super Late Model drivers out pulled the Grand American Modified drivers in 39.092 seconds in claiming top honors.

Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Super Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Factory Stocks, Hornets and Tuff Trux presented by ITT Technical Institute of Tucson. In addition, the second running of the new “Race with the Super Late Models” presented by Seville $1.75 Cleaners is on the schedule. This special event gives a fan and a driver the chance to win $250 each!

MAIN EVENT

1. Branden Bonnett, 2. Ron Norman, 3. Buddy Nelson, 4. Ron Searle, Jr., 5. Chuck Wares, 6. Curtis Lansing, 7. John Sweeney, 8. Jamie Throckmorton, 9. Joe Paladenic, 10. Chris Barr, 11. Mike Egurola, 12. Van Knill, 13. Ron Wear

TROPHY DASH

1. Chuck Wares, 2. Branden Bonnett, 3. Ron Norman, 4. Curtis Lansing, 5. Ron Searle, Jr., 6. Jamie Throckmorton

HEAT TWO

1. John Sweeney, 2. Ron Wear, 3. Chris Barr, 4. Van Knill, 5. Mike Egurola, 6. Joe Paladenic, 7. Buddy Nelson

FAST TIME

Ron Norman – 15.675 seconds

MAIN EVENT

1. Brian Brown, 2. Gary Alvarez, 3. David Nekula, 4. Matt Levin, 5. Dustin Jones, 6. Brian Latta, 7. Tim Blodgett, 8. Brad Moyer, 9. Bobby Collister, 10. Roger Cohn, 11. Richard Kerr

HEAT ONE

1. Matt Levin, 2. David Nekula, 3. Gary Alvarez, 4. Dustin Jones, 5. Roger Cohn

HEAT TWO

1.Brian Brown, 2. Brian Latta, 3. Brad Moyer, 4. Tim Blodgett, 5. Bobby Collister, 6. Richard Kerr

MAIN EVENT

1. Chad Bowden, 2. Steve Piper, 3. Larry Kayton, 4. P.J. Megna, 5. Pat Bush, 6. Cris Pastika, 7. Jim Rogel, 8. Ruben Federico, 9. Dusty Fielden

HEAT ONE

1. Chad Bowden, 2. Steve Piper, 3. Ruben Federico, 4. Jim Rogel

HEAT TWO

1. Larry Kayton, 2. Dusty Fielden, 3. P.J. Megna, 4. Pat Bush, 5. Cris Pastika

MAIN EVENT – 1. Brian O’Brien, 2. Dustin Jones, 3. Alan Levin, 4. Mike Shipyor, 5. George Sims, 6. Rod Jurado, 7. Kelly Germain, 8. Mike McGullam, 9. Glen Umphryes, 10. Fred Stephens, 11. Toby Olds, 12. Chris Smith, 13. Clayton Roberts, 14. Dan Burdick, 15. A.J. Jurado, 16. John Levin, 17. Bill Harrington, 18. Mike Levin

HEAT ONE – 1. Rod Jurado, 2. Mike McGullam, 3. A.J. Jurado, 4. Fred Stephens, 5. Mike Levin, 6. Chris Smith

HEAT TWO – 1. Dustin Jones, 2. Glen Umphryes, 3. Toby Olds, 4. Dan Burdick, 5. John Levin, 6. Bill Harrington, 7. Ken Huizenga

HEAT THREE – 1. Brian O’Brien, 2. Alan Levin, 3. George Sims, 4. Mike Shipyor, 5. Kelly Germain, 6. Becky Harrington, 7. Clayton Roberts

See also

• Tucson Raceway Park Track Page

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Article posted by RacingWest.com staff on August 10, 2003. http://www.racingwest.com