The 2003 Bud Five Star Series continued at Raceway Park on Saturday with three divisions of exciting NASCAR racing and the popular Hornet division and Tuff Trux series.
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Chuck Wares win for the sixth time this year in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-lap main event on ITT Technical Institute and Wendy’s Night at the Races.
Wares took the lead on lap one and was able to hold off the field for the balance of the race. It marked his first win since July 5th, a four race drought.
From Victory Lane, Wares was bubbling, “The old hotrod was running pretty good tonight. We’ve been struggling lately and it was a good thing to get back on top.”
For Wares it was his 16th top five finish on the year. Chuck was able to hold off Branden Bonnett and Ron Norman who both challenged the leader from start to finish.
The race saw one yellow flag on lap 29 giving the field one last run at Wares. Chuck rose to the challenge and kept his competitors at bay for the race’s green, white and checkered flag finish.
Following Wares across the finish line was Bonnett, who now has a second and two wins in the last three weeks. Behind Bonnett was Ron Norman, who was second last week, followed by Buddy Nelson in fourth and Mike Egurola in fifth.
In the NASCAR Grand American Modified 25-lap Main Event Chad Bowden won for the seventh time this season and for the second straight week at Tucson Raceway Park. Bowden is the only driver with more than one win in the GAM division this season.
Billy Johanneck was the race’s early leader and held the advantage over Bowden for the first 11 laps. Bowden saw his chance and took the high groove to get by Johanneck and never looked back.
Following Bowden across the finish line was Pat Bush, who started back in the pack and was able to move up throughout the race. For Bush it marked his fourth second place finish on the season and his 12th top five finish. Bush entered the night leading the GAM division in points.
After Bowden and Bush, Phoenix’ Billy Johanneck held on for third, his fourth top five finish in 2003. In fourth was Dusty Fielden, who came into racing tonight four points out of the division lead. Rounding out the top five was Ruben Federico in fifth place.
In the NASCAR Factory Stock 20-Lap Main Event Alan Levin posted his third feature event win topping a field of 20 competitors.
Levin took the lead on lap one and was never headed. He overcame three yellow flags and never wavered in his control of the race. “When Mike (McGullam) and Kelly (Germain) pull up along side you, it makes you work just a little harder to stay in front”, said Levin from victory lane.
Running second to Levin was Germain, who posted her 12th top five finish, while McGullam was third, and posted his 12th top five finish of the season too. Mike Shipyor was fourth, his 11th top five finish in 2003 and Brian O’Brien, who won the last two weeks, rounded out the top five in fifth place.
In tonight’s Tuff Trux Series Tom Baird posted the best time in a two lap Main Event to take home top honors. Baird entered the night in sixth place in the series standings, but was almost a whole two seconds faster than his closest competitor.
Following Baird was Grant Wilson, who entered the action in second place in the series, while John “Crash” Callans was third, with Tomas Melero running fourth and Ruben Federico, who was the series points leader coming into tonight’s racing battle finished fifth.
In tonight’s Hornets action Karl Griggs posted a hard fought victory in the 30-lap Main Event.
Following Griggs across the finish line was John “Crash” Callans in second place his second straight such finish. In third was Rod Nielson, while Paul Rios was able to hold on for fourth place. Rounding out the top five was Steve Miller in fifth place.
Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Factory Stocks, Wranglers on Wheels and the Figure 8 Trailer Race presented by Dr. Pepper and 3M.
MAIN EVENT – 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Branden Bonnett, 3. Ron Norman, 4. Buddy Nelson, 5. Mike Egurola, 6. John Sweeney, 7. Chris Barr, 8. Ron Searle, Jr., 9. Ron Wear, 10. Jamie Throckmorton
TROPHY DASH – 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Mike Egurola, 3. John Sweeney, 4. Ron Wear, 5. Ron Norman, 6. Branden Bonnett
HEAT TWO – 1. Ron Searle, 2. Chris Barr, 3. Scott Walker, 4. Buddy Nelson
FAST TIME – Ron Norman – 15.653 seconds
MAIN EVENT – 1. Chad Bowden, 2. Pat Bush, 3. Billy Johanneck, 4. Dusty Fielden, 5. Ruben Federico, 6. Steve Piper, 7. Carl Thomae, 8. Larry Kayton, 9. Cris Pastika, 10. Bill Slocum, 11. Jim Rogel, 12. P.J. Megna
HEAT ONE – 1. Pat Bush, 2. Chad Bowden, 3. Steve Piper, 4. Carl Thomae, 5. Jim Rogel, 6. P.J. Megna
HEAT TWO – 1. Ruben Federico, 2. Billy Johanneck, 3. Dusty Fielden, 4. Cris Pastika, 5. Bill Slocum, 6. Larry Kayton
MAIN EVENT – 1. Alan Levin, 2. Kelly Germain, 3. Mike McGullam, 4. Mike Shipyor, 5. Brian O’Brien, 6. Rod Jurado, 7. Dustin Jones, 8. Matt Levin, 9. Fred Stephens, 10. Glen Umphryes, 11. Clayton Roberts, 12. Becky Harrington, 13. Dan Burdick, 14. Brent Richard, 15. Bill Harrington, 16. Brian Harrington, 17. A.J. Jurado, 18. Chris Smith, 19. Toby Olds, 20. George Sims
HEAT ONE – 1. George Sims, 2. Mike McGullam, 3. Brian O’Brien, 4.Dustin Jones, 5. Fred Stephens, 6. A.J. Jurado, 7. Ken Huizenga
HEAT TWO – 1. Mike Shipyor, 2. Clayton Roberts, 3. Brent Richard, 4. Becky Harrington, 5. Dan Burdick, 6. Brian Harrington, 7. Bill Harrington
HEAT THREE – 1. Kelly Germain, 2. Alan Levin, 3. Matt Levin, 4. Chris Smith, 5. Rod Jurado, 6. Glen Umphryes, 7. Toby Olds
MAIN EVENT – 1. Karl Griggs, 2. John Callans, 3. Paul Rios, 4. Steve Miller, 5. Rod Nielson, 6. Jim Badertscher, 7. Rick Hill, 8. Tammy Lynn, 9. Alan Hardesty, 10. J.D. Badertscher, 11. Mark Staggs, 12. Jerome Zane, 13. Nick Cameron, 14. Dave Reynolds, 15. Josh Burdick, 16. Pete Petersen, 17. Richard Jisko, 18. John Hudson
MAIN EVENT – 1. Tom Baird, 2. Grant Wilson, 3. John Callans, 4. Tomas Melero, 5. Ruben Federico
QUALIFYING ROUND – 1. Tom Baird, 2. Ruben Federico, 3. Tomas Melero, 4. John Callans, 5. Grant Wilson, 6. Jimmy Lyons, 7. Skip Lyons, 8. Richard Jisko, 9. Carl Husted, 10. Karl Griggs, 11. Chris Hare, 12. Matt McClain, 13. Tommy Baird, 14. Jerry Welsh, 15. Daniel Rodriguez, 16. April Lyons, 17. Herbie McKinney, 18. Ed Smith, 19. John Yeomans
FAST TIME – Tom Baird – 43.635 seconds
