Saturday Night September 13 will be a night that will go down as one of the best nights of racing ever at the fabled ½-mile tri-oval. The Budweiser NASCAR Big 3 Championship Mains will decide the three 2003 Track Champions. All three divisions of the Big 3 Series have close point battles for their respective championship.
NASCAR Big 3 Lithia Dodge Late Model point leader BJ Tidrick has a slim four-point advantage over Steve Thompson. Tidrick has been the hot driver in the division. He has won three in a row and seven of the last twelve. Thompson has been on a consistent run this season by finishing in the top three including three wins in fourteen of the seventeen races.
The last lap of the Budweiser 100-lap Main will decide who will represent TCR at the National NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Banquet. Fifty points will be awarded for a win and it drops two points for each ensuing finishing position. A large field is expected for the finally with twenty-seven late models receiving points this season and the average car count has been seventeen.
Tidrick or Thompson will add their name to a prestigious list of former Late Model Track Champions. One of the most notables is Greg Biffle former Champion of NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series, Busch Grand National Series and is the present leader for Rookie of the Year of the Winston Cup Series.
Tire management has been the key to this division with only one new tire allowed per night but each driver will be allowed four new tires for the Budweiser 100 putting everyone on equal footing.
Mike Zamora currently has a strangle hold on third and Richard Worley is safely in fourth. Each has a win this season and would like to close out the year with another on the big night. Just twenty points separate fifth through ninth in points.
The NASCAR Big 3 Street Stock championship will also be decided on the last lap of their Budweiser Main. Current leader Steve O’Neill has a minute one-point lead over David Gentzler. This division has provided hotly contested last laps this season with drivers sliding across the finish line backwards.
The third division of the NASCAR Big 3 the Mini-Stocks has the largest margin between the two point leaders. James Ewing enjoys a thirty-two point advantage over Tyler Thomas. Although it will not be a championship for Ewing until he takes the green in their Budweiser Main.
A fourth championship will be decided on this important night. The State Transmissions Hornets will crown the first ever TCR Champion. Matt Watkins has a four-point edge over Doug LeClair. Watkins will be looking for another podium finish.
All the Championship action will be on Saturday September 13. Gates will open at 5pm and racing at 7pm. Adults $11; Jr/Sr $9; Kids 6-13 $2.50 and under 6 Free. A Family Pass for 2-adults and 3-Kids $24.50
Rules and schedule for the Desert Star Weekend on September 20 & 21 are available on the TCR web page tricityraceway.com.
