WARES WOWS ‘EM AGAIN WITH 8TH WIN

Source: Tucson Raceway Park Public Relations
Date: 09/14/2003

The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Chuck Wares win his third straight feature in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-lap main event on Fenderskirts Hall of Fame Night presented by Suzuki.

Wares, who started on the inside of the third row wasted little time in finding the front of the pack as he grabbed the lead on lap three. In posting his eighth win of the season Wares solidified his hold on the division points race with over a 100 point lead on his closest competitor. Wares now has 18 top five finishes in 2003.

The race saw one red flag when Van Knill and Billy Kann got together in turn two and Knill made contact with the wall on the backstretch bursting into flames for a brief moment. Knill was uninjured, but his car was done for the night. Kann was damaged but able to limp to the checkered flag finishing eighth.

Wares was unfazed by the stoppage in action and dashed the last four laps unchallenged to his division leading 8th win.

Running second to Wares was Ron Searle, Jr., who bettered his last performance by one position, posting his second bridesmaid finish of the campaign. Branden Bonnett returned home after a week in Irwindale, California and finished third. For Branden it was his 15th top five finish on the season. In fourth place was John Sweeney, while the number the two driver in points, Ron Norman finished fifth.

In the NASCAR Late Models 25-lap Main Event Brian Brown posted his fifth win in 2003.

Brown got to the front on the 15th lap and was able to over come the red flag on lap 19 to hold off the competition for the win. Those not so lucky were Matt Levin, Dustin Jones and David Nekula. Levin and Jones were forced from the race when the trio came

together in turn three, while Nekula was posted for his actions. Nekula rebounded to cross the finish line third, but was disqualified for a post race infraction.

Following Brown across the finish line was Tim Blodgett, who won last time out and has four second place finishes on the year. Running third was Larry Collins, who got his second straight top five finish. In fourth place was Bobby Collister, who now has been in the top five 11 times this season and has six wins to his credit the most in the division. Running in fifth place was Bob Cramb, who made his second top five finish on the season.

In the NASCAR Mighty Compact 20-Lap Main Event Chris Bates posted his eighth feature event win and third in a row.

Bates took the lead on lap three and was never headed. Rod Hummel led the race for the first two laps before giving way to Bates. Hummel did have enough however to hold on for second place. For Hummel it marked his best finish of the season.

Running third was Russell Bratka, who entered the action the divisions’ points leader, but has seen Bates cutting into his lead of late. Finishing fourth was Ken Barnett, who posted his 13th top five finish. Rounding out the top five was Gary Goodrich, Jr. who finished fifth.

In tonight’s ARCA Trucks 30-lap Main Event E.K. Ongley topped the field leading the way for all but two laps.

Ongley chief’s protagonist was Vail’s Brandon Schilling, who was not far off the pace and entered the action as the series’ points leader.

Behind Ongley and Schilling was Barry Conoyer in third place, while Bob Kati finished fourth and Jerry Titchner finished in fifth place.

In tonight’s Almost Famous Figure 8 Golf Cart Race John “Crash” Callans topped the field in a 10-lap dash.

Tucson is proud to announce the addition of Frank McDaniel and Benton Burns as the two newest members of the Hall of Fame. Both men were honored in a pre-race on track ceremony.

In tonight’s Specialists’ Spectacular Drags John Bailey in his 1985 Corvette topped Steve Liedig two heats to none in the finals of this “run what you brung” specialty event. Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series John Baker 150, NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds and Factory Stocks.

MAIN EVENT – 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Ron Searle, Jr., 3. Branden Bonnett, 4. John Sweeney, 5. Ron Norman, 6. Chris Barr, 7. Ron Wear, 8. Billy Kann, 9. Ron Luks, 10. Van Knill, 11. Buddy Nelson, 12. Mike Egurola

TROPHY DASH – 1. Ron Searle, Jr., 2. John Sweeney, 3. Ron Norman, 4. Chuck Wares, 5. Chris Barr, 6. Branden Bonnett

HEAT TWO – 1. Van Knill, 2. Ron Wear, 3. Buddy Nelson, 4. Mike Egurola, 5. Ron Luks, 6. Billy Kann

FAST TIME - Branden Bonnett – 15.696 seconds

MAIN EVENT – 1. Brian Brown, 2. Tim Blodgett, 3. Larry Collins, 4. Bobby Collister, 5. Bob Cramb, 6. Jesse Nekula, 7. Matt Levin, 8. Dustin Jones, 9. David Nekula

HEAT ONE – 1. Brian Brown, 2. Dustin Jones, 3. Tim Blodgett, 4. Bob Cramb, 5. David Nekula

HEAT TWO – 1. Bobby Collister, 2. Matt Levin, 3. Larry Collins, 4. Jesse Nekula, 5. Gary Alvarez

MAIN EVENT – 1. Chris Bates, 2. Rod Hummel, 3. Russell Bratka, 4. Ken Barnett, 5. Gary Goodrich, Jr., 6. Wade Simmons, 7. Mike Vaughn, 8. Ron Catlin, 9. Jeff Dwight, 10. Jim Bates, 11. Steve Douglas

HEAT ONE – 1. Chris Bates, 2. Russell Bratka, 3. Rod Hummel, 4. Jeff Dwight, 5. Jim Bates

HEAT TWO – 1. Mike Vaughn, 2. Ken Barnett, 3. Wade Simmons, 4. Gary Goodrich, Jr., 5. Ron Catlin, 6. Steve Douglas

MAIN EVENT – 1. E.K. Ongley, 2. Brandon Schilling, 3. Barry Conoyer, 4. Bob Kati, 5. Jerry Titchner, 6. Dennis Valdez, 7. Charlie Pike, 8. John VanHorn

FAST TIME – Brandon Schilling – 16.231 seconds

See Also .:

• Tucson Raceway Park Track Page

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