TUCSON, Arizona -- The 2003 Bud Five Star Series continued at Tucson Raceway Park on Saturday with the return of the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series and three divisions of exciting local NASCAR racing.
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Eddy McKean win the series return in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series John Baker 150 - Lap Main Event.
McKean took the lead on the 43rd lap and held off series points leader Auggie Vidovich, Jr. for the balance of the race.
Steve Beletto held the early advantage for 42 laps before giving way to McKean. Beletto’s efforts were not completely wasted as he had enough to hold on for fourth place.
Behind McKean and Vidovich was Danny Burson in third place followed Beletto in fourth, while Dan Holtz rounded out the top five in fifth place.
Local entry Branden Bonnett was running third for 113 laps of the race until spinning out in turn four of the racetrack and dropping back in th pack.
In the NASCAR Late Models 25 - lap Main Event Bobby Collister posted his seventh win in 2003.
Collister got to the front on the first lap and was able to over come two yellow flags to hold off the competition for the win.
The first yellow flag came out on lap 13 when Scott Strachan and Tim Blodgett traded paint on the homestretch, both drivers were able to continue and Collister maintained his lead. The second yellow came out late on lap 23 when Strachan did a solo spin in turn two and made the race a green, white, checkered finish.
Collister had to hold off last week’s winner Brian Brown for the win. Brown maintained his bridesmaid role for the 25 laps of the race. It marked his fifth second place finish this year and marked his 13th top five finish on the campaign. Brown entered the night as the division points leader and was able to maintain his advantage with tonight’s performance.
Following Brown across the finish line was Matt Levin in third place, who now has 12 top five finishes on the year. Running fourth was David Nekula, who got his final position by making a strong move on the leaders on lap 22. Running in fifth place was Gary Alvarez, who made his seventh top five finish on the season.
In the NASCAR Grand American Modified 25 - Lap Main Event Chad Bowden posted his ninth feature event and second in a row. Bowden is still the only multiple race winner in the GAM Division in 2003.
Bowden took the lead on lap one and was never headed. He did overcome one yellow flag prior to the firs lap that saw P.J. Megna forced from the race due to a mechanical malfunction. Another competitor that suffered a setback in the races’ early moments was Dusty Fielden, who spun out on the Backstretch and was setback at the start and only was able to get back to finish sixth. His finish cost him his lead in the division points standings as Pat Bush ran second and took the lead with just one more race to go in 2003.
Running third was Larry Kayton, who posted his second third place finish in three weeks and his ninth top five finish on the year. In fourth place was Ruben Federico, who reentered the group of top five finishers for the first time since August 16. Following Ruben across the finish line was Steve Piper rounding out the top five.
In tonight’s NASCAR Factory Stock 20-Lap Main Event Kelly Germain topped the field of 22 cars in posting her fifth win of the season.
For Kelly it marked her 14th top five finish and solidified her hold on the Factory Stock points lead. She entered tonight’s action with a 22 point lead on Mike McGullam and with a Heat Race win and her main event triumph seemed to be in the driver’s seat going into the final race of the season next Saturday night.
Finishing second the Germain was Rod Jurado, while Mike Levin ran a strong third. Mike Shipyor was fourth in the race and Glen Umphryes moving into fifth following a post race inspection of Alan Levin that saw him sent to the back of the pack for a rule violation.
Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series continues with the NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks (40 Lap Main Feature) and the School Bus Demolition Derby presented by Home Depot and Harley Davidson Buell of Tucson.
