TUCSON, Arizona -- The 2003 Bud Five Star Series continued at Tucson Raceway Park on Saturday with three divisions of exciting local NASCAR racing the and School Bus Demolition Derby.
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Chuck Wares win for the 9th time this season in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-Lap Main Event.
It was a tough day for Chuck as he buried his father in the afternoon and was on the racetrack before the sunset. “Dad would have wanted me to be here,” Wares said, “He was one of my greatest supporters and I’m sure gonna miss him.”
Wares was never headed in the race and won in convincing fashion making it a perfect 19 top five finishes in 19 starts this year.
Running second to Wares was his arch rival Ron Norman, who now has finished second in three of the last five Super Late Model Main Events. In third place was Branden Bonnett, who returned to Tucson’s Super Late Model class after running last week in the elite NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series here at Tucson Raceway Park.
In fourth place was Ron Searle, Jr., who posted a win in the Trophy Dash. While running fifth was John Sweeney. For Sweeney it marked his 11th top five finish in the division this season.
The Final NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Sunbelt Regional Standings were released this week with Tucson being well represented. Chuck Wares finished fourth in the region, Ron Norman was 18th, Branden Bonnett was 23rd and Ron Searle, Jr. was 39th. This year’s winner was Rip Michels from Irwindale Speedway.
In the NASCAR Mighty Compact 20-lap Main Event Chris Bates posted his ninth win in 2003 and his fourth straight.
Bates got to the front on the second 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 one of the race when Rick Wood, Jr. did a solo spin in turn four, but was able to continue The second yellow flag came out on lap four when Jason Neve got loose in turn four, but he too was able to return to racing action.
Bates had to hold off division points leader Russell Bratka, who now has a second and a third place finish in his last two starts.
Following Bates and Bratka across the finish line was Wade Simmons in third place, which now has nine top five, finishes on the year. Running fourth was Mike Vaughn, while in fifth place was Jeff Dwight, who made his 8th top five finish on the season.
In tonight’s NASCAR Factory Stock 40-Lap Main Event Kelly Germain topped the field in posting her sixth win of the season. This race marked the most laps run in the Main Event this season by this division.
For Kelly it marked her 15th top five finishes and gave her the Factory Stock Division Points Championship for 2003 in only her second year of racing at Tucson Raceway Park. The race saw two red flags and one yellow flag, which Germain used to her advantage.
Finishing second to Germain was Brian O’Brien, who led the race for 16 laps, but after the red flag flew on lap 29 he saw Kelly in two laps grab the lead and never look back In third place was Dustin Jones, who led the race for 14 laps. In fourth place was Mike Shipyor, who entered the night in third place in the division points standings. Running fifth in the Factory Stock 2003 Finale was Mike Levin. It was his second straight top five finish.
In tonight’s School Bus Demolition Derby Jim Wilson in his MP-Bus was crowned the winner in an all out free for all of eight full body buses, who smashed and crashed themselves to the delight of the crowd.
Next Saturday the Bud Five Star Series concludes its’ 2003 Regular Season Schedule with the BUD Shootout featuring the NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds and Mighty Compacts presented by Budweiser and Golden Eagle Distributing of Tucson.
MAIN EVENT – 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Ron Norman, 3. Branden Bonnett, 4. Ron Searle, Jr., 5. John Sweeney, 6. Matt Levin, 7. Chris Barr, 8. Chad Bowden, 9. Bobby Collister, 10. Ron Luks, 11. Mike Egurola
TROPHY DASH – 1. Ron Searle, Jr., 2. Chuck Wares, 3. Branden Bonnett, 4. Ron Norman, 5. Ron Wear, 6. Mike Egurola
HEAT TWO – 1. John Sweeney, 2. Matt Levin, 3. Chad Bowden, 4. Bobby Collister, 5. Ron Luks, 6. Chris Barr
FAST TIME – Branden Bonnett – 15.631 seconds
MAIN EVENT (40-Laps) – 1. Kelly Germain, 2. Brian O’Brien, 3. Dustin Jones, 4. Mike Shipyor, 5. Mike Levin, 6. Ken Huizenga, 7. Glen Umphreys, 8. Dan Burdick, 9. Clayton Roberts, 10. John Levin, 11. Fred Stephens, 12. Gannon Pritchard, 13. Brian Harrington, 14. Mike McGullam, 15. George Simns, 16. A.J. Jurado, 17. Chris Smith
HEAT ONE – 1. Kelly Germain, 2. Brian O’Brien, 3. Mike Shipyor, 4. Mike McGullam, 5. Fred Stephens, 6. Glen Umphryes
HEAT TWO – 1. Clayton Roberts, 2. Mike Levin, 3. Dustin Jones, 4. George Sims, 5. Ken Huizenga, 6. Alan Levin
HEAT THREE – 1. Chris Smith, 2. Dan Burdick, 3. A.J. Jurado, 4. John Levin, 5. Brian Harrington, 6. Gannon Pritchard
FAST TIME – Kelly Germain – 18.701 seconds (Track Record)
MAIN EVENT – 1. Chris Bates, 2. Russell Bratka, 3. Wade Simmons, 4. Mike Vaughn, 5. Jeff Dwight, 6. Jim Bates, 7. Bob Powers, 8. Clayton Clark, 9. Rick Wood, Jr., 10. Jason Neve, 11. Ken Barnett, 12. Gary Goodrich
HEAT ONE – 1. Chris Bates, 2. Ken Barnett, 3. Jim Bates, 4. Clayton Clark, 5. Rick Wood, Jr., 6. Gary Goodrich, Jr.
HEAT TWO – 1. Russell Bratka, 2. Mike Vaughn, 3. Wade Simmons, 4. Rod Hummel, 5. Jeff Dwight, 6. Ron Catlin, 7. Bob Powers
