The 2003 Bud Five Star Series concluded its’ regular racing schedule at Tucson Raceway Park on Saturday with four divisions of exciting local NASCAR racing.
The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series saw Branden Bonnett win for the 7th time this season in the NASCAR Super Late Model 30-Lap Main Event.
The race saw one red flag and one yellow flag the first coming out on lap two when four cars got together between turns three and four. Ron Norman, Scott Walker, Brandon Schilling and Kelly Germain all were forced from the race after the dust settled.
The race’s last slow down came with a yellow flag on lap 27 when Buddy Nelson and John Sweeney exchanged paint on the front stretch. In the race Sweeney was able to continue Nelson was forced to retire early.
Bonnnett, who will race on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway in the Featherlite Southwest Series Tour, was able to hold off Chuck Wares for 29 laps giving up the lead only once on lap17.
Wares’ second place finish snapped a four race win streak, but his perfect 20 starts and 20 top five finishes continued. Behind Wares in third was John Sweeney, who posted his best finish since a second place on July 5. Ron Searle, Jr. was good enough for fourth place, while Chris Barr finished fifth.
In tonight’s Annual Bud Shoot Out Ron Norman posted his first victory in this 15-lap event. Norman took the lead on lap one and was able to maintain his advantage for the balance of the race.
“I feel great. I got a line to run and found a groove that took me to the front. I really wanted to win this race and I now have my name on the Bud Shoot Out Sign of Winners here at the track,” Norman beamed.
Running second to Norman was Branden Bonnett, who beat out Chuck Wares by no more than a front fender. Running fourth was John Sweeney, while Chris Barr, who won the Bud Open to qualify for the Shoot Out finished fifth.
Tonight’s NASCAR Late Model 25-lap Main Event saw Bobby Collister post his 8th win of the season. It was Collister’s second straight win and 13th top five finish on the campaign. The race had three yellow flags, but Collister was unfazed by the racing slow downs.
Division Champ Brian Brown put Collister to the test during the feature. Brown led the race for three laps, but spent most of his time during the race on Collister’s rear bumper. Collister came away with the lead on lap 25 and the win was his.
Behind Collister and Brown was Dustin Jones, who spent most of his first full year of racing at the Factory Stock Division, but has had some Late Model success with two top five finishes.
Running fourth was the divisions midseason points leader David Nekula, who finished second to Brown for the year, while Matt Levin rounded out the top five in fifth. Tonight’s NASCAR Grand American Modified winner was Larry Kayton in the 25-lap Feature event. Kayton out of Phoenix posted his second win of the season, his first since July 19. Larry was one of only two drivers with multiple wins in the GAM division. His two wins were second only to Chad Bowden, who posted nine wins in the division on the campaign.
The 2003 GAM Division points Champ was Pat Bush, who had one win, back on April 12, but was consistent enough to post 15 top five finishes on the season.
In tonight’s tussle Kayton waited until the last lap to scoot by Chad Bowden, who had held the advantage for the race’s first 24 laps.
Kayton was ecstatic from victory lane, “That was really fun. To race someone like Chad and run a race that clean it makes it all worth while.”
Behind Kayton and Bowden was Pat Bush in third place. Running fourth was Ruben Federico and rounding out the top five in fifth was Dusty Fielden.
In the NASCAR Mighty Compact 20-lap Main Event Chris Bates posted his 10th win in 2003 and his fifth straight.
Bates caught and held off division points Champion Russell Bratka, who now has two seconds and a third place finish in his last three starts.
For Bates he felt vindicated, “I guess, I’m no fluke. I got a chance to race him (Bratka) and was able to catch, pass and hold onto the lead and the win felt real good.”
Bates didn’t get the lead until lap 19 and was the third different leader of what had to be the most competitive Mighty Compact Main Event of year. Bratka led the race for 14 laps, while Rod Hummel was the race’s leader for the first four laps.
Behind Bates and Bratka was Ken Barnett, who finished third, while Hummel dropped back to fourth, and Mike Vaughn finished fifth.
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.
Next racing action at Tucson Raceway Park will be on Friday and Saturday, November 14 & 15, as the first ever Bahama Bracket Nationals are scheduled. This event had its’ origins at Rockford Speedway, in Rockford, Illinois and is a highly competitive and popular event which allows the competitor to race almost any type of car or truck. The following weekend November 21 & 22 the USAC National Sprints and Midgets make their annual pilgrimage to the oasis in the desert, along with the Grand American Modified Open Competition.
