TUCSON, Arizona -- The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series roared into week six of the 2004 campaign with four divisions of NASCAR competition highlighted by the Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Mighty Compacts and Factory Stocks at Tucson Raceway Park. For the brave of heart the second round of the Specialists' Spectacular Drags was the evening's novelty event.
The Bud Five Star Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels saw Chuck Wares top the field in the 30-lap NASCAR Super Late Model Main Event for his fifth straight win of the season.
Wares' luck was not as good as last time out, when he sat on the outside of row one and led from start to finish. This week Wares was on the third row when the green flag flew and it took him until lap eight to catch and pass Trophy Dash Winner Joe Paladenic.
His racing dominance was once again evident in his comfortable margin of victory. Without any cautions or stoppages in the race Chuck was able to extend his lead and post one of his more impressive wins of 2004.
In Chuck's rear view mirror were once again the usual suspects as Joe Paladenic the race's early leader had enough car to hold on and post his second bridesmaids finish of the campaign. Behind Paladenic was Stormin' Ron Norman, who did most of his wowing of the crowd during qualifying as he set a new track record circling the oval in 15.377 seconds.
Following Norman was new (this year) Super Late Model competitor, Matt Levin. Levin now has two top five finishes to his credit in five feature events. Rounding out the top five was John Sweeney, who equaled is effort of April 17, when he then too finished fifth.
In the NASCAR Late Model 25-lap Main Event, division rookie Kelly Germain put on a late surge and pulled off the upset of the night, when she caught and passed Dustin Jones on lap 23. It marked her first win at the NASCAR Late Model competition level and snapped a four race win streak that Jones had posted in 2004.
For Germain, who entered racing action this season riding the crest of a Factory Stock Division Championship (the first women ever to do so at Tucson Raceway Park), the early going had been rougher than expected. In four previous Main Event Races her best finish had third place on Opening Night. Two weeks ago she ran fourth and now has three top five finishes for the season.
Jones' effort was good enough to finish second as he got a little loose in the late going giving Kelly her window of opportunity. Right behind Jones, who had led the race for 15 laps was another rookie Brice Bonnett, who has now posted back to back third place finishes in 2004.
Running in fourth place was second year NASCAR Late Model competitor Tim Blodgett, who must be wondering how he got mixed up with a bunch of racers, who haven't had a driver's license for more than just a couple of years. Behind Blodgett was the fourth rookie in the top five, as Jesse Nekula ( in fifth place) posted his second top five finish of the year.
In the NASCAR Mighty Compact Main Event Russell Bratka returned to action after a two week hiatus and posted his second win of the season. While Bratka was away his car kept winning under the direction of Billy Johanneck. made it two wins in a row, behind the wheel of Russell Bratka's number 11 car has now been in Victory Lane four times in six races.
Bratka took the lead on lap one and was never headed. He did have one moment of concern when the yellow came out on lap 12. The pack bunched up with the leader, but only Mike Vaughn could stay close.
Vaughn now has four straight bridesmaid finishes on the year and has been in the top five five times in six starts. Behind Vaughn was Wade Simmons, who now has four straight third place finishes to his credit on the campaign. Running fourth was Jim Bates, while Shane Centers was in fifth.
The NASCAR Factory Stocks returned to racing action after a week off with all kinds controversy. The two racers who crossed the finished line first (Rod Jurado) and second (Jerry Gaede) in tonight's 20-lap Main Event were disqualified in a post race inspection, moving Greg Jayko to the front of the pack and giving him his first win of the year. The closest Jayko had been prior to Saturday night to Victory Lane was a fourth place on May 1.
The changes in the order of finish really helped Mike Shipyor and Alan Levin, who were running first and second in the division standings, and after the post race review were moved into second and third respectively. Moving into fourth place was Mike Levin, while Fred Stephens was awarded a fifth place finish.
In what had to be one of the most competitive Specialists Spectacular Drags events in track history, John Sheppard in a 2003 Corvette avenged his loss last month by sweeping John Raskob two heats to none in the final round of competition.
What drove the energy level up amongst the combatants was the inclusion of previous winners.
Lamar Jordan of Sierra Vista, a winner in 2002 returned with his 2001 BMW M3 but was eliminated in round one. Last month's winner Thomas Frazier went out in round two.
The Bud Five Star Series continues next week as Napa Auto Parts and Quik Mart present NASCAR Super Late Models, NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Mighty Compacts and the always popular Rollover Contest.
MAIN EVENT- 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Joe Paladenic, 3. Ron Norman, 4. Matt Levin, 5. John Sweeney, 6. Chris Barr, 7. Dusty Fielden, 8. Chad Bowden, 9. Van Knill, 10. Brian Brown, 11. Buddy Nelson, 12. Mike Egurola, 13. Billy Johanneck, 14. Bobby Collister TROPHY DASH- 1. Joe Paladenic, 2. Matt Levin, 3. Dusty Fielden, 4. Ron Norman, 5. Chuck Wares, 6. Chris Barr HEAT TWO- 1. Brian Brown, 2. John Sweeney, 3. Bobby Collister, 4. Billy Johanneck, 5. Chad Bowden, 6. Buddy Nelson, 7. Mike Egurola, 8. Van Knill FAST QUALIFYING TIME- Ron Norman - 15.377 Seconds(New Track Record)
