TUCSON, Arizona -- The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series continued its competition at Tucson Raceway Park Saturday Night with three divisions of local NASCAR competition, Hornet and Tuff Trux Racing and an exhibition by the Bandoleros racing group.
The Bud Five Star Series presented by Home Depot saw David Nekula, Sr. top the field in the NASCAR Late Model Main Event.
For Nekula, Sr. it marked his first win in 2004, but for the Nekula Family it was their second triumph as son, Jesse was NASCAR Late Model winner back on June 5. "All we need now is Junior to win and will have the trifecta." said Nekula. (Nekulas two sons David, Jr. and Jesse compete in this division.)
The race was a back and forth battle between Nekula and Brad Moyer as they traded the lead three times before Nekula was able to go ahead on lap 21 and maintain his advantage to the Checkered Flag.
The races early leader Ron Wear led for six laps before he gave way to Moyer, who led 12 laps of the 25 lap race. Right behind Nekula and Moyer was Tim Blodgett, who on lap 24 was able to catch Moyer and finish second his third such finish of the season. Moyer did finish third, while Kelly Germain was able to contend with a fourth place finish and Wear held on for fifth place.
In the NASCAR Grand American Modifieds Main Event Larry Kayton showed the way in winning his third race of the season and outlasting the field in the 50-lap feature.
Kayton started on the second row and did not move into the fields first position until lap 26. His presence was felt early however as kept the heat on Billy Johanneck, who was able to lead the race for 25 laps.
Kayton in Victory Lane was overjoyed, "I love racing and running 25 extra laps is no problem for me or my car." Kayton went on to say that the biggest adjustment he had to make was compensating for the extra gas he had to carry early in the race.
Johanneck after giving up the lead never gave up the fight and finished a strong second. For the "Flying Bohemian" it marked his seventh top five finish on the year. Running third was Dusty Fielden, who has spent most of 2004 competing in the Super Late Model division. Fielden was a top driver in the GAM Class in 2003. In fourth place was P.J. Megna, who entered the action riding the crest of a two race win streak. Megna, along Johanneck and Kayton are all three time winners so far this season. Rounding out the top five was Pat Bush, who made it his seventh finish in the fields top five.
The NASCAR Factory Stock Main Event saw Rod Jurado cross the finish line first and made it stick, posting his first win of the season.
For Jurado it was a well earned win after bouncing back from some early season setbacks. "This feels great. The car loves the low groove and when I got I didnt look back." said Jurado.
Jurado was able to get that low groove on lap 8 when he caught an passed the races early leader Mike McGullam. After Jurado got past McGullam he was never headed.
Running second to Jurado was Rookie Brian Harrington, who posted his best finish of his career. Harrington was able to hold his position for the last 10 laps of the race. In third place was Greg Jayko, who entered racing action looking for his third straight win and also the new points leader the division standings. Fourth place went Doug Paxson, who was a winner back on May 8th, and Finishing fifth was Rookie Paul Gastreich, who has been in the top five in three of his last four races.
The Hornets Main Event saw Karl Griggs post his second win of the 2004 racing season. Griggs led the race from almost the beginning to end, avoiding stalled cars, incidental and contact and assortment of obstacles that are always part of Hornet Race.
Griggs has a secret to his winning ways, "I stay wide on the track away from the competition, so as not to get caught up in a wreck." It is a strategy that has worked in two of his three efforts this season and one that he will most likely implore again on August 14, when the Hornets take to the track in their third race this year.
Trying to keep up with Mr. Griggs was the always present and last race winner in the Hornet Division John "Crash" Callans. John has two seconds and a win to his credit giving him the total points advantage for the season. Behind Callans was Richard Hill, who now has two third place finishes to his credit this season. In fourth was Robert Davis, who now has two top five finishes in three tries. In fifth place was John Stum making his first appearance at Tucson Raceway Park this season.
The Tuff Trux Series made its third stop at the local oval with Ruben Federico taking top honors for the second straight time. Federico was followed by Grant Wilson, Jim Wilson, John Callans and Tom Baird in the Final Round of Competition. Federicos qualifying time was the best on the night as covered the course in 44.827 seconds.
In the Bandoleros exhibition Kyle Huender (14-years old) from Las Vegas topped the trio of traveling racers, while Jennifer Link, 15 years of age from Phoenix ran second and Cassie Gannis a 13 year old competitor also from Phoenix ran third.
The Bud Five Star Series continues next Saturday Night at Tucson Raceway Park as Budweiser presents the Fireworks Extravaganza that will feature the NASCAR Super Late Models in the second race of the Suzuki Triple Crown Series. This event will be a 75-lap tour with $2,000 going to the winner. In addition on the entertainment card will be the Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks, the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere in Total Darkness, a Suicide Car Explosion by Daredevil FX and the BEST FIREWORKS SHOW in town.
RESULTS FROM TUCSON RACEWAY PARK FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2004
MAIN EVENT- 1. David Nekula, Sr. 2. Tim Blodgett, 3. Brad Moyer, 4. Kelly Germain, 5. Ron Wear, 6. Russell Anderson, 7. Scott Strachan, 8. Brice Bonnett, 9. Dustin Jones, 10. Jesse Nekula, 11. David Kirchoff
TROPHY DASH- 1.Kelly Germain, 2. David Nekula, Sr. 3. Russell Anderson, 4. Scott Strachan, 5. Tim Blodgett, 6. Dustin Jones
HEAT TWO- 1. Brice Bonnett, 2. Brad Moyer, 3. Ron Wear, 4. David Kirchoff, 5. Jesse Nekula
FASTEST TIME QUALIFIER: Dustin Jones - 17.863 seconds
MAIN EVENT (50-Laps)- 1. Larry Kayton, 2. Billy Johanneck, 3. Dusty Fielden, 4. P.J. Megna, 5. Pat Bush, 6. Ron Brown, 7. Bill Slocum, 8. Kenny Kington, 9. Buddy Nelson, 10. Ruben Federico, 11. Carl Thomae, 12. Mike Schmidt, 13. Jim Rogel, 14. Tony Izzo
TROPHY DASH- 1. Billy Johanneck, 2. P.J. Megna, 3. Larry Kayton, 4. Pat Bush, 5. Dusty Fielden, 6. Buddy Nelson
HEAT TWO- 1. Carl Thomae, 2. Bill Slocum, 3. Ruben Federico, 4. Tony Izzo, 5. Ron Brown, 6. Mike Schmidt, 7. Kenny Kington, 8. Jim Rogel
FASTEST TIME QUALIFIER: Dusty Fielden - 15.747 seconds
MAIN EVENT- 1. Rod Jurado, 2. Brian Harrington, 3. Greg Jayko, 4. Doug Paxson, 5. Paul Gastreich, 6. Mike McGullam, 7. John Levin, 8. Mike Shipyor, 9. Fred Stephens, 10. Alan Levin, 11. Jerry Gaede, 12. Chris Smith, 13. Derek Jones, 14. Jeremy Smith, 15. Mike Levin
HEAT ONE- 1. Rod Jurado, 2. Mike McGullam, 3. John Levin, 4. Brian Harrington, 5. Fred Stephens, 6. Derek Jones, 7. Mike Levin
HEAT TWO- 1. Greg Jayko, 2. Paul Gastreich, 3. Doug Paxson, 4. Mike Shipyor, 5. Alan Levin, 6. Chris Smith, 7. Jeremy Smith, 8. Jerry Gaede
MAIN EVENT- 1. Karl Griggs, 2. John Callans, 3. Richard Hill, 4. Robert Davis, 5. John Stum, 6. Scott Travis, 7. David Bishop, 8. Alan Hardesty, 9. P.J. McClure, 10. Jerome Zane, 11. Richard Jisko, 12. Roy Tripoloni, 13. Dave Reynolds
QUALIFYING ROUND- 1. Ruben Federico-44.877 seconds, 2. Grant Wilson-45.361, 3. John Callans-45.519, 4. Jim Wilson-46.496, 5. Tom Baird-46.871, 6. Ed Smith-48.099, 7. John Clark- 49.855, 8. Tommy Baird-51.815, 9. John Yeomans-54.586
FINAL ROUND- 1. Ruben Federico, 2. Grant Wilson, 3. Jim Wilson, 4. John Callans, 5. Tom Baird
