SWEENEY SIZZLES IN SUPER LATE MODEL MAIN AT TUCSON RACEWAY PARK

Source: Tucson Raceway Park Public Relations
Date: 08/29/2004

The NASCAR Super Late Model Main Event saw John Sweeney win for the first time in 2004 in the 30-lap Feature.

It didn't happen without some paint being traded and fenders being bent as the field was reduced to seven racers by the final lap. John Sweeney stood tall and raced above it all holding the top spot from start to finish. Sweeney's front row starting position in the race was to his advantage as he was able to stay ahead of the fray.

The race's first stoppage came on lap 15 when four of the Super Late Models got together on the backstretch as Buddy Nelson, Dusty Fielden, Matt Levin and Van Knill got side ways, in their racing efforts and the result saw Fielden, Knill and Levin forced to retire from racing action. Nelson returned to racing, but his SLM looked more like a Grand American Modified as he was able to finish the race, but back in the pack.

The race had one more flag, as Yellow flew on lap 20 when Mike Egurola and Chad Bowden made contact with each other in turn one, with the results being their premature departure from the race.

After that it was a dog fight to the Checkered Flag as Sweeney was pressed by Ron Norman and Joe Paladenic. The first challenge was posed by Paladenic for 29 of the race's 30 laps. However, once again Joe lost his bid for victory and in his pursuit wound up in third. Norman was able to catch Sierra Vista's finest, but Style America's Sweeney was not to be caught.

Running fourth was Chuck Wares, who was caught in the fracas on lap 15, but had some speedy modifications done to his ride by his pit crew and was able to mount a comeback that saw him return to finish fourth. Pat Bush was the fifth car to cross the finish line. For Bush it marked the second time in seven tries that he had posted a top five run in Super Late Model competition.

The NASCAR Late Models in the Blue Race of the Red, White & Blue Series saw unfamiliar division competitor take the Checkered Flag and pose for photos in Victory Lane. Believe it or not, it was none other than Chuck Wares the driver with the most wins in 2004 at Tucson Raceway Park, who pulled double duty on the evening and saved his biggest surprise until the last race of the night when he won his first race in the NASCAR Late Model division after three tries this season.

This 50-lap endurance test was a just a warmup for Wares, who will be going 101-laps next in his Super Late Model entry. Wares did not just sleep walk his way to victory in this Late Model tussle. He first had to catch David Nekula, Sr., who after a couple of weeks off returned with renewed vigor. He led the race for 30 laps and gave Chuck all he wanted trading positions three times during the race.

Nekula's effort was commendable and was rewarded with a third place finish. Sneaking into second was the red hot Rookie Brice Bonnett, who has a win, a fifth and a second in his last three races. Fourth place went Matt Levin, who had scored two wins in his last two Late Model starts. Fifth place went to another Rookie, Kelly Germain, who had gotten as close to the front as third place before settling in behind Levin on lap 45.

The NASCAR Factory Stocks Main Event saw Alan Levin come out ahead in a wild finish that saw a Red Flag and Two Yellow Flags in the last four laps of the race and post his second win of the 2004 season. Alan's patience and driving skills allowed him to overcome some unfortunate mishaps in posting his first win since Opening Night.

The race was led for 19 laps by Mike Levin, who traded paint with Greg Jayko on the races' next to last lap in turn one that ended up forcing Division Points Leader Jayko from the race.

Prior to the Levin and Jayko coming together, Mike Shipyor, Rod Jurado, Mike McGullam and Doug Paxson all met in between turns one and two bringing out a Red Flag. The incident saw Jurado and Shipyor able to continue, but McGullam and Paxson were forced to leave the race prematurely. This was followed by the Levin and Jayko Red Flag skirmish in turn one.

Just when we thought we would end up with a Green Flag, White Flag, Checkered Flag finish one more calamity on the back stretch between Mike Levin and Fred Stephens brought out the Yellow Flag for the racing field and the Black Flag for Fred Stephens for rough driving.

We did get the final go ahead with Alan Levin regaining his position, back in front, and the desired Green, White and Checkered Flag run to Victory Lane was set into motion.

Running second to Levin, was Rookie Paul Gastreich, followed by John Levin in third place, Brian Harrington in fourth and Mike Levin, in fifth place.

In the West Coast Pro Trucks Main Event Dean Kuhn won his fifth race of the season and set a new track record for the truck series at Tucson Raceway Park circling the oval in 17.172 seconds. He topped the old record by .091 seconds.

Kuhn, from Oceanside, Cailfornia led for 28 of the races 60 laps as the series ran a two 30-lap races, but crowning only one winner. Kuhn's main competition in the race came from Chris Johnson, (Claremont, CA) who entered action tonight as the Series' points leader. Johnson's consistent effort gave him a second place finish and his 8th top five run of 2004.

Third place went Brian Pannone, (Riverside, CA) who like Johnson won one of the races the series ran here back on April 17th. Ryan Black of Alta Loma, California was a solid fourth place finisher, while Jim Satterfield of Westminster, California, finished fifth.

The Bud Five Star Series continues next Saturday Night at Tucson Raceway Park as Suzuki presents the third race (101-laps) of the Suzuki Triple Crown Series for the NASCAR Super Late Models. This race has a $2,000 cash payoff for the winner. Also, competing will be the Grand American Modifieds, Mighty Compacts, Factory Stocks and the Specialists' Spectacular Drags.

RESULTS FROM TUCSON RACEWAY PARK FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2004

MAIN EVENT- 1. John Sweeney, 2. Ron Norman, 3. Joe Paladenic, 4. Chuck Wares, 5. Pat Bush, 6. Chris Barr, 7. Buddy Nelson, 8. Mike Egurola, 9. Chad Bowden, 10. Dusty Fielden, 11. Van Knill, 12. Matt Levin

TROPHY DASH- 1. Chuck Wares, 2. Buddy Nelson, 3. Ron Norman, 4. Matt Levin, 5. Van Knill, 6. Dusty Fielden HEAT TWO- 1. Mike Egurola, 2. Pat Bush, 3. John Sweeney, 4. Chad Bowden, 5. Joe Paladenic, 6. Chris Barr FAST TIME QUALIFIER: Ron Norman - 15.757-seconds

TROPHY DASH- 1. Brice Bonnett, 2. Dustin Jones, 3. Kelly Germain, 4. Russell Anderson, 5. Jesse Nekula, 6. Chuck Wares HEAT TWO- 1. David Nekula, Sr., 2. Scott Strachan, 3. Tim Blodgett, 4. Matt Levin, 5. David Kirchoff HEAT THREE- 1. Ron Wear, 2. Billy Johanneck, 3. Brad Moyer, 4. Robin Boomgaarden, 5. Mark Cirillo FAST TIME QUALIFIER: Dustin Jones - 17.706-seconds

MAIN EVENT- 1. Alan Levin, 2. Paul Gastreich, 3. John Levin, 4. Brian Harrington, 5. Mike Levin, 6. Mike Shipyor, 7. Rod Jurado, 8. Ken Huizenga, 9. Jeremy Smith, 10. Fred Stephens, 11. Derek Smith, 12. Greg Jayko, 13. Mike McGullam, 14. Doug Paxson, 15. Erick Gibson

HEAT ONE- 1. Mike Levin, 2. Mike McGullam, 3. Mike Shipyor, 4, Paul Gastreich, 5. Derek Jones, 6. Jeremy Smith, 7. Ken Huizenga, 8. Brian Harrington HEAT TWO- 1. Rod Jurado, 2. Greg Jayko, 3. Fred Stephens, 4. Alan Levin, 5. John Levin, 6. Doug Paxson, 7. Erick Gibson, 8. Jerry Gaede

FAST TIME QUALIFIER: Dean Kuhn - 17.172-seconds (NEW TRACK RECORD)

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