PALADENIC WINS SUZUKI 101 LAP SUPER LATE MODEL MAIN

Source: Tucson Raceway Park Public Relations
Date: 09/05/2004

The NASCAR Super Late Model Suzuki Main Event saw Joe Paladenic win for the first time in 2004 in the 101-lap Feature.

Paladenic worked his way through traffic to get to second position by lap 24. He stayed there as he trailed Chuck Wares, who led the race for almost 90 laps. Paladenic's opportunity to make a run at the front of the pack came on lap 79. That is when Van Knill and Mike Egurola traded paint sliding in to the infield in front of the Main Grandstand bringing out the Yellow Flag.

"I told my crew at that time I was going for the win," Paladenic said from Victory Lane. "I had been hoping for a Yellow Flag so that I could make a serious run at Chuck."

Once the race went to Green Flag Status Paladenic forced the issue going back and forth with Wares until the Checkered Flag and Sierra Vista's very own came out on top. On the season it marked the 10th time in 16 races that Paladenic had finished in the top 5.

For Wares it was a night of disappointment after having held a commanding advantage only to see it disappear so late in the race. Chuck was however, the Suzuki Triple Crown series winner, while Ron Norman, who finished fifth in this race was the TRP Sunbelt Regional Standings Champion. The NASCAR Super Late Model local Division Championship is still up for grabs with two races left on the schedule.

The balance of the top five saw Matt Levin run an impressive third, while Dusty Fielden, who was the evening's fast time qualifier finished fourth.

In the NASCAR Grand American Modifieds Main Event Billy Johanneck ran his win total to seven and drew even closer to Larry Kayton in the division points chase.

Johanneck who leads the division in wins entered the action 18 points behind Kayton and made up some ground as Kayton was forced to leave the race on it's opening lap. Kayton and PJ Megna made contact with each other in the races first turn and both suffered damage that forced them to retire for the evening.

Johanneck was pleased in Victory Lane, "We really have this car running the way we like it, he added, " but I was still sorry to see Larry have to leave the race as he did."

Running second to Johanneck was last year's GAM Champ pat Bush, who now has 13 top five finishes in 16 races. Third place went to Bill Slocum, who with that placement turned in his best finish of the year. Bill, Johanneck and Kayton are the only Grand American Modified competitors with perfect attendance in 2004 making all 17 starts this season. Rounding out the top five was Carl Thomae in fourth and Ron Brown in fifth.

The NASCAR Factory Stocks Main Event saw Rookie Paul Gastreich post his second win of the season.

Gastreich started on the front row and only had one moment of concern when on lap 17 the Yellow Flag came out and the pack was able to regroup up close behind him. In that mishap Jeremy Smith, Doug Paxson and Brian Harrington were forced from the race.

On the restart Gastreich held his ground and kept division veterans like Mike Shipyor (2nd Place), Fred Stephens (3rd Place), Rod Jurado (4th Place) and Greg Jayko (5th Place) at bay for the races' final three laps.

Gastreich a high school student at CDO showed no signs of his lack of experience (only 16-professional races) in Victory Lane, "I like this winning, we are getting car to come around and it's almost as easy to drive as the Go Carts I used to race."

In the NASCAR Mighty Compact Main Event Mike Vaughan made it two straight wins and solidified his hold on the division points championship.

Vaughan, who hadn't won a race until August 21st was able to maintain points advantage by posting eight second place finishes and three third place finishes in 11 races. His success came at the expense of his good friend Jim Bates, who was the races' early leader holding a commanding lead until he lost a wheel in lap 8.

Vaughan was almost apologetic from Victory Lane, "I like to win, but, I sure hated to see my buddy (Jim Bates) lose out on his chance to get a win this season. He sure looked like he was in a good spot tonight."

Running behind Vaughan was Wade Simmons in second place, Jason Neve in third place, while Shane Centers grabbed fourth spot and David Bosley was a fifth place finisher.

In tonight's The Specialist's Spectacular Drags John Raskob in his 1990 Eclipse out lasted Chris Thomas and a field of hopefuls to win round four of this exciting Novelty event.

The Bud Five Star Series takes next week off, but Tucson Raceway Park does not, as Desert Diamond Casino presents the Night of Thrills. Join in on all the fun as Monster Truck Mayhem comes to the Oasis in the Desert along with Hornets, Tuff Trux, Auto Soccer, Demolition Derbies, the Specialists' Spectacular Drags, Amazing Car Jump and this night of great entertainment is topped off with a FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR.

The Bud Five Star Series continues on Saturday, September 18, as Starnursery.com presents the NASCAR Auto Zone Southwest Series 150. In addition local NASCAR Late Models will do battle along with Grand American Modifieds and the Factory Stocks will run a 40-lap Main Event.

MAIN EVENT (101-LAPS)- 1. Joe Paladenic, 2. Chuck Wares, 3. Matt Levin, 4, Dusty Fielden, 5. Ron Norman, 6. Chris Barr, 7. Van Knill, 8. Chad Bowden, 9. John Sweeney, 10. Mike Egurola, 11. Dustin Jones, 12. Jamie Throckmorton, 13. Billy Kann, 14. Buddy Nelson, 15. David Kirchoff, 16. Pat Bush

FAST TIME QUALIFIER: Dusty Fielden - 15.565 seconds

MAIN EVENT- 1. Billy Johanneck, 2. Pat Bush, 3. Bill Slocum, 4. Carl Thomae, 5. Ron Brown, 6. Gary Sparks, 7. Jim Rogel, 8. Larry Kayton, 9. PJ Megna

HEAT ONE- 1. Pat Bush, 2. Larry Kayton, 3. PJ Megna, 4. Carl Thomae

HEAT TWO- 1. Billy Johanneck, 2. Ron Brown, 3. Bill Slocum, 4. Gary Sparks, 5. Jim Rogel

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

HEAT ONE- 1. Jeremy Smith, 2. Fred Stephens, 3. Rod Jurado, 4. Doug Paxson, 5. Derek Jones, 6. Mike McGullam, 7. Alan Levin

HEAT TWO- 1. Paul Gastreich, 2. Mike Shipyor, 3. Brian Harrington, 4. John Levin, 5. Mike Levin, 6. Jerry Gaede, 7. Greg Jayko, 8. Tim Blodgett

MAIN EVENT- 1. Michael Vaughan, 2. Wade Simmons, 3. Jason Neve, 4. Shane Centers, 5. David Bosely, 6. Rod Hummel, 7. Clayton Clark, 8. Tammy Lynn, 9. Jim Bates

HEAT ONE- 1. Russell Bratka, 2. Shane Centers, 3. Jason Neve, 4. Clayton Clark, 5. Tammy Lynn

HEAT TWO- 1. Michael Vaughan, 2. Wade Simmons, 3. Jim Bates, 4. David Bosley, 5. Rod Hummel

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