Zoom Zoom Tucson

Here are the results of Modified Fall DIRT Nationals at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, New Mexico as reported by Bryan Hulbert.

The top five in the A-Main on Friday transfer directly to the A-Main on Sunday. Racing action continues today with the Finals on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Jeremy Payne, Johnny Scott, Rodney Sanders, Darrell Nelson and Kelly Shryock were the top five on Friday and secured their spot in the A-Main on Sunday.

Modified Event Winners
(Friday, November 6th 2009)

Heat 1: Kellen Chadwick, Jake Boles, Michael Murphree, Zane DeVilbiss, Randy Timms, Jay Rosales, Josh Cain, Chad Ayers, Austin Adams, Ronnie Salas, Gene Weaver

Heat 2: Mike Marlar, Jon Tesch, Fito Gallardo, Max Sadler, Tristan Sikes, Jason Noll, Terry Belcher Jr., Chris Sims, Jack Sullivan, Steve Sutton, Jason Hughes

Heat 3: Kelly Shryock, Jeremy Payne, Tyson Franks, Michael Robertson, Tim Donlinger, Monte Bolton, Nathan Bichsel, Jeff Thomas, Peyton Taylor, Jeff Taylor, Richie Davis

Heat 4: Jacob Gallardo, Chris McCurty Jr., Nick O’Neal, John Carney II, Troy Cooke, JJ Harpole, Johnny Fennewald, Curt Barnett, Levi Roberts, Dennis Gates, Sherman Barnett

Heat 5: Christy Georges, Darrell Nelson, Jimmy Ray, Tom Georges, Morgan Bagley, Billy Jack Brutchin, Tim Mecl, Denny Schwartz, Steve Jones, Patrick Carney, Terry Tipton

Heat 6: Bumper Jones, Steve Holzkamper, Paddy Rush, Butch Reid Jr., Steve Miller, Robert Adams, Bobby Sikes Jr., Joe Carr, Mark Stewart, Martin Robinson

Heat 7: Alan Sharpensteen, Rick Gallardo, Shawn Dutcher, Clint Miller, Randy Reeser, Frank Dutton, Nick Hererra, Robbie Chiles, Wayne Brooks, Rick Lovelady

Heat 8: Johnny Scott, Bob Sikes, Dickie Gorham, Terry Phillips, Neal Debord, Ricky Thornton Jr., Matt Newkirk, Kelly Gorham, James Flemming, Josh Reisch

Heat 9: Stormy Scott, Bryan Rowland, Ron Jones, Chris Dawson, Garrett Durrett, Derek Ramirez, Roy Don Mason, Greg Jenkins, Joe Lackey, Mike Hansen

Heat 10: Rodney Sanders, Eric Turner, Mark Dotson, Philip Houston, Holly Jones, Jack Kokot, Norman Uptain Jr., Royal Jones, Grant Junghans, Randy Hesston

C-Main 1: Timms, Ramirez, Fennewald, Thornton Jr., Hansen, Debord, Uptain Jr., Mecl, A. Adams, Thomas, Gates, Roberts, DeVilbiss, Dawson, Brooks, Carr, Noll, Jenkins, P. Carney, Hughes, Davis

C-Main 2: Donlinger, R. Adams, Bolton, Robertson, R. Jones, Ayers, Kokot, Sullivan, C. Barnett, Cain, S. Jones, Robinson, Sikes Jr., Salas, Chiles, Flemming, Heston, Newkirk, Harpole, S. Barnett, J. Taylor

C-Main 3: Rosales, T. Sikes, Mason, Bichsel, Junghans, Sims, Reeser, K. Gorham, Reisch, Tipton, Schwartz, Stewart, Hererra, Brutchin, Lackey, Dutton, Sutton, Belcher Jr., Weaver, P. Taylor, Lovelady

B-Main 1: S. Scott, Tesch, Sharpensteen, Ray, Dotson, Fennewald, Turner, Franks, Timms, Bagley, Robertson, Rosales, Mason, J. Carney, Ayers, Reid Jr., McCurty Jr., C. Miller, Sadler, Junghans, Hansen, Durrett, Adams, O’Neal

B-Main 2: Phillips, B. Jones, Murphree, Ron Jones, Boles, B. Sikes, Miller, D. Gorham, T. Georges, Houston, Royal Jones, Ramirez, Rowland, H. Jones, Thornton Jr., Bichsel, Donlinger, T. Sikes, Rush, Sims, Cooke, Debord, Dutcher, Bolton

A-Main: Jeremy Payne, Johnny Scott, Rodney Sanders, Darrell Nelson, Kelly Shryock, Terry Phillips, Jon Tesch, Steve Holzkamper, Mike Marlar, Bumper Jones, Stormy Scott, Jacob Gallardo, Jimmy Ray, Fito Gallardo, Christy Georges, Eric Turner, Johnny Fennewald, Mark Dotson, Alan Sharpensteen, Michael Murphree, Steve Miller, Bob Sikes, Rick Gallardo, Jake Boles, Ron Jones, Kellen Chadwick (Top 5 to Sunday’s A-main)

**105 Modifieds (SNMS Record) from 14 states – (OK, MO, CA, NM, AR, CO, TX, AZ, IL, IA, MN, FL, LA & SD)

Race Notes:

Jeremy Payne, former Tucson racer, was the A-Main Winner and that locks him in the A-Main on Sunday.  Tucson racers Chad Ayers, Jack Kokot, Robert Adams and Nick O’Neil are racing in the Modified Fall DIRT Nationals at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, New Mexico

USA Raceway

USA Raceway Trick-or Treat
TUCSON, Arizona (November 1st, 2009) – RC Whitwell won the USA Halloween points finale to put a secure wrap on the 2009 Barnett Harley Davidson UMP West Modified Championship at USA Raceway. Whitwell not only captured the championship but his victory will give him some momentum going into the 5th Annual Barnett Harley Davidson Wes Hurst Memorial.

Chad Ayres, Robert Adams, Paul Banghart and Don Earven made up the top five of the 25-lap feature with Adams and Jorgenson making it to the podium for the 2009 Championships standings.

Marty Hussak also put the clamps on his 2009 USA Super Stock Championship by capturing the 20-lap Halloween feature event.

Dusty Gauthier, 2009 USA Factory Stock Champion, took second place honors as Kalvin Catlin held off the continued harassment of the Factory Stock field. Catlin returned to victory lane showing he is a force to be reckoned with going into the month of money starting this Friday with The Carl Trimmer Classic.

Kurt Stults took top honors in the Modified Midget feature edging out Daniel Doherty at the line.

Full Results: http://usaraceway.net/results.php

The 1st Annual Carl Trimmer Classic, presented by T-Mac Pipe Constructors and Total Seal Piston Rings, will feature the stars of the Super Late Models from all over the Southwest. The SWDRA Super Late Models will be joined by Super Stocks and SCRA Factory Stocks. General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $15, racing will begin promptly at 7pm.

USA Raceway, Arizona’s premier short track, is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (October 20, 2009) – Story lines abound as the ASCS Southwest Region takes to Tucson’s USA Raceway this Saturday night with Ben Gregg clinging to a narrow series points lead, Rick Ziehl trying to put the finishing touches on mini-series points chase and Johnny Herrera trying to keep a Regional win streak alive.

Saturday’s card also serves as one final tune up for the ASCS Southwest forces before taking on the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters at the 42nd Annual KRONIK Energy Western World Championships presented by Old Tucson Studios on November 19-21.

After a couple of weeks of Texas competition, Peoria’s Gregg carries a slim 10-point lead into Saturday’s action as he tries to close in on the ASCS Southwest title. Gregg, who topped the series most recent feature event on September 19, is just ten points ahead of Ziehl, with John Gaston, Mike Martin and Joshua Hodges all within striking distance as well.

Ziehl, the defending ASCS Southwest champion, carries an 18 point edge in the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Regional Challenge into the event. Saturday’s card, the eighth and final leg of the DTC Challenge, will crown the champion of the series that included both winged Southwest Region events and wingless Canyon Region events.

Dropping in on the Southwest contingent on Saturday night will be Albuquerque’s Johnny Herrera, who has topped 16 consecutive ASCS Regional winged events throughout Arizona and New Mexico dating back to 2005.

Herrera won’t be the only weekend visitor, as Phoenix native Calvin Landis returns to Arizona for some racing action after another year of Knoxville competition.

Also, wingless shoe R.J. Johnson of Phoenix, AZ, is prepared to take on the winged forces for the first time, with modified ace R.C. Whitwell also trying out the winged open-wheelers on Saturday night.

Current ASCS Southwest points (Top Ten): 1. Ben Gregg (Peoria, AZ) 984, 2. Rick Ziehl (Las Cruces, NM) 974, 3. John Gaston (Peoria, AZ) 958, 4. Mike Martin (Yuma, AZ) 948, 5. Joshua Hodges (Tijeras, NM) 946, 6. Ronnie Clark (Tucson, AZ) 920, 7. Charles Davis, Jr. (Buckeye, AZ) 910, 8. John Van Horn (Tucson, AZ) 821, 9. Jessica Van Dyke (Tucson, AZ) 813, 10. Ron Kratz (Tucson, AZ) 746.

Current Discount Tire Co. ASCS Regional Challenge Points (Top Five through Seven of Eight Rounds): 1. Rick Ziehl 704, 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 686, 3. Ronnie Clark 664, 4. Mike Martin 650, 5. Joshua Hodges 638.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

The wing warriors will be joined by Factory Stocks, X-Mods and Hornets. General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $12, racing will begin promptly at 7pm.

Suite Access Passes which allow race fans the opportunity to enjoy the races from USA Raceway’s VIP Suite are also on sale for only $25.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

RC Whitwell and Company Defend Against the New Mexico Assault

Tucson, Arizona (October 13th, 2009) – The battle of Modified supremacy goes full tilt this weekend as the Arizona boys gear up to defend their home track against the New Mexico bandits. The competition heats up this weekend as the UMP West Modifieds wage battle on the USA Raceway battle field.

RC Whitwell leads the charge with fellow Tucson resident Robert Adams close by and ready to take aim against New Mexico’s Stormy Scott and Jimmy Ray. Scott and Ray packed a one two punch with brother Johnny Scott making an all New Mexico podium at their last Tucson outing.

The New Mexico crew is expected to come loaded with a few other friends looking to repeat. However, Chad Ayres stepped up as a contender with a dominating performance to kick off October and will join forces with a large cast ready to take on anyone.

The Ump West Modifieds will be joined by Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, AMA Modlites Arizona Late Models and Hornets. General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $10, racing will begin promptly at 7pm.

Suite Access Passes which allow race fans the opportunity to enjoy the races from USA Raceway’s VIP Suite are also on sale for only $20.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

Tucson, Arizona (September 1st, 2009) – Sprint Cars, Bull Riders and Rock Stars are set to kick off the Hank Arnold Memorial double header this Labor Day weekend. The wingless forces of the ASCS Canyon Region will take to Tucson’s USA Raceway for two full nights of competition this Saturday and Sunday as they honor Tucson’s Hank Arnold.

Arnold, a legendary racer as well as a master craftsman, was instrumental in bringing the future of open wheel racing full circle. He won more than 160 main events, held 17 track records and built cars with names like the “Twister” and “Little Stinker.”

Opening ceremonies will take place Friday night as teams put the final touches on their race machines in preparation for two days of action. The open practice session will be followed by Happy Hour and open bull riding for all who dare to go face to face with the toughest mechanical bull in Tucson. Plenty of ice cold beer will be on hand to help provoke the timid and ease the pain of the spirited riders.

Round one of racing action will kick off Saturday’s card as the stars of USA Raceway take to the track. After the lights go out on Saturday’s racing action, The Jackslash Post Race Party, Presented by Rockstar Energy Drinks, will kick off the preliminary rounds of the Battle of the Bull Riders. The $500 winner takes all mechanical bull riding championship will be open for anyone that is tough enough to tame the mechanical beast. Rockstar Energy Drinks will team up with Sean Buckley from www.jackslash.com to make this party one you don’t want to miss.

Sunday the festivities continue with the Battle of the Bull Riders and round two of the Hank Arnold Memorial. The best of the Bull Riders will return for the final round and the $500 championship as the best racers prepare to battle it out on the super fast USA Raceway. The top Bull Rider will be crowned just before the engines roar and round two of The Hank Arnold Memorial detonates.

This weekend’s events also mark Rounds Four and Five of the Discount Tire Co. ASCS Challenge, an eight-race series of events including both wingless Canyon Region events and winged Southwest Region events.

Buckeye’s Charles Davis, Jr., leads the way into the weekend, sitting atop ASCS Canyon Region point charts and second in Discount Tire Co. Challenge points.

“Chargin’” Charles has won three of five Canyon Region events to open up a 40-point advantage over R.J. Johnson, with Nathan High (Goodyear), Jonathon Henry (Stockton, CA) and Ronnie Clark (Tucson) rounding out the current top five.

Rick Ziehl of Las Cruces, NM, holds a 16-point advantage over Davis in the DTC Challenge, with Clark, Joshua Hodges and Mike Martin rounding out the current top five.

After rain nixed the opening leg of the DTC Challenge, Davis won the Buddy Taylor Memorial at Hollywood Hills on May 24 and then Ziehl topped the July 4 Southwest Region feature at USA.

Andrew Reinbold is the defending Hank Arnold Memorial champion after topping last year’s event atop the Manzanita Speedway ½-mile oval after Jeremy Sherman had claimed four consecutive editions of the Hank Arnold Memorial.

Top drivers from all divisions are expected to take part in all the weekend’s events as many drivers will looking for their seat belts to hold them on the USA Raceway Mechanical Bull.

A full weekend of action is slated as USA Raceway sets out to honor the Legend of Hank Arnold. General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $12, racing will begin promptly at 7pm
The X MODS, SUPER STOCKS, FACTORY STOCKS and both Division of HORNETS will be racing with the ASCS NON WING SPRINT CARS

Presented By Discount Tire

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

JUN 20 – ALL FATHERS IN FREE!!
PRESENTED BY TACO BELL OF GLOBE & THATCHER

The following is a Press Release provided by USA Raceway.

Tucson, Arizona (May 6th, 2009) – USA Raceway will celebrate Fathers Day as the UMP West Modifieds, Presented by Barnett Harley Davidson, fire up this Saturday night June 20th.  Taco Bell will honor fathers with free admission to the action packed event as the modified stars take to USA Raceway’s super fast 3/8 mile clay oval.

Chris O’Neil received his father’s day present early as his son Nick O’Neil pulled off his first victory edging out points contender Brian Clark last Saturday night.  O’Neil will be trying for two in a row as he pilots the Big’Uns Southwest/Heavy Duty Radiator machine in search of a Fathers Day Victory.

RC Whitwell will make sure to eat his Enchirito this week as the lack of nourishment proved fatal when Whitwell’s engine expired three quarters of the way home in his last outing.  Whitwell, who has dominated the modified division, will be hungry for some Taco Bell and a victory.

Brian Clark and Robert Adams will need to “Think Outside The Bun” as they try to figure out a way to stop Whitwell.  Clark, who had a great 2nd place run last week, will be joined by Adams, Dane Jorgenson and Brad Campbell as they all will be gunning for Whitwell.
The super fast Modifieds will headline the show along with Super Stocks, AZ Late Models and Hornets.  General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $10, racing will begin promptly at 7pm.
Suite Access Passes which allow race fans the opportunity to enjoy the races from USA Raceway’s VIP Suite are also on sale for only $20.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales.  For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

If you are a race fan of circle track racing, you don’t want to miss the Southwest Late Models at USA Raceway tonight.

Kevin Montgomery, the co-promoter at USA Raceway reports on the race tonight.  Brad Williams, second in SWDRA points, compiled a masterful two day display of driving that ended the winning streak of points leader Lonnie Parker Jr.  Now the thunder of Dirt Late Models returns to Arizona’s premier racing facility and the all out war of supremacy will wage.

The Mild Child, Lonnie Parker Jr., will look to regain his dominance over championship contender Brad Williams.  Parker has finished second to Williams in the last two races but has won three out of three events at USA Raceway, showing he is King of the Late Models in Tucson.

Parker may have a surprise waiting in the wings by the name of RC Whitwell.  Whitwell was on the losing end of a lap 23 incident that had Parker and Whitwell racing side by side for the win and resulted in Whitwell hitting the fence and ending his chance for victory.

The Late Model competition heats up as the top contenders come with guns loaded looking to take a shot at victory.  Anthony Madrid, Joey Moriarty and Brad Whitfield are all on top of their game and will be ready for action.

Long time sprint car ace, “Chargin” Charles Davis Jr., will make his Super Late Model Debut this Saturday night at USA Raceway, Arizona’s premier short track.

Davis, who has dominated The ASCS Canyon Region and is ranked among the top ASCS Wing Racers in the Southwest Division, will trade in the sprint cars for a shot at fender racing.  Davis won the 30th annual Buddy Taylor Memorial making for his 70th career victory in open wheel action.

“I have always wanted to race one of these cars and I am looking forward to a fun Saturday night” commented Davis

“Chargin” Charles earned his nick name for his aggressive driving style and is expected to adapt quick to the High Powered machines.  Davis will be aboard the potent Bill Bartels ride as he looks to make his dive into the world of Super Late Models

The very clean facility has great food for the entire family including: Coke products, adult beverages and Egee’s.  Come early grab a bite to eat and watch practice beginning at 5pm .

The SWDRA Super Late Models will headline the show along with Factory Stocks, X-Mods and The Arizona Modified Midgets. General admission tickets will go on sale at 5pm for only $12, racing will begin promptly at 7pm.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales.  For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at www.usaraceway.net

What types of auto racing do we have in the Greater Metropolitan Tucson Area?

A site I like to use to locate either a specific race track or to find out what types of race venues are located in a specific area is ChasinRacin Race Track Locator, http://www.chasinracin.com/track-locator/

This site has over  1850 US and Canada Race Facilities in the ChasinRacin Race Track Locator Database.  Once you are at the site it is self explanatory and easy to use.  You Can Search for Auto Racing Tracks...via the map, by the type of track, by name or by city.  I usually use the map of the United States then select by state and then locate a track by following the color coded dot that represents a particular type of race track. Overlapping dots are multi-track facilities or tracks very close together.

Once the track information is on the screen, you may go to the track website if it is listed and you have all the information at your finger tips.   Three tracks are identified for Tucson and each has a website.

Scheduled this week at USA Raceway the traveling SWDRA Super Late Models are featured with the X-Mods, Factory Stocks and Arizona Modified Midgets.

Scheduled this Saturday at Tucson Raceway Park will be an:  IN-FIELD OFF ROAD RACE FEATURE AND SUPER LATE MODELS, STREET STOCKS, FACTORY STOCKS, PRO 4’S, HORNETS, DRIVETECH LATE MODELS, LEGENDS & BANDOLEROS

SIR Dragway has Team # 5  Jr Dragsters & Big Wheels  Scheduled to Race.

There are more details for each of the tracks at each of the respective websites.

I have received the Latest Race Results for SIR Dragway form George Camp.  George, I am learning the ropes for adding information on the Zoom Zoom Tucson blog.  I will get May 16th Merl’s Automotive Team SIR # 4 Results posted once I learn the method of doing so.

As a race fan what type of local racing do you enjoy?

Do you have a favorite local driver?

Your comments will make this a successful racing blog.

I have been asked to manage the TucsonCitizen.com Racing Blog and it is my pleasure to welcome all readers to the TucsonCitizen.com site. I hope to introduce interesting and perhaps controversial topics for you to review and to respond to on a daily basis. I will post race results, press releases and hope to be able to focus upon personal interest stories within the local racing community.

In Tucson, there are a number of venues and types of auto racing. We have both dirt tracks and pavement tracks including: oval, road courses and drag strips.

There is a saying I use and it goes something like this: If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.

Although the focus will be upon local racing, I am not sure where this blog will take us. Having said that, you are invited to send me your ideas, topics and your racing preferences to me at: ames@dakotacom.net .

I want to set up a system for reporting race results, for receiving Press Releases and for receiving race track information. Contacting your track and giving the PR person this information and my email address will be very helpful with organizing this process.

Today we are waving the green flag for Zoom Zoom Tucson!

By Keith V Ames (Chip)