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LAS VEGAS - Doug Kalitta, Taylor Barton, Branden Giannini,
Jonathan Mawhinney, Justin Johnson and Larry Dittman shared the victory
spotlight at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
SUPER LATE MODELS: Jeff Connors took the lead on the first lap
of the 40-lap Super Late Model feature. As Connors distanced himself
from the field, Scott Gafforini and Taylor Barton began carving their
way up through the pack. The race was halted on lap 7 when the engine
in Jason Secor's car expired and laid a ribbon of oil halfway around the
track. Following a lengthy clean-up, the race resumed with Connors in
the lead, followed by Wayne Jacks and Steve Anderson. Gafforini and
Barton passed Anderson on lap 10 to claim third and fourth place,
respectively. Just four laps later, Barton passed Gafforini and moved
into second place. Barton chased down Connors on lap 18 and began
challenging for the lead. Taylor passed Connors at the halfway point and
began to build up a comfortable lead. Barton's progress was slowed by a
crash on lap 25 involving Nick Antrillo and Josh Gross on the front
chute. Neither driver was injured. Barton, who also won the $200-to-win
Budweiser Super Late Model Dash, cruised unchallenged to victory - his
second of the young 2008 season. Jeff Connors was second and Scott
Gafforini finished third.
Branden Giannini grabbed the lead from Joe Deguevera with three
laps remaining to win the 25-lap Late Model feature. Deguevera, who
finished second, was disqualified when his car failed to pass post-race
inspection. Late Model heat races were won by Giannini and Chris Bray.
Bear Rzesnowiecky took the lead on lap 8 but was robbed of
victory by a smoking car and was forced to exit the 25-lap Legends Car
feature early. Jonathan Mawhinney scored his first win of the 2008
Bullring season. It was a perfect night for Mawhinney, who also won the
Budweiser Legends Cars Dash.
Former Super Late Model driver Justin Johnson won the 25-lap
Thunder Roadster feature. The car visited victory lane twice Saturday
night as Doug Kalitta won the Stars of the NHRA race with it earlier in
the evening. The Thunder Roadster heat race was won by K.J. Garrison.
The thrilling 25-lap Bomber main event was claimed by Larry "The
Torch" Dittman. Dittman waged a race-long battle with leader Fred
Harding through lapped traffic. The pair survived a four-wide pass down
the back straightaway with just a handful of laps remaining before
Dittman finally took command. Following the 2007 Bullring Bomber
champion across the finish line was Harding and Billy Grasser. Instead
of celebrating his victory by making donuts on the track or performing a
burnout, Dittman completed 10 push-ups on the roof of his station wagon.
Bomber heat races were won by Dittman and Bryan Gerald.
The 15-lap Stars of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Thunder
Roadster race was won by Doug Kalitta. Gary Scelzi made a number of
attempts to grab the lead from Kalitta but had to settle for second
place. A few of the NHRA stars experienced some difficulty with making
turns. The caution flag flew on the first lap for Jeg Coughlin's spin
in Turn 1. The second caution flag of the race was thrown for J.R.
Todd's backward slide in Turn 2 on lap 4 and the third-and-final caution
period was generated by Allen Johnson's go-'round in Turn 2 on lap 13.
European Top Fuel drag racing champion Urs Erbacher served as color
commentator with announcers Nathan Hirschi and Chet Christner. ESPN2
NHRA drag racing announcer Dave Rieff served as the honorary starter.
NEXT RACE: On Saturday, April 19, the Bullring will present
Education Appreciation Night, featuring the new Super Late Model/Late
Model Combo class, Legends Cars, Modifieds, Chargers, Thunder Roadsters,
Bandoleros and a demolition derby. All Clark County School District
employees will be admitted free with ID. Spectator gates will open at 5
p.m. The Bullring's concession stand offers a family-friendly dollar
menu: $1 soda, $1 hot dogs and $1 beer.
For more information, please call LVMS at (702) 644-4444 or
visit www.LVMS.com.
All results are unofficial until Monday morning.
40-lap Super Late Model feature: 1. Taylor Barton, 2. Jeff
Connors, 3. Scott Gafforini, 4. Wayne Jacks, 5. Steve Anderson, 6. Bob
Barker, 7. Fabian Bray, 8. Robert Ewing, 9. Rich Attisani, 10. Dennis
Rock Jr., 11. Greg Hanneman, 12. Billy Mitchell, 13. Jim Petrie, 14.
Josh Gross, 15. Nick Antrillo, 16. Jason Secor, 17. John Taylor, 18.
Jeff Bargerhuff.
25-lap Thunder Roadster feature: 1. Justin Johnson, 2. K.J.
Garrison, 3. Jared Carpenter, 4. Josh Gross, 5. Johan Timmer, 6. Roger
Hocking, 7. Ed Hohman, 8. Ron McIntyre, 9. Bob Dresser.
25-lap Legends Cars feature: 1. Jonathan Mawhinney, 2. Jimmy
Hansen, 3. Jeremiah Wagner, 4. Karl Forman, 5. Jack Madrid, 6. Chad
Schug, 7. Derek Frohlich, 8. Austin Childs, 9. Dusty Davis, 10. Broc
Murphy, 11. Darren Amidon, 12. Zach Zimmerly, 13. Jacob Bishop, 14. Josh
White, 15. Brandon Snow, 16. Damon Blakeman, 17. Zak Price, 18. Robert
D'Ambra, 19. Mark Young, 20. Joe Weitekamp, 21. Bear Rzesnowiecky, 22.
Justin Hurdle, 23. Cheyanne Schindler, 24. Jay Beasley, 25. Brianna
Holley, 26. John Davis, 27. Brecken Snow, 28. Frank McCourt, 29. Connor
Kassik, 30. Jeffrey King.
25-lap Late Model feature: 1. Branden Giannini, 2. Chris Bray,
3. Austin Murphy, 4. John Spilotro, 5. Glen Burke, 6. Dave Campoverde,
7. Matt Frady, 8. Skylar Mortenson, 9. Dan Howell, 10. Chuck Franck, 11.
Mike McKearn, 12. Jeff Bargerhuff, 13. Joe Deguevera (disqualified).
25-lap Bomber feature: 1. Larry "The Torch" Dittman, 2. Fred
Harding, 3. Billy Grasser, 4. Nick Walters, 5. J.J. Nunn, 6. Wade
Pearson, 7. Dan Nelson, 8. Anthony "The Ant" Finley, 9. Benjamin
Sherard, 10. Jennifer Cunningham, 11. Harold Sherard, 12. Michael
Takami, 13. Bryan Gerald.
15-lap Stars of the NHRA Thunder Roadster feature: 1. Doug
Kalitta, 2. Gary Scelzi, 3. J.R. Todd, 4. Jeg Coughlin Jr., 5. Allen
Johnson, 6. Morgan Lucas.
Credit:
LVMS PR |
