July 5th, 2008

With threatening skies looming around the valley, the event started with all of the competitor’s cars and crews on the front straight for Fan Appreciation Tucson Raceway Park style. Over one thousand people were eager to Meet n Greet their favorite drivers and crews and get a chance to see the Terminal Velocity Jet Car.

Tonight’s extended length features were sure to be exciting as double points were up for grabs in all classes and bragging rights for the Mid Season points leaders!The first feature event on the raceway was the popular INEX Legends and the 2007 TRP Champion, Suave Brachowski, showed the rest of the field why he won the championship by leading flag to flag. Robert Scott would take second followed by Rob Ashley.

The Bomber Lite feature event saw a full field race their longest race of the season with no mechanical failures and lots of bumper to bumper action. At the end, Kyle Milburg the points leader would edge out John Cowser and Jason Davis for the win.

The TRP Bombers keep growing in number and the level of competition. This would also be their longest event ever and the question was could the DOT tires take the abuse? If we had run our standard race distance Enrique “The Bomb” Durazo would have won, but that was not the case as Brad Kleifgen would overtake “The Bomb” with four to go to make it three in a row. Shawn Perrin would slip by with two to go to take second leaving “The Bomb” to settle for a hard fought third.

The Lucas Oil Modifieds were again short on number but high on speed and excitement. P.J. Megna would take the win in dominating fashion over John Smith and Pat Bush. The Sport Compact feature was off to a great start until lap six when Jon Martinez would blow an engine in the Fast Racing Toyota Pickup entering turn three and the big oil spill would collect Kurt Lasswell and trim the field to three. After a brief red for cleanup the racing resumed and Karen Heyse would take the shortened race win over Toby Olds and Tiffany Hayes.

The Factory Stock feature would also be their longest of the season and the race would be great until the last drop. During this action packed event, drivers were forced to adapt to the ever changing conditions as during the 30 laps light rain fell off and on almost the whole distance creating an ever changing surface. A caution would come out on lap fourteen caused by a spin resulted from contact between leaders Loren ”Shef” Sheffield and Matt Levin. Both Shef and Levin would restart from the rear with fire in their eyes determined to come back through the pack. Levin did just that as he stormed through the strong field to take the lead in just three laps over “Cowboy” Ken Hunt while Sheffield methodically worked his way back into contention. At the end of thirty laps it was Matt Levin with a well deserved win over point’s leader Sheffield followed by the always exciting Hunt.

With the skies still threatening, the Lucas Oil Late Models staged for their Pepsi Firecracker 100. The Blue Media Graphics teammates Rick “The Butler” Butler and Cassie “Squirt” Gannis would set the pace from the front as last years Champion, Joe Paladenic, would start out back in The Body Shop Monte Carlo. By the end of ten laps we had already seen two spins and cautions with no damage while Butler was out front setting the pace. Contact between Gannis and Levin in the Port of Tucson Monte Carlo in turn three would bring out yet another caution on lap twelve with the resulting damage eventually causing an end to Levin’s potentially good night as he is always a threat in the long distance races. Butler would hand the lead over to Paladenic on lap thirty as he tried to save his tires for the long run and on lap fifty three Mat Williams would get by Butler for second and set sail for Paladenic as Mike Egurola stayed close while also trying to save his tires for the end. The caution flew again on lap seventy three and on the ensuing restart Williams would seize the lead from Paladenic. Paladenic would go to the bottom and try repeatedly to get by Williams whom was holding steady on top as the laps wound down. Paladenic’s low line finally paid off as he would retake the lead on lap ninety one and hold it until another dual spin by Duane Hunt Sr. and Jeff Spencer on lap ninety six brought out the last caution. While the cars lined up for another restart the rain began falling and the race was called with Paladenic the winner over Williams and Butler.

With the rain again stopped, the Terminal Velocity Jet Car came onto the raceway to cap off a great night of racing at Tucson Raceway Park. With the lights turned down on the track and the jet car fired up the skies were set ablaze as we all watched in awe the School Bus Meltdown!See Ya August 16th!

Dan Ruth