WINTER THRILL! AT TUCSON RACEWAY PARK

Opening day 2008 came with Chamber of Commerce weather and a large field of competitors with most of the cars sporting new paint jobs and wild creative graphics. The best looking cars were the Dessert Mountain Medical sponsored cars of Scott Rueschenberg and Trenton Snyder. Scott was piloting the brand new 2008 Ford Fusion featured in Tucson Raceway Park's Blue Oval project and Trenton was driving the 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix that Scott drove last season. These cars were meticulous up close and spectacular from the grandstands. Getting all the Tucson Raceway Park pledged teams to make the first race that was six weeks earlier than the past was overwhelming for many teams and well over fifteen teams failed to make it due to one problem or another. One notable team was last years Tucson Raceway Park's Late Model Track Champion, "Stormin Ron Norman" whom had not finished his car in time for the race.

The buzz in the pits was all about Dan Ryan, former Sports Anchor for a local TV news channel and radio show emcee and announcer for the popular "Winter Heat" series staged here in the 90's. Ryan has signed on as the "Voice of TRP" and will be keeping the fans and drivers entertained with his on track knowledge and magnetic persona. He was joined in the booth by Gary Michele's and Christy Hunt in the field to the delight of the crowd.

The day started off with NASCAR Late Model qualifying and when the clocks had stopped, Scott Rueschenberg in the ONLY Ford in the field had set the mark with a blistering 15.828 giving the Project Blue Oval its first completed goal for the day.

Opening ceremonies were started with the presence of the United States Marines Color Guard and the singing of the National Anthem by last year's Bomber Track Champion, Shawn Perrin. The NASCAR Lucas Oil Late Model Trophy Dash was won by last years NASCAR Whelen All-American Arizona State Champion, Joe Paladenic.

The afternoon's heat races began with TRP Bombers and Bob Davis taking the win. The TRP Bomber Lites were next up and Kyle Milburg bested Karl Griggs for the win. The short field (3) of NASCAR Modified staged an Exhibition of Speed with Chris Stress taking the win over the exciting Pat Bush. The NASCAR Sports Compact division consisted of new faces as the perennial favorites from the past had failed to get their cars ready for the season opener. Rookie Josh Davis bested the Mazda RX-7 of Kurt Lasswell for his first Sports Compact win. The NASCAR Factory Stock heat was again very exciting throughout with last year's Champion, Tom Mikla taking the win over the popular Loren "Shef" Sheffield. The second heat for the NASCAR Late Models sponsored by Lucas Oil, was won by Mescal's own Ned Champine in the Lucky 13 Howe Late Model followed by Wade Riddering all the way from San Bernardino California.

During a short intermission the Tucson Corvette Club lapped the Raceway, kids played in the jumping castle and took advantage of face painting and the adults took advantage of Tucson Raceway Park's midway vendors and the new additions of a variety of adult beverages that consisted of the new Official Beer of NASCAR, "Coors Light", Miller Lite, MGD and the popular Corona beer from Mexico. The fans got back to their seats in time to watch the days Feature Events which started with the TRP Bomber Lites. At the end of ten furious laps of competition and bumping and grinding, Karl Griggs had bested the field with his Acura over Jason Davis. The TRP Bomber class was short on car count but not on competition as last seasons Champion, Shawn Perrin took another win over Bob Davis. The NASCAR Modified race was another thriller with low counts but a high level of excitement. At the end of twenty laps Chris Stress had beat Brian O'Brien to the line to the joy of the crowd. The NASCAR Sport Compact class was all picked up by the end of fifteen laps with Josh Davis getting the win in the Fast Racing Toyota Pick Up over the Mazda rotary of Lasswell. The NASCAR Factory Stock feature was a nail biter with TRP's Web man, Ray Johnson setting the pace. At the end of two laps it was again Mikla in the Fast Racing "Lighting McQueen" Camaro taking the lead and never looking back. At the end of twenty, Mikla had put a whoopin on the field with Ben Shepherd in the lonely Ford a distant second and the returning Alan Levin in tow.

The NASCAR Lucas Oil Late Models were sure to get people to the edge of their seats as Rueschenberg had drawn a 10 and would start the Feature from the fifth row. California's Wade Riddering set the pace for the first thirteen laps until another out of Towner, Trenton Snyder, took control with Paladenic glued to his bumper or door as they fought for position. The race went twenty laps without a caution and when Duane Hunt Jr., spun in turn 4 due to a power steering failure and resulting oil down, it was going to be a new race to the finish. Rueschenberg in the Blue Oval was lingering back in tenth place until the lap twenty yellow and when the track went green again it was a different story altogether. While Snyder and Paladenic battled out front, last year's ASA Speedtruck Champion, young Victor Pfluger had his hands full battling with the 2007 Bud Shoot Out winner, Matt Levin, while "The Ruesch" was on a mission! With 5 to go, Snyder had taken command over Paladenic and with one to go, Ruesch got by Pfluger for a well deserved third. Paul Banghart's GAT Racing stable took the top three positions with ASA North's 2007 National Champion, "Trenton Snyder" taking the win to close out the best opening day event any competitor or fan could ask for!

No crashed cars, no blown motors and lots of pure excitement!

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