PERFECT NIGHT AT TUCSON RACEWAY PARK

The perfect event night started with temperatures in the low 100’s and Lucas Oil Late Model qualifying. Once again, Hereford’s Joe Paladenic was in a class of his own with 15.730 first lap, which would make him the only competitor in the fifteen second zone. The Lucas Oil Late Model Trophy Dash was six laps of heart pumping three wide action led by Cassie Gannis for the first two, but on lap three TRP 2007 Factory Stock Champion; Tom Mikla would take the lead which he would hold to the end. The win was no surprise as Mikla had qualified third quick and won his first Trophy Dash in only his second time in a Late Model! Paladenic would be a close second with point leader Scott Rueschenberg third. For the first time tonight, the Formula First Competitors would be the first heat race and John Fitzgerald would finish first ahead of Mauricio Giraldi and Joe Chirco. The Bomber Lite heat was led flag to flag by Kyle Milburg with Jason Davis and Lyle Gallegos finishing second and third.

The Bomber heat was Bob Davis all the way again this week over Brad Kleifgen and Shawn Perrin. Due to low car count the Sport Compact class was cut short with Karen Heyse crossing the finish line first over Kurt Lasswell. Factory Stock heat one would be led until lap five by “Cowboy” Ken Hunt when Joel “Big” Johnson would seize the lead and take the checkered with Ray Johnson getting by Hunt on the last lap for second. Heat two would be much different as Loren “Shef” Sheffield would lead flag to flag over Tracy Lassen and Tim Forsythe.

Lucas Oil Late Models would be up next and heat one would start like a repeat of the Trophy Dash with Gannis leading the first two. Point leader Rueschenberg would take the lead on lap three and check out over Gannis and Romano Cionni III. Heat two was much different as last starting Paladenic would take point on lap one and show his qualifying speed was no fluke as Mike Egurola would have his hands full of Rookie, Mikla in the Desert Mountain Medical Monte Carlo. When the checkered flag waved, Paladenic had won another followed by Mikla whom passed Egurola on the last lap for second leaving Egurola a close third.

The fan pill draw of twelve would put the heat winners out back for the feature insuring a great show for the fans. The first feature event would be Formula First and first across the finish line would be Joe Chirco for his first feature win followed by John Fitzgerald and Mauricio Giraldi. The Bomber Lite feature would be exciting from the start as once again the hot dogs were starting out back. John Cowser would lead from the pole until lap five when Jason Davis would make the outside pass. Davis would stretch his lead to ten car lengths by lap ten but Kyle Milburg had worked his way through traffic and was stalking Davis and gaining lap by lap as Davis’s car had started to “push” badly as the right front tire had worn out. On the white flag lap Milburg had caught Davis and the fans were on their feet. With the checkered flag in site, Davis drifted wide in turn four allowing Milburg a little room underneath. Milburg shot into the gap and contact was made as the two headed to the finish. Milburg would take the win by a couple of feet over a dejected Davis with John Cowser third. At the start finish line trophy presentation Milburg would climb from his car to boos from the crowd and say, “This was Jason’s Trophy”! Davis would drive out on the raceway to cheers from the crowd and accept the trophy from his good friend Kyle in a good gesture of sportsmanship! What a finish!

Bombers were next up and Brad Kleifgen would seize the lead on lap one from Enrique “The Bomb” Durazo. Kleifgen would take the Tucson Raceway Park “House Car” to the high line and extend his lead each lap over Shawn Perrin and “The Bomb.” On lap eight everything would change for “The Bomb” as he spun wildly across the front straight. At Tony Helm’s checkers Kleifgen had won two in a row over Perrin followed by Bob Davis. The Sport Compact duel would be the first trophy for Vail housewife, Karen Heyse whom was in a class of her own over Kurt Lasswell.

The Factory Stock feature was led by “Cowboy” Ken Hunt until lap five when Loren “Shef” Sheffield would take point. With “Shef” out front, the two Johnson’s would be fighting with Hunt for the second position. The picture would change on lap fifteen for Ray Johnson as he made heavy contact on the front stretch wall bringing out the yellow. When racing resumed, “Shef” would extend his lead over “Cowboy” and “Big” Johnson at the finish.

Bob Sanders would pace the Lucas Oil Late Model feature from the pole in his “SpeedTruck” tuned by none other than Victor Pfluger. By lap two, Mike Egurola in the Diggum Escapes Pontiac was out front while three and four wide racing occurred behind. Scott Rueschenberg would patiently work the bottom groove to perfection and take the lead from Egurola on lap thirteen. With “The Ruesch” out front, Egurola had his hands full of last starting Mike Donoho in his brand new Ford Late Model and Joe Paladenic. The always quick Paladenic, whom appeared to be saving his tires for the long run, took second on lap twenty with Ruesch out front by ten car lengths. Ruesch would again work traffic to perfection and keep Paladenic ten back as Egurola would cruise in third with Donoho and Mikla fighting it out for fourth. At the end, Ruesch would bring the Blue Oval Ford Fusion home for win number 7 followed by Paladenic and Egurola.

When the pit gates opened at 10:00 PM the fans flocked to see their favorite drivers and crews to put an end to a perfect night of racing at Tucson Raceway Park.

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