LAS CRUCES, N.M. — It was a night to remember as points battles were about to get tighter as the Barnett Harley Davidson UMP DIRTcar West Modifieds, Rick’s Performance Center Street Stocks, Advanced Towing Limited Late Models, and the Legends took to the very fast 5/16 mile clay oval west of Las Cruces in an all out fight to see who will be in contention when the final checkered flag falls on October 2nd.
The Advanced Towing Limited Late Models would start off the night’s A-Mains as Lee Heiligentahl led to the drop of the green but would spin in the center of the track trying to get the opening lap in the books; collecting Don Thomas in the process. Both cars would continue on as the field lined up for the restart with the 3m of Manny Baca advancing to the pole position. Back to green flag racing and the 3m as “MoJo” took full advantage of the front row to bolt out to the front of the running order before the caution waved again when Don Thomas tuned around while running second, collecting Christy Georges and Lee Heiligentahl in the process. Back to racing action with Sherman Barnett and Rick Ortega in pursuit of Manny Baca. Side by side, the 82 of Barnett worked the inside groove while the 3m of Baca stuck to the high line. Up to third the 7x, being driven by Rick Gallardo, would get the pass on Ortega as the 24 ran into problems in the form of a flat tire. Starting to pull away, the top three ran in a league of their own, going side by side and three wide for the top spot with Manny Baca holding the lead as the caution waved with only six laps remaining. On the restart, the 82 of Barnett would dive low, leaving the high line open for Rick Gallardo to make the pass but a bobble would hand second back to Barnett but Gallardo was not done as the Las Cruces native was able to get the pass back into second as the 3m of Manny Baca ran away to claim his first win in the Limited Late Models. Rick Gallardo, Sherman Barnett, Vanessa Robinson, and Lee Heiligentahl rounded out the top five.
The Legends of the Southwest with 15 laps to run and Robert Sheppard setting the pace to the green flag but it would be Allen Gattis showing the way as the field roared to life. On the move, the 3d of Don Reynolds would move into second but was not done there as Reynolds rocketed into the race lead. With the 3d leading the way, the battle would be between the 357 of Landis Hartranft and the 85m of Vince Malone for the runner up spot before contact with a lapped car nearly put the 357 out of the race. With the green still out, the 3d of Reynolds pulled to over a straight-a-way advantage but that advantage would become a memory as the caution waved with three laps to run. Back to racing action and Don Reynolds would not be phased one bit as the 3d immediately began to pull away while the battle on the track was for third. Side by side, Donnie Reynolds and Allen Gattis began to battle with the 21 of Gattis holding onto third but as the checkered flag waved, the 3d of Don Reynolds took the win. Vince Malone, Allen Gattis, Donnie Reynolds, and Robert Sheppard rounded out the top five.
To the Rick’s Performance Center Street Stocks as the field came to life with the 35 of Miles Widmer jumping into the race lead as the caution waved as the 37j of Joe Rodriguez began to spin, collection Tyler Jackson and several other cars in an accordion effect that put the 2 of Jackson pit side with only one lap in the books. To the restart with Donovan Flores on the move as the 07 jumped from fifth to third with the 00 of Stevie Rey Gutierrez holding onto second. Side by side, the 07 would get the pass on the 00 as both drivers continued to try and get the run on Mile Widmer for the race lead. Back and forth, the 07 of Flores and the 00 of Gutierrez would trade the runner up spot several times before the 07 began to pull away to try and run down Widmer but a bobble on the part of the 07 would send Flores out of the top five before the caution waved for Jason Ziehl; ending the current point leaders night. Back to the restart and Billy Roy Harris was on the move with fifteen laps left to run along with Donovan Flores as both drivers began picking off drivers left and right. To second went the 29 of Harris as Flores pushed his 07 back into third with eleven laps left to run as both drivers were in pursuit of Widmer in 35. Less than seven laps left to run, the 35 of Miles Widmer was hanging tough out front as the 29 and the 07 battled for second with slower traffic about to become an issue. Less than five to go, the 29 worked the low line, the 07 circled the top, the 35 trying keep his head on a swivel as the top three went three wide with Donovan Flores flying into the top spot with two to go. Into turns one and two, the 07 would make contact with a slower car, sending the 07 off the high side of the track and handing the lead and the win to Billy Roy Harris. Miles Widmer, Donovan Flores, Derek DeMartino, and Mike Rosales rounded out the top five.
With 30 laps on the board, the Barnett Harley Davidson UMP DIRTcar West Modifieds brought a full 24 car field to the racing surface with Carlos Ahumada going from the pole to the back as the 54 spun on the opening lap, collecting Brian Clark, Dickie Gorham, and Christy Georges in the process. To the restart and the 28 of Dr. Tom Georges moving to the top spot would take full advantage of his new staring position as the El Paso racing veteran showed the way. Challenging for the lead, second starting Jacob Gallardo would take several shots before spinning to a stop in turn 2 with twenty-seven laps left to run. On the move as the green flag waved, the 43 of Curt Barnett would circle the extreme high line of the Southern New Mexico Speedway. After starting tenth on the field, the 43 would work into second over the J7 of Jake Boles and was not done there as the 43 screamed into the race lead on the high line. Working the low line, the 28 of Tom Georges would hold onto second as the battle started to shape up for third but the caution would bring the field to an idle. Back to racing action and the battle would be for the runner up position as four cars all fought for second. Jake Boles, Fito Gallardo, and Terry Tipton all on Tom Georges but the driver on the move was Josh Cain with a four wide pass to work into the top five. After starting twenty-second on the line up, the 3j ran in forth as the night looked like it had just about ended for Curt Barnett as contact with a lapped car caused the 43 to go around but at this point Curt had enough of a lead that he was able to keep the top spot with the field now on his back bumper. Side by side, the J7 of Jake Boles would motor by to show the way as Barnett threw his 43 back to the high line to begin building momentum. Side by side, Boles and Barnett would trade the lead over and over again before the 43 secured the top spot with less than five laps to go. Back to second, the J7 would push, allowing the 3j of Cain to take over the runner up spot but the high line would be the road to victory for Curt Barnett as the 43 grabbed the win. Josh Cain, Jake Boles, Tom Georges, and Terry Tipton rounded out the top five.
For full results log onto http://www.snmspeedway/results.php.
Only 2 weeks remain in the 2010 racing season as the Renegade Sprint Car Series returns for their final night of the regular season next Saturday September 25, 2010 for the Directory Plus RSCS Season Finale. Along with the RSCS, the Super Trucks, Hornets, and Limited X-Mods will also end out their point battles with the Rick’s Performance Center Street Stocks going until the 2010 Season Finale on October 2, 2010 with the UMP DIRTcar West Modifieds, Limited Late Models, and the Legends. To see the complete breakdown of dates and what is racing log onto http://www.snmspeedway.com/schedule.php.
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RESULTS
Unofficial A-Main Results
Limited Late Models: Manny Baca, Rick Gallardo, Sherman Barnett, Vanessa Robinson, Lee Heiligentahl, Donnie Newcomb, Rick Ortega, Jonathan Ortega, Jose Duran, Christy Georges, Don Thomas, Cliff Hansen
Legends: Don Reynolds, Vince Malone, Allen Gattis, Donnie Reynolds, Robert Sheppard, Greg Byers, Morgan Wright-Pfeiffer, Landis Hartranft, Jeff Pfeiffer, Katrina Byers, Michael Gattis, Ralph Fountain, Phil Baker
Street Stocks: Billy Roy Harris, Miles Widmer, Donovan Flores, Derek DeMartino, Mike Rosales, Tudy Barela, Paul Telles Jr., Jarred Perez, Chris Mijares, Aaron Harrison, David Coy, Chance Thedford, Debbie Jo Baxter, Ozzie Lopez, Jason Ziehl, Mark Kimpel, Patrick Beach, Rene Portillo, Joe Rodriguez, Tyler Jackson, Jack Skillin, Joseph Granado
UMP West Modifieds: Curt Barnett, Josh Cain, Jake Boles, Tom Georges, Terry Tipton, Sherman Barnett, Nicky Rivera, Robert Adams, Jacob Gallardo, Holly Jones, Chris Sims, Donovan Ooley, Chad Falco, Joe Lackey, James Fleming, Fito Gallardo, Royal Jones, Josh Gallardo, Carlo Ahumada, Frank Dutton, Brain Clark, Christy Georges, Dickie Gorham, Chad Ayers
SNM Speedway
EP Speedway Park
Tickets on Sale for 2010 Fall Nationals
The General Admission ticket for the 2010 Fall Modified Nationals are on sale.
Nov. 5=$10
Nov. 6=$10
Nov. 7=$12
Discounts are in place and children 10 and under are free.
Get your tickets in advance by calling the Speedway at 575-524-7913 or by e-mailing
annetteg@m-v-t.com.
ASCS National Tour Tickets On Sale Now
It’s the race that is quickly becoming the American Sprint Car Series VS the World of Outlaws and it’s happening November 12-13, 2010 at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
See the best ASCS National Tour drivers like Gary Wright, Tim Crawley, Jason Johnson, and Shane Stewart as they look to defeat Outlaw drivers Tim Kaeding, Jason Sides, Bud Kaeding, Kraig Kinser, and the King of the Outlaws himself, 20x Champion Steve Kinser.
Get your tickets at the gate or in advanced at the Speedway Business Office located at 3590 West Picacho Ave. in Las Cruces. Charge by phone at 575-524-7913, get them at the Speedway Office, or order online by e-mailing annetteg@m-v-t.com.
FREE Race Replay!!
Miss the races or just want to see it all again? Then make sure to catch the replay courtesy of High Desert Video.
The Southern New Mexico Speedway is featured Wednesday nights during the racing season at 7:00pm at The Game Sports Bar and Grill in Las Cruces.
For more information and directions log onto highdesertvideo.com.
