Great Battles, Big Wins Highlight the Action at Speedway Park

It was a gathering of racers to say the least as drivers from El Paso, Las Cruces, Mesilla Park, Hobbs, Deming, Tucson, and Odessa prepared to do battle on the 3/8 mile clay oval just east of El Paso, Texas.

With the track rolled in, the night was set to begin as the Sisbarro Super Trucks, Legends, Hornets, Street Stocks, and Barnett Harley Davidson USRA Western Modifieds headlined the night?s action on August 12th.

Heat races kicked off the night with Walton Kyle Jr. and Christy Georges taking Super Truck wins. In the Legends it was Joe Cuilty and Mike Zuloaga while the Hornet heat went to Jeffery Maag. Street Stocks hit the track with Troy Wells and Jarred Warhurst scoring wins. The USRA Modifieds had three heats that went to Mercedes Harris, Stormy Scott, and Rick Ortega.

Trophy Dashes went to Jason Jackson the Trucks and Mingo Jauregui in the Street Stocks.

The first A-Main of the night would belong to the Sisbarro Super Trucks for fifteen laps with the 21 of Walton Kyle Jr. taking advantage of his front row starting position to show the way. Taking over the runner up spot, the 6 of Walton Kyle Sr. would work on running down his son but the caution for debris on the track would bring the field to an idle with one lap in and fourteen to run.

On the restart, the fight was for fourth then third with trucks going three wide as the 44 of Christy Georges began her march to the front. Five laps in, ten laps to run; the 44 would take over second and then the lead as the 21 of Kyle Jr. looped to a stop on the exit of turn four.

Off the track, the field stayed green as the 44 of Georges worked on pulling away. Into third, the 22 of Garrett Alberson would go to work on the 6 of Walton Kyle Sr. with both drivers swapping the runner up spot several times as the laps wound down to the checkered flag as Christy Georges took the win. Walton Kyle Sr., Garrett Alberson, Dr. Dave Deetz, and Rick Jackson rounded out the top five.

On the track would roll the Legends of the Southwest for fifteen laps of racing with the 5 of Joe Cuilty taking the lead from the pole starting position. Running after second, the 72 of Robert Sheppard would go to work on the 9 of Ruben Gonzales. Side by side for the runner up spot, the 9 would hold on to the position as the 72 bobbled of the bottom of the track; falling to fifth as Allen Gattis took his 21 machine into third with the 43 of Curt Barnett shadowing the 21 into fourth.

Just past the halfway point of the Legends A-Main, the 21 of Gattis would take away second with Barnett again shadowing the 21 to take over third before finally taking his turn at Gattis for second. Getting the pass, the 43 would find himself a full straight-a-way behind the 5 of Joe Cuilty. Two laps to go and Cuilty would work through slower traffic but even with cars holding up the 5 no one would get close enough as Joe Cuilty took the win. Curt Barnett, Allen Gattis, Ruben Gonzales, and Robert Sheppard rounded out the top five.

Starting from a stop with twelve laps to run the Hornets buzzed to life with the 237 of Steven Arellano jumping to the top spot with the 13x of Benny Pena stalking him into second. Running away from the field, the top two drivers would run bumper to bumper with Pena taking several shots at Arellano for the lead. Unable to get the run, the 13x would settle into second as the 47 of Jeffery Maag ran in a distant third.

With laps clicking away, the fight for the lead would come down to lapped traffic as the 237 would get held up; allowing the 13x of Pena to close in again. Side by side, Pena would work into the race lead as Arellano bobbled on the bottom line. Still running in slower traffic in the later part of the race the 47 of Maag would get into the slower L750; spinning Todd Froats and earning a black flag. Into the closing laps, it was smooth sailing as Benny Pena took the win. Steven Arellano and Ben Ives rounded out the podium.

Onto the West Texas Street Stocks for fifteen laps of racing with the 17 of Chris Mijares jumping to the early race lead. Running second, the 77g of Julian Garcia would soon have his hands full with the 88 of Ozzie Noder and the 83 of Troy Wells. Held up by slower traffic, the 17 of Mijares would surrender the lead to the 77g of Julian Garcia only to see the lead handed right back to the 17 by lapped traffic.

As he 17 and the 77g worked on each other for the lead, the car on the move as the 83 of Troy Wells. Running third, with just over ten laps to run the 83 would take away second and wasted no time taking away the point. Leaving the field with eight laps to go, the fight would continue for second with the 47 of Mingo Jauregui throwing his name into the mix.

Working all the 17 of Chris Mijares for the second spot, the next battle on the track was for fourth as the 88 of Ozzie Noder worked on 777 of Jamie Montelongo and the 15x of Sean Bowman. Less than five laps to run the battle for second would shape up again as the 47 of Jauregui looked to use a slower car as a pick but would come up short as the laps clicked to zero with the 83 of Troy Wells taking the win.

Chris Mijares, Mingo Jauregui, Julian Garcia, and Jamie Montelongo rounded out the top five.

The final A-Main of the night would belong to the Barnett Harley Davidson USRA Western Modifieds with the 29 of Mercedes Harris taking the early race lead as the 131 of Royal Jones shadowed the 29 on the high line to take second. Challenging on the inside line, the 131 would take several unsuccessful shots at the 29 until finally pulling off the slide job before the caution waved with three laps in the books.

On the restart, the 29 would fall to third as the J17 of Jacob Gallardo took over second. Going after the 131, Gallardo would not be able to steal away the race lead as the 29 of Harris nearly spun. Able to save the car by bouncing off the passing 111 of Bumper Jones, everyone would stay clan and green.

Twenty one laps to run and the J17 while running second would slow to a stop as the 2s of Stormy Scott, who had taken away third and now second, would begin to run down the 131 of Royal Jones but the 2s would have to contend with the 111 of Bumper Jones. Into slower traffic, the 111 would get the run into the second spot; using slower cars to ultimately get the run on the 131for the race lead. Using slower cars as picks the top three would hustle high and low as the 2s battled hard with both Jones?.

Taking second, Scott would work on running down the 111 of Bumper Jones the field raced into the final ten laps where the 2s and the 111 would again begin using lapped cars to their advantage as the leaders raced three wide with lapped traffic in almost every corner for several laps before the caution waved with seven to go.

Back to green, the battle for second would get choppy as the 131 of Royal Jones went for the slide job but with neither driver giving an inch, the 131?s rear bumper would get hooked on the front bumper of Story Scott?s 2s; nearly sending both driver off the track. Unhooked and on the gas, the 2s would continue on as the car on the move as the 0n of Jake O?Neil.

After showing up late from Tucson and having to start at the tail end of the twenty one car field the contact between Scott and Jones would leave the door wide open for the 0n to jump from sixth to third. Inside five laps to go, the 111 would now focus on making smooth laps in hopes of fending off the 2s but one last caution for the spun 82 of Sherman Barnett would bring the field back to the side by side restart.

Three laps to go and the restart would be called off as drivers were not ready to go; allowing for a clean restart and the 111 was on his game as Jones rolled away for the win. Stormy Scott, Jake O?Neil, Jimmy Ray, and Holly Jones round out the top five.

Up next at the El Paso Speedway Park will be the return of the Renegade Sprint Car Series on Friday night August 19, 2011. Gates open at 5:30pm with racing getting underway at 7:45pm.

Admission on August 19th will be $10. Kids 11-15, Military, Seniors, Law Enforcement, and University get in for $7 while kids 10 and under get in the grandstands for free.

The El Paso Speedway Park is located 6.5 miles east of Loop 375 off Montana Ave. Turn left on KRAG to the first paved right. For more information including turn by turn directions lot onto http://www.epspeedwaypark.com and like us on Facebook.

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