|
Hollywood Hills Speedway, Casino Hollywood, San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico. The two-day “High Dessert Midget Challenge” was a huge success in just about anyone’s book. The Midgets shared the bill with the full sized Non-Winged Sprints and the Mini-Sprints for the only all “Open Wheel” show of the year at HHS. There were 68 cars on hand Friday night but fell off to a still very respectable 65 on Saturday night as a few cars did not return for day two but a couple of new cars showed up to run the second day only. There was enough action in all three divisions to keep the most demanding of fans, drivers, crews and sponsors happy. Hats off to “Track Director”, Bobby Seals and his entire staff at HHS for putting on one of the best events in the area and having the track in great shape for both nights.
The headliner Midgets brought out a great field of 16 cars both nights. Saturday’s show was missing the #21 of Rio Rancho driver Michael Marfia who rolled his car on Friday causing MAJOR damage, and the #48 of Mustang, Oklahoma driver Lee Little who blew a motor on Friday night. Joining the show for Saturday only were the #47 of Andy Mason form Fort Collins, Colorado and Robert Hanley from Fairfield, Colorado getting back into his own car that Thornton, Colorado’s Keith Rauch drove on Friday night. Rauch was back in his more familiar #71 tonight. Unfortunately for Mason he was unable to take the green flag in any race tonight. A really tough break for a driver towing in from a long way to race with the best. As they did on Friday night the Midgets ran 2 heat races and their Main Event. Heat #1 saw a heated battle between the #71 of Rauch and the #28 of Jeff Perry. These two drivers fought for the win from the drop of the green flag with Rauch holding Perry off for the win with the #2I of Luke Icke hot on their heels at the checkered flag. Heat #2 also saw a very heated duel between two-time RMMRA champion Tony Rossi in the #14 hold off a very determined #12X Greg Schaefer with the only New Mexico car in the field, the #38 of Todd Plemons coming home in the third position. The #38 is owned by Albuquerque’s John McGerigle. The 25 lap Main Event saw 15 starters as the Mason car was not able to make the call. This race saw 13 of the 15 starters take the checkered flag. Friday nights winner, Luke Icke in the #2I was running a different car tonight but with much the same results, as he battle with the #71 of Rauch, the #12X of Schaefer and the #28 of Perry. After numerous lead changes throughout the race Icke took his second win in as many days followed by Rauch, Schaefer, Perry and young Chad Corken in the #11 coming home in fifth position from his 10th starting spot. Thanks to the RMMRA ( Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association ) and the AMRA ( Arizona Midget Racing Association) for bring a top notch show to Hollywood Hills Speedway.
The Non-Winged Sprint Cars, ( Traditional Sprints ) had another great field of 30 cars on hand tonight. Friday had a field of 32 cars but the #00 of Phoenix Arizona’s Ken Caskey, the #52NM of Santa Fe New Mexico’s David Burns and the #93 of Albuquerque driver Jon Taylor were not able to return for day #2. Tom Stringfellow from Albuquerque brought out his newly purchased Sprinter #76 to make his first start ever in a Sprint Car, a pretty daunting task for a new driver with so many hot shoes on hand. As on Friday night the Sprinters ran 4 heat races, a Semi-Main and their 25 lap Main Event. Heat #1 was one of, if not the best race of the night as the #21C of Rio Rancho New Mexico’s Robert Marfia was able to hold off the hardest charger at HHS in the form of the #45X of Johnny Herrera. This race was marred by a very hard flip by long time Aztec New Mexico racer L.C. Kesterson in the #F2. The Kesterson car was nearly destroyed but fortunately Kesterson was able to escape without injury ( not counting his checkbook). At the checkered it was Marfia by about 1 foot or less over Herrera with the #9X of a very fast Kelly Denison taking the 3rd spot. Heat #2 had long time Drag Boat and Sprint Car racer #611 Charlie Fegan take the win over the very fast cars of #21P Paul Whitehead with the #11W of Tim West taking show money. Heat #3 saw a great battle between the youngsters and the oldsters as the #7 of Jason Tanner took the win over rookie driver #4X Cody Mansfield with veteran racer #16 Tom Ball nipping at their heals for the win. Heat #4 saw the #40X of Scott Box who had taken a very hard rollover a couple of weeks ago take a well deserved win over last years HHS champion #61X Bo Baker with the #8 of J.C. Powell coming home in 3rd. For the second night in a row there was a Semi-Main event with the top 8 drivers going to the rear of the Main Event. This race was run with only two caution periods and saw Phoenix Arizona’s Shon Deskins #20 take the win over young Chad Corken in the #11 with Peralta New Mexico driver #33 Ronnie Smith taking home the 3rd position. The 25 lap Main Event was about as good as it gets in racing. With 24 cars taking the green flag there was action and racing for position all over the track. Usual winner #45 Johnny Hererra started deep in the field in 16th spot and took about 10 laps to get up front to the leaders. The first red flag of this race was for California stuntman #27 Shawn Kautz rollover in turn #2. Once the racing resumed there was a fierce battle at the front between the #21C of Robert Marfia, the #40X of Scott Box and the #11W of Tim West. As West, Box and Marfia were battling each other Hererra was making his charge toward the front. Once Hererra caught the leaders the four drivers raced side by side for another 10 laps before Hererra was able to take the lead and eventually the win. The scariest moment of the night came just past the flagstand on the white flag lap as the #61X of Bo Baker and the #9X of Kelly Denison who were racing for the 4th spot, came together, launching the Denison car end over end and side over side several times. This was one of if not the hardest rollover ever seen at HHS, as the Denison car was throwing parts and pieces all the way over the top of the fence. Denison was able to crawl out of his destroyed mount without assistance but was later transferred to the hospital for evaluation. As of last report this afternoon, Denison was released from the hospital and is doing fine although he will surely have a severe case of “Racing Rheumatism”. The final results had Hererra taking the win over Marfia, Box, West and the #7 of Jason Tanner.
The Mini-Sprints had 19 very racy little cars on hand after having 20 on Friday night. Typically two day shows can be very hard on these smaller ( but FAST ) machines. Missing tonight were the #66 of Lonnie Saiz, #24 Wim Dons and Phoenix racer #10 Ken Caskey. Bringing the count back to the very respectable 19 were the addition of Santa Fe’s Dwayne Adams in the #70X and newcomer young Bloomfield N.M. driver Jeff Gordy in the #20X. The Mini’s ran two very good heat races and their thrilling Main Event. There was only one caution period to slow the heat races but a bit more excitement in the Main. Heat #1 a very close race between the #70X of Adams being chased by Parker Colorado’s Jay Sant and Rio Rancho driver #22X David Gay. At the checkered it was Adams taking the win with Sant and Gay filling out the top 3 spots. Heat #2 saw a race long battle between Phoenix hot shoe Dustin Carmony and Tijeras N.M. 13 year old Joshua Hodges. After several changes for the lead Carmony was able to hold off a determined Hodges with the #5 of another young teenager Jeremy Schofield coming home in the show position. The 20 lap Main Event was shaping up to be a real barnburner and it was all that and then some. Hodges in the #74X started on the outside front row and jumped out to what looked like a commanding lead but the #20 of Carmony was quickly working his way through the field. At about the halfway point the #17 of Pagosa Springs driver D.J. Snyder took a very hard rollover in turn #3 nearly destroying his car, but thankfully D.J. as able to walk away from the wrecked ride. When the racing resumed Hodges seemed to have some mechanical problem that nearly brought his car to a complete stop. Once Hodges got the car re-fired he had lost several positions, giving the lead to Carmony. After picking up a couple of quick positions Hodges once again had some problems and went to the rear of the field, but the car restarted and Hodges was able to get going again and finished a very respectable 5th place. Carmony was able to hold on for the win over the Adams and Sant cars with local driver Brian Perea in the #68 having another very good night coming home in the 4th spot.
Be sure to come out next Saturday when the Late Models ( 16 cars first time out ) and the Modifieds ( may see 30 or more cars this week ), along with the Street Stocks and Cruisers for an all “Stock Car” show.
Have A Great Day
God Bless Everybody
Sprint Car Results
Heat #1
#21C Robert Marfia – Rio Rancho, N.M.
#45X Johnny Herrera – Albq. N.M.
#9X Kelly Denison – Cedar Crest, N.M.
#22B Jessie Baker – Grants, N.M.
#27 Shaun Kautz – Aqua Dulce, Calif.
#20 Shon Deskins – Phoenix, Az. – DNF
#F2 L.C. Kesterson – Spencerville, N.M. DNF – Very Hard Rollover
Heat #2
#611 Charlie Fegan – Bosque Farms, N.M.
#21P Paul Whitehead – Albq. N.M.
#11W Tim West – Albq. N.M.
#71 Keith Rauch – Thornton, Colo.
#23 James High – Albq. N.M.
#17 Steve Spiak – Albq. N.M.
#11 Chad Corken – Highlands Ranch, Colo.
#76 Tom Stringfellow – Albq. N.M. DNF – First time ever in a Sprinter
Heat #3
#7 Jason Tanner – Albq. N.M.
#4X Cody Mansfield – Albq. N.M.
#16 Tom Ball – Albq. N.M.
#24 Jordan Mattson – Edgewood, N.M.
#78 Jody Williams – Rio Rancho, N.M.
#50 Jerry Higginbotham – Rio Rancho, N.M.
#27K Tim Knight – Bosque Farms, N.M.
Heat #4
#40X Scott Box – Rio Rancho, N.M.
#61X Bo Baker – Grants, N.M.
#8 J.C. Powell – Albq. N.M.
#33X Ronnie Smith – Peralta, N.M.
#26 Randy Smith – Peralta, N.M. – Ronnie’s Dad
#65 Rick Johnson – Albq. N.M.
#9M Ricky Montgomery – Lakewood, Colo.
#99 Chuck Jackson – Albq. N.M.
Semi-Main – Top 8 to Main Event
#20 Shon Deskins
#11 Chad Corken
#23 James High
#9M Ricky Montgomery
#27 Shaun Kautz
#65 Rick Johnson
#78 Jody Williams
#17 Steve Spiak – last car to make the Main Event
#26 Randy Smith
#27K Tim Knight
#50 Jerry Higginbotham
#76 Tom Stringfellow
#99 Chuck Jackson – DNF
Main Event – 25 Laps
#45X Johnny Herrera – Had to battle Marfia and Box all the way
#21C Robert Marfia – Lead lots of laps, great night in new car
#40X Scott Box – Great run at the front all night, very fast and smooth
#11W Tim West – In the mix at the front all race long
#7 Jason Tanner – Hung in there with the best of them
#4X Cody Mansfield – Ran with a rookie flag last night, nearly a top five tonight ( WOW )
#33X Ronnie Smith
#65 Rick Johnson
#16 Tom Ball
#22B Bo Baker
#24 Jordan Mattson – Another driver who ran a rookie flag last night and doing great tonight
#78 Jody Williams
#23 James High
#61X Bo Baker
#9X Kelly Denison – Very hard crash after the white flag, able to crawl out on his own
#21P Paul Whitehead
#17 Steve Spiak
#71 Keith Rauch – DNF
#20 Shon Deskins – DNF
#9M Ricky Montgomery – DNF
#8 J.C. Powell – DNF
#11 Chad Corken – DNF
#27 Shaun Kautz – DNF – Rolled early in the race, walked away
#611 Charlie Fegan – DNF
Midget Results
Heat #1
#71 Keith Rauch – Thornton, Colo.
#28 Jeff Perry – Buckeye, Az.
#2I Luke Icke – Littleton, Colo.
#98D Dave Scroggs – Arvada, Colo.
#3 Julee Jamison – Highlands Ranch, Colo.
#2 Bobby Harr – Arvada, Colo. – DNF
#33 Scott Fennell – Littleton, Colo. – DNF
#47 Andy Mason – Fort Collins, Colo. – DNS
Heat #2
#14 Tony Rossi – Brighton, Colo.
#12X Greg Schaefer – Fort Lupton, Colo.
#38 Todd Plemons – Arvada, Colo.
#44 Bob Hanley – Fairfield, Colo.
#11 Chad Corken – Highlands Ranch, Colo.
#87 Brent Rees – Arvada, Colo.
#2G Terry Goodwin – Phoenix, Az.
#6 Mike Heberling – Centennial, Colo. – DNS
Main Event – 25 Laps
#2I Luke Icke – Two nights, two wins, heading for a 6 day show in Nebraska
#71 Keith Rauch – Very fast but not enough for Icke tonight
#12X Greg Schaefer – Ran at the front all night
#28 Jeff Perry – Fought for the lead for several laps
#11 Chad Corken – Good run from 10th starting spot
#38 Todd Plemons
#14 Tony Rossi
#2G Terry Goodwin
#87 Brent Rees
#2 Bobby Harr
#3 Julee Jamison
#98D Dave Scroggs
#44 Robert Hanley
#33 Scott Fennell – DNF
#6 Mike Heberling – DNS
#47 Andy Mason – DNS
Mini-Sprint Results
Heat #1
#70X Dwayne Adams – Santa Fe, N.M.
#24X Jay Sant – Parker, Colo.
#22X David Gay – Rio Rancho, N.M.
#17 D.J. Snyder – Pagosa Springs, Colo.
#29 Caleb Saiz – Albq. N.M. 12 year old rookie
#20X Jeff Gordy – Bloomfield, N.M.
#7H Jory Higginbotham – Rio Rancho, N.M. – DNF
#91 Clint Miller – Albq. N.M. – DNF
#9X Eric Smith – Rio Rancho, N.M. – DNS
#5X A. J. Horner – Bloomfield, N.M. – DNS
Heat #2
#20 Dustin Carmony – Phoenix, Az.
#74X Joshua Hodges – Tijeras, N.M.
#5 Jeremy Schofield – Albq. N.M.
#68 Brian Perea – Bernalillo, N.M.
#95 Aaron Wheeler – Grants, N.M.
#56 Troy Simpson – Windsor, Colo.
#8 Chris Perea – Rio Rancho, N.M.
#00 Al Cordova – Bloomfield, N.M.
#44 James Hatch
Main Event
#20 Dustin Carmony – Great run from12th starting spot
#70X Dwayne Adams – Battled with all of the leaders all night
#24X Jay Sant – Always in the pack fighting for every spot
#68 Brian Perea – Second night in a row fighting with the leaders, very good run
#74X Joshua Hodges – Lead early but fell WAY back, great finish
#95 Aaron Wheeler
#5 Jeremy Schofield
#9X Eric Smith
#22X David Gay
#8 Chris Perea
#91 Clint Miller
#20X Jeff Gordy
#44 James Hatch
#00 Al Cordova – DNF
#17 D.J. Snyder – DNF – VERY hard rollover, second one in a couple of weeks ( OUCH )
#7H Jory Higginbotham – DNF
#29 Caleb Saiz – DNF
#5X A.J. Horner – DNF
#56 Troy Simpson – DNF
These results are unofficial and we apologize for any errors.
Have A Great Day
God Bless Everybody
|
