Not a bad turnout for a Friday night at Aztec Speedway and the first night of the Witten's Warriors Weekend. The stock cars are the featured event for this show. Well actually the real feature of the weekend is raising money for the Carey-Tingley hospital in Albuquerque. All proceeds from the sale of merchandise to any donations goes directly to this foundation to assist children in New Mexico. With that said, here is how things went. Ninety-six cars were in the pits with the biggest count being the stock cars with 29. The USRA late models brought 21 cars and the sport modifieds had 18. The modifieds had a field of 19 cars. Hobby stocks also ran and had 9 cars for this first night.
The IMCA sanctioned stock car feature saw something new for Aztec Speedway. All 29 cars started the 30 lap feature. After a restart due to Jordan Hockenhull getting hammered and knocked out of the race, the next 7 laps went well with 4 and 5 wide racing, bumper to bumper. Another minor collision brought out a yellow. Travis Southerlin started on the poll and was in front for the first 17 laps at which time Brandon Hopper took over. Hopper was driving Jody York's car as local drive Frankie Hendershot was driving Hopper's car.....and who's on first??? Hopper was in front for only 7 laps as he and Iowa's Jake Masters started banging fenders with both cars be eliminated from the race. Masters went out with damage to the car and Hopper was black flagged (DQd) for rough driving. Either one of these two drivers were heavily favored to win....not to be. Travis Southerlin again assumed the lead and went on to win his first feature of the season. He picked a good one as first place paid 1,000 big ones. He now has a chance at winning a brand new engine provided by Fisher Engines of Texas. Speaking of contengency prizes....$18,000 worth are up for grabs for the stock cars. Finishing 2nd was Race Fisher and third went to Greg Gutt of Erie, Colo. Fourth was Allen Bradley and fifth went to Jeramey Bradley. Sixth on back were: Carbie McClarren of Seminole, Tx., Aaron Corley, Larry Bradley, Cary White of Lemesa, Tx., Samuel Sansoni, Michael Farley, Glenn Bray, Ron Brewer, Jason Mendoza of Artesia, N.M, Brandon Hopper, Jake Masters of Grettenger, Iowa, Skyler Heath of Tennessee (originally), Frankie Hendershot, Dustin White of Lemesa, Tx, Kelly Klemm, Ron Merritt of Grand Jct, Co., Josh Turnbull, Steffan Carey (crash), Cody Kays, Brandon Flowers, Danny Stevenson, Rick Combs, Ron Aubuchon, and Jordan Hockenhull. Heat race winners were: Steffan Carey, Travis Southerlin, Allen Bradley and Jake Masters.

The USRA late models started 20 cars one car not making the call, that of Keko Perez of Chihuahua-Mexico. The #59 car of Allen Bowers started on the poll and a surprise was in store for the fans. Zane Devilbiss, IMCA National Champion of Farmington, N.M. was behind the wheel. Two things other drivers don't want to see.....Zane in a fast car and starting on the poll. Devilbiss won this race officially leading every lap. Some heavy competition was turned in by Jeep Berry of Grand Jct, Co. Berry did pass Zane once but lost the lead before the lap was scored. Two other strong contenders from Las Cruces, N.M. made runs for the lead but ran into problems. Fito Gallardo tried early to catch Devilbiss but tagged the wall in turn one and eventually dropped out of the race. His son, Jacob Gallardo made a late charge and was on ever so close with a few laps to go, but his car gave up and he was out. Devilbiss collected the win and $2,000. Finishing 2nd was Jeep Berry in his "under powered" car. Third went to Dean Moore of Grand Jct, Colo. and fourth to Dakota Berry (Jeep's son) of Grand Jct., Colo. Rounding out the top five was David Wheeler of Brighton, Colo. One heavy crash came on lap 23 when John Hansen spun due to contact with Xavier Ortega. Hansen was then hit head on by Dr. Dave Deetz. Deetz's car then slammed the wall. Both drivers were ok and even drove their cars back to the pits. Quite amazing considering how hard they crashed. Ortega was black flagged for his involvement. Sixth on back were: Johnathan Ortega, Christy Georges Barnett, Larry Jackson, Cory Cox in Dave Garmann's car, Nita Deetz, Lance Newman, Chief Clint Hansen, Adam Hilton, Xavier Ortega, John Hansen, Dave Deetz, Bob Goetschel, Jacob Gallardo, Fito Gallardo and Billy Roy Harris. Heat race winners were: Billy Roy Harris, John Ortega, Fito Gallardo and Jacob Gallardo.

The sport modifieds brought out 18 cars for their 20 lap feature. This race saw several spins and some minor crashes. Freddy Brooks had the pole but spun in front of the field on lap 1. Everybody missed him and we had a restart. The early leader was Jordan Eddleman but on lap 10 a familiar number 3 took over and never looked back. Jessie Baldwin wins yet another feature with Jordan Eddleman 2nd. Third went to Rex Higgins with fourth going to Brian Carey and fifth was Luke McCormick. Sixth on back were: Darrell Cordary, Shane Helton, Bub Hughes, Richard Trujillo, Sergio Luengas, Kristi Tenski, Bill Dowdy, Randy Dorsett, Dakota Kibel, Freddie Brooks, Danny G, Michelle Reed. Heat race winners were: Jessie Baldwin, Jordan Eddleman and Luke McCormick.

The modifieds brought 19 cars out for their feature. The class of the field took off from the pole and nobody got close to him. Regan Tafoya wins again at Aztec Speedway in his familiar #24R. Running a close 2nd at time was Aaron Spangler. Third went to Christy Georges Barnett with Nick Nelson taking 4th and Jason Keeler ended up 5th. Sixth on back were: JJ Harpole (first time here in years), George Goshorn, Darrell Bradford, Zane Devilbiss, Tom Melloy, Ricky Baldwin in Shane Devilbiss's car #43, Dave Soulek of Challis, Idaho, Shermann Barnett, Danny Bradford, Charlie Felker, Camron Spangler, Jody Cornell, Julian Garcia,Jr, and Eddie Farley. A huge crash took out Danny Bradford, Jody Cornell, Eddie Farley and Charlie Felker. All cars received heavy damage with the Cornell car done for this year. No drivers were injured. Heat race winners were: Christy Georges Barnett, Danny Bradford and Zane Devilbiss. Glad to have Sherman Barnett and his wife Christy up from Las Cruces/El Paso, Tx.

And finally the hobby stocks put 9 cars out for their feature. Aaron Norman won easily with RaNai Toler 2nd and Brooklynne Kibel 3rd. Fourth went to Bill Dutton and fifth was Joseph Lopez. The next four spots were Trent Najera, Jessie Minor, Paul Dorsett, and Paul Weller. Heat race winners were: Aaron Norman and Paul Dorsett.
That's how they ran last night at Aztec Speedway. Come out tonight for part two of the Witten's Warriors Weekend. More cars are expected for tonight. Aztec Speedway...we race at 7.....I'll see you there.