It was NMMRA night as the Non Wing 360's went south. There were 14 drivers from our regular show at Sandia Speedway in Albuquerque and 20 Non Wing folks from all over the state and AZ. Yes you read that right 34 sprint to put on a show.
Along with the sprints was the Las Cruces regular Saturday night divisions. There were 27 A Mods, 22 Street Stocks, 14 Super Trucks, 14 Legends, 10 Winged Mini Sprints, over 100 cars in the pits.
Royal Jones, Royal Jones, Royal Jones, this guy knows how to put on a race event. If you haven't already taken the short/fast 3.5 hour ride south to see one of his events, it's time you did. I have never been to a Royal Jones event that I didn't think I got full value for my entertainment dollar. The best $15 you will ever spend at a dirt track race.
This was a last minute trip down to Southern New Mexico Speedway. I was sitting home trying to decide what to do with my Saturday night when Mychal Lucero and Richard Johnson called at 3pm and said lets make a run down south. That was all I needed. Thanks guys for letting me tag along.
Since this was a last minute trip I didnt take my media stuff with me so I apologize for not having all the names and numbers of the drivers. I will mention some of the highlights.
First off, I saw some of the bravest passes I have ever seen. There were slid jobs, 3 and 4 wide racing. I think Josh Hodges get my award for the man with steel nerves. In the main he went into turn three full throttle, never lifted, at mid turn he got forward bite and finished coming thru the turn with the two front wheels in the air. What a show.
Rick Boelter showed em how its done again by winning the Street Stock main. He had strong competition the beautiful #0 (sorry dont know driver) in his 1957 bodied car. It's worth the trip just to see that car.
The Non Wing 350 Sprint car main was one of the fastest I have seen. Two groves, one down on the tires and a high one up against the wall. Josh Grady some style as he ran the top in the heat and on several laps he never lifted. With the track change and maybe some tuning on his car he ran the low grove in the main. After he got in the lead several other drivers tried his line but could not get the exit speed he was capable of and they all went back up top. Many running full throttle all the way around. WOW what a Show they put on.
The A Mods had 27 cars take the green for their main. This might have been the best race of the night. Jacob Gallardo took the win over Huston driving a lowner car since his broke Friday in El Paso. Gallardo ran the high grove and Huston ran the low with them switching lead about ever other turn. It was a throw down battle all the way.
Sorry I didnt get a results sheet. Maybe Mychal Lucero will add some to this when he gets up. Note, it was a late night as we got home after 4am.
Bob Ingram was on vacation so I had to do the write up with out his help. You can see why I want Bob to be at my side on race night. He is the almanac of dirt tracking racing in New Mexico.
See you all next Saturday at Sandia Speedway. Ray Ingram
Last night felt like a national event... 122 cars checked in, the atmosphere in the pits was electric. EVERYBODY...brought their A game. Cruces is always great, but last night pegged the fun meter for excitement. The A mods started 27...the raced lap after lap 3/4 wide..6&7 rows deep.Up front Jacob GALLARDO & USMTS regular Phillip Houston went at it like they were racing for 100k... Houston on the bottom, Jacob rim riding to the point where the wrap on his right rear quarter was rubbed off from pitching it into the wall entering turn 1...epic. In the middle of 26 open motored methanol inhaling monsters...was John Carney in his little 355 2 barrel X mod, winging it in sprint car style. He got up to 7 or 8th, then faded. Congrats to Rick Boelter for holding off Lloyd turner in his hand built body 57 chevy.The streets put on their usual 3&4 wide show. The non winged 360's...just killed it. The heats were hammer down...bravest guy wins. Shon Deskins from Arizona was a one man highlight reel til he blew. I've never seen so many banzai death slide jobs. Hopefully Danny Lee from Texas is o.k. He hooked a RR entering 3 & rolled all the way into the desert...Car just launched. Jason Grady was on rails on the bottom. Bobby Markum from Az. Rode the rim never lifting from the back to the front, kept sliding off & coming back.Josh Hodges used every inch of race track trying to get to the front...he joined Markum on the rim late & the 2 put on a show. Hats off to chuck Jackson who drove the race of his life in the B main...he had a transfer spot locked up until a kid drove thru the infield & moved him...still a great run. it was that kind of night...slide jobs were in abundance. Good stuff. 34 cars...maybe 10 Arizona cars, which is amazing considering Canyon speedway in Arizona ran a points show same night.Not sure why kevin Montgomery continues to schedule against Royal. It's a testament to Cruces & royal that 10 Az. Cars "chose" to run out of town. ...kinda glad he's getting his arse kicked by casa grande & Arizona speedways. Excellent crowd...this deal just keeps growing. I hope they keep it going...it's turned into one of the best shows in the region.
it was a very good weekend for racing Friday was similar to Sat lots of cars people and excitement. We had a decent run in the b main Dylan Harris got by me on the inside my screw up like Bo Baker has told me a hundred times they can't get you outside so don't get off the bottom. We will be putting the wing on and going south NNMRA will be up at Sandia rumor has it RJ Johnson USAC shoe from Phoenix will be in one of Grady's cars should be a good show still having too much fun!
on May 24, 2015, 7:34 am