The Last Lap at The Park
Photo by R.J. Johnson topped the USAC vs. NMMRA 360 Sprint Car feature. (Lonnie Wheatley Photo)
It is the final time that dirt will ever fly at El Paso Speedway Park and the memories made tonight will last a lifetime. Almost every class that has ever run at The Park ran tonight for the final time and the car count did not disappoint. Over 180 cars ready to run tonight and over 2,000 fans in the stands. It was set to be a long one.
After the 360 Non-Wing Sprint car hot laps and xmod b main it was the claimers running the first last race of the night. The biggest car count of the year for the claimers as 9 cars were set for 15 laps. The R5 of Josh Reynolds would bolt to the early lead but it wouldn’t take long for the 5 of Jaime Montelongo to be right on his bumper. Montelongo would waste no time behind the R5 as he shot to the lead with 7 to go and never looked back. The R5 would be there at the end but not enough and it was the 5 of Jaime Montelongo winning once again. Josh Reynolds would slide his R5 into second.
The Sun Valley Hardware Street Stocks would be rowdy to the bitter end. The 44Jt of Jaime Torres would resume his position in the lead after just 2 laps complete but the 0 of Lloyd Turner was already on the move and charging hard. Torres was using every inch of track that he could to stay out front but nothing would work because 7 in the 0 of Lloyd Turner shot underneath on the groove and took the lead away. Lloyd Turner would try and pull away but a few more cautions would keep things interesting. As the final laps came down to it, the 44JT making a last ditch effort on the 0 but it wont stick and the 44JT going around! Strong season for Jaime Torres but pulling it into the pits tonight. We stayed green and now the 777 of Mike Rosales into second! Rosales would give it everything he had but bot today. As the checkered flag waved, it was Lloyd Turner in 0 taking his first and last win at El Paso Speedway Park! The 777 of Rosales was second followed by the 71 of Jed Smith.
In the super trucks the 44 of Christy Barnett went to the lead early but it wasn’t to be. Coming to the line on lap 2 a lap car would almost completely stop on the front stretch and she had nowhere to go! Christy darting low but the 82 of Sherman Barnett into the lead! Christy would save it from going all the way around and get right back on the bumper of the 82. The 44 with more trouble as she comes into turn 3 though because her hood would come flying off! The yellow would fly for that but on the restart it was the 33 of Lloyd Duffey all over the 44 for second! Duffey would waste only 1 lap on that battle and into second he goes with 6 to go! The 33 had his work cut out for him, as Sherman Barnett was way ahead and only 5 laps left. Lloyd Duffey would get all the way to Sherman Barnett’s bumper but it wouldn’t be enough tonight because out of turn 4 for the final time was the 82 of Sherman Barnett taking a big win! Lloyd Duffey with second and the 44 of Christy Barnett third.
Casa Nissan Legends putting on some of the best racing for the entire season long and tonight would be no exception. The 1x of Tom Zuloaga would take the lead early but a quick yellow would cause the field to slow up and under yellow the 1x calling it a night and Tom Zuloaga done for the evening. The 54 of Gunner Harris was happy to inherit the lead now but the 902 of Mike Zuloaga right on his tail! The 13 k of Kyle McCutcheon going to the back early on in this one and he is already there to play! Zuloaga chasing down Gunner Harris slowly but getting there and with 6 complete he was closing in faster and faster. McCutcheon catching the top 2! Kyle McCutcheon would show them how it was done and in one lap he would take the lead never to look back. The 13K looked to be in the clear as he was way up over the 37r of Dusty Riggs but last lap trouble for the 13K and he is coasting to the finish!! McCutcheon with no power the last half a lap and it comes down to the wire!! Dusty Riggs wins it by a hair! Dusty Rigs chargin the 37r from way back starting o get the W tonight. The 13K would hold onto second but mechanical keeping him from the win.
Its Dirt modified time! Again in this one the 44 of Christy Barnett would go straight to the front but be held up by lappers. It would only take Jake Gallardo in J17, 7 laps to get around the 44 and steal the lead away. A clean restart with 20 to go would have both drivers pulling away again but this time the 50 of Ralph Adams Jr is there! With 11 to the 131 of Royal Jones was on a drive but getting a little to much coming out of turn 4 and into the wall with his side would bring out the yellow. A clean restart would have the top 3 pulling from the pack but might as well have finished it right there because as the checkered flag waved it was the J17 of Jake Gallardo showing them how its done for the last Modified win ever at The Park. The 44 of Christy Barnett was close tonight but second will be where she lands. The 50 of Ralph Adams putting it on the box in third.
It was a 20-lap main event feature for the Southwest Shaw Trucking Late Models tonight and after a short intermission the drivers were rocked and locked, ready to roll. The 2 of Jonathan Barcena took off with the lead early but Christy Barnett was on him instantly like super glue! Coming through turn 4 the 44 looks to take the lead and would have it but yellow comes out before she can get there! Barnett going to have to try this one again. The 2 now leads the 44, and 3j with 18 to go. The J17 of Jake Gallardo won the modifieds and was on the move in this one and it would take him only 4 more laps to get the job done. Once Jake got into third it was just a waiting game as he tried to pass both drivers. The J17 would dive it low into turn 3 on the hammer and inside the 44 as they hit turn 4!! Jake Gallardo would muscle through the line and take the lead away with 16 to go! Complete that lap and caution would fly for the 4th time just to keep things interesting. Jake would pull away as the 44 battled with the 24 for second but 12 to go and one more caution. A clean restart would have the J17 out again but Christy now with company for second from the G17 of Fito Gallardo! With 7 to go the top three would bunch back together as they tried to find a way through lappers but it was to no avail for Christy Barnett because as the checkered flag waved, wining both the modified and the Late Model main events, Its Jake Gallardo in J17!! Christy Barnett putting her 44 back into second after a super strong run and Fito Gallardo chasing in third.
Border International Truck 305 Winged Sprint Car time! A hot and fast track would lead to some super speed tonight in the 305’s who ran 25 laps. The 9 of Robert Herrera was your early leader but it only took the 18 of Lorne Wofford 4 laps to move into second and start his charge on the outside. A caution with 5 complete would set the field up to pounce on the 9 and that’s just what happened. Herrera would try and get away on the restart but the field on him like stink to skunk because that bottom line just not holding as good as elsewhere. The 18 was chasing the 9 for only 5 more laps because with 10 complete and 15 to go the 18 of Lorne Wofford hooked up just enough leaving turn 4 and boom town! Lorne Wofford leads with 15 to go! After this it was all the Lorne Wofford show as he was hauling the mail to the front gate all night but a great battle in the back for third was brewing! The 131 of Royal Jones had started near the front and now he and the 19 of Wes Wofford would do battle for the 3rd spot! The 9 of Herrera would never hear from them as he ran a clean second but those two would swap paint a couple times trying to get in on the other. The 131 would hold off the 19 but they battle long enough here comes the 27 of Cesar Fuentes into the mix. Fuentes holding onto the top five. With 2 to go the 18 of Lorne Wofford was over a full straight ahead and still hammer down all the way around! As the checkered flag waved on the final 305 race it was Lorne Wofford in 18 winning by over a full straight away and lapping all the way into 9th position!! The 9 of Robert Herrera a great finish tonight as he ran a clean race in second. The 131 of Royal Jones would hold onto the top 3 with the 19 of Wes Wofford just behind him. Cesar Fuentes rounds out the top 5. At the end of the night it was the rookie Vance Wofford in just his third 305 race ever, earning the hard charger award for starting in the very back of this one and making his way all the way to 12th.
Lorne Wofford won the Border International 305 Winged Sprint Car feature. (Lonnie Wheatley Photo)
Xmods are always likely to put on a show at The Park and tonight was no exception as they ran second to last! It would be a 20-lap attempt with countless yellows in between green and checkered. The 52tx of Paddy Rush involved early in a crash would go all the way to the back as he battled for the track championship with the 7c of John Carney. The 15x of Sean Bowman was the early leader but it didn’t take long to have all kinds of company from the 9 of Jimmy Ray and the 7c! After a caution with 17 to go the 9 would slide right underneath the 15x and steal the lead like a thief in the night. With 5 finally complete and 15 to go all looked good to roll but just after the 93 of Gregory Gorham moved his way into second the caution would fly! Completing that lap though and now the 9 leads the 93 back to racing. With 7 to go another yellow would come out and this time as they crews cleared the track, the 9 of Jammin Jimmy Ray pulling it off under yellow! The leader done in this one. The 93 happy to inherit that spot and away they go. The 2 of Jesse Haney would be right on the 93 for a couple laps but just cant get there tonight. It would be no contest from there as the 93 of Gregory Gorham takes it all the way to the checkered flag making it look smooth tonight. The 2 of Haney has a great run to end his season here as he finishes out 2nd. The 33 of Justin Allen with a blistering drive into the top 3 from way back in the start of this one.
The time had finally arrived. The last, Last race at El Paso Speedway Park. Never again will the green flag start a race at this historic place and what a better way to do it than with USAC v NMMRA Non Wing 360 Sprint Cars!! It was a 30-lap feature and after all the racing we did the track was rough! The 16 of Mike Martin went to an early lead from the front row and it would be a long while before anyone dethroned him from that. The 78 of Chris Bonneau was right on him all the way around but cant make anything happen yet. After 5 complete Magic man Mike Martin had found the rails and was driving away but 6 complete and the caution would fly. The caution would be a game changer in the on as the 16 leads the 78 and 50 of Charles Davis. It was a fast and wild single file restart and away they went. Martin showing them the definition of speed again but 22 to go and Red Flag waving!! The 73 of Nick Rael with a big roll in turn 4. He was ok but done for the night as his car was junked. Only 2 more complete before we saw another red flag waving. This time for the 4 of Dylan Harris going into a full Gforce spin over turn 1 and through the fence! Dylan Harris going for one last ride at El Paso and through the fence he went! Harris would walkaway under own power with nothing but a headache and that was crazy! Martin would lead us back racing after that long clean up but this time the 77m of RJ Johnson on the move into second! Johnson would move I right on the bumper of the 16 and just wait. Martin would come into turn 3 with 15 to go and a little glitch through the slide was all the 77m needed! Rj Johnson would go to the front with 15 to go and that would bring and end to the era because he never looked back and never left the lead again. Martin would make a charge to his bumper with 7 to go but it was the 20z of Rick Ziehl who got everyone’s attention as he was on a mission into the top 4! With the green flag waving to signify 2 laps to go, the 20z of Rick Ziehl into the back of the 16 in turn 2! They both almost spin it around but the 20z saves it and the 16 going around! Caution flying for the last time and it’s a Green White Checkered to end this one! The field would have nothing for him in the last 2 laps and for the final time ever, receiving the last checkered flag at the El Paso Speedway Park, it was RJ Johnson in 77m! The 50 of Charles Davis a solid second all night and the 20z of Rick Ziehl a charging machine into third on the closing laps.
Well an end has come to an era. The memories we have will be the only thing left soon. But as most of us would agree, the memories here will last a lifetime. El Paso Speedway Park has been a great place far racing and friendship in the last 35 years and as we move onto bigger things, we must say thank you to everyone who has been apart of this great racing tradition for so long. Racing will continue at Southern New Mexico Speedway every Saturday night but for now was say Thank you, and we hope to see you again real soon. Signing off for the final time, Walker Akers.