Tharp Thwarts Field for First Mod Feature Win
Once again, the state-of-the-art Vado Speedway Park in Vado, NM was back in action on Saturday, August 13th with another Hot City Nights promotion and the highlight of the evening was Tim Tharp racing to his first ever USRA Modified feature win.
The Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B-Mods were the first feature on track after preliminary action was complete and it was a wild one. Cheyenna Yates took the early lead from the pole and lead the first several laps until 4th starting Peyton Gallardo got around her on the outside and took control out front. With Gallardo leading, Justin Allen quickly raced from his 7th starting spot to second and put pressure on Peyton out front. Allen looked under Gallardo’s #17 on several occasions, but Peyton was up to the challenge and continued to lead until the final circuit when Donavon Flores was able to get great drive off the low side of the track and pull even with Gallardo out front. The two drag raced side by side on the final lap and Flores was able to steal the lead and the win in dramatic fashion. Gallardo finished second, just ahead of Christy Barnett, 17th starting Lucas Ward and Josh Cain, who rounded out the top five.
The Johnstone Supply Super Trucks were the second feature of the night and Christy Barnett continued her winning ways by storming from her 11th starting spot to get the lead from pole sitter Jacob Dart and drive away for her 10th Super Truck win in 14 starts this season and was able to pad her track points lead in the process. Dart led the race early with Art Viramontes applying pressure out front, while Sherman Barnett and Just in Thornton battled inside the top five until Christy was able to race by everyone into the lead and drive off to a dominating victory. Dart hung on for second with Sherman Barnett getting by Thornton late in the race to secure the third finishing spot at the line. Thornton ran fourth with Devan Smith, who started 13th, raced home with a fifth-place finish for his efforts.
The third feature of the night was the Rancho Milagro USRA Modified 25-lapper and it was a dandy. Track record holder Tim Tharp sat on the pole and jumped to the lead at the start and was able to get out front and lead every single lap en route to his first ever feature win, but not without withstanding constant pressure throughout the entire event and being able to hold off a last lap charge from 12th starting Jake Gallardo. Tharp led wire to wire, but Gallardo gave him all he could handle on the final lap, pulling up alongside the 3t as they raced into turn three on the final circuit. Tharp was able to make his car just wide enough to hold off the J17 and win a thriller. Gallardo crossed the line second with Christy Barnett third, just ahead of Jimmy Ray and Justin Allen, who both rallied from the tail.
The S&J Automotive Stock Car main event was the fourth on the schedule and Rob Moseley raced from his sixth starting spot and got to the front first and then held strong with the lead as Bryan Bennett, Jonathan Burton and Jake Gallardo were working to try to overtake the top spot. A great four car battle ensued for the majority of the 20-lap event but Moseley never faltered out front and raced to the victory with Bennett holding off Barnett for second with Gallardo getting by Burton and crossing the finish line fourth. Burton was able to hold on to a fifth-place finish for his efforts.
The final event of the night was the Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Model feature event, which saw Javier Zapien Jr get out front at the start with Jeremy Stamper and Shane McNutt directly behind. Zapien set the pace out front as 7th starting Mercedes Abercrombie was working her way forward and got to fourth early. She was able to make a power move off turn two to get by both McNutt and Stamper in one swoop and then raced by Zapien out front to the lead, which she would never relinquish, racing to a convincing victory. Stamper held off his teammate McNutt for second with Zapien holding off Eric McNutt for fourth at the line as well.
The Vado Speedway Park will be back in action on Saturday, August 20th with another Hot City Nights event and College Night, where fans from anywhere in Dona Ana County AND anyone with a college id will be admitted into the grandstand area for just $5 with a valid id. Gates open at 5 and racing begins at 7:30.
For fans not able to attend in person, all events held during the 2022 season at the Vado Speedway Park will also be live streamed online by PayPerView at www.WatchFYE.tv.
For upcoming schedule information and tickets, visit www.VadoSpeedwayPark.com.