Ash’s absence throws open Super Late Model class

Super Late Model drivers will be glad to know Dustin Ash won't be defending his season championship in the NASCAR All-American Series, which opens Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Ash, 22, has won the division title at the Bullring two of the last four years and posted eight victories in 14 races last season, but he won't compete full time this year. He's backing off the throttle to focus on college and serve as crew chief for teammate Robert Ewing.

"I'll probably drive a (Super Late Model) again in July but no more than a couple times this year," Ash said.

Casey Kingsland, another Super Late Model regular, will miss at least the first part of the season for health issues.

The Ewing Brothers team fielded three cars last year, but Ash said Ewing will be the only one running every race.

Former Legends Car regular Jay Beasley, 19, is also expected to be a regular in the premier division.

Once Cheyanne Schindler's high school softball season is over, the 17-year-old Eldorado junior will race a Super Late Model for Thunder Motorsports, a team owned by her aunt Donna Gunther and uncle Wayne Jacks, both veteran Bullring drivers. In the meantime, the reigning Legends Semi-Pro champion will compete in that division Saturday against Gunther and Jacks.

Racing begins at 7 p.m. with two 40-lap Super Late Model features along with races for NASCAR Chargers and Bombers, Thunder Roadster and Bandolero classes and a fireworks show.

■ USAC QUARTER-MIDGETS -- The USAC Quarter-Midget Generation Next Series for racers ages 5 to 15 will conduct 11 races on Saturday afternoons before All-American Series events. The first is Saturday and the last Nov. 5. The races will be on a one-twentieth-mile oval behind the Bullring grandstand. Practice starts at 11:30 a.m., and admission is free.

■ DRAG RACING -- The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will race at the speedway Thursday through March 27. Many of the country's top Sportsman racers, including those in Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars, are expected to compete as a prelude to the following weekend's NHRA Full Throttle national event at the track.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.