Ash prevails for Bullring season sweep
November 8, 2010 - 12:00 am
The dream season for Super Late Models stock car driver Dustin Ash ended with a fairy-tale finish late Saturday night when an apparent runner-up finish turned into a magical victory in the premier race of the season.
Ash seemed headed for second place behind Ryan Reed of Bakersfield, Calif., in the 200-lap Las Vegas Open Comp, which would have ended his five-race winning streak at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring.
With eight laps remaining, Reed began feeling pressure from the hard-charging Ash. That caused Reed to exit the fourth turn with too much speed, and his car slammed into the rear of a lapped car.
Reed's car sustained heavy damage and was unable to finish the race, and Ash held on for a win worth $7,777.
"That was tough. That was definitely the hardest race all year," said Ash, a 22-year-old Las Vegan.
Ash's victory gave him a Bullring season sweep. Last month he won his second Super Late Models track and state championships in the past four years.
Reed led Ash by more than two seconds with 21 laps to go, but Ash kept cutting into the lead before Reed's crash. Ash led most of the first half of the race, but Reed was dominant after a 10-minute break after the first 100 laps.
Winners Scott Gafforini of Las Vegas (Late Models) and Jimmy Dickerson of El Cajon, Calif. (Modifieds) led from start to finish in the night's 75-lap features.
In Legends Cars, Brent Scheidmantle of Alta Loma, Calif., held off Ash to win the 35-lap feature. Nick Drake of Mooresville, N.C., won the 35-lap USAC Focus Midget feature.
On Friday night, Jacob Tilton won the Chargers race after the two front-running cars crashed coming out of the last turn. Dallas Simonette was first in the Bombers feature.
■ OFF-ROAD -- Rob MacCachren won Sunday's Pro 2 Unlimited title in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Brian Deegan won Pro Lite races Saturday and Sunday.
Other winners Sunday were Adrian Cenni (Pro 4) and Cameron Steele (Pro Buggy). Rick Huesman (Pro 4), Carl Renezeder (Pro 2) and Mike Porter (Pro Buggy) won Saturday.
The series finale is Dec. 11 in Phoenix.
■ DRAG RACING -- Chris Demke defeated Alan Bradshaw to win the Top Alcohol Dragster title Sunday in the Short Line Express Gambler Nationals at the LVMS dragstrip.
Other winners in the NHRA Division 7 event were Mickey Ferro (Top Alcohol Funny Car), Douglas Horne (Nitro Harley); Sal Biondo (Competition), Ed Schuck Jr. (Top Dragster), Kevin Kleinweber (Top Sportsman), Brad Hawk (Super Comp), Jeff Jackson (Super Street), Jeff Lanoye (Motorcycle), Eric Bell (Super Stock) and Mike Ferderer (Super Gas).
Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.