Burke gets up to speed in Bullring victory

Glen Burke dominated Late Models at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Bullring before the division merged with the faster Super Late Models three years ago.

The 50-year-old former season champion hasn’t been a threat to win the division since the categories were combined because of a shortage of entries in the stock-car classes.

That changed Saturday night when Burke won one of two Super Late Models features during the Chris Trickle Father’s Day Weekend doubleheader in the NASCAR All-American Series.

Burke, who won the last of his Late Models titles in 2003, was spun out twice in the 35-lap finale but recovered and took the lead with three laps left after leader Casey Kingsland was crashed out by Dustin Ash.

“It’s been a long time,” Burke said of the victory. “I don’t know if we earned it or it was given to us, but we’ll take it.”

Burke, who finished fifth in the opening feature won by Robert Ewing, gave most of the credit to veteran stock-car crewman Dana Stahl for tuning the car and setting up the suspension. Stahl joined the team a few months ago.

“Having Dana is the biggest change for us,” said Burke, who is fourth in series points.

Fabian Bray, another Late Models veteran, had his best effort in a few years. The 57-year-old battled to get his car ready in time for the race and finished third.

“I didn’t have enough to win, but I was able to claw my way to the front,” said Bray, whose son Chris Bray led the first nine laps before getting a flat tire.

Other winners were: Phil Goodwin (Chargers), Jeremiah Wagner (Legends), Brecken Snow (Thunder Cars) and Pete Meyer (Bombers.)

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