Mischief prompts penalties

The Bullring headmaster had enough shenanigans Saturday from two of his boys, so he pulled out his ruler and whacked both across the knuckles.

Scott Gafforini in the Super Late Models was suspended and not permitted to race in the night's feature race. While leading the IMCA Modifieds, Charlie Wahl was sent to the back of the pack.

Appropriately Saturday was "Education Appreciation" night at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway short track.

Bullring competition director Mike Stafford said he was through warning Gafforini. Early in the fifth week of the NASCAR All-American Series, Stafford said Gafforini hit the rear of Justin Johnson's car a few times in the preliminary eight-lap dash. During the cool-down lap, Gafforini also tapped Johnson's car.

Gafforini, the reigning division champion, was fined for rough driving in two of this season's first four events, Stafford said.

"(Johnson's team) plays games with me, but the track doesn't see it that way," Gafforini said.

The shenanigans seem to be byproducts of two multicar teams; Al Budd Racing fields nearly identical orange cars for Johnson and Jeff Conners. Gafforini drives one of four blue and yellow cars that run out of his SG Speed Shop.

Gafforini said Conners "deliberately cut me off the last two weeks, and I'm getting tired of it."

Veteran driver and former track champion Mike Ray, who finished fifth, was surprised with the penalty but believes aggression by a few drivers needs to be harnessed.

"They haven't done anything that drastic before," Ray said. "It's tough to make that call."

The series allows drivers to count points earned in 18 of the 19 races, so Gafforini, who fell out of the top five in points, remains a title contender. Johnson is first in the standings.

Johnson finished the 40-lap Super Late Models feature second to two-time winner Tom Lovelady.

In the 25-lap IMCA Modified race, in which Craig Stewart won for the second time, Wahl led when a caution came out near the halfway point.

On a restart, officials determined a three-car pile-up was caused when Wahl slowed to force those behind him to back off before the green flag was waved. Wahl, sent to the back of the pack, finished fifth.

Other feature winners were: Texas teenager Chris Buescher, for the third time in Legends Cars; Mario Opipari (Chargers); Matt Lutz (Thunder Roadsters); and in Bandoleros, Jacob Bishop (Young Guns) and Nicholas Thigpen (Bandits).