Wahl joins forces with former rival at Bullring

Charlie Wahl won't be defending his championship, but he still will be involved in the NASCAR All-American Series Super Late Models race tonight at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring.

Wahl's only entry in the series last year was the 76-lap holiday race, which he won by passing fellow Las Vegas racer Bear Rzesnowiecky on the second-to-last lap.

Wahl stepped away from driving this year, choosing to devote most of his attention to his Off the Wahl Designs business that has, among other projects, painted the vinyl car graphics and helmet for Rzesnowiecky, his one-time adversary.

For the past month, though, Wahl has also served as the 19-year-old driver's spotter. He will play that role in tonight's "Night of Fire" feature, giving Rzesnowiecky tips on maneuvering through traffic on a three-eighths-mile Bullring oval.

"Yeah, I'll be spotting for the guy I schooled in the race last year," Wahl said jokingly.

Wahl joined Rzesnowiecky's team in mid-May along with his brother Sonny, who became the team's crew chief. Since then, the team has won two of three Super Late Models features at the track.

Rzesnowiecky is 15th in season points after nine races.

Scott Gafforini, the 2006 and 2008 series champion, leads Robert Ewing in points, 241-211, and has a series-leading three victories. Dylan Kwasniewski, fourth in points, also has three wins but is not expected to race tonight after competing Saturday night in the NASCAR K&N Pro West Series race at Irwindale, Calif.

Other races tonight will be for Chargers, Bombers, Legends Cars and Bandoleros. Added events are a Jet Dragster "burn-down" of a passenger vehicle, the 30-foot robot Robosaurus and a fireworks show. Racing will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Tonight is the last race before a six-week summer break. The series resumes Aug. 20.

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