Youth served in Bullring races

It began as "Kids Candy Toss" night at the Bullring, but ended as a salute to teenagers after Dylan Kwasniewski and Haley Lager won the biggest races.

Kwasniewski, 15, won the Super Late Models event after Lager, 16, won the Chargers division race in the NASCAR All-American Series on Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's short track.

The victory was Kwasniewski's second of the season in the track's premier stock-car series, while it was the first for Lager in an adult division.

The day started with disappointment for Kwasniewski when he got caught up in a road-course crash at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, and left with a 25th-place finish in the regional NASCAR K&N Pro West series.

That caused him to miss qualifying at the Bullring while flying in from Utah, which forced him to start at the rear of the 14-car Super Late Models field.

"We were headed for a top-five finish in Utah until that wreck," he said. "We weren't sure we'd get here in time, but it was a good way to finish the day."

Lager, who turned 16 on April 3, held off former Chargers track champion Mario Opipari to win her 16-lap race by 0.29 seconds.

"That was a fun race," said Lager, a sophomore studying cosmetology at Southeast Career Technical Academy (formerly Vo-Tech).

She finished sixth in points as a Charger rookie last year after spending four years in Bandolero cars for youngsters. It was a big jump; Bandoleros average about 65 mph on the 3/8-mile oval, while Chargers exceed 80 mph.

She has been coached by former track champion Scott Gafforini, who built and maintains her Charger and is her spotter during races.

"Scott has been a big, big help," Lager said.

Her father, Tim Lager, is general manager of Binion's and began sponsoring Gafforini's race team in 1997. Tim and Haley often attended races, and at 10 she began showing an interest in driving.

"It just looked like fun," she said. "I'd like to try a Super Late Model this year, and maybe race as a pro one day. That's in the back of my mind."

Lager said drivers in the Chargers division have welcomed her into the series and frequently offer advice and encouragement. One of them has been Opipari, who tapped her rear bumper a few times on Saturday's waning laps.

"He worked me around a little bit," she said. "That was motivating and made me focus more on what I needed to do to stay in front. All the drivers have respected me."

Other Bullring winners were Wade Pearson (Bombers), C.J. Hulsey (Legends Cars Semi-Pro/Young Lions), Kyle Weatherman (Legend Cars Pro/Masters), Cameron Hayley (Baby Grand Nationals) and Robert D'Ambra (Thunder Cars).

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