Gafforini Takes NASCAR Super Late Model Race on Back to School Night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Bullring veteran Scott Gafforini will remember his 67th win for quite a while. The six-time track champion survived a late-race scrape with NASCAR Super Late Models points leader Jimmy Parker Jr. to take the checkered flag at Back to School Night on Saturday (Photo credit: Richie Abbott/Instant Images)
Gafforini, Parker and Dezel West all made contact with roughly five laps remaining in the 50-lap feature, with Gafforini recovering quickest and grabbing the lead.
“The Wizard” stayed out front and crossed the finish line .508 of a second ahead of Parker, with West taking third just 1.109 seconds off the pace. Gafforini – who hadn’t won since Oct. 7 – said the contact was just part of short-track racing.
“It was nothing intentional, it just happened,” Gafforini said. “I was sideways, but gathered it up, and the first one down the straightaway wins. We all were boxed up, and it was just hard racing.
“Thanks to the fans for coming out and supporting us. We tried to put on a good show, and I hope it was a good show.”
In the Late Model Truck Series’ return to The Bullring after a five-year hiatus, Thane Alderman cruised to victory in the division’s 35-lap feature. Alderman – the 2002 NASCAR Super Late Models Bullring champion – won for the 11th time at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway short track.
“I can’t believe that truck went 35 laps,” said Alderman, who last won at The Bullring in 2005. “It broke in practice and broke in the heat race, so to make it to the finish was an accomplishment. I just want to thank the Late Model Truck Series for trying to start this thing back up.
“They asked me Thursday night to drive this truck, and I said yes. I came out here, and hopefully we put on a little bit of a show for everybody.”
Points leader Vinny Raucci Jr. notched win No. 5 of the 2018 season in the NASCAR Bombers division, 1.316 seconds ahead of Anthony Mann. Kyle Jacks, second in the season points race, finished third to keep pace.
“We just kept our cool,” Raucci Jr. said. “We worked hard on the car during the break and made it a little bit fast. The last caution lap, we lost oil pressure, so I think the motor’s blown up now. We’ve got to fix that, too.”
Doug Hamm continued his impressive season with win No. 4 in 2018 in the NASCAR Modifieds division, crossing the line 2.848 seconds ahead of Cameron Morga. It was Hamm’s 51st win at The Bullring.
“When you get in the lead, you can find your rhythm, and you’re really not trying to race anybody,” said Hamm, the NASCAR Modifieds points leader. “You’re just trying to save the car and the tires and are hoping a yellow doesn’t come out. I’d like to thank J&S, Tom Pfundstein, Chris Bray and A.J. for making this thing turn left, because it was on rails tonight.”
In the NASCAR Super Stocks division, points leader Sam Jacks survived a tough battle with Mason Sargent to win for the fourth time this season. Jacks and Sargent made contact with three laps remaining, resulting in Sargent spinning and settling for a sixth-place finish.
It was Jacks’ 15th career Bullring triumph, tying him with his younger brother, Kyle, on the track’s all-time list.
“I don’t really know what happened, if he got loose going into (Turn) 1, or if I hit him,” Sam Jacks said of his contact with Sargent. “It was pretty intense the first couple laps when everybody was slicing and dicing, and it was pretty hard to keep track of what was going on. It was a lot of fun, and I love racing with (Sargent).”
Jason Irwin added to his Bullring legacy by claiming his 40th career win at the LVMS short track. He nipped Parker Steele by just .322 of a second for his sixth victory of the season.
“It’s a good time at The Bullring,” Irwin said. “Those last couple of restarts, Parker Steele was really fast, and he was definitely making gains and making us work hard. It’s all fun and games, and I really like it.”
Chris Bosley won his third consecutive USLCI Thunder Cars race after crossing the line 2.452 seconds ahead of Ed Hohman. It was his 12th career Saturday night victory at The Bullring.
“It’s great to be back in the car and to be here after a long break,” Bosley said. “I’d like to thank all the fans and everyone who works really hard here at the track. It takes a lot of time and effort to get out here and put on events, but let’s keep it going and keep on doing it.”
Kaden Crouch picked up his third USLCI Bandolero Outlaws win of the season by 1.880 seconds ahead of Brendan Tracy, while Landon Gresser remained perfect on the season after taking his ninth consecutive USLCI Bandolero Bandits feature. In the Skid Plate Car division, Scott Stockwell earned his first career Bullring win after edging points leader Cindy Clark by 1.631 seconds.
Next event: On Sept. 8, The Bullring will host Throwback Night, and fans are encouraged to dress in their favorite ’60s, ’70s and ’80s gear to celebrate the occasion. As always at The Bullring, children 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.
Tickets are available on www.LVMS.com or by calling 800-644-4444.