Hello and welcome to my weekly column covering the controlled chaos at Legacy Speedway! As always, corrections are welcome, and so are any dusty old memories of the track. I'm sure plenty of you have a few tucked away.
It was a warm summer evening at the Speedway with 42 cars checking in for another night of dirt-track action. If you've never been out here, the sun dropping behind the backstretch is the kind of postcard-perfect view that makes photographers grin and reminds the rest of us why we keep coming back.
The racing surface started the night tacky, smooth, and nearly dustfree— just the way drivers like it. Then a sneaky windstorm rolled through and turned it into a slick challenge. Did that slow anyone down? Not a chance. If anything, it gave the crowd even more to cheer about.
Leo Chavez got the night started by collecting his third victory of the season in the No. 19 Camaro. Sue Bonesteel piloted the 01 to second, while Karry Ward rounded out the top three in the 55. Chavez continues to show plenty of promise, and the young Albuquerque driver looks ready for bigger stages should he decide to climb the racing ladder.
The Adult Stock Go Karts rolled onto the track next with ten little rockets ready for battle. Daniel Clark parked his kart in Victory Lane with Danny Martin and Josh Husman close behind. Clark remains the points leader, but Martin and the No. 420 are breathing down his neck like a hungry raccoon at a campfire. One slip, and this championship could get mighty interesting.
Wheelman Nick Finch wheeled the F44 Hobby Stock to the front and never looked back, leading the way after 20 hard-fought laps. Rick Boelter of Los Lunas crossed the stripe second in the 5X. If Andrew Fowner was disappointed with third, he won't have to wait long for another shot. This weekend's two-night showdown is just around the corner.
The USRA Stock Cars were next and once again proved why they're one of the premier divisions at Legacy Speedway alongside the always-entertaining BModifieds. Saturday night's feature was one for the memory books. I've watched a lot of dirt racing over the years, but this finish ranks among the closest I've ever seen. Rick Boelter edged Robert Lewis at the line by about the width of a credit card to steal the victory, with Ken Curts completing the podium. That's the kind of finish that has fans talking all the way to the parking lot.
The 600cc Mighty Micro Winged Sprints followed, and those little machines always seem to race with something to prove. Albuquerque's Craig Stringfellow picked up his second victory of the season, trimming the gap in the championship after the points leader finished second. Jerry Campbell brought the 11T home in third to complete another exciting feature.
When the USRA BModifieds hit the track, the temperature seemed to rise another ten degrees. The action was as hot as Dylan Williams' X35, which spent part of the night belching flames and glowing like a dollar-store backyard grill that had seen one too many cookouts. When the dust finally settled, Albuquerque's Aidan Frazier celebrated his first checkered flag of the season. The hometown crowd from Grants had plenty to cheer about as Scott Morlang finished second and Jake Darby completed the podium in third.
This weekend gives every driver two chances to gain ground in the standings or defend the points lead they've worked so hard to earn. Win or lose, it's shaping up to be another pair of outstanding nights of dirttrack therapy.
If you're a race fan—or just someone looking for a fun Saturday night with good people and plenty of excitement—come spend an evening at Legacy Speedway. Grab a ticket, settle into the grandstands, make a few new friends, and enjoy a few hours under the lights. Trust me, your couch will still be there when you get home.
Until next time, I'll see you where the dirt flies and the sun sets over the Zuni Mountains.
The Checkered Flag Cruisers
1. Leo Chavez (19) – Albuquerque, NM 2. Suezanna Bonesteel (02) – Rio Rancho, NM 3. Karry Ward (55) – Grants, NM 4. Danika Carey (11D) – Gallup, NM
Adult Stock Go Karts 1. Daniel Clark (60) – Grants, NM 2. Danny Martin (420) – Grants, NM 3. Josh Husman (0) – Grants, NM 4. Duncan Burns (42) – Grants, NM 5. Kesha Bitts (11) – Farmington, NM
Pure Stocks / Hobby Stocks 1. Nick Finch (F44) – Albuquerque, NM 2. Rick Boelter (5X) – Los Lunas, NM 3. Andrew Fowner (1) – Albuquerque, NM 4. David Tanner (44) – Edgewood, NM 5. Gerald Haste (73) USRA Stock Cars
1. Rick Boelter (5X) – Los Lunas, NM 2. Robert Lewis (13L) – Los Lunas, NM 3. Ken Curts (2X) – Rio Rancho, NM 4. Zachary Gallegos (1) – Edgewood, NM 5. Ronnie Leathem Jr. (28S) – Albuquerque, NM (DNF)
600cc Winged Micros 1. Craig Stringfellow (10X) – Albuquerque, NM 2. Adrian Bojorquez (27) – Albuquerque, NM 3. Jerry Campbell (11T) – Grants, NM 4. Kasen Stringfellow (18K) – Rio Rancho, NM 5. Kodi Waldrop (31K) – Moriarty, NM
USRA B-Modifieds
1. Aiden Frazier (28) – Albuquerque, NM 2. Scott Morlang (24) – Grants, NM 3. Jake Darby (5) – Grants, NM 4. Isiah Mendoza (12) – Albuquerque, NM 5. Ariel Bonesteel (02) – Albuquerque, NM