On a night designed to pay tribute to local heroes, one of The Bullring's top young stars stood in the spotlight once again.
Reigning U.S. Legends track champion Tyler Fabozzi earned his second consecutive NASCAR Super Late Models 50-lap feature win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway short track on Hometown Heroes Night on Saturday. The 21-year-old out-dueled points leader Jimmy Parker Jr. by 1.736 seconds to take the checkered flag and claim his 10th career victory at the 3/8-mile paved oval.
"I was giving this thing everything it had, and I was even glowing the brakes there toward the end and the pedal was starting to fade," Fabozzi said. "I don't know what would have happened if we'd have had another 25 laps. It'll definitely be tough to make up (points) after our two little mishaps in the first two races, but I think we can get it done."
Dozens of representatives from local law enforcement, fire departments and other first responders were on-hand to participate in everything from Opening Ceremonies and parade laps to green-flag waving and driving pace vehicles. It was the fourth consecutive year LVMS honored the men and women who keep the Las Vegas community safe.
Four-time Bullring track champion Jason Irwin completed a three-day sweep in the U.S. Legends Pro/Masters division, taking "The Showdown" trifecta with a 1.302-second win over Mike Alcaro in Saturday's 20-lap feature. It was Irwin's 36th career Saturday night Bullring win.
"Our Legend Car was on a rail tonight," said Irwin, who ranks sixth on The Bullring's all-time wins list. "(Winning) never gets old, and we'll be out here in two weeks with our Lucas Oil Modified car. We'll see what we've got for them then."
Ryan Rackley swept all three U.S. Legends Semi-Pro/Young Lions features during the class' three-day "Showdown," taking the Saturday night 20-lap feature by .229 of a second ahead of D.J. Canipe. Rackley held off the field after a re-start with three laps remaining to complete the sweep.
"I want to thank all the people back at the shop and my dad and mom," Rackley said. "I just wanted to get out front, not make any mistakes and click off fast, consistent laps."
A week after breaking through for his first career NASCAR Bombers win, Vinny Raucci Jr. made it two in a row after crossing the line 1.163 seconds ahead of Tim Maserang. Raucci Jr. battled points leader Kyle Jacks for the top spot most of the race before Jacks fell to a third-place finish.
"I know (Jacks) had nothing for me on the outside, so I just stayed on the bottom and ran my line," Raucci Jr. said. "He's coming strong, I know he's got a fast car and I know he's not going to stop, so I've got to keep on my A game. (Tim Maserang) knows what he's doing and is getting his car right, so we'll be looking for him up front and will have more people to play with."
Two-time track champion Chris Bosley won his second USLCI Thunder Cars race of the season, 3.702 seconds ahead of Roger Hocking. It was the veteran Bosley's 10th career Saturday night feature win at The Bullring.
"This car's been set up for five years the way it is, and I haven't changed a thing," Bosley said. "I just put tires on it and change the oil, and it goes. I'm just trying to help everybody out and build up this class a little more."
Adam Lemke picked up his first career Bullring checkered flag by more than four seconds over Toni Breidinger in the 30-lap USAC HPD Midgets race. The win was a marked improvement from his Friday night experience.
"We had engine problems last night, so we were wondering if the car was going to last all weekend," Lemke said. "We babied it to the finish line, but we had a great car tonight."
The SouthWest Tour Trucks feature went to first-time Bullring winner Dustin Vandermooren of Lakewood, Calif. He held off Ronnie Davis by .596 of a second for the landmark win.
"The fact that I'm even (in the Winner's Circle) is amazing," Vandermooren said. "This was our very first time ever on this track, and I'd never turned a lap before this green flag dropped. It's something special, and I've got a baby on the way.
"That's why we're working our butts off and doing this crazy thing. We've got another little racer coming, and we're excited."
Landon Gresser remained perfect on the season with his fourth consecutive USLCI Bandolero Bandits race win, while Cody Brown earned his first career Bullring victory after taking the USLCI Bandolero Outlaws feature. In the Skid Plate Cars feature, Racer X won for the third time in four races.
Next event: LVMS will pay tribute to the armed services at Military and Veterans Appreciation Night at The Bullring on Saturday, May 5. All area active-duty military, veterans and their families get in free with a valid ID, and fans' children who are 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.
Tickets are available on www.LVMS.com or by calling 800-644-4444.
Hometown Heroes Night at The Bullring at LVMS
Complete results
USLCI Bandolero Outlaws 12-lap feature
1. Cody Brown; 2. Amilleo Thomson (-2.013 seconds); 3. Cameron Guy (-3.387); 4. Kaden Crouch (-8.250); 5. Brendan Tracy (-8.443); 6. Chloe Lynch (-13.539).
USLCI Bandolero Bandits 12-lap feature
1. Landon Gresser; 2. Sabastian Lafia (-3.361 seconds); 3. Tuscan Nuccitelli (-3.967); 4. Branch Danko (-9.918); 5. Brody Moore (-10.062); 6. Trayc Walker-Scott (-10.248); 7. Levi Barral (-16.419); 8. Ashton Leonard (-1 lap); 9. Alexis Bjork (-1 lap); 10. Eliana Danko (-1 lap); 11. A.J. Blackwill (-2 laps); 12. Owen Romzek (-11 laps).
U.S. Legends Semi-Pro/Young Lions 20-lap feature
1. Ryan Rackley; 2. D.J. Canipe (-.229 of a second); 3. Jaron Giannini (-.512); 4. Braden Rogers (-.707); 5. Sammy Smith (-.921); 6. Derek Debbis (-1.165); 7. Drew Dollar (-2.241); 8. Dylan Fabozzi (-2.424); 9. Travis Roe (-2.569); 10. Jordan Holloway (-2.851); 11. Kayla Eshleman (-3.440); 12. Krystal Faulkingham (-6.470); 13. DeShawn Skinner (-1 lap); 14. Doug Petsco (-2 laps); 15. Cody Dempster (-5 laps); Jace Jones (DQ).
USLCI Thunder Cars 15-lap feature
1. Chris Bosley; 2. Roger Hocking (-3.702 seconds); 3. Darin Calloway (-4.773); 4. Bobby Ruppert (-5.117); 5. Doug Germano (-1 lap).
NASCAR Bombers 25-lap feature
1. Vinny Raucci Jr.; 2. Tim Maserang (-1.163 seconds); 3. Kyle Jacks (-2.411); 4. Adam Simon (-4.050); 5. Cody Schumacher (-5.004); 6. Jim Merlino (-5.359); 7. Mark Skinner (-10.398); 8. Zachery Nicholls (-10.715); 9. Anthony Mann (-2 laps); 10. Tia Guy (-2 laps); 11. Steve Danko (-10 laps); 12. Joseph Bradbury (-12 laps); 13. Michael Miller (-18 laps); 14. Bradley Thompson (-21 laps); 15. Carl Duryee (-25 laps).
Skid Plate Cars 15-lap feature
1. Racer X; 2. William Good (-35.748 seconds); 3. Dennis Dowell (-1 lap); 4. Cindy Clark (-1 lap); 5. James Brazzeal (-1 lap); 6. John Petsco (-2 laps); 7. Jeff Bargerhuff (-3 laps); 8. Robert Leahy (-3 laps); 9. Scott Stockwell (-4 laps); 10. Matt Esposito (-5 laps); 11. Blake Greenwood (-5 laps); 12. Ben Williams (-9 laps); 13. Fred Droegemueller (-9 laps); 14. Rowdy Rob (-14 laps).
U.S. Legends Pro/Masters 20-lap feature
1. Jason Irwin; 2. Mike Alcaro (-1.302 seconds); 3. Brent Scheidemantle (-5.728); 4. Colton Page (-6.254); 5. Devin Lane (-7.496); 6. Wayne Barlock (-8.375); 7. Michael Todd Glazier (-12.362); 8. Jason Hulvey (-12.723); 9. Darrell Stewart (-12.855); 10. Andy Hulcy (-13.133); 11. Brian Williams (-14.278); 12. Gary Wegener (-14.976); 13. Bruce Silver (-15.205); 14. Branden Giannini (-20 laps).
USAC HPD Midgets 30-lap feature
1. Adam Lemke; 2. Toni Breidinger (-4.018 seconds); 3. Blake Brannon (-1 lap); 4. Elvis Rankin (-1 lap); 5. Joey Iest (-17 laps).
SouthWest Tour Trucks 35-lap feature
1. Dustin Vandermooren; 2. Ronnie Davis (-.596 of a second); 3. Ed Cutler (-6.312); 4. Gary Howard (-6.532); 5. Mike Kelperis (-11.243); 6. Eric Darensburg (-1 lap); 7. Derek Robertson (-1 lap); 8. Barry Kelperis Jr. (-1 lap); 9. Steve Reeves (-16 laps).
NASCAR Super Late Models 50-lap feature
1. Tyler Fabozzi; 2. Jimmy Parker Jr. (-1.736 seconds); 3. Dennis Rock (-3.711); 4. Scott Gafforini (-7.592); 5. Kayli Barker (-11.249); 6. Johnny Spilotro (-14.653); 7. Stan Mullis (-1 lap); 8. David Anderson (-1 lap); 9. Steve Anderson (-1 lap); 10. Kayla Eshleman (-1 lap); 11. Charlie Pike (-2 laps); 12. Ray Hoffman (-5 laps); 13. Luke Hall (-9 laps).