Young Cody Brown, the defending Semi-Pro national Legends Car champion, put in a spectacular performance Saturday night to capture the hotly-contested 20-lap M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground Legends Car main event at the Bullring at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the 2023 Star Nursery Series short track season opener.
Brown, the 17-year-old Las Vegas high school senior, battled a star-studded field at the fast 3/8-mile paved oval in his No. 88X 3rd Generation Racing machine and held off the likes of Jordan Holloway, Jake Bollman and Jeremy Doss to notch the opening feature race of the 2023 Star Nursery series at the Bullring. Brown won the prestigious U.S. Legends Cars Semi-Pro national event at the Bullring last November and also secured the Semi-Pro national points championship.
Last Saturday in mid-40s weather, Brown battled wheel-to-wheel with Holloway, the 2022 Pro Legends Cars national titleholder from Henderson, NV, as well as West Coast racing stars Bollman and Doss. Cody, Bollman and Holloway were nose-to-tail in the first nine laps before a yellow flag slowed the action. And, on the restart, Bollman, the Huntington Beach, Calif., driver jumped to the point and held the advantage before Brown struck back.
Cody slid back inside of Bollman in turn three on lap 16 and Holloway followed him for second with three laps remaining. It looked as though Holloway might try an similar inside move in turns three and four, but Brown held his position on track and beat Jordan to the checkered flag by tenths of a second.
Bollman had to settle for third place with Doss fourth followed by Gavin Ray and 2022 U.S. National Legends Cars Pro race winner Branden Giannini.
“That was some tough competition tonight for the 2023 season opener,” said Brown, who also has moved in the Pro Late Model division this year. “Jake made a nice move on me on the restart, and I needed to do the same later in the race. I knew Jordan was going to try a pass on the last lap too. But this 3rd Generation Racing machine was hooked up tonight. It’s been a big jump from the Legends cars to the Pro Late Models this year, but it’s always nice to get in the winner’s circle with the Legends.”
The 25-lap Sigma Performance Services Pro Late Model feature ended with controversy Saturday night when leaders Cody Kiemele of Riverside, CA, and Kyle Keller of Las Vegas came together in the last corner in the final lap.
Keller led for the first 19 laps before Kiemele took the advantage in turn three of lap 20. It was a nose-to-tail contest in the final five laps before Keller clipped the rear of Kiemele’s car causing the leader to spin. Keller took the checkered flag but was later penalized and veteran Jeff Peterson of Grand Terrace, CA, was awarded the main event win. Second went to another young rising racer, Ricky Gutierrez of Garden Grove, CA, followed by Henderson’s Jaron Giannini and reigning Bullring Pro Late Model champion Scott Gafforini.
“I know I don’t like to win the race that way,” said Peterson, a regular in the Bullring victory lane the past few seasons. “But I could see it coming as Cody and Kyle were really battling for the lead. They were faster than us all race. But we’ll take the win and get ready for next week. Our car wasn’t good early, but we hung in there until the checkered flag.”
In the 20-lap NASCAR 602 Modifieds finale, it was a dominating showing by Kyle Jacks of Las Vegas in his No. 41 car. And it was a feel good story for Jacks, who destroyed his Modified machine late last year in turn one with a stuck throttle. But, on Saturday, Kyle’s mount was the one to beat and no one, not even his brother, Sam, could not match his performance.
Kyle led every lap over Sam and took the checkered flag with a strong victory by several seconds. Third went to Brian Williams followed by Jimmy Petrie and Kayli Peterson.
“This win is big for our Battleborn Racing team,” said K. Jacks. “It was a long process to get our Modified back and running after the crash last year. But our squad worked so hard to get this car back and running well for the season opener. And she was on rails tonight. It’s a great feeling to win again.”
Matt Frady Jr. drove his No. 00 car to an impressive win in the 20-lap NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rods Outlaw Factory Stock feature Saturday after the early leaders Vinny Raucci Jr. and Anthony Mann got together in turn two on lap eight. With the leaders out of the event, Frady Jr. took the lead on the restart and never looked back.
Sheri Goldstrom, Nostalgia Street Rods co-owner, came from 12th starting spot and an early spin to place second in her No. 14 machine followed by former track champion Michael Miller, his teammate Pete Meyer and Rob Pfaffy.
“I feel badly for Vinny and Anthony,” said Frady Jr. “We didn’t have the car for them tonight, but you need to be in the right place at the right time. I am happy for Sheri too. I could see her battling with Miller and the others.”
Jason Kiser of Las Vegas was the impressive winner in the 20-lap NASCAR Super Stock final as he drove No. 49 stock car past the early leader Kyle Jacks in his No. 4 machine. At the finish, Kiser won by 2.56 seconds over Jacks with third going to Rich DeLong III followed by Raucci Jr. and Mike McKearn.
The Skid Plate main event was highlighted by a big 14-car field and plenty of wild action for the spectators at the Bullring Saturday evening. At the conclusion of the 12-lap race, it was former track champion Ben Williams took the top trophy after a good battle with second place runner, Robert Leany, with third going to Don Leonard.
Former Bullring class champion Ashton Leonard of Henderson reached the Bullring Winner’s Circle in the 12-lap lap M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground Bandolero feature in his No. 17 car with a flag-to-flag victory over Wyatt Flowers of Palmer, AK followed by Logan Gresser of Las Vegas, Siena Nuccitelli of St. George, UT, and Joseph Montoya also of Las Vegas.
Bakersfield, California’s Caden Cordova, age 13, bettered 11-year-old Vito Cancilla of Martinez, CA, in the 20-lap Jr. Late Model finale followed b Cameron Carraway, Jalen Mark and Brody Manning.
The six-lap “Battle of the Badges” featuring competitors for the local police and fire departments saw Michael Abbate of the Nevada Highway Patrol taking home top honors in the No. 17 car over Aaron Case, Philip Karas and John McBreem.
The Bullring Season Opener was also highlighted by class heat races Saturday rather than the traditional single-car qualifying laps and the action proved to be eventful for several of the racers. But, at the checkered flags, the winners were Brown, Bollman and Holloway in the Legends Cars, Guiterrez and Keller in the Pro Late Models, Leonard and Jayda Mack in the Bandoleros, Pfaffy and Raucci Jr. in the Outlaw Factory Stocks, K. Jacks in the Super Stocks, Cordova in the Jr. Late Models, Williams and Jeff Dailey in the Skid Plates and K. Jacks in the Modifieds.
NEXT RACE: The 2023 Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway presented by Star Nursery race schedule continues this Saturday, Feb. 25, with “South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa Night” for the second round of the 10-race Star Nursery Series. Theme nights like Hometown Heroes Night, Military and Veterans Appreciation Night and the wildly popular Fourth of July celebration, the Night of Fire, add extra allure to the popular racetrack throughout the year. Adult general admission for the majority of the Star Nursery Series events is $8.00 with children 12 & under free at all Bullring events. For more information, please contact the LVMS ticket office at 800-644-4444 or online at LVMS.com. For stockyard passes, please call 800-644-4444, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. PST.
Bullring Season Opener, Round 1 for the Star Nursery Series
Saturday, February 18, 2023
M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground USLCI Bandoleros 10-lap feature
1.Ashton Leonard (Henderson, NV); 2.Wyatt Flowers (Palmer, AK); 3.Logan Gresser (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Siena Nuccitelli (St. George, UT); 5.Joseph Montoya (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Jayda Mack (Chino Hills, CA); 7.Keaton Harbison (Las Vegas, NV); 8.Caleb Faiers (Las Vegas, NV); 9.Josiah Faiers (Las Vegas, NV); 10.Joshua Faiers (Las Vegas, NV); 11.Piper Suell (Las Vegas, NV); 12.Aspen Leonard (Henderson, NV).
Skid Plate Cars 12-lap feature
1.Ben Williams (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Robert Leany (Springvale, UT); 3.Don Leonard (Henderson, NV); 4.Jeff Dailey (Tujunja, CA); 5.Ken Coombs (Parwan, UT); 6.Berenice Hernandez (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Aaron Case (Las Vegas, NV); 8.Jeff Bargerhuff (Henderson, NV); 9.Robert Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 10.Austin Leonard (Las Vegas, NV); 11.Nick Mancari (Las Vegas, NV).
NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rods Outlaw Factory Stocks 20-lap feature
1.Matt Frady Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Sheri Goldstrom (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Michael Miller (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Pete Meyer (Las Vegas, NV); 5. Rob Pfaffy (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Dylan Reinke (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Nick Lautenbach (Las Vegas, NV); 8.Derrick Utley (Las Vegas, NV); 9.Sabastian Lafia (Las Vegas, NV); 10.Stephen Irvine (Washington, UT); 11.Dallas Simonette (Las Vegas, NV); 12.Vinny Raucci Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 13.Anthony Mann (Las Vegas, NV); 14.Jacob Quartaro (Las Vegas, NV); 15.Brad Thompson (Las Vegas, NV).
NASCAR Super Stocks 20-lap feature
1.Jason Kiser (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Kyle Jacks (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Rich DeLong III (Santa Clarita, CA); 4. Vinny Raucci Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Mike McKearn (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Bill Paddock Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Don Zoll Jr. (Phoenix, AZ); 8.Don Geary (Maricopa, AZ); 9.Bobby Schumacher (Las Vegas, NV).
NASCAR Junior Late Model 20-lap feature
1.Caden Cordova (Bakersfield, VA); 2.Vito Cancilla (Martinez, CA); 3. Cameron Carraway (Castro Valley, CA); 4. Jalen Mack (Chino Hills, CA); 5.Brody Manning (Lincoln, CA).
NASCAR Modified 20-lap feature
1.Kyle Jacks (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Sam Jacks (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Brian Williams (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Jimmy Petrie (Henderson, NV); 5.Kayli Peterson (Grand Terrace, CA); 6.Donna Gunther (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Skylar Mortensen (Las Vegas, NV); 8.Ben Williams (Las Vegas, NV); 9.Tom Pfundstein (Las Vegas, NV).
NASCAR Sigma Performance Services Pro Late Models 25-lap feature
1.Jeff Peterson (Grand Terrace, CA); 2.Ricky Gutierrez (Garden Grove, CA); 3.Jaron Giannini (Henderson, NV); 4.Scott Gafforini (Henderson, NV); 5.Monty Tipton (Mill Valley, CA); 6.Brenden Ruzbarksy (Tracy, CA); 7. David Anderson (Las Vegas, NV); 8.Johnny Spilotro (Las Vegas, NV); 9.Enzo Lalama (Las Vegas, NV); 10.Alex Eskandari (Las Vegas, NV); 11.T.J. Roberts (Queen Creek, AZ); 12.Cody Kiemele (Riverside, CA); 13.Kyle Keller ((Las Vegas, NV); 14.Cody Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 15.Amilleo Thomson (Las Vegas, NV); 16.Justin Johnson (Pahrump,NV); 17.Bryson Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 18.Chloe Lynch (Las Vegas, NV).
USLCI M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground Legends 20-lap feature
1.Cody Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Jordan Holloway (Henderson, NV); 3.Jake Bollman (Huntington Beach, CA); 4.Jeremy Doss (Upper Lake, CA); 5.Gavin Ray (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Branden Gianinni (Henderson, NV); 7.Lonnie Hochstetler (Chandler, AZ); 8.T.J. Roberts (Queen Creek, AZ); 9.Brenden Ruzbarsky (Tracy, CA); 10.Alex Roe ((Las Vegas, NV); 11.Jake Walker (Phoenixville, PA); 12.Brenden Tracy (Las Vegas, NV); 13.Tracy Walker-Scott (Parker, CO); 14.Jeff Regier (Las Vegas, NV); 15.Mike Doss (Upper Lake, CA); 16.Colton Ray (Las Vegas, NV); 17.Scott Harbison (Las Vegas, NV); 18.Sarah Chelberg (Las Vegas, NV); 19.Rick Chelberg (Las Vegas, NV); 20. Eric Sigwing (Pahrump, NV).
Battle of the Badges (Police vs. Fire) 6-lap feature
1.Michael Abbate (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Aaron Cash (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Philip Karas (N. Las Vegas, NV); 4.John McBreem (Las Vegas, NV).
M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground USLCI Bandoleros 6-lap Heat Races
Heat 1: 1.Ashton Leonard (Henderson, NV); 2. Siena Nuccitelli (St. George, UT); 3.Wyatt Flowers (Palmer, AK); 4.Logan Gresser (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Joseph Montoya (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Aspen Leonard (Henderson, NV); 7.Amelia Suell (Las Vegas, NV).
Heat 2:1.Jayda Mack (Chino Hills, CA); 2.Keaton Harbison (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Caleb Faiers (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Joshua Faiers (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Josiah Faiers (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Piper Suell (Las Vegas, NV);
Skid Plate Cars 8-lap Heat Races
Heat 1: 1.Ben Williams (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Robert Leany (Springvale, UT); 3.Ken Coombs (Parwan, UT); 4. Aaron Case (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Jeff Bargerhuff (Henderson, NV); 6.Berenice Hernandez (Las Vegas, NV); 7. Christina Harper (Las Vegas, NV)
Heat 2: 1.Jeff Dailey (Tujunja, CA); 2. Don Leonard (Henderson, NV); 3. Nick Mancari (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Robert Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Austin Leonard (Las Vegas, NV).
NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rods Outlaw Factory Stocks 8-lap Heat Races
Heat 1: 1. Rob Pfaffy (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Jacob Quartaro (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Pete Meyer (Las Vegas, NV); ); 4.Michael Miller (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Dylan Reinke (Las Vegas, NV); 6. 2.Sheri Goldstrom (Las Vegas, NV); 7. 7.Nick Lautenbach (Las Vegas, NV); 8. Brad Thompson (Las Vegas, NV).
Heat 2: 1.Vinny Raucci Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Matt Frady Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Anthony Mann (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Dallas Simonette (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Derrick Utley (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Sabastian Lafia (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Stephen Irvine (Washington, UT);
NASCAR Super Stocks 8-lap Heat Race
Heat 1: 1.Kyle Jacks (Las Vegas, NV); 2. Jason Kiser (Las Vegas, NV); 3. 6.Bill Paddock Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 4. Don Zoll Jr. (Phoenix, AZ); 5.Rich DeLong III (Santa Clarita, CA); 6.Don Geary (Maricopa, AZ); 7.Mike McKearn (Las Vegas, NV); 8.Vinny Raucci Jr. (Las Vegas, NV); 9.Bobby Schumacher (Las Vegas, NV).
NASCAR Junior Late Model 8-lap Heat Race
Heat 1: 1.Caden Cordova (Bakersfield, VA); 2.Vito Cancilla (Martinez, CA); 3. Cameron Carraway (Castro Valley, CA); 4. Jalen Mack (Chino Hills, CA); 5.Brody Manning (Lincoln, CA).
NASCAR Modified 8-lap Heat Race
Heat 1: 1.Kyle Jacks (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Sam Jacks (Las Vegas, NV); 3.Brian Williams (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Jimmy Petrie (Henderson, NV); 5.Donna Gunther (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Skylar Mortensen (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Ben Williams (Las Vegas, NV); 8. Kayli Peterson (Grand Terrace, CA); 9.Tom Pfundstein(Las Vegas, NV).
NASCAR Sigma Performance Services Pro Late Models 10-lap Heat Races
Heat 1: 1.Ricky Gutierrez (Garden Grove, CA); 2.Jeff Peterson (Grand Terrace, CA); 3.Scott Gafforini (Henderson, NV); 4.Justin Johnson (Pahrump,NV); 5.Cody Kiemele (Riverside, CA); 6.Cody Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Alex Eskandari (Las Vegas, NV); 8. .Enzo Lalama (Las Vegas, NV); 9.Brenden Ruzbarksy (Tracy, CA).
Heat 2: 1.Kyle Keller ((Las Vegas, NV); 2.Jaron Giannini (Henderson, NV); 3.Monty Tipton (Mill Valley, CA); 4.David Anderson (Las Vegas, NV); 5.Bryson Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 6.Johnny Spilotro (Las Vegas, NV); 7.Amilleo Thomson (Las Vegas, NV); 8.T.J. Roberts (Queen Creek, AZ); 9.Chloe Lynch (Las Vegas, NV).
USLCI M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground Legends 8-lap Heat Races
Heat 1: 1.Cody Brown (Las Vegas, NV); 2.Branden Gianinni (Henderson, NV); 3.Brenden Tracy (Las Vegas, NV); 4.Brenden Ruzbarsky (Tracy, CA); 5.Lonnie Hochstetler (Chandler, AZ); 6.Mike Doss (Upper Lake, CA); 7.Rick Chelberg (Las Vegas, NV); 8.Sarah Chelberg (Las Vegas, NV);
Heat 2: 1.Jake Bollman (Huntington Beach, CA); 2.Alex Roe ((Las Vegas, NV); 3.Jake Walker (Phoenixville, PA); 4.Keller Meechudhone (Las Vegas, NV); 5. Colton Ray (Las Vegas, NV); 6. Eric Sigwing (Pahrump, NV); 7. Jeff Regier (Las Vegas, NV).
Heat 3: 1.Jordan Holloway (Henderson, NV); 2. Jeremy Doss (Upper Lake, CA); 3.Gavin Ray (Las
Vegas, NV); 4.T.J. Roberts (Queen Creek, AZ); 5.Tracy Walker-Scott (Parker, CO); 6.Scott Harbison (Las Vegas, NV);).
