There was a lot of Star Nursery money on the line Saturday at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the prestigious 10-race series championships were up for grabs.
Several titles were close to being clinched entering the night’s events, but several came right down the final race of the year and the racing was sensational throughout the evening. Who knew who was going to collect the Star Nursery cash from Joe Mancari and Chris Clyne at the end of the night?
At the conclusion, the 2024 Bullring series champion included veterans with many titles to their collection as well as first time youngsters claiming the coveted crowns.
For legendary racer Doug Hamm, it was his tenth Bullring title in the tough NASCAR 602 Modified division as the popular driver known as “Hound Dog” seemed to be on a mission of the start of the night with fast time and a dominating 50-lap feature victory in his renowned No. 4X machine. It was Hamm’s fourth feature win in the 2024 campaign.
Joining Hamm in a return to the title-winning status was Michael Miller in the NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rods Factory Outlaws Stocks with a second place in the 30-laps main event to secure another Star Nursery series championship.
While some regulars returned to the championships this year, five youngsters showed their talent by scoring titles with strong performances throughout the 10-race series including Jaron Giannini in NASCAR Pro Late Models, Cody Brown in the USLCI Legend Cars, Colton Ray in the Super Stocks, Jeff Dailey in the Skid Plates and James Trimmer in the USLCI Bandoleros.
The champions will be saluted at the annual Bullring Champions Banquet set for Saturday, Dec. 21, at the South Point Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Hamm, who celebrated with his family in victory lane Saturday, jumped to the lead from his pole position and held the advantage throughout the event as multi-time race winner Sam Jacks tried to apply pressure during the 50-lapper but never close enough. At checkered flag, it was Hamm, S. Jacks, Brian Williams, Kayli Peterson, Ben Williams, Scott Ozborn, Brian Reed, Roby Clutts, Kyle Jacks and J. Giannini.
“This is a great way to finish the season with a win,” said Hamm, who celebrated with a dance on the hood of his race car. “We planned to run for the championship this year and the Jacks boys and few others gave us a good battle. But this car was so good all year and we accomplished our goal. We’ll probably just a few races next year and we hope to put the No. 4X in victory lane again.”
Miller, who also celebrated with his family and friends in the Bullring winner’s circle, put the pressure on race winner Jacob Quartaro for the entire 30 laps but he had to settle for runner-up at the checkered flag. Quartaro and Miller started 1-2 on the grid and ran nose-to-tail throughout the race with veteran Pete Meyer in the mix early in the contest. At the finish, Quartaro captured his second consecutive Bullring final with Miller, Meyer, Rob Pfaffly, Anthony Mann, Nick Mancari and Stephen Irvine trailing.
“I knew Michael was there the whole race and I was just trying to hit my marks,” said Quartaro. “We had trouble at the beginning of the season, but we finished with two wins. I want to congratulate Michael on the championship, and I hope we can challenge for the title in 2025.”
Miller, his family, friends and crew made for a large contingent in victory lane for a championship celebration.
“Wow, I was trying to win that last race, but Jacob was fast,” said Miller. “It was fun to race with him to the end. It wasn’t an easy season and I’m glad it is done now. I want to thank Pete Weber, Vinny Raucci, my crew, my family and friends for their support this year. It’s always exciting to win the championship.”
In the NASCAR Pro Late Models, Giannini was the class of the field on Saturday with two 40-lap main event triumphs as well as during the Star Nursery Series with an impressive six wins overall.
From the pole in race one, Giannini, the fastest qualifier, dove into turn one in the lead and never looked back with his VersaTILE & Stone No. 25 stock car. The Henderson, Nev. racer pulled into victory lane for his fifth Bullring win in 2024 with a great race behind him with Gavin Ray, T.J. Roberts and Colton Ray battling to the checkered flag. Fifth went to C. Brown followed by Johnny Spilotro, Ashton Leonard, Mark Allison, David Anderson, Steve Anderson and Donna Gunther.
In race two, Giannini started eighth but made his charge to the front early as he took the lead on lap seven from young Leonard and continued to pull away from the field for his No. 6 win this year. The battle for second again was a tight one with G. Ray holding off C. Brown followed by Roberts, Spilotro, Kylie Ith, Allison, D. Anderson, S. Anderson and Leonard.
“What a great way to finish up the season with two main wins,” said Giannini, who won the Pro Late Model class title by 77 points. “We just improved this race car every week we ran, and it was fast tonight. It’s always fun to win at your home track and winning the championship is special. I can’t say enough for our crew and sponsors for getting us to the finish and taking home the title.”
Brown, the teenager from Las Vegas, fought off a tremendous battle with Henderson racing star Tyler Reif to win the 30-lap USLCI Legend Cars finale in some of the best racing of the Bullring season. The two local racing competitors stayed bumper-to-bumper for most of the event, and Brown was able to hold off the ARCA Menards Series regular to the finish. Third was Californian Stephen Brucker who was right in the thick of things to the end followed by Scott Harbison, young Tanner Ash, Keller Meechudhome, Ellie Brucker, Ryder Juarez, Conner Podloski and Brian Albright.
“Wow, I knew Tyler was right there the whole race and I just couldn’t make a mistake,” said Brown, a former Bullring track champion. “This No. 88X car has been fast all year and I’m thrilled to take another track championship. Racing Legend Cars is always good for your race skill, and I’m sure I will continue to race them in the future. But my concentration now is moving to the Pro Late Models and I hope I can develop into the champion in that division too.”
Another local youngster won his first Bullring crown Saturday night with Colton Ray securing the NASCAR Super Stock points title with his No. 18 machine. Ray captured Saturday’s feature over Mike McKearn and Don Geary. It was Ray’s fourth Super Stock win of the 2024 season, as the teenager also competes in the Pro Late Model category while attending West Tech High in Las Vegas during the week.
“We are excited to win the Super Stock title this year,” said Ray. “I had some good racing throughout the season in both Super Stock and Pro Lake Models as I worked to improve with each race. My team gave me a great car all year. I want to thank the crew and my family for their support on and off the track.”
Yet another young racer scored his first Bullring championship with 12-year-old James Trimmer taking the USLCI Bandoleros title without winning a race this year. But Trimmer was consistent in all ten events and held the margin by 23 points when the checkered fell on Saturday.
Wyatt Layne was the 15-lap Bandoleros feature over Peyton Harbison, Trimmer, Maryah Solomon, Tucker Webster, Leila Trimmer, Malcolm Mancias, Dylan Layne, Maison Albright, Beau Paddack and Jeff Connors.
“I set my goal to win the championship this year and I wanted to be consistent in every race,” said Trimmer, who just started the seventh grade. “It was so much fun to race at the Bullring and I want to thank my parents and my sister for your help all year. I can’t wait until next season now.”
Some of the wildest and most popular racing at the Bullring comes in the Skid Plate class with 15 cars in the pit area Saturday and the points title was on the line. With two main events on the schedule, a lot of things can happen at the end of the night.
In the first Skid Plate race, the competitors were thrown for a surprise as the 12-lapper was run in reverse on the 3/8-mile pave oval and the mayhem began at the drop of the green flag. But Greg Lee had the proper high line with his No. 24 car, and he jumped to the lead early. Lee took his machine right against the wall in passing cars and he avoided spins, crashes and mishaps around the oval.
Lee took the feature win over point leader Jeff Dailey followed by Dylan Hummel, Ed Shoemaker, A.J. Hintsala, Connor Hart, Preston Shaffer, Christina Harper, Tony Paolone, Kelsey Rogers, Jeff Wahner, Kaycee Frost, Ben Williams and Cecilia Dillie.
Hummel battled through a wave of collisions in race two but grabbed the lead on the next to last lap for the victory in his No. 95 Lightning McQueen special. Hintsala, Shoemacker, Lee and Shaffer rounded out the top five. Dailey took sixth and clinched his first title with the No. 83 red, white and blue car.
“We had some close calls tonight and we had to work on the car before the second race,” said Dailey, the Tujunga, Calif., driver. “We had a hard hit in the first race, and I got a lot of help in the pit area to get the car back in shape for the second race. But we were able to be ready for the second one and we won the championship. I’m very excited about that tonight.”
NEXT RACE: The Star Nursery Classic presented by Hoosier Tire at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is set for Friday, Oct. 18, featuring the zMax CARS Tour West stock car tour as part of the fall South Point 400 NASCAR Weekend. This electrifying event promises thrilling races with Super Late Models, zMAX CARS Tour West Pro Late Models, and the MMI Legends Tour West. NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick and his son, Keelan, take on the competition along with a jaw-dropping Monster Truck demolition show. Pre-race Special for adult general admission is $20.00 with children 12 & under free. Race day adult admission is $25.00. 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.
2024 Bullring Racing Season, Round 10 for the Star Nursery Series
Saturday, October 12, 2024 (Starting position in [ ])
NASCAR Pro Late Models
NASCAR Pro Late Models Pro Late Feature 1 (40 Laps): 1. 25-Jaron Giannini[1]; 2. 18-Gavin Ray[2]; 3. 24-TJ Roberts[4]; 4. 71R-Colton Ray[7]; 5. 88X-Cody Brown[8]; 6. 77-Johnny Spilotro[5]; 7. 17-Ashton Leonard[6]; 8. 5A-Mark Allison[13]; 9. 5-David Anderson[9]; 10. 32-Steve Anderson[11]; 11. 88-Donna Gunther[10]; 12. 95-David Fountain[12]; 13. 19-Kylie Ith[3]
NASCAR Pro Late Models Pro Late Feature 2 (40 Laps): 1. 25-Jaron Giannini[8]; 2. 18-Gavin Ray[7]; 3. 88X-Cody Brown[4]; 4. 24-TJ Roberts[6]; 5. 77-Johnny Spilotro[3]; 6. 19-Kylie Ith[13]; 7. 5A-Mark Allison[1]; 8. 5-David Anderson[9]; 9. 32-Steve Anderson[10]; 10. 17-Ashton Leonard[2]; 11. 71R-Colton Ray[5]; 12. (DNS) 88-Donna Gunther; 13. (DNS) 95-David Fountain
NASCAR Pro Late Models Pro Late Qualifying (2 Laps): 1. 25-Jaron Giannini, 00:15.471[13]; 2. 18-Gavin Ray, 00:15.622[9]; 3. 19-Kylie Ith, 00:15.632[11]; 4. 24-TJ Roberts, 00:15.707[12]; 5. 77-Johnny Spilotro, 00:15.766[7]; 6. 17-Ashton Leonard, 00:15.770[6]; 7. 71R-Colton Ray, 00:15.866[10]; 8. 88X-Cody Brown, 00:15.898[8]; 9. 5-David Anderson, 00:16.092[5]; 10. 88-Donna Gunther, 00:16.190[4]; 11. 32-Steve Anderson, 00:16.643[3]; 12. 95-David Fountain, 00:17.994[1]; 13. (DNS) 5A-Mark Allison
NASCAR Pro Late Models Pro Late Hot Laps 1: 1. 71R-Colton Ray, 00:15.846; 2. 88X-Cody Brown, 00:15.906; 3. (DNS) 95-David Fountain; 4. (DNS) 19-Kylie Ith; 5. (DNS) 17-Ashton Leonard
NASCAR Pro Late Models Pro Late Hot Laps 2: 1. 19-Kylie Ith, 00:15.860[2]; 2. 71R-Colton Ray, 00:15.906; 3. 77-Johnny Spilotro, 00:15.969; 4. 17-Ashton Leonard, 00:16.049[3]; 5. 5-David Anderson, 00:16.379; 6. 32-Steve Anderson, 00:16.586; 7. 5A-Mark Allison, 00:17.029; 8. 95-David Fountain, 00:18.065[1]; 9. 88-Donna Gunther, 00:22.849
NASCAR 602 Modifieds
NASCAR 602 Modifieds 602 Modifieds A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 4X-Doug Hamm[1]; 2. 29-Sam Jacks[3]; 3. 6-Brian Williams[2]; 4. 34+2-Kayli Peterson[4]; 5. 24-Ben Williams[6]; 6. 0Z-Scott Ozborn[7]; 7. 14X-Brian Reed[5]; 8. 75-Robby Clutts[8]; 9. 41-Kyle Jacks[10]; 10. 25-Jaron Giannini[9]
NASCAR 602 Modifieds 602 Modifieds Qualifying 1 (2 Laps): 1. 4X-Doug Hamm, 00:15.478[7]; 2. 6-Brian Williams, 00:15.563[6]; 3. 29-Sam Jacks, 00:15.570[5]; 4. 34+2-Kayli Peterson, 00:15.632[2]; 5. 14X-Brian Reed, 00:15.678[3]; 6. 24-Ben Williams, 00:15.704[4]; 7. 0Z-Scott Ozborn, 00:15.982[1]; 8. 25-Jaron Giannini[8]
NASCAR 602 Modifieds 602 Modifieds Hot Laps 1: 1. 25-Jaron Giannini, 00:15.275; 2. 4X-Doug Hamm, 00:15.580; 3. 14X-Brian Reed, 00:15.704[1]; 4. 24-Ben Williams, 00:15.727[2]; 5. 6-Brian Williams, 00:15.731[3]; 6. 29-Sam Jacks, 00:15.755; 7. 34+2-Kayli Peterson, 00:15.770; 8. 0Z-Scott Ozborn, 00:15.958
NASCAR 602 Modifieds 602 Modifieds Hot Laps 2: 1. 6-Brian Williams, 00:15.620[3]; 2. 29-Sam Jacks, 00:15.655; 3. 24-Ben Williams, 00:15.699[2]; 4. 14X-Brian Reed, 00:15.721[1]; 5. 0Z-Scott Ozborn, 00:15.844
Bullring Bandoleros
US Legend Cars International Bandolero Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 21W-Wyatt Layne[1]; 2. 9-Peyton Harbison[4]; 3. 56-James Trimmer[3]; 4. 28R-Maryah Solomon[2]; 5. 5T-Tucker Webster[5]; 6. 16-Leila Trimmer[6]; 7. 17-Malcolm Mancias[8]; 8. 18B-Dylan Layne[10]; 9. 27-Maison Albright[9]; 10. 11-Beau Paddack[11]; 11. 7X-Jeff Connors[7]
US Legend Cars International Bandolero Qualifying 1: 1. 21W-Wyatt Layne, 00:19.476[10]; 2. 28R-Maryah Solomon, 00:19.883[7]; 3. 56-James Trimmer, 00:19.903[8]; 4. 9-Peyton Harbison, 00:20.010[11]; 5. 5T-Tucker Webster, 00:20.498[5]; 6. 16-Leila Trimmer, 00:20.570[4]; 7. 7X-Jeff Connors, 00:20.932[9]; 8. 17-Malcolm Mancias, 00:21.350[6]; 9. 27-Maison Albright, 00:22.414[1]; 10. 18B-Dylan Layne, 00:22.786[2]; 11. 11-Beau Paddack, 00:22.900[3]
US Legend Cars International Bandolero Practice 1: 1. 21W-Wyatt Layne, 00:19.601; 2. 28R-Maryah Solomon, 00:20.009[2]; 3. 7X-Jeff Connors, 00:20.125; 4. 9-Peyton Harbison, 00:20.138[1]; 5. 16-Leila Trimmer, 00:20.548[4]; 6. 18B-Dylan Layne, 00:23.135; 7. 11-Beau Paddack, 00:24.042
US Legend Cars International Bandolero Practice 2: 1. 21W-Wyatt Layne, 00:19.606; 2. 9-Peyton Harbison, 00:19.859[1]; 3. 28R-Maryah Solomon, 00:19.860[2]; 4. 56-James Trimmer, 00:19.868[3]; 5. 16-Leila Trimmer, 00:20.400[4]; 6. 5T-Tucker Webster, 00:20.797[5]; 7. 7X-Jeff Connors, 00:21.056; 8. 17-Malcolm Mancias, 00:21.432; 9. 27-Maison Albright, 00:22.006; 10. 18B-Dylan Layne, 00:22.551; 11. 11-Beau Paddack, 00:22.998
Saturday Bullring Legends
US Legend Cars International Legends Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 88XP-Cody Brown[1]; 2. 9P-Tyler Reif[2]; 3. 2SP-Stephen Brucker[5]; 4. 34M-Scott Harbison[4]; 5. 11YL-Tanner Ash[3]; 6. 18MSP-Keller Meechudhone[8]; 7. 7BYL-Ellie Brucker[10]; 8. 50YL-Ryder Juarez[11]; 9. 68YL-Connor Podloski[9]; 10. 22SP-Brian Albright[12]; 11. 17SP-Sean Salazar[6]; 12. 99YL-Brody Whitbeck[7]; 13. (DNS) 13M-Ron Brown
US Legend Cars International Legends Qualifying (3 Laps): 1. 88XP-Cody Brown, 00:16.837[11]; 2. 9P-Tyler Reif, 00:16.925[13]; 3. 11YL-Tanner Ash, 00:16.975[10]; 4. 34M-Scott Harbison, 00:17.016[9]; 5. 2SP-Stephen Brucker, 00:17.033[12]; 6. 17SP-Sean Salazar, 00:17.037[5]; 7. 99YL-Brody Whitbeck, 00:17.047[8]; 8. 18MSP-Keller Meechudhone, 00:17.119[7]; 9. 68YL-Connor Podloski, 00:17.258[1]; 10. 7BYL-Ellie Brucker, 00:17.359[6]; 11. 50YL-Ryder Juarez, 00:17.575[2]; 12. 22SP-Brian Albright, 00:18.054[3]; 13. (DNS) 13M-Ron Brown
US Legend Cars International Legends Hot Laps 1: 1. 9P-Tyler Reif, 00:16.831; 2. 2SP-Stephen Brucker, 00:16.896[2]; 3. 99YL-Brody Whitbeck, 00:16.935; 4. 11YL-Tanner Ash, 00:16.980; 5. 17SP-Sean Salazar, 00:17.033; 6. 34M-Scott Harbison, 00:17.081[3]; 7. 68YL-Connor Podloski, 00:17.139[4]; 8. 18MSP-Keller Meechudhone, 00:17.139; 9. 50YL-Ryder Juarez, 00:17.439; 10. 13M-Ron Brown, 00:19.161
US Legend Cars International Legends Practice 2: 1. 88XP-Cody Brown, 00:16.709; 2. 2SP-Stephen Brucker, 00:16.762[2]; 3. 9P-Tyler Reif, 00:16.801; 4. 99YL-Brody Whitbeck, 00:16.899; 5. 34M-Scott Harbison, 00:16.917[3]; 6. 11YL-Tanner Ash, 00:16.918; 7. 17SP-Sean Salazar, 00:16.926; 8. 7BYL-Ellie Brucker, 00:17.000[1]; 9. 18MSP-Keller Meechudhone, 00:17.001; 10. 68YL-Connor Podloski, 00:17.084[4]; 11. 50YL-Ryder Juarez, 00:17.303; 12. 22SP-Brian Albright, 00:17.721
Bullring Skid Plate Cars
Bullring Plate Cars Skid Plates Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 24-Greg Lee[8]; 2. 83-Jeff Dailey[15]; 3. 95-Dylan Hummel[13]; 4. 48-Ed Shoemaker[5]; 5. 6H-AJ Hintsala[6]; 6. 11-Connor Hart[2]; 7. 1W-Preston Shaffer[11]; 8. 7-Christina Harper[7]; 9. 84-Tony Paolone[9]; 10. 17-Kelsey Rogers[1]; 11. 3-Jeff Wahner[10]; 12. M21-Kaycee Frost[3]; 13. 4X-Ben Williams[14]; 14. 4-Cecilia Dillie[4]; 15. (DNS) 5K-Stephen Wahner
Bullring Plate Cars Skid Plates Feature 2 (12 Laps): 1. 95-Dylan Hummel[13]; 2. 6H-AJ Hintsala[10]; 3. 48-Ed Shoemaker[9]; 4. 24-Greg Lee[12]; 5. 1W-Preston Shaffer[2]; 6. 83-Jeff Dailey[15]; 7. 7-Christina Harper[11]; 8. 4X-Ben Williams[14]; 9. 11-Connor Hart[6]; 10. 17-Kelsey Rogers[5]; 11. M21-Kaycee Frost[7]; 12. 3-Jeff Wahner[3]; 13. 84-Tony Paolone[4]; 14. 5K-Stephen Wahner[1]; 15. (DNS) 4-Cecilia Dillie
Bullring Skid Plates Skid Plates Hot Laps 1: 1. 7-Christina Harper, 00:30.111[3]; 2. 24-Greg Lee, 00:30.808; 3. 83-Jeff Dailey, 00:31.011[1]; 4. 6H-AJ Hintsala, 00:31.976; 5. 4-Cecilia Dillie, 00:34.962[2]; 6. 11-Connor Hart, 00:37.432; 7. 17-Kelsey Rogers, 00:39.540; 8. M21-Kaycee Frost, 00:41.553
Bullring Skid Plates Skid Plates Hot Laps 2: 1. 4X-Ben Williams, 00:29.972[4]; 2. 83-Jeff Dailey, 00:31.002[1]; 3. 48-Ed Shoemaker, 00:31.640; 4. 4-Cecilia Dillie, 00:34.762[2]; 5. 11-Connor Hart, 00:34.929; 6. 7-Christina Harper, 00:38.720[3]; 7. 3-Jeff Wahner, 00:39.444; 8. 84-Tony Paolone, 00:39.933; 9. M21-Kaycee Frost, 00:40.193; 10. 17-Kelsey Rogers, 00:40.856
NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rod Outlaw Factory Stocks
NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rod Outlaw Factory Stocks Feature (30 Laps): 1. 43-Jacob Quartaro[1]; 2. 21-Michael Miller[2]; 3. 96-Pete Meyer[3]; 4. 11-Rob Pfaffly[4]; 5. 09M-Anthony Mann[5]; 6. 97M-Nick Mancari[6]; 7. 03-Stephen Irvine[7]; 8. (DQ) 15-Vinny Raucci Jr[8]
NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rod Qualifying 1: 1. 43-Jacob Quartaro, 00:18.593[8]; 2. 21-Michael Miller, 00:18.622[1]; 3. 96-Pete Meyer, 00:18.647[2]; 4. 11-Rob Pfaffly, 00:19.078[7]; 5. 09M-Anthony Mann, 00:19.246[5]; 6. 97M-Nick Mancari, 00:19.498[4]; 7. (DNS) 03-Stephen Irvine; 8. (DNS) 15-Vinny Raucci Jr
NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rod Outlaw Factory Stocks 1: 1. 09M-Anthony Mann, 00:19.155; 2. 11-Rob Pfaffly, 00:19.192[3]; 3. 97M-Nick Mancari, 00:19.423; 4. (DNS) 96-Pete Meyer; 5. (DNS) 21-Michael Miller; 6. (DNS) 15-Vinny Raucci Jr
NASCAR Nostalgia Street Rod Outlaw Factory Stocks 2: 1. 43-Jacob Quartaro, 00:18.692; 2. 11-Rob Pfaffly, 00:18.976[3]; 3. 15-Vinny Raucci Jr, 00:19.138[4]; 4. 97M-Nick Mancari, 00:19.200; 5. 03-Stephen Irvine, 00:21.142
NASCAR Super Stocks
NASCAR Super Stocks Super Stocks A Feature (20 Laps): 1. 18-Colton Ray[3]; 2. 64-Mike McKearn[1]; 3. 45-Don Geary[2]
NASCAR Super Stocks Qualifying 1: 1. 4-Sam Jacks, 00:16.852[2]; 2. 18-Colton Ray, 00:16.885[4]; 3. 45-Don Geary, 00:16.963[3]; 4. 64-Mike McKearn, 00:17.008[1]
NASCAR Super Stocks Super Stocks Practice 1: 1. 45-Don Geary, 00:16.888[1]; 2. 18-Colton Ray, 00:16.919[3]; 3. 4-Sam Jacks, 00:17.111[4]; 4. (DNS) 64-Mike McKearn
