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Ryan Neuharth
PEORIA, Ariz. (March 13) - Despite the drama of the week leading up to the opening round of the Total Seal SWDRA season, the series was poised for a positive new beginning Saturday at Canyon Speedway Park. With 19-teams in the pit area, new driver/team combinations, returning veterans eager to hit the gas, and a huge crowd on hand, the events of the evening were more reminiscent of a cloudy past than a sunny future.
In a race crippled by seven cautions, one for a 15-car melee before the field reached turn one on the opening lap, and a mid-event windstorm the driver with the least experience preserved the best.
For Ricky Thornton Jr., his first time behind the wheel of a super late model in competition was nothing short of a dream come true. After drawing the pole in the Total Seal quick six re-draw, the young Phoenix driver all 25-laps to park his Ride Now Power Sports, Hollywood's Body & Paint, Sunoco Race Fuels, Lone Star Racing, Metal by Woods, Manka Motorsports, Rocket Chassis in Victory Lane.
While drawing the pole and leading every lap might sound easy, it was anything but for Thornton, Jr. The 20RT made an early withdraw from the luck bank when Jeep Berry got sideways behind the front row on the opening green, collecting 14 other cars and leaving a pile of carnage just past the flagstand. Seven drivers where ultimately eliminated while Lonnie Parker, Jr., who experience an airborne flat spin, returned several laps down.
Having to fight off repeated challenges from Cory Hemphill during the first half of the event, then teammate Anthony Madrid during the second, the 20RT was in complete control. Working all over the racy 3/8th mile surface Thornton, Jr. used his wealth of modified experience at Canyon to keep up with the ever changing conditions, planting his machine in the fast lane.
Hemphill, another Total Seal by SWDRA rookie, was engaged in his own fight with Madrid for second. Madrid would routinely pull alongside using the low line coming off of turn four, only to have the challenge repealed by the high running newcomer. Hemphill's momentum would separate him from Madrid as he tracked Thornton, Jr. for the lead.
Pulling even on several occasions with the race leader, Hemphill's biggest obstacle wasn't getting past the orange streak in the lead; it was the outbreak of yellow flags. Each time the F5 was in position to strike that effort was thwarted by an onslaught of caution periods. Unfortunately before he could make a winning move, trouble set-in on lap 16 causing Hemphill to retire from the race.
The biggest mover on the night was Brad Whitfield. In his debut in the Parker Concrete, Clark's Septic Service, GRT #48 driver was collected in the opening lap wreckage from his 14th starting spot. After a quick trip to the pit area, Whitfield returned to restart eighth, battle with Bruce Duckett and John Cornell during the mid-point of the race, and bring home a solid third place finish.
Over the final ten trips, Thornton, Jr. was never seriously challenge as he eased away to his first career Total Seal SWDRA career win. With a rough and tumble season opener now in the books, the teams have more than a month to regroup and reassess before returning to Canyon April 24th for round two.
Notes:
Ricky Thornton, Jr. not only picked up the standard $1,000 winners prize on the line for each Total Seal SWDRA main event, but he also picked up an additional $550 in bonus cash! Total Seal added $500 to the main event purse and Sponsor-net.com award the 20RT team $50 for best appearing car.
One notable absence from the 19 car field was last years third place points runner Brad Williams. While Williams is planning to run the entire schedule, an off-season filled with schedule changes finally landed the season opener on a previously schedule vacation.
Joey Moriarty debuted a new Victory Circle Chassis at the season opener sporting a fresh new red, gold and black color scheme. The only problem with the great looking wrap, the company who designed it spelled his name wrong.
After returning to the track after his airborne flat spin during the opening lap 15 car crash, Lonnie Parker, Jr. had the fastest car on the track despite the damage. While in previous seasons where Parker, Jr. won the opener and lead the points from start to finish, he has to climb out of an eighth place hole in 2010. The good news for the #8 team, there are 12 more opportunities to do just that.
The series made one change to the format for the 2010 season. Instead of having the top three finisher from each heat race re-draw for main event starting position, now only the top two will re-draw.
After a two-year absence from SWDRA competition, Karl Tipton returned to action behind the wheel of his own #22. The most interesting aspect of Tipton's return, his use of the GM CT525 Crate engine which was the source of so much controversy this past week. Although he didn't receive the 200lb weight break and after being caught up in the opening lap wreck, he was able to return sans nose piece and salvage a 10th place finish.
The five division program at Canyon Speedway Park didn't end until well after midnight in front of a much smaller crowd then when the night began. The upside for the hearty who endured the cold desert wind? Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving times allowing the spectators to receive their full compliment of sleep well into Sunday morning.
SWDRA Late Models
Canyon Speedway Park
March 13, 2010
A-Main
1 20 Ricky Thornton Phoenix, AZ $1,500
2 5m Anthony Madrid Phoenix, AZ
3 48 Brad Whitfield Casa Grande, AZ
4 28 John Cornell Waddel, Ariz.
5 6 Keith McKinney Buckeye, AZ
6 65 Andy Rudy Prescott Valley, AZ
7 37N John Romero Tucson, AZ
8 8 Lonnie Parker Jr El Mirage, AZ
9 F5 Cory Hemphill Phoenix, AZ
10 22 Karl Tipton Mesa, AZ
11 22B Bruce Duckett Mesa, AZ
12 94 James Chavez Tucson, AZ
13 75B Jeep Berry Grand Junction, CO
14 24 Mike Tahtinen Casa Grande, AZ
15 51 Joey Moriarty Phoenix, AZ
16 94 Randy Anderson Phoenix, AZ
17 2 Art Lacy Casa Grande, AZ
18 5 Keith Noyes Phoenix, AZ
19 3T Jimmy Jelvig Tucson, AZ
Main Event Finish:
Ricky Thornton, Jr., Anthony Madrid, Brad Whitfield, John Cornell, Keith McKinney, Andy Rudy, John Romero, Lonnie Parker, Jr. (-2), Cory Hemphill DNF, Karl Tipton DNF, Bruce Duckett DNF, James Chavez, Jr.,* Jeep Berry*, Mike Tathinan*, Joey Moriarty*, Randy Anderson*, Art Lacy*, Wayne Noyes*, Jimmy Jelvik*
*= Eliminated on opening lap
Heat #1
1 75B Jeep Berry Grand Junction, CO
2 24 Mike Tahtinen Casa Grande, AZ
3 94 James Chavez Tucson, AZ
4 94 Randy Anderson Phoenix, AZ
5 28 John Cornell Waddel, Ariz.
6 65 Andy Rudy Prescott Valley, AZ
Heat #2
1 5m Anthony Madrid Phoenix, AZ
2 20 Ricky Thornton Phoenix, AZ
3 22B Bruce Duckett Mesa, AZ
4 2 Art Lacy Casa Grande, AZ
5 48 Brad Whitfield Casa Grande, AZ
6 37N John Romero Tucson, AZ
Heat #3
1 51 Joey Moriarty Phoenix, AZ
2 F5 Cory Hemphill Phoenix, AZ
3 8 Lonnie Parker Jr El Mirage, AZ
4 5 Keith Noyes Phoenix, AZ
5 3T Jimmy Jelvig Tucson, AZ
6 6 Keith McKinney Buckeye, AZ
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