Saguaro Speedway
Drake wins first round of Tucson's Trimmer Classic
TUCSON, Ariz. (Oct. 15) — Making a rare series start, California visitor Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo led all 25 laps Friday at USA Raceway to win the opening night Late Model feature at the Carl Trimmer Classic. The outside front-row starter earned $1,000 for his first victory on the Total Seal Southwest Dirt Racing Association in more than eight years. | Slideshow
Tucson native Jeremy Payne, who now races out of Springfield, Mo., came from his sixth starting spot to finish second in a car owned by Jeff Sires of Silver City, N.M. Polesitter Joey Moriarty of Phoenix, Ariz., was third while series points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler Ariz., and Karl Tipton of Gilbert, Ariz., rounded out the top five.
Drake's only previous SWDRA victory came Oct. 26, 2002, at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, Ariz.
The Carl Trimmer Classic continues on Saturday with another full program highlighted by SWDRA Late Models, which made their returned to the Tucson track for the first time since November '09.
Carl Trimmer Classic: (1) Steve Drake, (2) Jeremy Payne, (3) Joey Moriarty, (4) Ricky Thornton Jr., (5) Karl Tipton, (6) Jason Noll, (7) Lonnie Parker Jr., (8) Clay Daly, (9) Garrett Alberson, (10) Tony Toste, (11) Keith Noyes, (12) Brad Williams, (13) James Chavez Jr., (14) John Romero, (15) Jeff Manka, (16) Anthony Madrid, (17) John Cornell, (18) Mark Harrison. Heat race winners (among 30 cars): R. Thornton, Tipton, Noyes, Parker. Consolation winner: Toste.
