Login |
forgot?
Watch LIVE at | Events | FAQ | Archives
Sponsor 340
Sponsor 717

DirtonDirt.com

All Late Models. All the Time.

Your soruce for dirt late model news, photos and video

  • Join us on Twitter Join us on Facebook
Sponsor 525

Daily Dirt 01/30/2025 15:28:25

Sponsor 743
January 25
Central Arizona Raceway,
Casa Grande, AZ
Sanction: Unsanctioned Limiteds (Ernie Mincy Early Thaw) - $3,000
Information provided by: Track reports (last updated January 27, 6:42 pm)
Late caution lifts Johnson to Early Thaw victory
Ernie Mincy Early Thaw
  1. Zach Johnson
  2. Clay Stuckey
  3. Ricky Weiss
  4. Dylan Thornton
  5. Amelia Eisenschenk
  6. Cole Schill
  7. Chad Olsen
  8. Don Shaw
  9. Rob Mayea
  10. Tyler Peterson
  11. Josh Leonard
  12. Thomas Hunziker
  13. Laela Eisenschenk
  14. Terry Carter
  15. Lyndon Bolt
  16. Larry Fitzsimmons
  17. Jason Rogers
  18. Steve Stultz
  19. Jaden Christ
  20. Rusty Kollman
  21. Blaine Doppler
  22. Maria Hankins
  23. Karl Tipton
  24. Matt Gilbertson
presented by
Mike Spieker/speedway-shots.com
Winner Zach Johnson (73) and Clay Stuckey (15) battle for the lead.
What won the race: Regaining control from Ricky Weiss after the race's first caution flew on lap 19, division returnee Zach Johnson of Lowry, Minn., held off a late charge from Clay Stuckey to win Saturday's $3,000 Ernie Mincy Early Thaw third round at Central Arizona Raceway. Johnson captured his first career miniseries triumph and his first Late Model victory since 2017.
Quotable: “I know I got lucky there with Ricky (Weiss) getting around me in lapped traffic man, he outsmarted me there to be honest,” Johnson said. “I thought I could move around some and he bombed it in there when those guys got two-wide in front of me and I made the mistake of going up too high and slipped out of the rubber. This car was fast, I got lucky, but this thing was honkin’ too.”
Key notes: Zach Johnson competed in last year's Early Thaw aboard Don Shaw's backup car, registering a best result of sixth twice; it was his first Late Model action since the end of 2017 as he had been piloting Corey Svor's modified in recent seasons. ... Johnson won in a former Skyline Motorsports Longhorn once driven by Mike Marlar; he purchased the car on his way down to Arizona. ... Ricky Weiss appeared to take the lead on lap 19 as Johnson was mired in heavy lapped traffic, only for his move to be negated by the race's first caution after Matt Gilbertson slowed from 13th with a flat right-rear; Gilbertson did not continue and was credited with 24th. ... Clay Stuckey took second from Weiss on the final lap-19 restart and trailed Johnson by as much as 2.176 seconds on lap 23 before taking the checkers 0.713 of a second back. Stuckey won Friday's $2,500 second round. ... Weiss settled for third. ... Dylan Thornton, winner of Thursday's $2,000 opener, started and finished fourth. ... Don Shaw, fresh off Friday's runner-up result, improved four spots and placed eighth. ... The second yellow flag came on the initial lap-19 restart attempt after Karl Tipton spun from fifth, nearly collecting Terry Carter, Steve Stultz, Jason Rogers and Larry Fitzsimmons, who spun to avoid major contact. All drivers continued, but Tipton, sporting a Carl Trimmer tribute scheme, retired a few laps later. ... The 30-lapper lasted 16 minutes, with 18 starters completing the distance. ... Austin Kuehl scratched. ... Clay Stuckey announced postrace he would return home to Shreveport, La., after news that his older brother and fellow racer Jarret Stuckey suffered a heart attack related to an autoimmune disorder. The 26-year-old was transported to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, for treatment.
On the move: Amelia Eisenschenk of Fargo, N.D., started ninth and finished fifth.
Winner's sponsors: Johnson's Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Vic Hill Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Glenwood State Bank, Shocker Hitch Air Ride Towing Hitches, Shaw Trucking, May Wes Original Poly People, BoltsandNuts.com, PhiBer Shop and Speedwerx Performance Exhaust.
Points chase: After Saturday: 1. Clay Stuckey (319); 2. Zach Johnson (292); T3. Cole Schill (286); T3. Don Shaw (286); 5. Josh Leonard (285).
Current weather: Clear, 52°F
Car count: 25
Polesitter: Zach Johnson
Heat race winners: Chad Olsen, Zach Johnson, Clay Stuckey
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.

Feature lineup

Row 1: Johnson, Stuckey
Row 2: Weiss, Thornton
Row 3: Rogers, Olsen
Row 4: Tipton, Schill
Row 5: A. Eisenschenk, Mayea
Row 6: Peterson, Shaw
Row 7: Christ, Gilbertson
Row 8: Leonard, Bolt
Row 9: Stultz, L. Eisenschenk
Row 10: Kollman, Hunziker
Row 11: Fitzsimmons, Carter
Row 12: Kuehl, Doppler
Row 13: Hankins

advertisement
Sponsor 1269
 
Sponsor 1249
 
Sponsor 728
©2006-Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Cookie Preferences / Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information