LAS VEGAS — The Chris Clyne Show kept rolling on at the Chris Trickle Classic at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
The NASCAR Super Late Models points leader added to his advantage by sweeping a pair of 35-lap features on the special evening, which paid tribute to late Bullring racer Chris Trickle who passed away in 1998. In both races, Clyne passed six-time track champion Scott Gafforini for the lead midway through the features and held on for the checkered flags.
Clyne has now won nine of the last 11 NASCAR Super Late Models races at the 3/8-mile paved oval and pushed his career win total to 20 thanks to the bookend victories.
“I’d like to thank my guys for working so hard on the car, and it was really good tonight,” said Clyne. “I’ve run some Southwest Tour races the last few years, and that’s really taught me to pace myself and when to attack. I’m really looking forward to running in the SRL race here in November and representing Las Vegas.
“Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there, and enjoy your day tomorrow. Thank you to everyone for coming out and supporting short track racing.”
Sam Jacks kept his NASCAR Super Stocks winning streak going, but had to work for it after trading the lead with Camden Larsen and being sent to the back of the field after a late-race clash with Larsen. Jacks rebounded and took the checkered flag .790 of a second ahead of Ethan DeGuevara for his eighth consecutive victory and 23rd of his Bullring career.
“The car has been amazing, and we can’t do anything better with it,” said Jacks, who has won 10 of the last 11 races in that division. “He ran over the back of me, but I love (Camden Larsen) to death, and he’s the best friend I could ever have. I guess that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Peyton Saxton showed his toughness by overcoming a left foot injury suffered on Friday night to win the 35-lap NASCAR 602 Modifieds race by 1.200 seconds ahead of points leader Doug Hamm. Saxton was hobbled after a trip to the emergency room a night earlier, but persevered to claim his 22nd career Bullring victory.
“In practice, a car fell on my foot, and I went to the hospital about 11 o’clock last night to get it X-rayed,” said Saxton, a four-time track champion in three divisions. “It’s not broken or fractured, but it’s not good. All day today, we had to battle with that adversity, but I didn’t let that stop us.
“Happy Father’s Day dad. I didn’t get my dad anything for Father’s Day except a card, so it’s a good thing I got this win.”
Jacob Quartaro joined his father, Dave, as a Bullring winner after taking the 25-lap NASCAR Bombers race by .345 of a second ahead of Adam Simon. Points leader Vinny Raucci Jr. and second place Kyle Jacks were running 1-2, but both had something break on their cars with eight laps left.
“It was a long race with caution after caution, so this feels good,” Quartaro said. “I saw Vinny break and then saw Kyle pull off the track, so I knew I had a third-place good car and was able to put it in the Winner’s Circle tonight. The car started loosening up toward the end of the race, but we got it parked in victory lane.”
Jake Bollman survived a restart with two laps left in the USLCI Legends race to hold off 16-time Bullring winner Jonathan Mawhinney, who was edged at the line for second place by points leader Jaron Giannini on an action-packed final lap. Bollman earned his first Saturday night Bullring triumph by .275 seconds over Giannini, with Mawhinney taking third.
“It’s pretty cool to win on Saturday,” Bollman said. “I was just going to protect the bottom (on the restart), and I was like, ‘I have it, and I don’t care if he pushes me or not.’ We did pretty good.”
Jaden Walbridge, the Jr. Late Models points leader, kept his strong season going with win No. 3 of 2019. The Portland, Ore., driver controlled the 30-lap feature from the start and crossed the line 1.945 seconds ahead of R.J. Smotherman.
“What a great group of guys,” Walbridge said of his crew. “We’ve been on a roll lately, and I hope (the wins) keep coming. It’s always fun racing with R.J. We’re two great competitors, and I was just hoping for the best.
“With Father’s Day coming up, this one’s for my grandpa.”
In USLCI Bandolero action, Jeffrey Erickson earned his first career Bullring win by taking the Bandits race by 2.160 seconds ahead of Ashton Leonard, while Outlaws points leader Chloe Lynch picked up her fourth win of the season by 1.931 seconds over Landon Gresser. Cindy Clark used lapped traffic to take the lead with two laps remaining in the Skid Plate Cars race, picking up a win in the division in which she claimed a track title a year ago.