4:20PM Armin Schwartz, who was physically in the lead the entire race came into the infield to finish his last lap with front wheel issues. He lost the steering arm and in turn lost the upper control arm, Schwartz was determined to finish the race no matter what! Schwartz continued around the infield until he couldn't control the steering any more, photographers and videographers ran out of his way as he continued to do donuts in the infield trying to make the last turn and cross the finishline. Armin got back on the course and still couldn't control it, he swerved into the infield and slammed into SCORE's rescue ambulance. He kept going and somehow managed to make it across the finishline!
Only a few minutes after he took the checkered flag Danny Ebberts, who was in the lead on the start of the last lap, came off the Laughlin Leap IN REVERSE! Ebberts lost all gears in the transmission and had to finish the entire infield in REVERSE! Ebberts commented after taking the checkered flag that after driving in reverse for that long he started getting a little disoriented. He is confident that he still finished in the top 5, we should receive the final results in a few minutes.
Harley Letner was waiting the final word from SCORE, wondering whether he was in the top three. SCORE's announcer, Charlie, just announced that Letner took the win by 51 SECONDS!!! Letner was ecstatic to hear the news and couldn't wait to get back to the pits to tell his teammate Kory Halopoff.
Class 1 Finishing Order:
Harley Letner
Pat Dean
Armin Schwartz
Randy Wilson
Dale Ebberts
Enrique Bujanda
Ronny Wilson
Julio Herrera
Byron Ashley
Richard Boyle
Rick Romans
Josh Rigsby
Brian Parkhouse
Dale Lenk
Brenden Gaughan
John Herder
James Scott
Kory Halopoff
John Harrah
3:57PM Ebberts has a 45 second lead on the entire field! Harley Letner is closing in on Ebberts, only 15 seconds behind. It's Ebberts, Letner & Schwartz in the top three.
Parkhouse just made his way through the start/finish without a scratch on his car. We didn't witness the rollover but from our view here at the start/finish it didn't even look like the car hit the ground.
Armin Schwartz is having left front wheel issues and he's going to try to finish on three wheels.
3:47PM Dale Ebberts seems to be the new leader on corrected time. Harley Letner is trying everything he can to catch Ebberts.
The entire field is slowing as the course gets more chewed up, the leaders are running 8 minute laps instead of the 7 minutes as they did yesterday.
Brian Parkhouse is back on 4 wheels and on the course.
3:37 PM Parkhouse, Ebberts and Harley Letner are all fighting for the lead after corrected time. SCORE officials have just decided to pull Ebberts to the side to check his roof. SCORE Tech Director Bill Savage is standing at the start/finish line to make the check.
Savage waved him through, which is a good thing since only the right corner was loose.
Brendan Gaughan had issues at the start/finish stopping right in front of Harley Letner. Letner had to go around him and Gaughan catches on fire. Everyone is fine but Gaughan will be towed back to the pits. They have all night to get that car back together, depending on the damage they should be able to do it.
Brian Parkhouse who was leading on corrected time has rolled at RM 2.
3:22 PM Armin Schwartz is still your race leader as he comes in to finish his third lap. John Herder is out here in his single seat Jimco Dominator, he pulled into the hot pits.
Randy Wilson, 45 seconds behind Schwartz seems to be having a flawless day so far. Brian Parkhouse is currently in third place after stopping on the last lap at the start/finish for his crew to fix his window net. Parkhouse may be leading on corrected time over Wilson.
After 3 laps: Schwartz, Wilson, Parkhouse, Danny Anderson, Dale Ebberts, Brenden Gaughan, Harley Letner, Rigsby, and Bujanda.
Harley Letner, who started 18th is running 7th and catching the leaders.
JOHN HERDER rolls his brand new Speed Technologies single seat over the burm in front of all his fans. Herder landed on all four wheels and started up the car and kept going, only lost about 10 seconds.
James Scott pulls off the race course as he has issues with his car
3:18 PM Dale Ebberts is currently in 7th place moving up in the ranks but reported smoking and will be stopped next time through the start/finish as his passenger side window net is down. Ebberts is riding alone today so he will have to have a teammate meet him at the start/finish or pull into the hot pits to get it fixed.
Randy Wilson is trying to catch Armin Schwartz who came in in the lead after two laps
3:00 PM The Class 1 Cars are off the line and Rigsby has the physical lead to start the race. Dale Ebberts entered the race about an hour ago, Laughlin wasn't on the schedule for the Ebberts brothers but they just couldn't stand not to race.
Randy Wilson comes into the infield in the lead with Armin Schwartz about 7 seconds behind.
115 in the pits. Kory Halopoff having issues hoping that his crew in the pits can take care of the issue and get him back on track.
Harley Letner staying strong already moving his way up the field. Letner is only two minutes behind the leader, Randy Wilson. Letner's teammate Halopoff is back on course and out of the pits but struggling through the infield. It looks like he is having issues keeping the car running, he pulled off the course.
After 1 lap it's: Wilson, Schwartz, John Herder, Rigsby, Parkhouse for the top five
Gus Vildolsola Takes the WIN on Corrected Time Over Robby Gordon by 13 Seconds!!
Robby Gordon didn't indeed come out victorious today, he ran hard and strong all day in the front of the pack but Vildolsola beat him on corrected time by approximately 9 seconds. Both Gordon and his fans were surprised at the defeat but Gordon still has a fighting chance to come out on top after tomorrows race. Vildolsola may have won todays battle but the race winner won't be determined until after tomorrows race.
Trophy Truck Results:
Gus Vildolsoa
Robby Gordon
Justin Lofton
Robbie Pierce
BJ Baldwin
Cameron Steele
Bobby Baldwin
Ed "Clyde" Stout
Adam Householder
Damen Jeffries
Larry Roseler
Greg Nunley
Roger Norman
Mark Post
Travis Coyne
Jesse James
Rusty Stevens
Brian Collins
Bill McBeath
1:40 PM The attrition is kicking in here in Laughlin as drivers are dropping out of the race and falling off the pace left and right
After 5 laps of racing Gordon is still leading with Collins 29 seconds behind. BJ Baldwin is moving back up to the front of the pack and now running third, 90 seconds behind Gordon.
Cameron Steele is trying hard to catch up to the leaders and get back on pace, reporters in the helocopter are reporting that Steele is hauling the mail trying to catch the leaders
Gordon is on his last lap and pulling away from Travis Coyne, now has a 57 second lead over Coyne.
Jesse James is limping into the infield, about 50%. Robbie Pierce has NO FRONT BRAKES but is still holding onto his position. McBeath limped into the infield and pulled off the course, he didn't even make it to the start/finish for a few extra points.
Roseler & Norman are following each other around.
1:38 PM Brian Collins is broken and out of the race, Roseler is limping in to the start finish.
Roger Norman and Larry Roseler both pulled into the hot pits as Pierce passes
1:25 PM Robby Gordon is holding onto the lead as BJ Baldwin falls off the pace! BJ fell from 2nd place to 6th place. Something must be wrong with BJ Baldwin as he is way behind.
Travis Coyne moves into second position with Brian Collins charging hard moves into third. Coyne is holding a steady pace while Collins and Norman battle behind him.
After 4 laps Coyne is only 35.5 seconds behind Robby Gordon. Travis Coyne must finish within 15 seconds of Gordon to take the lead. Collins is currently 1:07 behind Gordon who is in the lead.
Cameron Steele looks to be a lap down. Cameron started his second lap with a flat tire.
1:15 PM Robby Gordon and BJ Baldwin are coming in to finish their second lap still in the first and second positions.
Brian Collins tries to make a pass on Lofton and they are side by side at the start/ finish starting their 3rd lap. Collins will have to make his pass after the first jump
Cameron Steele goes for the pass on the straight away, trying to get in front of the MasterCraft TT of Robbie Pierce
1:05 PM Robby Gordon gets the holeshot at the end of the straight away!! BJ Baldwin didn't go down without a fight as they were banging fenders all the way to the first jump.
Robby Gordon is first to the infield with BJ Baldwin not too far behind. Travis Coyne has passed Lofton for third while Brian Collins and Cameron Steele fight for 5th place
Vildolsola and Roger Norman were battling from the drop of the green flag as Vildolsola cut Norman off to take the lead off the first jump. After 1 lap it's : Gordon, BJ Baldwin, Coyne, Lofton, Norman, Vildolsola, Roseler, Jesse James, Pierce, Jeffries, Stout, Bobby Baldwin, Nunly, Stevens,McBeath, Householder, Post/MacCachren
Rob MacCachren is in Riviera Racing's prerunner truck just having some fun today and trying to get some points for the 2009 season
12:55 PM Robby Gordon and BJ Baldwin are in the front row waiting for the green flag to drop. About 5 minutes until the start of the race, Robby Gordon is pretty confident that he is going to end up in the winners circle today. Gordon, who just got back from the Dakar Rally is riding solo today. Gordon and BJ both agreed that they were each others biggest competition in today's premier race.
Starting in the second row is the #20 of Justin Lofton who qualified third only seconds in front of short course racer Travis Coyne. Cameron Steel and Brian Collins are right behind.
Bryce MENZIES Charges Hard to the Front but has issues on the last lap / McBeath Victorious in Class 10!!
Bryce Menzies charged hard to take the lead in the Menzies Motorsports Class 10 and seems to have had some issues on the last lap as McBeath takes the checkered flag with nobody else in sight! McBeath finished minutes ahead of the next Class 10 and Menzies still hasn't made it to the finishline!!
McBeath stayed consistent and strong throughout the entire race and it payed off in the end. Menzies may have pushed a little too hard in the end and unfortunately didn't finish today's race. Although he may have a DNF for the day Bryce definately made a name for himself out here today for his first ever desert race.
11:55 AM
502 - Shaun Dunbar rolls in the infield
Menzies has issues on last lap as McBeath comes into the infield first with no other Class 10 cars in sight!! Bryce Menzies charged hard to take the lead in the Menzies Motorsports Class 10 and seems to have had some issues on the last lap as McBeath takes the checkered flag with nobody else in sight! McBeath finished minutes ahead of the next Class 10 and Menzies still hasn't made it to the finishline!!
11:35 AM
Bryce Menzies moves nto the second position physically and charges hard to the front. Menzies is pushing hard in the Class 10 car of Larry Job for his first ever desert race. Job mentioned to DIRTnewz yesterday that he and Rob MacCachren are teaching Bryce everything they know. Job was confident that Menzies would have a strong season
Michelle Bruckman, who was nervous about jumping into the SCORE Lite class, is holding her own and currently running in 5th place physically. Brent Parkhouse is trying everything to get around her but he has yet to make his move and came in to finish his 6th lap only 10 seconds behind her
11:30 AM
Adam Wik is back in the race
1005 of Brian Freemal, who was physically in the lead just rolled at RM 5 and is now off the track
11:17 AM –Bryce Menzies, in the #1007 Menzies Motorsports Class 10 is charging hard to the front of the pack. Menzies started 6th and is now fighting for the second spot. It looks like he is currently leading the race after corrected time.
1008 - Sergio Salgado is out of the race at RM 4 with a broken spindle
Michelle Bruckman gases it in the infield to pass Brent Parkhouse
2008 Class 5 Champion Kevin Carr holds onto the lead
1003 & 1010 pull into the hot pits for quick stops and are both back in the race
The 1010 of Adam Wik has pulled off the course and is out of his car
SCORE Lites, Class 10 and Class 5 are off the line
11:00 AM –The #1001 of Jesus Gonzalez pulled off the course shortly after starting the race due to mechanical problems. After approximately 2 minutes they jumped back on course and are now back in the race limping.
Michelle Bruckman has changed classes this weekend and will be behind the wheel of the #1206. Michelle has only driven the car about 50 miles and was both nervous and confident as she took the green flag. Michelle is well known for her success in Class 5 Unlimited and told DIRTnewz that she is excited for her change in class.
Menzies Motorsports has taken a change of direction this weekend as Bryce Menzies and Larry Job will be racing Job's Class 10 car. This will be the first desert race for Menzies as he has been making a name for himself in the CORR short course series. Menzies told us this morning that he was excited to race in the desert and will be racing with Job for the entire 2009 desert racing season.
#1203 of Jake Jones blew right through the start/finish at the end of his first lap. He will be lucky if SCORE doesn't disqualify him for that.
Class 10 driver Mike Lawrence holds the physical lead with Robert McBeath close behind
Jake Jones and Rick St John are battling for the clean air
Greg Adler Leads Second Race in his Class 8 4 Wheel Parts Race Truck
STEVEN Eugenio Victorious in Adam Pfankuch's Championship 1-2/1600 Car
9:00 AM –The second race of the day is underway, the largest group of racers for the entire day as this group includes, Class 8, ProTruck, Class 6, Class 7, Class 7SX, Stock Full, Stock Mini, Class 3, and Sportsman Truck.
Adler leads as the 801 of Clyde Stacy rolls in the last turn of lap 1
1547 - Cameron Steele in the hot pits and back on course. Steele is stopping in the pits giving rides to his sponsors/crew
1507 reported out of the race
Cameron Steele just flew in from the Winter XGames in Aspen, Colorado and entered his Trophy Truck in the sportsman class to get some practice in. Steele had Justin Smith prerun and qualify in his truck yesterday, so this will be his first time in the truck this weekend. Cameron was planning on having Rick Geiser race the truck on Sunday but Rick injured his back during the Laughlin Leap on Thursday night. Steele will have to have a backup driver in the truck on Sunday as he has to fly back to Aspen tonight for the XGames, we will have to wait and see who he decides to put in the truck.
Pfankuch/Eugenio Takes the Lead on Corrected Time for his first WIN of the 2009 Season
8:00 AM –Steven Eugenio in Pfancuch's #1600 championship winning car looks to have won over Aaron Hawley by 3 seconds! Eugenio commented after the race, "The race was good except for the fact that we had a few issues with the linkage and I couldn't get it to go into first gear. The car worked great, the Yokohama's were hooking up and the Fox Shox were dealing with it."
Group 1 Results:
Class 1-2/1600
Adam Pfankuch/Steven Eugenio 51:31
Brian Burgess/ Aaron Hawley 51:33
Cody Robinson 52:16
David Caspino 52:29
Justin Davis 52:44
Mario Gastelum 53:12
Brian Wilson 53:24
Eric Duran 54:26
Arturo Velazco 55:07
Justin Smith 55:17
Hiram Duran 55:28
Rick Boyer 56:42
Mike Simpson 56:43
Justin"Bean" Smith 57:03
Sparky Wilbur 59:09
Samuel Araiza 1:00:19
Brad Wilson 1:08:05
Eric Hefley DNF
Class 5/1600
Alonso Angulo
Brent Shermak
Sportsman Buggy
Louie Serna
Rory Ward
Peter Lang - DNF
7:50 AM –1603 - Aaron Hawley in Brian Burgess's car, finishes first with Davis 1:13 behind. Hawley commented, "It was rough out there, I made a few mistakes in the end but I think Brian Burgess can bring it home for us tomorrow.
Davis,"It was a good race I had a lot of fun. I'd like to thank my mom and dad...we have one more day so we will have to see what happens."
Adam Pfankuch finishes 2:57 behind Aaron Hawley. It looks like Pfankuch will be your winner in the 1-2/1600 Class.
7:30 AM –Justin Smith seems to be having issues as he pulled into the hot pits on his 4th lap, but the Yokahama Desert Assassin crew worked fast to get him back on the track. Aaron Hawley is still in the lead and pulling farther away from Justin Davis who is still physically in second. Pfankutch is consistently running in 5th place but may have Hawley and Davis on corrected time.
*UPDATE* DIRTnewz reporters just caught up with Justin Smith, it looks like he lost a hub bearing which is what took out his rear brakes. While checking out the rest of the car he also found out that he only had 3/4 of the throttle which was keeping him down. He is ready and looking forward to tomorrow's race.
In the 5/1600 class Alonso Angulo just has to finish the race in order to take the win for today's race. Alonso and Shermak were the only two to make it to the start in the 5/1600 class this morning.
#1645 reported out of the race
Aaron Hawley Maintains Lead with Justin Davis Close Behind/ Pfankutch Moving up in the Ranks
7:00 AM – Aaron Hawley, driving Brian Burgess's #1603, maintains the lead after two laps. Hawley, out of Las Vegas, Nevada is a veteran short course racer and is in his element this morning. Young gun Justin Davis is holding his own right behind Hawley in the #1602 Green Army car. Davis jumped behind the wheel last year learning all he could from DFT's Daniel Folts and Rino Navera.
1605 - Brad Wilson reported in the pits and out of the race
Peter Lang off the course at RM .5 looks to be out of the race
Brent Shermak pulled off the course in the infield, looks to be a clutch that will take him out of the race
2008 1-2/1600 Champion Adam Pfankuch is moving up in the ranks. Adam started at the back of the pack and has moved into the 5th position, it looks like Adam is in the lead on corrected time
Justin Smith - 1649, winner of the 2008 Laughlin Leap looks to only have front brakes. He blew the start/finish coming in to finish his first lap
Samual Araiza #1607 rolls but SCORE gets him back on his wheels and he is back racing
