Albuquerque, NM (5/5/21) – The Lucas Oil POWRi NMMRA Sprint Car Series returned to Sandia Speedway for ‘Blazing Battle’ on Saturday night. Saturday also marked the first official night race of the season and the 3/8ths mile clay oval shined bright under the lights with 16 of New Mexico’s best non-wing drivers ready to battle.
After a random pill draw, drivers were then split between three eight-lap heat races that would take the top three to the re-draw. Heat 1 saw Rio Rancho, New Mexico’s Michael Fanelli get the jump on Spencer Hill and lead all eight laps in route to victory with JR Bonesteel and Don Grable getting around Hill to round out the top four. Impressive rookie contender, Caleb Stelzig, would capture yet another heat race win in heat 2 over Josh Grady and Randy Smith. Travis Oldfield was on top of the podium in heat 3 as he pulled away from Dillon Tanner and Robert Marfia to win his second heat race of the season as well.
With heat races completed and the top three locked in to a redraw, it was time to hold a special ceremony on the front stretch that has been a part of the Lucas Oil POWRi New Mexico Motor Racing Association for decades. After a remarkable opening three races, Albuquerque’s Caleb Stelzig has shown that he is ready to battle with the best in non-wing sprint cars and was able to remove his rookie flag from the rear cage of his Stelzig Motorsports No. 21. Accompanied by President, JR Bonesteel, and Vice-President, David Burns, it was a well-deserved tip of the cap to the young 15-year-old.
Set by another random pill draw for the top nine, Oldfield and Smith would bring the field to life for 25 circuits around Albuquerque’s only dirt track. The holeshot would go to Travis Oldfield, as he worked to pull away from Tanner and Stelzig early. It wouldn’t last long though as Stelzig would thread the needle in turn three to take the lead away on lap three. Just one lap later, a red flag waved for a big crash in turn four for Rio Rancho’s James Hatch who capsized his No. 52NM machine in a big way. Thankfully, Hatch was okay, but the chassis would be a total loss for the Hal Burns Racing entry. When action resumed, it was once again the No. 11w of Oldfield out front after Stelzig would get too tight in the first corner. Stelzig wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, as he would exchange the lead back and forth with Oldfield for multiple rounds as Stelzig ran the cushion and Oldfield was rolling the bottom. With the leaders in a heated battle, that allowed for Farmington’s Josh Grady to get into the mix.
Oldfield peddled for all he had but it would once again be Grady taking the lead as the 11w got tight in turn three while navigating lap traffic. Grady would pull away to win his second race of the 2021 season while also being awarded the hard charger advancing seven positions during the feature. Meanwhile, Oldfield was able to barely edge out Stelzig at the line for 2nd with Don Grable and Caleb Saiz rounding out the top five.
The Lucas Oil POWRi NMMRA Sprint Cars will have a short turnaround this week as they will head south to Vado Speedway Park on May 8th for Mother’s Day Weekend racing.
Results:
# Name Hometown +/-
- 12J Josh Grady Farmington, NM +7
- 11w Travis Oldfield Albuquerque, NM -1
- 21 Caleb Stelzig Albuquerque, NM +1
- 45x Don Grable El Paso, TX +3
- 1HA Caleb Saiz Albuquerque, NM +7
- 2 Michael Fanelli Rio Rancho, NM -1
- 24 Robert Marfia Rio Rancho, NM +2
- 92 Dillon Tanner Rio Rancho, NM -5
- 0 JR Bonesteel Albuquerque, NM -3
- 7D7 Spencer Hill Albuquerque, NM -
- 26 Randy Smith Peralta, NM -9
- 41 Devon Amos Rio Rancho, NM +1
- 58 Clint Miller Los Alamos, NM -2
- 23 Craig Stringfellow Albuquerque, NM +2
DNF 50x Jerry Higginbotham Rio Rancho, NM -
DNF 52NM James Hatch Rio Rancho, NM -2
Heat 1 (Results): 1-Fanelli.M 2-Bonesteel.J 3-Grable.D 4-Hill.S 5-Amos.D 6-Stringfellow.C
Heat 2 (Results): 1-Stelzig.C 2-Grady.J 3-Smith.R 4-Miller.C 5-Hatch.J
Heat 3 (Results): 1-Oldfield.T 2-Tanner.D 3-Marfia.R 4-Saiz.C 5-Higginbotham.J
Article by Spencer Hill
- administrator on May 05, 2021
- Article Date: 5/5/2021