Independence Night Delivers Fireworks, Drama, and Five Feature Winners at Vado Speedway Park
VADO, N.M. — America’s 250th birthday had everything a race fan could ask for Saturday night at Vado Speedway Park.
There were flags in the air, fireworks in the sky, families in the grandstands, and race cars on the clay. Independence Night brought a full house feeling to the Diamond in the Desert, with five divisions on the card, a White Sands Federal Credit Union POWRi 305 Winged Sprint Car top-eight redraw at intermission, and a banner fireworks show celebrating 250 years of the United States of America.
Once the fireworks faded, the trophies were on the line — and the feature races delivered.
The night’s A Feature winners were Bryce Archuleta in the S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks, Devan Smith in the Vado Speedway Super Trucks, Aydan Saunders in the White Sands Federal Credit Union POWRi 305 Winged Sprint Cars, Cale Riggs in the Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars, and Fito Gallardo in the Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B-Mods.
Archuleta Charges From Eighth to Win Pure Stock Feature
The first feature of the night belonged to the S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks, and 15-year-old Bryce Archuleta made the most of it.
Starting eighth in the 777X, Archuleta worked his way through the field with patience, throttle control, and a willingness to be the first driver to truly explore the high side. Early in the race, heat winner Robert Dominguez looked strong after taking control from the front half of the field, but Archuleta kept building momentum.
On the restart, Dominguez chose the bottom and Archuleta lined up to his outside. From there, Archuleta found the money line, planted the right rear, drove off the corner straight, and took control of the race.
Archuleta went from eighth to first to score the Pure Stock A Feature win. Dominguez finished second, and Kristen Denman rounded out the podium in third.
S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks A Feature Top Five
- Bryce Archuleta
- Robert Dominguez
- Kristen Denman
- Caleb Smith
- Joseph Lenger
Smith Steals Super Truck Feature Late
The Vado Speedway Super Trucks Series feature turned into one of the best races of the night.
Jeremy DuBois started on the front row and looked ready to keep his momentum rolling after scoring his first Vado Speedway Park win the week before. DuBois controlled much of the race and appeared to be in position to go back-to-back, but the final laps brought pressure from every direction.
With the field bunched back up late, Devan Smith began closing from deep in the field. Smith started ninth and worked his way into contention while Christy Barnett also charged from tenth into the fight.
On the final laps, Smith made his move. He slid underneath DuBois, took command, and drove away with the victory in the 6T. Barnett finished second after an eight-position charge of her own, while DuBois held on for third after a hard-fought run.
Vado Speedway Super Trucks A Feature Top Five
- Devan Smith
- Christy Barnett
- Jeremy DuBois
- Shane McNutt
- Scott Kinney
Saunders Delivers “Fireworks After the Fireworks” in 305 Sprint Cars
The White Sands Federal Credit Union POWRi 305 Winged Sprint Cars were one of the centerpieces of Independence Night, and the feature lived up to the spotlight.
During the intermission redraw, Aydan Saunders promised the crowd “fireworks after the fireworks.” He delivered.
Jaydon Barnes started from the pole and looked strong in clean air. The young driver from Goodyear, Arizona held the top spot for much of the race while Daniel Blaeser and Saunders worked behind him. Blaeser, who had shown some of the fastest pace of the night in heat race action, eventually worked into the lead as traffic and restarts changed the race.
But Saunders stayed patient.
After the late restart, Saunders timed his move perfectly. He got the car rotated, stayed smooth on throttle, drove underneath Blaeser, and took control in the closing laps. Saunders went on to win the 20-lap feature, with Blaeser second and Barnes third.
The race also featured a strong recovery from Lorne Wofford, who came from 18th to 10th and earned hard charger honors.
White Sands Federal Credit Union POWRi 305 Winged A Feature Top Five
- Aydan Saunders
- Daniel Blaeser
- Jaydon Barnes
- Vance Wofford
- Jett Carney
Riggs Credited With Stock Car Victory After Wild Finish
The Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars produced one of the wildest finishes of Independence Night.
The feature saw aggressive racing throughout the field, with Jonathan Burton, Rob Moseley, Francisco Knight, and Cale Riggs all involved in the late-race fight for the win. Burton made one of the boldest moves of the night earlier in the race, slicing through traffic with a two-for-one pass to put himself in position.
Late in the race, the battle tightened again. Knight, Burton, Moseley, and Riggs were all in the mix as the race reached its final laps. The finish brought contact, drama, and a post-race official adjustment.
When the final official results were posted, Cale Riggs was credited with the Stock Car A Feature victory. Rob Moseley finished second after starting seventh, and Sherman Barnett charged from ninth to third. Burton finished fourth, while Knight was listed as disqualified in the official results.
Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars A Feature Top Five
- Cale Riggs
- Rob Moseley
- Sherman Barnett
- Jonathan Burton
- Dawnica Minks
Fito Gallardo Goes From Ninth to First in X Mod Finale
The final feature of the night belonged to the Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B-Mods, and Fito Gallardo closed Independence Night the same way he has closed many big races at Vado Speedway Park — in victory lane.
Gallardo started ninth and had to work through a 20-car field in a 25-lap feature that saw multiple restarts and changing track conditions. Early in the race, Aasa Flores was strong at the front, launching well and hitting his marks. But Gallardo kept working forward, testing different lanes until he found the bottom and the restart rhythm he needed.
Once Gallardo took control, he protected the inside and forced everyone behind him to find another way around.
Behind him, Mel Romero put together one of the strongest drives of the night. Romero battled high and low with Christy Barnett in the closing laps, using the top side when many others had committed to the bottom. Romero finished second, while Barnett took third after another gritty podium run.
Josh Beyer also made a major charge in the feature, advancing from 20th to eighth.
Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B-Mods A Feature Top Five
- Fito Gallardo
- Mel Romero
- Christy Barnett
- Mike Rosales
- Deuce Teague
Heat Race Winners
The night’s heat race winners were:
S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks: Robert Dominguez
Vado Speedway Super Trucks: Jeremy DuBois, Scott Kinney
White Sands Federal Credit Union POWRi 305 Winged Sprint Cars: Jett Carney, Robert Herrera, Daniel Blaeser
Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars: Jonathan Burton
Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B-Mods: Rob Moseley, Fito Gallardo, Greg Gorham
A True America 250 Night at Vado
Independence Night was more than a race night. It was a celebration.
Opening ceremonies honored America’s 250th birthday, the national anthem set the tone, and the intermission fireworks gave fans a patriotic moment before the second half of the racing program took over. From young drivers making statements to veterans defending their ground, the night showed exactly why racing at Vado Speedway Park continues to build momentum.
The heat races showed who had speed.
The features showed who could use it.
And on America’s 250th birthday, Vado Speedway Park once again proved that the pass starts before the pass, the cushion helps until it collects, and dirt track racing is still one of the best ways to spend a Saturday night in the Borderland.
Up Next: Mesilla Valley Transportation Fireworks Night
Race fans are encouraged to come back next Saturday for Mesilla Valley Transportation Fireworks Night, the dedicated fireworks spectacular of the season at Vado Speedway Park.
Independence Night featured a banner America 250 fireworks celebration, but next week is the big standalone MVT Fireworks Night show. Fans are encouraged to get tickets early, arrive early, and be ready for another huge night at the Diamond in the Desert.
For tickets, schedules, and event information, visit VadoSpeedwayPark.com.
