Full Moon Fever: Vado Speedway Park Race Recap – April 12, 2025

Sunday, April 13, 2025 – Last night, under the glow of a full moon, Vado Speedway Park in Vado, NM, delivered a night of dirt track racing that fans won’t soon forget. The electric atmosphere, paired with a slick clay track, set the stage for five classes of racing—Pure Stocks, Late Models, Legends, Stock Cars, and Modifieds—to battle it out in a whirlwind of speed, drama, and heartbreak. From emotional victories to stunning comebacks, here’s your recap of the action-packed evening optimized to ignite fan excitement and boost engagement for future events like the upcoming Easter Extravaganza. Pure Stocks: A Heartbreaker and a Hero The S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks kicked off the feature mains with a 15-lap thriller that had the crowd on its feet. Starting on the pole, young gun Caleb Smith in the 02C led early, fending off challenges from Dawnica Minks and Ashlee Buck . Buck, starting seventh, clawed her way to the front with a masterful display of aggression and skill, overtaking Smith in a side-by-side duel with just four laps to go. “It was perfect,” Buck said of the track in Victory Lane. “You could lay it on the wood and go anywhere.” But the celebration was short-lived. In a gut-wrenching twist, Buck was disqualified post-race, handing the win to Caleb Smith . The Las Cruces native held his composure through restarts and chaos to secure his first victory of 2025. Dawnica Minks finished second, while Conner Bell rounded out the podium in third. The Minks family rivalry added spice, with Sharrii Minks battling her daughter Dawnica before finishing fifth. Buck’s DQ leaves her hungry for redemption—mark your calendars, race fans! Late Models: Kyle Jr.’s Moonlit Masterclass The Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models brought 15 laps of high-octane drama, starting with a bang. Pole-sitter Walton Kyle Jr. faced immediate pressure as Oscar Perez wheelied over an infield tractor tire on the opening lap, triggering a yellow flag and setting the tone for a wild night. Kyle Jr. regrouped, holding off a fierce charge from the McNutt family— Eric and birthday boy Shane . Shane, racing for a Victory Lane serenade, traded paint with Arturo Ordonez but couldn’t catch Kyle Jr., who dominated with a 16.379-second lap to seal the win. “Don’t disappoint the car owners,” Kyle Jr. said, crediting his family and sponsors like American Document

Services. Eric McNutt took second, Perez recovered to third, and Shane settled for fourth. The full moon chaos was tamed by Kyle Jr.’s steady hand—pure dirt track poetry. Legends: Gutierrez’s Redemption Roars On The Hulsey Racing Legends delivered a 15-lap saga of carnage and comeback. Mike Money led early from the pole, but the night belonged to Allen Gutierrez . Starting ninth, the Albuquerque veteran sliced through the field, capitalizing on restarts and a slick track to take the lead with six laps remaining. “The slower you drove, the faster you were,” Gutierrez quipped, revealing his strategy to master a tricky water spot in turn four. Behind him, chaos reigned. RJ Garay climbed to third before a collision with Eric LaCroix sent him into a wall-riding spin, ending with gloves thrown in frustration. Kyle Burnette took a brutal hit, triggering a red flag, while Edwin Garrett and Jeremiah Duff spun out earlier. Gutierrez held firm, fending off Jerod Candelaria (second) and LaCroix (third) for his second straight win. With stars like Aiden Saunders absent, Gutierrez is staking his claim—bring on the competition! Stock Cars: Sandy’s Full Moon Charge The Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars showcased a 20-lap showdown dominated by 17-year-old Hunter Sandy . Starting 14th in the triple 7S, Sandy stormed to the front, passing roommate Devan Smith with a daring outside move after a lap-10 caution. “I love racing with Devan,” Sandy said, despite stealing the win from his teammate. The full moon madness struck hard— Sherman Barnett , 89 years young, spun twice, while Jonathan Burton triggered a late wreck, dropping from contention. Sandy’s charge from 14th to first was a masterclass in patience and power, finishing ahead of Smith (second) and Burton (third). The Pete Vargas triple 7 team celebrated a 1-2 finish, with Cale Riggs fading after contact. Sandy’s back-to-back stock car wins signal a rising star—don’t miss his next hunt for glory! Modifieds: Hulsey Holds the Line The Rancho Milagro USRA Modifieds closed the night with a 25-lap epic under the floodlights. C.J. Hulsey started on the pole and never looked back, fending off a relentless Stormy Scott and a charging Fito Gallardo . “I knew I had to hit my marks every lap,”

Hulsey said, crediting his crew for a “perfect” car. Scott, lurking in the top five, pounced on lap traffic to take second, but couldn’t reel in Hulsey. The Gallardo family battle stole the show— Fito surged from eighth to third, edging out Jake Gallardo (fourth) in a father-son duel on the final lap. Terry Tipton held steady in fifth, while cautions flew for Royal Jones , Lucas Ward , and Tom Georges . Hulsey’s clinic capped a night of full moon fever, proving he’s a force in 2025. Night of Champions: Standout Moments ● Caleb Smith turned heartbreak into triumph in Pure Stocks. ● Walton Kyle Jr. mastered the chaos in Late Models. ● Allen Gutierrez went back-to-back in Legends with veteran savvy. ● Hunter Sandy charged from 14th to 1st in Stock Cars under the full moon. ● C.J. Hulsey delivered a wire-to-wire Modifieds masterpiece. The slick track and full moon brought out the best—and wildest—in these drivers, making April 12 a night etched in Vado Speedway Park lore. Get Ready for the Easter Eggstravaganza! Missed the action? Catch the replay on RacingDirt.com and relive the full moon madness! Better yet, join us next Saturday, April 19, 2025 , for the Easter Eggstravaganza . Bring the kids for an Easter egg hunt before the 305 Wing Sprints and USRA B-Mods tear up the track. Gates open at 5:00 PM, racing starts at 7:30 PM—grab your tickets now at VadoSpeedwayPark.com and secure your spot for a night of family fun and horsepower! What was your favorite moment from April 12? Share your thoughts, tag us @VadoSpeedwayPark, and let’s keep the dirt track vibes rolling! See you under the lights!