Meet the Drivers Night #2 Recap – July 26, 2025

Race fans, what a triumphant return to glory at Vado Speedway Park! Meet the Drivers Night #2 on July 26, 2025, was a heart-pumping blend of high-speed battles, community resilience, and legendary celebration. The 3/8-mile clay oval—tacky and temperamental from recent floods—delivered slide jobs, three-wide charges, and a night capped by Sherman Barnett’s 90th birthday bash. Fans flooded the front stretch for selfies, hero cards, and climbs into cars like Justin Lasiter’s sprint machine, while the watermelon eating contest crowned 12-year-old Timbo Slice from Las Cruces as our chomping champ (despite a post-win stomachache!). With tributes to flood victims and non-perishable donations pouring in, the Las Cruces spirit shone brighter than the lights. Five classes—Johnstone Supply Super Trucks, Hulsey Racing Legends, Sunset Grill POWRi 360 Non-Winged Sprint Cars, Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models, and Rancho Milagro USRA Modifieds—unleashed chaos, fueled by our sponsors and the Vado faithful. Relive the magic on the MyRacePass app or RacingDirt.tv, and mark your calendars for Doña Ana County Night on August 2 ($5 entry for residents)!

Johnstone Supply Super Trucks: Barnett Birthday Bash Ends in Glory

The Johnstone Supply Super Trucks kicked off the features with 15 laps of family-fueled fury. Christy Barnett (#44, El Paso, TX) stormed from eighth to first, overtaking Cliff Evrage (#11, Las Cruces, NM) late for her seventh win of 2025. Billy Roy Harris (#57, Deming, NM) charged to second, while Evrage held third. Birthday boy Sherman Barnett (#82, El Paso, TX) thrilled with a fifth-place run, proving 90 is just a number. Scott Kinney (#13, Las Cruces, NM) couldn’t repeat his July 19 heroics. Johnstone Supply powered this emotional showdown!

Key Moment: Christy’s late outside pass on Evrage, channeling “queen of the clay” vibes on Sherman’s big day. Top 5:

1. Christy Barnett (#44, +7)

2. Billy Roy Harris (#57, +5)

3. Cliff Evrage (#11, 0)

4. Scott Kinney (#13, 0)

5. Sherman Barnett (#82, +1)

Hulsey Racing Legends: Jackson’s High-Speed Chess Masterclass

The Hulsey Racing Legends delivered 20 laps of generational grit. Josh Jackson (#37, Albuquerque, NM) overcame penalties and restarts to win from eighth, fending off Cale Riggs (#96, Hatch, NM) in a nail-biter. Riggs surged from 12th to second, while Eric LaCroix (#77, El Paso, TX) took third. Brandon Williams (#82, Roswell, NM) led early but spun, finishing seventh after a Heat 1 domination. The slick clay sparked chaos, with multiple cautions. Hulsey Racing forged this legendary battle!

Key Moment: Jackson’s final-lap inside dive past Riggs after a penalty-fueled comeback—pure borderland chess! Top 5:

1. Josh Jackson (#37, +7)

2. Cale Riggs (#96, +10)

3. Eric LaCroix (#77, +7)

4. Allen Gutierrez (#57, +7)

5. Jerod Candelaria (#33, +4)

Sunset Grill POWRi 360 Non-Winged Sprint Cars: Harris’ Young Blood Domination

The Sunset Grill POWRi 360 Non-Winged Sprint Cars flew through 20 laps of no-mercy madness. Dylan Harris (#4, El Paso, TX) dominated from seventh, clocking blistering laps to win wire-to-wire after an early pass. Justin Lasiter (#22, Tularosa, NM) held second, while Diego Alvarado (#99, El Paso, TX) climbed to third on double duty. Robert Herrera (#9, Las Cruces, NM) took fourth in a local showcase. The tacky clay favored high-line heroes. Sunset Grill fueled this sprint showdown!

Key Moment: Harris’ daring dive under Lasiter early, turning a mid-pack start into untouchable speed. Top 5:

1. Dylan Harris (#4, +6)

2. Justin Lasiter (#22, -1)

3. Diego Alvarado (#99, +1)

4. Robert Herrera (#9, +2)

5. Wayne Siddle (#007, 0)

Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models: Smith’s Hat-Trick Triumph

The Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models shook the earth with 15 laps of redemption runs. Devan Smith (#777, Las Cruces, NM) charged from 10th to first, capitalizing on cautions to pass Keko Perez (#3, Chihuahua, MX) late. Perez took second, while pole-sitter Luke Vargas (#777X, Las Cruces, NM) held third. Luke Solis (#99, El Paso, TX) and Oscar Perez (#51, El Paso, TX) battled for the podium. Smith’s win marked the triple-seven machine’s third straight victory with three different drivers! Anthony Sosa Roofing built this dramatic showdown!

Key Moment: Smith’s bold two-for-one pass in lap traffic, snatching the lead from Vargas in a Perez family frenzy. Top 5:

1. Devan Smith (#777, +9)

2. Keko Perez (#3, 0)

3. Luke Vargas (#777X, -2)

4. Luke Solis (#99, -1)

5. Oscar Perez (#51, +1)

Rancho Milagro USRA Modifieds: Ahumada’s Chaotic Conquest

The night’s finale, the Rancho Milagro USRA Modifieds, unleashed 25 laps of family feuds and heartbreak. Carlos Ahumada Jr. (#65X, El Paso, TX) surged from 13th to first, overtaking Robert Adams (#50, Tucson, AZ) after Adams mysteriously pulled off with two laps to go. Hunter Sandy (#12S, Albuquerque, NM) took second, while Christy Barnett (#44, El Paso, TX) climbed to third. Philip Houston (#71, Odessa, TX) and John Neal Reid (#37, Loving, NM) rounded out the top five. Cautions galore shook the grid. Rancho Milagro fueled this organic horsepower explosion!

Key Moment: Ahumada’s late two-for-one on Houston and Sandy, stealing second before Adams’ pull-off handed him the win. Top 5:

1. Carlos Ahumada Jr. (#65X, +12)

2. Hunter Sandy (#12S, +2)

3. Christy Barnett (#44, +5)

4. Philip Houston (#71, +5)

5. John Neal Reid (#37, +5)

Meet the Drivers & Watermelon Contest: Community Magic

The Meet the Drivers session was a smash, with fans diving into scavenger hunts—selfies with Sherman Barnett, climbs into Justin Lasiter’s sprint car, and dashboard memorabilia chats. Kids like Thomas (who snagged a T-shirt) explored the clay’s tacky grip. The watermelon eating contest crowned Timbo Slice as our warrior—his “stomach hurts” victory speech stole hearts! Donations for Vado flood relief poured in, proving our borderland family’s unbreakable spirit.

Sponsor Shoutouts

Huge thanks to our sponsors powering this unforgettable night:

· Johnstone Supply: Fueling Super Trucks’ family feuds.

· Hulsey Racing: Forging Legends’ generational grit.

· Sunset Grill: Sizzling up Non-Winged Sprint speed.

· Anthony Sosa Roofing: Built to last in Late Models’ drama.

· Rancho Milagro: Organic horsepower for Modifieds’ chaos.

· Additional partners: Western Blend, Chaparral Machine Works, TZ Hair Studio, TORO Rock Products, Elephant Ranch Beer Barns, Jaime’s Concessions, and Pharmtrue Pharmacy.

Final Thoughts

From Christy Barnett’s birthday gift win to Carlos Ahumada Jr.’s chaotic triumph, Meet the Drivers Night #2 was Vado Speedway Park at its best—fierce racing, heartfelt connections,

and community comeback. Sherman’s 90th sing-along and Timbo’s watermelon chomp lit up the night! Fans, your donations are rebuilding Vado—keep ’em coming at Doña Ana County Night on August 2 ($5 entry for residents). Relive the magic on MyRacePass or RacingDirt.tv, tag your selfies with #VadoSpeedway, and bring a racing rookie next week. Drive safe, race fans—let’s make August 3’s Kids’ Bike Night even bigger!