Saturday, May 2, 2026 — Under the Lights
Saturday night at Vado Speedway Park was not about guessing.
It was about execution, patience, and a racetrack that told the truth from the first green flag to the final checkered.
Pure clay. Early grease. A widening middle. Clean exits that finally rewarded discipline.
By the end of the night, every class had answered the same question:
Could you let the race come to you — or would you force it and pay?
Most importantly:
✅ All drivers walked away.
🚗 S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks — Feature (12 Laps)
Winner: Caleb Smith (#02C) — Las Cruces, NM
The Pure Stocks opened feature action with nowhere to hide and no traffic to save you.
From the drop of the green, Caleb Smith (#02C) took control early and never panicked as the race tightened behind him. With lap traffic entering late and the pressure mounting, Smith stayed disciplined, protected the middle, and threaded through traffic cleanly.
On the final lap, Robert Dominguez (#67) made a full commitment move underneath Smith down the backstretch. Side‑by‑side through three and four, it was too close to call at speed.
📺 FK Rod Ends Instant Replay confirmed it:
Caleb Smith edged Dominguez at the line.
Top 3 (Official):
- Caleb Smith (#02C)
- Robert Dominguez (#67)
- Kristen Denman (#48)
A textbook short‑field Pure Stock race — clean, intense, and decided by inches.
🏎️ Hulsey Racing Legends — Feature
Winner (Checkered‑Red): Cale Riggs (#96)
This race changed the emotional temperature of the entire facility.
Early on, the Legends delivered exactly what the class promises — tight racing, multiple lanes, and relentless pressure. After a mid‑race caution reset, Cale Riggs (#96) used clean air and patience to surgically carve forward, executing a decisive two‑for‑one move on the restart.
Then the night took a hard turn.
A violent multi‑car incident brought red flag conditions, involving Tony Martin, Mike Money, Garrett Stearns, and others. Cars tumbled. Fire suppression systems activated. Safety crews responded immediately.
✅ All drivers were confirmed okay. Tony Martin exited the car under his own power.
With the severity of the incident, officials made the correct call: The race was declared official under checkered‑red.
Top 3 (Official):
- Cale Riggs (#96)
- Angel Garcia (#6)
- Jeremiah Duff (#89)
Once again, when the race demanded answers, the measuring stick delivered.
🪽 White Sands Federal Credit Union POWRi 305 Winged Sprint Cars — Feature (25 Laps)
Winner: West Wofford (#19) — Alamogordo, NM
The sprint car feature opened with a moment nobody wanted to see — a shock failure on the #18 of Lauren Wofford, which triggered an early caution and reshuffled the field.
After the reset, West Wofford (#19) took command.
From there, the race became a study in lap‑traffic management. With the cushion built and exits slick, Wofford stayed committed to the high line, threading traffic without forcing the issue.
Behind him, Derek DeMartino (#97) and Daniel Blazer (#1E) traded the second position multiple times, each finding speed in different parts of the racetrack.
Despite late cautions and heavy traffic, Wofford never surrendered control.
Top 3 (Official):
- West Wofford (#19)
- Derek DeMartino (#97)
- Daniel Blazer (#1E)
A mature, professional sprint car win built on precision — not desperation.
🏁 Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models — Feature
Winner: Arturo Ordonez (#8X) — El Paso, TX
Eight cars. No hiding. Every mistake visible.
Luke Solis (#99) jumped out early, turning his best laps of the night and leading the opening portion. But as the middle groove came alive, Arturo Ordonez (#8X) waited — then struck.
With five laps remaining, Ordonez made the move that mattered, clearing Solis and never looking back.
Behind them, Mercedes Abercrombie (#29) showed late speed, but Ordonez had already taken control.
Top 3 (Official):
- Arturo Ordonez (#8X)
- Luke Solis (#99)
- Mercedes Abercrombie (#29)
A fair‑and‑square Late Model victory built on timing, not force.
🧱 Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA B‑Mods — Feature
Winner (Checkered‑Yellow): Fito Gallardo (#07X) — Las Cruces, NM
The final feature of the night was the ultimate test of patience.
With 24 cars, no B‑Main, and a wide racetrack, this became a race of survival and execution.
Early leader Mel Romero (#3R) controlled the opening laps, but as the field spread out, Fito Gallardo (#07X) came alive — slicing through traffic, working both lanes, and putting the car exactly where the racetrack asked.
Behind him, Nick Rivera (#86) charged from 12th to 2nd, earning Hard Charger honors (+10 positions).
A late‑race incident on the final lap brought out the yellow before the checkered could be thrown.
Officials ruled the finish checkered‑yellow.
Top 3 (Official):
- Fito Gallardo (#07X)
- Nick Rivera (#86) (Hard Charger)
- Mike Rosales (#12)
A masterclass in B‑Mod racecraft.
🌵 The Night in Review
May 2, 2026 was not about chaos.
It was about drivers who waited, drivers who adapted, and a racetrack that demanded respect.
✔️ Photo finishes
✔️ Heavy lap traffic
✔️ Big momentum swings
✔️ A serious incident — with everyone walking away
And when the dust settled, the same truth remained:
