📝Post Race Recap 10-5-24: Thrills, Spills, and New Champions at Vado Speedway Park!
What a night it was at Vado Speedway Park! After a week off, the excitement was palpable as fans returned for one of the most anticipated events of the season—Championship Night 2024 for the Legends and 305 Winged Sprint Cars. The atmosphere was buzzing, with the cool October air setting the perfect stage for a night of hammer-down dirt track racing. With the Hulsey Racing Legends and POWRi Jackson Compaction 305 Winged Sprint Cars classes both crowning champions, fans were treated to fierce battles, intense rivalries, and some of the best racing action we’ve seen all year.
The evening kicked off with a special nod to the two championship contenders. Dylan Harris in the 305 Winged Sprint Cars class and Cale Riggs in the Legends class were the names to watch as they looked to lock in their respective titles. But with a strong car count, particularly in the sprint class, nothing was guaranteed. As the track conditions evolved throughout the night, each lap and each pass became more critical, with drivers giving it their all in pursuit of both feature wins and championship glory.
It was a night where every turn, every caution, and every lap through traffic could have decided the championship. The drivers knew what was at stake, and they left nothing on the table. The stands were packed with enthusiastic fans, who were just as eager to see who would rise to the top by the end of the night. From the roar of engines to the cheers of the crowd, the intensity only heightened with each race, making it a night to remember for everyone at Vado Speedway Park.
Now, let’s dive into the thrilling feature events that defined this incredible Championship Night…
Hulsey Racing Legends:
The 20-lap feature kicked off the night with a fierce battle right from the drop of the green flag. Vanessa Robinson, starting on the pole, immediately took charge, holding off early challenges from Rj Garay and Allen Gutierrez. But it was Cale Riggs and Aydan Saunders who stole the show, showcasing a fierce rivalry that kept everyone on their feet.
Saunders, who started from the third row, quickly made his way through the field, setting his sights on Riggs. The two were engaged in a tactical battle for the lead, trading positions and pushing each other to the limit. With 10 laps to go, Saunders began making serious attempts to pass Riggs, attacking both high and low. But Riggs, showcasing immense control and defensive driving, fended off each move, making him look every bit the champion in the making.
As they approached lap traffic, the dynamic of the race shifted. Saunders seized the opportunity, diving low as Riggs was momentarily blocked by slower cars. In a dramatic pass, Saunders took the lead with just a handful of laps remaining. The crowd roared as Saunders crossed the finish line first, capturing the win with Riggs securing second—locking in his season championship. Luke Solis rounded out the podium, capping an incredible night for the Legends class.
Quote from Aydan Saunders: “I knew the race was going to be won in traffic, and it was. Cale got caught behind the four car, and I took my shot. Tried to slide him a couple times, and he drove around it. Just happy to get one last win and show y’all who the fastest was this year.”
Quote from Cale Riggs (Champion):
“It was a great season, the best season I’ve ever had. Me and Aydan were racing clean, and it got pretty damn close. That lap car screwed me up a little bit, but we’ll get him next year. Thanks to everyone at Border Performance, my family, and everyone who’s ever given me advice. Hometown Hardware, Victory Fuel, Wilwood Brakes, Big River Hardware, DR Electric—couldn’t do it without them.”
Johnstone Supply Super Trucks:
The Super Trucks feature added to the night’s thrill, with Christy Georges-Barnett delivering one of the most memorable performances of the evening. Starting from 10th, Barnett wasted no time making her way through the pack, and by lap 2, she was already challenging for the lead.
The middle of the race saw intense battles as Rusty Bowen, Michael Hartman, and Shane McNutt were locked in a four-wide contest for second place. McNutt suffered a bit of misfortune, losing a quarter panel, which affected his ability to stay in the fight for the lead. Barnett, however, was untouchable, leading by half a lap with just a few circuits remaining. As the laps ticked down, it seemed no one could catch her until a late-race caution tightened the field for a final one-lap shootout.
On the restart, Barnett fended off Hartman, who pushed hard for one last shot at victory. With flawless execution, Barnett crossed the line first, claiming her eighth win of the season. Hartman followed in second, with Bowen rounding out the top three in a breathtaking finish.
Quote from Christy Barnett:
“I knew I had to get to the front in a big hurry because the track was so hammered down. If I didn’t get there quickly, I knew I’d be in trouble. So I just picked my way through, and it worked out real good. Thanks to Sherm, my crew Jeeves, Ace, and Stacey—they are awesome and work so hard. We’ve had some issues, and they worked so hard to get them fixed.”
POWRi Jackson Compaction 305 Winged Sprint Cars:
The Sprint Car championship race was everything a dirt track fan could dream of. Dylan Harris started on the pole and led early, but Lorne Wofford, starting alongside him, wasn’t going to make it easy. Wofford found speed on the outside, and before an early restart due to a flip in turn three, he momentarily snatched the lead from Harris. With a second chance after the restart, Harris defended Wofford’s high-line valiantly showing his championship prowess early.
The intensity of the race was palpable as lap traffic became a factor. Harris seemed to have the upper hand, navigating slower cars with precision, but Wofford stayed close, never letting Harris get too far ahead. Then came Aydan Saunders—fresh off his win in the Legends feature—who was determined to play spoiler in the Sprint Car feature exchanging full-send slide jobs with Lorne and Wes Wofford. In the final lap, Saunders passed Lorne in traffic on the back straight, setting the stage for an incredible three-car showdown for the win.
The final lap was pure chaos. Saunders and Harris came together exiting turn four, with Saunders flipping across the line in dramatic fashion. Wofford, avoiding the wreck, claimed victory, while Harris, despite the carnage, secured second and clinched the 2024 championship in spectacular style. Saunders, despite the crash, was able to cross the line in third. The sportsmanship between the drivers was clear, as they congratulated each other after one of the wildest finishes in recent memory.
Quote from Lorne Wofford (Winner):
“It was pretty crazy. I saw what Aydan was doing, and I thought, man, I can’t take the chance of messing Dylan’s championship up. I’m not going to do it. I’m proud that he won. We’re promoting Freedom Flight for the POWs and MIAs—it’s a good cause. Hopefully, we have a hot air balloon down here for the 360 race in November.”
Quote from Dylan Harris (Champion):
“It was a wild race. Sorry to Aydan—didn’t mean for that to end in contact. But hey, that was some good, hard racing. Thanks to Loren for racing clean, and Aydan too, of course. This championship means everything. I’ve been trying for eight years to get one, and I finally got it. Thanks to my mom and HKM. My wife for supporting this crazy lifestyle, and Tyler, Casey Minks, and my crew.”
Extreme Landscaping USRA Stock Cars:
If the sprint car feature wasn’t enough, the Stock Cars brought their own dose of excitement. The Hurricane, Josh Cain, made his mark yet again, starting from 12th and methodically working his way through the field. By mid-race, he found himself battling with Mr. Rob Moseley and Jonathan Burton in a thrilling three-wide fight for the lead.
Lap traffic once again played a critical role, with Cain using it to his advantage to take the lead. Moseley wasn’t giving up easily, though, and made multiple attempts to reclaim the top spot. With just one lap to go, a caution flew, setting up a nail-biting one-lap dash to the finish. On the restart, Cain held his ground and powered his way to the checkered flag, securing his 12th win of the season. Moseley finished second, and Burton completed the podium in a race that had fans cheering until the very end.
Quote from Josh Cain:
“I threw a slider and hoped it worked, and it worked a little bit. Rob gave me the old shot in the shorts, but we got going. The track was good, and Wheatland was a great win too. Big thanks to Cooter’s Garage, Number One Landscaping Design, ABQ Express, CPD Shocks, Parts Plus, Batteries Plus, Shipley Motorsports, Raider Graphics, ABQ Auto Brokers, and my family for all their support.”
USRA B-Mods Sponsored by Hacienda Carpet and Tile:
Closing out the night was the 25-lap B-Mod feature, which saw Christy Barnett looking to double up on victories after her Super Truck win earlier in the evening. Barnett, starting ninth, wasted no time, charging through the field and taking the lead halfway through the race.
While Barnett controlled the top spot, the battle behind her was fierce. Danny Concelman, in from Colorado Springs, traded positions with Greg Gorham in a back-and-forth duel for second. Gorham, starting from the back, had an incredible race, climbing 18 positions by the end of the night. But no one could catch Barnett, who sailed to victory, completing the rare double on championship night.
Quote from Christy Barnett:
“I thought they were going to come winging around the top, but they never did. So I just kept doing what I was doing, and it worked out.”
Final Thoughts:
Vado Speedway Park’s Championship Night lived up to every expectation and more. From the intense battles for position to the thrilling late-race drama, each class delivered moments that will be talked about for weeks to come. As we look ahead to the 24th Rancho Milagro Fall Nationals at Vado Speedway Park in two weeks and November’s 360 Sprint Car Showdown, fans can only wonder—how can it get any better than this?
Make sure to catch all the action and join us in two weeks for more dirt track thrills at Vado Speedway Park! Thank you to all the drivers, teams, and fans for making Championship Night 2024 one to remember.
Until next time, keep the pedal to the metal, and I’ll see you at the races!
– Dr. Joaquin Acosta, CEO of Pharmtrue and Color Commentator at Vado Speedway Park
P.S. The clip of the wild sprint car finish is shared thanks to RacinDirt.com, where you can catch all our Vado Speedway Park racing action if you can’t make it out to the track. Big shoutout to Julian Herrera our amazing cameraman, who always captures the best footage and kept us well-fed in the tower with some great food from La Posta de Mesilla Restaurant De Mesilla last night!