Newmexico Southern New Mexico SpeedwayBarnett, Georges, Reynolds, and Robinson find Victory at SNMS Season Opener Posted:5/4/2010 Barnett, Georges, Reynolds, and Robinson find Victory at SNMS Season Opener (Las Cruces, New Mexico)-The 2010 Season Opener at the Southern New Mexico Speedway was greeted by a very cool breeze as the Barnett Harley Davidson DIRTcar West Modifieds headlined the nights racing action along with the Rick’s Performance Center Street Stocks, Advanced Towing Limited Late Models, and the Legends of the Southwest. Starting off the nights A-Mains, the Advanced Towing Limited Late Models hit the track for 15 laps of racing with Rick Ortega grabbing the race lead early on. On the move, the Barnett Harley Davidson 44 of Christy Georges wasted no time as the El Paso veteran raced her way into second but the Hacienda Mechanical 24 had already checked out as the green flag continued to wave. In third, the 82 of Sherman Barnett ran a half straight behind Georges who ran almost a full straight behind the 24 of Ortega. As the laps clicked off, Rick Ortega’s GRC 24 was starting to have some handling issues as the car began to develop an ugly push in the center of the corners; but with a huge advantage over the field it did not matter but that would change as the caution waved with less than five laps to go. In the Delaware Double File Restart, Ortega stood on the gas with Sherman Barnett and Christy Georges looking high and low on the 24. Into turns three and four, the push that had plagued Ortega for half the race would cost him the lead as the 44 of Georges shot to the low line to show the way before the caution waved for Manny Baca. Two laps to go on the restart and Georges was not taking any chances as MSD Ignition 44 ran away as Roger Owens made a run for second but Ortega would motor back by as the checkered flag waved for Christy Georges. Rick Ortega took second with Roger Owens, Donnie Newcomb, and Sherman Barnett rounding out the top five. The Legends of the Southwest were underway with Vince Malone leading the field early on. On the move, the 11w of Alvie Williams would take full advantage of a very fast high line as the ANW Automotive 11w moved into second. Out of turn four, the 11w had a clear shot between Malone and the wall for the race lead but just as the 11w made the move the door slammed shut, sending Williams into the wall and ending his night in a shower of sparks. Back to green flag racing, Vince Malone would now have to contend with the 3d of Don Reynolds as the Alamo Cycle Parts 3d raced wheel to wheel with the 85m after restarting third on the field. Out front, the 3d would begin to pull away as the battle for second was between Allan Gattis and Vince Malone with both drivers swapping the runner up spot several times before the 21 of Gattis would begin to pull away. Out front with laps winding down, Don Reynolds would be unchallenged as the 3d cruised to victory with Allan Gattis second. Vince Malone, Tom Hargenrater, and Mike Baker rounded out the top five. J&R Restaurant Equipment out of Albuquerque, New Mexico has issued a challenge for the Rick’s Performance Street Stocks. Whoever wins the challenge will get a $300 bonus. If there is more than 20 cars, then the driver who elects to give up their starting position, go to the back, and win will get the $300 bonus. The challenge goes until someone wins it. For the 2010 Season Opener, 25 cars checked into the Southern New Mexico Speedway and Billy Roy Harris, who qualified for the front row, would be the car to head to the back of the field. To the green flag and out front it was Donovan Flores as the battle in the middle of the pack began to heat up to three wide racing. Up front, Flores was on a mission as the Pine Top Construction 07 pulled further and further away from the field. Back to the battle for second, Vanessa Robinson had made her way past the 5 of Kenny Medina and the 45 of Jason Ziehl. As the laps clicked off, the 07 would watch his lead go away as the Las Cruces racer spun, handing the lead to Vanessa Robinson. Working his way through the field Billy Roy Harris, behind the wheel of the car normally driven by his sister Mercedes Harris, had moved into the top ten and was working into the top five before contact from another driver would spin the 29 into the infield. With caution out, the 29 of Harris would be allowed his spot back as the field went back to green flag racing but the caution would again wave for Jason Ziehl who has restarted third. To the green flag, Robinson would stand on the gas as Billy Roy Harris shot to the low line; grabbing second from Kenny Medina and pulling even with the 14 but Robinson would pull away, leaving the 29 to try and hold off Kenny Medina. Into the final laps, the 07 of Flores had worked his way back to the front pack but would nearly spin again; forcing the 07 to the middle of the pack. Up front, the defending Speedway Champion would be challenged for the race win as the 5 of Kenny Medina made it a drag race the checkered flag with Robinson holding on. Kenny Medina would settle for second with Billy Roy Harris third, Tyler Jackson sneaking into fourth, and Phoenix, Arizona racer Kalvin Catlin racing into fifth in his first visit to the Speedway. Since Harris was unable to win, the $300 challenge rolls over to next week’s racing action. The Barnett Harley Davidson UMP DIRTcar West Modifieds started their year off strong with 22 cars from Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas taking the green flag on the nights 30 lap A-Main. The initial start would not hold however as three cars tangled on the opening lap. Holly Jones, Christy Georges, and Joe Lackey would all continue on as the complete restart would see Curt Barnett take full advantage of the pole position as the Barnett Harley Davidson 43 showed the way with his team mate Christy Georges recovering nicely and moving to the front in a hurry along with the J7 of Jake Boles before the caution waved for the R7 of Ronnie Salas. Green flag waving and Barnett would be challenged for a moment by his father, Sherman Barnett but the 43 would pull away. After starting eleventh and twelfth on the field, the 44 of Christy Georges and the 131 of Royal Jones were on the move with Georges moving into second with Jones not far behind in a good battle for fifth with Josh Cain. The Hoffman Racecars 3j of Cain out of Moriarty, New Mexico ran side by side with the 131 of Jones with Boles and Georges trying to run down the 43. With laps winding down, Curt Barnett was running away as Christy Georges, after a solid run to the front would slow drastically off of turn four as mechanical troubles would send the MSD 44 pit side. In lapped traffic, Barnett was unrelenting in his quest for a win in 2010 as the 43 worked high and low; improving his advantage over the J7 of Jake Boles who had assumed the runner up position with Royal Jones running in third before the caution waved. As the green flag waved, the J17 of Fito Gallardo worked his way into fifth after starting fifteenth on the original line up while up front, the 131 of Royal Jones shot into second but the J7 of Jake Boles would battle back hard to reclaim the runner up spot as everyone continued to chase Curt Barnett. As the white flag gave way to the checkered flag, Curt Barnett would claim his first win of the 2010 season with Jake Boles second, Royal Jones third, Josh Cain fourth, and Fito Gallardo rounding out the top five. With the 2010 season underway, the next event at the Southern New Mexico Speedway will take place on May 8th as the Renegade Sprint Car Series headline the nights racing action. The Advanced Towing Limited Late Models will take on the 4 Corner Late Models Series in round one of a yearlong challenge series. The Hornets will make their 2010 season debut and the Rick’s Performance Center Street Stocks will return with the J&R Restaurant Equipment $300 challenge still up for grabs. Gates open at 5:30pm with racing getting underway at 7:45pm. General Admission is only $10 and children 10 and under are always free. For more information, log onto www.snmspeedway.comor call 575-524-7913. Unofficial A-Main Results Advanced Towing Limited Late Models-Christy Georges, Rick Ortega, Roger Owens, Donnie Newcomb, Sherman Barnett, Eric McNutt, Cliff Hansen, Troy Miller, Vanessa Robinson, Manny Baca, Don Thomas, Jonathan Ortega, Lee Heiligentahl Legends of the Southwest-Don Reynolds, Allan Gattis, Vince Malone, Tom Hargenrater, Mike Baker, Victor Colorbio Jr., Landis Hartranft, Jim Funk, Phil Baker, Tristan Gattis, Alvie Williams Rick’s Performance Center Street Stocks-Vanessa Robinson, Kenny Medina, Billy Roy Harris, Tyler Jackson, Kalvin Catlin, Donovan Flores, Jack Skillin, Stevie Rey Gutierrez, Travis Harrison, Debbie Jo Baxter, John Delph, Rick Skillin, Ozzie Lopez, Shane Sanders, Joe Cooper, Sal Gomez, Timberly Swaim, Tudy Barela, Jason Ziehl, Jacob Rodriguez, Derik DeMartino, Chance Thedford, Joseph Granado, Paul Telles Jr., Scott Sullivan Barnett HD UMP DIRTcar Modifieds-Curt Barnett, Jake Boles, Royal Jones, Josh Cain, Fito Gallardo, Cody Alvarez, Levi DeMartino, Rob Madrid, Sherman Barnett, Frank Dutton, Holly Jones, Steve Sutton, Joe Lackey, Martin Robinson, Jason Tuffaro, Donovan Ooley, Brent Tibbs, Carlos Ahumada, Christy Georges, Ronnie Salas, Travis Tipton, Billy McDaniel