Deuce of Clubs Thunder Raceway
Noyes wins at Show Low to end five-year drought
By Ryan Neuharth
DirtonDirt.com correspondentSHOW LOW, Ariz. (July 3) — Ending a five-year series drought, Keith Noyes of Phoenix, Ariz., outdueled fellow front-row starter Tommy Hussak III of Picacho, Ariz., on the first lap and raced to victory on the first night of Thunder Raceway’s Summer Spectacular. Noyes earned $1,000 for his first Total Seal Southwest Dirt Racing Association victory since 2005.
Noyes kept his car in the middle lane of a rubbered racetrack to hold off challenges from Hussak, who settled for second. Jerry Fincher of Laveen, Ariz., was third followed by rookie and series points leader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler, Ariz., who started eighth. Cory Hemphill of Phoenix was fifth.
The race was slowed by six cautions, the most serious on a lap-19 restart when Brad Williams slipped inside Art Lacy’s car down the backstretch in a battle for fifth. Lacy clipped the right rear of Williams, sending him out of control and driver’s-side first into the pit exit abutment in turn three. The new Rocket Chassis of Williams was heavily damaged.
Notes: Noyes drives a GRT Race Car sponsored by R&R Machine and Pyle Air Conditioning. ... Noyes has four career victories with Arizona-based SWDRA, including two in 2001. ... Six-time series champion Loonie Parker Jr. lost ground to Ricky Thornton Jr. in the points chase with his seventh-place finish. ... The weekend doubleheader concludes Sunday.
Summer Spectacular: (1) Keith Noyes, (2) Tommy Hussak III, (3) Jerry Fincher, (4) Ricky Thornton. Jr, (5) Cory Hemphill, (6) Butch Reid, (7) Lonnie Parker Jr, (8) Brad Whitfield, (9) Justin Thornton, (10) Karl Tipton, (11) Joey Moriarty, (12) Mike Tahtinen, (13) Art Lacy, (14) Bruce Duckett, (15) Brad Williams, (16) John Romero. Heat race winners: R. Thornton, Hussak.
