Arizona Motorplex
Parker makes it six straight at Tucson
By M.J. Anderson
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Lonnie Parker Jr. won in Tucson. (Mike Barter)
TUCSON, Ariz. (June 14) — Series dominator Lonnie Parker Jr. of El Mirage, Ariz., overtook Tommy Hussak III on the 10th lap and pulled away at USA Race Park for his 51st career victory on the Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series. Parker earned $1,000 for his sixth straight victory and sixth in seven series starts in 2008. Fourth-starting Brad Williams finished a half-lap behind in second while hometown driver Adam Crippen rallied from his 14th starting spot to finish third.
Hussak overtook polesitter Harry Harris at the outset and stayed in control through a spate of early cautions. Hussak remained in control, but when he got too high in turn two on the 10th lap, Parker went ahead and began stretching his lead. Hussak's race came to an end on the 16th lap when he got together with Wayne Noyes on the frontstretch.
Notes: Parker's winning GRT Race Car is sponsored by Parker Concrete. ... Including an unsanctioned event at Central Arizona, Parker has won seven straight starts. ... Mark Fowler was running among the frontrunners in the early laps when his steering wheel came off the shaft as he entered a corner. "At the time, I thought, 'That's not good,' " Fowler said. Fortunately, the car drifted into the infield without incident, but Fowler was nearly a lap down before he could get reset and stayed out of the race. ... Mike Brigner scratched from the feature lineup. ... The next Southwest DIRTcar event is June 28 on the half-mile oval at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz., an event paying $2,000 to the winner.
SWDLMS @ USA: (1) Lonnie Parker Jr., (2) Brad Williams, (3) Adam Crippen, (4) Jamie Throckmorton, (5) Jerry Fincher, (6) Mike Tahtinen, (7) Randy Carder, (8) Mark Fowler, (9) James Chavez, (10) Lonnie Parker Sr., (11) Harry Harris, (12) Wayne Noyes, (13) Name unavailable, (14) Tommy Hussak III, (15) Andy Rudy, (16) Wes Hall. Heat race winners: Hussak, Parker, Fowler.
