O'Neil, Sheen, Ray round two winners at Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout

Jimmy Ray (left) won the Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA X-Mod feature.

Jimmy Ray (left) won the Hacienda Carpet & Tile USRA X-Mod feature.


The great race fans of the southwest joined the Southern New Mexico Speedway for round two of the Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout and making it a vigorous night presented by S&S Fishing & Rental, Torco Race Fuels, Barnett Harley-Davidson, G3 Fitness and Premier Waste Services.

Jimmy Ray picked up a win over hard-charging Nick Rivera in the Out-Pace USRA B-Mods. Jaime Torres kicked the show off with Nathan Smith for the 25-lap feature, but three cautions kicked the feature off until the fourth try was the golden one.

Torres led the opening rounds playing defense on the bottom with Ray within striking distance and rushing the top. Both drivers went side y side for the lead, and Ray snatched the lead. From there, Ray handled four restarts including a final caution that brought a green-white-checkered finish.

Rivera stared seventh and shot like a rocket on the restart into second, giving the leader a run for his money but Ray managed to hold him off to pick up the win.

Tony Hill of Cortez, Colo., searched for victory, trying to reclaim the crown on these big weekends but fell short in the Holley USRA Stock Car feature.

Hill stood his ground after starting on the pole with five cautions. The fourth caution made the feature spicey as Donavon Flores had to travel from the 13th starting position with Michael Sheen, who started 12th. Both drivers put on a show coming to the front until the pair made three wide for the lead with two laps to go.

Flores went for a power move in the middle with Sheen hard on the bottom and Hill on the top. It was unfolding to be a dramatic photo finish but a caution flew with one lap to go. On the restart, Sheen married the bottom and took the lead from Hill for the win.

One week ago today, Jake O’Neil led all 40 laps en route to his career-first USMTS win, and on Saturday night he repeated the feat with a wire-to-wire victory in the co-sanctioned event with the USRA Modifieds.

While the other 25 feature racer starters swapped positions back and forth the entire 40-lap distance, O’Neil was checked out. A caution with four laps remaining gave his pursuers some brief false hope as the 26-year-old from Tucson pulled away on the restart.

“I felt really good,” O’Neil said of his effort. “I knew the track was probably up top. Early on I tried the bottom over here (turn one) a little bit and it seemed pretty good but then I got lapped traffic there and kind of messed up. I was waiting to get past there and I messed up there. I just had to cool down a little bit and slow down to go faster.”

Since returning to action after a four-week layoff, the last four events for the USMTS have seen O’Neil garner two wins, a third and a runner-up finish which he recorded Friday night after starting 14th in his #0 LG2 by Owens machine.

“Jimmy Owens has been a big supporter of mine,” O’Neil added. “He’s taught me a lot the last few years, more so about race preparation than anything. We just have a really good program here; a really good hot rod.”

Las Cruces native Johnny Scott, who won last Friday’s USMTS race in Arizona, clawed his way from 13th to finish behind O’Neil at the checkered flag while defending USRA Modified track champion Bumper Jones claimed third after a furious scramble followed the lap-35 yellow flag.

Terry Phillips was fourth at the flagstand, and 24 hours after his victory on his home track Stormy Scott backed it up with a fifth-place result after starting 18th on the field. Former USRA Modified national champion Jake Gallardo was sixth, Dereck Ramirez passed seven cars on his way to a seventh-place finish, Fito Gallardo earned an eighth-place paycheck, Rodney Sanders nabbed ninth and last year’s Grant Junghans USMTS Rookie of the Year, R.C. Whitwell, completed the top ten.

Fifty-five USMTS/USRA Modified drivers strapped in to compete in Saturday’s program.

The Rancho Milagro Short Track Shootout continues Sunday with Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models and Casa Nissan Legends Cars also joining the three Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series divisions for a third straight night. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 5 p.m. General admission is $15 or a family pack is just $35. Kids ages 10 and under get in free. Pit passes are $40. For those unable to be there in person, every lap of every race in every division will be broadcast live on RacinDirt.com.

The Southern New Mexico Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take exit 132, go left and take the frontage road south of I-10 heading west. For more information, call (575) 524-7913 or (505) 524-7913 or visit www.snmspeedway.com online. You can also check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/southernnewmexicospeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/snmspeedway.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit Racing USRA Weekly Racing Series
Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
Saturday, April 21, 2018

OUT-PACE USRA B-MODS

Heat Race #1 (8 laps):
1. (6) 44JT Jaime Torres, Tortugas, N.M.
2. (5) X777 Mike Rosales, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (7) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
4. (4) 18G Cooper Guffey, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (1) 49 Tristin Gattis, El Paso, Texas
6. (2) 7C John Carney, El Paso, Texas
7. (3) 747 Julio Jauregui, El Paso, Texas

Heat Race #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 88 Nathan Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (3) 33 Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (4) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
4. (5) 58 Doug Meeks, Mesa, Ariz.
5. (1) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.
6. (6) 95 Clayton Donnelley, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat Race #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 93 Greg Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (5) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 3H Noah Hollingshead, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (3) 7 Don Parra, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (4) 5M Wes Meeks, Show Low, Ariz.
6. (2) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat Race #4 (8 laps):
1. (1) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 3 Dickie Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) 66 Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.
4. (6) 5 Brandon Tenski, Farmington, N.M.
5. (2) 08 Daniel Lozoya, El Paso, Texas
6. (7) 14 Dawson Manicki, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (3) 38 Kevin Clark, El Paso, Texas

Feature (25 laps):
1. (4) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (7) 8N Nick Rivera, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (12) 66 Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.
4. (1) 44JT Jaime Torres, Tortugas, N.M.
5. (3) 93 Greg Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (18) 3J Josh Cain, Rio Rancho, N.M.
7. (8) 3 Dickie Gorham, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (10) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
9. (5) X777 Mike Rosales, Las Cruces, N.M.
10. (6) 33 Justin Allen, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (11) 3H Noah Hollingshead, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (19) 5M Wes Meeks, Show Low, Ariz.
13. (21) 7C John Carney, El Paso, Texas
14. (16) 5 Brandon Tenski, Farmington, N.M.
15. (9) 47 Mingo Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
16. (14) 58 Doug Meeks, Mesa, Ariz.
17. (13) 18G Cooper Guffey, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (15) 7 Don Parra, Las Cruces, N.M.
19. (26) 38 Kevin Clark, El Paso, Texas
20. (20) 08 Daniel Lozoya, El Paso, Texas
21. (23) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
22. (2) 88 Nathan Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
23. (25) 747 Julio Jauregui, El Paso, Texas
24. (22) 95 Clayton Donnelley, Las Cruces, N.M.

HOLLEY USRA STOCK CARS

Heat Race #1 (8 laps):
1. (4) 007 Tony Hill, Cortez, Colo.
2. (7) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) 59 Travis Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
4. (2) 7 Cecil Fanning, Rio Rancho, N.M.
5. (6) 195 Michael Sheen, La Mesa, Texas
6. (3) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (1) 20C Christopher Newton, Fort Bliss, Texas

Heat Race #2 (8 laps):
1. (5) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
2. (4) 777 Pete Vargas, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 0 Lloyd Turner, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (7) 3 Josh Reynolds, Alamogordo, N.M.
5. (1) G3 Brian Craighead, Farmerville, La.
6. (6) 02 Rick Skillin, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (2) 0H Shane Helton, Artesia, N.M.

Heat Race #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 717 G.W. Egbert, Belton, Texas
2. (6) 64 Cary White, La Mesa, Texas
3. (3) 21Z Mark Morris, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (4) 00 Shawn McCarty, Carlsbad, N.M.
5. (2) 26 Allen Bradley, Farmington, N.M.
6. (5) 11 Cliff Evrage, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (7) 32B Bryan Bagwell, Las Cruces, N.M.

Feature (20 laps):
1. (12) 195 Michael Sheen, La Mesa, Texas
2. (1) 007 Tony Hill, Cortez, Colo.
3. (13) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (16) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (5) 64 Cary White, La Mesa, Texas
6. (11) 00 Shawn McCarty, Carlsbad, N.M.
7. (3) 717 G.W. Egbert, Belton, Texas
8. (4) 777 Pete Vargas, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (2) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
10. (6) 59 Travis Sutherlin, Aztec, N.M.
11. (9) 7 Cecil Fanning, Rio Rancho, N.M.
12. (18) 11 Cliff Evrage, Las Cruces, N.M.
13. (8) 21Z Mark Morris, Las Cruces, N.M.
14. (21) 32B Bryan Bagwell, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (10) 3 Josh Reynolds, Alamogordo, N.M.
16. (15) 26 Allen Bradley, Farmington, N.M.
17. (19) 20C Christopher Newton, Fort Bliss, Texas
18. (17) 02 Rick Skillin, Las Cruces, N.M.
19. (20) 0H Shane Helton, Artesia, N.M.

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat Race #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 23B Israel Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 9c Dillion Hill, Eunice, N.M.
4. (10) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (3) 33 Danny Martin, Republic, Mo.
6. (8) 24m Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark.
7. (5) 17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
8. (7) 71 Jessie Hoskins, Longdale, Okla.
9. (9) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
10. (4) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas.

Heat Race #2 (8 laps):
1. (1) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (4) 26 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
3. (5) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
4. (7) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.
5. (3) 3 Javier Zapien Jr., Horizon City, Texas.
6. (6) J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (9) 24w Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark.
8. (2) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (8) 14 Dawson Manicki, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat Race #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) 4v Billy Vogel, West Fargo, N.D.
2. (4) 20 Rodney Sanders, Worthington, Minn.
3. (2) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas.
4. (6) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
5. (7) 3 Tim Tharp, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (3) 24z Zane Ferrell, Hermitage, Ark.
7. (8) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
8. (9) 97 Julie Keeler, Farmington, N.M.
9. (5) 96 Dusty Riggs, Hatch, N.M.

Heat Race #4 (8 laps):
1. (6) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas.
2. (3) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
3. (2) 24 Manuel Williams Sr., Fouke, Ark.
4. (7) 65x Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas.
5. (1) 73 Jason Keeler, Farmington, N.M.
6. (9) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (8) 32 D.J. Shannon, Merced, Calif.
8. (5) 39h Nick Herrera, Ruidoso Downs, N.M.
9. (4) 10 Roger Owens, El Paso, Texas.

Heat Race #5 (8 laps):
1. (1) 0 Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
2. (6) G3 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (5) 19sb Lance Mari, Imperial, Calif.
4. (7) 3366 Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.
5. (8) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
6. (2) 18 Henry Valdez, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (3) 101 Butch Reid, Carlsbad, N.M.
8. (9) 32 Max Sadler, Springerville, Ariz.
9. (4) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat Race #6 (8 laps):
1. (1) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
2. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
3. (2) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
4. (3) 88r A.J. Vasquez, Garden City, Mich.
5. (6) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.
6. (4) 202 Robbie Chiles, Hooper, Colo.
7. (8) 7 Wayne McCleskey, Tucson, Ariz.
8. (5) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
9. (9) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.

"B" Feature #1 (18 laps):
1. (3) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.
2. (2) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
3. (4) 3366 Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.
4. (14) 32 D.J. Shannon, Merced, Calif.
5. (8) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.
6. (7) 88r A.J. Vasquez, Garden City, Mich.
7. (21) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
8. (15) 17 Rob Moseley, Los Lunas, N.M.
9. (1) 9c Dillion Hill, Eunice, N.M.
10. (16) 97 Julie Keeler, Farmington, N.M.
11. (18) 39h Nick Herrera, Ruidoso Downs, N.M.
12. (9) 33 Danny Martin, Republic, Mo.
13. (6) 23 Adam Kates, Tonganoxie, Kan.
14. (5) 24 Manuel Williams Sr., Fouke, Ark.
15. (22) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas.
16. (19) 2G Troy Girolamo, Williston, N.D.
17. (17) 71 Jessie Hoskins, Longdale, Okla.
18. (20) 96 Dusty Riggs, Hatch, N.M.
19. (11) J7 Jake Boles, Alamogordo, N.M.
20. (13) 24w Mason Williams, Fouke, Ark.
21. (10) 73 Jason Keeler, Farmington, N.M.
22. (12) 18 Henry Valdez, Las Cruces, N.M.

"B" Feature #2 (18 laps):
1. (6) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
2. (3) 65x Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas.
3. (17) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (5) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
5. (13) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
6. (2) 19sb Lance Mari, Imperial, Calif.
7. (21) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
8. (15) 101 Butch Reid, Carlsbad, N.M.
9. (4) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas.
10. (11) 24z Zane Ferrell, Hermitage, Ark.
11. (12) 202 Robbie Chiles, Hooper, Colo.
12. (20) 10 Roger Owens, El Paso, Texas.
13. (16) 32 Max Sadler, Springerville, Ariz.
14. (1) 23B Israel Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (18) 8c Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.
16. (14) 7 Wayne McCleskey, Tucson, Ariz.
17. (7) 3 Tim Tharp, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (9) 3 Javier Zapien Jr., Horizon City, Texas.
19. (19) 14 Dawson Manicki, Las Cruces, N.M.
20. (8) 07 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
21. (10) 24m Manuel Williams II, Fouke, Ark.

"A" Feature ( laps):
1. (1) 0 Jake O'Neil, Tucson, Ariz.
2. (13) 1st Johnny Scott, Cameron, Mo.
3. (3) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
4. (7) 75 Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.
5. (18) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (2) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (14) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
8. (5) G3 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (10) 20 Rodney Sanders, Worthington, Minn.
10. (9) 26 R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz.
11. (15) 49jr Jake Timm, Winona, Minn.
12. (12) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
13. (25) 19sb Lance Mari, Imperial, Calif.
14. (17) 3366 Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.
15. (23) 69 Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.
16. (20) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
17. (6) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (16) 65x Carlos Ahumada Jr., Canutillo, Texas.
19. (11) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
20. (22) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
21. (19) 32 D.J. Shannon, Merced, Calif.
22. (21) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas.
23. (8) 23 Logan Robertson, Shamrock, Texas.
24. (26) 24z Zane Ferrell, Hermitage, Ark.
25. (4) 4v Billy Vogel, West Fargo, N.D.
26. (24) 71 Jessie Hoskins, Longdale, Okla.