Jed Smith won the Holley USRA Stock Car main event on Saturday, June 16, 2018, at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M.

We all remember our first time to the dirt track. Some were just children, tagging along with family and some were older, but whenever the first time happened, we remember the sounds, smells and dirt on our faces and in our hair. And every driver can remember his or her first race, and how it felt to put on the helmet for the first time. Saturday night at the Southern New Mexico Speedway prove to be just as unforgettable to our drivers.

With Mother Nature dumping some rain on the track earlier in the day; Dean Nesbit worked, farmed and created a hammer-down, bad-fast track. And what a way to welcome 26 USRA Modifieds and 13 Holley USRA Stok Cars. It was a packed pit area and some of the best racing in the desert Southwest.

Holley USRA Stock Cars had two heats. Winning the first heat in a commanding victory would be Paul Telles Jr. Once he took the lead, he was out there on his own, looking smooth and fast. The second heat victory went to Pete Vargas, battling hard to fend off Jason Josselyn and Jed Smith.

The main event was an eventful one with Mark Morris and Donavon Flores splitting Tyler Beiter on the back straight to take the lead and second place. Steadily creeping through the field was Smith, and as the laps clicked off and when it mattered the most he found himself taking the lead from Flores. In his first-ever main event win, Smith found himself celebrating on the front straight by climbing the fence. The excitement was contagious as the crowd was cheering loud.

With 26 Rancho Milagro Modifiieds checking in, it was slated to be a great night of racing for them. And the fans were not disappointed. The first heat race belonged to Ricky “Rocko” Gallardo and the second heat went to his nephew, Jake Gallardo. The third heat was won by Jimmy Ray, fresh off a victory the night before in Lubbock, and heat race #4 belonged to Christy Barnett.

Twenty-five drivers lined up for the night’s 25-lap main event. It was an awesome night of racing up front with Gallardo leading the race until mechanical failure sidelined him. As he was slowing down to exit the track, Royal Jones slid up and took the lead. Even with the late charge of his son, Bumper Jones, he would take the checkered flag and his position as #1 on the podium. Behind the Joneses was Ray, Terry Tipton and Rocko Gallardo rounding out the top five.

Be sure to check us out next Saturday, June 23, for the return of the Out-Pace USRA B-Mods and Holley USRA Stock Cars, along with 305 Sprint Cars, Legends Cars and Late Models. As always, gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Southern New Mexico Speedway, Las Cruces, N.M.
Saturday, June 16, 2018

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. (1) M16 Rick Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 7 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (6) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (4) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
5. (7) R41 Colton Sims, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (5) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
7. (3) X57 Richie Davies, Springerville, Ariz.

Heat #2:
1. (1) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 18 Henry Valdez, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (7) G3 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (6) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
5. (3) 32 Max Sadler, Springerville, Ariz.
6. (4) 23B Isreal Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (5) 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas

Heat #3:
1. (2) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (1) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (3) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas
4. (5) 3T Todd Harper, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (6) 3 Tim Tharp, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (4) 6 Joe Lackey, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat #4:
1. (2) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
2. (3) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
3. (1) 19 Donavon Ooley, El Paso, Texas
4. (6) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
5. (5) 105 Billy Johnson, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (4) 39H Nick Herrera, Ruidoso Downs, N.M.

Feature:
1. (6) 131 Royal Jones, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (8) 111 Bumper Jones, Mesilla Park, N.M.
3. (5) 9 Jimmy Ray, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (13) 99 Terry Tipton, Duncan, Ariz.
5. (1) M16 Rick Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (9) 18 Henry Valdez, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (16) 28 Tom Georges, El Paso, Texas
8. (14) 65X Carlos Ahumada Jr., El Paso, Texas
9. (12) 19 Donavon Ooley, El Paso, Texas
10. (25) X57 Richie Davies, Springerville, Ariz.
11. (15) 3T Todd Harper, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (19) 32 Max Sadler, Springerville, Ariz.
13. (21) 82 Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas
14. (23) 6 Joe Lackey, Las Cruces, N.M.
15. (10) 65 Dustin Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
16. (4) 44 Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas
17. (22) 23B Isreal Ortega, Las Cruces, N.M.
18. (18) 3 Tim Tharp, Las Cruces, N.M.
19. (24) 39H Nick Herrera, Ruidoso Downs, N.M.
20. (7) G3 Fito Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
21. (11) 85 Austin Adams, El Paso, Texas
22. (2) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
23. (20) 105 Billy Johnson, Las Cruces, N.M.
24. (3) 7 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
25. (17) R41 Colton Sims, Las Cruces, N.M.
DNS - 54 Carlos Ahumada Sr., El Paso, Texas

HOLLEY USRA STOCK CARS

Heat #1:
1. (5) 48T Paul Telles Jr, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (3) 81 Tyler Beiter, El Paso, Texas
3. (4) 8 Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
4. (7) 21K Don Kleine, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (1) 2 Rick Skillin, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (2) 14 Dawson Manicki, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (6) 32B Jason Privette, Las Cruces, N.M.

Heat #2:
1. (1) 777 Pete Vargas, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (2) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
3. (3) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (4) 21Z Mark Morris, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (6) 7 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (5) 10 Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.

Feature:
1. (7) 171 Jed Smith, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. (11) 7 Donavon Flores, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (8) 21Z Mark Morris, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (10) 32B Jason Privette, Las Cruces, N.M.
5. (5) 777 Pete Vargas, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (6) 74 Jason Josselyn, Alamogordo, N.M.
7. (2) 8 Mark Smith, Anthony, N.M.
8. (12) 2 Rick Skillin, Las Cruces, N.M.
9. (9) 10 Bryan Bennett, Tularosa, N.M.
10. (3) 48T Paul Telles Jr, Las Cruces, N.M.
11. (4) 21K Don Kleine, Las Cruces, N.M.
12. (13) 14 Dawson Manicki, Las Cruces, N.M.
13. (1) 81 Tyler Beiter, El Paso, Texas