Connors’ car ‘drives itself’ to Bullring feature victory

Jeff Connors was a successful builder long before being accepted into a local carpenters union a few weeks ago.

Robert Ewing, his friend and racing partner, grew up around his family’s salvage yard, so he had a good knack for auto parts and repair.

As teammates in the NASCAR All-American Series, they have constructed the hottest team at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Bullring.

Connors won Saturday’s 35-lap feature race in the Super Late Models division. Ewing won his first feature in the division at the previous race and a week before that Connors posted his first Super Late Models title.

“This car is so good it almost drives itself,” Connors said after beating Matt Jaskol by about a half-second.

Ewing, who finished fifth, is crew chief for both cars.

Connors and Ewing traveled together a few years ago while racing Dwarf Cars — similar to the scaled-down Legends Cars — before switching to asphalt racing two years ago.

Last year at the Bullring, Connors was the top Super Late Models rookie and Ewing won the honor in Late Models.

Connors, 24, spent most of last season with Al Budd Racing and driving as Justin Johnson’s teammate.

He decided this year he wanted to have his own team and the key decision — other than teaming with Ewing — was buying a proven, race-ready car from Greg Haase.

The car became available when Alex Haase moved to Charlotte, N.C., to become a development driver for the Late Models program owned and operated by friend and mentor Kyle Busch.

Connors and Ewing have pushed the car to new limits.

Connors took the lead Saturday from Scott Gafforini on lap 26 then held off Jaskol on three restarts late in the race.

Other winners were: Doug Hamm (Modifieds), Jeremiah Wagner (Legends), Justin Johnson (Thunder Roadsters), Gary Wyatt (Bombers), Jacob Tilton (Bandolero Bandits) and Patrick O’Hanley (Bandolero Young Guns).

• DRAG RACING — John Phlegar beat John Dowd to win the Super Pro title in the Jerry’s Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series. Other winners were: Robin Harris (Pro), Jon Irving (Sportsman), Leo Shaver (Motorcycle), Adriennne Markham (Jr. Dragster Thunder) and Chad Webber (Jr. Dragster Lightning).

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.