‘Bear’ shows poise in Bullring victory
Ambitious 16-year-olds tend to rush their maturation, but Steve “Bear” Rzesnowiecky is being patient as he works quickly toward his goals.
The Las Vegas native achieved a career milestone when he gained his first NASCAR Super Late Models victory Saturday night.
But instead of going wild in the winner’s circle at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Bullring, Rzesnowiecky was more concerned about possibly causing an opponent to spin.
He issued a public apology, whether warranted or not.
The former Legends Car champion at the Bullring led 30 of 33 laps and was able to hold off veteran Scott Gafforini in the division’s second feature of the night.
Rzesnowiecky was second to winner Jeff Connors in the first Super Late Models race. A faulty clutch prevented Connors from starting the second feature after winning for the fourth time in the series.
Rzesnowiecky, a rookie in the NASCAR division, is well spoken but selective with his words. He was sullen in June after his first Super Late Models win was nullified for a minor technical rules violation.
He has led several times this season but lost the lead to a driving error or mechanical failure.
Rzesnowiecky has been quick to take the blame and slow to take credit. On Saturday he was quick to thank his father — crew chief, engine builder and spotter Steve Rzesnowiecky — and Chris Bray’s Phil’s Fabrication for setting up the car for the night’s races.
And like a seasoned pro, the young Rzesnowiecky rattled off a list of sponsors including his newest, a national pharmaceutical company.
“I have to keep a level head,” he said. “I don’t want to be cocky.”
The home-schooled high-school graduate is on the cusp of earning a spot in a NASCAR team’s driver development program. It’s something he won’t talk about until it happens.
Although he took the lead on the third lap in the second race, Rzesnowiecky’s best lap was slower than ones turned by Gafforini and Matt Jaskol, who placed third.
“When (Gafforini) closed in on Bear, his laps started to get slower because he started to press,” his father said of his son’s driving. “I told him over the radio just to be smooth.”
The teenage racer followed the late-race advice and beat Gafforini by two-tenths of a second.
In other races: Branden Giannini — another 16-year-old — and Chris Birdsong each won Late Models titles; reigning Chargers track champion Mario Opipari won in his division for the first time this year.
Other winners were Jack Madrid (Legends Cars), Justin Johnson (Thunder Roadsters), Jesse Day (Bombers), Jonathan Eakin (Bandolero Bandits) and Hayley Lager (Bandolero Young Guns).
Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.