Experience pays off for winner of Blackjack 121
M.K. Kanke was missing a right-front fender at the end of the Blackjack 121, but his experience was more than enough to compensate for body damage when he rallied to win the featured stock-car race Sunday afternoon at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring.
Kanke, 47, of Frazier Park, Calif., won 22 times in 212 career starts in the Southwest Tour Series when it was operated by NASCAR.
The series is now the SRL Southwest Tour Series, and Kanke is still winning.
Kanke, who has won both races in the series this year, took the lead with six laps left and held off Troy Ermish of Fremont, Calif., by about a car length to win $4,000.
It was a long hall after an early crash dropped him to the rear of the 21-car field.
With 18 of 121 laps on the three-eighth-mile race remaining, a battle was brewing between leader Craig Raudman of Cottonwood, Calif., and Josh Combes of Sacramento, Calif.
But Combes spun Raudman by tapping his left rear bumper, knocking both out, and opening the door for Kanke and Ermish to race for the title.
Other race winners were: Dylan Kwasniewski (Legends Cars), Jarod Carpenter (Thunder Roadsters) and Rachel Brown and Giles Thorton (Bandoleros).
* LVMS DRAGSTRIP — Becky Phlegar defeated Roger Kato to win the Super Pro title Sunday in the speedway’s Wicked HP E.T. Drag Racing Series.
Other winners were: Jeff Farrar (Pro), Keith Winters (Sportsman) and Dennis Sacco (Motorcycle).
Carl Cannavo (Super Pro), Justin Johnston (Pro), Sal Cachia (Sportsman) and T.J. Crocker (Motorcycle) won their categories on Saturday night.
* BULLRING — Dustin Ash made his first start of the season Saturday night at the Bullring in the NASCAR All-American Series and the 2007 track champion won the 40-lap Super Late Models feature.
Other winners were: Phil Goodwin (Chargers); Bayley Curry (Legends Cars); Damon Blakemon (Thunder Roadsters); Jim Sherard (Bombers); Cameron Haley of Canada (Baby Grands); and Patrick O’Hanley and Jacob Tilton (Bandoleros).
Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.
WORSHAM CRACKS NHRA WIN COLUMNMADISON, Ill. — Del Worsham raced to his first win of the season in Funny Car and first victory with Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing on Sunday at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories.
Worsham drove his Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing Toyota Solara to a 4.135-second run at a top speed of 302.48 mph to defeat No. 1 qualifier and current points leader Ron Capps.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
