USAC Honda .25 Season Opener a Hot One in Tucson
(Tucson, AZ) – The USAC Honda .25 “GenNext” National Tour started this weekend in hot Tucson. The club, built about 10 years ago by Herb Kai, a local dad whose son raced, has grown by leaps and bounds. With 120 cars in attendance this weekend, the action on the track to the desert sunshine; it is safe to say it was a very hot event!
Families from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and California began to converge on the Tucson Club Thursday. First order of business was the RC car race. Once the .25 drivers found the fastest lanes, they were ready to relax for a few minutes to watch the Wild West ShootOut by the Pinnacle Peak Pistoleros, a local theatre group. Sign-Ins reopened as 2 rounds of practice began and a complimentary dinner with a Tucson flare, rounded out the night. This truly set the tone of what was to be a great event.
After a timely post race Tech of several classes, drivers placing top 3 received gold, silver or bronze USAC Medals along with custom crafted cacti trophies from the Desert Classic Series, & beautiful glass cactus trophies in Memory of Dan Matich. In addition, special awards included an engraved aluminum plaque for the winning Handler of each class. All first place drivers also received a special 'Winners' T-shirt by Prinzision Racing. In addition, the Long Haul Award went to the Lattamos Family from PA, Hard Charger Bronze Statue went to Chase Randall sponsored by Sherman Race Cars, Handler of the event, Alan Spicola and Sportsman Award went to young Kaden Clark. Participation awards were also given by the club so that not one child left without having something to remember Tucson. For many, this was their very first USAC National event and Parent comments were incredibly positive.
The program, planned for just Saturday was extended to Sunday because of the car count. All Rookies were recognized after their event on Saturday with awards, ranging from medals from USAC and their own version of custom crafted cacti trophies, as well as a complete class photo including families with their drivers. Aaron Hale, Senior Engineer-Commercial Motorsports/Honda Racing/HPD, stood with these new racers, welcoming and congratulating each one.
Kaden Clark was the only hometown driver standing atop the podium taking the win in Jr Honda. Three winners were able to double up winning 2 classes each. Chase Randall of Waco, TX (Sr Honda, and Briggs Lt World Formula), Carson Hocevar of Portage, MI (Hvy Honda and Hvy 160), and Gage Painter of Statesville, NC (Briggs Sr Animal and Lt AA). Daytona Spicola (Briggs Hvy World Formula) and Chase Spicola (Lt Mod) both of Pueblo, CO took home their very first USAC National win. The Reif brothers of Henderson, NV Tanner (Lt 160) and Tyler (Briggs Jr Animal) are regulars on the USAC Tour and showed why they are a force to be reckoned with wherever they go.
“Round 1 at Tucson exceeded our expectations,” said Kyle McCain, .25 Director. “The Western Clubs have worked so hard to promote their series and together we will continue to build .25 racing out west. We are so appreciative of what the Tucson Club did to make this event special for all of our families.”
The tour continues with back to back events April 17-18 with a stop at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin and April 24-26 in San Antonio.
GNT #1 - TUCSON - MAIN FINISHES
RED ROOKIE - FEATURE #1
- T J PHILIPS
- QUINN THUREIN
- DREW SHERMAN
- TYLER TAULMAN
- TRYSTON MEYER
- QUINN FORCHIONE-DAVIS
- AYDEN COLLINS
- THOMAS NANSON
BLUE ROOKIE - FEATURE #1
- GAGE McCOY
- GARRETT SOLOMAN
- NICHOLAS HILLE
- BRIANNA FELIX
JR. HONDA – B MAIN
- KAIDEN CLARK
- CADE RANDALL
- RICHIE REIF
- EASTON COMBS
- AIDEN BYRD
- DALTON WAYNE
- PRESTON LATTOMUS (DNF)
- ENZO SPICOLA (DNF)
- JACE SIMENTAL (DNA)
JR. HONDA – A MAIN
- KAIDEN CLARK
- CADE RANDALL
- BRADY JOHNSON
- COLBY SOKOL
- JUSTIS SOKOL
- BRYCETON MEYER
- REED WHITNEY
- RICHIE REIF
- EASTON COMBS
- TYLER REIF
SR HONDA - B MAIN
- EVAN SPAULDING
- GABBY VALENZUELA
- BRANDON SAMPSON
- CHASE BURDA
- HOLLY CLARK
- AUSTIN BEAN
- TEAGAN HARLAN
- CHADE MARTIN
SR. HONDA – A MAIN
- CHASE RANDALL
- SCOTTY MILAN
- CHASE BURDA
- EVAN SPAULDING
- TANNER REIF
- LONDYN BASHAM
- CHASE HYLAND
- CHASE SPICOLA
- BRANDON SAMPSON
- GABBY VALENZUELA
HVY. HONDA - A MAIN
- CARSON HOCEVAR
- GEORGE KURTZ
- JENNIFER HALL
- JAIDA SIMENTAL
LT. 160 – C MAIN
- LONDYN BASHAM
- HOLLY CLARK
- PRESTON LATTOMUS
- TEGAN HARLAN
- SCOTTY MILAN (DNF)
- AUSTIN BEAN (DNF)
- FAMOUS RHODES (DNF)
- CHASE BURDA (DNF)
LT. 160 – B MAIN
- CHASE HYLAND
- CHASE SPICOLA
- GAGE BOWERS
- BRANDON SAMPSON
- HOLLY CLARK
- PRESTON LATTOMUS
- TRENT BEAVER
- TEGAN HARLAN
- LONDYN BASHAM (DNF)
- JAMES TURNBULL II (DNF)
LT. 160 – A MAIN
- TANNER REIF
- GAGE PAINTER
- EVAN SPAULDING
- CHASE RANDALL
- JAKE GARCIA
- CHASE HYLAND
- GAGE BOWERS
- BRANDON SAMPSON
- COLBY SOKOL
- CHASE SPICOLA
HVY. 160 – A MAIN
- CARSON HOCEVAR
- DREW SIMENTAL
- GEORGE KURT
- JENNIFER HALL
- DAYTONA SPICOLA
JR. ANIMAL - B MAIN
- REED WHITNEY
- PRESTON LATTOMUS
- ENZO SPICOLA
- RICHIE REIF
- EASTON COMBS
- AIDEN BYRD
JR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
- TYLER REIF
- BRADY JOHNSON
- COLBY SOKOL
- BRYCETO MEYER
- REED WHITNEY
- RICHIE REIF
- JUSTIS SOKOL
- KAIDEN CLARK
- PRESTON LATTOMUS
- ENZO SPICOLA (DNF)
SR. ANIMAL - A MAIN
- GAGE PAINTER
- TANNER REIF
- JAKE GARCIA
- SCOTTY MILAN
- GAGE BOWERS
- CHASE BURDA
- FAMOUS RHODES
- CARSON HOCEVAR
- MATTHW FERGUSON
LT. WORLD FORMULA - B MAIN
- EVAN SPAULDING
- JAXON BISHOP
- CHASE HYLAND
- TRENT BEAVER
- CHRISTIAN PITMAN (DNF)
LT. WORLD FORMULA - A MAIN
- CHASE RANDALL
- GAGE PAINTER
- JAXON BISHOP
- JAKE GARCIA
- TRENT BEAVER
- SCOTTY MILAN
- CHASE HYLAND
- FAMOUS RHODES
- EVAN SPAULDING
- GAGE BOWERS (DNF)
HVY. WORLD FORMULA - A MAIN
- DAYTONA SPICOLA
- CARSON HOCEVAR
- GEORGE KURTZ
- JAIDA SIMENTAL
- DREW SIMENTAL (DQ)
LT. MOD - A MAIN
- CHASE SPICOLA
- FAMOUS RHODES
- MATTHEW FERGUSON
- COLBY SOKOL
- HOLLY CLARK
- CHASE BURDA
LT. AA - A MAIN
- GAGE PAINTER
- CARSON HOCEVAR (DNF)
- FAMOUS RHODES (DNF)
- GEORGE KURTZ (DNS)