NM Motorsports Report April 2022

THE TWISTER • ABQ SUPER LAP SERIES • NASCAR

APRIL 2022

The

VOL #7 ISSUE #1

Twister

A Hank Arnold Tribute by Hal Burns Racing

ABQ SUPER LAP SERIES

SUPERCROSS

The Battle at Jerry’s World

CONEHUNTER

Greenberg wins NITRO PRO COMP

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APRIL 2022 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 01 Publisher: RaDine William Media

THE TWISTER

Editor: David Swope & Spencer Hill

By Spencer Hill

Design & Layout: David Lansa & Spencer Hill Writers: Spencer Hill John Haverlin Eric Williams Gene Grant Scott Welch Jonathan Fjeld Dominic Aragon

REMEMBERING

THE UNSER’S

Story by John Haverlin / TheCircuitJournal.com

THE BATTLE AT JERRY’S WORLD

By Scott Welch

Photographers: James Adams Photography Facebook @unserracingmuseum

Plus!

Facebook @bobbyunser Sara Pennington, Cherry Bomb Photography Dale Fackler Brian Hoffsmith Soctt Welch Motorsports Photojournalist Getty Images (NASCARMedia) Dominic Aragon Cover photos: Twister Tribute Sprint Car Driver, Caleb Saiz Photo by James Adams Photography AMA Supercross at Arlington Rider, Eli Tomac Photo by Scott Welch Motorsports Photojournalist Cone Hunter, Nitro Funny Car Driver, Lyle Greenberg Photo by Dale Fackler

ABQ Super Lap Series Greenberg wins Nitro Pro Comp How the Gen 7 Has changed NASCAR

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The

Twister

A Hank Arnold Tribute by Hal Burns Racing

H

ank Arnold was a true American hero in every sense of the word. Whether it was his time as a Marine, his love for his family, or helping another racer at the track, one thing was consistent; everyone looked up to Arizona’s most popular driver.

Arnold’s story began on a farm in the small town of Sharon, Wisconsin on March 28, 1931. He didn’t stay there long, however, as the family made the move west to Tucson, Arizona just one year later. Arnold’s sister, Dorothy, remembered his passion for racecars from as early as the age of three, going as far as building cars out of wooden boxes with nails and spools acting as toggle switches and dash components. It was just the beginning of what would be an impressive career behind the wheel.

After returning home to Tucson from the Marines in 1951, Arnold built his first race car with close friend Roger McCluskey by his side. Although it was a fairly simple jalopy,

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By Spencer Hill

Arnold took the opportunity to soak up as much knowledge as possible about the mechanics of race cars.

Arnold finally made his first start as a driver at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds’ Race Track in 1953. The same race fans that had found appreciation in Arnold’s ability to build race cars soon found out that he was quite skilled in the cockpit of them as well. Arnold’s second car nicknamed “Party Doll” surfaced in 1956. It was the first tubular super-modified race car in the United States, and was considered to be the first true super-modified to come out of the Southwest. Arnold was understandably proud of his concept. The Party Doll brought even more success to Arnold, and they combined for over 30 feature wins and multiple championships. After Party Doll, Arnold built “Lil Stinker” and “Payola” which each had their own features that assisted Arnold to another slew of victories and awards. Other drivers were often intrigued

by Arnold’s ability to try combinations with setup that nobody else could make work.

There was always one car of Arnold’s that stood above the rest, however. In 1962, Arnold built the car that would undoubtedly define his career as one of Arizona’s best. “The Twister” was a true super-modified that was well ahead of its time and set the bar high for fellow car builders nationwide. The 1600-pound car was light weight for those days; featuring state-of-the-art front spindles, wide rear tires, and a 301-cubic-inch Chevrolet power plant with a GMC 4-71 supercharger that sat three inches further back than any other car. Perhaps even more impressive than the mechanics of the car was the body work that dressed The Twister. The bodies lines represented everything that was unique about super-modified racing in the ‘60s, and helped give Arnold’s creation major notoriety. Knowing that others would likely copy the design, Arnold set out for a way to make The Twister his. Arnold’s solution was via Charlie Hall who created a vibrant orange paint scheme that was unlike any color ever seen on a race car before.

The Twister had so much power and grip that Arnold’s tallest hurdle was finding a way to keep all four tires connected to the ground. Once that balance was found, Arnold was seemingly unbeatable. The only thing that could slow the fearless driver down was his own body. Arnold suffered a broken neck in 1960 and then a broken back in 1963. He

NMMotorSportsReport.com 5

continued to race despite the pain he endured because of those injuries.

There was no point in time where Arnold’s success made him lose sight of his humble upbringing. Arnold was always approachable and went out of his way to help others any way that he could, whether it was making time for fans or assisting a fellow competitor. Arnold was also very popular outside of Arizona. There were many instances where he would travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, solely to help boost their program and folks could always count on Arnold to share his racing knowledge anywhere he went. He was a superstar in every way.

Unfortunately, Hank Arnold was fatally injured in June of 1967 at the age of 37 in an accident during a qualifying heat race at the famed Manzanita Speedway, the track where he had seen so much success. In a split second, the life and career of Arizona’s most popular driver was over. Arnold was so loved, in fact, that his death resulted in the largest funeral in Tucson history with a procession line spanning over two miles long. The void that was left behind by Arnold is still noticed to this day, and his life is celebrated annually with the Hank Arnold Memorial race every November.

Several years later, The Twister was successfully restored

by Navy veteran and friend of Arnold, Don Brown. Brown often recalled the races that he had witnessed at Tucson with Arnold and his beautiful Twister super-modified while overseas. The remembrance of the car’s unique sound was a welcome thought in Brown’s mind and a natural high that helped him get through the war. The news of Arnold’s death shocked Brown but the sailor swore to keep his legacy alive.

When Brown returned home, he went searching for the car that he had spent so many sleepless nights thinking about.

He would find that car in Albuquerque at Abie Gonzales’ used car lot, assured that it was in fair condition. To his surprise, the car looked nothing like its glory days, now adorning a pink and white color scheme and bailing wire holding it together.

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The asking price was too high for Brown to purchase and restore at the time, and he left back home without the legendary Twister in tow. Brown never gave up on the idea of the Twister’s restoration, though, and returned in 1981 to save a critical piece of Arizona racing history. Brown worked hard to find every original piece of the car, including the original motor and blower which had sat untouched in the Collins family barn, the original stainless steel numbers that decorated the upper body, and the DuPont paint numbers still on file from Charlie Hall. At last, after five long years, The Twister was back to its original condition, just as it had appeared on Hot Rod Magazine’s cover in 1963. Today, the original Twister resides at Crown Concepts in Tucson, Arizona, and is used to help promote the Hank Arnold Memorial every year and educate interested parties about the history of motorsports in Arizona.

In 2021, exactly 54 years after the loss of the Tucson icon, a new chapter has been added in the legacy of Hank Arnold and his Twister with the help of Hal Burns Racing. The Sprint Car team from Santa Fe, New Mexico is owned by Arnold’s nephew, David Burns. Burns was able to pay homage to Arnold this season with a commemorative paint scheme that replicates the famous Twister model from 1962. The driver is multi-time Lucas Oil POWRi New Mexico Motor Racing Association champion, Caleb Saiz, and was graciously renumbered as the No. 1HA for the 2021 racing season.

“I first learned about Hank Arnold when I began racing for David in 2016,” explained Saiz. “When I learned that I would be driving a tribute to his famous Twister car this season, it was a very special surprise and I am so thankful for the opportunity.”

The Hal Burns Racing team recently took a trip down to Crown Concepts in Tucson to see the original super-modified up close and learn more about its history from Don Brown.

Additionally, the team got to visit with some of the closest people to Hank’s heart. His wife, Roberta, and daughters Shirley and Laurie were generous enough to spend time with the team and share their favorite stories about the Tucson legend.

“I wanted to see The Twister in person and meet with Don, Roberta, Shirley and Laurie to learn more about Hank and his life,” explained Saiz. “It was so nice of the family to come out and share their stories of Hank. When I actually saw the

car, I was amazed at how cool it was. Obviously it’s an older car, but it was so nicely built. Hank was a great role model and a very likable, people person. He would always go out of his way to help others and was a true idol. I want to be like Hank Arnold.”

In storybook fashion, Saiz and Hal Burns Racing were able to capture their third-career Lucas Oil POWRi NMMRA Sprint Car Series championship together this season with a combined 672 points. It was an achievement that will not soon be forgotten by the team and is even sweeter that it came whilst paying tribute to their hero, Hank.

“This championship means a lot,” explained Saiz. “The highlight of the season would definitely be winning the Truman West Memorial but to win the championship in the Hank Arnold tribute car was our goal at the beginning of the year and it feels really good that we were able to make that happen. David Burns provides top of the line equipment, Paul Whitehead has been providing us with some awesome motors, and I’ve got a great group of people behind me that help and support me. That is what makes us competitive each year.”

“I can’t thank David Burns, Don Brown, and the Arnold family enough for allowing me to run the Hank Arnold tribute car this

year. It means so much. I also would like to thank Steve Nix, Clyde Hill, Russ Hein, Randy and Terra Bushee, Madelyn Hatch, James Hatch, and Devon Amos for all their hard work this year. They make my job easy, especially when it’s race day. Of course, it wouldn’t be possible without all our great partners; Hal Burns Truck & Equipment, J&J Auto Racing, FK Rod Ends, Weise Auto Supply, NAPA Belts & Hoses, SMII, JMS Telephone Company, Robert Jansonn with Bert’s Body Works, Hoosier Racing Tire, Simpson Race Products, Schaefer’s Oil, CSI Shocks, and Smiley’s Racing Products,” concluded Saiz The fact that The Twister has returned to the track this season, over half a century, later speaks volumes as to how much Arnold meant to motorsports in the southwest.

It is so fitting that success was able to follow The Twister into 2021 and fans once again were able to watch its tribute car celebrating in victory lane. Perhaps more important, it speaks to the man that Arnold was regardless of whether or not he was behind the wheel. He will always be remembered as a warm, friendly person, full of passion in everything he did. Adults loved him, children adored him, and competitors respected him. Although Hank Arnold is no longer with us, his legend will continue to live on for many years to come.

2022 SCHEDULE APRIL 2 APRIL 15 APRIL 16 MAY 7 JUNE 11 JUNE 18 JULY 30 AUG 27 SEP 9 SEP 10 OCT 1 NOV 4 NOV 5

VADO SPEEDWAY PARK AZTEC SPEEDWAY AZTEC SPEEDWAY VADO SPEEDWAY PARK TBA VADO SPEEDWAY PARK VADO SPEEDWAY PARK VADO SPEEDWAY PARK AZTEC SPEEDWAY AZTEC SPEEDWAY VADO SPEEDWAY PARK VADO SPEEDWAY PARK VADO SPEEDWAY PARK

AMPION H C 1 2 0 2 S N O I T CONGRATULaAleb Saiz #1HA C

WWW.NMMRA.COM NMMotorSportsReport.com 7

RememberingAl Unser Sr.

by John Haverlin / TheCircuitJournal.com Colorado every year in the earlier portion of the 20th Century.

Uncle Louis won the event nine times in his life, and Al Sr. won the event in back-to-back runs in 1964 and 1965.

Unser had three children, including Al Jr. Jr., or “Little Al” as he is affectionately known, is a two-time Indy 500 winner and Indy car champion himself.

“My heart is so saddened. My father passed away last night. He was a Great man and even a Greater Father. Rest In Peace Dad!” Little Al tweeted on the morning after his father’s death.

A

l Unser Sr. will always be remembered as one of the four men to win the Indianapolis 500 four times.

It’s an incredible accomplishment to win at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway once, but he -- as well as several other Unser family members -- created a legacy of winning that could perhaps only be matched by those with the last name of Andretti in American open-wheel racing.

Al Sr. was the youngest of four sons and arguably the best in terms of racing success. He won three Indy car racing championships (1970, 1983, 1985) and the Indy 500s in 1970, 1971, 1978, and 1987.

“He was a very smart race car driver,” fellow four-time Indy 500 champion A.J. Foyt told INDYCAR.com in a statement after his death on Dec. 9, 2021.

The Albuquerque native is sixth on the all-time Indy car wins list, with 39 victories spanning from 1965 to 1987. His wins were for some of the best-known car owners in open-wheel history, including Al Retzloff, Parnelli Jones, Vel Miletich, and Roger Penske.

Altogether, he made 27 starts in the Indy 500 and currently holds the record for being the oldest driver to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at 47 years old. He was as dominant as anyone in Indy car competition for nearly three decades. He won 28 poles and led nearly 6,000 laps in his career.

“Al was the class of the field,” Johnny Rutherford said to INDYCAR. Al Sr. came from a family of racers. His father, Jerry, and his two uncles raced in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in

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In 2004, Al Sr. was diagnosed with liver cancer, and it was a battle he endured for 17 years until his death. He maintained a public image in the IndyCar community during that time, and his family opened the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque in 2005.

Throughout the later years of his life, Al Sr. was a friend and supporter of the New Mexico Motorsports Report.

“It’s just the greatest feeling you could ever imagine -- to accomplish something you just dreamed about. … All of a sudden, there you are. You have won the race. You have beaten the best there is. You’ve dominated the race all day. It was our day; there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do,” Unser said about his first Indy 500 triumph.

He led 190 of 200 laps in the 1970 race. And it was only the beginning of an incredible career.

Al Sr. died at his home in Chama, New Mexico, seven months after the passing of his older brother Bobby.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE 2022 SCHEDULE

APRIL 2

360 Non-Wing Sprints, S&J Automotive Stock Cars, Hulsey Racing Legends, Johnstone Supply Super Trucks, S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks

APRIL 9

Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models, Rancho Milagro Modifieds, Johnstone Supply Super Trucks, S&J Automotive Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks

APRIL 13

Open Practice

APRIL 15 - 16

NON-WING SPRINT CARS + LOCAL CLASSES

APRIL 16

MAY 20 - 21

LOCAL CLASSES

APRIL 23

JUNE 10 - 11

POWRi WING SPRINT CARS + LOCAL CLASSES

APRIL 30

Jackson Compaction 305 Winged Sprints, Rancho Milagro Modifieds, Hacienda Carpet & Tile B-Mods, S&J Automotive Stock Cars, Hulsey Racing Legends

MAY 7

Sunset Grill 360 Non-Wing Sprints, Rancho Milagro Modifieds, Hulsey Racing Legends, Johnstone Supply Super Trucks, S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks

MAY 14

Jackson Compaction 305 Winged Sprints, Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models, Hacienda Carpet & Tile B-Mods, Hulsey Racing Legends, S&J Automotive Stock Cars

JULY 29 - 30

LOCAL CLASSES

AUG 19 - 20

POWRi WING SPRINT CARS + LOCAL CLASSES

MAY 21

SEP 9 - 10

LOCAL CLASSES

MAY 27

LOCAL CLASSES:

IMCA MODIFIEDS - IMCA STOCK CARS - IMCA NORTHERN SPORT MODS IMCA HOBBY STOCKS - IMCA SPORT COMPACTS - DWARF / MOD LITES

MAY 28-29

Jackson Compaction 305 Winged Sprints, Hacienda Carpet & Tile B-Mods, Johnstone Supply Super Trucks, Hulsey Racing Legends, S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models, Rancho Milagro Modifieds, S&J Automotive Stock Cars, Johnstone Supply Super Trucks, S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks

Rancho Milagro Modifieds, S&J Automotive Stock Cars, Johnstone Supply Super Trucks, S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks, Hobby Stocks Open Practice

360 Winged Sprints, Anthony Sosa Roofing Late Models, Hulsey Racing Legends, Hacienda Carpet & Tile B-Mods, S.H. Automotive Pure Stocks

@VadoSpeedwayPark NMMotorSportsReport.com 9

RememberingBobby Unser B

obby Unser won three Indianapolis 500s, two national Indy car championships, 10 overall victories in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, and 35 Indy car races.

But that is only scratching the surface of who he was.

by John Haverlin / TheCircuitJournal.com way he acts sometimes, but nobody could say he wasn’t an exceptional racer. Maybe not the best, but damn good in everything he drove.

“A hard-charger and clean. But being a bully made his racing look better.”

Unser won the 500 in 1968, 1975, and most infamously, in 1981.

The 1981 edition of the Indianapolis race is notorious and among the most controversial in history because of the overruling of Unser’s victory in favor of runner-up Mario Andretti and then reversing of it to give the official win back to Unser nearly five months later.

With 51 laps left in the race, Unser and Andretti pitted during a caution, and it was deemed that Unser illegally passed eight cars during the yellow flag period. Andretti passed two, and the eventual margin of victory was just over five seconds.

USAC officials revoked the initial victory from Unser and awarded it to Andretti, and this was upheld until October after months of protesting and appealing. Unser was once again named the winner of the race, and shortly after, Unser announced his retirement from racing.

“Uncle Bobby” was a talent behind the wheel of a racecar and a personality as large as any in the world of auto racing.

He was often an outspoken leader in the paddock, and up until his death on May 2, 2021, he described things how he viewed them and didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought.

“At one time, he was my hero, for sure,” fellow competitor A.J. Foyt told RACER Magazine. “He was a good friend in the beginning before he became a bully. I don’t care for the

Although he hung up the helmet in the early 1980s, he was still just as prevalent on the racing scene as he was before.

Unser took up television broadcasting and was employed by ABC, NBC, and ESPN throughout his 20-year tenure in the booth.

He commentated several significant races as an announcer, including younger brother Al Sr.’s 1987 Indy 500 win and “Little Al’s” two Indy 500 triumphs in 1992 and 1994.

“Uncle Bobby” and Andretti didn’t speak for decades after the 1981 race, but in 2017, Unser’s health began to deteriorate.

Andretti reached out to Unser to reconcile their relationship and maintained a friendship until Unser’s death a year ago.

“I’m happy – and I hope he’s happy – that we’re friends again,” Andretti said in a 2020 interview with RACER. “We were great friends for a long time and then mad for many years, but now we’re good. He was so good. He was born with that spoon in his mouth for being a great racer. Just a natural and exceptionally talented. He came along at the right time and stayed with it. He became a hero.”

Andretti and Roger Penske spoke at Unser’s funeral. Unser was as great a storyteller as he was a fierce competitor throughout his life, and he’ll long be remembered for his distinct personality and knack for racing cars.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE UPCOMING SCHEDULE APR 23

APR 24

APRIL 23 - Clay Oval Racing Season Opener

TEST AND TUNE - ALL CLASSES SEASON OPENER MICRO SPRINT, A-MOD, HOBBY, STOCK CAR, STREET STOCK

MAY 7

A-MOD, HOBBY, STREET STOCK, X-MOD

MAY 14

MICRO SPRINT, HOBBY, STOCK CAR

MAY 29 JUN 11 JUN 18

Classes: 360 Wing Sprint, X-Mod, Street Stock, Cruiser, NMDA Racing Begins at 3:30PM.

TEST AND TUNE - ALL CLASSES

APR 30

MAY 28

APRIL 16 - Clay Oval Racing Season Opener

APRIL 30 - Clay Oval Racing Blazing Battle MAY 7 - Clay Oval Racing May Mania

2 DAY SHOW MICRO SPRINT, A-MOD, HOBBY, STOCK, STREET, X-MOD 2 DAY SHOW MICRO SPRINT, A-MOD, HOBBY, STOCK, STREET, X-MOD HOBBY, STREET STOCK, X-MOD HOBBY, STOCK CAR, STREET STOCK, X-MOD

Classes: 305 Wing Sprint, Mini Sprint, A-Mod, Stock Car, Cruiser Racing Begins at 3:30PM.

Classes: 360 Wing Sprint, X-Mod, Street Stock, Cruiser, NMDA Racing Begins at 6:30PM.

Classes: 305 Wing Sprint, Mini Sprint, A-Mod, Stock Car, Cruiser Racing Begins at 6:30PM.

MAY 14 - Clay Oval Racing Spring Fling MAY 21 - Clay Oval Racing Randy Combs Memorial Race

Classes: 360 Wing Sprint, X-Mod, Street Stock, Cruiser, NMDA Racing Begins at 6:30PM.

Classes: 305 Wing Sprint, Mini Sprint, A-Mod, Stock Car, Cruiser Racing Begins at 6:30PM.

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ABQ Super Super Lap Lap Series Series ABQ

I

f you are looking for an opportunity to get out on a road course for fun, competitive, high speed driving experience in Albuquerque, New Mexico, then this growing time attack community is for you! If you’re interested in how to get involved and the best areas to invest into your car, we’ve got you.

Time Attack is a type of motorsport in which racers are competing within their class for the best lap time. It originated in Japan back in the 1980s as a proving ground for streettuned cars. During the Japanese Bubble Era, motorsports were at a high due to the strong economy. This resulted in amazing tuning products popular Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) legends we know and love today such as the Nissan GTR, Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, and more.

by Eric Williams

During the events, we will break you down in three different classes: TA-A (Low Horse Power: Weight Ratio of 15.00+) TA-B (Medium Horse Power: Weight Ratio of 10.00 - 14.99) TA-C (High Horse Power: Weight Ratio of 9.99 and below).

This may sound complicated, but it’s a simple formula of Race Weight (with driver in the car)/Wheel Horse Power = Class.

Once broken down into class, we will begin a drivers meeting, and each session will consist of one warm-up lap, three hot-laps and one cool-down lap. We will complete as many sessions as possible during the allotted time period which will allow the driver to keep improving on your time throughout the day.

The ABQ Super Lap Series is a time attack style of racing designed to introduce new drivers to high performance driving. During track days, you can expect an awesome community available to help you develop as a driver with good seat time and education. Our goal is to keep people on the track, not off! We’ve been to track days where people can be completely rude and give wrong advice; next thing you know, your car is wrecked. I’m proud to say we have one of the best and professional car communities here in Albuquerque.

A few suggested items to bring would be: 100% Cotton Long-Sleeve Shirt and Pants, Flat Shoes, DOT Approved(minimum), Snell M 2015 or newer (better) or Snell SA 2015 or newer (best/recommended) helmet, Fire Extinguisher, Tire Pressure Gauge, Tools, Duct Tape, Zip Ties, Jack, Torque Wrench, Oil, Tow Hook, Water and Gas.

How do I get involved? Head to Facebook and search “ABQ Super Lap Series” and view all the pinned posts. These posts will answer most of your questions concerning driver safety, vehicle safety, and class system. The great thing about the series is we do not require certified roll cages and harnesses which help keeps the cost down.

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multiple time 1988-1998 SWDRA Albuquerque Pro Bike Champion Stephen Inoue, who made a couple hits on his familiar yellow Santa Fe Racing Suzuki.

Check the 2022 schedule at abqdragway.com for the bracket events when the motorcycle class will be racing.

Albuquerque Dragway 2022 Preview

By Gene Grant, ABQ Dragway Announcer Photos by CherryBombPhotoworks

A

lbuquerque Dragway just saw its season opener for the 2022 bracket race series, and from the turnout, the number of new hot rods being driven by familiar faces, and overall enthusiasm, things were looking good. Until they weren’t, when the late afternoon winds kicked up and we called it before the final rounds for safety.

The calendar for 2022 has a number of new events, along with our traditional big show events like Memorial Day Mayhem (R.O.D.S.!), the Firecracker Nationals in July (R.O.D.S. and jet cars), and the Labor Day Bash (R.O.D.S. vs Altereds).

Car Club Clash returns in May, as does the A/FX Super Stockers, and All Out Call Out runs both in June and September. Midnight Madness Rockin’ and Racin’ returns in July with a live band. The popular Hot Rod Rumble is back in October that’ll feature a 1978 and older show and shine and The A/FX and Barnstorming Injected All Star Tour and

Wind happens on Mesa del Sol, but in spite of it, we saw just over 20 Junior Dragster’s enter, with healthy car counts in Sportsman, Pro and Super Pro as well.

But what really made the day was the addition of a motorcycle class to the bracket program, with a nice turnout and variety of bikes battling. Including three Harley - Davidson’s; two Road Glide’s and an EV LiveWire. There was also an appearance by 1998 IDBA Pro Stock Champion, 1998 AMA/Prostar West Coast Pro Stock Champion, and

The season opener also wraps the “pre-season,” at the track, concluding four weeks of the Yearwood Performance Center Street to Strip program, which will be running through mid November.

For new events, in July we tip the Big $$$ Nationals, with serious money on the table for all bracket categories, including motorcycles. In August 505 Cash Days 2K22 debuts with a big tire and small tire class and a live band. In late October, the Great Pumpkin Race brings the

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October will also feature a big money Junior’s race.

2022 is going to be a busy one at Albuquerque Dragway, so check out the entire schedule at abqdragway.com.

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GREENBERG WINS NITRO PRO COMP

by NM Motor Sports Report Staff

AT MARCH

MEET

Photo by Dale Fackler

A

s a child of 7, Albuquerque’s Lyle Greenberg first read about the March Meet (then known as the U.S. Fuel and Gas Championships) in Bakersfield in his dad’s race magazines. It quickly became a long-term goal for Greenberg to someday compete at that event. In recent years, the March Meet has become the biggest and most prestigious race on the NHRA Heritage Series tour. In 2018, when Greenberg began racing the nitromethane-powered funny car he currently races, he finally had a car that would fit in a class that is run at the March Meet. In 2022, at the 64th annual edition of the race, Greenberg not only fulfilled the goal of competing at this race, but also a life-long dream of actually winning the event, becoming the first New Mexican to ever win a nitro category at the March Meet.

Greenberg was driving his 1978 Corvette Funny Car, the “Cone Hunter”, in the Nitro Pro Comp class which is open to any car meeting the vintage body rules that runs a minimum of 85% nitro. This year’s field consisted of Fuel Altereds, Nostalgia Funny Cars and vintage rear engine Top Fuelers. The great equalizer in the class is a 5.90 index.

For those familiar with the NHRA Super Comp category, this

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is a similar type of class, but on super-steroids as driver’s try to hit the index at speeds well in excess of 200 mph.

Also different is that the throttle stops that are widely used in other forms of index racing are not practical on a nitro engine, as part-throttle operation is a sure recipe for engine explosions.

At the conclusion of qualifying, the Cone Hunter was #1 in the 8-car field at a 6.06 second ET, well ahead of the #2 qualifier at a 6.22. Greenberg said “we were trying

Photo by Dale Fackler

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to slow the car down, since the incredible air conditions (<600’ density altitude) allowed the car to run a 5.87 ET on our first run even shutting it off about 150’ early. We tried to reduce the blower overdrive, reduce the timing and reduce the percentage of nitro, but we never really succeeded in slowing the car enough. So I was shutting the car off at about the 1,000’ mark and letting it coast the remaining 300’. This is a technique that my bracket racing friends would call “spot-dropping”, though bracket racers rarely have to pick their spot while going 220 mph. But the strategy seemed to work out pretty well.”

One of the great things about running the car that way was that it was not tearing up any parts. Several of the other nitro crews came by and were surprised to hear that the Cone Hunter team never had the cylinder heads off the engine during qualifying and eliminations. The crew did pull the oil pan each run to check bearings, as well as servicing the clutch and the many details that must be checked between runs on a powertrain capable of in excess of 3,500 horsepower.

In the final round, the Cone Hunter squared off with Keith Wilson and his “Witch Doctor” fuel altered. Greenberg ran a 6.00 ET at an early shutoff 206 mph to take the win and be able to take the highly-coveted March Meet trophy back to Albuquerque.

NMMotorSportsReport.com 19

Photo by Brian Hoffsmith

The Cone Hunter crew that made the win possible included Troy Hamby, Wes Swinford, Scott and John Leffew, Stephen Kehrer, John McGerigle and Rachel Greenberg. Lyle Greenberg has enjoyed long-term business partner relationships with The Greenberg Family AMSOIL Dealership, Car Crafters, PPG, Yearwood Performance, MAC Hydraulic, Homes by Labbate, Action RV, Waterjet Cutting, Albuquerque Dragway, High Mesa Frames, Alchemy Engines, Dime Store Shutterbug, WJR Photography, Stinson Metal Fab, Snake Enterprises, and Apple Girl Art.

Photo by Brian Hoffsmith

20 NMMotorSportsReport.com

T RI CK S OF T H E T R A D E S

by Jim Costa / YearwoodPerformance.com

ince we haven’t done this in a while, I thought I would start with a “State of the Garage” address. It’s 2022 and technology of the automobile is just amazing. There’s a lot of talk about making ungodly amounts of horsepower with ease, power adders are so much more efficient than they’ve ever been, making that accomplishment even easier. High gas prices and the very controversial electronic vehicles (EV), where does their future lie? Aftermarket fuel injection for street and hot rodders is made easier than ever and black is definitely the new chrome.

Maybe you want to buy a newer Mustang, Camaro or Challenger and want to make 1000 hp, definitely not unheard of. It’s really a matter of which power adder you want to do it with. You can use twin turbo kits, ProCharger blower kits, or even nitrous oxide, pick your poison. You’ll be running in the nines in the quarter in no time at all. And with the recent NHRA rule change, newer car chassis are able to run 9.00 second quarter-mile times without roll cages, finally everybody’s working together. It’s so easy to make a killer daily driver, even I have recently considered a putting a twin turbo kit on a new Mustang for a new daily.

Tesla has been paving the way for the EV cars, and now they are actually being considered performance cars, that is a game changer. You can purchase a low 9 second street car right off the showroom floor that has instant torque and is not affected by altitude or weather. It’s truly amazing how quick electric cars can be. I cannot argue with the technology, although, I don’t think our world is ready for electric cars, but the subject of infrastructure is a totally different discussion. The first time I drove an EV, I was amazed at how quick it accelerated. The electromagnetic propulsion used is just stupid quick. Head jerking throttle response is consistent, even at higher speeds.

Personally, I don’t think the battery technology is advanced enough to replace piston driven engines quite yet. But I do dig the performance and instant torque. We will always have an interest in performance, even EV. We are already talking with companies that are doing EV swaps into older cars. I have

already seen a local EV drag car that one of our customers built in a scaled down funny car. Is it our future, could be a possibility.

As everything else is evolving, so is aftermarket fuel injection. Want to replace your carburetor, no problem. A simple weekend project and there will be no more jet changes for you. Theoretically, you should be making a jet change every 2000’ in elevation change.

So, if you and a buddy want to go for a cruise up to the Sandia Crest, you should stop and change jets twice, but who’s going to do that, no one. Carburetors are about sacrifice, a happy medium that works well enough. With our crazy weather in Albuquerque, there are days when we see all four seasons, we should be re-tuning our carbs during the course of the day, but we don’t.

Electronic fuel injection does all of that for us. It will keep our air/ fuel ratios right where they are supposed to be. Regardless of the temperature or elevation. And don’t forget, this will ultimately save you in fuel costs, because you are using the right amount of fuel all the time, not having to make that sacrifice.

Torco race fuels saw a slight increase in price this year, but not like we have seen at the pump. Good news, I have been told that we be seeing anymore increases this year. We do stock more than a dozen different grades of Torco fuels, including a new one, 94 Unleaded Long Term Storage fuel, good up to a year, great for those cars that don’t get driven very often. Come on by and we can figure out which of the many Torco fuels is best for your application, including ethanol and methanol fuels. Speaking of fuels, the latest I have heard is Porsche has opened the first synthetic fuel laboratory in hopes of developing an alternative to fossil fuels, just goes to show you, we never know what the future has in store for us.

We at Yearwood Performance, take great pride in helping the automotive community. Feel free to reach out to us for any and all of your automotive needs. Weather it’s dressing up your hot rod or doing a complete custom build, we are here to help.

Thanks for more than 50 years of hot rodding in New Mexico.

NMMotorSportsReport.com 21

WHEELS 66 Proudly presented by the New Mexico Independent Auto Dealers Association WHEELS 66 Proudly presented by the New Mexico Independent Auto Dealers Association

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ROUTE

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New headquarters location for NMIADA

NewMexico MexicoIndependent IndependentAuto AutoDealers DealersAssociation AssociationAnnounces Announces New NewHeadquarters HeadquartersLocation Location New

By Marti Lynn King, COO, NMIADA

By Marti Lynn King, COO, NMIADA ver the last 5 years, NMIADA ver the last 5the years, NMIADA expanded number of expanded the range number services and of of support services range automotive of support offered to Newand Mexico’s offered to New Mexico’s industry.

Between 2017 automotive and 2021, the industry.

Between 2017 and the Association’s revenues and2021, personnel Association’s revenueswhich and personnel more than doubled, meant that more than doubled, which employees were forced tomeant doublethat and employees were forced to double and triple in each office.

With an aggressive triple in each office.

With an aggressive strategic growth plan, it became clear strategic growth it became to the Board of plan, Directors that aclear new tooffice the Board a new the wouldof beDirectors requiredthat to support office would beplans. required to support the Association’s A search for a new Association’s A search a new19 home beganplans. just before thefor COVID home began just before the COVID 19

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But the price was right, and the pandemic hit in 2019.

But the price was right, and pandemic hit indelayed 2019. during 2020, the facility is perfectly located nearthe the Although facility is perfectly located near Although during 2020, the intersection of I-40 and I-25 tothe be search pickeddelayed up again in early 2021, intersection of I-40for and I-25 to dealer be search up againain early 2021, more centralized the auto when picked staff identified 7,500-squaremore centralized for thepurchased auto dealer when staff identified a 7,500-squarecommunity.

NMIADA the foot building on Menaul, just east of community. purchased the foot buildingBoulevard. on Menaul, justby east of building in NMIADA March 2021 and undertook University Built the building March 2021 and undertook University Boulevard.

Built by the a majorin renovation that lasted until the state of New Mexico to house a family a middle major renovation that2021. lasted until the state of New Mexico house family of December Staff moved services division in to 1981, the atwo-story middle offacility December 2021. Staff moved services division 1981, the two-story into the just before Christmas. building with 9 in foot ceilings has had a into facility just before Christmas. building 9 foot ceilings as has had a Thethe new headquarters includes larger numberwith of lives, including a Youth The newan headquarters includes larger number of lives, including as a The Youth offices, executive conference Hostel and non-profit offices. offices, conference Hostel andwas non-profit offices. Theempty room an andexecutive a 50-person Professional building almost completely room and a 50-person Professional building wasdue almost completely empty Development Center to allow for of renters to COVID, and had been Development Center to allow for ofbroken rentersup due to aCOVID, had been events, monthly dealer-compliance into numberand of oddly events, monthly dealer-compliance broken up into a number oddly and trainings, lunch-and-learn sessions, designed spaces with oldof windows trainings, lunch-and-learn sessions, designed spaces with old windows and and use by NMIADA members for infrastructure. and use by NMIADA members for infrastructure. paid advertisement paid advertisement

individual dealer meetings and training individual dealer meetings and training courses. On March 1, 2022, Advantage courses.

OnaMarch 1, provider 2022, Advantage Analytics, leading of GPS Analytics, a leadingannounced provider ofa GPS location devices, major location devices, announced major gift to NMIADA to fund theaProfessional gift to NMIADACenter to fundinthe Professional Development perpetuity and Development Center in perpetuity and it will be named in honor of Advantage itAnalytics. will be named in honor of Advantage Analytics.

With room for future growth, With room future growth, NMIADA’s newfor headquarters at 2202 NMIADA’s newNE headquarters at the 2202 Menaul Blvd should allow Menaul Blvd to NEeffectively should allow the Association meet its Association effectively meetand its missions oftoServing, Sharing missions of Serving, Supporting the NewSharing Mexicoand automotive Supporting the New Mexico automotive industry for decades to come. industry for decades to come.

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505-232-0809 22 NMMotorSportsReport.com

The Battle at Jerry’s

World

By: Scott Welch, Motor Sports Photojournalist ScottWelchPhoto.com

I

f you know Supercross, you know Eli Tomac (#3). If you know Eli and you’re from Albuquerque, you probably also know that he is from Cortez, Colorado. Eli has some fairly serious roots in New Mexico. Spending much of his early MX days racing at the Moriarty MX track and battling with Jason Anderson in they’re younger days. Eli told me this while in the process of interviewing him at the AMA Supercross on the floor of AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas. I was there covering the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship and acquiring images for promotion etc. You know, just doing my thing.

The day started off a bit uneasy but quickly smoothed out. It was cold in Arlington that day for the 8th round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. I had to walk back out of the tunnel at the stadium to my car twice. Every time they opened, what was the largest garage door I had ever seen, an Arctic wind came blowing into the stadium. It was cold. I was now was headed back to “will call” to get a vest that I had already requested when I acquired my credential earlier, and that I ultimately would not use.

Eli, had already achieved the lead in The 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship points when I shook his hand on the field at Jerry’s World. As I write, Eli Tomac, has now won for 4 in a row and has a near 50 point lead. Typical Tomac style. We have watched this 29 year old become the best in 12 short years!

24 NMMotorSportsReport.com

Now, Eli has just won Indy, a race which was no less competitive than the season has already been. Justin Barcia, who I also interviewed that day, is now sharing 2nd in points with New Mexico’s beloved, Jason Anderson. Jason, for some unknown reason to me, was not at the Pro’s media day interview session In Arlington. Which was obviously a bit disappointing since he’s from New Mexico. I still don’t have shots of Jason on the Kawasaki. Hopefully Denver at the outdoor in June.

Justin Barcia has alway been one of my favorites. I love the hard charging racing style. Winning is everything at this level and “Bam Bam” as such, is one super hard charger!

He doesn’t falter at giving it all he has. I have been fortunate to make bud’s with Justin over the years, he is super cool to all his fans. Justin humbly reminds me that he has my images. “See you in Denver my Brotha!” Justin is now tied for second in points with Anderson. You can count on JB winning in the near future!

Now let’s talk about the home boy. “El Hombre” is riding at a whole new level on the Kawasaki. Apparently the Kawasaki way of managing the Supercross program and Jason’s race craft are melding superbly. He then went to round 2 at Oakland and won it! Jason also got 2nd at Anaheim 2, round 4. He then got his second win of the season at round 5 in Minneapolis! Jason Anderson is having a great season so far. Unfortunately Jason is a little more banged up now from Indianapolis. Hopefully he’s back next week and stays healthy.

then left to walk down to the field. There I found my spot from a fantastic angle, from where I shot most of the picture you see here. I was stand right above some Monster Energy AMA production dudes and a couple of security guards. I immediately began to build a rapport cutting in some jokes and such, after all I was above them on a stage (lol).

There was also a small tunnel there with an elevator back behind me at the top of the stairs. So, when the Pro’s came out I simply walked back up the stairs, got onto the elevator and took it down to the field level. Walked out the tunnel where me new buds were, across two lanes of the MX track and right up behind 4 time AMA World Champ, Eli Tomac. I said “Hey Eli!” He responded, “Hey man what’s up?” I said “ Get a quick interview with ya?” He said “Sure Man!” And there you have it!

I also approached Justin Barcia and pulled off the same thing.

The racing on Saturday was awesome. Eli won overall, and Jason Anderson won 2 out of the 3 Triple Crowns. Jason was 6th in the first moto due to taking out Malcolm Stewart and going down himself. He ending up 6th overall in that race so Jason was second over all in Arlington!

I recommend that you go to Youtube to see the race highlights.

Scott Welch

Motor Sports Photographer Photojournalist

Now back to the original story. I went back to will call and got my vest. The girls apologized. I headed back across the street to AT&T Stadium. That deep voice inside me that I call God said, “turn here” into the main entrance to the stadium.

I immediately knew why when I turned because the best parking in the place was right in front of me. So I pulled right in. First row right in font of gate 1. “Thank You Lord!” I said. I entered gate 1 and saw a line of people to apparently tour Jerry’s World. A gentleman at the kiosk immediately looked at me and said, “you look like media”. I responded “yes, for the Supercross race”. Well you probably want to go down to the tunnel, right?”. I said “I just want to get on the rail closest to the field and hopeful be able to walk around it and shoot.” He sent me past a barricade, down some stairs, through some glass doors, told me to turn right

Images for Marketing and Fine Art Feature Author and text for marketing. scottwelchphoto.com 505-934-SCOT(7268) NMMotorSportsReport.com 25

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How the Gen 7 has changed NASCAR

E

By Jonathan Fjeld (@jonathan_fjeld Twitter)

ntering the first season of the Gen 7 car in 2022, the only expectations were no expectations – and while the first few winners have been about the only conventional part of this season, it has lived up to the promise of bringing changes to the motorsport.

While Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports drivers quickly reeled off wins in 2022, just as they had in 2021, they were chased by a mixed bag of drivers from other teams.

Tyler Reddick contended for the win at Phoenix and led the most laps in Fontana where Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon finished 2nd and also contended for the win.

Ross Chastain led the most laps at Las Vegas and, in Fontana, teammate Daniel Suarez finished 4th after racing for Trackhouse Racing’s first NASCAR Cup Series win. Kurt Busch posted some top 5 finishes in some of 23XI Racing’s best nonsuperspeedway performances.

Erik Jones also ran up front in Fontana for Richard Petty Motorsports and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. showed superspeedway strength for JTG-Daugherty Racing.

With new parts and pieces, these different faces have appeared at the front of the field with some of the series’ typical frontrunning teams, who haven’t been immune from mistakes, mechanical woes and mishaps.

The Fontana race, alone, saw champions Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski spin while finding the limits of the car. At Phoenix, champions Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. fell out of the race before the final 70 laps, due to a valve spring issue and a wreck in turn 2 respectively.

Despite contending for wins, Denny Hamlin also had the worst start to his career, netting crash DNFs at Daytona and Atlanta; and a DNF at Las Vegas after accidentally downshifting while leaving pit road.

Hamlin stated at Phoenix that he expected there to be more woes and stated he was not going to panic, saying, “I’m confident. I really am actually happy where our team is and where it is progressing week to week.”

NASCAR has progressed from drawing criticism from fans and Cup teams over a myriad of tire issues to the sanctioning body and the teams addressing the issues and adapting to new conditions.

Races progressed from drivers falling several laps down due to spin-induced tire issues in the Daytona 500 and in Fontana, to drivers driving off from those issues as they adapted to the new 18-inch wheels and tires.

NASCAR also levied penalties against The Money Team and Kaulig Racing after Daytona, Front Row Motorsports after Fontana and Spire Motorsports after Phoenix as each organization had a team that lost a wheel.

28 NMMotorSportsReport.com

Each team’s crew chief, jackman and appropriate tire changer were suspended for four championship races, which Kaulig and Front Row appealed and lost March 15 – the same day Spire accepted their penalty.

Tyler Reddick and Aric Almirola also each survived a spin in the grass at Las Vegas and Atlanta. Unlike what often happened in the Gen 6 car, each driver did not destroy their car in the grass and finished the race.

The Money Team did not appeal, however. The team, backed

by Floyd Mayweather is one of four to make their NASCAR Cup Series debut under their current billing in 2022.

Pit Viper Sunglasses joined forces with Grala and TMT, ending a sponsorship search dating back to Aug. 2020 – when Grala finished top 10 debut finish in his Cup debut at the Daytona road course.

John Cohen and Greg Biffle also unexpectedly announced plans for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, as they entered a No. 44 Chevrolet into the Daytona 500 – one year after a hot rumor had fellow veteran Johnny Sauter as Cohen’s driver before Sauter quickly quashed it.

Open-wheel racing-related efforts Team Hezeberg and Team Stange also announced unexpected plans to run in 2022.

Team Hezeberg gave 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve a chance to return to attempt the Daytona 500 and gave two-time NASCAR Whelen Euro champion Loris Hezemans a chance to debut at COTA. Team Stange Racing also announced 8 races for open wheeler Tarso Marques, with the first race coming at Road America.

Team Stange owner John Stange Jr. cited Marques’s experience and his strong performance in Brazilian stock cars, of similar nature to the Gen 7, as reasons why the team decided to announce their NASCAR Cup Series program. Previously, they dabbled in part-time ARCA efforts and ran Oriol Servia in the 2019 Indianapolis 500 with Arrow Schmidt-Peterson.

With various vendors producing car parts and pieces, it is far easier for a team to develop a competitive program – let alone a program – than with the Gen 6 car.

The series averaged 30 lead changes – compared to 20 in 2021 – and more races have come down to battles within the final 25 miles, including Las Vegas where Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch – and then Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson – raced side-by-side for the win in the final 10 laps.

Veterans Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick agreed they were ‘pleasantly surprised’ with the car. Denny Hamlin even stated at Phoenix, “I think so far, the races have been fantastic. We’ve

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By Dominic Aragon

The “Let’s Go Racing with David Starr” podcast has been a fun behind-thescenes racing show that David, my co-host Tyler Jones, and myself have enjoyed putting together for NASCAR Nation for almost the last year-and-ahalf.

We started our show in November of 2020, but we had been spearheading the idea of all working together months before.

BACKGROUND The three of us co-host the “Let’s Go Racing” weekly podcast.

David Starr is a veteran racer across all three of NASCAR’s top-three touring series. Starr has won four times in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and currently drives for SS Greenlight Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Starr brings his knowledge from behind the racecar and under the hood as the show’s driver analyst.

Tyler Jones just has to start talking and you know right away what he does. Jones guides the show with his baritone voice and his carefully-crafted questions and insight from covering multiple professional sports.

Jones currently works as a TV analyst for Chat Sports in the Dallas-Forth

Worth area, but his past experience includes radio and national television.

As for me, I have worked inside the sport since 2010 with The Racing Experts LLC, a motorsports-news outlet that focuses primarily on NASCAR coverage.

The three of us have wanted to collaborate for quite some time, but at the height of the pandemic in 2020, we came up with the idea of doing this weekly show.

CURRENTLY I think what makes our podcast different and unique is the fact our distribution is a little different. Not only do we distribute on all major podcast platforms, you can also watch the show weekly on our YouTube page!

The three of us hope on a virtual call every week to tape the show, along with our guest, and we include as many visual elements as possible like photos and video with the YouTube version.

Plus, with many of the stories we share, we try to give our listeners a chance to hear behind-the-scenes tales from around the sport. Our show runs about 60-75 minutes.

On occasion, when the three of us are in the same room, we’re known to do live shows at racetracks and NASCAR race weekends.

Since the start of the show, we’ve had some motorsports royalty as guests including Mario Andretti, Geoff Bodine and Jacques Villeneueve.

GET INVOLVED On top of sharing cool stories and discussing the hot topics of the week, it’s no secret everyone’s favorite part is the “Ask David” segment towards the end of the show.

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