7/28/2021
NMMRA-New Mexico Motor Racing Association
Hill Goes Back-to-Back at Sandia
Albuquerque, NM (7/24/21) – After finally snapping a winless streak spanning over six years, Spencer Hill did not waste any time backing up his first victory as he captured his second career Lucas Oil POWRi NMMRA Sprint Car Series win on Saturday night at Sandia Speedway. His round 11 win now places Hill as one of three drivers to record multiple wins in the 2021 season.
For the first time in several weeks in Albuquerque, clear skies welcomed the drivers and crews of the Lucas Oil POWRi NMMRA Sprint Car Series to the high banked clay oval on the west side of New Mexico’s largest city. After a quick hot lap session, drivers were ready to run in one of two qualifying heat races to determine the starting lineup for the A-Main.
Heat 1 had a handful of familiar faces up front with the series’ leading man in heat race wins collected yet another, as the No. 21 of Caleb Stelzig would beat Travis Oldfield and Josh Grady across the line. Unfortunately, trouble struck further back in the field as Los Alamos, New Mexico’s Clint Miller found a tractor tire at the bottom of turn two, knocking the front end out of his No. 58 machine. Miller was okay, but a lot of work would be needed to get back on track for the feature.
Heat 2 was scheduled to have Devon Amos and Robert Marfia on the front row, but mechanical issues saw the No. 24 of Marfia pulling off the track before the green flag could wave. This would move the SEH Motorsports No. 7D7 of Spencer Hill to the outside of the front row for eight laps around a fast Sandia Speedway. Hill was on the tail tank of Amos for much of the race but was unable to complete a pass with a lap and a half to go, and fell to 3rd. Amos stayed cool, calm, and collective and would take the win with teammate, Caleb Saiz, finishing 2nd.
Next on tap was 25 circuits to see who would take home the 11th race of the 2021 season. JR Bonesteel and Devon Amos would fire the field off at the cone in turn four and Amos would grab the holeshot to lead the opening lap. It wouldn’t last very long though as the rookie sensation, Caleb Stelzig, would complete the pass for the lead on lap three and open a distance on the rest of the field. The first and only caution flag went in the air on lap eight, and it was for your leader Stelzig as an ignition wire came loose, cutting off the power from the No. 21. It would once again be a heartbreak race for the 16-year-old as two weekends in a row at Sandia Speedway he would experience a mechanical failure while leading.
Right before the caution came out, both Hill and Oldfield were able to get around the Amos car, meaning they would restart as the new leader and runner up car. When the race resumed, Hill darted out to the lead, but Oldfield would sneak a nose multiple times in turn three and four until he got pressure from Caleb Saiz, allowing Hill to pull away. As the laps counted down, it would be the question of who could get around lapped traffic better to decide the win. Hill entered lapped traffic with nearly a straightaway lead, but Saiz would close quickly as Hill caught some of the slower traffic in three-wide situations.
After a few close calls, it would be Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Spencer Hill picking up his second victory of the 2021 Lucas Oil POWRi NMMRA Sprint Car Series season, and his second sprint car win of his career. Saiz, Grady, Oldfield, and Amos would round out the top five with Saiz also picking up the hard charger award, after advancing five positions from the start of the feature.
“It has truly been a fantastic summer for our SEH Motorsports team,” said Hill.
“I knew that once I could get the first win out of the way, more would follow but I’m still a little shocked to go back-to-back at what used to be the track I struggled at the most. Again, I cannot thank Pat West and her family enough for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to wheel this beautiful J&J Auto Racing 7D7 car. Of course, this is all due to the immense help that I’ve had from Grammy’s Kitchen, Global Motorsports Report, Clark’s Pet Emporium, ZMAX Race Products, Razers Edge Gear, Lucky Stripes, Outlaw Designs, Hal Burns Racing, Performance Plus Racing Engines, and my great friends, family, and additional partners that have always had my back. I can’t wait for the next few weeks!”
With round 11 in the history books, the Lucas Oil POWRi NMMRA Sprint Cars will now turn their focus to their return to Aztec Speedway, in northern New Mexico, for two days of racing action on Friday and Saturday.
Results:
# Name Hometown +/-
- 7D7 Spencer Hill Albuquerque, NM +3
- 1HA Caleb Saiz Albuquerque, NM +5
- 12J Josh Grady Farmington, NM +5
- 11w Travis Oldfield Albuquerque, NM +2
- 41 Devon Amos Rio Rancho, NM -3
- 0 JR Bonesteel Albuquerque, NM -3
- 23 Craig Stringfellow Albuquerque, NM +2
- 58 Clint Miller Los Alamos, NM +3
- 50x Jerry Higginbotham Rio Rancho, NM -8
DNF 21 Caleb Stelzig Albuquerque, NM -5
DNS 24 Robert Marfia Rio Rancho, NM -
Heat 1 (Results): 1-Stelzig.C 2-Oldfield.T 3-Grady.J 4-Bonesteel.JR 5-Stringfellow.C 6-Miller.C
Heat 2 (Results): 1-Amos.D 2-Saiz.C 3-Hill.S 4-Higginbotham.J 5-Marfia.R
