9/2/2021
POWRi
Saiz Stretches Point Lead with Victory at Sandia Speedway
Albuquerque, NM (8/28/21) – Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Caleb Saiz was the latest driver to visit victory lane at Sandia Speedway on Saturday night for the Truman West Memorial. The win would mark Saiz’s third win of the season and stretched his current point lead tremendously with only two races remaining on the schedule for 2021.
The win would not come easily, however, as a fierce group of racers were ready to make their march towards the front in hopes of tasting victory lane before the end of the season. The high-banked 3/8ths mile oval was in terrific shape, and two flights of qualifying heat races took place just as the sun set behind turn four.
Heat 1 would see a tight race for the lead between Caleb Stelzig and Spencer Hill, but a mistake on the cushion would allow Stelzig to pull away to yet another heat race win with Hill and Caleb Saiz rounding out the top three. Heat 2 belonged to Farmington’s Josh Grady who led Travis Oldfield and JR Bonesteel across the line with a very fast eight laps that went green-to-checkered.
After a quick splash of water on the racing surface, drivers were ready to battle for 25 circuits around Sandia Speedway in honor of long-time car owner with SEH Motorsports, Truman West. For the first time this season, Michael Fanelli would lead the field to the green flag with JR Bonesteel to his outside. On the break, Bonesteel would move to the topside of the speedway to lead the opening lap, with Fanelli and Spencer Hill in tow. Hill would then get around Fanelli but before long it was Caleb “Sparky” Saiz making his march towards the front, getting around Hill and Bonesteel to reach the lead. Saiz stretched out to a comfortable lead, but the rest of the top five was an absolute hornet’s nest with close calls all around. Shortly after receiving the crossed flags, signaling the half-way point of the feature, chaos ensued in turn four as teammates collided while fighting for the third position. Travis Oldfield and Hill would connect wheels, sending Hill for a spin cycle on the exit of turn four, and unfortunately would collect a third car, Caleb Stelzig, as he flipped after hard contact with the No. 7D7. All drivers were okay, but tempers were hot both on and off the track.
Upon the restart, multiple drivers tried to make their move but none of them would stick, allowing Caleb Saiz to pull away with his J&J Auto Racing chassis for his third victory of the 2021 season, and his second at Sandia Speedway this year. Travis Oldfield would cross the line second, with Michael Fanelli, JR Bonesteel and Josh Grady rounding out the top five.
Results and points from Saturday’s feature event are unofficial, pending a review of possible penalties due to unsportsmanlike conduct between the crews of the No. 21, 11w, 41 and 7D7. Any updates will be shared as soon as possible.
UNOFFICIAL Results:
# Name Hometown +/-
- 1HA Caleb Saiz Albuquerque, NM +7
- 11w Travis Oldfield Albuquerque, NM +4
- 2 Michael Fanelli Rio Rancho, NM -2
- 0 JR Bonesteel Albuquerque, NM -2
- 12J Josh Grady Farmington, NM +2
- 58 Clint Miller Los Alamos, NM -3
- 4x David Dykes Los Lunas, NM +2
DNF 7D7 Spencer Hill Albuquerque, NM -4
DNF 21 Caleb Stelzig Albuquerque, NM -4
DNF 41 Dillon Tanner Rio Rancho, NM -
DNS 24 Robert Marfia Rio Rancho, NM -
Heat 1 (Results): 1-Stelzig.C 2-Hill.S 3-Saiz.C 4-Fanelli.M 5-Dykes.D 6-Marfia.R
Heat 2 (Results): 1-Grady.J 2-Oldfield.T 3-Bonesteel.JR 4-Miller.C 5-Tanner.D
