54°F
weather icon Clear

Stormin’ Mormon race didn’t disappoint

The 31-car feature Modified race for the Stormin’ Mormon Showdown on March 11 at the Pahrump Valley Speedway was won by Bobby Hogge from a racing team out of Salinas, California, who won the $5,000 purse.

The race was a tribute to Ray Wulfenstein, who passed away in January and who raced under the name of the Stormin’ Mormon.

“I think Hogge is one of the best drivers on the West coast,” Bryan Wulfenstein, one of the organizers of the Stormin’ Mormon race said. “I think overall the race went nicely. Leland Hibdon and Levi Kiefer did a great job helping us to put this together. They have been racing a long time, which was helpful. It was a great, good old-fashioned race and everyone had a great time.”

The largest payout race of the year was not a disappointment to race fans.

“I really enjoyed the Stormin’ Mormon,” racer and fan Steve Stringer said. “I thought the race was one of the best races I can remember. It was well run and organized and there was no down time. I thought there was always something for spectators to see.”

Wulfenstein said one of the things that helped in making the race more enjoyable was how the heats were set up.

“At the beginning of the race the drivers all pulled out a number, which gave them the order of the first heat,” Wulfenstein said. “The drivers then got points from how they finished and if they passed someone. I think the points for passing made the race more exciting.”

Wulfenstein said there was also a rule for the number of caution flags you could get.

“If you caused two flags then you were gone,” he said. “It motivated the guys to get going.”

He said when all the points from the heats were tallied, the top ten cars automatically went to the main heat and they drew a number for the pole position. Then the top four cars from the B heats went to the feature race. So instead of 31 cars racing in the final, there were the top 10 and eight from the B heats.

Although the caution flags were at a minimum, there still were some hairy moments on the track. One in particular was in one of the heat races. Clifton King in his number 66 car tangled with Tony Kincaid’s 59 car in turn four, causing Kincaid to flip in the air and come down hard upside-down, where he lay for some 20 minutes. According to Wulfenstein, all the drivers walked away with no medical problems.

Wulfenstein said there were only minor problems in organizing the event and that had to do with getting racers to come out to the race.

“We had to convince some racers that if they won, the money was there,” Wulfenstein said. Apparently some tracks have had races and not paid the winners.

That was definitely not the case for this race. In fact, Wulfenstein said they paid $5,000 to the winner, which was more than what was promised. The flyers for the race promised a $3,000 purse to the winner.

The success of this race means that there will be one next year, but hopefully bigger.

“We have a year now to plan to make it bigger and better,” Wulfenstein said.

And he is hoping for one other big race.

“I would like to get a big race for the Harvest Festival in October,” Wulfenstein said.

Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.

Second Source donation for Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Nye County Sleep in Heavenly Peace is now better off thanks to a second donation from The Source dispensary’s Round Up program.

Beatty riled by sheriff’s substation closure

Lone staffer will be relocated to Pahrump to help with workload there; be onsite in Beatty just once a month.

Sales tax question headed to the ballot

Road conditions in the Pahrump Valley are a sore point for many drivers as well as a source of frustration for the crews dedicated to maintaining them but with only so many road dollars to go around, it can be hard to keep pace with the demand.