Lucas Oil Arizona Regional Series Rnd 8&9 Chandler, AZ 9/16-17/16
Dustin Nelson Takes Two weekend #UTV Production 1000 CLASS WINS! – Wild Horse Pass @lucasoilregionalaz
Rounds 8 and 9 of the Lucas Oil Arizona Regional Series were held at Wild Horse Motorsports Park in Chandler, AZ. Another hot weekend in AZ led to dry conditions but the track crew did a great job of keeping up with the track and giving us a good racing surface. This weekend’s races were held at night, under the lights, which also seems to help with keeping moisture and good track conditions.
Production 1000 Round 8: Friday’s qualifying was thrown out as there was a problem with the timing system and we would start all mains based on points standings. This put me on pole position as the current points leader, with Corry Weller starting on my outside. When the green flag flew I was immediately able to take the lead and control of the race thru turn one. I led every lap of the race with a mirror full of Weller. Most of the race I had just enough of a lead to not worry about anything but running mistake free, fast laps. During the race George Hammel, who has missed a couple rounds this year and had to start near the back, made his way to 3rd to finish out an all Yamaha podium. When the checkers flew I took the win, just ahead of Weller, who had a small gap over Hammel in 3rd.
Results
1. Dustin Nelson Yamaha
2. Corry Weller Yamaha
3. George Hammel Yamaha
Production 1000 Round 9: Saturday’s qualifying session was not good for us as we lost a radiator hose and I unknowingly, severely over heated the engine of my YXZ. After assessing the situation, I decided to run Elizabeth’s YXZ in the main event. After switching to my Dasa pipe and ECU, as well as the shocks off of my YXZ, I felt confident in the car but knew I would have my work cut out for me coming from the rear of the field. Starting from the back was an eye opening experience as the Production 1000 and Unlimited UTV classes were merged together and there were all sorts of different cars and speeds near the back. The first lap was rough as I couldn’t find any safe passage and wasn’t able to move forward, but once the field stretched out a bit, the going got much easier. I was able to pass up to 4 cars a lap and before I knew it the competition caution flew at lap 5 and there just 2 cars ahead of me, the YXZ’s of Daely Pentico and Weller. On the restart I was able to get by Pentico and set my sights on Weller. We had a great battle for 2 laps where I passed her, then got up on two wheels thru turn 3, where she passed me back; then I was able to make the final pass into the lead with 2 laps to go and hold on for the win.
Results
1. Dustin Nelson Yamaha
2. Corry Weller Yamaha
3. Daely Pentico Yamaha
SR1 Rounds 8&9: Starting off of points on Friday put me 4th on the grid. I used my outside starting position to slot into 3rd right away just ahead of Brian McCormick while Brandon Kilgore took the lead with Weller in 2nd. A few laps in, Weller made the move on Kilgore and started pulling away while Kilgore made a few mistakes. I was able to get by Kilgore in turn 3 just before the competition caution, giving me a clear shot at Weller when we went green again. Weller was struggling a bit, pushing in the center of the corner and I used this to my advantage as I set up wide entering turn 2 and came out next to her entering turn 3, by the time we exited turn 4 I had the lead and never looked back as McCormick made a late race charge to take the final spot on the box. Saturday nights race started with me outside front row, but Kilgore took the lead thru turn one by pushing me wide. I made the pass thru turn 4 on lap one and had a great race going, easily pulling a comfortable gap any time I needed until lap7 when I landed from the first jump down the front straight and the transmission let go on my SR1. So bummed as I rolled to the outside of turn one with no power as the rest of the pack raced by. I missed the rest of the race but Weller was leading on the last lap when she had an issue in turn 2 and fell to 2nd. Kilgore had tipped over early in the race and came back to take the win, making lots of contact and not too many friends on his way thru the pack, Scott Webster ran a strong and consistent race to take the third and final spot on the podium.
SR1 Results Rnd 6
1) Dustin Nelson
2) Corry Weller
3) Bryan McCormick
3 wins and a DNF while leading, overall it was a good weekend. We saved what could have been a disaster in the production class with a win, coming thru the whole field on Saturday. I have lots of work to do in the next couple weeks to get the cars all prepped and ready to finish the California season strong.
– Dustin Nelson
