Justin Martz LVMS Bullring summary 2004-05-15

Justin Martz of Montana Races to Victory Lane at the Bullring Again

Newcomer Justin Martz had the crowd at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway cheering again this week as he captured his second win of the new season. Martz had a strong qualifying time and after the invert was in the middle of a starting line-up that read like the "Who's Who" of Bullring racing.

Chuck Trickle, 2003 Bullring Track Champion, sat at the pole with Spencer Clark, 2003 Bullring Rookie of the Year, on the outside. Martz started in the third position with Thane Alderman, 2002 Bullring Track Champion, on his outside. Martz's Quality Motorsports teammate Mike Cofer, former Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Autozone Elite Division Southwest Series and winner of five main events at the Bullring last year and this year's Dodge Dealer's Showdown Season Opener, rounded out the top five.

When the green flag dropped, the field was ready to race. Spencer Clark challenged Trickle for the lead early on and Cofer and Alderman went head to head for the inside track behind Martz. Martz quickly followed Clark past Trickle leaving Cofer and Trickle to battle for the third position.

"My car was running pretty well all night," said Martz. "We had the same situation we've had in the past several races in that the car doesn't really start sticking to the track until after about five laps or so. But once it gets warmed up, it goes. I was struggling with the car in the middle of the race and got loose coming out of two. I was behind Spencer and Mike (Cofer) got past me. When you are racing against these guys you can't make any mistakes."

Cofer took over the lead when Clark pulled off the track during a caution. With ten laps to go, Quality Motorsports teammates Cofer and Martz battled for the lead with Martz getting inside of Cofer in turn two. The two cars raced side by side down the back stretch with Martz holding his position to go into the lead with five laps left. Just as in his previous win, Martz lengthened his lead to cross the finish line alone. As the checkered flag waved for Martz, the caution came out for a pileup in turn four and Trickle slipped past Cofer at the line to take second.

While Martz and Cofer were at the front of the pack at the start of the race, their teammates Mike Ray and Quality Motorsports owner Jerry Spilsbury had not fared as well starting at the rear of the field. Ray battled his way up through the pack only to be sent to the rear again when the car in front of him spun. However, Ray was persistent and moved back up through the field again to finish in a strong seventh position. Spilsbury finished in ninth to place all four Quality Motorsports cars in the top ten.

After a week off, the Quality Motorsports team takes to the track again in a double header on Memorial Day Weekend. Spectator gates open at 6 p.m. Qualifying is set for 6:20 with racing at 7:15.

General admission is $11 for adults, $9 for senior citizens/military personnel and $4 for children 6-12. Children five and under are free. A Family Four Pack can be purchased for $24. Admission to the Stockyard is $36 per vehicle (up to four people). The Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $20 for NASCAR members and $25 for non-members.

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