A record number of Dwarf Cars showed up to race at the Texas Station Dwarf Car Nationals in Las
Vegas this weekend. The Southern Nevada Dwarf Car Association hosted the event, which included
drivers from California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming and boasted 15
different associations. This was the first in a 4 part series established by the Western States Dwarf Car
Association. With a total purse paid out of $25000.00 in cash. and prizes, there was, shall we say, a lot
of enthusiasm.
The event began Thursday with tech being held at the Texas Station Hotel which had set up a great
area with tents and bleachers, bar and registration all in one great place and conveniently located near
all the casino. action. With lots of activities including a poker run, vendor displays and raffle ticket
sales, it was hard to leave to go to the race track for the practice night!.. After practice that night, it was
back to the hotel for lots of "socializing" with racers, fans and pit crews.
On Friday, it was getting ready for the races and at 3:00, we were on our way to draw pills, unload
cars, and get ready to rumble! Heat races were lined up according to pill draws. 1st and 2nd place from
each heat went on to the "A" main, 3rd and 4th to the B, 5th and 6th to the C etc. With good racing all
around there were few yellow flags and only one red when Dennis Wall flew off the track out of turn
2, but was OK and drove off the track under his own power. Transfers to the A main from their heats
1st and 2nd place drivers, Frank Munroe and Mark Chaves, Brian Saxton and Jim Wodiuk, Eric Lopez
and Mike Corbridge, Peter Dozeman and Angelo Monticelli,' Steve Alberdi and Jim Bonetti, Kurt
Busch and Howie Ross, Jon Debenedetti and Mike Johnson, Mark Stroh and Jay Ewing, Mark
Passarelli and Bob Beers and Dave Hayes and Randy Shurtz. The other transfer drivers were the top 4
from the B Main and they were Bert Endicott, (which is a story all by itself!) Howard Ferguson,
Dominic Ercolini and John Campos.
Bert Endicott, of NCDCA, was the, boy wonder as he began in the E main placing 2nd and going to
the back of the D, which he won, then going to the back of the,C, where he placed 2nd again and
started in the rear of that race which he won! It was amazing!
The A Main on Friday night was scheduled for 20 laps, with a $1000.00 torch set from Praxair
donated to the winner., Frank Munroe won, leading the race from green to checkered. Jon Debenedetti
of Medford, Oregon came in 2nd ahead of Eric Lopez, Kurt Busch, Peter Dozeman, Steve Alberdi Sr.,
Mark Chaves, Mark Passarelli, Bert Endicott and Jim Bonetti finish- ing up in the top 10 With the
racing over for the night, it was back to the Texas Station for more fun till the wee hours of the
morning, a little shut eye and then out the tent area for the pit crew challenge hosted by Rusty Deman,
who himself was a contender but was beat out by a younger man, 17 year old Brandon Conrad of Las
Vegas. Some great raffle prizes were won, as we all relaxed around the tent area and gathered our
energies for competition that evening.
Saturdays program was run the same way with 1st and 2nd place finishers of the heats going to the B
main, 2nd and 3rd to the C etc., where 14 guys from the B would be the rest of the field for the Main.
The top 10 from Friday night's race ran a 10 lap dash for cash and for their starting position in the
Main event. They would line up in the first 5 rows with the B main transfers lining up behind them.
The starting position for the dash was done by pill draw and Mark Passarelli won the pole position
with Steve Alberdi next to him. Frank Munroe lined up on the 2nd row with Jon Debenedetti in 4th.
3rd row was Eric Lopez and Jim Bonetti ahead of Bert Endicott and Kurt Busch with Mark Chaves
and Peter Dozeman finishing out the field. Steve Alberdi jumped out into an early lead with pressure
from Frank Munroe who then passed him at the checkered flag for the win. He won $250.00 and 2
cases of Beer.
The A Main lined,up with the top from the Friday night and transfer drivers Randy Shurtz, Mike
Corbidge, Al Salido, Howie Ross, Dominic Ercolini, Shawn Salisbury, Warren Daniel, Mark Chaves,
Angelo Monticelli, Robert Johnson, Jim Wodiuk, Howard Ferguson, Travis Johnson, Rob Anderson
and Warren Daniel. The race was scheduled for 30 laps.
Frank, Munroe took an early lead and by lap 7, began slowing. Bert Endicott took the lead followed
by Jon Debenedetti & Mark Passarelli. Munroe stayed in 4th with pressure from'iKurt Busch, while
Jim Wodiuk ran 6th ahead of Rob Anderson, Jim Bonetti and Steve Alberdi. A red flag was thrown for
Travis Johnson who flipped his car and then the race continued with Bert tearing around the track. 3
laps later, Ferguson rolled his car off turn 1 and another red flag came out. Endicott continued to lead
the race while Debenedetti, Passarelli, Munroe and Busch stayed with him looking for a shot at the
lead. A last ditch effort by Jon Debendetti coming out of turn 4 on the white flag lap, made an exciting
end of the 4 final Laprace, but it was all Bert's win when the checkered flag fell. Debenedetti came in
2nd ahead of Mark Passarelli, Busch, Munroe, Wodiuk, Anderson, Bonetti, Alberdi Sr. and Gilbert
Toste finishing out the top 10.
It was a great weekend of racing especially considering how many cars were there racing together for
the first time, there was very little contact, plenty of tight, clean racing, and lots of opportunities to
advance to the next race. Endicott was the "talk of the town" as he well deserved to be. Running over
100 laps to make the Main and then to win it, was an awesome feat and I was glad I was there to see it.
A lot of great people worked hard to make this monumental race take place and I want to personally
thank the SNDCA, Las Vegas Motor Speedway personnel, the sponsors of the race and the Texas
Station Hotel which is a town all in itself!
Jay and Melody Ewing, Angelo and Tina Monticelli, Brent and Patty Conrad, Rusty & Kelly Deman,
The Lassiter family, The "other" Ewing family, The guys in tech. They all worked hard to insure that
everyone had a good time, was treated fairly and was made to feel special. Melody had her hands full
and she did an exceptional job, especially for a first time event. I cannot wait to go back next year for
the 2nd Annual. There was no way that you could not have had a good time that weekend. They made
sure of that.. .Hats off to a spectacular history-making event!
Thie Article is courtesy of Welterweight Racing Premiere Magazine & Provided By Joe Brechel.
| 112 Dwarf Cars in Las Vegas |
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| Note this Article is from 1999 |
Bay Area Dwarf Racing Association 2010
