56th Hank Arnold Memorial Recap Tucson Speedway
Photo: Hank Arnold’s famous “Twister” at Tucson Speedway for the 56th Hank Arnold Memorial - (Evan McNelia)
Tucson Speedway hosted the 56th Hank Arnold Memorial on Saturday, Oct. 14, honoring an Arizona racing legend. The night featured four main events between five classes and Track Champions were crowned for the Pro Stock, Mini-Stock, Hornet, and Thunder Truck divisions.
Barry Levitt earned his 10th win capping his championship Pro Stock season. Levitt finished all 14 features this season inside of the top 3. And at 75 years old he feels as good racing as ever.
“The biggest difference for me this year is I feel like I am one with my car,” Barry said. “I’m totally in control, sometimes it’s not exactly where I want it to be on the track but that’s my error. But the car and I work really really well together and I’m comfortable. So if I have to push really hard like I did today to get past Jen [Hall] it works.”
Hall is a do-it-all woman at the track as she can be found racing in multiple classes nearly every race weekend. She was Levitt’s biggest competition in the Pro Stock division on Saturday placing 2nd in Heat 1 and the Pro Stock main. Hall started the main on the 2nd row and used her bumper early to force three wide and she was able to gain the lead.
Levitt tracked her down but the pair pushed each other to lap the entire field in the 25-lap race. Gary Cheek beat out Larry Leetch in a tight battle for 3rd to earn the podium position.
In the Mini-Stock division, Garette Gilliam was pressuring Jim Bates all night as the pair entered the final event of the season separated by just three points in the Track Championship battle. However, Gilliam took unfortunate spins in both the heat race and in the Mini-Stock/Hornet combined main, and Bates won both.
On the final lap of the main Bates got up the track in Turns 1 and 2 allowing Gilliam a run underneath. Gilliam was pushing for a lead out of Turn 4 but spun into the infield and ended up placing 3rd after being passed by the winning Hornet driven by Joey Searle. It was Bates's 6th win of the season and he was named Mini-Stock Track Champion.
Hornet driver Matthew Taylor came into the race with a firm lead in the championship and got to celebrate his Track Title despite placing 6th as the 3rd Hornet to finish due to fuel issues. Taylor earned podium placement in nine of 10 races this season.
Thunder Trucks put on an amazing show throughout the night and 16-year-old rookie Keirstin Jones earned her first truck win after qualifying 2nd.
Thunder Truck Track Champion, and son of the Pro Stock Champion, David Levitt earned the top spot in qualifying and won the first heat race. After making his way from the back in the main, disaster struck as Levitt blew a tire and was sent spinning out from the lead which brought out a caution. He took some damage to the front end of his car. The team tried getting a new tire on and getting back out but they did not have enough time and finished with a season-low 9th-place. The finish did not damper the championship celebrations for the team as Levitt did a celebratory burnout after coming back out for victory lane ceremonies. Levitt is going to run for the Super Late Model title next season but said that he will still make select truck appearances.
On the restart following the caution, Jones had to battle with 2021 Thunder Truck Champion Zane McKissick on the front row. She was able to keep with him and kept it tight enough to work for a late pass to earn her first win.
“I told her a little bit ago, I think she’s the future of this division,” David said. “These boys out here in this truck division they’re going to be looking out for her. She’s going to be the one to take my spot next year as champion and I look forward to that. She’s a really good driver, she’s aggressive, but she’s not dirty at all.”
As Jones got out of her car on the front stretch her dad was the first person sprinting out to celebrate the victory with her.
“I just about cried, I was a little lightheaded,” Jones’ dad said. “The last handful of laps really did it for me I just told her to keep it smooth and get it home.”
Keirstin said she felt confident after qualifying 2nd and that she was just about breathless running those final laps.
Adam Farr placed 3rd as he had battled tightly with the leaders throughout the closing run. Jen Hall and rookie Kalvin Catlin rounded out the top 5.
The Modified championship battle is another tight one as NASCAR Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Series Arizona State Champion Nick O’Neill entered the night trailing Brian Harrington Jr. by six points.
Harrington Jr. did everything he needed to protect his points lead by winning Heat 1 and the main. Harrington Jr. and O’Neill battled side-by-side for every lap of the heat race preluding an exciting main event.
Brice Bonnett was in the mix early in the final race but fell back to 4th by the finish as Harrington Jr. and O’Neill established their role as front runners after a couple of cautions.
O’Neill had oil leak onto his right rear tire which hindered his handling ability and made it hard to close a gap to make a pass against Harrington Jr. However, he showed tremendous ability by keeping the race close and finishing in 2nd less than a second behind Harrington Jr.
Bob Cramb won Modified Heat 2 and placed 3rd in the main event capturing his first podium of the 2023 season. Modifieds still have one race remaining this year.
Harrington Jr. put himself in a good position to control his championship fate in the final race.
“Really what we gotta do is go through this with a fine-toothed comb,” Harrington Jr. said. “We’re going to be rebuilding hubs and bearings. Making sure everything’s flushed, everything’s tight and everything’s set back up exactly the way it was to ensure we can start and finish the next race.”
The 2023 Tucson Speedway Grand Finale is on Saturday, Oct. 28 with another Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event for fans prior to the action. The finale will feature racing from Super Late Models, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Legends, and Bandoleros. Get your tickets here.