Series’ 35-lap feature to be part of tribute to local first responders
Las Vegas veteran Lee Keach is quickly becoming the betting favorite at his home track, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Keach won at the 3/8-mile paved oval for the second consecutive time and third time overall ahead of two-time Late Model Truck Series points champion Mark Allison on Hometown Heroes Night on Saturday. Keach, who also won at the desert track this past November and April of 2019, returned to his familiar spot in Victory Lane after 35 hard-fought laps.
Keach, who won races in the truck series when it was known as the American Speed Association Truck Series in the late 1990s, topped Allison for the checkered flag, with Michael Egurola, Bill Black and series co-manager Gary Wyatt rounding out the top five. Reigning LMTS points champion Stan Mullis was sixth, while series co-manager finished seventh.
“I think we put on a great show with those bumper-to-bumper battles,” Keach said. “It’s always fun racing against Mark like that tonight. Thanks to our truck guys for another good event and to the fans for their support tonight.
“Thanks to the first responders, too. A great opening parade tonight, too.”
Hometown Heroes Night was the first of three scheduled stops for the series at the 3/8-mile paved oval in its home city this season. Allison and Mullis also won the series’ six-lap heat races, and Mullis topped all drivers with the quickest time in practice.
“We had another great race at The Bullring, and it was awesome to be part of Hometown Heroes Night at our home track,” Riefler said. “Lee is getting tough to beat at The Bullring, and Gary and I were excited to see so many strong drivers get behind the wheel for our truck race. Our 2022 season is off to a wonderful start, and we can’t wait to get back at it again.”
The LMTS returns to action at Irwindale Speedway and Event Center on May 14, and drivers once again will do battle on the 1/3-mile loop at the iconic track.
Resurrected in 2018, the LMTS has conducted 17 races throughout the Southwest region in recent years, including a six-race schedule in 2021 after a year away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Las Vegas’ Mark Allison won the series points championship in 2018 and 2019, and fellow Las Vegas native Mullis took home last year’s series title.
The region’s truck racing lineage dates to the Speed Truck Series that originated in 1997 under the American Speed Association (ASA). MechanixWear gloves and Go Fast! energy drinks sponsored the class throughout the years, and the trucks raced at up to 10 different tracks in California, Arizona and Nevada before the ASA disbanded in 2013.
The series trucks feature a full-tube chassis, a 330-horsepower sealed V-8 spec engine and two-speed direct-drive transmission, with a clutch pedal dump valve, coupled to an aluminum quick-change rear end. The trucks sport replica fiberglass bodies of the Chevrolet S-10, Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.
Series partners include the On Wheels Now online radio show – the longest-running motorsports radio show in Las Vegas – Campout and ReliableBanner.com.
HOMETOWN HEROES NIGHT – RESULTS
THE BULLRING AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
SATURDAY, APRIL 9
35-lap feature
1. Lee Keach; 2. Mark Allison; 3. Michael Egurola; 4. Bill Black; 5. Gary Wyatt; 6. Stan Mullis; 7. Michael Riefler; 8. Curtis Burns; 9. Mike Young; 10. Arlie Daniel; 11. Fred Kiser; 12. Gary Cheek (DNS).
Remaining 2022 Late Model Truck Series schedule
- May 14 Irwindale Speedway and Event Center Irwindale, California
- June 4 The Speedway at Willow Springs Rosamond, California
- July 3* Night of Fire, The Bullring at LVMS Las Vegas
- Sept. 10 Irwindale Speedway and Event Center Irwindale, California
- Oct. 14* LMTS Championship Night/ARCA Menards Series West race – The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas
*Events will be live-streamed on FloRacing.com.
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