LAS VEGAS -- Troy Regier has been pretty lucky when it comes to racing in Sin City, and Thursday proved to be yet another good day for Regier as he picked up his 77th career win at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Drivers and crew worked in 108-degree heat with high humidity and the threat of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. The temperature did let down either as it was still more than 100 degrees at the start of the 40-lap main event.
"I almost pulled off with five laps to go," said Regier, who drives for Carson City based S&S Motorsports in the Super Modified Racing Association. "But I had to win. I don't give up."
S&S co-owner Steve Shaw, said by switching the tire combinations, they are using a more consistent set up and can work at establishing a better baseline that will allow the team to fine tune the racecar.
"We are happy with the win and think the car was pretty consistent tonight," Shaw said. "After all the changes, we think we're getting to that sweet spot."
Regier returns to action Saturday in West Valley City, Utah where he will race in a 50-lap feature event on Rocky Mountain Raceways' 3/8-mile paved oval. Expected to join S&S Motorsports representing Minden is Amy and Eric Silsby of DNA Racing.
Regier began the raceday by posting fastest qualifying time with a 12.743 seconds on the 3/8-mile paved oval track. He placed second in his heat race.
With nine cars taking the green flag for the main event, Jim Birges found his way to the front on lap two from the third position and with a well-handling car, putting about a 10 car-length distance between himself and Bryan Warf. Regier moved to the fourth position by lap three after starting eighth and soon put pressure on Dalton for the third spot.
Regier made a move on the inside of Dalton for position and took the high line to take the second spot away from Warf on lap 13. But Regier still had to make up distance on Birges, who remained in a comfortable lead.
A caution came out on lap 13 as Dalton's engine let go, blowing oil and making history of the oil pan. At the restart, it was Birges with the lead, Regier second and Warf third. On lap 25, Regier took a look at the inside of Birges oing into the fourth turn and Birges quickly dissed any chance for Regier to advance. Regier also tried the high side to no avail.
Finally, on lap 33, Regier swept high out of the fourth turn along the front stretch and dove to the bottom of the track to take position on Birges. Regier made it stick and held on to win the feature event by a margin of about eight car lengths over Warf, who followed Regier and finished in second. Rounding out the field was Warf in third followed by Belfiore, Jeff Russell, AJ Russell, Wartman, Dalton and Kenny White.
"My car was good early on in the race, then just got loose as hell," Birges said. "During that caution, it started getting hot and overheated, blowing fluid all over the place and it made me loose. Way loose."
Reiger said of the race: "It was a tough fight out there tonight. I couldn't breathe the air was so hot. But with all the changes the crew made, the car was perfect. It was great. I feel good going into Saturday's race at Rocky Mountain Raceways."