The 2023 Star Nursery Series champions from the Bullring at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway were celebrated Sunday night at the Sonona Ballroom of the South Point Casino and Resort with big payout rewards to the top finishers in 10-race campaign at the fast 3/8-mile paved oval.
Eight classes were featured Sunday in the sold-out affair which included special awards, rookie of the year honors and host of tremendous auction items with Bullring director T.J. Clark, Joe Mancari of Star Nursery and winner’s circle announcer Tom Blattler serving as masters of ceremonies.
Clark kicked off the festivities by thanking the series sponsors; Star Nursery, Nostaglia Street Rods, M&H Building Specialists, Sigma Performance Services, JBM Underground, Hoosier Tires/Speedwagon Distributing, CSM Graphics and the Spencer Clark Driven Foundation; the superb Bullring Safety Crew and the entire Bullring staff for their great participation throughout the season.
A special tribute went out to Craig Keough at Star Nursery and his staff for serving as the primary sponsor of the series with a $35,000 season-end payout to the top five finishers in each class as well as participating the open-competition finale, the October 13 “Star Nursery 150” for the ARCA Menards West tour and October 28 open-competition “Star Nursery Classic.” In addition, Hoosier Tires and Speedwagon Distributing paid out $6,000 to the racers’ season-end fund.
Race director Dan Fitzgerald was awarded the prestigious “Bullring Sportsman of the Year” for his tireless efforts calling the races and behind the scenes coordinating the difficult tasks of keeping the racetrack and racers on time and in order.
A unique division was formed at the Bullring in 2023 with the introduction of the “Battle of the Badges,” featuring First Responders – Firefighters and Police Officers -- from around the Las Vegas area competing in special races with the Skid Plate cars. It was a great way to salute their efforts throughout the work week with wild, exciting competition at the Bullring oval. A special thanks goes to Anna and Jim Chadwick for their coordination of the “Battle of the Badges” series. Mike Abbate was the champion.
In the highly competitive Pro Late Model class, California’s Jeff Peterson was the driver to beat in 2023 with his fast Clay Wooster-owned No. 90 stock car, as the Bullring veteran notched six feature victories on his way to a 28-point advantage over rookie Jaron Giannini and a $5,000 payoff from Star Nursery. Despite missing a race due to his wife Kayli’s graduation (a Masters’ degree in Forensic Psychology) from Purdue University, Peterson also scored several podium finishes along with his six wins.
Giannini, the young Henderson, NV, racer, drove to the runner-up spot in his initial Pro Late Model campaign and was named “Rookie of the Year” in the category with another youngster, Monty Tipton of Mill Valley, CA, rounder out the top-three as Gianinni and Tipton collected $3,000 and $2,000 for their efforts. Former Bullring champions Scott Gafforini ($1,500) and Justin Johnson ($1,000) completed the top-five in Pro Late Model points.
Peterson took on many top West Coast runners in the Pro Late Models this year including West Coast stars like Kyle Keller, Dustin Ash, Sean Hingorani, Linny White and Donny St. Ours in claiming the coveted title. Plus, young racers such as T.J. Roberts, Enzo Lalama and Amileo Thomson made the jump from Legends to Pro Late Models and finished in the top-ten in the final point standings.
Taking top honors in the 602 Modifieds division was Sam Jacks of Las Vegas in his potent No. 29 machine with two wins and consistent finishes throughout the 10-race tour. Jacks won by 34 points over Brian Williams and took home $3,500 from Star Nursery. Williams collected $2,200 followed by Kyle Jacks ($1,500), Jimmy Petrie ($1,000) and Kayli Barker Peterson ($800).
Young Brenden Ruzbarsky of Tracy, CA, moved up from the Legend Cars to the Modifieds this year and performed well to garner the division’s “Rookie of the Year.” Ruzbarsky finished seventh in points.
The driver to beat in the Super Stock classes in 2023 was Jason Kiser with six victories in his quick No. 49 stock car and Kiser scored $1,000 for his championship. The Las Vegas competitor collected 468 points to defeat runner-up Bill Paddock Jr. who home $750 Sunday night. Third went to popular Don Geary with $500 followed by Mike McKearn ($250) and Kyle Jacks ($100).
Rich DeLong III of Santa Clarita, CA was named Super Stock “Rookie of the Year.”
Matt Frady Jr. was the champion in the competitive NASCAR Nostaglia Street Rods Outlaw Factory Stocks with three wins in a close nine-point win over second-place Michael Miller, the 2022 class champion. Frady collected $1,000 for the title followed by Miller ($750), Rob Pfaffly ($500), popular Sheri Goldstrom ($250) and veteran Pete Meyer ($100).
Nick Lautenbach of Las Vegas notched the Factory Outlaw Stocks “Rookie of the Year” honors.
Always one of the most competitive categories at the Bullring each year is the M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground Legend Cars and the 2023 season didn’t disappoint with many of the nation’s top racers taking on the Bullring regulars. And, for the second straight year, it was Henderson’s Jordan Holloway scoring top honors, as the Arizona State University student had two feature wins and easily won the title by 33 points. Holloway, last year’s Pro Legends national titleholder, defeated Las Vegas’ Cody Brown, last year’s Semi-Pro Legends national champion, and collected $1,000 from Star Nursery. Brown took $750 followed by Brenden Tracy ($500), T.J. Roberts ($250) and Gavin Ray ($100).
Legend Cars’ ‘Rookie of the Year” was Alex Roe, who collected $1,000 for the award.
In the M&H Building Specialists/JBM Underground USLCI Bandoleros, it was another dominating showing for young Ashton Leonard of Henderson, NV, and his No. 17 machine with six feature wins in 2023. Leonard won the back-to-back titles by 50 points over Las Vegas’ Amelia Suell and Joseph Montoya. Logan Gresser and Keaton Harbison rounded out the top five in points. Leonard won $400 and Harbison was named “Rookie of the Year” collected a special $1,000 for the honors.
In the Junior Late Model division, Bakersfield’s Caden Cordova was the champion with three main events victories this year in his No. 37 stock car, as he edged out Leonard by just 11 markers in the final race of the year. Cordova won $1,000 from Star Nursery and Leonard received $750 plus being awarded ‘Rookie of the Year.” Brody Manning took the SPS car to the third position in points followed by Cameron Carraway and “Cowboy” Bryson Brown.
In the always-entertaining Skid Plate cars, the consistency of Ken Coombs paid off with a series championship despite not winning a main event this year. Coombs battled police officer Berenice Hernandez right to the final checkered flag with take the title by just three points. The Utah racer scored 435 to Hernandez’ 432 and collected $550 from Star Nursery followed by Berenice ($350), Jeff Dailey ($300), former champion Ben Williams ($250) and Jeff Bargerhuff ($150). Newcomer Greg Lee was impressive this year with several feature wins and captured the “Rookie of the Year” award.
At the conclusion of Sunday’s Bullring Celebration, Clark mentioned that the 2024 Bullring Series schedule will be released in the near future.
2023 Star Nursery Series Point Standings
The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
PRO LATE MODELS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 90 Jeff Peterson Grand Terrace, CA 684 -
2 25 Jaron Giannini Henderson, NV 656 -28
3 14 Monty Tipton Mill Valley, CA 613 -71
4 38 Scott Gafforini Henderson, NV 591 -93
5 17 Justin Johnson Pahrump, NV 565 -119
6 22 Aaron Mc Morran Las Vegas , NV 515 -169
7 24 TJ Roberts Queen Creek, AZ 504 -180
8 43 Enzo Lalama Las Vegas, NV 491 -193
9 12 Kyle Keller Las Vegas, NV 479 -205
10 14X Amilleo Thomson Las Vegas, NV 406 -278
602 MODIFIEDS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 29 Sam Jacks Las Vegas, NV 494 -
2 6 Brian Williams Las Vegas, NV 461 -33
3 41 Kyle Jacks Las Vegas, NV 440 -54
4 1 Jimmy Petrie Henderson, NV 411 -83
5 34+2 Kayli Barker Grand Terrace, CA 404 -90
6 6W Ben Williams Las Vegas, NV 384 -110
7 51 Brenden Ruzbarsky Tracy, CA 383 -111
8 12B Jacob Bishop Las Vegas, NV 173 -321
9 4X Doug Hamm North Las Vegas, NV 157 -337
10 21M Billy Mitchell Las Vegas, NV 151 -343
M&H BUILDING SPECIALISTS/JBM UNDERGROUND USLCI BANDOLEROS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 17 Ashton Leonard Henderson, NV 508 -
2 16 Amelia Suell Las Vegas, NV 458 -50
3 48 Joseph Montoya Las Vegas, NV 449 -59
4 45 Logan Gresser Las Vegas, NV 435 -73
5 9 Keaton Harbison Las Vegas, NV 381 -127
6 25 Piper Suell Las Vegas, NV 373 -135
7 16T Leila Trimmer Las Vegas, NV 349 -159
8 56 James Trimmer Las Vegas, NV 305 -203
9 10 Aspen Leonard Henderson, NV 132 -376
10 86 Siena Nuccitelli St. George, UT 123 -385
M&H BUILDING SPECIALISTS/JBM UNDERGROUND USLCI LEGEND CARS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 12JP Jordan Holloway Henderson, NV 496 -
2 88XP Cody Brown Las Vegas, NV 463 -33
3 98SP Brendan Tracy Las Vegas, NV 382 -114
4 24SP TJ Roberts Queen Creek, AZ 367 -129
5 18RSP Gavin Ray Las Vegas, NV 352 -144
6 92SP Alex Roe Las Vegas, NV 318 -178
7 18YL Keller Meechudhone Las Vegas, NV 311 -185
8 53M Bruce Silver Las Vegas, NV 278 -218
9 91SP Sarah Chelberg Las Vegas, NV 255 -241
10 25B Branden Giannini Henderson, NV 238 -258
BULLRING SKID PLATE CARS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 5K Ken Coombs PAROWAN, UT 435 -
2 71 Berenice Hernandez Las Vegas, NV 432 -3
3 83 Jeff Dailey Tujunga, CA 415 -20
4 6 Ben Williams Las Vegas, NV 405 -30
5 2 Jeff Bargerhuff Henderson, NV 399 -36
6 21 Greg Lee Las Vegas, NV 339 -96
7 11 Greg Matta Las Vegas, NV 300 -135
8 47H Robert Leany Springdale, UT 216 -219
9 7 Christina Harper Las Vegas, NV 174 -261
10 17 Don Leonard Henderson, NV 164 -271
NASCAR NOSTALGIA STREET ROD OUTLAW FACTORY STOCKS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 00 Matt Frady Jr Las Vegas, NV 490 -
2 21 Michael Miller Las Vegas, NV 481 -9
3 11 Rob Pfaffly Las Vegas, NV 468 -22
4 14 Sheri Goldstrom Las Vegas, NV 443 -47
5 96 Pete Meyer Las Vegas, NV 426 -64
6 97 Nick Lautenbach Las Vegas, NV 384 -106
7 34 Brad Thompson Las Vegas, NV 377 -113
8 129 Stephen Irvine Washington, UT 326 -164
9 47 Derrick Utley Las Vegas, NV 320 -170
10 17 Dallas Simonette Las Vegas, NV 290 -200
NASCAR SUPER STOCKS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 49 Jason Kiser Las Vegas, NV 468 -
2 60 Bill Paddack Jr Las Vegas, NV 449 -19
3 45 Don Geary Las Vegas, NV 444 -24
4 64 Mike McKearn Las Vegas, NV 420 -48
5 4 Kyle Jacks Las Vegas, NV 305 -163
6 84 Rich DeLong III Santa Clarita, CA 203 -265
7 4 Sam Jacks Las Vegas, NV 178 -290
8 98 Don Zoll Jr Phoenix, AZ 177 -291
9 00 Anthony Mann Las Vegas, NV 148 -320
10 44 Jacob Quartaro Las Vegas, NV 148 -320
JR LATE MODELS
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 37 Caden Cordova Bakersfield, CA 640 -
2 17 Ashton Leonard Henderson, NV 629 -11
3 12 Brody Manning Lincoln, CA 615 -25
4 27C Cameron Carraway Castro Valley, CA 574 -66
5 45 Bryson Brown Las Vegas, NV 389 -251
6 V5 Vito Cancilla Martinez, CA 302 -338
7 55 Alex Eskandari Las Vegas, NV 130 -510
8 12M Jalen Mack Chino Hills, CA 92 -548
9 22 Colby Copeland Roseville, CA 46 -594
10 38 Henry Barton San Fransisco, CA 41 -599
BATTLE OF THE BADGES
Pos # Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1 17 Mike Abbate Las Vegas, NV 50 -
2 83 Aaron Case Las Vegas, NV 48 -2
3 59K Philip Karas North Las Vegas, NV 46 -4
4 X John McBreem Las Vegas, NV 44 -6
