Bonfire Racing once again heated up Glen Helen Raceway’s short course track Sept 6 and 7 with Rounds 4 and 5 of the seven-race series. The racers were greeted with a newly modified track that was originally designed by Lucas Oil then modified for the Travis Pastrana Nitrocross event held at Glen Helen. Gone was the crossover double for the rally cars, and in its place was a set of doubles designed to shake up the race action. Other track improvements made under the direction of Karl Scanlon were turns 2, 3, and 5, providing those turns with higher banking, which proved to be better for power sliding around them. A modified seven-turn track was also laid out for the smaller contestants. With 33 separate classes, there was exciting racing for all.
The Bonfire Racing series has been growing since Lori Wilson, the original GBC UTV/Quad/Trophy Kart Short Course Series promoter, joined with Bill Markle at the beginning of this year. Bonfire Racing returns to Glen Helen November 8-9 for the series finale.
Since their inception, the UTV classes have become a popular and somewhat affordable racecar, so it’s no wonder the Production NA 1000 class had 15 entries. In the first race of Round 4 there was a lot of action going on, but a dusty track made it hard to follow the race. At the checkers, it was Carson Greco crossing over first. George Llamosas was second, and Wyatt Cotter crossed over third. Moto two saw some shuffling in the race order, with the win going to Mikey Childress, who had finished 11th in race one. Alex Raniuo was second, after finishing 4th in the morning race. Wyatt Cotter was consistent with his 3-3 finishes. Overall was Alex Ranuio with his 4-2 scores, and Cotter earned second. Stephanie Warapius was third with 5-4 finishes. In round 5 on Sunday, it was Mikey Childress dominating both races. Cole Fike earned second overall on the day with his 2-3 results, and Wyatt Cotter was third, having an 8-2 day.
In the UTV Prod Turbo 1000 action, there were two CAN AM pilots that dominated the first two positions. On Saturday, Conner Maxwell took repeat wins on the day. In second was Lucca Sweetland in both races, and Dylan Taber earned third with his 4-3 results. On Sunday, it was Sweetland taking both races and Maxwell DNS. Dylan Taber was second. In the UTV Stock Turbo class Elizabeth Knight dominated all four races. Jairo Quirez was second overall for both days.
In the UTV Stock class, Round 4 was won overall by Trent Senters, having 2-2 results. Ryder Greco won race one but DNS in the second race. Kevin Kuenzie was second overall with 3-3 results. Cole Fike DNS race one but won race two. On Sunday, Cole Fike came out strong and was able to win both races. Trent Senters was second in both and Kevin Kuenzie was third on the day.
Mikey Childress dominated both days in the UTV Youth 1000 events. Alex Raniuo was second on Saturday and Wyatt Cotter third in both races. On Sunday, Childress stayed out front with Dallas Shaeffer, taking second in both races. Ryland Gaughan took the final podium spot with his 4-3 results.
Landon Morrow took repeat wins in the UTV Youth 250 class with Ryland Gaughan second and Jack Gillaspy third on Saturday. On Sunday, Ryland Gaughan was the only one to show, so taking the overall.
The UTV 170-250cc 8-14 yr old provided some action between Tanner Hodge and Carly Warapius. In their first race of the two-day weekend, Tanner Hodge was able to take the win over Gage Skutt, with Warapius third. In the second race, it was Warapius seeing the checkers first with Hodge second. Gage Skutt was third. In Round 5 first race it was Hodge taking the win with Warapius second and Skitt third. Carly Warapius was taking the next race win with Hodge placing 4th, so Warapius would take the overall with her 2-1 results, and Hodge was second on the day with 1-4 showing. Third was Maddox Tiedemann with 4-2 results.
In the UTV Youth 170 6-8 Beg class, Stetson Wyman on Saturday took home both wins. Zeppelin Ledbetter went 2-2 and Raelee Lucas was third with 3-4 results. On Sunday, Zepplin Ledbetter was able to take wins in both races. Stetson Wyman was second with 2-3 results. Greyson Gentry was third overall with 6-2 results.
Phillip Pinhero and Keegan Magno battled in the UTV 170cc 9-12 yrs Beg class with Pinhero taking the first win on Saturday. Keegan Magno was second, and Tanner Hodge was third. In the next race, Magno took the win with Pinhero second and Braden Lucas third. Racing Sunday Magno found the checkers in both races, with Pinhero second in both. Tanner Hodge ended third overall as he went 3-4 for the day.
There were five UTV 170cc 6-12 Yrs Nov entries, and during the race, it seemed anyone’s turn to win. Ean Corona was able to shuffle through for the first win, with Dylan Llamosas second, and Brandon Robinson was third. In the second race Bryce Rimer bested his first race fourth position to second in this one. Slater Sperry crossed over third. So overall, it was Corona, Rimer, and Robinson. On Sunday, Bryce Rimer took home wins in both races. Dylan Llamosas was second with Slater Sperry third in race one. In the final race Ean Corona was second to Rimer, and Llamosas was third.
The Curries would dominate race one in the Polaris Razor class with Ryan Currie taking the win over Evan Currie. Ava Rodriguez Rondeau was third. Ryan Currie would continue his winning ways in the next race, but Evan DNS. With Evan Currie out Rondeau was second, and Jett Eimer was third. The day before Makenna Clarke had her troubles and finished 8th but was able to put it together to win race one on Sunday. Ryan Currie crossed over second. In the following race, Evan Currie took the checkers after finishing 6th in the first race. Makenna Clarke was second, and her 1-2 showing was good for the overall. Evan Currie was second with 6-1 results, and Ava Rodriguez Rondeau put in 4-3 for third overall.
On Saturday, Ean Corona owned the UTV Youth Stock 170 class by taking both race wins. Brandon Robinson was second on the day with 3-2 results, and Maddox Tiedmann was thir,d having put together 4-3 results. Things changed on Sunday as Bryce Rimer would take both race wins with Dylan Llamosas second in both. Ean Corona would earn third overall with 4-3 results.
Some of the most notable racing on the day was in the Limited Buggies class as Carson Smith and Travis Jones fought long and hard throughout the first race. Jones grabbed the lead early but had some trouble with a lapper in turn two, allowing Smith to take the lead. Smith didn’t have an easy time of it as Jones stayed on his tail the entire race. In the afternoon events, the two went at it again, but as the day ended, it was Carson Jones taking both wins with Jones in second. Christopher Cooke was a close third in both races. In Round 5 Richard Woods got out front and left Carson Smith and Travis Jones to battle for second, which ended up being Smith. In the next race, Jones was able to see the checkers first with Smith in second and Woods third, and that is how they finished overall on the day.
Vincent Munoz Sr dominated the 1450 class both days of racing. On Saturday, it was Michael Cox who finished second in race one, then DNS in race two. Hayden Brown was third in race one, then second in race two. Third overall was Vincent Munoz JR, having 5-3 results.
Tobias Chevalier won all four Pro Lite races, with Chris Hertsch the only other entry.
Brandon Akulian topped the Class 11 action, going 1-1 on Saturday then 2-1 on Sunday. Wyatt Hedrick was second and Mike Salm third on Saturday. Wyatt Hedrick took the checkers Sunday, then was second to Akulian in race two.
Erick Jacobus was the lone Pro 2 on Saturday, but DNS on Sunday.
There were a total of nine Odysseys entered. Andy Hill didn’t seem to worry much about how many was on track as he dominated both days. Robert Adams went 2-2 for second, and Dennis Shaw was third with 3-3 results. Then on Sunday, the front two repeated their results while Andrew Lohmeyer took home third with 4-3 results.
Class 9 buggies had two entries with Brice Jones taking the win over Karissa Veenstra on Saturday, but Veenstra took the win Sunday as Jones DNS.
Jaden Uribe had a good weekend after winning the Super Buggies class both races on Saturday, but had to battle back on Sunday after placing second to Carson Smith in the first race, then winning the next for the overall.
In the Quad 30+ All race Vallen Harris came out strong on Saturday and won both races. Susan Baxter was second and Armando Chavez third. In Sunday’s races, Baxter took race one with Harris second. In the final race, Harris crossed under the checkers first to give him the overall lead over Baxter.
Austin Baxter had a good day Saturday in the Quad Exp class by taking wins in both races. Gilbert Flores was second and Anthony Baxter third in both events. The next day races Baxter wasn’t able to match Gilbert Flores as Flores went 1-1 for the day. Zachary Yarbrough went 3-2, and Anthony Baxter was 2-3. Kamren Davis was the lone Quad Int entry both days.
Jeremy Muschell was consistent in the Quad Novice class with 2-2 results to earn the overall. Second overall was Liberte Sweetland, who was 1-3 on the day. Carly Vestal finished third with 4-1 results. Sunday Liberte Sweetland took home the overall with 1-2 results over Jeremy Muschell, scoring 3-1 for second overall. Third was Jullyan Veenstra, who was 4-2.
Camryn Engle won both days Quad Beg races with Mike Brown second.
Christian Padilla was consistent in the Quad 90cc class, taking repeat wins. Addisyn Baxter placed second in both races, with Rebecca Somarriba third. Jasper Hill had not raced the day before and came in to dominate the day with repeat wins. Addisyn Baxter was second and Rebecca Somarriba was third in both races.
Ryleigh Amerio won the Quad 70cc class on Saturday with 3-1 results, and Kennedy Barker was second with 2-2 results. Jameson Lieberg finished third with 1-3 results. Jameson Lieberg had a better day on Sunday and was able to take wins in both races. Ryleigh Amerio was second and Kennedy Barker third.
Colton Flores took repeat wins in the Quad 50cc races Saturday over Kasyn Lieberg. Then on Sunday was able to win race on over Lieberg but had to settle for second in the next race.
Jerry Nocciolo Jr won both days in the 3-wheeler class over Daniel Rodgiguez.
UTV 570 Open class Saturday was dominated by Anderson Parter, but then DNS on Sunday. I’m sure his not showing made Kynlee Voigt happy as she placed second to Parter Saturday but won both motos Sunday. Jaric Yakel was third on Saturday and second on Sunday.
Caden Greinke mastered the JR 1 Trophy Karts both Saturday and Sunday. Emmaree Peters was second in both Round 4 races and then earned the second overall Sunday with a 6-2 showing. Dean Castle was third in both races Saturday and had repeat fourths on Sunday, which was good for third overall.
Leevi Silvola had repeat wins in the JR 2 Trophy Karts races on Saturday. Kale Silvola was second on the day with 2-3 results. Gavin Everett earned third overall with his 5-2 showing. Things got turned around Sunday as Maxdon Summers came out strong in the first race to grab the checkers. Avery Wardrip was second, and yesterday’s winner Leevi Silvola was third. In race two, Kale Silvola took the win with Summers second and Leevi Silvola third. Overall, on the day, it was Maxdon Summers, Kale Silvola, and Leevi Silvola.