BUZZ SODEMAN The Buzzman BUZZ SODEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Mini-stocks roar through a turn at the Pahrump Valley Speedway Saturday night, where the IMCA modifieds, super stocks, pro-4s, Dwarf cars and outlaw karts also competed on the quarter-mile dirt oval. Advertisement

During the pre-race driver's meeting, Pahrump Valley Speedway promoter Dave Hall was quite emphatic about the number of yellows that have diminished the quality of racing, particularly in the ranks of the IMCA modified division.

Last week, the fire belching modifieds recorded, what I consider, an inordinate amount of yellow flag delays, plus one red flag.

Apparently, the mixture of adrenaline, testosterone, and alcohol (the fuel, not the liquid refreshment) equals more yellows than a bouquet of roses.

The yellow flag was displayed eight times during the IMCA feature. This is more than the combined yellows in all the other class main events combined. Fortunately, the pilots of these rockets have considerable seat time in various other divisions of racing.

For the most part, the spinouts were minor -- except for "Jungle Jim" Bonetti. He suffered damage to the front suspension and he retired to the pits.

For the record, Jim appeared with his car looking clean and shiny -- maybe it's time to keep the car dirty?

After the dust had cleared, literally, Ronnie "The Monster" Williams had secured the win followed by Leland Hibdon and Jason Pike. Win number 97 is becoming elusive for the veteran Pike.

Bonetti utilized a last lap pass in turn two to capture the heat win.

A wedding kept the car count down in some of the classes.

No ... it wasn't Kurt and Eva Busch. It was IMCA driver Tommy Bolling who tied the knot, thus creating the discrepancies. There were only three Pro-4's and it is rumored that the class points leader, Steve Slusher, has traded his for another type of car.

There is some controversy in this class concerning six-cylinder powered vehicles being allowed to run against the 4-bangers. I have to admit that the Pro-4 10-lap feature provided the closest racing as Marty Mclaugh and Court Connell ran side-to-side for the majority of the race with Mclaugh getting the win, thus completing his sweep of the class.

The mini-stock class continues to expand its numbers on a weekly basis and is by far the largest class. It took three heat races to make sure the competitors were all accounted for. Heat winners included Bubba Ray, Keith Young, and Frankie England.

In addition to the winners, Tony Martin and Tom Buckwater provided excitement in their respective heat races. Eighteen cars started the main and speculation was that the fans could be looking at a long evening. The 20 laps were completed with just three yellow flags and a spectacular crash that had one driver resting atop the front stretch wall with just one lap left in the contest.

Dustin Oliver, who resembles Harry Potter, climbed the wall and then as if to add insult to injury, was rear-ended by Harold Killian. Oliver emerged through the passenger side window as his badly wounded car dangled precariously on the concrete wall.

A green and white start followed by a checker decided the Saturday night "shoot out" with England claiming top spot on the podium. He was chased to the finish by a couple of "gray beards," Rick Gast and Buckwater - or was that a case of "chrome domis" that I was blinded by?

Team Wulfenstein, en masse and bedecked in fluorescent, lime green T-shirts, has brought a new enthusiasm to the super stock class that over the years has seen a decline in its numbers.

Insinuations of cheating have always made this class as controversial as the Nye County sheriff's election race. "Flyin' Bryan" Wulfenstein, after a rather dubious debut, came out determined to make amends to his "hordes" of friends and family. The personable and polite young man clearly had heat one all but wrapped up until he got out of shape relinquishing the lead to eventual winner, Rick VanBuytene.

John Pietrazio took the honors in heat two. Wulfenstein brought out the only yellow in the main, caused by the "exuberance of youth," spinning out as he battled eventual winner, Dan Snowden, for the lead.

It appeared that the young man's motor went sour and he limped into the pits. Pietrazio and Dale Daffern garnered podium finishes, as well.

Perhaps one of the most evenly matched classes is the Nevada Cam Coupes where driving ability and ability to read the track usually result in a victory.

While many drivers are choosing to park their rides, for whatever reason, the remaining pilots pretty much could be covered with a blanket as they dice for position.

Sam Stringer looked like a shoe-in for the heat win until Brett Iverson blew by him entering turn three and held on for the checker. Sam would return the favor in the main, relegating Iverson to second with second-generation driver Steve Stringer holding on to third.

One of the truly nice guys in this sport, Bob Clark, who appeared to have a lock on third, lost a wheel. As Sam welcomed the accolades of victory, Clark was unceremoniously left the track at the end of the dreaded "Hook."

The Dwarf car class is a far cry from what used to be before the demise of the Southern Nevada Dwarf Car Association.

Gone are the cartoon characters that emblazoned the back of the "diminutive ones," and the colorful monikers.

Gone are Adam Daffner, Dennis "The Menace" Wall, and some of the current IMCA drivers who have graduated to the more volatile and powerful powerplants. These infrequent visitors to the speedway still command a legion of followers as they buzz around the track.

Jeff Connors, in a shrunken version of a '34 Ford "Vickie", made it a clean sweep, claiming the heat and the feature. Mark Ramey, whom I was told is no relation to Ted "The Faster Pastor" Ramey, prevailed for second, followed by Bobby Meek. Meek was the only driver to be piloting something other than the popular "Vickie," driving a '34 Ford Sedan.

Last, but not least, where the future stars, the next generation of the "Saturday Night" heroes -- the Outlaw Karts.

I may be in the minority, but I thoroughly enjoy watching these kids.

This class is pure, untainted by the urge to cheat or take a competitor out. They just get in, buckle up and go fast -- well, as fast as a go-kart with a wing can go.

Taylor Bonetti claimed the heat race, followed by Austin Black and Donovan Williams and Shane Nunally. Tanner Black, led flag-to-flag, to reign supreme in the feature. (He needs to have his brother Austin teach him the idiosyncrasies of making donuts -- Austin has this popular innovation down to a fine art.) Following in order of finish were Williams, Nunnally, Bonetti, and Austin Black.

Track announcer Ray Elam perhaps summed up this class best: "The nice thing about this class, is that there is a different winner each week."