BUZZ SODEMAN The Buzzman HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT The sun sets on the Pahrump Valley Speedway oval, lengthening the shadows. But there will be two more days of racing. Nov. 10-11 will be the Super Stocks Shootout in the daytime. Advertisement

Pahrump Valley Speedway's 21st regular season came to an end Saturday with the Mini Nationals.

No, they weren't celebrating the diminutive character of Austin Powers's fame but the mini stock division.

This class, the first course on the learning curve for most drivers, provides seat time for inexperienced and first-time drivers. Fifty-one drivers have voluntarily strapped themselves into everything from Chevrolet Geos to Ford Mustangs and everything in between.

What made this a special season? First and foremost, the invitation from the Pahrump Valley Times that re-invented the Buzzman, who for the most part had staged a personal boycott of the track for the better part of five years.

The drivers who expressed their gratitude for the coverage they were receiving energized me. His or her validation meant a lot to someone who thoroughly enjoys motorsports coverage. I appreciate the kind words from people that took the time and effort to introduce themselves to me and share their knowledge of the sport.

More importantly, the racing and reporting took my mind off the side affects of my prostate seeding procedure.

The common thread in the pits and the stands was one of camaraderie and having fun.

So let's have fun looking back on the season past. In upcoming articles, I intend to spotlight each of the track champions who worked hard to achieve the goal of racers worldwide.

All the racers deserve a standing ovation for putting on the best entertainment that I have witnessed on a weekly basis.

This was a season that introduced a larger and more racer-friendly surface. Turns were banked, the front and backstretches were widened; what more could a racer and spectator ask for?

This expanse of dirt saw "Racin' Jason" Pike capture feature wins Aug. 23 (career No. 97), Aug.30 (98), Sept. 6 (99), and Sept. 20 (100). Pike joins an elite fraternity of just 23 other IMCA modified drivers who have attained the 100-win benchmark.

Pike finished the year in 20th place in the Western Region. In addition, Leland Hibdon (four) not only survived the weekly IMCA wars but also culminated his season with the modified track championship, as well as finishing 11th in the Western Region and ninth in the state championship.

Despite the fact that the IMCA headquarters has gone to great lengths to deprive this area of a national champion, we have been treated to very talented drivers.

Dan Fitzgerald has reluctantly and understandably accepted the fact that he finished second to a driver from Wisconsin (by a mere six points) after leading the National points standings most of the season. He is the Nevada state champion for the third consecutive year, as well as capturing the Western Region championship.

Fitzgerald readily admits that Pahrump Valley Speedway hosts the toughest competition in Nevada.

Not to be overlooked through all the dust are Levi Kiefer (4), Jim Bonetti (1), and Todd Nunnally, who added an edge to the competitiveness found on our quarter-mile of dirt and the rest of the supporting cast of drivers that number over 30.

Several drivers claimed their first feature wins in other divisions. I hope that I don't leave someone out -- I'm sure that I'll be notified if I do. Total feature wins are in parentheses.

Terri Little and Bubba Ray (3), Rick Gast (track champion), Rodger Schank, and Keith Young in mini stocks. Joe Rogers Jr. appeared in 18 contests and logged six feature wins (the last being in the Mini Nationals), the most in that class.

Other feature winners included Bill Delahunte (1), Frankie England (4) and Mike Lysinger (1).

Feature winners Austin Black (3), Tanner Black, Taylor Bonetti (track champion) (4), Austin Kiefer (2), Shane Nunnally (3) and Donovan Williams (2) dominated in a first-time division, the outlaw karts.

The bombers saw a different winner almost on a weekly basis, with each driver recording his first Pahrump Valley Speedway feature wins.

They included Anthony Finley, Phil Goodwin (2), Wade Pearson (3), and Vinnie Raucci.

Marty Mclaughlin, the Pro-4 track champion, had five feature victories, which tied him with Court Connell for tops in that division.

Kevin Williams picked up his first feature win, as did Rob Connell, Eric Slusher, and Eric Sheinberger.

Twenty-one-year competitor Bob Clark (4), claimed the Nevada cam coupe title. Clark edged out a competitor that he has competed against for those entire years, Sam Stringer (4). Brett Iverson notched three features and finished behind the two AARP candidates.

The diminutive side of racing was represented by the micro sprints and the dwarf cars. Runaway winner in micro sprints was Eddie Sharron with four victories in four appearances at the track.

The Dwarf contingent spread its feature wins around. Leading was Jeff Connors with three, followed by Ryan Cotrell with two. Bobby Ewing notched one feature.

The super stocks probably had the most feature winners spread over the season. John Pietorazio lead the division with five, followed by Frank Bridwell with three. Peanut Gott, Bryan Wulfenstein (2), and Daniel Katzer, to my limited knowledge, were the only drivers to capture their first feature wins in the Black and Blue Division.

Others visiting victory circle were Anthony DeBiase (1), Doug Humphries (1), Jack Rode (1), Dan Snowden (2), Aaron Stalker (1) and "Rapid Rick" VanBuytene (track champion) (1).

With the season officially ended, the Super Stocks will have a curtain call Nov. 10-11. At the last drivers' meeting, Dave Hall informed the competitors that the track will be open the entire week before the event.

Qualification heats will begin at 2 p.m. each day with half being decided on Friday and the rest Saturday, with the shootout following.

Hall is anticipating upwards to 100 competitors from at least three states to show up for the $1,000 to win event. The mini stocks will be on hand in a supporting role, thus officially bringing the curtain down for the last time this season.

Thank you racers and fans, see you at the ShootOut.