Alvarado sweeps record-setting doubleheader as EQ Cylinder Heads Wild West Tour opens at Aztec

AZTEC, N. M. (April 24-25) – Two-time defending series champion Ricky Alvarado was a double winner as the EQ Cylinder Heads Wild West Northern Tour opened with a record car count at Aztec Speedway.

Alvarado took over before midway of Friday’s feature for IMCA Modifieds. He was much more dominating after starting the Saturday show from outside the front row, leading from flag to flag to complete the weekend sweep and collect his 19th career win on the circuit.

Sixty-six Modifieds were entered on opening night, the most in the tour’s 34-race history. Both features at Aztec paid $1,000 to win and doubled as qualifying events for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot.

Second starting Zane DeVilbiss led the first 12 circuits before giving way to Alvarado on Friday. Nick Nelson was second, with Aaron Spangler, Justen Yeager and Kevin Brown rounding out the top five.

Spangler and Yeager both made the main event from “B” features and moved up 13 and 10 spots, respectively. Making the most impressive run was last-starting Troy McElroy, who worked his way up to sixth at the finish.

While Alvarado had the Saturday field covered, the battle was for second and home track hotshoe Craig Nelson held down that position most of the way.

Jerry Harpole Jr. and Aaron Spangler went back and forth over third for much of the 30-lapper before Spangler pulled ahead and then got around Nelson for the runner-up spot with six to go.

Nelson, Harpole and Yeager completed the top five. Brad Boyer gained a dozen positions to finish ninth.

Alvarado also topped both tour events at Aztec in 2008. He won the final two events of last year’s series and now owns four straight circuit checkers.

Sixty-two cars saw action on Saturday.

Next up for the EQ Cylinder Heads Wild West Tour is the May 15-16 twinbill at Diamond Mountain Speedway in Vernal, Utah.

Feature Results
Friday – 1. Ricky Alvarado, Delta, Colo.;
2. Nick Nelson, Los Lunas;
3. Aaron Spangler, Dove Creek, Colo.;
4. Justen Yeager, Green River, Wyo.;
5. Kevin Brown, Durango, Colo.;
6. Troy McElroy, Grand Junction, Colo.;
7. Ed Mangum, Farmington;
8. Jeff Hunter, Henderson, Colo.;
9. Aaron Mari, El Centro, Calif.;
10. Dusty Safley, Helper, Utah;
11. Regan Tafoya, Farmington;
12. Richard Anderson, Shelley, Idaho;
13. Bryan Hughes, Grand Junction, Colo.;
14. Jason Donnelly, Idaho Falls, Idaho;
15. Mike Magee, Palisade, Colo.;
16. Chase Hansen, Myton, Utah;
17. Robert Gallegos, Cory, Colo.;
18. Rusty Swank, Grand Junction, Colo.;
19. Colten Vanderherp, Ferron, Utah;
20. Brandon Carley, Farmington;
21. Craig Nelson, Farmington;
22. Jeep Berry, Grand Junction, Colo.;
23. Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.;
24. Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington.
Heat winners – 1st heat, Vanderherp; 2nd heat, DeVilbiss; 3rd heat, Alvarado; 4th heat, Aaron Mari; 5th heat, Hunter; 6th heat, Magee; 7th heat, Brown; 8th heat, Nick Nelson.
1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Donnelly; 2. Yeager; 3. Lance Mari; 4. Carley. 2nd “B” feature – 1. Mangum; 2. Safley; 3. Craig Nelson; 4. Tafoya. 3rd “B” feature – 1. Anderson; 2. Hughes; 3. Berry; 4. Hansen. 4th “B” feature – 1. Swank; 2. Spangler; 3. Gallegos; 4. McElroy.

Saturday– 1. Alvarado;
2. Aaron Spangler;
3. Craig Nelson;
4. Jerry Harpole Jr., Farmington;
5. Yeager;
6. Porter Smith, Aztec;
7. Hunter;
8. McElroy;
9. Brad Boyer, Monument, Colo.;
10. James Tabet, Farmington;
11. Brown;
12. Matt Higgins, Bloomfield;
13. Mickey Stubbings, Helper, Utah;
14. Nick Nelson;
15. Brandon Tenski, Farmington;
16. DeVilbiss;
17. Tafoya;
18. Berry,
19. Danny Bradford, Farmington;
20. Don Baisch, Rigby, Idaho;
21. Rick Spangler, Grand Junction, Colo.;
22. Hansen;
23. Carley;
24. Chuck Buchanan, Helper, Utah.

Heat winners – 1st heat, Yeager; 2nd heat, Aaron Spangler; 3rd heat, Tenski; 4th heat, Harpole; 5th heat, Alvarado; 6th heat, Craig Nelson; 7th heat, Berry; 8th heat, Bradford.
1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Tabet; 2. Smith; 3. Rick Spangler; 4. Boyer. 2nd “B” feature – 1. McElroy; 2. Brown; 3. Hunter; 4. Baisch. 3rd “B” feature – 1. DeVilbiss; 2. Higgins; 3. Hansen; 4. Carley. 4th “B” feature – 1. Tafoya; 2. Nick Nelson; 3. Stubbings; 4. Buchanan.