Throwback Thursday
Throwback Thursday – As the NASCAR Elite Division Southwest Tour returned for the second year to Colorado National Speedway (CO), both the local and touring series teams were looking for bragging rights at the 1/3-mile oval. Rick Carelli scored the inaugural victory in 1992, but it could be argued that he represented both groups. In 1993, there was no doubt that a Southwest Tour regular was credited with the win, as Atwater, CA racer Doug George scored his ninth and final victory in the series, in route to a four-win season and a championship runner-up result.
George grabbed the victory over future NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr, leading only the final lap of the race. He grabbed the lead from Steve Portenga, who ultimately finished ninth after last lap misfortunes. There were six lead changes among five drivers, with Portenga leading on three different occasions. Rick Carelli led the most laps, heading the field for 62 of 100 circuits. Roger Avants, Carelli, and Bob Lyon rounded out the top-five.
George was the 1990 Southwest Tour champion and added an ARCA Menards Pro Series West championship in 1995, with a six-win season. He made 56 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, finishing 12th in the championship standings in 1996. His best finish was a fifth at Sonoma Raceway (CA) that same campaign. His Southwest Tour stats found George with 86 career starts, nine wins, 28 top-fives, and 56 top-10’s. He finished in the top-three of the standings on three occasions. He made his last start in 1994, finishing his career with a fourth at the Bullring at LVMS (NV).
The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will visit CNS on August 17th for the “Salted Architectural Metals 150”, paying $10,000-to-win, thanks to David Mulcahy with Salted Architectural Metals. It will be the third visit for the series after Chris Muhler won in 2007 with Jace Hansen winning the 2023 edition.
Celebrating its twenty fourth season in 2024, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
Story: K. Peters, SRL Media
PC: Joe Starr Photography
