PHOENIX, Ariz. -- R.C. Whitwell came from last to first in scoring his second Barnett Dirt Modified feature of the year and rookie driver Aaron Jones set a new 15 lap record as he added his name to theDwarf Car winner’s list Friday night at Manzanita Speedway.

WHITWELL MAKES IT LOOK EASY IN SECOND BRA WIN

R.C. Whitwell, a third generation driver, started 24th in the 20 lap Dirt Modified feature and methodically worked his way to the front. He overtook Rick Ward who had taken the lead from Jason Noll on lap #6, on the 16th lap and pulled away to a two car length advantage at the checkered flag.

Whitwell had a problem while lining up for the main event and had to give up his second row starting berth when he headed to the pits for speedy repairs. He made it out just in time to tag the field and used every groove on the well prepared one third mile track as he picked his way through the field.

Anthony Madrid virtually cinched his second straight driving title with a third place finish. Only one points race remains on the schedule and all he needs is to make the feature in the season finale on September 17th and he will easily take the title which would be his seventh overall driving championship.

Madrid became only the third driver in Manzy’s 54 year history to win two driving titles in one year when he took the Factory Stock championship for the third time last year as well as his first BRA Modiied title. He also has two Super Stock titles.

He holds a commanding lead in the SCRA Hon-Dah Casino/Silbercom Trucking Factory Stocks again but there are still eight races remaining. Should he also take that championship he would be the only driver to take two titles in the same year twice.

Jay Foster, winner of the Anniversary race on the half mile track, finished a strong third but dropped behind Ward in the points chase. John Cox started on the pole and ran with the leaders for the entire distance and finished fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Steve Bender, Mark Harrison, George Fronsman, Greg Bedia and Dave Craft.

Whitwell got his evening off to a good start by coming out of the third row to get the win in the first eight lap heat race. It marked his second heat victory of the season. Madrid started alongside Whitwell and finished second ahead of Dominique Askren, Gene Parvin and Randy Harrison.

The second heat went to Ward who started sixth and beat Mark Harrison, Brandon Eichleberger, Jason Noll and John Sweeney for his first heat win of the year.

The final heat was again won from the third row as Foster overpowered the field for his sixth heat win. Fronsman, Cox, Bender and Bedia trailed the winner to the finish line.

ROOKIE AARON JONES GETS RECORD IN HIS FIRST EVER WIN

The newest member of the Jones Brothers Racing team became the seventh driver to win a Desert Dwarf Car feature at Manzy in 2005 and he did it in record time.

Jones, who has looked strong all season long with two top fives and another in the top ten, actually used heavy traffic to ensure his win as he darted through the lapped cars and had five cars separating him from Art Garcia at the end of his run.

His time of 4:39.81 eclipsed the year old record of 4:41.48 that was held by Tony Martin.

Garcia fought his way from his fourth row starting berth and then beat Martin, who started 13th for second. Randy Anderson, a two time main event winner, settled for fourth after starting 11th. Fifth went to Ryan Henesey, his second top five effort of the year. Rounding out the top ten were Kevin Stalbaum, points leader Sandy Matthews, Greg Loper, Chris Snyder and Roger Dvorak.

Garcia came out of the third row to beat Martin for his fourth heat race win of the year in the first preliminary race. Dvorak took third, John Stafford fourth and David Brodeur fifth.

The second heat was won by Henesey over Jones, Stalbaum, Rick Kochanowski and Loper. It was Rick’s first heat race win of the year.

In the final heat Snyder outdueled two time main event winner Justin Randall for his third heat win. Anderson finished third ahead of Russell Hardy and Randy Paris.,

Tom Jones, Aaron’s brother, beat Henesey, Troy Korkosz and Daniel Lamm in the trophy dash.

SUMMARY

BARNETT HARLEY DAVIDSON DIRT MODIFIEDS

Main Event: 1. R.C. Whitwell 2. Rick Ward 3. Anthony Madrid 4. Jay Foster 5. John Cox 6. Steve Bender 7. Mark Harrison 8. George Fronsman 9. Greg Bedia 10. Dave Craft 11. Randy Harrison 12. John Sweeney 13. Brandon Eichelberger 14. Clint Fouts 15. Dominique Askren 16. Floyd Vaughn 17. Lyle Askren 18. Wesley DeBeaux 19. Jason Noll 20. Kenny Hawkins 21. Gene Parvin 22. Todd Hamblin 23. Nick Greigo 24. Jay Parvin

Lap leaders: laps 1-5 Noll, laps 6-15 Ward, laps 16-20 Whitwell

1st Heat: 1. R.C. Whitwell 2. Anthony Madrid 3. Dominique Askren 4. Gene Parvin 5. Randy Harrison 6. Todd Hamblin 7. Wesley DeBeaux 8. Clint Fouts 9. Kenny Hawkins

2nd Heat: 1. Rick Ward 2. Mark Harrison 3. Brandon Eichelberger 4. Jason Noll 5. John Sweeney 6. Dave Craft 7. Nick Greigo

3rd Heat: 1. Jay Foster 2. George Fronsman 3. John Cox 4. Steve Bender 5. Greg Bedia 6. Lyle Askren 7. Jay Parvin 8. Floyd Vaughn

DESERT DWARF CARS

Main Event: 1. Aaron Jones 2. Art Garcia 3. Tony Martin 4. Randy Anderson 5. Ryan Henesey 6. Kevin Stalbaum 7. Sandy Matthews 8. Greg Loper 9. Chris Snyder 10. Roger Dvorak 11. Russell Hardy 12. Donnie Rooks 13. David Brodeur 14. Troy Korkosz 15. Jerry Hartnett 16. Brian Stehr 17. Daniel Lamm 18. Larry Ricker 19. Joseph Razzano 20. Rick Kochanowski 21. Tom Jones 22. Randy Paris 23. Tony Hinsley 24. John Stafford 25. Justin Randall (15 laps, time 4:39.81 New Track Record)

1st Heat: 1. Art Garcia 2. Tony Martin 3. Roger Dvorak 4. John Stafford 5. David Brodeur 6. Joseph Razzano 7. Donnie Rooks 8. Troy Korkosz 9. O.D. Smith

2nd Heat: 1. Ryan Henesey 2. Aaron Jones 3. Kevin Stalbaum 4. Rick Kochanowski 5. Greg Loper 6. Larry Ricker 7. Jerry Hartnett 8. Brian Stehr 9. Tom Jones

3rd Heat: 1. Chris Snyder 2. Justin Randall 3. Randy Anderson 4. Russell Hardy 5. Randy Paris 6. Troy Korkosz 7. Sandy Matthews

Trophy Dash: 1. Tom Jones 2. Ryan Henesey 3. Troy Korkosz 4. Daniel Lamm