Madera

Regier last to enter
but first at the finish

Maybe it seemed as if Troy Regier felt it would help the show if he made a late dramatic entrance into the warmups of the SRL Super Modifieds main event at the 20th annual Vukovich Classic at Madera Speedway.

In reality, it had to do with slamming into the wall at turn 3 during the second heat, damaging his car to the point where Regier doubted he would be able to run in the feature.

However, thanks to his pit crew, Regier made it -- just barely -- into the field to the delight of the fans to win his third straight and fifth overall Vukovich championship.

"This car was tore up," he said. "This win goes all to my crew. We barely made it in. We had to change some axles and welded the body.

"I got really nervous as we got closer to the race. I was all tight, and I thought there was no way we were going to make it."

Unfortunately for the rest of the field, Regier did.

The Dinuba-grown driver started the race at the back of the field because of his wreck, but quickly shot toward the front after rival Davey Hamilton lost the lead two turns after he captured it because of engine failure.

Hamilton and Regier finished first and second, respectively, in qualifying.

"I was hoping we would get to go against each other," Regier said. "I had a half a lap lead on him in Phoenix, but my engine blew, so I knew my car was faster than his."

Regier's victory also impressed two particular onlookers. Former heavyweight champion Ken Norton Sr. and Indy-car owner Dick Simon were in Madera to watch Regier. Last year, Regier became the first driver to win back-to-back titles at the Vukovich Classic, and he has now set the bar higher with Saturday's three-peat.

"They were here just to watch me," he said. "We have been talking about getting into the Indy circuit, and they are two who could really help me."

Hamilton won the USAC Sprints division before failing to finish in the Super Modifieds.

Grand Nationals

Mike McLaughlin won for the first time in three years and 75 races by capturing Saturday's Talledega 300.

IROC

Bobby Labonte drove away from the pack at Talladega Superspeedway for his second straight International Race of Champions victory.

NHRA

Fresno's Gary Scelzi lost to Larry Dixon in the Top Fuel finals in the rain-delayed Gatornationals in Gainsville, Fla. Dixon won with a run of 4.661 seconds at 313.95 mph. Scelzi finished in 4.727 seconds at 313.95 mph.

Bee news services

contributed to this report.

The reporter can be reached at awitrado@fresnobee.com or 441-6624.