AZTEC – The 2023 racing season at both Aztec Speedway and Kart Kanyon wrapped up last weekend, with both facilities showing growth in both attendance and handle from previous seasons.
The racing action concluded Saturday night with a special program on tap, honoring cancer survivors and those dealing with the effects of cancer.
With the season now at an end, there is a focus on next season, and the preparations which take place now to get ready for the start of the 2024 season.
“We’re already working on the racing schedule, bringing in more clay for the track and new bleachers during the downtime,” said Aztec Speedway General Manager Erick Garcia. “There’s a lot of winterizing to do on the track surface before next spring.”
On the closing night program at Aztec Speedway, many drivers choose to run multiple classes. Jackson Harpole scored a pair of wins, taking the checkered flag in the Sportmod class followed by Chad Green, Keelan Matthews, Waylon Hale and Jimmy Wilson.
Harpole found victory lane for the second time of the night in the Modified division followed by Green, Matthew Ratzlaff, Christopher Ward and Julian Garcia Sr.
Eric Lloyd claimed victory in the Stock Car Division followed by Robert Reed, Nathan Lemons, Ron Brewer and Kyler Duggins while Shane DeVilbiss earned his fifth win of the season at Aztec Speedway when he won the featured event in the Modlite division followed by Gabe Shim Clayton Goben, Joe and Nina Esquibel, rounding out the top five.
DeVilbiss capped off a phenomenal season of racing at both Aztec Speed and the Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez, winning 12 races overall across both tracks.
Meantime, Katie Barthel picked up her 12th win of the season at Aztec Speedway followed by Cody Witcher, Jon Kinder and Abbi Barthel. Barthel managed to win 17 combined races this season at Aztec and in Cortez.
Kyler Duggins took the win in the Hobby Stock class followed by his father Jason Duggins, Hunter Ferrell, Jenna Wilson, and Katie Barthel.
Garcia said he’s been pleased with the success the track has had this season, with the addition of racing dates and the quality of racing the track has experienced.
“Maintaining the car count and the drivers who participated was best we could was a big measure of success for us,” Garcia said. “Running the best shows possible was a real big goal and I think we achieved that. Marketing the racing and the track plays a big part. If you don’t have a great racing surface, people just don’t want to come out.”
Meantime, the 2023 season at Kart Kanyon also wrapped up this past weekend.
Brandon Tenski won the Stock Class with a borrowed kart, followed by Dove Creek’s Camron Spangler, Justin Weber out of Albuquerque, with Bana Higgins and Ramon Saiz rounding out the top five.
Bowyer Carley finished the season with a win in the Youth Red Plate division followed by Brendan McLaughlin, Khloé and Barrett Tenski and Griffyn Bandy.
In the Super Stock category, Justin Weber crossed the finish line first followed by Bob Harter, Camron Spangler, Bowyer Carley, and Mike Tenski while Kason Murray took the win over Brodie Rector.
The Lunchbox league closed out Kart Kanyon’s season with 15 younger drivers lining up for the final time this season. For results go to myracepass.com.
