Valencia County drivers are ruling the Hobby Stock division at Duke City Raceway. In fact, Phil York leads a pack of five Los Lunas drivers at the top of the point standings after the first six weeks.
York has accumulated 224 points so far. He is followed by Ron Leathem Jr. (210), Ronnie Bell (208), Randall Trujillo (196) and Jeff Whyman (188), the latter is tied with Albuquerque’s Monte Hunter.
In all, 17 of the 33 drivers who have registered points in the Hobby Stock division hail from Valencia County.
For all the drivers in the Hobby Stock division, racing is just that — a hobby. “It’s definitely not a money-making venture,” said Whyman. “The name of the game is having fun.”
Whyman is in his third year of racing at DCR. “I had been interested in racing all my life,” he said. “A couple of years ago, I was out at the track. There was a car for sale, and the price was right.”
Whyman, who placed seventh in the standings the last two years, said he’s been getting helpful advice from the other local racers. “I’m learning how to set-up the car,” he said. “If you ask around, I’m somebody that asks more questions than anybody. Most of them are all good people. I’d have to say that Phil York has helped me the most. He’ll help you out in any way he can.”
The Hobby Stock class is made up of American-made passenger cars built since 1960 with a minimum wheel base of 108 inches. Stock two-barrel intake manifolds and two-barrel carburetors are required. Maximum tire width is 9 1/2 inches. They run on pump gas only.
The Hobby Stocks will run again this Saturday at the track located on Murray St. off Broadway in Albuquerque’s South Valley. Also on the slate Saturday are Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m.
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April 18, 2024
