Bucknum Takes Advantage of Opponent’s Bad Tire

Jeff Bucknum was all smiles after his victory Saturday night in the Star Mazda Series Western Division race at Irwindale Speedway. The 26-year-old Las Vegas resident knew he had gotten away with one.

Tim Enoch of Mission Viejo had blistered a tire in an earlier heat race. If he had changed it, Enoch would have been sent to the rear of the field at the start of the race. Instead, Enoch stayed with the tire and it cost him.

He got too wide going into turn 4 and lost the lead to Bucknum on the third lap. On lap 54, Enoch got loose again in turn 4 and spun out.

D.J. Ferreira of San Jacinto won the crash-filled 46-lap Ultra Wheels Spec Truck race.

Two major multi-truck wrecks on laps 10 and 18 brought out the red flag stopping the race. Gene Woods of Upland suffered a dislocated knee when his truck got caught up in a crash in the backstretch on lap 10.