2016 FARC Albuquerque 200

"Welp....I've had worse races during my time in European touring cars, but that was ridiculous."

Hetzel: Not sure what happened, but I'll take a 12th place

"I honestly don't know what happened to Todd at the start there, I'll ask him later, he's I really bad for John (Burr) though, Burr if your listening, I got a couple of cheap year old Inglesby's I can give a good deal on."


David Hetzel after today's race.

Pacer Scores Maiden FARC Victory @ Albuquerque

It was an attrition-filled day at the Albuquerque Speedbowl, where a multitude of crashes reduced the 26-car starting field to 14 by the time that the checkers waved, and only three cars managed to complete all 200 laps.

Surviving the carnage and taking the victory in the FARC Albuquerque 200 was Joshua Pacer of Wyoming. The 24-year-old dirt track racer broke onto the FARC scene in 2014 with the new Jonesport team and an effort in the West division of the Regional Cup, in which he scored a best finish of second at the very track where he won today. He and Jonesport together entered about a half-dozen races last year in their first FARC Smash Beer/Lowe Dollar Series season, but in their first start of 2016, they have found their way into the winner's circle.

"I can't believe we just won this race!" said Pacer after climbing out of the car. "I don't have the fastest car and I beat it to heck out there off those walls, but I drove it as hard as I could and she kept-a going the whole way. Everyone else crashed or got a speeding penalty. What were there, two other lead lap cars? Everything went my way and now we've got this trophy! I have to thank Delano, Fastrac, Saar, my crew chief and all of my pit crew except Elijah, and Mr. Jones."

Prior to today, Pacer's best career finish also came as a result of avoiding trouble in a race filled with crashes. He finished in 5th on debut last year during his sprint race at Tulsa Expo Center in Oklahoma.

If car #88 can maintain a top 40 points position, then the victory will guarantee Pacer and the Jonesport team a position in the new FARC-Off championship knockout series of races. However, they are scheduled to race only at 70/77 Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway before the championship series begins, and even if they are to qualify, they are scheduled to race in only two FARC-Off events. However Pacer's team owner John Jones stated that those plans may soon change.

"If we find the money to do it then we're going for the championship" said Jones. "We just proved to everybody in FARC that we can win it if we get the chance. We're gonna have to talk with our sponsors, but if we can go to more FARC-Off races then you can bet that we will."

With Richard Scott and Leslie Riggs not scheduled to race in FARC again this year, this means that Kenny George III, Todd Stater, and Pacer (assuming that he maintains a top 40 points position) are the only three drivers thus far to be eligible for the FARC-Off.

The next race for the FARC Smash Beer/Lowe Dollar Series will be at the 3/8-mile paved short track in Minnesota known as the Elko Speedway.