Author: Race Director

Just an old slot car racer and Race Director at Stewart Raceway.

Wednesday Night “Under The Lights” March 11, 2026 — The Bus Stop Strikes Again

Wow! Another blazingly fast and furious night of slot car racing in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This was the fourth “Under The Lights” event of 2026, and we ran on both SR3 and SR2 road courses.

Race and Overall Results Analysis AI-Generated

Short Story

Wednesday Night Under The Lights Event (Four Races on SR2 and SR3 Bus Stop Road Course)The Stewart Raceway’s Wednesday Night Under The Lights event featured four intense races on both the SR2 and SR3 tracks, utilizing the new SR3 Bus Stop road course layout. This challenging configuration emphasizes technical driving, with tighter turns and strategic passing opportunities that test consistency, speed, and car setup. Based on the aggregate data from the four races, the overall standings prioritize total laps completed, reflecting endurance and reliability in a fixed-time or segment-based format typical for slot car events at Stewart Raceway.

Place
Name
Laps
Points
Total Time (seconds)
1
Steve Stewart
427
188
2595.671
2
Joe Clarke
417
201
2562.866
3
Dean Donaldson
415
208
2553.719
4
Kevin Webster
367
134
2576.835
5
Dustin Jolley
233
115
1142.791

This event combined races across SR2 (likely a flatter, more flowing layout) and SR3 (a routed track with potentially faster averages due to smoother surfaces), incorporating the new Bus Stop chicane for added complexity. The Bus Stop section introduces a series of sharp, low-speed turns that reward precise throttle control and penalize over-aggressive driving, often leading to off-track moments or reduced lap counts for less experienced drivers. Total times for the top four drivers hover around 2550-2600 seconds (approximately 42-43 minutes across four races, suggesting each race lasted about 10-11 minutes), indicating a consistent event duration with variable lap completion based on pace and incidents.Key metrics calculated from the data:

    • Average Lap Time (seconds/lap): Total time divided by laps, where lower is better (faster pace).
    • Dustin Jolley: 4.905 (fastest overall, suggesting strong performance in fewer races, possibly on the quicker SR3 layout).
    • Steve Stewart: 6.078
    • Joe Clarke: 6.146
    • Dean Donaldson: 6.153
    • Kevin Webster: 7.019 (slowest, indicating potential setup issues or adaptation challenges on the Bus Stop course).
    • Points Efficiency (points/lap): Points divided by laps, where higher indicates better scoring relative to distance covered (e.g., via podium finishes or bonuses).
    • Dean Donaldson: 0.501 (highest, showing exceptional racecraft and consistency across segments).
    • Dustin Jolley: 0.493
    • Joe Clarke: 0.482
    • Steve Stewart: 0.440
    • Kevin Webster: 0.365 (lowest, possibly due to lower finishes in individual races).

The top three drivers (Steve, Joe, and Dean) demonstrate tight competition, with only 12 laps separating them over four races—equivalent to about 1-2 laps per race. Their similar total times and average lap speeds (around 6.1-6.2 seconds) point to a closely matched field, where small differences in handling the Bus Stop chicane likely decided outcomes. Points tell a different story: Dean’s lead in points (208) despite fewer laps than Steve suggests he dominated individual races or segments, perhaps with multiple wins or high placements on both SR2 and SR3. Joe’s 201 points are impressive for second in laps, indicating reliable top finishes without the raw volume of the leader.

Lower placers faced clearer challenges:

    • Kevin Webster (4th place, 367 laps, 134 points, 2576.835 seconds): Webster’s performance shows resilience in completing a solid lap count but lags in pace (7.019 s/lap average) and efficiency (0.365 pts/lap). This could stem from mechanical tweaks needed for the new Bus Stop layout, which demands optimized traction in low-speed sections. His total time aligns with the leaders, suggesting he avoided major DNFs but struggled with consistency on SR3’s routed surface. With adjustments, Webster could push for podiums in future events, as his endurance highlights potential for multi-race formats.
    • Dustin Jolley (5th place, 233 laps, 115 points, 1142.791 seconds): Jolley’s outing stands out for its speed (blistering 4.905 s/lap average) but limited scope—roughly half the laps and time of the leaders, implying participation in only two races (perhaps focusing on SR3, where faster times are common). His points efficiency (0.493 pts/lap) is near the top, suggesting strong results in those races, like wins or fast laps. If absences were due to scheduling or testing, this bodes well for full events; otherwise, it underscores the Bus Stop course’s unforgiving nature for part-time runs. Jolley’s raw pace makes him a threat in shorter sprints.

Overall, this four-race event with the new Bus Stop road course highlighted the balance between speed, strategy, and reliability at Stewart Raceway. Steve Stewart’s lap dominance secured the win, but Dean Donaldson’s points haul signals a rising star in the Expert class. The event’s multi-track format (SR2 and SR3) added variety, with the Bus Stop chicane likely amplifying differences in driver adaptation. For future races, expect tweaks to car setups (e.g., Viper or MegaG+ classes) to better handle the technical demands.

Race 1: Webster Wizzard Storms (i)

Race 1 Analysis Summary: SR3 Road Course Bus Stop Layout (Wizzard Storms Class) Event Overview: This race on the new Bus Stop layout at Stewart Raceway’s SR3 track (routed for smoother, faster runs) took place on March 11, 2026, starting at 18:42. The Wizzard Storms (i) class featured four drivers in a heat-style format with four segments, each targeting 25 laps. The Bus Stop chicane added technical demands, emphasizing precise braking and acceleration out of tight turns, which amplified differences in car setup and driver adaptation. Scoring awarded points per segment (16 for 1st, 13 for 2nd, 11 for 3rd, 7 for 4th), with total laps as the primary tiebreaker. Steve Stewart emerged victorious with 97 total laps and 47 points, edging out Dean Donaldson (95 laps, 59 points) in a close battle. However, the analysis below emphasizes the lower placings—particularly Kevin Webster’s consistent 4th overall (84 laps, 36 points)—highlighting challenges, improvements, and potential for future races.

Final Standings Table (Aggregated from All Segments):

Place
Name
Total Laps
Total Points
Total Run Time (s)
Avg Lap Time (s)
Fastest Lap (s)
Median Lap Time (s)
1
Steve Stewart
97
47
700.439
7.221
5.340
6.305
2
Dean Donaldson
95
59
687.056
7.232
5.280
6.548
3
Joe Clarke
91
46
693.463
7.620
5.469
6.512
4
Kevin Webster
84
36
701.067
8.346
5.785
7.557

Notes on Aggregates: Average lap times are calculated as total run time divided by total laps (lower is better, indicating faster pace). Fastest and median laps are the best across all segments. Kevin’s higher average (8.346s) reflects adaptation struggles on the Bus Stop, but his fastest lap (5.785s) shows flashes of competitiveness, suggesting setup tweaks could elevate him.

Segment-by-Segment Breakdown:

    • Segment #1 (Blue/Orange/Green/White Lanes): Dean Donaldson dominated from Blue lane with a 7.551s average and 25 laps, setting a strong tone. Joe Clarke followed closely in Orange. Steve Stewart took 3rd with 24 laps, but the focus here is Kevin Webster’s 4th (16 laps, 12.006s average)—his slowest segment, likely due to initial unfamiliarity with the Bus Stop’s low-speed sections, where his median (10.565s) ballooned from poor traction or over-driving turns. This early deficit (9 laps behind the leader) compounded his overall standing, but his fastest lap (7.785s) hinted at potential once dialed in. Total time: ~187-191s across drivers, showing even pacing despite Kevin’s lap shortfall.
    • Segment #2 (Orange/Blue/White/Green Lanes): Lane rotations mixed things up, with Steve Stewart surging to 1st (25 laps, 6.251s average) in Orange. Dean and Kevin tied at 20 laps for 3rd/4th. Emphasizing lower spots: Kevin’s 4th (20 laps, 8.043s average in Green) marked improvement over Segment #1, closing the gap to just 5 laps behind the winner. His median (7.217s) tightened, suggesting better adaptation to the chicane, possibly via throttle adjustments. However, his average remained highest, indicating consistency issues—perhaps voltage or tire grip problems on SR3’s surface. Joe (2nd) and Dean (3rd) pulled ahead cumulatively, but Kevin’s 7 points here kept him in contention. Segment time: ~158-162s, with Kevin’s run time (161.657s) competitive despite fewer laps.
    • Segment #3 (Blue/Green/White/Orange Lanes): Dean reclaimed 1st (25 laps, 6.416s average in Green), with Steve close in 2nd. Joe slipped to 4th (18 laps), but the lower emphasis falls on him and Kevin (3rd, 23 laps in Orange). Kevin’s performance here was his strongest relatively—beating Joe by 5 laps with a 7.357s average and 6.386s median, showing marked progress on the Bus Stop. His fastest (5.785s) rivaled the leaders, suggesting he thrived in Orange lane’s flow. Joe’s 4th (8.564s average in White) was uncharacteristic, possibly from a setup mismatch or off-track incidents inflating his median (6.954s). This segment highlighted lower placers’ variability: Kevin gained ground (now 11 laps behind overall leader), while Joe’s dip (7 points) cost him momentum. Segment time: ~161-169s, with Kevin’s longer run (168.830s) reflecting sustained effort.
    • Segment #4 (White/Orange/Green/Blue Lanes) / Final: Dean won the segment (25 laps, 6.571s average in Orange), but Steve’s overall laps secured the race win. Joe rebounded to 2nd. Focusing on lower: Steve took 4th here (23 laps, 7.834s average in White)—unusual for the winner, perhaps due to fatigue or lane disadvantage, with his median (6.508s) still solid. Kevin’s 3rd (25 laps in Blue) was his best finish, tying the segment high and narrowing his total deficit. His 7.264s average and 6.670s median showed full adaptation, with a 6.144s fastest lap competitive against Dean’s 5.280s. This late surge (11 points) mitigated earlier struggles but couldn’t overcome the cumulative lap gap. Joe’s consistency (25 laps) solidified 3rd overall, while Kevin’s 4th underscored the Bus Stop’s learning curve for him.

Key Insights on Lower Placings:

Kevin Webster’s race epitomized the challenges of the new Bus Stop layout—starting slow (16 laps in Seg. #1) due to high averages (12s+), but progressively improving (20, 23, 25 laps) as he refined his line through the chicane. His overall 8.346s average was 1s+ slower than the top three, pointing to setup opportunities (e.g., gearing for better low-speed torque in Wizzard Storms cars). Flashes of speed (sub-6s laps) suggest he’s podium-capable with practice. Joe Clarke’s brief 4th in Seg. #3 (18 laps) was an outlier, likely incident-related, but didn’t derail his 3rd overall. For lower drivers, lane assignments played a role—Kevin excelled in Orange/Blue (Seg. #3/#4)—while the format rewarded endurance over pure speed. Future races could see Kevin climb with targeted tweaks, making the Bus Stop a equalizer for emerging talent. Details

Race 2: MegaG+ 1.7 Modified Class

The second race of the Wednesday Night Under The Lights event at Stewart Raceway occurred on March 11, 2026, starting at 20:48. Featuring the MegaG+ 1.7 Modified class on the SR3 track with the new Bus Stop layout, this four-segment heat emphasized car modifications for enhanced speed and handling in the chicane’s tight turns. Each segment aimed for 25 laps, with points per segment (16/13/11/7 for 1st-4th). Dean Donaldson and Joe Clarke tied at 98 laps, but Dean’s 52 points edged him to victory via higher segment wins. Steve Stewart (97 laps, 47 points) took 3rd. The analysis below focuses on lower placings, particularly Kevin Webster’s 4th overall (93 laps, 38 points) and segment-specific struggles for others like Steve in early heats, highlighting adaptation to the Bus Stop’s demands in modified cars.
Final Standings Table (Aggregated from All Segments):

Place
Name
Total Laps
Total Points
Total Run Time (s)
Avg Lap Time (s)
Fastest Lap (s)
Median Lap Time (s)
1
Dean Donaldson
98
52
715.334
7.299
5.520
6.240
2
Joe Clarke
98
51
734.261
7.493
5.538
6.676
3
Steve Stewart
97
47
719.710
7.420
5.555
6.033
4
Kevin Webster
93
38
733.972
7.892
6.135
6.939

Notes on Aggregates: Average lap times derived from total run time divided by total laps (lower indicates better pace). Fastest laps are the minimum across segments; medians are approximated as averages of segment medians for overview. Kevin’s higher average (7.892s) and slowest fastest lap (6.135s) underscore setup challenges in the MegaG+ class on the Bus Stop, where modified cars demand precise tuning for low-speed grip.

Segment-by-Segment Breakdown:

    • Segment #1 (White/Green/Blue/Orange Lanes): Dean Donaldson led from White with 25 laps and a 7.789s average. Kevin Webster took a strong 2nd (25 laps), but lower emphasis on Joe Clarke’s 3rd (24 laps, 8.522s average in Blue) and Steve Stewart’s 4th (24 laps, 8.519s average in Orange). Both trailed by just 1 lap, but their higher averages (8.5s+) suggest initial struggles with the Bus Stop chicane—Joe’s median (8.262s) inflated likely from off-tracks, while Steve’s 6.358s median showed inconsistency despite a 5.730s fast lap. This early 4th for Steve (7 points) set a recovery challenge, highlighting Orange lane’s potential disadvantages on SR3. Segment times: ~193-204s, with lower placers’ longer runs reflecting cautious driving.
    • Segment #2 (White/Orange/Green/Blue Lanes): Joe surged to 1st (25 laps in White), with Steve 2nd. Emphasizing lower: Kevin Webster’s 3rd (24 laps, 7.709s average in Orange) and Dean Donaldson’s 4th (24 laps, 7.741s average in Green). Dean’s slip—unusual for the eventual winner—came with a solid 6.341s median but only 24 laps, possibly from setup tweaks mid-race or Green lane issues in the Bus Stop. Kevin’s 3rd was competitive (just 1 lap off), improving his average from Seg. #1, but his 6.898s median indicated lingering grip problems in turns. Both earned 11/7 points here, keeping totals close (Dean at 23, Kevin at 24 overall). Segment times: ~180-185s, showing tighter pacing, though lower placers’ times aligned closely with leaders.
    • Segment #3 (Green/Orange/White/Blue Lanes): Dean won (25 laps in Orange), Joe 2nd. Focus on lower: Steve Stewart’s 3rd (23 laps, 7.479s average in White) and Kevin Webster’s 4th (23 laps, 7.677s average in Blue). Tied in laps but separated by points (11 vs. 7), this segment exposed Bus Stop vulnerabilities—Steve’s 5.840s median was strong, but 2 laps short suggests incidents or power management in modified MegaG+ cars. Kevin’s 6.934s median and 6.135s fastest showed progress, yet his average remained high, pointing to Blue lane challenges or tire wear. Joe’s lead grew, but lower placers stayed within 2 laps, accumulating points (Steve to 31, Kevin to 31). Segment times: ~169-176s, with Kevin’s 175.840s reflecting sustained but slower effort.
    • Segment #4 (Blue/Orange/Green/White Lanes) / Final: Steve won the segment (25 laps in Green), Dean 2nd. Emphasizing lower: Joe Clarke’s 3rd (24 laps, 7.208s average in Orange) and Kevin Webster’s 4th (21 laps, 7.935s average in White). Joe’s 3rd—despite tying Dean’s total laps overall—stemmed from a 6.234s median but 1 lap shy, possibly fatigue or minor errors in the chicane. Kevin’s weakest segment (4 laps behind, highest 7.935s average) capped his race, with a 6.958s median suggesting White lane disadvantages or setup fatigue in the modified class. His 7 points here finalized 4th overall, but the 21 laps highlighted the Bus Stop’s toll on consistency. Segment times: ~165-176s, with lower placers’ longer runs (175s+) indicating endurance over speed.

Key Insights on Lower Placings: Kevin Webster’s consistent 4th overall reflected the MegaG+ 1.7 Modified class’s demands on the Bus Stop layout—strong starts (2nd in Seg. #1) faded to deficits (21 laps in finale), with averages ~0.5-1s slower than leaders due to medians in the 6.9s range, likely from grip or gearing issues in tight turns. Flashes like his 6.135s fastest suggest potential; tweaks could push him higher. Steve Stewart’s early 4th and mid-race 3rd showed recovery but cost points (47 total), emphasizing lane rotation impacts. Joe’s brief 3rd in the final prevented a win despite a lap tie, underscoring segment volatility. Lower drivers demonstrated resilience, with the Bus Stop equalizing the field in modified cars—future events may favor those mastering chicane setups. Details

Race 3: PR-5 GT F1 Hardbody (i)

The third race of the Wednesday Night Under The Lights event at Stewart Raceway took place on March 11, 2026, on the SR2 track with the new Bus Stop layout. This class featured MegaG+ 1.7 Lites cars, known for their balanced performance on road courses, with the Bus Stop chicane adding strategic depth through its series of tight turns that favor smooth driving and setup optimization. The race used a multi-segment heat format with five segments, each targeting 30 laps, and lane rotations (Yellow, Blue, White, Red) with one driver sitting out per segment to accommodate five participants. Dustin Jolley won with 120 laps and 58 points, but the analysis below focuses on the lower placings—Dean Donaldson (3rd, 110 laps, 47 points), Joe Clarke (4th, 114 laps, 42 points), and Kevin Webster (5th, 93 laps, 32 points)—highlighting their challenges, improvements, and areas for growth on the Bus Stop configuration.

Final Standings Table (Aggregated from All Segments):

Place
Name
Total Laps
Total Points
Total Run Time (s)
Avg Lap Time (s)
Fastest Lap (s)
Median Lap Time (s)
1
Dustin Jolley
120
58
608.263
5.069
4.044
~4.8
2
Steve Stewart
117
56
610.393
5.217
4.055
~4.9
3
Dean Donaldson
110
47
620.527
5.641
~5.0
~5.2
4
Joe Clarke
114
42
658.058
5.772
4.092
~5.4
5
Kevin Webster
93
32
628.190
6.754
~6.0
~6.5

Notes on Aggregates: Average lap times calculated as total run time divided by total laps (lower is better).  The faster paces (4-6s/lap) compared to Races 1-2 reflect SR2’s layout, potentially with less elevation or smoother surfaces, though the Bus Stop still penalized inconsistencies.

Segment-by-Segment Breakdown (Summarized from available data; full per-lane metrics limited):

    • Segment #1 (Joe Clarke out): Dustin Jolley dominated on Yellow with 30 laps (16 points, 4.595s average). Steve Stewart 2nd. Focusing on lower: Dean Donaldson and Kevin Webster trailed with fewer laps (exact counts not specified, but behind the top two), likely struggling with initial Bus Stop adaptation in their lanes. Kevin’s higher overall average suggests this segment highlighted his setup issues, possibly tire grip or gearing for the chicane, resulting in slower medians and a lap deficit that set a tough tone for his race.
    • Segment #2 (Dustin Jolley out): Steve Stewart won on Yellow (30 laps, 16 points). Dean 2nd (lap count not specified, but strong). Emphasizing lower: Kevin Webster and Joe Clarke both completed 27 laps (3rd and 4th), earning 11 and 7 points respectively. Joe’s sit-out in Seg. #1 meant he started from behind, and his 27 laps here showed a solid rebound but highlighted pacing issues on the Bus Stop, with averages potentially inflated by turns. Kevin’s consistent but mid-pack finish indicated ongoing challenges, perhaps lane-specific (e.g., Blue or White disadvantages), contributing to his lower efficiency.
    • Segment #3 (Steve Stewart out): Dean Donaldson won on Yellow (30 laps, 16 points). Dustin 2nd on Red. Focus on lower: Joe Clarke 3rd (lap count not specified, 11 points); Kevin Webster 4th with 18 laps in Blue (7 points). Kevin’s low lap count—12 behind the winner—was his weakest, possibly from off-tracks or mechanical hiccups in the Bus Stop’s tight sections, inflating his average to near 9s in some reports. Joe’s 3rd was respectable but reflected variability, as his fastest lap (4.092s) showed potential not fully realized due to consistency lapses.
    • Segment #4 (Dean Donaldson out): Dustin Jolley won on White (30 laps, 16 points). Joe 2nd with 29 laps (13 points). Emphasizing lower: Steve 3rd and Kevin Webster 4th with fewer completions (exact laps not specified, 11 and 7 points). Kevin’s continued lower placement underscored the Bus Stop’s demands on endurance, with his slower averages (up to 9.088s in similar segments) pointing to adaptation struggles or car tuning needs. Joe’s strong 2nd here boosted his total but couldn’t overcome earlier gaps, suggesting fatigue or lane rotation impacts.
    • Segment #5 (Kevin Webster out): Steve Stewart won on White (30 laps, 16 points). Dustin 2nd. Focus on lower: Joe Clarke 3rd with 28 laps (11 points); Dean Donaldson 4th with 23 laps (7 points). Dean’s slip to 4th—his lowest—was notable for the points leader in prior races, with only 23 laps indicating possible incidents or setup mismatch in the Bus Stop chicane during his lane. Joe’s 3rd was consistent but not enough for podium, while Kevin’s sit-out allowed recovery time but left him with the event’s lowest laps, emphasizing his overall challenges.

Key Insights on Lower Placings: Dean Donaldson’s 3rd overall (110 laps, 47 points) was a step back from his Race 2 win, with his 5.641s average reflecting inconsistency on the Bus Stop—strong in Seg. #3 (win) but weak in #5 (23 laps), possibly from lane disadvantages or minor errors in turns. His points efficiency (0.427 pts/lap) was solid, but fewer laps than expected suggest room for better reliability in multi-segment formats. Joe Clarke’s 4th (114 laps, 42 points) showed resilience, with a competitive 4.092s fastest lap, but higher average (5.772s) and variable placements (3rd/4th in most) indicate Bus Stop pacing issues, perhaps over-driving the chicane leading to time losses. His longer total time (658s) despite more laps than Dean points to endurance strengths but efficiency opportunities. Kevin Webster’s 5th (93 laps, 32 points) epitomized the lower field struggles, with the highest average (6.754s) and lowest laps due to poor segments like #3 (18 laps), likely from setup mismatches or learning the new Bus Stop layout. Flashes of competitiveness (e.g., 27 laps in #2) hint at potential, but his 0.344 pts/lap efficiency underscores needs for tweaks in grip or strategy to climb in future SR2 events.

Overall, the lower drivers demonstrated flashes of speed but were hampered by the Bus Stop’s technical nature, making it a key factor in their placements—future races could see gains with focused practice. Details

Race 4: Viper V-SPEC SPEC STOCK Lexan

The final race of the Wednesday Night Under The Lights event at Stewart Raceway wrapped up on March 11, 2026, starting at 22:46 on the SR2 Straight Road Course. This layout, contrasting the Bus Stop chicanes of prior races, features longer straights and flowing sections that reward raw speed and stable setups in the Viper V-SPEC SPEC STOCK Lexan class, with minimal modifications emphasizing stock performance. The five-segment heat format targeted 30 laps per segment, with lane rotations (Blue, Yellow, White, Red) and one driver sitting out each time to manage the five-participant field. Points per segment (16/13/11/7 for 1st-4th) favored consistency, leading to Joe Clarke’s win (119 laps, 56 points) in a tiebreaker over Steve Stewart (119 laps, 50 points). Dustin Jolley took 3rd (117 laps, 56 points).
The analysis below emphasizes lower placings—Dean Donaldson (4th, 109 laps, 45 points) and Kevin Webster (5th, 94 laps, 28 points)—detailing their struggles, progress, and opportunities on this faster, less technical course.

Final Standings Table (Aggregated from All Segments):

Place
Name
Total Laps
Total Points
Total Run Time (s)
Avg Lap Time (s)
Fastest Lap (s)
Median Lap Time (s)
1
Joe Clarke
119
56
533.648
4.484
3.195
3.542
2
Steve Stewart
119
50
548.073
4.606
3.172
3.655
3
Dustin Jolley
117
56
541.774
4.630
3.226
3.597
4
Dean Donaldson
109
45
551.810
5.062
3.296
3.964
5
Kevin Webster
94
28
524.270
5.577
3.540
4.566

Notes on Aggregates: Average lap times from total run time divided by total laps (lower is faster). Fastest laps are the minimum across segments; medians are averages of reported segment medians. The straight course enabled sub-4s laps, but lower drivers’ higher averages (5s+) indicate setup or consistency issues, with sit-outs adding variability.

Segment-by-Segment Breakdown:

    • Segment #1 (Steve Stewart out; Blue/Yellow/White/Red Lanes): Joe Clarke won from Blue (30 laps, 4.084s average). Dustin Jolley 2nd. Emphasizing lower: Dean Donaldson’s 3rd (28 laps, 4.462s average in White) and Kevin Webster’s 4th (21 laps, 5.765s average in Red). Dean trailed by 2 laps with a solid 3.750s median but higher average, suggesting early throttle control issues on straights. Kevin’s 9-lap deficit and 4.759s median highlighted his weakest start, possibly from Red lane disadvantages or stock setup mismatches, inflating time despite a competitive 4.391s fastest. Both earned 11/7 points, but sit-out for Steve kept totals low initially. Segment times: ~127-129s.
    • Segment #2 (Dustin Jolley out; Yellow/Blue/White/Red Lanes): Joe again won (30 laps in Yellow). Steve 2nd on debut. Focus on lower: Dean Donaldson’s 3rd (27 laps, 4.733s average in Blue) and Kevin Webster’s 4th (21 laps, 5.955s average in White). Dean’s 3 laps short of the winner showed improvement but consistency lapses (3.580s median), perhaps from over-pushing on straights. Kevin repeated his low output (21 laps), with a 5.111s median indicating grip or power delivery problems, though his 3.868s fastest rivaled leaders—hinting at potential stifled by errors. Dustin’s sit-out leveled the field temporarily, but lower placers’ 11/7 points kept them trailing (Dean at 22, Kevin at 14). Segment times: ~128-132s.
    • Segment #3 (Joe Clarke out; Yellow/Blue/White/Red Lanes): Dean Donaldson won his only segment (30 laps, 4.460s average in Yellow). Steve 2nd. Emphasizing lower: Dustin Jolley’s 3rd (28 laps, 4.804s average in Red) and Kevin Webster’s 4th (28 laps, 4.823s average in Blue). Dustin’s slip—despite a 3.843s median—came 2 laps short, possibly from Red lane challenges or minor incidents, costing momentum with 11 points. Kevin’s best relative finish (tied laps with Dustin) marked progress, tightening his average and 4.137s median, suggesting adaptation to the straight course’s speed—though still 7 points here, his total reached 21. Joe’s sit-out allowed lower drivers to close gaps temporarily. Segment times: ~138-142s.
    • Segment #4 (Dean Donaldson out; Yellow/Red/Blue/White Lanes): Dustin Jolley won (30 laps in White). Steve 2nd. Focus on lower: Joe Clarke’s 3rd (29 laps, 4.222s average in Red) and Kevin Webster’s 4th (24 laps, 5.111s average in Yellow). Joe’s near-miss (1 lap off) with a 3.700s median was solid but uncharacteristic for the leader, perhaps Red lane or fatigue-related, earning 11 points to maintain his edge. Kevin’s 6-lap deficit reverted to early form, with a 4.258s median inflated by possible off-tracks on straights, adding just 7 points (total 28). Dean’s sit-out preserved his laps but halted his surge. Segment times: ~124-127s.
    • Segment #5 (Kevin Webster out; White/Yellow/Blue/Red Lanes) / Final: Dustin won the segment (30 laps in Blue). Joe 2nd. Emphasizing lower: Steve Stewart’s 3rd (30 laps, 4.873s average in Yellow) and Dean Donaldson’s 4th (24 laps, 6.048s average in Red). Steve’s 3rd—completing full laps but with an elevated 3.810s median—secured 11 points, but couldn’t overtake Joe’s total despite lap tie. Dean’s weakest (6 laps short, highest 6.048s average) capped his race, with a 4.803s median suggesting Red lane struggles or setup fatigue, yielding 7 points (total 45). Kevin’s sit-out finalized his low laps, underscoring endurance limits.

Key Insights on Lower Placings:

Dean Donaldson’s 4th (109 laps, 45 points) reflected inconsistency on the straight course—strong in Seg. #3 (win) but faltering in #5 (24 laps), with a 5.062s average ~0.5s slower than podium due to medians around 4s, likely from pushing limits without full stability in stock Lexan bodies. His 0.413 pts/lap efficiency was decent, but sit-outs and variability suggest better rotation management could elevate him.
Kevin Webster’s 5th (94 laps, 28 points) epitomized lower-field challenges, with the highest average (5.577s) and frequent low outputs (21-24 laps in active segments), pointing to setup tweaks needed for straights—though improved in #3 (28 laps), his 0.298 pts/lap highlights adaptation issues. Dustin Jolley’s 3rd (117 laps, 56 points), while podium, shared lower traits like Seg. #3’s 3rd, with a 4.630s average showing reliability but occasional deficits. The straight layout amplified speed gaps for lower drivers, but their sub-4s fastest laps indicate potential; future events may favor them with refined tuning. Details

Series Standings 2026 “Under The Lights”

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
Junior Division
1 Austin Brentmar 204 100 2060.362
2 Rye Jolley 187 68 2147.751
Sportsman Division
4 Joe Clarke 1324 572 9902.457
5 Jeff Seltzer 337 160 3206.600
6 Wayne Locke 341 136 2019.909
8 Bev Seltzer 310 129 3090.575
10 Mike Langell 262 98 3506.202
11 Ramsey Wright 202 85 2005.230
13 Max Dunn 103 49 999.582
14 Tara DelaGarza 89 38 1002.428
15 Mark Wialbut 98 35 1058.522
17 Phil Rogers 71 28 710.348
Expert Division
1 Steve Stewart 2171 1202 17086.699
2 Dean Donaldson 2070 1037 17340.921
3 Dustin Jolley 1966 1000 15711.202
7 Kevin Webster 367 134 2576.835

Team Clarke’s, Joe Clarke, leads the Sportsman division points and is likely our next Expert division addition. After four “Under The Lights” events, Joe is well ahead of his nearest rival, Seltzer Racing’s Jeff Seltzer. With one more event to complete, Joe is quite likely to get the nod to the Expert ranks very soon.

Saturday Night Under The Lights: Fast & Furious 50/50 Slot Car Action!

I think this is our third Saturday night racing event. Saturday nights tend to exclude the younger teams and even some veterans, but they’re never short on competition and racing excitement.  This one, perhaps, more so than the previous two events.

We had yet another new driver join us for this one. Wayne Locke, a good friend of Team Full-Speed and Team Clarke, decided to visit Stewart Raceway to learn more. Of course, he didn’t find us on the Internet; he had been hounded by both teams for weeks to join us.

And join us, he did. Wayne hadn’t raced little cars since just before the Pet Rock hit the market in 1975. Wayne didn’t bring any racing equipment, but he did bring some amazingly delicious diced pork belly to share with the paddock.

Short Story

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dustin Jolley 434 215 1938.783
2 Steve Stewart 425 218 1933.220
3 Joe Clarke 406 177 2063.902
4 Dean Donaldson 403 194 2011.169
5 Wayne Locke 341 136 2019.909 
Overall and Per Race Analysis AI Generated:
This racing event featured four competitive races split across two distinct tracks, showcasing a mix of endurance, strategy, and skill among the five drivers.
The overall standings were determined by total laps completed, with tiebreakers potentially influenced by points earned (likely from race positions and bonuses) and cumulative time.

Dustin Jolley emerged as the overall winner with the highest lap count, but the event highlighted tight battles, especially among the mid-to-lower pack where consistency and recovery played key roles.

Top Performers

      • Dustin Jolley secured 1st place with 434 laps and 215 points, clocking a total time of 1938.783 seconds. His strong lap volume suggests dominant performances across multiple races, possibly excelling on both tracks.
      • Steve Stewart finished a close 2nd with 425 laps but led in points at 218, indicating he might have won or placed highly in individual races despite fewer overall laps. His efficient total time of 1933.220 seconds points to quick, strategic runs.

While the top two dominated in laps and points, the event’s depth came from the resilience of the lower-scoring drivers (those with under 200 points), who faced challenges but contributed to the competitive narrative. Their performances underscore the event’s demanding nature, with potential issues like mechanical setbacks, track-specific difficulties, or aggressive racing affecting their outcomes:

      • Joe Clarke (3rd place, 406 laps, 177 points, 2063.902 seconds): As a mid-pack finisher, Clarke showed solid endurance but lagged in points, possibly due to inconsistent race results. His higher total time suggests struggles with pace on one or both tracks, yet completing over 400 laps indicates he avoided major DNFs (did not finish). Emphasis here: Clarke’s ability to stay in the fight despite lower scoring highlights his potential for comebacks in future events, where fine-tuning strategy could boost his points haul.
      • Dean Donaldson (4th place, 403 laps, 194 points, 2011.169 seconds): Just behind Clarke, Donaldson earned a respectable 194 points—higher than Clarke’s despite fewer laps—implying strong showings in specific races, perhaps with podium finishes on one track. His total time was competitive, but the lap deficit points to possible incidents or conservative approaches. Focus on lower scoring: Donaldson’s points efficiency (nearly matching the leaders per lap) suggests untapped potential; with better luck or adjustments, he could challenge the top tier, making him a driver to watch.
      • Wayne Locke (5th place, 341 laps, 136 points, 2019.909 seconds): Bringing up the rear, Locke faced the toughest outing with the lowest laps and points, likely impacted by DNFs, penalties, or adaptation issues across the two tracks. His total time, while not the worst, reflects incomplete runs. Emphasis on lower scoring: Despite the challenges, Locke’s participation added grit to the event; his lower output emphasizes the steep learning curve or variability in track conditions, offering lessons in perseverance. Improvements in consistency could see him climb standings in similar multi-race formats.

Overall, the event demonstrated balanced competition, with the two tracks likely introducing variables like surface differences or layouts that favored certain driving styles. The lower-scoring drivers (Clarke, Donaldson, and Locke) exemplified the event’s challenges, where point gaps reveal opportunities for growth amid the high-lap dominance of the leaders. Total event metrics: ~2,009 laps combined, with an average of ~402 laps per driver.

Race 1: AW X-Traction Hardbody (i)

Race 1 kicked off the event on what appears to be the first track (SR3 Oval), featuring a competitive field where lap completion and pace were key differentiators. Dustin Jolley took the win with a strong 77 laps and 52 points, setting a benchmark total time of 344.597 seconds.

The race highlighted tight points battles, especially in the top half, but also showcased the challenges faced by the lower-scoring drivers who battled for consistency amid potential track demands or incidents.

Top Performers

      • Dustin Jolley (1st): Dominated with the highest laps (77) and points (52), posting the quickest time. His performance suggests superior handling and strategy on this track.
      • Dean Donaldson (2nd): Matched Jolley’s points at 52 despite fewer laps (67), indicating possible bonus points or strong positional play. Time of 351.607 seconds kept him competitive.
      • Steve Stewart (3rd): Solid 75 laps and 49 points, with a time of 353.171 seconds showing efficiency but a slight points deficit.

The lower-scoring drivers (those under 45 points) added depth to the race, demonstrating resilience in a format that rewarded endurance. Their outputs reflect possible setbacks like slower paces or minor issues, yet they completed respectable laps, contributing to the event’s narrative of variability:

      • Wayne Locke (4th, 64 laps, 42 points, 369.294 seconds): As a lower scorer, Locke faced pace challenges, evident in the highest time despite mid-pack laps. Emphasis: His points suggest consistent effort without major errors; with tweaks to speed, he could push for podium contention in similar races, highlighting growth potential.
      • Joe Clarke (5th, 62 laps, 40 points, 358.653 seconds): Trailing in laps and points, Clarke’s run points to adaptation hurdles on this track. Emphasis: Despite the lower output, his time was better than Locke’s, indicating bursts of speed; focusing on lap sustainability could elevate his scoring in multi-race events, underscoring his role as a determined underdog.

Race 1 totals: 345 laps combined across drivers, averaging ~69 laps each. This opener set a tone for the series, with lower scorers like Locke and Clarke showing promise for rebounds in subsequent races on potentially differing tracks. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dustin Jolley 77 52 344.597
2 Dean Donaldson 67 52 351.607
3 Steve Stewart 75 49 353.171
4 Wayne Locke 64 42 369.294
5 Joe Clarke 62 40 358.653

Race 2: MegaG+ 1.7 Lites (Support Class) (22V) (o)

Race 2 unfolded on the SR3 Oval Super Speedway on March 7, 2026, at 20:15, in the MegaG+ 1.7 Lites Support Class (22V, oval configuration). This multi-segment event spanned five rotations, with each segment targeting 20 laps and drivers cycling through lanes (Blue, Orange, Green, White) while one sat out per segment. Dustin Jolley claimed victory with dominant segment wins, but the race featured close battles and lane-related challenges that impacted the field.

Key Race Highlights

Segment 1 (All racing except Wayne out): Steve Stewart led on Blue with a flawless 20 laps and the segment’s best average (2.951s), earning 16 points. Dean and Dustin followed closely, while Joe managed 19 laps in 4th.

Segment 2 (Steve out): Joe Clarke surged to 1st on Green (20 laps, 16 points), boosting his early position. Dean and Dustin kept pace, but Wayne struggled on White with 19 laps.

Segment 3 (Dean out): Dustin dominated on Blue (20 laps, 16 points), while Wayne edged Joe for 2nd in a low-lap battle (both 14 laps). Steve faltered on White with only 13 laps.

Segment 4 (Dustin out): Steve rebounded on Green (20 laps, 16 points), with Joe taking 2nd on Blue. Wayne lagged with 16 laps on Orange.

Segment 5 (Joe out): Dustin sealed the win on White (20 laps, 16 points), posting the race’s lowest average laptime (2.804s). Steve and Dean completed strong runs, while Wayne held on for 19 laps.

Top Performers

      • Dustin Jolley (1st): Excelled with 80 total laps and 54 points in 262.548 seconds, winning three segments outright. His consistency across lanes (fastest in White at 2.279s) highlighted superior setup for the oval.
      • Dean Donaldson (2nd): Narrowly missed the top spot with 79 laps and 48 points in 265.789 seconds. Strong in early segments but sat out one; his race-fastest lap (2.031s in White) showed raw speed potential.
      • Steve Stewart (3rd): Completed 73 laps with a field-high 52 points in an efficient 238.788 seconds (quickest total time). Wins in two segments offset a weak Segment 3, demonstrating recovery skills.

The lower-scoring drivers (under 50 points) navigated lane rotations and occasional low-lap segments, adding unpredictability to the race. Their efforts underscore the oval’s demands, where track position and mechanical reliability could swing outcomes, offering insights into perseverance amid top-tier competition:

      • Joe Clarke (4th, 73 laps, 47 points, 288.062 seconds): Tied Steve in laps but edged out by points in the tiebreaker, with a strong Segment 2 win (16 points) boosting his tally. His higher total time suggests pace inconsistencies across lanes, possibly from setup tweaks. Emphasis: Clarke’s mid-race surge (e.g., 20 laps in Green) highlights his ability to capitalize on favorable rotations; refining endurance in tougher lanes could position him for podiums, making him a resilient contender in support-class events.
      • Wayne Locke (5th, 68 laps, 34 points, 269.131 seconds): Faced the steepest challenges with the lowest laps and points, including an early sit-out and sub-20-lap segments (e.g., 14 in Green, 16 in Orange). His fastest laps (around 2.6-2.7s) were competitive but inconsistent. Emphasis: Despite setbacks, Locke’s 2nd-place finish in Segment 3 (13 points) shows flashes of capability on certain lanes; focusing on consistency and quicker adaptations could help him avoid the lower ranks, emphasizing his role as an underdog building experience in high-voltage oval racing.

Race 2 totals: ~373 laps combined (averaging ~75 per driver), with a cumulative runtime reflecting the segmented format’s intensity. This oval showdown amplified the series’ competitive edge, where lower scorers like Clarke and Locke provided narrative depth through their segment-to-segment battles. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dustin Jolley 80 54 262.548
2 Steve Stewart 73 52 238.788
3 Dean Donaldson 79 48 265.789
4 Joe Clarke 73 47 288.062
5 Wayne Locke 68 34 269.131

Race 3: MegaG+ 1.7 Lites (Support Class)

Race 3 was held on the Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course on March 7, 2026, at 21:14, in the MegaG+ 1.7 Lites Support Class. The multi-segment format included five rotations aiming for 30 laps each, with drivers rotating through lanes (Yellow, Blue, White, Red) and one sitting out per segment.

Key Race Highlights

  • Segment 1 (Joe out): Dustin Jolley commanded on Yellow with 30 laps and 16 points, posting the lowest average (4.595s). Steve Stewart followed closely in 2nd, while Dean and Wayne lagged with fewer laps.
  • Segment 2 (Dustin out): Steve took control on Yellow (30 laps, 16 points), with Dean in 2nd. Wayne and Joe both hit 27 laps but placed 3rd and 4th, reflecting pace differences.
  • Segment 3 (Steve out): Dean excelled on Yellow (30 laps, 16 points), Dustin 2nd on Red. Joe held 3rd, but Wayne dropped to 18 laps in a tough Blue lane run.
  • Segment 4 (Dean out): Dustin dominated on White (30 laps, 16 points), Joe nearly matched in 2nd with 29 laps. Steve and Wayne completed fewer, hinting at lane or setup issues.
  • Segment 5 (Wayne out): Steve won the finale on White (30 laps, 16 points), edging Dustin in 2nd. Joe and Dean finished 3rd and 4th with 28 and 23 laps, capping a variable event.

Top Performers

  • Dustin Jolley (1st): Led with 120 total laps and 58 points in 608.263 seconds, securing two segment wins and consistent high placements. His road course prowess shone through efficient averages and a 4.044s fastest lap.
  • Steve Stewart (2nd): Accumulated 117 laps and 56 points in 610.393 seconds, claiming three segment victories despite a sit-out. Versatile across lanes, with the event’s quickest lap at 4.055s.
  • Dean Donaldson (3rd): Tallied 110 laps and 47 points in 620.527 seconds, including one segment win. Solid mid-race surge but impacted by lower completions in key segments.
  • Joe Clarke (4th, 114 laps, 42 points, 658.058 seconds): Notched impressive lap volume (third-highest overall) with strong late-race showings, but an early sit-out and mid-pack finishes limited points. His total laps edged Dean’s, yet placement suggests points as a key factor. Emphasis: Clarke’s resilience, evidenced by competitive paces (fastest 4.092s) and near-30-lap segments, positions him as a threat with better early momentum; his performance underscores the value of full participation in rotation-heavy events.
  • Wayne Locke (5th, 93 laps, 32 points, 628.190 seconds): Faced ongoing challenges with the lowest laps and points, often in 4th per segment and hampered by slower averages (up to 9.088s). A mid-race 3rd offered a highlight amid adaptation struggles. Emphasis: Locke’s steady involvement despite setbacks illustrates the learning curve on technical tracks; targeting lane-specific tweaks could elevate his scoring, highlighting his determination as a foundational series participant.

Race 3 totals: ~558 laps combined (averaging ~112 per driver), reflecting the road course’s demanding setup compared to prior oval action. The lower scorers, particularly Clarke with his lap edge and Locke with his grit, enriched the narrative, emphasizing strategic nuances in the ongoing four-race series. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dustin Jolley 120 58 608.263
2 Steve Stewart 117 56 610.393
3 Dean Donaldson 110 47 620.527
4 Joe Clarke 114 42 658.058
5 Wayne Locke 93 32 628.190

Race 4: Viper V-SPEC SPEC STOCK Lexan

Race 4 capped the event on the Stewart Raceway II Straight Road Course on March 7, 2026, at 22:20, in the Viper V-SPEC SPEC STOCK Lexan class. This five-segment race targeted 40 laps per segment, with drivers rotating through lanes (Blue, Yellow, White, Red) and one out each time. Steve Stewart dominated for the win, but the race’s intensity shone in close mid-pack ties and recovery efforts.

Key Race Highlights

      • Segment 1 (Joe out): Steve led on Blue with a perfect 40 laps (16 points), Dustin close in 2nd. Wayne struggled with only 27 laps in Red.
      • Segment 2 (Dustin out): Steve repeated dominance on Yellow (40 laps, 16 points), Dean 2nd. Joe entered strong with 37 laps in Red for 3rd.
      • Segment 3 (Steve out): Dean topped on Yellow (40 laps, 16 points), Joe 2nd. Wayne again low at 29 laps.
      • Segment 4 (Dean out): Dustin surged on White (40 laps, 16 points), edging Steve in 2nd. Wayne managed 30 laps for 4th.
      • Segment 5 (Wayne out): Steve clinched overall with a win on White (40 laps, 16 points), Joe 2nd. Dustin and Dean completed but with slight deficits.

Top Performers

      • Steve Stewart (1st): Mastered the event with 160 total laps and 61 points in 730.868 seconds, winning three segments. His consistent sub-4.5s averages and event-low 3.348s fastest lap showcased track command.
      • Dustin Jolley (2nd): Secured 157 laps and 51 points in 723.375 seconds (quickest total time), with one segment win. Strong paces (3.330s fastest) kept him in contention despite a sit-out.
      • Joe Clarke (3rd): Matched Jolley’s laps at 157 but placed via points at 48 in 759.129 seconds. A solid rebound from an early out, with the race’s quickest lap (3.182s) in the finale.

The lower-scoring drivers (under 50 points) grappled with the Viper class’s specs on the road course, facing lane challenges and incomplete segments, yet their contributions highlighted adaptability in a high-stakes closer.

      • Dean Donaldson (4th, 147 laps, 47 points, 773.246 seconds): Competitive early with a segment win but hampered by a low 31-lap finale and sit-out. His averages hovered around 4.5-5.9s, with a 3.394s fastest showing speed bursts. Emphasis: Donaldson’s points haul nearly matched the podium despite lap gaps, signaling strong potential; lane optimization could propel him higher in similar formats.
      • Wayne Locke (5th, 116 laps, 28 points, 753.294 seconds): Endured the roughest run with multiple sub-30-lap segments and an early finale out, reflected in higher averages (up to 6.769s). Emphasis: Locke’s persistence across rotations, including competitive fastest laps (around 4.2-4.5s), underscores grit; focusing on reliability might close the scoring divide, adding underdog intrigue to the series.

Race 4 totals: ~737 laps combined (averaging ~147 per driver), wrapping the four-race event with emphasis on the road course’s role in testing limits. Lower scorers like Donaldson and Locke exemplified the class’s challenges, providing lessons in strategy amid the leaders’ pace. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 160 61 730.868
2 Dustin Jolley 157 51 723.375
3 Joe Clarke 157 48 759.129
4 Dean Donaldson 147 47 773.246
5 Wayne Locke 116 28 753.294

Due to the effects of adrenaline and overhydration, the Race Director failed to capture podium shots for Races 3 & 4. Oh well, maybe next time.

A big shout-out to Joe Clarke with his first podium on SR2 with his brand new Viper V-SPEC Lexan car!  Joe is a Sportsman division driver and was up against three Expert division drivers the whole night.

And how about Dustin Jolley, winning both MG+ 1.7 Lite races, one on the oval and one on SR2’s straight road course, on his way to winning the overall event–Yeah, I’d say Dustin well-deserved his advancement to the Expert division. Looks like Joe might be next.

Thank you all for bringing stuff to share, and to Team Full-Speed for preparing the very good eats.

Another Epic Wednesday Night “Under the Lights” Event On Both Tracks

A big welcome to our newest driver, Scott Arfsten! Scott is a former Granite Bay resident relocating back to the Santa Cruz Mountains after many years. Scott is another natural and Rookie of the Year candidate, for sure.

Thanks to all participants who brought stuff to share and enjoy. Dean took care of the main course, which was delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup. And Joe Clarke was the Superstar late-comer, bringing a delicious chocolate cream pie—my favorite!!

Going all AI with this one. Trying to streamline the Race Report process a bit. Probably Something the next-gen Race Management Systems will support better, I hope…

AI Generated Summary: A classic Stewart Raceway oval battle — points-heavy format rewards segment excellence over pure volume, especially with four-lane rotations and Outs. Scott and Max punched above expectations in the mix.

Short Story

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 274 84 1600.381
2 Dean Donaldson 269 76 1572.602
3 Dustin Jolley 272 71 1485.535
4 Jeff Seltzer 250 58 1636.648
5 Joe Clarke 115 50 757.304
6 Max Dunn 144 14 775.240
7 Scott Arfsten 135 14 782.019

Here’s a clean summary and analysis of the race results for this slot car (or similar scale racing) event: 
Name
Laps
Points
RunTime (sec)
Avg Laps (s/lap)
1
Steve Stewart
274
84
1600.381
≈5.841
2
Dean Donaldson
269
76
1572.602
≈5.845
3
Dustin Jolley
272
71
1485.535
≈5.462
4
Jeff Seltzer
250
58
1636.648
≈6.547
5
Joe Clarke
115
50
757.304
≈6.585
6
Max Dunn
144
14
775.240
≈5.384
7
Scott Arfsten
135
14
782.019
≈5.793
Key  AI observations:
    • Winner: Steve Stewart takes 1st with the highest laps (274) and points (84), despite not having the fastest average lap time.
    • Laps leader: Steve Stewart (274), closely followed by Dustin Jolley (272).
    • Fastest average pace (lowest seconds per lap, among those with solid laps): Max Dunn (5.384 s/lap) edges out Dustin Jolley (5.462 s/lap). These drivers were clearly quick but may have had fewer total laps due to fewer segments run, deslotting, or shorter participation.
    • Efficiency / points per lap: Steve Stewart leads at ≈0.307 pts/lap, followed by Dean Donaldson (≈0.282) and Dustin Jolley (≈0.261). Lower placers like Max Dunn and Scott Arfsten have much lower points efficiency (~0.097), likely because they ran in fewer heats/segments or scored lower per segment.
    • Time vs. laps: Dustin Jolley completed nearly as many laps as the winner but in much less total time → strong indicator of consistent speed. Steve Stewart and Dean Donaldson have similar avg lap times (~5.84 s), suggesting close racing at the front.

This format is typical for endurance-style or segmented slot car racing (e.g., multiple heats or lanes, total laps across segments determine much of the outcome, with points possibly awarded per heat or segment and then totaled).Pace highlights:

    • Dustin Jolley and Max Dunn posted the quickest consistent laps.
    • The top 3 were very close in raw speed, but the winner maximized total distance (laps).

Congrats to Steve Stewart on the win! If this is part of a series or you have more context (e.g., number of segments/heats, points breakdown per heat, or track details), I can dig deeper into the performance metrics.

Race 1: TFX Austin Martin (i) (o)
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 77 16 374.396
2 Dustin Jolley 78 14 368.292
3 Dean Donaldson 77 13 353.192
4 Scott Arfsten 68 9 394.731
5 Max Dunn 70 7 371.788
6 Jeff Seltzer 67 7 379.875
Key AI Observations:
      • Dustin Jolley completed the most laps (78), but finished 2nd overall.
      • Steve Stewart won with 77 laps but earned the highest points (16).
      • Dean Donaldson had the lowest total time among the top 3 (353.192 seconds for 77 laps), suggesting he was the fastest on average.
      • Lower places have fewer laps and lower points, as expected.

Calculated Average Lap TimesLower average lap time = faster pace (more consistent speed, fewer issues).

      • Dean Donaldson: 353.192 s / 77 laps ≈ 4.586 seconds per lap (fastest average)
      • Dustin Jolley: 368.292 s / 78 laps ≈ 4.722 s/lap
      • Steve Stewart: 374.396 s / 77 laps ≈ 4.863 s/lap
      • Max Dunn: 371.788 s / 70 laps ≈ 5.311 s/lap
      • Jeff Seltzer: 379.875 s / 67 laps ≈ 5.669 s/lap
      • Scott Arfsten: 394.731 s / 68 laps ≈ 5.805 s/lap (slowest average)

Dean Donaldson clearly had the quickest pace, but fewer total laps than Dustin Jolley kept him from 1st or 2nd.  

      • Dustin led in raw laps (78) but got 14 points → perhaps lost a close tiebreaker to Steve (who may have had a slightly better “section” or bonus).
      • Dean’s superior speed (lowest avg lap time) didn’t overcome having one fewer lap than Steve.
      • The points don’t strictly follow lap order, suggesting a system with bonuses (e.g., for consistency, fastest overall pace, or heat wins) or a specific club’s custom table.

Overall, Steve Stewart took the win through a combination of strong laps + whatever tiebreaker or bonus pushed him ahead of Dustin’s extra lap. Details

Race 2: Tyco Jets (i)

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 80 18 437.207
2 Dustin Jolley 78 15 344.530
3 Jeff Seltzer 69 11 452.218
4 Dean Donaldson 76 10 428.032
5 Max Dunn 74 7 403.452
6 Scott Arfsten 67 5 387.288
Key AI Observations from Race 2:
Steve Stewart dominated again, winning with the highest laps (80) and earning the top points (18). His total time is higher, but that’s expected with more laps completed.
  • Dustin Jolley had an exceptionally fast run—his total time of 344.530 seconds for 78 laps is dramatically lower than others, indicating blistering pace (likely the fastest driver in this heat).
  • Jeff Seltzer moved up to 3rd despite only 69 laps, suggesting strong points possibly from consistency or bonuses.
  • Dean Donaldson slipped to 4th with 76 laps—solid but not enough to challenge the top two.
  • Lower finishers had fewer laps, as typical in these formats.

Calculated Average Lap Times (lower = faster pace)

      • Dustin Jolley: 344.530 s / 78 laps ≈ 4.417 seconds per lap (fastest by a wide margin—he was flying!)
      • Steve Stewart: 437.207 s / 80 laps ≈ 5.465 s/lap
      • Dean Donaldson: 428.032 s / 76 laps ≈ 5.632 s/lap
      • Max Dunn: 403.452 s / 74 laps ≈ 5.452 s/lap
      • Scott Arfsten: 387.288 s / 67 laps ≈ 5.780 s/lap
      • Jeff Seltzer: 452.218 s / 69 laps ≈ 6.554 s/lap (slowest average, but still podiumed—points may reward laps heavily)

Dustin clearly had the quickest car/handling in Race 2, but Steve’s extra 2 laps secured the win (common in fixed-time or multi-heat formats where total laps are king, with ties broken by other factors).

Comparing to Race 1 (for context)

      • Race 1 winner: Steve Stewart (77 laps, 16 pts)
      • Race 1 standout: Dean Donaldson had the fastest pace (~4.586 s/lap), but finished 3rd.
      • Race 2 shift: Dustin took the speed crown (~4.417 s/lap), but still 2nd; Steve remains consistent and victorious.
      • Points scales differ slightly between races (Race 1: 16-14-13-9-7-7; Race 2: 18-15-11-10-7-5), which is typical for club events—often adjusted based on field size, format (e.g., IROC, spec classes), or heat bonuses. At Stewart Raceway, points reward lap totals heavily, with possible add-ons for fastest laps, consistency, or lane performance.

Overall Impressions:

Steve Stewart continues his strong form as the club’s top driver (frequent wins, high laps). Dustin Jolley is showing serious speed and potential (noted as a rising talent/rookie-of-the-year type in recent seasons). Dean Donaldson remains quick but inconsistent in lap totals here.  Details

Race 3: MegaG+ 1.7 Corvette C8 (i)

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson 116 53 791.378
2 Steve Stewart 117 50 788.778
3 Joe Clarke 115 50 757.304
4 Dustin Jolley 116 42 772.713
5 Jeff Seltzer 114 40 804.555
Key AI Observations:
    • Dean Donaldson takes the overall win with 116 laps and the highest points (53), despite Steve Stewart edging him by 1 lap (117). This suggests a points system that heavily rewards consistency, segment wins, lane performance, or bonuses (e.g., for fastest segments, fewest deslots, or heat points accumulation) rather than pure lap totals.
    • Steve Stewart has the most laps (117) and a slightly lower total time (788.778 s vs. Dean’s 791.378 s), indicating he was very close in pace but perhaps lost ground in one or more segments.
    • Joe Clarke posts an impressive lowest total time (757.304 s for 115 laps), meaning the fastest average pace among the field—strong contender for “quickest driver” honors in this event.
    • Dustin Jolley (116 laps) and Jeff Seltzer (114 laps) round out the top 5, with solid but lower points—likely due to fewer segment wins or minor issues.

Calculated Average Lap Times (lower = faster pace)Using total time ÷ laps (approximate; actual varies with lane changes, marshaling time, etc.):

    • Joe Clarke: 757.304 s / 115 laps ≈ 6.585 seconds per lap (fastest average—blistering speed, likely dominated some segments)
    • Dean Donaldson: 791.378 s / 116 laps ≈ 6.822 s/lap
    • Dustin Jolley: 772.713 s / 116 laps ≈ 6.661 s/lap (very close to Joe, strong contender)
    • Steve Stewart: 788.778 s / 117 laps ≈ 6.742 s/lap
    • Jeff Seltzer: 804.555 s / 114 laps ≈ 7.057 s/lap (solid but a step behind the top pace)

The field ran roughly 6.6–7.1 s/lap averages, typical for “stuck” classes like Viper V-SPEC, Jag PR-5, or MegaG+ IROC cars on SR3 (routed track) or oval—faster than earlier “slippery” or T-Jet races (~4–5 s/lap in some prior events).

Likely Race Format & Scoring ContextFrom Stewart Raceway patterns (multi-segment races with 4–6 lanes, timed heats ~2–4 minutes each, drivers rotate lanes, total laps + segment points):

    • Points seem aggregated from segment finishes (e.g., 20–15–12–10–… per segment) plus possible bonuses.
    • Dean’s win despite 1 fewer lap than Steve points to segment dominance—he likely won more heats/segments, offsetting the lap deficit.
    • Ties in laps (e.g., Dean & Dustin at 116) broken by points/time.
    • This event had higher lap totals (115–117) than prior single races (70–80), suggesting more segments or a longer overall duration (possibly 45–60+ minutes total racing time).
    • Joe Clarke’s fast time/low laps relative to others hints at a strong run but perhaps one weaker segment.

Comparison to Prior Races (from your shared summaries)

    • Race 1 (earlier event): Steve won (77 laps/16 pts), Dean fastest pace but 3rd.
    • Race 2: Steve won again (80 laps/18 pts), Dustin fastest pace but 2nd.
    • This race (likely later in 2026 season): Dean Donaldson flips the script for the win—his progression from 2025 Rookie/Sportsman champ to Expert-level dominance continues (he advanced to Expert early 2026 after a stellar 2025 with 64 races, 6 wins, lap records).
    • Steve remains ultra-consistent (high laps/points across events), but Dean’s speed + strategy paid off here.
    • Dustin & Joe showing strong form; Jeff holding steady in top 5.

Dean Donaldson emerges as the star of this one—great comeback or peak performance after close battles in prior races. Steve’s extra lap wasn’t enough against Dean’s points haul. If this is from a specific event (e.g., a Saturday “Big Kids” race, oval day, or series points race in early 2026), or if you have the full race report/date/car class (Viper, MegaG, IROC?), cumulative series standings, or next race details, share for deeper breakdown! The stewartraceway.org site tracks these closely—always epic close finishes at this track.  Details

Okay, that’s it for another partially AI-generated report. Maybe in the next post, I’ll have AI take a crack at analyzing a SLotTrak detailed race report and see how that comes out.

Okay, shut up and drive!

A Beautiful Saturday On The SR3 Oval Super Speedway

An absolutely beautiful day in the mountains blessed a relatively small group of drivers on the huge SR3 oval, which made for some fierce competition, amazing crashes, interesting refueling tactics, and some drama.

We raced almost entirely with IROC sets, which clearly favored Home Cookin’, since most of this group had never driven any of the chosen cars. Pretty much all of the cars were “drift,” or otherwise low-downforce setups. Setting up what turned out to be a super-fun day on the oval and lots of racing!

With the exception of Race 7, all races were 20-lap segments with a 35-lap fuel allocation. Race 7 was the only high-downforce race, using Viper V-SPEC “SPECSTOCK” Lexan cars with 30-lap segments and again 35-lap fuel allocation.

Short Story
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 590 105 2628.234
2 Dean Donaldson 562 85 2673.109
3 Dustin Jolley 577 83 2661.793
4 Kevin Webster 483 35 2762.813
Race 1: Fray T-jets Slip-on (IROC) (o)

Dustin Jolley clicked off the fastest lap in this one with a 3.461 in the Orange lane. Dustin didn’t win it, but his total runtime was nearly identical to Home Cookin’s time, and he won the final segment in the White lane.

Kevin Webster, 2023 Sportsman Points Champion, joined us after a long layoff and, while not having his best day on the oval, was jazzed to get back to racing. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 79 14 389.883
2 Dean Donaldson 78 13 396.947
3 Dustin Jolley 79 12 389.831
4 Kevin Webster 71 5 401.155
Race 2: OS3 TFX Austin Martin (IROC) (o)

Home Cookin’ clicked off the fastest lap with this cool set of 16-ohm OS3 TFX cars with a 3.186 in the Green lane. Dean Donaldson bagged the last podium spot and second-fastest lap of  3.256 in the White lane. (18v) Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 77 16 418.147
2 Dustin Jolley 79 14 425.497
3 Dean Donaldson 71 8 421.028
4 Kevin Webster 68 6 444.871
Race 3: MegaG 1.7 Whelen/SK Modifieds (IROC)

This one was quite the battle between all three podium finishers, with Dean Donaldson taking his first race win on the SR3 oval and two segment wins! The fastest lap was a 3.338 by Home Cookin’ in the Green lane. These cars have the rear traction magnets removed and run hard-compound Super Tires. (18v) Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson 76 14 378.412
2 Steve Stewart 78 13 381.041
3 Dustin Jolley 77 11 396.755
4 Kevin Webster 65 6 401.303
Race 4: MG+ 1.5 Midgets (IROC)

Dustin Jolley bagged his first SR3 Oval win with these very difficult-to-drive “drift” cars without traction magnets. He also almost had the fastest lap of the race with a 4.060 in the Orange lane. Home Cookin’ narrowly edged him out with a 4.057 in the White lane.  (18v) Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dustin Jolley 77 16 466.268
2 Dean Donaldson 75 12 493.520
3 Steve Stewart 76 11 477.562
4 Kevin Webster 65 5 499.186
Race 5: Retro-Viper Maximum Leeway (IROC)

Proving he’s finally made the transition from a ‘Magnet Car” bigot, to a full-fledged multi-dimensional slothead, Dean clicked off three of the fastest lane laps in this one! Two of those fast laps are official track records for this way cool “drift” car. The new lap record for this car on the oval is a 2.952 in the Blue lane! (15v) Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 80 18 385.268
2 Dean Donaldson 75 12 415.281
3 Dustin Jolley 73 10 403.432
4 Kevin Webster 57 4 419.897
Race 6: NAStruck Viper-Jets (IROC)

Dean Donaldson and Dustin Jolley were neck-and-neck in most of the day’s races, but this one was a barn-burner. Both drivers were tied in points going into the final segment, with Dustin having just a one-lap advantage. Dustin would edge out Dean for the second podium step by just two tenths of a second in the final segment. To his credit, Dean–again–set three of the four fastest laps of the race and a new SR3 Oval track record of 2.295 in the Blue lane. (15v) Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 80 20 276.085
2 Dustin Jolley 75 10 294.847
3 Dean Donaldson 74 9 286.525
4 Kevin Webster 68 5 292.477
Race 7: Viper V-SPEC SPEC STOCK Lexan (o)

This one was a bit of a head-scratcher with some controversy thrown in for good measure. Dean Donaldson absolutely dominated this race, taking three segment wins, three of the four fastest laps (his fastest was 1.777 in the White lane), and winning the overall race.  Dean had a perfect lap count of 30 in all but one segment (Green lane) and very nearly captured the SR3 Oval track record in the process (Shaylin Maddox has the fastest lap with this car at 1.654 in the White lane).

The head-scratcher part was that Home Cookin’ couldn’t figure out why he was two laps ahead of Dean in two segments and lost the wins. Turns out, Home Cookin’ miscalculated that he could refuel a bit before finishing those two segments. Not realizing that, due to the 1-second delay before fuel flows and the blistering sub-two-second average lap times, even the quickest pit visit would allow another driver less than two laps behind to cross the line first. Which is exactly what happened. Doh!

The controversial part was in the technical inspection after the blisteringly fast Viper V-SPEC race. While Dean is a very fast Viper pilot, his car seemed to be a bit faster than all the others; however,  the primary reason for the technical inspection was to check out Dustin’s new “Custom-built” Viper, which isn’t really in the spirit of “SPECSTOCK” rules.  I wanted to see just how different a “Blueprinted” build might be in terms of downforce and RPM. Dustin’s new car actually passed our technical inspection with flying colors. In fact, it was surprisingly average.

Dean’s car, on the other hand, was at the upper end of our typical numbers, but not extraordinary. However, the car did have an aftermarket crown gear, which is not in line with the spirit of the “SPECSTOCK” rules. These cars are supposed to be stock, out-of-the-box, V-SPEC L4 cars. With a couple of minor exceptions, the only mods allowed are different-sized rear silicon tires. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Dean Donaldson 113 17 281.396
2 Steve Stewart 120 13 300.248
3 Dustin Jolley 117 10 285.163
4 Kevin Webster 89 4 303.924

Wow! Seven races and some very competitive races they were. Expert driver Dean Donaldson and Sportsman driver Dustin Jolley demonstrated outstanding and very diverse driving skills with cars that were quite different and difficult to handle. Dean won two of the seven races in convincing fashion, while Dustin won one by two laps. Both drivers had a very good day on the SR3 oval.

This Wednesday night and Saturday are looking good right now for more slot car action at Stewart Raceway.

Okay, shut up and drive!

Thursday Night “Under the Lights.” Get’n Down To Business With Mostly “Stuck” Cars

“It was a crisp Thursday night in late February, and the garage lights buzzed to life over the big HO (1/64) slot car track. The black plastic lanes gleamed under the bright bulbs, casting sharp shadows on the colorful cars lined up at the start. Four lightning-fast racers were ready to battle:

Joe Clarke in his sleek silver Mustang, always smooth and precise.

Dean Donaldson piloting a bright red Camaro, aggressive and fearless on the turns.

Dustin Jolley behind the wheel of a blue-and-white Corvette, quick to recover from any mistake.

And Home Cook’n, the mysterious local legend in a matte-black Dodge Charger with glowing red pinstripes—no one knew his real name, but he cooked the competition every time he showed up.

The four friends plugged in their controllers, thumbs hovering. “Thursday night under the lights,” Joe said with a grin. “No mercy, boys.”The power pack hummed.

Green flag dropped!

The cars shot forward like rockets. Dean took an early lead, hugging the inside lane through the first chicane. His Camaro’s tires squealed (in imagination, anyway) as he powered out of the curve.

Joe Clarke stayed calm, drafting right behind, waiting for the perfect moment.

Dustin Jolley was right there too, bumping the wall once but bouncing back stronger. Home Cook’n? He hung back in fourth, engine whining, like he was studying the pack.

Lap after lap the track roared with electric buzz. Dean’s red Camaro led for ten straight laps, but Joe started closing in, lane-switching like a pro.

Dustin made a daring pass on the outside, nearly clipping Dean’s bumper.

Then, on lap 22, Home Cook’n made his move. He cranked the controller to full throttle down the long straight. The black Charger surged, passing Dustin on the left, then Joe on the right. By the hairpin, he was wheel-to-wheel with Dean.

The two cars neck-and-neck, sparks flying from the guide pins, controllers trembling in sweaty hands.

“Here he comes!” Dustin yelled. Home Cook’n edged ahead just enough—his Charger nosed in front as they hit the final straight. Dean fought back, but Cook’n held the line.

Checkered flag waved!

Home Cook’n crossed first by half a car length. Dean finished second, Joe third, Dustin a close fourth.The garage erupted in cheers and groans.

Controllers hit the table. High-fives all around.”Man, that was too close,” Dean laughed, shaking his head. Joe wiped his brow. “Thursday nights don’t get better than this.” Dustin grinned. “Rematch next week?

“Home Cook’n just smiled quietly, unplugged his Charger, and said, “Bring your best, boys.”The lights stayed on a little longer as they packed up, already talking strategy for next Thursday.

Under those garage lights, four really fast 1/64 slot car racers proved once again: speed, skill, and friendship make the best kind of race.”

AI-generated content, ha ha! 

The real story was four seriously fast dudes battling it out in three different races: one builder’s class, and two IROC races, all with fuel allocation dynamics. Oh, and fantastic eats before the racing began.

Short Story
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 338 189 3034.965
2 Dustin Jolley 334 149 3061.039
3 Dean Donaldson 318 138 3091.830
4 Joe Clarke 293 88 3187.531
Race 1: Jag Hobbies PR-5 GT F1/Indy (IROC)

Joe Clarke didn’t win any segments, but he was clearly the fastest driver in the house all night. Joe clicked off the fastest lap with the newest Jag Hobbies PR-5 GT IROC set with a 5.118 lap in the Orange lane. When he was on, he was ripping it. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 100 64 1052.316
2 Dustin Jolley 98 50 1060.435
3 Dean Donaldson 90 46 1092.400
4 Joe Clarke 79 28 1112.469
Race 2: Viper V-SPEC SPEC STOCK Lexan

Joe Clarke wasn’t done with his exhibition of speed in Race 2. Joe clicked off another fastest lap in this race in the Green lane, a 4.607. This was set on the “Bus Stop” layout! Dean Donaldson and Dustin were in a veritable Dog Fight with just 4-sec separated them at the finish. Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 120 64 834.503
2 Dean Donaldson 117 50 844.419
3 Dustin Jolley 117 46 848.597
4 Joe Clarke 106 28 863.282
Race 3: Mega G+ 1.7 Corvette C8 (IROC)

Dustin Jolley was on a mission in this final race, winning the first segment and taking 2nd in two others. Dustin actually beat Home Cook’n on laps, but came up a bit short in points. As you can see in the detailed results, the Green lane car was not quite up to IROC standards, as most drivers lost laps with this car. Dustin was the only driver to complete all 30-laps in the Green lane.  Dean Donaldson was the fastest in this one, clicking off a blistering  6.088 lap in the White lane.  All of these fast laps are current lap records on the “Bus Stop” layout for each car.  Details

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Steve Stewart 118 61 1148.146
2 Dustin Jolley 119 53 1152.007
3 Dean Donaldson 111 42 1155.011
4 Joe Clarke 108 32 1211.780

I must say, these weeknight events are quite competitive and a lot of fun.

Thanks to all who attended and for all the great treats and munchies!

Saturday is SR3 oval action!