ROCKINGHAM — Sergio Pena took the checkered flag — and a $3,000 check — Saturday night in the inaugural race of Rockingham Speedway’s Crown 9 Champion Series.
Starting second in the showdown, Pena, of Winchester, Virginia, maneuvered his No. 3 Ford Crown Victoria around No. 1 qualifier Mark Dysart to take and keep the lead for the remainder of the race.
The first event featured seven drivers — though more had registered but didn’t make it — facing off in two heat races (three in the first, four in the second) prior to the main race.
“The racing couldn’t have been more fun,” Pena said after his win. “We weren’t sure how many cars to expect, how many spectators to expect, so I think it was as good as we could have expected for the first one here.”
Pena also gave kudos to the competition, including Dysart, of Aberdeen, who was less than three seconds behind the champ.
(Note: In the preview story, the RO mistakenly said that his brother, Brett Dysart, would be behind the wheel.)
“Had some good pressure from him in the race, so it was a good time,” Pena said about Dysart in the No. 00 car.
Third-place winner Doug Horn, who was the only other driver to finish the race, was only four and a half seconds behind Dysart.
The race also included local drivers Steven Franklin (6) and Eli Russell (5), as well as Jon Morton (4) and Robert Diaz (7).
Franklin and Diaz bowed out after 12 laps, Russell made 23 laps, and Morton left the race at 26 laps with a blown tire — after skidding backwards into the wall.
During the second heat, Horn and Morton battled for second, trading places several times.
Pena is no stranger behind the wheel or to the Rock.
“Started racing go-karts when I was a little kid, Formula cars after that,” Pena said about his background, adding that he raced NASCAR late models and ran in the K&N Pro Series — including a race at the Rock in 2012.
Pena came in eighth in that event behind Kyle Larson (sixth), Bubba Wallace (third), Corey LaJoie (second) and winner Tyler Reddick. Chase Elliot came in 12th.
Earlier this summer, Pena drove in the Lucky Dog Racing League’s endurance race at the track.
Pena also operates a driving school out of Rockingham Speedway.
“I use Crown Vics for my school, so it seemed like it’d be too perfect not to sacrifice a training car and build a race car,” Pena said.
The recently re-paved road course has a bit of character, according to Pena.
“I can feel the graininess in that last corner … but it’s super smooth,” Pena said. “I like how in that tight corner … there’s a significant hump in the pavement, which gives it a little personality, especially for these big, heavy taxi cabs.”
“The build-up to this was kind of wild because everyone’s building their cars last minute,” Pena said. “I know the facility was still getting prepared, so I think it was a lot of anxiety for most people.”
Track Manager Dustin Russell said he expects the series to get “bigger and better every time.”
There are four more races in the series for this season: Sept. 7; Oct. 5; Nov. 2; and the championship on Nov. 16.
Warriors in Motion offered paid ride-alongs prior to the first heat and MB Drift did the same between races.
MB Drift will be back at Rockingham Speedway Aug. 24 and 25 for the third and fourth rounds of its competitive season. The RO will have more on that this week.
Pena thanked the track staff for all the preparations leading up to the race and their continued efforts to bring motorsports back.
“There’s some awesome, bigger, better plans here at this facility and I think it’s going to be cool to see what the future brings here.”
