C.J. Leary held off several challengers to capture the $10,000 first place prize in the Richard Griffin Classic at Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces. He moved from 4th to 2nd in the dash, which gave him the outside front row starting position in the feature along side Ryan Bernal. Kevin Thomas Jr. finished 3rd in the Dash and R. J. Johnson 4th. After CJ took the lead from Bernal, he first withstood challenges by Bernal. After Bernal bicycled in turns 3-4, R. J. Johnson applied the pressure. After R.J., Brady Bacon went after him. Then Kevin Thomas Jr. got by Brady and went after CJ, then Brady got by KT Jr., then Brady and KT Jr. put on a great show, some of it side-by-side, until Brady finally got second. The final was CJ from 2nd, Brady from 5th, KT Jr. from 3rd, Shon Deskins from 6th, Dave Darland from 7th (which doesn't tell the whole story; Dave had something happen at the start and then came from "way back there" to 5th by the halfway point), Charles Davis Jr. from 9th, Bernal from 1st, Casey Shuman from 15th and Mike Martin 7th. That was as far back as I got. A fast track and good, hard racing. Well worth the trip and the "brisk" temperatures the first two nights. Tonight it was a balmy 50 when the races ended, although that temperature in the desert is a wee bit cooler than in the midwest. Anyway, well worth the time and proved that nonwing 360s can put on a great show. Congratulations to CJ!

thanks again Frank, nice recap!!......
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Brucer'

congrats to CJ...nice job

Ceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee J Leary

Indiana boy showing them how to get it done in the southwest. Great Job CJ Leary!!!!

Leary is the real deal. I first experienced the young man a few years ago. He raced karts at a small 1/5 mile dirt track a couple of times against my granddaughter. You could tell that he was special and his dad has done a really good job of grooming him for the next levels of racing.

Thank you Frank!

Nice Recap Frank.

Awesome CJ!