1/14/2024
Dereck Ramirez
Ramirez grabs trio of top-10 results in closing rounds of Wild West Shootout
The 2024 lid lifter at Vado (N.M.) Speedway Park roared back to life in the middle of the week, with the final four rounds of the six-race, 18th annual Rio Grande Waste Services Wild West Shootout taking place from Wednesday through Sunday.
Dereck Ramirez and his Boomtest Well Services No. 4R Modified team scored top-10 results on three of the four nights.
When the action began on Wednesday, 52 Modified drivers were in the pit area at the state-of-the-art 3/8-mile oval. After a fourth-place finish in his heat race and a third in his B-Main, Ramirez started the 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature from deep in the field in 22nd. He charged forward throughout the race to pick up an impressive 12 spots and come home 10th.
After a scheduled off day on Thursday, Ramirez was one of 59 Modified competitors at the track on Friday evening. He turned in a 10th-to-3rd run in his heat, putting him in a solid third-place starting position for the 25-lap A-Main. However, he and his team fought electrical issues and registered a 21st-place finish in the $1,000-to-win affair.
Fifty-seven Modifieds filled the pit area on Saturday, with Ramirez turning in another solid performance. He claimed the runner-up position in his heat and raced from ninth to seventh in the 25-lap, $2,000-to-win feature.
For Sunday's conclusion, 37 Modifieds were on hand at Vado, where Ramirez grabbed the checkered flag in his heat race and started seventh in the 25-lap A-Main paying $2,000 to the victor. After running as high as fourth in the middle of the race, Ramirez took the checkered flag in the seventh spot for the second consecutive night.
Full results from the Wild West Shootout are at www.wildwestshootout.net.
Article Credit: Tyler Rinken image