Duel in the desert
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Campbell River’s Jason Beaulieu is competing at one of North America’s biggest IMCA Modified race events in Las Vegas.
More than 240 IMCA Modifieds are expected to jam the pits for the 12th annual Duel in the Desert event on the half-mile dirt oval.
Beaulieu, who had four wins and finished second overall in the 2009 NPP Late Model Series points chase, ran two Modified events earlier this season.
“I finished sixth in the feature in Elma, Washington [fast time out of 90 cars] but had some bad luck in Oregon [suspension] and didn’t even make the feature,” said the local race car driver.
Beaulieu has put additional pressure on himself heading into this weekend’s Duel in the Desert race.
“We blew the motor at last year’s event,” says Beaulieu. “We kind of came here on a whim and may have been a little unprepared. That won’t be the case this time.”
Track officials say 20 qualifying heats are running Thursday and tonight. Only 28 cars will emerge from the heats and preliminary features to run in Saturday night’s ‘A’ feature event.
“It’s a very tough race format,” says Beaulieu. “If I can win a preliminary feature or even make Saturday night’s show, I can honestly say that it would be my biggest accomplishment in 24 years of racing.”
Beaulieu will be racing against many of IMCA’s top Modified drivers. “These guys are the best of the best,” he adds. “Many run up to 60 races a year. This will only be my third Modified event this year.”
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