02/26/2026
A little late on catching up !!!
Round #1 of the Western States Championship is in the books. The drivers out of A&J Racing Quarter Midgets stable did a great job and did us proud.
Wyatt Goodman finished 4th in his Sr. Honda heat race putting him in the B-Main. After getting shuffled back in the B-Main, with a few laps left he finished just shy of the transfer spot, ending his chance for a spot in the A-Main and the hopes of a solid finish.
Nathan “Nate Dog” Mellado won his heat in Lt 160 locking himself straight into the A-Main. In his Sr. Animal heat race, he earned enough points to guarantee a starting spot in Saturday’s A-Main. After battling at the front of a strong field of cars in his Sr. Honda heat race, he only gathered enough points to put him in the C-Main. The work was on to help get all 3 of Nate's cars in A-Mains for Saturday. While leading the C-Main, a crew-induced mechanical error forced him to the work area. After repairs, the laps ticked away quickly, and he was unable to transfer into the B-Main ending his trifecta dream of putting all three cars in A-Mains.
Gavin Irwin was ready to show some speed in his first of a shortened 2026 national schedule, and speed is what he showed. Moving forward in his heat race, Gavin earned enough points for a spot in the C-main. Starting near the rear he raced hard to the front of the field. Sadly, with a few laps left he was turned around while running in second place and didn’t have enough time to make it back to the front to move forward in the weekend. Gavin looked solid and was full of smiles.
Haden Klinman, starting his 2nd season in Sr. Honda continues to show speed while finishing his heat race in 4th place which transferred him to the C main. A few laps into the C-Main he was caught up in a wreck and as hard as all the teams helped to repair a badly beaten racecar, they missed the push out by one lap and Hayden’s Western States Championship round #1 was over.
In a system of passing points it is very important to move forward more than other drivers. While all drivers showed speed and skill, they all displayed performances of any A-Main race, the cards just don’t always fall that way.
For Saturday’s A-Main event, the eyes of all the team and supporters were on Nathan Mellado.
After a few small adjustment to Nate’s Sr. Animal car, he fought hard for 40 laps in the 10 car, highly competitive field. When the checkered flew, he crossed the line in 7th place. A very respectable finish in his first national Sr. Animal race, and in only his 2nd time driving a Sr. Animal. There is more speed in the car, and we will find it.
After starting 4th in the Lt 160 A-Main event, Nate took turns at both the front and rear of the field. Lt 160 is often regarded as the toughest class in quarter midget racing, and this race showed why. In a race that saw hundreds of passing moments between all competitors throughout the entire field, Nathan drove the wheels off to finish 3rd and stand on the podium for his first time ever during a Western States Championship.
The weekend with family, friends of the past, and new friends was a blast. Valley Of The Sun Quarter Midget Association put on one heck of an event and we can’t thank them enough. We look forward to returning for even more excitement. The atmosphere, the racing, and the comradery was all in abundance.
Now onto Las Vegas for round #2 of the Western States Championship and round #1 of the@NASCAR Youth Series March 13-15, 2026 !!!
See everyone then...
