Tully eighth in return to Perris

Brian Tully missed two Perris Auto Speedway races due to the death of his niece, but he returned to the track September 22 and finished eighth.

Tully was tenth when the checkered flag was thrown, but two post-race disqualifications moved him up two positions.

“I actually felt I had a good line tonight,” Tully said. “I was able to catch and pass people in the corners.”

Tully had finished tenth in the August 11 main event. His 44-year-old niece, who lived in Las Vegas and suffered from cerebral palsy, passed away August 26, and Tully missed the August 25 race to be in Las Vegas after his niece had been put on a respirator. The family opted not to hold the memorial service on Labor Day Weekend, so Tully returned to Las Vegas for the funeral the following week and missed the September 8 race at Perris.

Tully’s return to Perris started with a bent A-arm during practice laps after a nut came off the ball joint and Tully drove into the track wall. Repairs were made by the six-lap heat race.

“In the heat race we did good,” Tully said.

Tully began the heat race on the outside of the second row and was in fourth place for most of the race before fishtailing and being passed by Curtis Dietzsch. Tully still finished fifth in the heat race.

Tully began the 20-lap main event on the outside of the seventh row. He was 13th by a ninth-lap yellow flag but passed two cars on the restart and one on the 14th lap.

Tully and Blaine Whitson passed each other several times before Whitson finally took the position ahead of Tully. “It was good, clean driving,” Tully said.

Tully regained tenth place with two laps to go when he passed Bill Nonenmacher. “The track was really hooked up,” Tully said.

The results at the time of the checkered flag gave Tully his fourth consecutive top-ten finish and his sixth of the year. The post-race inspection checked for weight, heads, and intake manifolds and cost Kenny Mann his victory. Joe Falduto, who crossed the finish line in fourth place, was also disqualified. “If they’re illegal, they’re illegal; what can you say?” Tully said.