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The entire staff and management of Colorado National Speedway is saddened by the recent passing of Gene Heffley. Gene created Colorado National Speedway back in 1965. Gene is a member of the Colorado National Speedway Hall of Fame as well as a member of the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Gene Heffley moved to Denver from Missouri Valley, Iowa in 1957, after serving five years in the military. In 1951, he met and married his wife Gerda. They started a trucking company and had two daughters, Helen and Patti. By 1960 this couple was operating four trucks. A year later he began to operate a salvage business in the Denver metropolitan area and sold parts to two individuals that were building race cars. When one could not pay for the parts, they ended up with the race car. With some help from some friends, Harry McCool and Bart Manley, they ran the #70 car at Lakeside Speedway. That is when he really got hooked.
In 1964, one of their drivers was Hall of Famer, Sam Sauer. Later that year they all went to a big race at Hanford, California. It was the first time they had seen a real late model race and he and Gerda decided to build a speedway designed car for late models. But that was just part of the story. In 1965, using the money from their trucking company they purchased an 80 acre parcel of farmland. On that site they designed and built a speedway, and called it Colorado National Speedway. They worked every day possible mid-year until the track was able to run a very short season. In 1966, they raced a full season with the idea of making racing possible for anybody that wanted to participate. The track had four foot retaining walls for the safety of spectators and they continued to make improvements both on and off the track. During the years they added motorcycles, sprint cars and midgets to their racing program. In 1972, after Gene was diagnosed with cancer, they decided it would be best to sell Colorado National Speedway. They were truly pioneers in short track dirt racing.
See also... National Speed Sport News
Day and Time: Sunday April 7, 2013 at 2:00pm
Location: Platte Valley Middle School "Field House"
Address: 700 Hill St. Kersey CO 80644
On Tuesday March 12 we lost one of the brightest stars of the Rocky Mountain racing community. A family member so to speak. Chris Leaf was considered indestructible in a race car. His aggressive driving style made him a fan favorite and a highly respected driver among his peers. Chris followed in his fathers footsteps as a driver at Colorado National Speedway starting in the old “Bomber” class in the early 1980’s. He continued racing at CNS until the track was converted to asphalt in 1989 at which time he moved the quarter mile I-76 Speedway in Ft. Morgan Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Speedway in Commerce City Colorado. Chris won at least two championships at I-76 before moving back to Colorado National Speedway in the early 1990’s to compete in the new Grand American Modified division. And compete he did winning 4 modified championships in that division in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001. As if that were not enough Chris bought a Pro-Truck and started competing in both the Grand American Modifieds and the Pro Trucks in 2000. In his first year in the Trucks he won the Rookie of the Year and the championship as well as the Grand American Modified championship. Chris then followed than season with a sweep of the two divisions again 2001. In total Chris won four Pro-Truck championships in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Please make plans for this years Colorado National Speedway Awards banquet and celebration. This is the event where we honor our champions, rookies of the year, and all the other honors and congratulations that the 2012 season has produced. The details for the event are as follows.
WHERE: Red and Jerry's and Riverpoint Event Center 303-783-0655
1840 West Oxford, Sheridan, Colorado 80110
Please enter at Event Center Entrance. Wheelchair and handicap please use main entrance.
WHEN: Saturday November 10th at 6:00pm- 12:00pm.
COST: 45.00 per person. Tables of 8 are $360.00 they will be reserved for your party.
FOOD & DRINK: Italian Buffet and dancing at Club Octane after Awards ceremony.
ACCOMODATIONS: Hotel- Rooms are on hold under "Colorado National" until 10/27 at Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood - 303 980-6423 7390 West Hampden at Wadsworth Lakewood, CO 80227 $79.99 Room. 2 shuttles are available- times TBD. Bar open till 2am.
RSVP: Payment for this event must be made by November 1st. Please use this attached form to complete payment.
2012 CNS Banquet Ticket Order Form
The NAPA Toyota 150 which was run at CNS on July 28th 2012 featuring the K&N Pro Series West cars at Colorado National Speedway is scheduled to air on SpeedTV August 9th at 3PM (Eastern Time). Make sure to check your local listings as network schedules can vary. Don't miss this telecast of one iof the most memorable races from CNS in a long while. 2 time Daytona 500 Champ Michael Waltrip battled race winner Greg Pursley and other K&N stars in front of a packed house at CNS.
Every year the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West makes a stop at Colorado National Speedway and it's always one of the best and most exciting races of the year at CNS. This annual race is a great time to see up-and-coming NASCAR stars as well as established veteran drivers and the K&N Series cars never fail to disappoint the fans. This years NAPA Toyota 150 will be even more special as 2 time Daytona 500 Champion Michael Waltrip will be racing in the event as well as making a pre race appearance raising funds to help the American Red Cross providing relief for the devastating wild fires that have affected so many Colorado residents. Michael will be competing in the NAPA Toyota 150 against drivers such as Eric Holmes fresh off his win at Evergreen Speedway as well as young Dylan Kwasniewski who shocked the field winning the K&N race at CNS. This season Dylan comes into CNS leading in points! Other drivers that will be racing against Waltrip will be perennial favorite Greg Pursley, David Mayhew, Derek Thorn, Jonathan Gomez just to name a few.
In addition to the K&N Series race the Sportsman, Pro Trucks, and Figure 8s will also be racing therefore it's going to be a packed house and certainly one of the biggest shows of the season at CNS. Fans will want to make sure to get their tickets early and can be purchased in advance online here at the CNS websiteThe NASCAR NAPA Toyota will be run July 28th at CNS. Grandstands open at 3PM and the racing starts at 6PM.
Meet and Greet with Michael Waltrip
The night prior to the NAPA Toyota 150 there will be a meet and greet with Michael Waltrip where fans can get autographs and get a chance to meet and speak with the 2 time Daytona 500 champion. Join NAPA and the American Red Cross in raising funds to help support disaster relief efforts for the Colorado wildfires. NAPA is hosting a Meet & Greet with NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip, Eric Holmes, Ben Kennedy, and Bill McAnally Racing.
Details for the Meet and Greet are as follows...
WHEN: July 27th 5PM to 8PM
WHERE: NAPA Distribution Center
ADDRESS: 2101 Highway 224, Denver CO 80229
Hamburgers, hotdogs, and soda will be provided in support of the American Red Cross for only a $5 donation.
Read more: Michael Waltrip to Race in the NAPA Toyota 150 at CNS
More Articles...
- Father's Day MonsterFest Monster Truck Show a smashing success
- USA Today lists CNS as one of the 10 best!
- Poor weather forecast forces CNS to cancel 05-12-2012 event
- Music at CNS Thursday June 21st 2012
- Rick Smith and Bruce Yackey thrill the CNS fans in a photo finish
- Celebration of life for JD
- Rain shortens Sunoco Race Fuel Night at CNS
- The passing of John "JD" Dixon
- CNS Food Policy for 2012
- New faces & cars at March 17th practice
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