Bucklen kicks off 2011 With First Ever Win

Saturday, 02 April 2011 00:00

Gillett Veterinary Clinic Late Models
Starting top 5: #31 Richard Smith, #33 Emett Grazier, #66 Darren Bucklen, #91 Chris Atkinson, #27 Roger Avants
4 laps into the 40 lap main event, #44 Darren Bucklen effortlessly came around the outside of #31 Rick Smith to take the lead. Moments later a piece of debris flew off of a vehicle bringing on caution. Bucklen and Smith went head to head at the restart with Bucklen once again taking the lead. The competition behind Bucklen was fierce as #74 Dan Savage, #31 Rick Smith and #27 Roger Avants battled for 2nd. When the dust settled, Savage had a grip on 2nd place but Smith wasn't far behind. 12 laps in, #33 Emett Grazier and #54 Joe James Jr got into each other going between turns 3 and 4 bringing on yet another yellow flag. Bruce Yackey used the restart to jump into 2nd place, leaving Dan Savage safely behind him. Another restart brought on by a spin out courtesy of #33 Emett Grazier saw Bucklen back into the lead as Bruce Yackey and Rick Smith battled door handle to door handle for 2nd place! Yackey took 2nd behind Bucklen with only 1 lap to go. At the checkered flag it was Darren Bucklen for his first win EVER at Colorado National Speedway. Yackey took 2nd followed by Roger Avants and Rick Smith.

Pair-A-Dice Sportsman
Starting top 5: #8 Jeff Walbaum, #84 Bruce Borchardt, #62 Jim Bob Rogers, #98 Lee Kemmit, #6 Tommy Roe
Rounding turn 4 at lap 8, #8 Jeff Walbaum had created a comfortable lead for himself. #62 Jim Bob Rogers was in pursuit, nearly catching up to him but Walbaum caught a boost of speed and regained a comfortable 8 car length lead. By lap 11 the leaders were navigating lapped traffic. It didn't look like anyone would catch up to Jeff Walbaum with only 6 laps to go in the 30 lap Main Event. Fortune smiled upon Jim Bob Rogers when #02 Rick Hunt spun out coming around turn 2 bringing on a double file restart and a chance to take down the lightning quick Walbaum. The good luck took a turn for the worse when Walbaum and Rogers got into each other going along the back stretch at the restart. Both vehicles were too badly damaged to continue. For the restart, 1st place was bequeathed to #84 Bruce Borchardt and #98 Lee Kemmit had 2nd. When the green flag flew, Borchardt stuck his lead as #26 Bear Lynch came round the outside of #98 Lee Kemmit AND #6 Tommy Roe to take 2nd place! Borchardt and Lynch rounded turn 4 neck and neck and Borchardt took the win!


NTC Trucking Super Stocks
Starting top 5: #39 John Nugent, #23 Harry Livermore Jr, #0 Andrew Mues, #77 Kevin Keller, #13 Jason Morris
#39 John Nugent raced into a 3 car length lead to kick off the first Super Stock main event of the 2011 season. By lap 7 #17 Jeremy Barclay had come from behind after starting in 7th place to take 2nd behind Nugent. At lap 18, Jack Nugent got loose going along the back stretch and Barclay took advantage of the mishap, diving into 1st. Meanwhile, hard charger #19 Scott Miller moved into 8th place after a dead last start in 22nd place. Barclay passed the checkered first with Livermore Jr and Nugent close behind.

Comfort Shack Figure 8
Starting top 5: #4 Joe Matlock, #24 Joe Martinez, #50 Justin McKeachie, #20 Lance Proctor, #17 Harry Livermore Jr.
Things started to heat up in the X at lap 9 when #50 Justin McKeachie spun out into the outfield narrowly avoiding track photographer Joe Starr! #4  Joe Matlock had started on the pole and showed the field of 19 figure Eighters that he meant business, maintaining a tight lead over his persuers #24 Joe Martinez and #20 Lance Proctor. Matlock continued on for the win.

Official Results
Late Models
1 #66 Darren Bucklan, 2 #12 Bruce Yackey, 3 #27 Roger Avants, 4 #31 Rick Smith, 5 #91 Chris Atkinson, 6 #54 Joe James Jr, 7 #55 Jesse Runkle, 8 #90 Frank Denning, 9 #84 Matt Zwingelberg, 10 #33 Emett Grazier, 11 #74 Dan Savage, DNF #39 Jack Nugent, DNF #71 Nick Brimlee, DNF #13 Joni Cowan

Super Stocks
1 #17 Jeremy Barclay, 2 #23 Harry Livermore, 3 #39 Jack Nugent, 4 #13 Jason Morris, 5 #0 Andrew Mues, 6 #77 Kevin Keller, 7 #02 Darrell Smith, 8 #19 Scott Miller, 9 #15 Troy Witthar, 10 #61 John Humphrey, 11 #8 Ryan Moser, 12 #09 John Patee, 13 #6 Brent Holliday, 14 #11 Steve Maas, 15 #25 Kathy Calkins, 16 #75 Emilio Abeyta, 17 #90 Kyle Patee, DNF #14 Brian Bradford, DNF #95 Todd Finley

Sportsman
1 #84 Bruce Borchardt, 2 #26 Bear Lynch, 3 #98 Lee Kemmit, 4 #6 Tommy Roe, 5 #72 Gary Cagle, 6 #58 Jeff Webb, 7 #29 Jan Oxley, 8 #44 Randy Mossman, 9 #28 Alan Carter, 10 #9 Dalton Hewitt, 11 #27 Wendi Lewis, 12 #3 Wade Grove, DNF #99 Nicholas Brinlee, DNF #55 Greg Holmes, DNF #8 Jeff Walbaum, DNF #62 Jim Rogers, 17 #46 Eric Blackard, 18 #45 Grant Simpson, 19 #02 Rick Hunt

Figure 8
1 #4 Joe Matlock, 2 #24 Joe Martinez, 3 #23 Al Duran, 4 #20 Lance Proctor, 5 #28 Victor Johnsen, 6 #67 Keith Swenson, 7 #19 Bruce Wall, 8 #52 Jared Wall,  9 #17 Harry Livermore Jr 10 #50 Justin McKeachie, 11 #03 Luke Zike, 12 #5 Dennis Summers