Rick Smith wins Whelen Night at CNS from the pole position

Saturday, 20 August 2011 22:44

(Dacono, CO 08-20-2011) Gering Nebraska's Rick Smith showed the Colorado drivers the fast line winning Whelen night at CNS. A warm summer night celebrated Colorado's rich racing heritage as Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees were honored and vintage race cars from the CVOR entertained the crowd.



GILLETT VET CLINIC LATE MODELS
An impressive field of Gillett Vet Clinic Late Models lined up for a 40 lap main event with #31 Rick Smith and #12 Bruce Yackey on the front row. Rick Smith built an early 10 car lead on Yackey who was getting heavy pressure from #74 Dan Savage. The battle for second place brought the CNS crowd to their feet as Yackey, Savage, #78 Darren Crocker, #27 Roger Avants, #95 Dave Finley, #83s Jim Sikes Jr. were all within striking distance. Unfortunately for Avants, he suffered mechanical problems sending a shower of sparks into the night sky ending his night. On the restart Yackey was able to gain the lead over Smith but that lead was short lived as Smith reasserted himself into the top spot. At the finish it was #31 Rick Smith, #74 Dan Savage, #12 Bruce Yackey, #78 Darren Crocker, and #11 Darren Robertson rounded out the top 5.

Qualifying race winners: #31 Rick Smith & #12 Bruce Yackey


NTC LOGISTICS SUPER STOCKS
19 Super Stocks rumbled out for the feature event. Heat race winners #05 David Rothrock and #02 Darrell Stewart were on the front row. After 6 laps #61 John Humphrey had worked his way into 2nd place behind Rothrock but current point leader #39 Jack Nugent was now in 3rd and pressuring Humphrey. With 15 laps to go #17 Jeremy Barclay nudged #19 Scott Miller spinning him out coming out of turn 4 which brought out the yellow and bunched up the field. On the restart Nugent grabbed the lead from Rothrock and began to build a small lead on the field. Great action in the back of the pack thrilled the crowd as both #7 Ethan Penrod and #17 Jeremy Barclay were working their way through the slower cars. #39 Jack Nugent increased his point lead by taking the win. #61 John Humphrey finished an impressive 2nd, #13 Racin' Jason Morris grabbed 3rd. #3 Michael Cox came in 4th and #7 Ethan Penrod came from dead last to finish 5th.

Qualifying race winners: #05 David Rothrock & #02 Darrell Smith

SUNOCO CNS MODIFIEDS
The CARC mod coupes were running without the wings in honor of vintage night at CNS with the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame and Colorado Vintage Oval Racers on hand. The mod coupes wingless look reminded the fans of the olden days when they raced at Lakeside and Englewood Speedway. The mod coupes run with the Grand American modifieds and GAM #1 Jay Fields won his heat and was on the pole for the main event. It didn't take long however for #18 Ed Vechiarelli Sr. to sneak bye and grab the lead. #55 Gary Land was clearly the fastest mod coupe on the track and was hanging close to the leaders.  Vechiarelli was penalized two spots for jumping a restart but then spun down the backstraight. Vecharelli didn't take kindly to his predicament and promptly went right out and spun #95 Dave Finley coming out of two. Eddie V was given the black flag and left the track in dramatic fashion. The race was marred by several yellows and even a long red flag delay for a oil spill. The race finished in grand fashion as #1 Jay Fields barely nipped #95 Dave Finley for the win. #20 Rich Bubak won the mod coupe portion of the event followed by #87 Joe St. Peter.

Qualifying race winners: #1 Jay Fields, #55 Gary Land, #11 Tom Evans and #24 Chad Guliford.


A COMFORT SHACK FIGURE 8's
The Martinez brothers were the class of the field in the figure 8 division and after a brief battle with #23 Big Al Duran they led every lap in the feature event. #17 Harry Livermore Jr. hit a track tire barrier bringing out the yellow flag but other than that the race went green all the way. #10 Nick "the Quick" Martinez held off his brother #24 Smokin' Joe Martinez to take the win. Big Al took 3rd and #52 Wally Wall came in 4th and #15 Jereme Wall was 5th.

Qualifying race winners: #10 Nick Martinez & #23 Big Al Duran

SNAP-ON TOOLS PRO TRUCKS
#32 Mark Neff and #36 Matt "the pebble" Burton race door handle to door handle for the first 20 laps of the main event while #27 Roger Avants, #5 Troy Whittar and #34 Rudy Vanderwal battled for 3rd. Eventually Roger broke free from Whittar and Vanderwal and set his sites for Burton in 2nd. Yet it was Neff who was the class of the field and took the easy win. Burton finished in 2nd, Avants 3rd. A great battle for 4th was edged by #5 Troy Whittar 4th, and #34 Rudy Vanderwal finished 5th.

Late Models
1 #31 Rick Smith, Gering, NE, 07 Monte Carlo
2 #74 Dan Savage, Aurora, CO, Fusion
3 #12 Bruce Yackey, Greeley, CO, 07 Monte Carlo
4 #78 Darren Crocker, Brighton, CO, 11 Impala
5 #11 Darren Robertson       
6 #7 Adam Deines, Longmont, CO, 97 Cutlass
7 #55 Jesse Runkle, Lakewood, CO   
8 #83s Jim Sikes Jr       
9 #39 Jack Nugent, Lafayette, CO, 03 Impala
10 #91 Chris Atkinson, Cheyenne, WY, 08 Monte Carlo
11 #84 Matt Zwingelberg, Aurora, CO   
DNF #2 Nick Martinez       
DNF #95f Dave Finley, Brighton, CO   
DNF #27 Roger Avants, Littleton, CO, 2010 Monte Carlo

Figure 8
1 #10 Nick Martinez
2 #24 Joe Martinez
3 #23 Al Duran
4 #52 Jared Wall
5 #15 Jereme Wall
6 #50 Justin McKeachie
7 #28 Vic Johnson
8 #81 David Smith
9 #03 Luke Zike
10 #19 Bruce Wall
11 #05 Buddy Hohn
12 #17 Harry Livermore Jr
13 #5 Dennis Summers

Super Stock
1 #39 Jack Nugent       
2 #3 Michael Cox, Littleton, CO, 86 Impala
3 #05 David Rothrock, Golden, CO, 85 Chevy Caprice
4 #02 Darrell Smith, Littleton, CO, 85 Caprice
5 #7 Ethan Penrod       
6 #95 Todd Finley       
7 #23 Harry Livermore, Englewood, CO, 85 Monte Carlo
8 #75 Emilio Abeyta, Denver, CO, 84 Cutless
9 #90 Kyle Patee, Thornton, CO, 75 Chevelle
10 #25 Kathy Calkins, Denver, CO, 78 Monte Carlo
11 #77 Kevin Keller, Englewood, CO, 79 Nova
12 #83 Greg Wohlcke, Westminster, CO   
13 #52 Don Patterson       
14 #04 Jimmy Hunt, Brighton, CO, 76 Monte Carlo
15 #42 Dave Witzke       
16 #11 Heather Maas       
DNF #61 John Humphrey, Cheyenne, WY, 79 Monte Carlo
DNF #57 Robert Sanchez, Denver, CO, 1979 Olds Cutlass
DNF #13 Jason Morris, Denver, CO, 77 Nova

Pro Trucks
1 #32 Mark Neff, Eaton, CO   
2 #27 Roger Avants, Littleton, CO   
3 #34 Rudy Vanderwal, LaSalle, CO, 99 Ford F150
4 #36 Matt Burton, Englewood, CO, 08 Silverado
5 #09 Justin Simonson, Wheatridge, CO, 06 Chevy
6 #15 Mike Bernard, Fort Collins, CO, 10 Ford F150
7 #5 Troy Whittar, Eastlake, CO, 04 Chevy Silverado
8 #79 John Jacob, Strasburg   
DNF #04 Bobby Durand, 99 Silverado
DNS #0 Billy Harkins, Lakewood, CO, 2010 GMC Sierra
DNS #11 Steve Johnson, Windsor, CO   

CNS Modifieds
1 #1 Jay Fields, Pueblo West, CO, 2011 Wade Moon
2 #95 Dave Finley, Brighton, CO   
3 #77 Jeff Hansen, Berthoud, CO   
4 #4 Mark Sopr, Cheyenne, WY   
5 #12 Gary Meisman       
6 #20 Rich Bubak, Arvada, CO, 29 Ford
7 #02 Sammy Gallo       
8 #2x Trevor Snow       
9 #11x Chad Wilson, Colorado Springs, CO   
10 #87 Joe St Peter, Englewood, CO, 32 Ford
11 #12 Jaime Bubak, Arvada, CO   
12 #3 Kelly Balderston       
13 #55 Gary Land, Littleton, CO, 32 Chevy Coupe
14 #80 Matt Devich       
15 #46 Eric Blackard, Lakewood, CO, 33 Chevy
16 #2 John Hovelson       
DNF #11 Tom Evans, Cheyenne, WY, 2010 Volt
DNF #24 Chad Guilford, Highlands Ranch, CO, 32 Ford
DNF #44 Justin Case, Brighton, CO   
DNF #71 Jim Bredeson, Aurora, CO, 30 Ford 2 Door
DNF #18 Ed Vecchiarelli       
22 #18 Dean Carr       
DNF #61 Theron Bredeson, Arvada, CO, 32 Ford 5 Window