Bruce Yackey steals point lead from Rick Smith with his second straight win at CNS

Sunday, 22 July 2012 18:36

(Dacono CO, 07-21-2012) Coming in to the Whelen Night at the Races Gering Nebraska's Rick Smith maintained the points lead in the Gillett Vet Late Model division. Yet Greeley Colorado's Bruce Yackey won his second straight main event and stole the top spot from Smith creating a dramatic points race halfway through the season.

 

Gillett Vet Late Models
A full field of Gillett Vet Late Models sparkled under the lights at Colorado National Speedway in preparation for a 40 lap feature event. When the green flag dropped #84 MattZwingleberg took a small advantage over his teammate #74 Dan Savage and led the field for several laps. The top 6 cars were all running side by side, lap after lap thrilling the large CNS crowd. As the leaders approached lapped traffic in turn 3 Zwingleberg went high and Savage dove low splitting the slower cars and making a hair-raising and very dramatic pass for the lead. Meanwhile #22 Chris Eggleston was battling Yackey for 3rd spot hoping to get his chance at grabbing the win. #12 Bruce "the moose" Yackey was able to work past Zwingleberg for 2nd place and begin to hunt Savage for the lead. As Savage found his groove he appeared to be in position for a win but the savvy veteran Yackey found a way to stick to the low groove coming out of turn two and got under Savage. The two drivers drag raced down the back straight and by the time they got to turn 3 Yackey had taken the lead. Once Yackey was out front there was no stopping him and he cruised to another win vaulting him into the points lead. Savage finished a strong 2nd, Eggleston came in 3rd, Zwingleberg was 4th, and #7 Adam Dienes rounded out the top 5.

FAST DASH WINNER: #12 Bruce Yackey
DASH WINNER: #31 Rick Smith
QUICK TIME: #22 Chris Eggleston 16.261

Sunoco Grand American Modifieds
#77 Jeff Hansen and #28 Jeff Hunter paced the field for the 30 lap Sunoco Grand American Modified  main event. After a brief battle for the lead Hunter slowed on the track and fell way back in the field. That gave Hansen the opportunity to build a huge lead. Running strong in second place was #66 John Seely yet with just 11 laps to go Seely spun down the front straight and nearly flew over the DEMO X jump. Thrilling the fans Seely never skipped a beat and kept the car going rejoining the field without causing a caution. Hansen began to build a large lead on the rest of the Grand American Modifieds and the only car within a straightaway of "flippy" Jeff Hansen was the #1 of Jay Fields. Hansen cruised to another main event win followed by Fields, #22 Mike Castagno, #28 Jeff Hunter, and #44 Justin Case.

FAST DASH WINNER: #22 Mike Castagno
DASH WINNER: #44 Justin Case
QUICK TIME: #77 Jeff Hansen 17.146

CARC Mod Coupes
At the beginning of the CARC Mod Coupe main event it appeared as if #34 Randy Whitman was shot out of a cannon as he blasted off the front row and quickly built a straightaway length lead on the rest of the field. A scary moment occured on lap 7 when #44x and #33 Chet Graham made contact on the front straight sending Wood spinning and crashing along the wall in front of the fans in a shower of sparks and busted metal. Thankfully Mike was uninjured but his beautiful black and red mod coupe was seriously damaged. After the restart Randy Whitman maintained his lead but #95m Cris Muhler began to close the gap and eventually caught Whitman. Muhler tried the low side several times but couldn't get around Whitman who took the win. Muhler was second, #55 Gary Land was third, #36 Matt Burton was fourth and #46 Eric Blackard came in fifth.

FAST DASH WINNER: #55 Gary Land
DASH WINNER: #95 Cris Muhler
QUICK TIME: #34 Randy Whitman 16.122

NTC Logistics Super Stocks
A huge field of Super Stocks lined up for the 25 lap main event and #33 Bear Lynch grabbed an early 5 car length lead but the speedy blue #3 of Michael Cox quickly pulled up on his tail coming from the 9th starting spot! A lap later Cox dove low and passed Lynch with ease bringing along #13 Jason Morris. Moments later Lynch's car began to slow and he left the track with mechanical problems. At that point Michael Cox found his groove and built a large lead on Jason Morris. It appeared the race was in the bag for Cox but in a bizarre twist of fate Cox slowed dramatically in the last corner of the last lap allowing Morris to sneak by for the win. Cox limped across the line for 2nd, #61 John Humphrey was 3rd, #6x Josh Parker grabbed 4th, and #88 David Rothrock finsihed 5th.

FAST DASH WINNER: #3 Michael Cox
DASH WINNER: #22h Adam Hilton
QUICK TIME: #3 Michael Cox 19.732

A Comfort Shack Figure 8s
#23 Big Al Duran got the jump on the entire field at the start of the 25 lap Figure 8 main event. Yet #15 Jereme Wall began to pressure Big Al and the two of them made contact in turn one sending both cars sideways but in skillful fashion the drivers kept going. Wall was able to work his way by Duran but the Martinez brothers (#24 Joe and #26 Nick) were on his tail making a great race for the fans. As the two Martinez brothers tried to get by Wall for the lead there was contact and Wall and Nick Martinez spun. Both Wall and Martinez were sent to the rear of the field for bringing out the caution. That altercation gave #24 Joe Martinez the lead with Big Al Duran in tow. A few laps later #15 Jereme Wall's luck went from bad to worse when his rear end locked up and he screeched to a halt in the X. As the race neared the finish the leader Joe Martinez came up on the lapped car of #40 Michael Mercer and the two made contact which sent Mercer into the wall.

 

On the "green, white, checker" restart Big Al Duran dove under Joe Martinez in an attempt to gain the lead but caused Martinez to spin. Both Duran and Martinez were sent to the rear of the field which gave the apparent win to #26 Nick Martinez. Yet in a post race tech inspection the #26 car was penalized for a mechanical infraction sending him to the rear of the field. #20 Lance Proctor was awarded the win, #50 Justin Mackeachie was 2nd, #10 Frank Gastineau was 3rd, #86 Shirley Thompson was 4th and #66 John Martello was 5th.

FAST DASH WINNER: #26 Nick Martinez
DASH WINNER: #20 Lance Proctor

OFFICIAL FINISHING ORDER

Late Models
Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info
1. 12 Bruce Yackey Greeley  CO 12 Impala
2. 74 Dan Savage Aurora  CO 08 SS
3. 22 Chris Eggleston Erie  CO 09 Chevy
4. 84 Matt Zwingelberg Aurora  CO
5. 7 Adam Deines Longmont  CO 97 Cutlass
6. 6 Dominic Ursetta Arvada  CO 10 Victory Circle
7. 27 Roger Avants Littleton  CO 2010 Monte Carlo
8. 66 Darren Bucklan Greeley  CO 11 Monte Carlo
9. 4 Bradley Tilton Cheyenne  WY
10. 55 Jesse Runkle Lakewood  CO 08 Monte Carlo
11. 91 Chris Atkinson Cheyenne  WY
12. 99B Nicholas Brimlee Broomfield  CO
13. 31 Rick Smith Gering  NE 08 Monte Carlo
14. 14 Mark Bybee Littleton  CO
15. 90 Frank Denning Golden  CO
16. 29 David Johnson 
17. 51 Eric Meisner Brighton  CO 06 Camry
DNS 39 Jack Nugent Lafayette  CO 05 Impala
DNS 33 Emett Grazier Wheatridge  CO Monte Carlo

Grand American Modifieds
1. 77 Jeff Hansen Berthoud  CO
2. 1 Jay Fields Pueblo West  CO 2011 Wade Moon
3. 22 Mike Castagno Arvada CO
4. 28 Jeff Hunter Brighton  CO
5. 44 Justin Case Brighton  CO
6. 4T Brad Tilton Cheyenne  WY
7. 11 Tom Evans Cheyenne  WY 2010 Volt
8. 4 Mark Sopr Cheyenne  WY
9. 8 Dan Alamaa Colorado Springs  CO 95 Modified
10. 15 Cory Gordon 
11. 2 Willard Nash 
12. 57B Brady Balderston Highlands Ranch CO
13. 57 Kelly Balderston Pueblo West  CO
14. 66 John Seely Parker  CO 12 Impala
15. 55 Dean Olson 
16. 69E Mike  Edwards 

CARC Mod Coupes
1. 34 Randy Whitman Ft Collins  CO
2. 95 Cris Muhler Brighton  CO
3. 55 Gary Land Littleton  CO 32 Chevy Coupe
4. 36 Matt Burton Englewood  CO
5. 46 Eric Blackard Lakewood  CO 33 Chevy
6. 24 Chad Guilford Highlands Ranch CO
7. 33 Chet Graham Kiowa  CO
8. 43 Matt Pierce 
9. 80 Matt Devich 
10. 29 Dave Johnson Lakewood CO 33 Chevy
11. 09 Darren Robertson Lafayette CO
12. 44x Mike  Wood Centennial  CO
13. 2 Don Hoselton Palisade CO
DNS 06 Adam Hilton 

Super Stocks
1. 13 Jason Morris Lakewood CO 77 Nova
2. 3 Michael Cox Littleton  CO 84 Grand Nat'l
3. 61 John Humphrey Cheyenne  WY 79 Monte Carlo
4. 6X Josh Parker  Broomfield  CO 79 Malibu
5. 88 David Rothrock Golden  CO 82 Caprice
6. 90 Kyle Patee Thornton  CO 75 Chevelle
7. 25W Jared Wally Wall 
8. 99 Ryan Raley Thornton  CO 77 Monte Carlo
9. 77 Kevin Keller Englewood  CO 79 Nova
10. 02 Darrell Smith Littleton  CO 85 Caprice
11. 22H Adam Hilton 
12. 71s Harry  Livermore Denver  CO 85 Monte Carlo
13. 10d Jeff Dempewolf 
14. 66 Tom Evans Sr # Cheyenne  WY 84 Monte Carlo
15. 83 Greg Wohlcke Westminster  CO 83 Monte Carlo
16. 9c Brent Cave 
17. 25 Kathy Calkins Denver  CO
18. 31 Kyle Quintrall 
19. 33 Bear Lynch 
20. 39 Jack Nugent Lafayette CO 05 Impala
21. 82R David  Rothrock Sr Arvada  CO 82 Regal

Figure 8s
1. 20 Lance Proctor 
2. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora CO
3. 10 Frank Gastineau Denver  CO 64 Chevy
4. 86 Shirley Thompson Northglenn  Co 77 Camaro
5. 66 John Martello Denver  CO
6. 24 Joe Martinez Centennial  CO 08 Monte Carlo
7. 23 Al Duran Lakewood CO
8. 40 Michael Mercer # Thornton  CO 75 Nova
9. 81 Dave Smith Englewood  CO
10. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City  CO 72 Chevy
11. 44 Buddy Hohn Jr. 
12. 03 Luke Zike Morrison  CO
13. 26 Nick Martinez Denver  CO