Derek Thorn holds on to win the Toyota/NAPA 150 at CNS

(07-27-2013 Dacono, CO) A massive crowd was on hand at Colorado National Speedway to witness the K&N Pro Series West cars in their annual appearance at the track. California’s Derek Thorn held off challenges from several drivers to win the Toyota/NAPA 150 while Lee Kemmit, Mark Neff, and Justin Mackeachie, were victorious in the Late Models, Pro Trucks, and Figure 8s.

K&N Pro Series West
 Lakeport California’s Derek Thorn set quicktime in the K&N Pro Series West qualifying with a time of 16.609 which put the blue and orange #6 Ford on the pole for the 150 lap feature event. After driver introductions were complete rain began to fall on the speedway which delayed the start of the race by almost 2 hours. After track crews dried the track the engines were fired back up and the race went green. Thorn used the pole position to gain the early lead but last years NAPA/Toyota 150 winner Greg Pursley in the #26 was all over Thorn battling for the lead.

At the halfway mark of the race a great 3 car battle for the lead had heated up between Thorn, Pursley, and Hayley, which had the large CNS crowd buzzing. As the leaders approached slower cars Hayley saw his chance and made a bold move for the lead coming out of turn 4 but a lapped car got lose in front of the race leader Thorn and slid down in front of Hayley which appeared to ruin Cameron’s best shot at taking the lead.

As the race began to wind down it appeared that Hayley had possibly used up his tires trying to catch Thorn as the 24 car began to fade a bit. Thorn went on to take the checkered flag followed by another Canadian driver #20 Jamie Krzysik who finished strong in 2nd. Hayley hung on for 3rd, #9 Giles Thornton was 4th, and Pursley crossed the line 5th.

RESULTS
 NAPA/Toyota 150: #6 Derek Thorn
 QUICK TIME: #6 Derek Thorn 16.609

Pair A Dice Interior Finishes Late Models
 Former track champion #46 Eric “Blackie” Blackard led the first 7 laps of the Pair A Dice Interior Finishes Late Model feature event but it was the black and orange Camaro of Lee Kemmit who took the lead and never looked back. The only car in the field that appeared to have anything for Kemmit was the #17 of Paul Deines who began to close on Kemmit late in the race. A light sprinkle of rain delayed the finish of the race for a few minutes but with 5 laps to go the green flag flew again and Kemmit held off Deines to take the win. Behind Kemmit and Deines, #84 Bruce Borchardt took 3rd spot, #99 Nick Brinlee was 4th, and the final spot in the top 5 went to Blackard. With the win Kemmit is now just 5 points back of Deines in what is proving to be a very competitive division.

MAIN EVENT: #98 Lee Kemmit
 QUICK TIME: #8 Jeff Walbaum 17.643

Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks
 In what was clearly the most competitive race of the night #41 Mark Neff and #06 Adam Hilton thrilled the crowd in the Snap-On Tools Pro Truck feature event as the two of them raced side by side for almost the entire race. Hilton had come to the front from the 2nd row and Neff from all the way back in his 10th starting position. Hilton led the race early but Neff grabbed the lead with 18 laps to go. When Neff jumped out front some may have predicted he would put distance on the field but Hilton was having none of that as he battled back on the low side of Neff. Behind the leaders #27 Roger Avants, #34 Rudy Vanderwal, and #7 Adam Deines, were having a battle of their own until Deines was sent to the rear for spinning Avants and bringing out the caution flag. Hilton did his best to get by Neff on the restart but it wasn’t to be as the green #41 truck took the win.

MAIN EVENT: #41 Mark Neff
 QUICK TIME: #41 Mark Neff 16.627

Art’s Septic Service Figure 8s
 A huge field of 21 Figure 8s checked into the pits and proceeded to lineup to kick off the night’s events for the NAPA/Toyota 150. #81 Dave Smith and #40 Mike Mercer occupied the front row. On the first lap as the field came out of turn 4 and entered the X Mercer’s car slowed dramatically sending the cars behind him scrambling to avoid contact, #23 Big Al Duran slid sideways into the infield in a cloud of dust. Duran was able to continue without damage.

On the restart “Hot Rod” Dave Smith grabbed the lead and appeared to be the fastest car on the track as he led for several laps. The focus of the race shifted to Northglenn Colorado’s Harvey Webb Jr. in the #12 Camaro as his fearless passes through the X had the entire crowd roaring in excitement. Unfortunately for race leader Smith a caution was displayed for debris on the track which turned out to be for Smith’s own muffler that was sitting in turn 4. On the restart Smith lost the lead to #50 Justin Mackeachie who held off Smith to take the win followed closely by Smith, #52 Jared Wall, #26 Nick Martinez, and #17 Harry Livermore Jr.

MAIN EVENT: #50 Justin Mackeachie

NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST

 Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150

(Start position in parentheses)

 
 1. (1) Derek Thorn, Lakeport, Calif., Ford, 150 laps, 65.897 mph.
 
 2. (6) Jamie Krzysik, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Toyota, 150.
 
 3. (3) Cameron Hayley, Calgary, Alberta, Ford, 150.
 
 4. (9) Giles Thornton, Whitefish, Mont., Toyota, 150.
 
 5. (2) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Ford, 150.
 
 6. (4) Michael Self, Park City, Utah, Chevrolet, 150.
 
 7. (8) Taylor Cuzick, Tolleson, Ariz., Ford, 150.
 
 8. (5) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 150.
 
 9. (10) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 150.
 
 10. (14) Dylan Lupton, Wilton, Calif., Ford, 149.
 
 11. (7) Travis Milburn, Eagle, Idaho, Toyota, 149.
 
 12. (11) Daryl Harr, Edmonton, Alberta, Chevrolet, 149.
 
 13. (12) Anthony Giannone, Colorado Sprgs, Colo., Chevrolet, 148.
 
 14. (16) Carl Harr, Edmonton, Alberta, Chevrolet, 146.
 
 15. (17) Jack Chisholm, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Ford, 140.
 
 16. (19) Bill Kann, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 135.
 
 17. (13) Dylan Hutchison, Fair Oaks, Calif., Chevrolet, 132.
 
 18. (15) John Wood, Eagle, Idaho, Toyota, 101, ignition.
 
 19. (18) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 58, fuel pressure.

Race Statistics
 
 Time of Race: 50 minutes 32 seconds
 
 Margin of Victory: .403 seconds
 
 Fastest Qualifier: D.Thorn (80.197 mph, 16.609 seconds)
 
 Caution Flags: 2 for 11 laps.
 
 Lead Changes: 4 among 2 drivers.
 
 Lap Leaders: D. Thorn 1-90; C. Hayley 91; D. Thorn 92-138; C. Hayley 139; D. Thorn
 
 140-150.

Late Models
 
 Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info
 
 1. 98 Lee Kemmit Thornton  CO 08 Charger
 
 2. 17 Paul Deines Gering  NE ’08 Impala
 
 3. 84 Bruce Borchardt Lafayette  CO 03 Grand Prix
 
 4. 99 Nick Brinlee Broomfield  CO 78 Cutlass
 
 5. 46 Eric Blackard Lakewood  CO 03 Monte Carlo
 
 6. 8 Jeff Walbaum Brighton  CO 08 Impala
 
 7. 19 Scott Miller (R) Brighton  CO 11 Camaro
 
 8. 3 Wade Grove Thornton  CO ’04 Impala
 
 9. 41 Dale Reeder Westminster  CO 08 Charger
 
 10. 24 Joe Martinez (R) Centennial  CO Monte Carlo
 
 11. 85 Kaden Webb Arvada  CO 03 Grand Prix
 
 12. 58 Jeff Webb Arvada CO 05 Monte Carlo
 
 13. 28 Alan Carter Commerce City  CO ’10 Monte Carlo
 
 14. 75 Emilio Abeyta (R)
 
 15. 22 Joe Matlock (R) Aurora  CO ’03 Dodge Avenger
 
 16. 67 Stephanie Brown Littleton  CO 07 Impala
 
 17. 30 Jan Oxley Ft. Lupton  CO 03 Monte Carlo
 
 18. 27 Wendi Lewis Johnstown  CO 02 Grand Prix
 
 19. 29 Rayshawn Carter Commerce City  CO 10 Monte Carlo

Pro Trucks
 
 Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info
 
 1. 41 Mark Neff Westminster CO
 
 2. 06 Adam Hilton Brighton  CO
 
 3. 34 Rudy Vanderwal LaSalle  CO 13 F150
 
 4. 27 Roger Avants Littleton  CO
 
 5. 5 Troy Whittar Eastlake  CO 04 Chevy Silverado
 
 6. 7 Adam Deines
 
 7. 10T Taylor Bellomy (R)
 
 8. 15 Mike Bernard Ft Collins  CO F150
 
 9. 2 Alan Warren (R) Longmont  CO
 
 10. 11 Steve Johnson Windsor  CO
 
 11. 36 Matt Burton Englewood  CO
 
 12. 10A Andy Bellomy (R) Fort Lupton CO
 
 13. 29 Matthew Brunker Lakewood  CO

Figure 8s
 
 Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info
 
 1. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora CO
 
 2. 81 Dave Smith Englewood  CO 78 Camaro
 
 3. 52 Jared Wall Commerce City  CO 77 Camaro
 
 4. 26 Nick Martinez Denver  CO 03 Howe Monte Carlo
 
 5. 17 Harry  Livermore Jr Englewood  CO 77 Nova
 
 6. 23 Al Duran Lakewood CO 03 Monte Carlo
 
 7. 10 Frank Gastineau Denver  CO 03 Monte Carlo
 
 8. 03 Luke Zike Morrison  CO 03 Chevy Monte Carlo
 
 9. 40 Michael Mercer Thornton  CO 75 Nova
 
 10. 12 Harvey Webb Jr Northglenn 74 Camaro
 
 11. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City  CO 72 Chevy
 
 12. 2 Lance Proctor Arvada CO 03 Monte Carlo
 
 13. 00 James Naranjo(R) Denver  CO 75 Chevy Nora
 
 14. 76 Brent Cave
 
 15. 71 Tyler Dowler Denver  CO 71 Chevy Camaro
 
 16. 25 Phil Taylor
 
 17. 11 Joe Gastineau Denver  CO 03 Chevy
 
 DNS 14 James Donaldson Arvada CO 99 Monte Carlo
 
 DNS 33 Bobby Hutchings (R) Denver  CO 78 Camaro