(04-04-2015 Dacono Colorado) – The first race of the 2015 season at CNS marked a very special 50th Anniversary season for the famed Colorado race track. A gorgeous Colorado spring evening was the setting for some amazing NASCAR action that saw Dominic Ursetta once again end up in winner’s circle in the Super Late Model division. Kyle Ray dominated the Grand American Modifieds, Brett Yackey made a late race pass to win in the Super Stocks and Jereme Wall was victorious in the Figure 8s.
Gillet Vet Clinic Super Late Models
New faces, new cars, new paint jobs, highlighted night number one of the 2015 Gillet Vet Super Late Model season. Yet just as the 2014 season ended the 2015 season began with young Dominic Ursetta continuing his mastery of the 3/8th mile paved oval. Ursetta jumped out to an early lead and the only car within a straightaway was #12 Bruce “the moose” Yackey”. Even a mid-race caution didn’t help the field to overtake the dominate Ursetta who cruised to the win.
#6 Dominic Ursetta and #12 Bruce Yackey lined up on the front row to start the feature (Starr photo)
Behind Ursetta and Yackey, Rick Smith, Chris Eggleston, Jack Nugent, Matt Zwingleberg battled for position. New to the division was open wheel star #58 Kyle Ray who started the night off strong winning the fast dash. In the feature Ray had worked his way from the back of the field up to sixth place but spun on the final corner as he was trying to steal another position. Ray’s 12th place finish was not indicative of exciting race that he ran and is certainly a car to watch this season.
Dominic Ursetta in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
When the checkered flag flew it was Ursetta, Yackey, Eggleston, Smith, and Zwingleberg in the top 5. The Super Late Models will return to CNS on April 18th.
FEATURE WINNER: #6 Dominic Ursetta FAST DASH: #58 Kyle Ray DASH: #66 Darren Bucklan QUICK TIME: #12 Bruce Yackey 16.022
SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modifieds
Possibly the biggest surprise of the night was the SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modifieds who came out in full force with a very competitive field of 17 cars for the first night of racing in 2015. #33 Emmit Grazier and #58 Kyle Ray paced the field for the feature event and when the green flag dropped Ray jumped out to a huge lead. #44 Justin Case who was last years champion passed Gazier to move into 2nd spot hoping to chase down Ray for the win. The best battle of the night was for the 3rd position between Grazier, #77 Jeff Hansen, #95 Cris Muhler, and #0 Ron O’Niel as these 4 drivers put on a great show for the fans.
Kyle Ray dominated the Grand American Modified portion of the event (Starr Photo)
By the time the race came to a conclusion Kyle Ray had built an incredible half-lap lead over Case who took second place. Muhler came home 3rd with Hansen close behind in 4th and O’Niel taking the final spot in the top 5. The Grand American Modifieds will return to action on April 25th.
FEATURE WINNER: #58 Kyle Ray FAST DASH: #44 Justin Case DASH: #69 Forest Smith QUICK TIME: #0 Ron O’Neil 17.176
Great Scott’s Eatery Super Stocks
18 Super Stocks started the feature event which would prove to be the most competitive races of the night. Last years champion #3 Michael Cox was doing all he could to hold off the up-and-coming Brett “the Maverick” Yackey in the #32 Chevy. Lap after lap the two drivers not only battled one another but they also had to navigate lapped traffic. With just 4 laps to go Yackey finally found a groove that worked and snuck by Cox to take home the win.
Impressive newcomer #75 Levi Greenly and #9 Curtis Heldenbrand battle in the Super Stock DASH. (Starr photo)
#90 Kyle Patee finished in the 3rd spot with #9 Curtis Hildenbrand in 4th. The surprise of the night was #75 Levi Greenly who finished a strong 5th spot in the main. Greenly also won the Super Stock DASH sending a message that he is one of the new faces to watch for in the 2015 season.
The next race for the Super Stocks will be May 2nd.
FEATURE WINNER: #32 Brett Yackey FAST DASH: #3 Michael Cox DASH: #75 Levi Greenly QUICK TIME: #32 Brett Yackey 19.879
Art’s Septic Figure 8s
The scariest moment of the night happened mid-way through the Figure 8 feature when #23 Big Al Duran and #97 Adam Gastineau collided hard in the X. It was one of the most violent crashes in years at the X and a stunned crowed waited in silence to hear the condition of the drivers. Soon after safety workers arrived and to the relief of the CNS fans both Gastineau and Duran hopped from their cars under their own power.
#97 Adam Gastineau and #23 Big Al Duran scared the CNS crowd with a violent crash in the X. (Starr photo)
After a lengthy cleanup was complete the race resumed with #15 Jereme Wall leading #50 Justin McKeachie. A fantastic battle for 3rd position raged between #89 Eddie Garcia and #52 Jared Wall. Yet it was clearly Jereme Wall’s night as he navigated traffic to perfection and took the win. McKeachie settled for 2nd and Garcia nabbed an impressive 3rd place finish. Jared Wall was 4th and #27 Bobby Zike came home 5th. The Figure 8s will return to CNS on April 18th.
#15 Jereme Wall celebrates after winning the Figure 8 feature event at CNS (Starr photo)
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Super Late Models Pos No. Name 1. 6 Dominic Ursetta 2. 12 Bruce Yackey 3. 22 Christopher Eggleston 4. 31 Rick Smith 5. 84 Matt Zwingleberg 6. 66 Darren Bucklen 7. 39 Jack Nugent 8. 11 Darren Robertson 9. 91 Chris Atkinson 10. 84p Aaron Paulsen 11. 29 Matt Brunker 12. 58 Kyle Ray 13. 25 Monty Skinner 14. 80 Raymond Daniels
Grand American Modifieds Pos No. Name 1. 58 Kyle Ray 2. 44 Justin Case 3. 95 Cris Muhler 4. 77 Jeffrey Hansen 5. 33 Emett Grazier 6. 0 Ron ONeil 7. 17 Jeremy Barclay 8. 88 Jeffrey Wabaum 9. 69 Forest Smith 10. 66 John Seely 11. 59 Charles Wilson 12. 19 Brent Miller 13. 99 Kyle Rayburn 14. 57B Brady Balderston 15. 63 Matt Pierce DNS 13 Darin Clark
Super Stocks Pos No. Name 1. 32 Brett Yackey 2. 3 Michael Cox 3. 90 Kyle Patee 4. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand 5. 75 Levi Greenly 6. 23 George Gallegos 7. 51 Jackson Hughes 8. 0 Andrew Mues 9. 02 Darrell Smith 10. 60 Riley Pierce 11. 20 David Schmidt 12. 26 Taylor Dragoon 13. 56 Eric Pierce 14. 18 Robert Davey 15. 10t Stephanie Brown DNS 82 Jacob Lira
Figure 8s Pos No. Name 1. 15 Jereme Wall 2. 50 Justin McKeachie 3. 89 Eddie Garcia 4. 52 Jared Wall 5. 27 Bobby Zike 6. 87 Bill Farris 7. 00 James Naranjo 8. 97 Adam Gastineau 9. 23 Al Duran 10. 2 Lance Proctor DNS. 01 Michael Haywood DNS. 5 Curtis Chavez DNS. 67 Billy Farris