The K&N Pro Series West lineup for their annual NAPA Toyota 150 at CNS (Starr photo)
(06-11-2016 Dacono Colorado) After a 2 hour long rain delay the Colorado National Speedway fans were treated to one of the best finishes of any NAPA Toyota 150 ever held at the 3/8ths mile paved oval. Local hero Chris Eggleston and BMR teammate Todd Gilliland traded the lead several times in the closing stages of the race with Eggleston pulling out the win in the final two laps of the race.
NAPA Toyota 150 – K&N Pro Series West
Only 7 laps of the NAPA Toyota 150 were complete when the action was halted due to a severe thunderstorm that sent all the cars back to the garage area and fans running for cover. Over two hours later the race resumed and pole sitter #16 Todd Gilliland had the lead over hometown favorite Chris Eggleston in the #20 NAPA Filters Toyota.
Prior to the 2 hour rain delay #16 Todd Gilliland and #50 Chris Eggleston battle for the lead (Starr photo)
On lap 39 Eggleston used the outside lane to take over the race lead and begin to build a 1.5 second margin on the field. Last year’s NAPA Toyota 150 winner Ryan Partridge also got by Gilliland and began to eat into Eggleston’s lead. Another BMR teammate of Eggleston and Gilliland was young Cole Moore in the #20 who was running a solid 4th and #27 Gracin Raz close behind in 5th.
Several caution flags for spins at the back of the pack setup double-file restarts that allowed Partridge a shot at Eggleston for the lead but Chris was having none of it and maintained the position.
Chris Eggleston, Gracin Raz in the #27 and Todd Gilliland battle in the closing stages of the NAPA Toyota 150 (Starr photo)
In the final 50 laps both Raz and Gilliland moved into the top 3 and appeared to be the fastest two cars on the track but it would take a late race caution to give Gilliland his shot at the win. On the restart Eggleston was able to get back out in front and set sail in what appeared to be an easy route to victory. As teammates Eggleston and Gilliland began to battle for the lead an interesting contrast in styles was rather evident. Gilliland was entering the corners with a ton of speed catching and passing Eggleston at the apex of the corner while Eggleston would enter the turns slower but come shooting out into the straights retaking the lead each and every time. The two drivers battled this way lap after lap in the closing stages of the race sending the large CNS fans to the edge of their seats.
Several late race restarts added drama to the final laps (Starr photo)
With just 4 laps remaining the drama intensified as Gilliland nudged Eggleston out of the groove in turn 4 and took over the lead of the race. Eggleston came right back two laps later and did a little nudging of his own on the inside of Gilliland to retake the lead and the win. This was Chris’s second K&N Pro Series West win in a row and also his second NAPA Toyota 150 win in his career – also winning the 2014 event. Gilliland hung on for second, Raz was 3rd, Partridge settled for 4th and Blaine Perkins was the final car in the top 5.
Chris Eggleston celebrates with his NAPA Filters crew after winning the NAPA Toyota 150 at CNS (Starr photo)
Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks
#1 Jay Fields from Pueblo took the early lead in the 30 lap Snap-On Tools Pro Truck feature event after getting around #47 Jesse Seigel and #36 Matt Burton. #8 Jeff Walbaum began to pressure Fields for the lead and the two trucks began to battle for the top spot. Behind the leader #43 Kody Vanderwal was working his way through the field from his 9th place starting spot.
Early action form the Pro Truck feature event (Starr photo)
With 18 laps to go Fields and Walbaum made slight contact in turn 3 and Fields spun and the two drivers were sent to the rear for bringing out the yellow. When the green flag flew it was two rookies out from as #9 Curtis Heldenbrand and #43 Kody Vanderwal raced side by side. Eventually Vanderwal got around Heldenbrand as did #2 AJ Warren. Warren did his best to track down the leader but just couldn’t catch the rocket fast Vanderwal who had also set quick time earlier in the night with a time of 17.281.
Kody went on to win his first Pro Truck feature event followed by Warren who was a few truck lengths behind. #5 Troy Witthar finished an impressive 3rd place and Heldenbrand in 4th. The final truck in the top 5 was last year’s champion #34 Rudy Vanderwal.
Rookie driver #43 Kody Vanderwal takes the checkered flag at CNS (Starr photo)
The Pro Trucks are back in action Saturday July 2nd.
Great Scott’s Eatery Super Stocks
The Super Stocks take the green flag for their feature event at CNS (Starr photo)
#02 Darrel Smith and #18 Robert Davey paced the field for the 25 lap Great Scott’s Eatery Super Stock feature event and Smith grabbed the early lead. Within a couple laps there was a mad dash to the front from several drivers including #2 Chris Cox who took the lead from Smith. Behind the leader #3 Michael Cox and #22 Brian Yackey were leaning on each other very hard lap after lap taking turns nudging each other around the speedway. Eventually the two made too much contact and Yackey went spinning down the front straight making contact with the turn 1 wall. Both drivers would be sent to the rear.
Brian Yackey in the #22 Super Stock spins into the turn 1 wall during the feature event (Starr photo)
With Chris Cox maintaining the lead and #43 Kody Vanderwal behind, all eyes were on Michael Cox and Brian Yackey as they flew up through the field thrilling the fans.
When the checkered flag flew Chris Cox had taken the win with Kody Vanderwal coming in 2nd. Yackey worked his way back into 3rd place and Michael Cox took 4th. The final finisher in the top 5 was #30 Jared Keener.
#2 Chris Cox on his way to the win in the Super Stocks (Starr photo)
They Super Stocks return to action next week June 18th.
Chick-fil-A Figure 8s
The Chick-fil-A Figure 8 feature was a near carbon copy of the previous race one week ago with #52 Jared Wall leading early and his brother #15 Jereme Wall flying up through the field. And just like last time out Jared pulled off the track with mechanical problems giving Jereme the lead and another win. Jereme has won all 4 figure 8 feature events in 2016. #50 Justin McKeachie finished 2nd, 27x Luke Zike took 3rd, #17 Harry Livermore Jr. finished 4th and #4 Sean Smith was the final car in the top 5.
#15 Jereme Wall picked up his 4th straight win the Figure 8s (Starr photo)
The Figure 8s return to action at CNS Saturday July 2nd for night number one of two-day Independence Day race.
FEATURE: #15 Jereme Wall
OFFICIAL RESULTS
NAPA Toyota 150 1. 50 Chris Eggleston 2. 16 Todd Gilliland * 3. 27 Gracin Raz 4. 9 Ryan Partridge 5. 21 Blaine Perkins * 6. 54 Julia Landauer * 7. 30 Ron Norman 8. 14 Matt Levin 9. 6 Cole Rouse * 10. 7 Noah Gragson 11. 38 Stafford Smith * 12. 39 Dan Phillippi * 13. 19 Riley Herbst * 14. 20 Cole Moore * 15. 6 John Wood 16. 36 Jesse Iwuji *
Pro Trucks Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 43 Kody Vanderwal (R) La Salle 2. 2 AJ Warren Berthoud 3. 5 Troy Witthar Eastlake 4. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand(R) Arvada 5. 34 Rudy Vanderwal La Salle 6. 1 Jay Fields Pueblo West 7. 8 Jeff Walbaum (R) Brighton 8. 36 Matt Burton Englewood 9. 19 Robert Davey Erie 10. 47 Jesse Seigel Castle Rock 11. 96 Conner Snow (R) Morrison
Super Stocks Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 2 Chris Cox Edgewater 2. 43 Kody Vanderwal LaSalle 3. 22 Brian Yackey (R) Greeley 4. 3 Michael Cox Englewood 5. 30 Jared Keener Westminster 6. 51 Jax Hughes Lakewood 7. 18 Robert Davey Aurora 8. 02 Darrell Smith Littleton 9. 5 Glen Poston (R) Thornton 10. 1 Makayla Grote Lakewood 11. 55 Damian Lockhart Arvada 12. 26 Taylor Dragoon Aurora 13. 69 Derick Brugger Ft Lupton 14. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand Arvada
Figure 8s Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City 2. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora 3. 27x Luke Zike Arvada 4. 17 Harry Livermore Jr. Denver 5. 4 Sean Smith Littleton 6. 01 Michael Haywood Greeley 7. 5 Curtis Chavez Loveland 8. 9 Brent Cave Thornton 9. 10 Frank Gastineau Denver 10. 97 Adam Gastineau Aurora 11. 12 Harvey Webb Jr Longmont 12. 52 Jared Wall Commerce City