(Dacono 04-02-2016) Jace Hansen did the impossible in the Joey’s Trophies NASCAR season opener at Colorado Speedway by coming from his 7th place starting position passing #6 Dominic Ursetta who had built a large lead in the Gillet Vet Clinic Super Late Model feature event. Ron ONeal from Colorado Springs held off Justin Case to win the SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modified feature and Levi Greenly came from deep in the field to win the Great Scott’s Eatery Super Stock main event. Jereme Wall picked up where he left off last season by winning the first Cick-fil-A Figure 8 feature of 2016.
Gillet Vet Clinic Super Late Models
After a long winter and much anticipation for the start of the 2016 Gillet Vet Clinic Super Late Model season #6 Dominic Ursetta and #12 Bruce Yackey filled out the front row for the 40 lap feature event. With the past two season’s champions pacing the field it would be a tough task for any other driver to make their way to the front. The second row was comprised of two new-comers to the division in #32 Brett Yackey and #82 Michael Scott. After the green flag was displayed a couple of early caution flags shook up the top 6 cars sending Bruce Yackey back a few spots to 5th place and Brett Yackey up to second place. Once the racers finally got their opening night jitters calmed down Ursetta began to build a large lead on the field.
21 Super Late Models took the green flag on opening night at CNS (Starr photo)
Ursetta being way out front is something CNS fans are accustomed to as the young driver has dominated the division the past few seasons. Yet what fans weren’t expecting was #08 Jace Hansen emerging from his 7th place starting spot into 2nd place and slowly but surely reeling Ursetta in. When #47 Tim Murphy brought out the caution with 21 laps remaining Hansen had caught Ursetta and was challenging for the lead. On the restart it was Hansen who bolted out front on the outside of Ursetta to take the top spot shocking the crowd as it isn’t common to see the #6 car get passed for the lead. From this moment on it became a 2 car race with Hansen leading and Ursetta looking to regain the lead.
Jace Hansen goes around Dominic Ursetta to take the lead (Starr photo)
Behind the leaders #9 Justin Simonson, #11 Darren Robertson, Bruce and Brett Yackey swapped positions on nearly every lap the action was literally all over the track thrilling the CNS fans. Back up front Ursetta was not going down easy as he began to push Hansen for the lead in the final stages of the race. When the checkered flag dropped in was Jace Hansen who had navigated lapped traffic to perfection and held off one of the best short track racers in the country to take the win. Behind Hansen and Ursetta, Darren Robertson finished a strong 3rd, Bruce Yackey came in 4th and Simonson rounded out the top 5.
Jace Hansen in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
21 Super Late Models were on hand for opening night and if the first race is any indication of the excitement to come in the 2016 season CNS fans are in for a wild ride.
FEATURE: #08 Jace Hansen FAST DASH: #58 Kyle Ray DASH: #34 Rudy Vanderwal QUICKTIME: #6 Dominic Ursetta 16.240
SUNOCO Race Fuels Grand American Modifieds
#44 Justin Case and #8 Dan Alamaa thrilled the fans battling side by side at the start of the SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modified feature (Starr photo)
One of the highlight’s of opening night was the SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modified feature as #44 Justin Case and #8 Dan Alamaa battling side by side lap after lap for the first half of the 25 lap feature event. #58 Kyle had moved into 3rd place and joined the battle for the lead but when Alamaa and Case made minor contact in turn 3 both Alamaa and Ray ended up in the wall ending their chance at the win. On the restart #66 John Seely made his presence felt as he bolted into 2nd place. Yet it was Ron ONeal in the #0 car that ran a patient race and found himself out front when it mattered most as he took home the first win of the 2016 season. When all was said and done it was ONeal, Case, Seely, 44s Clint Schubert, and #13 Darin Clark in the top 5.
An excited Ron ONeal celebrates in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
FEATURE: #0 Ron ONeal FAST DASH: #58 Brady Balderston DASH: 44s Clint Schubert QUICKTIME: #58 Kyle Ray 17.372
Great Scott’s Eatery Super Stocks
One of the divisions to watch this season will be the Great Scott’s Eatery Super Stocks based on the new talent entering the division joining the experienced veterans. Will Alvarado last years Pure Stock champ along with young guns Levi Greenly, Kody Vanderwal, and Brian Yackey have added a new level of competition to this year’s Super Stock field.
#43 Kody Vanderwal is part of the crop of talented young driver’s in the Super Stock division this year at CNS (Starr photo)
Greenly in his #75 Chevy moved from his 7th place starting spot to take the lead from Chris Cox in the 3c on an early race restart. While there was no catching Greenly for the lead #3 Michael Cox, #43 Kody Vanderwal, Chris Cox, and #96 Michael Steward had a great battle for 2nd position. When Michael Cox got loose it was #22 Brian Yackey that jumped on the chance to assume the 2nd place spot. Yackey appeared to be catching Greenly for the lead but it was too little too late and Greenly took home the first win of the 2016 Super Stock season. Yackey finished 2nd, Michael Cox was 3rd, Vanderwal and Chris Cox rounded out the top 5.
#75 Levi Greenly came from deep in the field to win the first Super Stock feature of 2016 (Starr photo)
FEATURE: #75 Levi Greenly FAST DASH: #75 Levi Greenly DASH: #51 Jax Hughes QUICKTIME: #43 Kody Vanderwal 19.962
Chick-fil-A Figure 8s
The Figure 8s take the green for the first time of 2016 (Starr photo)
Harry Livermore Jr. returned to action in the Figure 8 division and promptly grabbed the lead passing #12 Harvey Webb Jr. and #5 Curtis Chavez, #69 Tammy Totos, #4 Sean Smith, and #9 Brent Cave within the first lap. Yet just a few moments later both #53 Jared “Wally” Wall and #15 Jereme Wall went high and low splitting Livermore in a daring move to take the lead. Jereme then promptly dove low on Wally to grab the top spot for himself. Once out in front there was no catching Jereme as he cruised to the win followed by Livermore, Wally Wall and #50 Justin Mckeachie.
Jereme Wall in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Super Late Models Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 08 Jace Hansen Broomfield 2. 6 Dominic Ursetta Arvada 3. 11 Darren Robertson Westminster 4. 12 Bruce Yackey Greeley 5. 9 Justin Simonson Wheatridge 6. 32 Brett Yackey (R) Greeley 7. 84 Matt Zwingleberg Parker 8. 24 Nathan Gasser Evergreen 9. 34 Rudy Vanderwal La Salle 10. 82 Michael Scott Cheyenne 11. 58 Kyle Ray Littleton 12. 80 Ray Daniels Monument 13. 55 Jesse Runkle Lakewood 14. 23 George Maldonado CO Springs 15. 25 Monty Skinner Black Hawk 16. 47 Tim Murphy (R) CO Springs 17. 31 Rick Smith Gering 18. 29 Matt Brunker Lakewood 19. 16 Ryan McFadden Divide 20. 27 Roger Avants Littleton 21. 91 Chris Atkinson Cheyenne
Grand American Modifieds Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 0 Ron ONeil Colorado Springs 2. 44 Justin Case Brighton 3. 66 John Seely Parker 4. 44s Clint Schubert Calhan 5. 13 Darin Clark Cheyenne 6. 88 Jeff Walbaum Brighton 7. 11 Thomas Evans Cheyenne 8. 57B Brady Balderston Parker 9. 55 Gary Land (R) Littleton 10. 88S Brad Skufca (R) Cheyenne 11. 8 Dan Alamaa CO Springs 12. 58 Kyle Ray Littleton
Super Stocks Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 75 Levi Greenly Kersey 2. 22 Brian Yackey (R) Greeley 3. 3 Michael Cox Englewood 4. 43 Kody Vanderwal LaSalle 5. 3C Chris Cox Edgewater 6. 96 Michael Steward Commerce City 7. 18 Robert Davey Aurora 8. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand Arvada 9. 51 Jax Hughes Lakewood 10. 19c Shelby Cortese (R) Pueblo 11. 02 Darrell Smith Littleton 12. 1 Makayla Grote 13. 5 Glen Poston (R) Thornton 14. 55 Damian Lockhart 15. 26 Taylor Dragoon Aurora 16. 30 Jared Keener Westminster 17. 3% Will Alvarado Ft Lupton
Figure 8s Pos No Name Hometown 1. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City 2. 17 Harry Livermore Jr Denver 3. 52 Jared Wall Commerce City 4. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora 5. 9 Brent Cave Thornton 6. 12 Harvey Webb Jr Longmont 7. 5 Curtis Chavez Loveland 8. 69 Tammy Totos Commerce City 9. 4 Sean Smith Littleton 10. 01 Michael Haywood Greeley 11. 27 Bobby Zike Morrison
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