(09-27-2014 Dacono, CO) The Lincoln College of Technology Championship Night was the final points race of the 2014 season at Colorado National Speedway for the Late Models, Legends, Pure Stocks, and Figure 8s. And while Chad Cowan, Kyle Clegg, Mike Steward, and Justin Mckeachie, found winner’s circle, Jeff Walbaum, Chris Eggleston, Brett Yackey, and Harry Livermore Jr. were crowned champions in their respective divisions.
South Philly Cheesesteak Late Models
A 75 lap feature event would wrap up the 2014 season for the South Philly Cheesesteak Late Models. Entering the night #8 Jeff Walbaum had a strangle hold on the points race as only #7 Ethan Penrod had a mathematical shot at the championship. The race was marred by several caution flags and cleanups for oil on the track which caused NASCAR officials to shorten the race just by about 20 laps. But when the cars were under the green flag a tight race for the lead heated up between #76 Chad Cowan, #8 Jeff Walbaum, and #7 Than Penrod.
After a late race caution Walbaum who was running up high took the lead from Cowan and set sail for his 7th win of the season but yet another caution flag setup a final double-file restart. This time around Gering Nebraska’s Chad Cowan grabbed the lead for good and went on to win the feature event. Walbaum settled for 2nd but won the 2014 season championship by a 42 point margin. 19g Nathan Gasser finished an impressive 3rd and #31 Derek Smith took 4th. #7 Ethan Penrod faded late in the race but hung on for a 5th place finish and a well earned runner-up spot in the points race.
Jeff Walbaum was crowned the 2014 late Model champ at CNS (Starr photo)
2014 CHAMPION: #8 Jeff Walbaum FEATURE WINNER: #76 Chad Cowen FAST DASH: #7 Ethan Penrod DASH: 32x Joseph Andrade QUICK TIME: #8 Jeff Walbaum 17.670
RMLRA Legend Cars In one of the more intriguing races of the night #22 Chris Eggleston was holding just a 3 point lead on #06 Mike Gallegos entering championship night yet neither driver was at the track for qualifying. Both Chris and Mike would be late to the track as they were preparing for the Colorado 100 in Fountain Colorado on Sunday. This would place the two cars at the rear of the field to start the feature event. Up front #66 Kyle Clegg jumped out the early lead followed closely by #34 Chris Cooper.
Eggleston and Gallegos were frantically moving to the front of the field passing several cars on every corner thrilling the CNS faithful. Gallegos made a great move on the low side to sneak ahead of Eggleston but Chris passed him back on the next lap. As the race neared the conclusion Eggleston moved into 2nd and was putting the heat on race leader Clegg but could never make the pass as Clegg went on to take the win. Eggleston settled for 2nd place but wrapped up his 2nd consecutive Legend division championship. Arvada Colorado’s Darrell Stewart Jr. in the #30 car finished 9th which awarded him a top 10 in points finish and the rookie of the year honor in the division.
Champion Chris Eggleston (left) and race winner Kyle Clegg (right) climb the CNS fence in celebration (Starr photo)
Chris Eggleston is the 2014 Legend car champ at CNS (Starr photo)
2014 CHAMPION: #22 Chris Eggleston FEATURE WINNER: #66 Kyle Clegg FAST DASH: #66 Kyle Clegg DASH: #46 Zach Witherwax QUICK TIME: #66 Kyle Clegg 18.689
Lincoln College of Technology Pure Stocks There was a scary moment shortly after the green flag dropped in the Lincoln College of Technology Pure Stocks feature event when pole sitter 51x Jackson Hughes blew a right front tire and went head-on into the pit entrance wall. Thankfully the safer barrier helped cushion the impact and Jackson was not seriously injured, although he was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
Four-wide action in the Pure Stock feature (starr photo)
The race was inverted which made for tons of action and even some four-wide racing as the faster cars worked their way to the front. #96 Mike Steward came from the rear to grab the lead as well as his shot at the 2014 championship. #32 Brett Yackey was also moving up through the field trying to maintain his narrow point lead.
#96 Mike Steward took home the final points race in the Pure Stocks (Starr photo)
The best battle on the track was for 2nd place between #18 Robert Davey, #73 Justin Rainwater, #06 Jeff Dempwolf, and Brett Yackey in the #32 car. When the checkered flag dropped it was Steward out front with Davey, Dempwolf, Rainwater, and Yackey in the top five. With the 5th place finish Yackey was able to win the 2014 points race over Steward by just 2 points!
Young Brett Yackey celebrates the 2014 Pure Stock Championship in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
2014 CHAMPION: #32 Brett Yackey FEATURE WINNER: #96 Mike Steward FAST DASH: #96 Mike Steward DASH: #91 Cole Whitford QUICK TIME: #32 Brett Yackey 20.065
Art’s Septic Service Figure 8s Entering the final points race for the Figure 8s #52 Jared “Wally” Wall had a slim 3 point lead on #17 Harry Livermore Jr. and the two cars would start near the rear of the field for the feature event. #50 Justin Mckeachie worked his way through the field to grab the lead but as Jared Wall was advancing disaster struck. #10 Frank Gastineau drove into the side of Wall’s car and they both spun exiting the X. Gastineau’s car struck the wall and was finished for the night. Wall was able to continue but had body damage to contend with for the remainder of the race.
#50 Justiin McKeachie dominated the final Figure 8 feature of the season (Starr photo)
Meanwhile Livermore was quietly moving towards the front of the field and eventually settled into second place. As the race wound down Jared Wall’s hopes for a championship ended as his car veered into the infield and ended up resting on a retaining wall in the DEMOX course. Mckeachie went on to win the race with Livermore in 2nd which was more than enough to secure the 2014 Figure 8 championship. Thornton Colorado’s Brent Cave finished 6th in the #9 car and was also crowned the 2014 rookie of the year in the division.
1st and 2nd in points Harry Livermore Jr. and Jared Wall congratulate each another after Harry won the 2014 Figure 8 championship (Starr photo)
2014 CHAMPION: #17 Harry Livermore Jr. FEATURE WINNER: #50 Justin Mckeachie FAST DASH: #23 Al Duran DASH: #10 Frank Gastineau
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Late Models Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 76 Chad Cowan Gering NE 40 2. 8 Jeff Walbaum Brighton CO 38 3. 19g Nathan Gasser 36 4. 31 Derek Smith Longmont CO 34 5. 7 Ethan Penrod Thornton CO 32 6. 3 Wade Grove Thornton CO 30 7. 32x Joseph Andrade Colorado Springs CO 28 8. 90 Frank Denning 26 9. 16 Ryan McFadden 24 10. 29 Rayshawn Carter Commerce City CO 22 11. 28 Alan Carter Commerce City CO 20 12. 41 Dale Reeder Westminster CO 18 13. 75 Emilio Abeyta (R) Denver CO 16 14. 5 Trent Phillips Hemingford NE 14 15. 45 Grant Simpson Pueblo 12 16. 27 Wendi Lewis Johnstown CO 10 17. 9 Len Brinlee (R) 8 18. 99 Nick Brinlee Broomfield CO 6 19. 1 Makayla Grote (R) 4 20. 30 Jan Oxley Ft. Lupton CO 2 21. 21 Loren Jessen(R) Grant NE 2 22. 32 Brett Yackey (R) Greeley CO 2
Legend Cars Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 66 Kyle Clegg Westminster CO 40 2. 22 Chris Eggleston Thornton CO 38 3. 34 Chris Cooper Frederick CO 36 4. 06 Mike Gallegos Wheatridge CO 34 5. 3 Wayne Barlock JR Evans CO 30 6. 13 Peter Dellarco Highlands Ranch CO 28 7. 21 Ryan Jones Arvada CO 26 8. 03 Darrell Stewart Arvada CO 24 9. 30 Darrell Stewart Jr (R) Arvada 22 10. 25 Adam Pechman Morrison CO 20 11. 51 AJ Canada Centennial CO 18 12. 14 Chappy Adkins Kersey CO 16 13. 46 Zach Witherwax Arvada CO 14 14. 97 Billy Blevins Arvada CO 12 15. 47 David Hondel Cheyenne WY 10 16. 83 Don Bedore Denver CO 8 17. 07 Bill Seip Parker CO 6 18. 5 Randy Haynes (R) Cheyenne WY 4 19. 11 Jessica Savage Aurora CO 2 20. 26 Christopher Brunker Lakewood CO 2 21. 09 Terry McBride Edgewater CO 2 22. 17 BreAnn Adkison Cheyenne WY 2 23. 99 Brady Van Matre (R) Lafayette CO 2 24. 19 Larry Pachello Wheatridge CO 2 25. 20 Kynzer Riddell Westminster CO 2 26. 6 Scotty Scott Arvada CO 2
Pure Stocks Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 96 Mike Steward 40 2. 18 Robert Davey Aurora CO 38 3. 06 Jeff Dempwolf Brighton CO 36 4. 73 Justin Rainwater Windsor CO 34 5. 32 Brett Yackey Greeley CO 32 6. 21w Jamie Ward Denver CO 30 7. 02E Sean Smith 28 8. 44 Savanna Gallegos 26 9. 48 Joe Mares 24 10. 84 Dan Mares 22 11. 02 Chan Raley Thornton CO 20 12. 63 John Ebel Littleton CO 18 13. 3L Brian Lengvenas Denver CO 16 14. 74 Lindy Pinelli Dacono CO 14 15. 33 Tyler Davis 12 16. 4 Brian Galvin Jr 10 17. 91 Cole Whitford 8 18. 51x Jackson Hughes 6
Figure 8s Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora CO 40 2. 17 Harry Livermore Jr Denver CO 38 3. 2 Lance Proctor 36 4. 81 Dave Smith Englewood CO 34 5. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City CO 32 6. 9 Brent Cave (R) Thornton CO 30 7. 25 Phil Taylor 28 8. 40 Mike Mercer Arvada CO 26 9. 97 Adam Gastineau (R) Aurora CO 24 10. 44 Jerome Hohn Denver CO 22 11. 33 Bobby Hutchings 20 12. 00 James Naranjo Denver CO 18 13. 52 Jared Wall Commerce City CO 16 14. 03 Luke Zike Arvada CO 14 15. 23 Al Duran Lakewood CO 12 16. 10 Frank Gastineau Denver CO 10