September 24th, 2022
Colorado National Speedway welcomed the Outlaw Figure 8s for the first time ever to the lightning fast 3/8-mile oval during Matco Tools Championship Night. CNS also crowned its next 2 champions in the Matco Tools Pro Trucks & Galitz Transportation Late Models. An enormous crowd of race fans were witnessing history at the speedway while enjoying their ice-cold beverages & delicious concessions.
Outlaw Figure 8:
Dash 8 Laps:
The dash race for the Outlaw Figure 8’s was plagued by several yellow flags including a couple of crashes on restarts. In the end, the #3 Steve Durham stayed out in front of the field and picked up the dash win.
Fast Dash 8 Laps:
The Fast Dash for the Outlaw Figure 8’s was much calmer than the dash as the #23 Eddie Van Meter dominated and picked up the Fast Dash Victory.
50 Lap Feature:
15 Outlaw Figure 8 cars started the 50-lap finale with #49 Craig VandeWettering & #74 Chris Curtis on the front row. #49 VandeWettering led early and set a torrid pace. A couple of cautions early on slowed the field, one for debris on lap 8 and another on lap 13 for #97 Eric Hodgkins who made the cross-country trip from Maine. When the race restarted the #49 VandeWettering continued to lead over the #676 Ricky Deitz with #23 Eddie VanMeter who set QuickTime and was the fast dash winner riding in 3rd place. There were several hair-raising X action moments of cars narrowly missing each other that awed the crowd, then on lap 36, trouble struck the leader of VandeWettering when he smashed into the #72 Klint Keenan in the X. The red flag was immediately displayed and both drivers exited their cars and were ok. When the race resumed on lap 36 #23 VanMeter inherited the race lead with #7 Austin Tunny in 2nd. The battle was on for 3rd between #676 Ricky Deitz, 49C Chris Cox & #3 Steve Durham. With inside 5 laps to go the #676 Deitz started shooting sparks as he appeared to have a tire going down, he managed to protect his position over 49C Chris Cox and finished 3rd. Meanwhile, #23 Eddie VanMeter was able to lead the final 14 laps and win the first ever Outlaw Figure 8 race over #7 Austin Tunny.
Qualifying: #23 Eddie VanMeter 26.378
Fast Dash: #23 Eddie VanMeter
Dash: #3 Steve Durham
Feature: #23 Eddie VanMeter
Matco Tools Pro Trucks:
20 Lap Feature:
Coming into tonight, #7 Adam Deines, #22 Brian Yackey & #9 Curtis Heldenbrand were separated by just 8 points. Curtis Heldenbrand started on the pole after setting QuickTime and jumped out to an early lead over #82 Michael Scott. Meanwhile #7 Adam Deines & #22 Brian Yackey battled for 3rd with the #65 of Chris Eggleston closing in on both. By halfway Eggleston had moved into 4th and set his sights on Yackey while Deines fell back to 5th. Heldenbrand continued to stretch out his lead over Scott in the #82. With 3 laps to go, Eggleston caught and passed Yackey for 3rd place. The first feature went green to checkered as Heldenbrand picked up his first win of the season.
30 Lap Feature:
An 8 Truck invert put the #33 Tyler Davis & #11 Steve Johnson on the front row for the 30-lap finale. First feature winner #9 Curtis Heldenbrand was on the move early on making a daring 3 wide pass in turn 4 to get to 2nd on lap 4. Trouble struck just 5 laps in as the #50 Tyler Wiggans spun in turn 4 while running 6th and collected several other trucks resulting in heavy damage. The red flag was immediately displayed. Luckily, all drivers were ok. On the restart #11 Steve Johnson jumped out to the lead and on lap 8 Heldenbrand got by Johnson out of turn 4 to take the lead. Meanwhile #22 Brian Yackey, #7 Adam Deines & #65 Chris Eggleston battled for 3rd with Yackey and Eggleston able to freight train Deines on the bottom to take 3rd and 4th. The caution flew on lap 11 when #71 Timothy Duvall spun in turn 4 along with the #08 Krystal Faulkingham who also spun to avoid contact with Duvall. On the ensuing restart, Heldenbrand was able to maintain the lead while Johnson & Yackey battled side by side for 2nd. At the halfway mark, Eggleston passed Johnson for 3rd and set his sights on the #22 Yackey, the duo battled hard with Eggleston able to get around Yackey with 12 laps to go and looked to close in on Heldenbrand who had nearly a straightaway lead. With 7 laps to go, #82 Michael Scott & #71 Duvall spun into the infield in turn 2, however the race stayed green. Eggleston began slowly reeling in Heldenbrand but ran out of laps and Curtis Heldenbrand was able to sweep the night taking home QuickTime and both feature races. With his dominating performance, Heldenbrand was able to capture his first ever Matco Tools Pro Trucks championship in dramatic fashion.
Qualifying: #9 Curtis Heldenbrand 16.835
20 Lap Feature: #9 Curtis Heldenbrand
30 Lap Feature: #9 Curtis Heldenbrand
2022 Champion: #9 Curtis Heldenbrand
2022 Rookie of the Year: #90 Chasen Groff
Galitz Transportation Late Models:
20 Lap Feature:
The points battle for the Late Models was extremely tight heading into the final night of racing with #8 Dan Alamaa & #98 Lee Kemmit separated by just 1 point. #76 Chad Cowan & #15 Michael Hannah started on the front row. Cowan jumped out the early lead with #31 Rick Smith & Alamaa in the #8 in 2nd & 3rd while Hannah slipped back to 4th into the clutches of #51 Eric Meisner. On the move early was the #6 Tommy Roe who was able to get by an ill handling #15 Michael Hannah for 5th. A caution on lap 12 slowed the field when #40 Brandon Newey was unable to exit the speedway. On the restart, Cowan, Smith & Alamaa battled for the lead, nearly going three wide. Issues then plagued the 4th place running car #51 Meisner who pulled off the speedway. #98 Kemmit was on the move after the restart taking 4th place from #6 Tommy Roe. With 4 laps to go a couple cars tangled on the front stretch resulting in a caution. #76 Cowan was able to maintain the lead on the restart while Alamaa got by Smith for 2nd when the caution came out for the #116 Mark Willy who spun in Turn 1 setting up a green white checkered finish. The packed grandstands were thrilled with a photo finish as the #76 Cowan & #8 Alamaa battled to the line with a margin of victory of 0.046 seconds. Cowan was docked 3 spots for failing post race inspection, as a result the #8 Dan Alamaa is the 20 Lap Late Model Feature winner.
30 Lap Feature:
#60 Rick Duckworth & #48 Mikey Blackard brought the field to the green flag for the final time in 2022. On lap 2 #6 Tommy Roe moved into first place with a 3-way battle for 2nd between #48 Mikey Blackard, #98 Lee Kemmit & #8 Dan Alamaa. An early caution on lap 6 slowed the field when the #27 David Brown & #30 Jeremiah Hill got together in turn 2. On the restart, Kemmit & Roe battled side by side for the lead with Kemmit edging out ahead with a battle for third between Alamaa & 1NE Troy Witthar. The caution flew on lap 13 when #116 Mark Willy spun in turn 4 as he spun out the A51 Matthew Hill tried to avoid and clipped the right front of Willy’s car. As the race restarted Kemmit & Roe once again battled for the lead, this time Roe was able to muscle his way back to lead with Kemmit & Alamaa battling for 2nd. Alamaa got by Kemmit and then set his sights on Roe who was able to stretch out his lead. With just 4 laps to go the 1NE Troy Witthar & #31 Rick Smith made contact in turn 4 resulting in a caution flag, setting up a dramatic 3 lap shootout to determine the winner & champion. Roe jumped out to the lead on the restart and checked out while the battle for 2nd between Alamaa & Kemmit was intense. At the finish #6 Tommy Roe was able to grab his 2nd victory of the season and #8 Dan Alamaa picked up his first Galitz Transportation Late Model Championship.
Qualifying: #76 Chad Cowan 17.178
20 Lap Feature: #8 Dan Alamaa
30 Lap Feature: #6 Tommy Roe
2022 Champion: #8 Dan Alamaa
2022 Rookie of the Year: A51 Matthew Hill
Witthar Racing Trains:
7 Witthar Racing Trains thrilled the fans at the end of night with even more X action. #80 SNAFU & #151 Crazy Train battled early before an issue ended the Crazy Trains night. #86 Last Call caught the SNAFU train and passed for the lead when in the final set of corners an issue with the #86 Last Call caused them to lose power and allowed the #80 SNAFU to grab the victory.
Feature: #80 SNAFU
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Outlaw Figure 8's - 50 Laps
23 Eddie Van Meter - Indianapolis, IN
7 Austin Tunny - Indianapolis, IN
676 Ricky Deitz - Seattle, WA
49C Chris Cox - Keenesburg, CO
3D Steve Durham - Indianapolis, IN
74 Chris Curtis - Seattle, WA
21 Rod Proctor - Riverside, CA
12 Brandon White - Austin, IN
98 Richard Shanebrook - Kent, WA
97G Adam Gastineau - Aurora, CO
97H Eric Hodgkins - Greene, ME
13 Frank Gastineau - Denver, CO
49V Craig VandeWetting - Freedom, WI
72 Klint Keenan - Durango, CO
15 Jereme Wall - Commerce City, CO
Pro Truck Feature 1 - 20 Laps
9 Curtis Heldenbrand - Westminster
82 Michael Scott - Hillsdale, WY
65E Chris Eggleston - Erie
22 Brian Yackey - Greeley
7 Adam Deines - Longmont
50 Tyler Wiggans - Peyton
11 Steve Johnson - Loveland
33 Tyler Davis - Thornton
3C Cassidy Hinds - Arvada
85 Jeff Walbaum - Brighton
34 Rudy Vanderwal - LaSalle
71 Timothy Duvall - Denver
5W Troy Witthar - Arvada
90 Chasen Groff (R) - Denver
28 Brian Weinmaster - Brighton
08 Krystal Faulkingham - Westminster
88 Paul Himler (R) - Erie
Pro Truck Feature 2 - 30 Laps
9 Curtis Heldenbrand - Westminster
65E Chris Eggleston - Erie
22 Brian Yackey - Greeley
11 Steve Johnson - Loveland
7 Adam Deines - Longmont
33 Tyler Davis - Thornton
5W Troy Witthar - Arvada
90 Chasen Groff (R) - Denver
88 Paul Himler (R) - Erie
82 Michael Scott - Hillsdale, WY
71 Timothy Duvall - Denver
08 Krystal Faulkingham - Westminster
50 Tyler Wiggans - Peyton
3C Cassidy Hinds - Arvada
34 Rudy Vanderwal - LaSalle
85 Jeff Walbaum - Brighton
28 Brian Weinmaster - Brighton
Late Model Feature 1 - 20 Laps
8 Dan Alamaa - CO Springs
31 Rick Smith - Gering, NE
98 Lee Kemmit - Brighton
76 Chad Cowan - Gering, NE
1NE Troy Witthar - Arvada
6 Tommy Roe - Thornton
48 Mikey Blackard - Hays, KS
60 Rick Duckworth - Arvada
15 Michael Hannah - Centennial
17X Mariah Boudrieau - CO Springs
A51 Matthew Hill (R) - Brighton
116 Mark Willy - CO Springs
30 Jeremiah Hill - Walsenburg
27 David Brown - Boulder
22 Michael McBee - CO Springs
51 Eric Meisner - Brighton
40 Brandon Newey - Broomfield DNS 58 Bryce Weinmaster - Brighton
Late Model Feature 2 - 30 Laps
6 Tommy Roe - Thornton
98 Lee Kemmit - Brighton
8 Dan Alamaa - CO Springs
51 Eric Meisner - Brighton
1NE Troy Witthar - Arvada
58 Bryce Weinmaster - Brighton
17X Mariah Boudrieau - CO Springs
31 Rick Smith - Gering, NE
60 Rick Duckworth - Arvada
40 Brandon Newey - Broomfield
27 David Brown - Boulder
48 Mikey Blackard - Hays, KS
30 Jeremiah Hill - Walsenburg
15 Michael Hannah - Centennial
116 Mark Willy - CO Springs
A51 Matthew Hill (R) - Brighton
55 Michael McBee - CO Springs DNS - 76 Chad Cowan - Gering, NE
Trains - 9 Laps
80 SNAFU
86 Last Call
01 Dukes of Hazard
5 Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Train
311 Bipolar Express
151 Crazy Train
3 Anger Management