(09-13-2014 Dacono, CO) A gorgeous September evening would be the setting for the first of 3 championship nights at CNS. The Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks, SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modiifeds, and the ERA Supermodifieds season championships were all on the line for the Snap-On Tools Championship night at CNS. While Matt Burton would win the final race, Rudy Vanderwal would get redemption from his heartbreaking 2013 attempt and win the 2014 Pro Truck Championship.
Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks In probably the most anticipated race in any division the Pro Trucks entered the final points race with 3 drivers battling for the season title. #34 Rudy Vanderwal, #31 Juston Simonson, and #36 Matt Burton were within 12 points entering the Snap-On Tools Championship Night.
#34 Rudy Vanderwal, #31 Justin Simonson and #36 Matt Burton entered Championship night separated by just 12 points. (Starr photo)
In the first 20 lap feature #7 Adam Deines held off a hard charging #06 Adam Hilton to take the win while Simonson, Burton, and Vanderwal cautiously finished in 4th, 5th, and 6th not wanting to take any chances before the final 30 lap race of the season.
Tension mounted in the Vanderwal pit when the lineup was posted and Rudy would start back in 6th place while Burton and Simonson would start on the front row. If Rudy was going to be able to win his first Pro Truck Championship he would have to earn it.
When the green flag flew it was evident that Matt Burton was determined to give it his all as he jumped out to a large lead on the field. Simonson settled in at a distant 2nd place and Vanderwal passed a couple trucks and was running a comfortable 4th.
#36 Matt Burton dominated the final 30 lap Pro Truck Race at CNS (Starr photo)
With less than five laps remaining Rudy had found his way into 3rd place and pulled up on Simonson’s bumper. On the final lap coming out of turn 2 Vanderwal powered up on the inside of Simonson and attempted to make a pass. Simonson was having none of it and squeezed Rudy down into the infield. Rudy did everything he could to avoid disaster and keep control of his truck.
Rudy Vanderwal celebrates his 2014 Pro Truck championship. (Starr photo)
When they crossed the line it was Burton with the dominating win, Simonson in 2nd and Rudy hanging on for the 3rd place but registering his first ever Pro Truck Championship. #7 Adam Deines finished 4th and #06 Adam Hilton finished 5th.
2014 was a resurgent season for the Pro Trucks as they emerged as one of the most competitive and entertaining divisions at Colorado National Speedway.
2014 CHAMPION: #34 Rudy Vanderwal 30 Lap FEATURE WINNER: #36 Matt Burton 20 Lap FEATURE WINNER: #7 Adam Deines FAST DASH: #34 Rudy Vanderwal DASH: 10T Taylor Bellomy QUICK TIME: #7 Adam Deines 16.773
SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modifieds There was no denying that it was Justin Case’s year in the SUNOCO Fuels Grand American Modifieds. Justin has won 6 feature events and entered championship night with a large point lead over #0 Ron O’Neil.
Versatile driver Cris Muhler in the #95 car and Super Late Model driver Emett Grazier in the #33 car would pace the field for the final points race of the 2014 season. Muhler and Grazier were 1 and 2 and Case was in 3rd place getting pressure from Kyle Clegg in the #22 car.
#95 Cris Muhler dominated the GAM portion of championship night (Starr photo)
Justin Case is the 2014 Grand American Modified Champion at CNS (Starr photo)
When the checkered flag flew it was Muhler out in front and Justin Case in 2nd place but more importantly securing his first Grand American Modified championship.
Grazier settled for 3rd spot, #69 Forrest Smith was 4th and Clegg rounded out the top 5.
2014 CHAMPION: #44 Justin Case FEATURE WINNER: #95 Cris Muhler FAST DASH: #33 Emett Grazier DASH: #69 Forrest Smith QUICK TIME: #22 Kyle Clegg 17.372
ERA SuperModifieds Rookie driver in the Supermodifieds Kyle Ray from Littleton Colorado entered Championship night with a slim 4 point lead over multi-time champ Harold Evans. Super Late Model ace Roger Avants was only 6 points behind Harold. Therefore it was a pressure situation for the young driver who had two crafty veterans breathing down his neck.
Ray proved he was ready to shine when he set a new track record in his dash race with a blisteringly fast 13.886.
Rookie driver Kyle Ray in the #58 Supermodified won the race and the championship at CNS (Starr photo)
Kyle would have to start in the last row of the feature but it only took him 5 laps to pass every car and eventually go around the outside of 7s Stevie Gallegos to take the lead. Once out front Ray never looked back and won the race by a large margin. Gallegos ran strong and she finished in 2nd place. #2 Richie Castor Jr finished 3rd and #27 Roger Avants 4th. Rounding out the top five was #13 Ricky Ott.
Kyle Ray celebrates in winner’s circle after being crowned the 2014 Super Modified Champion (Starr photo)
When the dust settled Ray had won the 2014 Supermodified championship by 16 points of Roger Avants who overtook Harold Evans for the 2nd spot on the season standings.
2014 CHAMPION: #58 Kyle Ray FEATURE WINNER: #58 Kyle Ray FAST DASH: #27 Roger Avants DASH: #58 Kyle Ray QUICK TIME: #2 Richie Castor Jr. 14.604
DEMOX CARS: #340 Levi Wolfe DEMOX TRUCKS:
OFFICIAL RESULTS
30 Lap Pro Truck Feature 2 Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 36 Matt Burton Englewood CO 40 2. 31 Justin Simonson Wheatridge CO 38 3. 34 Rudy Vanderwal LaSalle CO 36 4. 7 Adam Deines Longmont CO 34 5. 06 Adam Hilton Brighton CO 32 6. 16 Scott Rhoades Westminster CO 30 7. 29 Matt Brunker Lakewood CO 28 8. 10T Taylor Bellomy(R) Brighton CO 26 9. 17c Chris Cox Brighton CO 24 10. 85 Cole MacEwen (R) Fort Collins CO 22 11. 5 Troy Witthar Eastlake CO 20 12. 11 Steve Johnson Windsor CO 18 13. 0 Billy Harkins Lakewood CO 16 14. 82 Michael Scott (R) Cheyenne WY 14 15. 2 AJ Warren Longmont CO 12 16. 14 Alex Ortiz (R) Denver CO 10 17. 52 Jereme Wall (R) Commerce City CO 8 18. 47 Jesse Seigel (R) 6
20 Lap Pro Truck Feature 1 Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 7 Adam Deines Longmont CO 18 2. 06 Adam Hilton Brighton CO 17 3. 16 Scott Rhoades Westminster CO 16 4. 31 Justin Simonson Wheatridge CO 15 5. 36 Matt Burton Englewood CO 14 6. 34 Rudy Vanderwal LaSalle CO 13 7. 29 Matt Brunker Lakewood CO 12 8. 10T Taylor Bellomy(R) Brighton CO 11 9. 85 Cole MacEwen (R) Fort Collins CO 10 10. 17c Chris Cox Brighton CO 9 11. 5 Troy Witthar Eastlake CO 8 12. 82 Michael Scott (R) Cheyenne WY 7 13. 2 AJ Warren Longmont CO 6 14. 14 Alex Ortiz (R) Denver CO 5 15. 52 Jereme Wall (R) Commerce City CO 4 16. 11 Steve Johnson Windsor CO 3 17. 0 Billy Harkins Lakewood CO 2 18. 47 Jesse Seigel (R) 1
Grand American Modifieds Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 95 Cris Muhler 40 2. 44 Justin Case Brighton CO 38 3. 33 Emett Grazier Wheatridge CO 36 4. 69 Forrest Smith Poverty Flats CO 34 5. 22c Kyle Clegg 32 6. 0 Ron O’Neil Colorado Springs CO 30 7. 24 Tim Holm Greeley CO 28 8. 13 Darin Clark (R) Cheyenne WY 26 9. 61 Scott Slama (R) Denver CO 24 10. 52 Jared Wall Commerce City CO 22 11. 57B Brady Balderston Higlands Ranch CO 20 12. 88 Jeff Walbaum Brighton CO 18
ERA Supermodifieds Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 58 Kyle Ray(R) Littleton CO 40 2. 7s Stevie Gallegos Castle Rock CO 38 3. 2 Richard Castor Jr Bennett Co 36 4. 27 Roger Avants Littleton CO 34 5. 13 Ricky Otts 32 6. 51 Joe Priselac Commerce City CO 30 7. 3 Harold Evans Littleton CO 28 8. 1 Jason Castor 26 9. 12 Cody Castor(R) Bennett CO 24 10. 11 Tom Adler 22 11. 40w Randy Whitman 20 DNS 17 Ian Tolen 0