(09-20-2014 Dacono, CO) An absolutely gorgeous late summer evening was the setting for the Gillett Vet Championship Night at CNS. Greeley Colorado’s Bruce Yackey battled lap after lap in the Super Late Models with young Darren Robertson from Westminster thrilling the CNS fans. Yackey barely held off the charging Robertson completing the sweep of both feature events. Andrew Muse held off 2014 points champ Michael Cox in the Super Stocks and Cris Muhler and Kyle Ray went down to the wire in the Mod Coupes.
Gillett Vet Clinic Super Late Models Coming into Championship Night at CNS for the Gillett Vet Clinic Super Late Models the points race had already been locked up by #6 Dominic Ursetta but that didn’t prevent the top drivers from putting on a show for the fans. Bruce Yackey, Darren Robertson, Jack Nugent, Paul Deines, and Jerry Robertson, among others battled door-handle to door-handle in two feature events to wrap up the final points race at CNS for the division.
In the first 30 lap feature Bruce “the Moose” Yackey started on the pole and led every lap taking the win. It was by no means an easy victory as #39 Jack Nugent from Lafayette CO was right on his bumper for the entire race. Behind the two leaders Darren and his father Jerry Robertson (who was making just his second appearance at CNS in 10 years) were hanging back in 3rd and 4th.
#75 Jerry Robertson and his son #11 Darren Robertson pace the field for the second feature of the night (Starr photo)
After the first feature was complete drivers and teams had a chance to make adjustments before the final 50 lap feature event. A roll of the dice placed CNS legend Jerry Robertson on the front row with his son Darren along side. When the green flag dropped it was Darren who bolted out to the early lead.
Bruce Yackey had started outside row two but it wasn’t long before the “Moose” had passed Jerry and Darren and grabbed the lead. As the racers settled into their groove Yackey began to build a large lead on the field.
Possibly the most impressive run of the night was #22 Chris Eggleston who started all the way back in 16th and had moved into 5th place just past the halfway mark in the race. Unfortunately for Chris he would eventually retire from the race with mechanical problems.
#78 Darren Crocker brought out the caution when his right front tire went down and he made light contact with the turn 3 wall.
The double-file restart would give Darren Robertson another shot at Yackey and the two drivers battled door-handle to door-handle for the remaining 19 laps thrilling the CNS fans. Yackey was running strong on the low groove while Robertson was up top refusing to give an inch. With just two laps to go it appeared that Darren had the best of Yackey and was going to take the win but another caution came out for #84 Matt Zwingleberg who broke in turn one in a shower of sparks.
On the restart Darren got a little loose which allowed Yackey to retake the lead in turn 3 on the white flag lap. Yackey grabbed the checker which was his 3rd consecutive feature win.
Yackey had a disastrous start to the 2014 season but ended up finishing just 29 points out of first place in the season standings which demonstrates the Moose’s never quit attitude.
Darren Robertson settled for 2nd place but put on a one of the best show’s of the year giving Yackey everything he had. #39 Jack Nugent was fast all night and finished a strong 3rd with Paul Deines close behind in 4th. #75 Jerry Robertson overcame a late race tussle with Zwingleberg to finish a strong 5th place finish.
Bruce Yackey celebrates his 3rd straight feature win at CNS (Starr photo)
The final race of the season for Super Late Models will be Challenge Cup XL on October 4th which will be a non-points race.
2014 TRACK CHAMPION #6 Dominic Ursetta 2014 Rookie of the Year: #34 Rudy Vanderwal 30 LAP FEATURE #1: #12 Bruce Yackey 50 LAP FEATURE #2: #12 Bruce Yackey FAST DASH: #11 Darren Robertson DASH: #78 Darren Crocker QUICK TIME: #12 Bruce Yackey 16.632
NTC Logistics Super Stocks
Englewood Colorado’s Michael Cox has had a dominating season in the Super Stock division and had already locked up the championship for the 2014 season. That didn’t stop Michael from coming from dead last starting spot in the feature to battle #0 Andrew Muse for the win.
The Super Stocks put on a great show of the CNS fans (Starr photo)
Before Cox had made it to the front it was #32 rookie driver Brett Yackey who was on Muse’s bumper. Yackey took the lead late but broke down and relinquished the position to Muse in the late stages of the race.
Andrew Muse proposes to his girlfriend in winner’s circle (Starr photo)
Muse held off Cox to take the win and was presented with the trophy in winner’s circle. Andrew made the best of his winner’s circle appearance by proposing to his girlfriend in front of the CNS crowd! She said yes.
2014 TRACK CHAMPION: #3 Michael Cox 2014 Rookie of the Year: #19 Brent Miller FEATURE: #0 Andrew Muse FAST DASH: #3 Michael Cox QUICK TIME: #3 Michael Cox 19.832
CARC Mod Coupe
#95 Cris Muhler started the Mod Coupe feature in the last row but flew to the front with surgical precision eventually passing #5 Jason Bunt for the lead. From there Muhler took off like a rocket and the only car within a straightaway was the #3 of Kyle Ray. Lap after lap Ray was slowly eating away at Muhler’s lead and the only question was would he have enough time to catch him.
As the race neared completion Ray had pulled up on Muhler’s nerf bar to challenge for the lead.
#95 Cris Muhler and #3 Kyle Ray work their way through the field in the Mod Coupe feature (Starr photo)
Muhler and Ray had lapped every car on the track except the #5 of Jason Bunt and when the two cars approached, Muhler went high and Ray went low on the front straight. The CNS fans held their collective breath as all three cars dove into turn one side by side. Ray backed off a bit to avoid disaster which was just what Muhler needed to secure the win. At the finish behind Muhler and Ray was Bunt, then #24 Chad Guilford, and the 2014 track champion Jaime Bubak.
Jaime Bubak is crowned the 2014 Mod Coupe track champion. (Starr photo)
2014 TRACK CHAMPION: #12 Jaime Bubak 2014 Rookie of the Year: #3 Kyle Ray FEATURE: #95 Cris Muhler FAST DASH: #95 Cris Muhler QUICK TIME: #3 Kyle Ray 15.449
Witthar Racing Trains As usual the Witthar racing Trains thrilled the crowd with daring passes through the “X” and screeching tires in the corners. The #86 Last Call Train driven by Jared “Wally” Wall and Elisa Espinosa won the final feature event for the trains. Wally and Espinosa dominated the division in 2014 winning all 7 feature events and the championship.
The Trains lineup to take the green flag at CNS (Starr photo)
Wally Wall and Alisa Espinosa took home the win and Trains championship (Starr photo)
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Super Late Model 50 lap feature #2 Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 12 Bruce Yackey Greeley, CO 40 2. 11 Darren Robertson Westminster, CO 38 3. 39 Jack Nugent Lafayette, CO 36 4. 17 Paul Deines Frederick, CO 34 5. 75 Jerry Robertson 32 6. 66 Darren Bucklan Greeley, CO 30 7. 21 Odie Robertson Northglenn, CO 28 8. 27 Roger Avants Littleton, CO 26 9. 91 Chris Atkinson Cheyenne, WY 24 10. 31 Rick Smith Gering, NE 22 11. 4 Bradley Tilton Cheyenne, WY 20 12. 29 Matt Brunker Lakewood, CO 18 13. 34 Rudy Vanderwal(R) LaSalle, CO 16 14. 84 Matt Zwingleberg 14 15. 76 Gary Coate (R) Highlands Ranch, CO 12 16. 78 Darren Crocker 10 17. 6 Dominic Ursetta Arvada, CO 8 18. 22 Chris Eggleston Thornton CO 6
Super late Model 30 lap feature #1 Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 12 Bruce Yackey Greeley, CO 18 2. 39 Jack Nugent Lafayette, CO 17 3. 11 Darren Robertson Westminster, CO 16 4. 75 Jerry Robertson 15 5. 17 Paul Deines Frederick, CO 14 6. 27 Roger Avants Littleton, CO 13 7. 84 Matt Zwingleberg 12 8. 78 Darren Crocker 11 9. 66 Darren Bucklan Greeley, CO 10 10. 21 Odie Robertson Northglenn, CO 9 11. 91 Chris Atkinson Cheyenne, WY 8 12. 29 Matt Brunker Lakewood, CO 7 13. 4 Bradley Tilton Cheyenne, WY 6 14. 34 Rudy Vanderwal(R) LaSalle, CO 5 15. 31 Rick Smith Gering, NE 4 16. 22 Chris Eggleston Thornton CO 3 17. 76 Gary Coate (R) Highlands Ranch, CO 2 18. 6 Dominic Ursetta Arvada, CO 1
Super Stocks Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 0 Andrew Mues Arvada, CO 40 2. 3 Michael Cox Englewood, CO 38 3. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand Arvada, CO 36 4. 23 George Gallegos Lakewood, CO 34 5. 30 Jared Keener (R) Westminster CO 32 6. 22 Troy Witthar Eastlake, CO 30 7. 02 Darrell Smith Littleton, CO 28 8. 1 John Clark (R) Commerce City, CO 26 9. 18 Robert Davey 0 10. 69 Derick Brugger(R) Northglenn, CO 24 11. 32 Brett Yackey(R) Greeley, CO 22
Mod Coupes Pos No. Name Hometown Points 1. 95 Cris Muhler 40 2. 3 Kyle Ray (R) Littleton, CO 38 3. 5 Jason Bunt 36 4. 24 Chad Guilford Highlands Ranch CO 34 5. 12 Jaime Bubak Arvada, CO 32 6. 45 Carl Vair Golden, CO 30 7. 34 Randy Whitman Fort Collins CO 28 8. 33 Chet Graham Kiowa 26 DNS 29 David Johnson Denver CO 0