(04-06-2013 Dacono, CO) After a long off-season the roar of the engines returned to the 3/8ths mile paved oval of Colorado National Speedway to open up the 2013 season. Jesse Runkle who had never before visited winners circle for a feature event ran a brilliant race leading wire to wire stunning the crafty CNS veterans and taking home the trophy during BigWestRacing.com “Good to go” night at the races.
Gillet Vet Clinic Super Late Models #55 Jesse Runkle started on the pole position for the first Super Late Model race of the season at Colorado National Speedway. Alongside Runkle was the black #31 of Rick Smith from Gering Nebraska who was all over Runkle at the start of the 40 lap main event. Behind the two leaders last years champion #12 Bruce “the Moose” Yackey was holding 3rd spot yet being pressured by young Dominic Ursetta in the #6 car. Ursetta eventually worked his way past Yackey and set his sights on the two leaders but by this point there was a large margin between he and Smith who was still in 2nd place. As the race progressed it was clear that Smith’s early challenge on Runkle was his best shot at the lead as Runkle’s smooth line began to put distance between the two. Runkle still had work to do as he approached slower traffic but the young and upcoming star never bobbled and eventually took the checkered flag. It was Jesse’s first ever main event win yet clearly sent a message that the 55 team will be a force in 2013. Smith held on for 2nd place with Ursetta right behind in 3rd spot. #39 Jack Nugent passed Bruce Yackey late to take 4th spot and Yackey settled for 5th.
MAIN EVENT WINNER: #55 Jesse Runkle FAST DASH WINNER: #6 Dominic Ursetta DASH WINNER: #7 Adam Dienes QUICK TIME: #22 Chris Eggleston 16.154
CARC Mod Coupes The gorgeous red and black 44x of Mike Wood jumped out to an early lead in the CARC Mod Coupe feature event after taking over the spot from #29 Dave Johnson. Yet the speedy Cris Muhler in the yellow #95 coupe and the perennial favorite Gary Land in the #55 coupe were hot on his bumper. As Muhler and Land pressured Wood for the lead Muhler got loose coming out of turn 4 and nearly spun. Amazingly Muhler saved the car from spinning but did lose momentum and allow Land to move past for 2nd position. The top cars ran side by side for many laps thrilling the rather large crowd on this first race of the season. Eventually Land was able to sneak by Wood and gain the lead spot. The speedy Land built a large lead and won the main event sweeping the entire night as he also won the fast dash and set quick time with a 15.903. Behind Land was Wood, Muhler, Johnson, and last years champ #34 Randy Whitman.
MAIN EVENT WINNER: #55 Gary Land FAST DASH WINNER: #55 Gary Land DASH WINNER: #34 Randy Whitman QUICK TIME: #55 Gary Land 15.903
NTC Logistics Super Stocks When the blue #5 of Jeff Sluss failed to start the feature from his front row position it moved the #33 of Bear Lynch up to the front which was a position he would never relinquish. Lynch masterfully worked lapped traffic leading every lap and cruised to the checkered. Both #13 Jason Morris and #3 Michael Cox hounded Lynch but on this night it was all Bear as he held them at bay. Behind Lynch, Morris, and Cox, was the 6x of Josh parker and #61 of John Humphry who rounded out the top five.
MAIN EVENT WINNER: #33 Bear Lynch FAST DASH WINNER: #33 Bear Lynch DASH WINNER: #99 Michael Navaro QUICK TIME: #13 Jason Morris 19.591
Art’s Septic Figure 8’s The first Figure 8 main of 2013 started off in hair raising fashion as Lance Proctor who was on the front row spun in front of the entire field through the X. Lance didn’t bring out the caution as he kept the car going and amazingly all the other cars avoided contact with the spinning car but Lance did fall way back in the field. #10 Frank Gastineau grabbed the lead and was being chased by #90 John Johnson and #26 Nick Martinez. Eventually Johnson caught Gastineau and was making the pass on the outside but Gastineau got into the side of Johnson sending the 90 car into the wall. Johnson was unhurt but his night was done. #26 Nick Martinez inherited the lead and would never look back as he went on to take the win. There was an intense battle for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th behind Nick featuring #17 Harry Livermore Jr., #15 Jereme Wall, and #50 Justin Mckeachie who finished in that order.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
SUPER LATE MODELS Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info 1. 55 Jesse Runkle Lakewood CO 08 Monte Carlo 2. 31 Rick Smith Gering NE 08 Monte Carlo 3. 6 Dominic Ursetta Arvada CO 13 Port City Impala 4. 39 Jack Nugent Lafayette CO 05 Impala 5. 12 Bruce Yackey Greeley CO 12 Impala 6. 66 Darren Bucklan Greeley CO 11 Monte Carlo 7. 27 Roger Avants Littleton CO 2010 Monte Carlo 8. 78 Darren Crocker Brighton CO ’11 Impala 9. 7 Adam Deines Longmont CO 97 Cutlass 10. 84 Matt Zwingelberg Aurora CO 11. 11 Darren Robertson Westminster CO 12 Impala 12. 33 Emett Grazier Wheatridge CO Monte Carlo 13. 51 Eric Meisner Brighton CO 06 Camry 14. 45 Dalton Hewitt (R) Brighton CO 15. 89 Kyle Shanahan Colorado Springs CO 12 Impala 16. 91 Chris Atkinson Cheyenne WY 17. 74 Dan Savage Aurora CO 08 SS DNS 22 Chris Eggleston Erie CO 09 Chevy
MOD COUPES Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info 1. 55 Gary Land Littleton CO 32 Chevy Coupe 2. 44x Mike Wood Centennial CO 3. 95 Cris Muhler Brighton CO 4. 29 Dave Johnson Lakewood CO 33 Chevy 5. 34 Randy Whitman 6. 90 Franklin Denning 7. 12 Jaime Bubak Arvada CO 8. 21 Jeremy Barclay (R) Henderson CO 31 Ford 9. 24 Chad Guilford Highlands Ranch CO 10. 33 Chet Graham 11. 87 Joseph St Peter 12. 80 Matt Devich 13. 71 Jim Bredeson
SUPER STOCKS Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info 1. 33 Bear Lynch 2. 13 Jason Morris Lakewood CO 77 Nova 3. 3 Michael Cox Littleton CO 84 Grand Nat’l 4. 6X Josh Parker Broomfield CO 79 Malibu 5. 61 John Humphrey Cheyenne WY 79 Monte Carlo 6. 90 Kyle Patee Thornton CO 75 Chevelle 7. 10 Taylor Bellomy Brighton CO 90 Caprice 8. 44 David Rothrock 9. 02 Darrell Smith Littleton CO 85 Caprice 10. 55 Troy Whittar 11. 9c Brent Cave 12. 8 David Gee Loveland CO 76 Nova 13. 2 Rusty Meranda (R) 87 Regal 14. 98 Tony Dugan (R) Commerce City CO Monte Cutlass 15. 11 Nick Tabor (R) Cheyenne WY 81 Monte Carlo 16. 77 Kevin Keller Englewood CO 79 Nova 17. 99 Michael Navaro 18. 18 Josheph Prante Denver CO 83 Regal DNS 5 Jeff Sluss Northglenn CO 82 Monte Carlo DNS 72 Hans Brewster
FIGURE 8’s Pos No. Name Hometown Car Info 1. 26 Nick Martinez Denver CO 2. 17 Harry Livermore Jr Englewood CO 77 Nova 3. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City CO 72 Chevy 4. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora CO 5. 2 Lance Proctor 6. 03 Luke Zike Morrison CO 7. 11 Joe Gastineau Denver CO 03 Chevy 8. 90 John Johnson Golden CO 79 Chevy 9. 10 Frank Gastineau Denver CO 64 Chevy DNS 40 Michael Mercer Thornton CO 75 Nova