Rick Smith and Bruce Yackey thrill the CNS fans in a photo finish

Last Updated on Sunday, 29 April 2012 21:16 Saturday, 28 April 2012 21:12

(Dacono, CO - 04-28-2012) CNS late model veterans Rick Smith and Bruce Yackey put on an amazing display of racing as they crossed the finish line side by side in the Gillett Vet Late Model main event at Colorado National Speedway. When the dust settled it was Smith taking the hard fought win over Yackey in one of the more memorable events on the 3/8ths paved CNS oval.

Gillett Vet Late Models
A massive field of 27 Gillett Vet Late Models headlined the O'Rielly/Mobil 1 Night at CNS and Quick Time winner #48 Ed Vecchiarelli Jr. maintained the early lead in the main event but only but a slight margin over the charging Rick Smith in the #31 Late Model. 10 laps in Vecchearelli came to a stop in turn 4 with mechanical problems and retired from the race. On the restart Smith pounced on the lead with #95m Cris Muhler right on his bumper, #22 Chris Eggleston was 3rd and #39 Jack Nugent was an impressive 4th. Behind Nugent a fantastic battle for 5th between #7 Adam Deines and #12 Bruce Yackey thrilled the CNS faithful. With just 12 laps to go #12 Bruce Yackey who started all the way back in 10th spot had moved up to 3rd and was challenging Muhler for 2nd. Only a few laps later Bruce "the moose" Yackey had caught Smith and was challenging him for the lead, Yackey dove low to get around Smith, but Smith held his ground, then Yackey tried the high side but as the two cars came to the final turn lapped traffic was in their path. To avoid the slower cars both Smith and Yackey went to the high side yet they were still door handle to door handle! At the line it was Smith taking the win by mere inches over Yackey as the fans cheered wildly. 3rd place went to #95m Cris Muhler, #7 Adam Deines made an impressive pass around #22 Chris Eggleston to take 4th and Eggleston held on to take 5th spot.

FAST DASH WINNER: #95m Cris Muhler
DASH WINNER: #78 Darren Crocker
QUICK TIME: #48 Ed Vecchiarelli Jr. 16.141

Sunoco Grand American Modifieds
A large field of Sunoco Grand American Modifieds lined up for a 30 lap main event and #77 Jeff Hansen and #28 Jeff Hunter filled out the front row. Jeff Hansen grabbed the lead early in the race but by the halfway point #1 Jay Fields had assumed the lead with Hansen running 2nd and Hunter in 3rd. As the race developed Jay Fields was becoming visibly loose which allowed Hansen to catch him on lap 18. During a late race caution Fields left the track handing the lead back over to Hansen. The rest of the field had nothing for Hansen as he cruised to the win, Hunter was 2nd and #18 Ed Vecchiareli worked his way into 3rd place.

FAST DASH WINNER: #77 Jeff Hansen
DASH WINNER: #8 Dan Alamaa
QUICK TIME: #95 Dave Finley 16.983

Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks
#07 Chris Leaf took the early lead in the Snap-On Tools Pro Truck main event but FAST DASH winner #31 Justin Simonson was on his bumper lap after lap pressuring Leaf for the lead. All alone in 3rd place was #5 Troy Witthar and a great battle for 4th place heated up between #27 Roger Avants, #34 Rudy Vanderwahl, and #0 Billy Harkins. With 5 laps to go Leaf had built a 10 Truck length lead over Simonson. From there Leaf went unchallenged for the win with Simonson 2nd, and Witthar finishing 3rd.

FAST DASH WINNER: #31 Justin Simonson
DASH WINNER: #36 Matt Burton
QUICK TIME: #07 Chris Leaf 16.788

CARC Mod Coupes
Intrigue surrounded the CARC Mod Coupes as young and upcoming NASCAR Late Model ace Chris Eggleston jumped in Joe James Jr.'s #54 mod coupe and promptly set quick time in qualifying with a blistering 16.211. By the time the DASHes were complete and the main event lineup had been set it Was Chris Eggleston on the pole for the start of the feature. Egglston led the first couple of laps but it was the #34 of Randy Whitman who had won the first Mod Coupe event of 2012 passing Eggleston for the lead. Last years track champion #55 Gary Land and #45 Carl Vair had an altercation in turn 4 and Land was subsequently given the black flag. As the race progressed Whitman amassed a half lap lead over Eggleston and #95 Cris Muhler but with just 2 laps to go there was a yellow flag when #36 Matt Burton broke down exiting the track. There was no denying Whitman who had a great restart and grabbed another main event victory, Eggleston came in 2nd and Muhler was 3rd.

FAST DASH WINNER: #34 Randy Whitman
DASH WINNER: #36 Matt Burton
QUICK TIME: #54e Chris Eggleston 16.211

OFFICIAL FINISHES

Late Models
1. 31 Rick Smith 08 Monte Carlo Gering NE
2. 12 Bruce Yackey 12 Impala Greeley CO
3. 95M Chris Muhler Morrison CO
4. 7 Adam Deines 97 Cutlass Longmont CO
5. 22 Chris Eggleston 09 Chevy Erie CO
6. 39 Jack Nugent 05 Impala Lafayette CO
7. 74 Dan Savage 08 SS Aurora CO
8. 11 Darren Robertson 12 Impala Westminster CO
9. 27 Roger Avants 2010 Monte Carlo Littleton CO
10. 6 Dominic Ursetta 10 Victory Circle Arvada CO
11. 4 Bradley Tilton Cheyenne WY
12. 66 Darren Bucklan 11 Monte Carlo Greeley CO
13. 55 Jesse Runkle 08 Monte Carlo Lakewood CO
14. 78 Darren Crocker '11 Impala Brighton CO
15. 90 Frank Denning 
16. 95 Todd Finley 12 Dodge Arvada CO
17. 08 Jace Hansen Evans CO
18. 84 Matt Zwingelberg Aurora CO
19. 91 Chris Atkinson Cheyenne WY
20. 99B Nicholas Brimlee Broomfield CO
21. 14 Mark Bybee Littleton CO
22. 37 Derek Murphy 
23. 99 Kyle Shanahan 12 Impala Colorado Springs CO
24. 51 Eric Meisner 06 Camry Brighton CO
25. 33 Emett Grazier Monte Carlo Wheatridge CO26. 48 Ed Vecchiarelli Jr 10 Chevy Brighton CO

Grand American Modifieds
1. 77 Jeff Hansen Berthoud CO
2. 28 Jeff Hunter Brighton CO
3. 18 Ed Vecchiarelli Brighton CO
4. 8 Dan Alamaa 95 Modified Colorado Springs CO
5. 22 Mike Castagno Arvada CO
6. 4 Mark Sopr Cheyenne WY
7. 15 Mike Jensen chevy Northglenn CO
8. 56 Mark Chisholm 
9. 16 Sam Calvetti Cheyenne WY
10. 57 Kelly Balderston Pueblo West CO
11. 66 John Seely 12 Impala Parker CO
12. 2 Willard Nash 
13. 4T Brad Tilton Cheyenne WY
14. 1 Jay Fields 2011 Wade Moon Pueblo West CO
DNF 57B Brady Balderston Highlands Ranch CODNF 27 Mike Hathaway Falcon CO
DNS 95 Dave Finley Brighton CO

Pro Trucks
1. 07 Chris Leaf Kersey CO
2. 31 Justin Simonson Wheatridge CO
3. 5 Troy Whittar 04 Chevy Silverado Eastlake CO
4. 27 Roger Avants Littleton CO
5. 0 Billy Harkins 10 Sierra Lakewood CO
6. 34 Rudy Vanderwal 99 Ford F150 LaSalle CO
7. 2 Todd Hunter Centennial CO
8. 36 Matt Burton 08 Silverado Englewood CO
9. 11 Steve Johnson Windsor CO
10. 06 Adam Hilton 
11. 17 Jeremy Barclay Henderson CO
12. 16 Scott Rhoades Westminster CO
13. 29 Matthew Brunker 2000 Truck Lakewood CO

Mod Coupes
1. 34 Randy Whitman Ft Collins CO
2. 54 Chris Eggleston 34 Ford Erie CO
3. 95 Cris Muhler Brighton CO
4. 24 Chad Guilford Highlands Ranch CO
5. 44x Mike Wood Centennial CO
6. 46 Eric Blackard 33 Chevy Lakewood CO
7. 2 Don Hoselton Palisade CO
8. 43 Matthew Pierce Platteville CO
9. 45 Carl Vair Golden CO
10. 6 Joe Lehman Westminster CO
11. 61 Theron Bredeson 32 Ford 5 Window Arvada CO
DNF 36 Matt Burton Englewood CO
DNF 55 Gary Land 32 Chevy Coupe Littleton CO
DNF 80 Matt Devich 
DNF 12 Jaime Bubak Arvada CO
DNS 11 Steven St Peter

Up next at CNS is Colorado Towers Night Out  on May 5th featuring the Gillett Vet Late Models, the NTC Logistic Super Stocks, the RMLRA Legend cars, and the Witthar Racing TRAINS! And don't forget for the rest of the season the races start at 6PM.