Gering Nebraska's Rick Smith powers his way to winning the Famous Dave's BBQ 100

Monday, 28 May 2012 12:34

(Dacono, CO 05-27-2012) On day two of the CNS Memorial Day race it appeared that multi-time Late Model track champion Bruce "the Moose" Yackey might be on his way to winning the biggest race of the year at Colorado National Speedway. Yet Rick Smith from Gering Nebraska made a strong move on the outside of Yackey to take the win and top the huge field of 29 Late Models that were on hand for the event.

Gillet Vet Late Models
A massive field of 29 Late Models checked in to the pits on the second night of the CNS Memorial Day show at CNS and all but #27 Roger Avants who suffered mechanical problems in qualifying lined up for the 100 lap Famous Dave's BBQ Main Event. #74 Dan Savage, #22 Chris Eggleston, #66 Darren Bucklan, and #12 Bruce Yackey all took turns leading in the first 30 laps of the event. The caution flag flew when #78 Darren Crocker, #4 Brad Tilton, and #03 Isaac Sherman who had traveled from Albo New Mexico were involved in a minor altercation in turn 4 which ended any chance of a top finish for those cars.

At the halfway mark it had become a 3 car race for the lead between Bucklan, Yackey and the charging #31 of Rick Smith. A tough break for race leader Darren Bucklan when he was found to be leaking oil on the track and had to be black flagged with 44 laps to go, handing the lead over to Bruce "the Moose" Yackey. Rick Smith began to pressure Yackey and the two of them ran side by side for several laps before Smith was able to squeak by Yackey to take the lead. Last years track champion #74 Dan Savage had moved into third position, #95m Cris Muhler was fourth and #11 Darren Robertson had worked his way into the top five. A late race caution setup a double-file restart and the crafty veteran Yackey got a great jump on Smith putting "the Moose" back in front with only a few laps to go. Yet the Gering Nebraska resident Rick Smith showed amazing determination and took the high line back around Yackey in daring fashion to take the checkered flag. Yackey came in second and #11 Darren Robertson finished an impressive third. #91 Chris Atkinson finished an impressive 4th and #54 "Triple J" Joe James Jr. took the final spot in the top 5.

FAST DASH WINNER: #7 Adam Deines
DASH WINNER: #74 Dan Savage
DASH WINNER: #37 Derek Murphy
QUICK TIME: #66 Darren Bucklen 16.147

Sunoco Grand American Modifieds
It would take 40 laps to determine the winner of the SUNOCO Grand American Modified main event and the drivers were putting on a clinic for the fans running clean lap after lap. #27 Mike Hathaway had the early lead with #95 Dave Finley hot on his tail. Halfway through the race FAST DASH winner #77 "flipply" Jeff Hansen made a run past both Finley and Hathaway to take the lead.

And while the first half of this 40 lapper was run as clean as can be the second half was a mirror-opposite that was marred by several spins, crashes, and race stoppages. #4t Brad Tilton who was pulling triple duty in the GAM's, Legends, and Late Models was running in 4th position holding a narrow lead on 5th place #69 Forrest Smith. With just 6 laps to go #69 Forrest Smith and #1 Jay Fields were battling for 5th place when they made contact and crashed hard into the turn 3 wall. Another crash on the restart involving #22 Mike Castagno and #4 Mark Sopr brought out the red flag and setup a green, white, checker finish, and #77 of "flippy" Jeff Hansen maintained his lead and brought home the trophy. The #95 of Finley was second, #27 Mike Hathaway finished a strong third, #28 Jeff Hunter was fourth, and #69 Forrest Smith took fifth.

FAST DASH WINNER: #77 Jeff Hansen
DASH WINNER: #4 Brad Tilton
QUICK TIME: #28 Jeff Hunter 16.952

CARC Mod Coupes
Last years CNS track champion #55 Gary Land jumped out to an early lead in the CARC Mod Coupe main event but two time main event winner and FAST DASH winner #34 Randy Whitman was hot on Gary's tail. Land held off the charging Whitman until lap nine when Whitman went around on the outside and Gary's Coupe became loose and made contact with the back straight wall ending Gary's chance at winning the race. As the race proceeded Randy Whitman was holding the lead but being chased hard by #95 Cris Muhler, as the white flag flew Muhler pulled up on the outside of Whitman down the front straight. Whitman moved up high squeezing Muhler into the wall and the two cars made contact and crashed into turn one. The race was over at that point because the white flag had already been displayed. Track officials penalized Whitman 6 positions for causing the altercation which gave Muhler the main event win.

FAST DASH WINNER: #34 Randy Whitman
DASH WINNER: #36 Matt Burton
QUICK TIME: #95 Cris Muhler 16.213

RMLRA Legend Cars
A huge field of 26 RMLRA Legend cars lined up for the Main Event with last years rookie of the year #85 Cole MacEwen on the pole and #13 Pete Dellarco on the outside. But it was the fast group of #06 Mike Gallegos, #22 Chris Eggleston, #66 Kyle Clegg, #15 Danny Medina, and #58 Kyle Ray that jousted out front and began to battle. As the lead group approached slower cars Gallegos who was still holding the top spot went around the outside of the lapped car #37 Garrett Richard, the two cars made contact and both spun into turn 3 bringing out the caution. Luckily for Gallegos he suffered no damage and was able to reassume the lead under caution. For the final laps an intense battle ensured between the top 5 cars. When the checkered flag flew Gallegos took the win just barely over Medina, Ray, Eggleston, and Clegg.

FAST DASH WINNER: #66 Kyle Clegg
DASH WINNER: #77 Brandon Moore
QUICK TIME: #66 Kyle Clegg 18.868

A Comfort Shack Figure 8s
Only ten Figure 8 cars showed up for the Memorial Day event at CNS but that didn't deter the drivers from thrilling the crowd with several close calls in the "X". Notably the #86 of "squirrely" Shirley Thompson made several fearless passes through the X just narrowly missing other cars by mere inches causing "ooo's" and "ah's" to ring out in the grandstands. Up front was the Martinez brothers #24 Joe and #26 Nick leading #25 Jereme Wall and #23 Big Al Duran. At the finish "Smokin" Joe Martinez won yet another Figure 8 main event keeping him firmly in place in the first position in points.

FAST DASH WINNER: #23 Al Duran

OFFCIAL RESULTS

Gillet Vet Late Models
Pos - No. - Name - Car Info - Hometown
1. 31 Rick Smith 08 Monte Carlo Gering  NE
2. 12 Bruce Yackey 12 Impala Greeley  CO
3. 74 Dan Savage 08 SS Aurora  CO
4. 95M Chris Muhler  Morrison  CO
5. 11 Darren Robertson 12 Impala Westminster  CO
6. 91 Chris Atkinson  Cheyenne  WY
7. 23 Davin Fisbeck# 07 Monte Carlo Thornton  CO
8. 54 Joe James Jr '08 Monte Carlo Denver  CO
9. 26 Blake Harris# 08 Monte Carlo Wheatridge  CO
10. 51 Eric Meisner# 06 Camry Brighton  CO
11. 77 Dave Finley 12 Dodge Brighton  CO
12. 4 Bradley Tilton#  Cheyenne  WY
13. 95 Todd Finley# 12 Dodge Arvada  CO
14. 84 Matt Zwingelberg  Aurora  CO
15. 6 Dominic Ursetta# 10 Victory Circle Arvada  CO
16. 37 Derek Murphy 
17. 84B Bruce Borchardt  Lafayette  CO
18. 99B Nicholas Brimlee  Broomfield  CO
19. 14 Mark Bybee#  Littleton  CO
20. 22 Chris Eggleston 09 Chevy Erie  CO
21. 99 Kyle Shanahan# 12 Impala Colorado Springs  CO
22. 55 Jesse Runkle 08 Monte Carlo Lakewood  CO
23. 66 Darren Bucklan 11 Monte Carlo Greeley  CO
24. 78 Darren Crocker '11 Impala Brighton  CO
25. 03 Isaac Sherman# 2000 Monte Carlo Albo  NM
26. 08 Jace Hansen  Evans  CO
27. 33 Emett Grazier Monte Carlo Wheatridge  CO
28. 7 Adam Deines 97 Cutlass Longmont  CO
DNS 27 Roger Avants 2010 Monte Carlo Littleton  CO

SUNOCO Grand American Modifieds
1. 77 Jeff Hansen  Berthoud  CO
2. 95 Dave Finley  Brighton  CO
3. 27 Mike Hathaway  Falcon  CO
4. 28 Jeff Hunter#  Brighton  CO
5. 69 Forrest Smith 
6. 4T Brad Tilton  Cheyenne  WY
7. 44 Justin Case  Brighton  CO
8. 8 Dan Alamaa 95 Modified Colorado Springs  CO
9. 69E Mike  Edwards 
10. 66 John Seely 12 Impala Parker  CO
11. 56 Mark Chisholm 
12. 2 Willard Nash# 
13. 4 Mark Sopr  Cheyenne  WY
14. 22 Mike Castagno  Arvada CO
15. 11 Tom Evans 2010 Volt Cheyenne  WY
16. 57B Brady Balderston  Highlands Ranch CO
17. 1 Jay Fields 2011 Wade Moon Pueblo West  CO
18. 57 Kelly Balderston  Pueblo West  CO
19. 15 Mike Jensen# chevy Northglenn  CO

CARC Mod Coupes
1. 95 Cris Muhler  Brighton  CO
2. 36 Matt Burton  Englewood  CO
3. 12 Jaime Bubak  Arvada  CO
4. 46 Eric Blackard 33 Chevy Lakewood  CO
5. 43 Matthew Pierce#  Platteville  CO
6. 2 Don Hoselton  Palisade CO
7. 34 Randy Whitman  Ft Collins  CO
8. 38 Greg McLaughlin  Brighton  CO
9. 33 Chet Graham  Kiowa  CO
10. 61 Theron Bredeson 32 Ford 5 Window Arvada  CO
11. 80 Matt Devich 
DNF 55 Gary Land 32 Chevy Coupe Littleton  CO
DNF 44x Mike  Wood  Centennial  CO
DNF 07 Drew Utecht #  Brighton  CO
DQ 09 Darren Robertson  Lafayette CO

RMLRA Legend Cars
1. 06 Mike Gallegos  Wheatridge  CO
2. 15 Danny Medina 
3. 58 Kyle Ray  Littleton  CO
4. 22 Chris Eggleson  Erie  CO
5. 66 Kyle Clegg  Westminster  CO
6. 7 Corey Seip 34 Ford Littleton  CO
7. 3 Wayne Barlock 37 Ford Superior  CO
8. 77 Brandon Moore  Colorado Springs  CO
9. 85 Cole MacEwen  Fort Collins  CO
10. 34 Chris Simons-Cooper  Frederick  CO
11. 47 David Hondel  Cheyenne  WY
12. 84 Mike Webber 37 Chevy Erie  CO
13. 46 Zach Witherwax# 
14. 4 Brad Tilton 37 Chevy Cheyenne  WY
15. 21 Ryan Jones# 34 Ford Arvada CO
16. 25 Adam Pechman  Morrison  CO
17. 36 Josh Richard#  Peyton  CO
18. 71 Craig Coughlin  Westminster  CO
19. 19 Larry Pachello#  Wheatridge  CO
20. 11 Jessica Savage#  Aurora  CO
21. 87 Billy Blevins 
22. 6 Scotty Scott  Arvada CO
23. 26 Christopher Brunker# 
24. 07 Bill Seip  Parker  CO
25. 13 Peter Dellarco  Highlands Ranch  CO
26. 37 Garrett Richard#  Peyton  CO

FIGURE 8s
1. 24 Joe Martinez 08 Monte Carlo Centennial  CO
2. 26 Nick Martinez 
3. 15 Jereme Wall 72 Chevy
4. 23 Al Duran 
5. 50 McKeachie 
6. 03 Luke Zike 
7. 81 Dave Smith 
8. 86 Shirley Thompson 77 Camaro Northglenn  Co
9. 10 Frank Gastineau 64 Chevy
10. 44 Jerome Holms 
DNS 20 Lance Proctor