Rookie Blake Harris Shocks the Late Model Division Winning the Oskar Blues Brewery 100 Lapper.

Sunday, 01 July 2012 10:31

(Dacono, CO 06-30-2012) A world class fireworks display lit up the night sky sending "ooos" and "ahhhs" throughout the packed Colorado National Speedway grandstands. Yet even the fireworks couldn't match the action on the track during the Oskar Blues Brewery 4th of July Race at CNS. Rookie driver Blake Harris from Wheat Ridge driving the black #26 Monte Carlo made a daring last lap pass on #11 Darren Robertson to win the 100 lap main event stunning the huge field of drivers who showed up for the event.

Gillett Vet Late Models
26 of the fastest Late Models in the western USA lined up for a 100 lap main event at Colorado National Speedway for the 4th of July race and the talented young Dominic Ursetta in the #6 car was on the pole. The Oskar Blues Brewery car #95m of Cris Muhler was on the outside of the front row. On the second lap the entire crowd held their collective breath when the #51 of Eric Meisner spun in turn 2 and the entire field of cars had to take action to avoid Meisner, amazingly everyone made it through and a caution was avoided. The 95m of Cris Muhler grabbed the lead and after 20 laps he had built a massive 5 second lead on second place #7 Adam Deines.

Points leader #12 Bruce Yackey had mechanical problems and had dropped a disappointing 4 laps down. With 65 laps to go the leader of the race Cris Muhler spun down the front straight to avoid another car. It was ruled that Muhler helped cause the yellow flag and therefore had to go to the rear of the field along with the other cars that spun. #7 Adam Deines inherited the lead after Muhler's misfortune. Deines had now begun to find his groove and maintained the lead yet after just 10 laps Cris Muhler who had been sent to the back had already moved into the top 10 at 7th position. The crafty veteran from Nebraska Rick Smith in the #31 car had worked his way into the lead at the halfway mark with #74 Dan Savage and #91 of Chris Atkinson close behind. With 40 laps to go a great race between Savage and Smith thrilled the crowd as the two drivers traded paint for several laps until Savage eventually earned the top spot. Yet only two laps later Smith blew past Savage to regain the lead and an impressive run from Chris Atkinson had him in second place while the black #11 of Darren Robertson had moved into the 3rd spot.

With 10 laps to go Robertson and rookie driver Blake Harris in the #26 Monte Carlo were on Smith's tail and it appeared that Darren Robertson was the quickest car on the track. In daring fashion the young Robertson passed Smith for the lead and rookie Blake Harris came along with Robertson grabbing the top two spots. With Robertson in the lead it looked like the victory was in his sight's yet Harris dove low on Robertson and made an incredible last lap pass to take the thrilling win. Robertson took second, Rick Smith was able to hang on for 3rd, Atkinson finished 4th and a great run for the #55 of Jesse Runkle rounded out the top 5.

FAST DASH WINNER: #12 Bruce Yackey
DASH WINNER: #84 Matt Zwingelberg
QUICK TIME: #39 Jack Nugent 16.273

Sunoco Grand American Modifieds
Jeff Hansen in the white and red #77 Grand American Modified has been dominating the division so far in the 2012 season. Hansen entered the night with a large 28 point lead in points. #11 Tom Evans had the pole position in the main event and #4T of Brad Tilton was along side. With 10 laps in the books the #28 of Jeff Hunter had a 3 car length lead over #77 Jeff Hansen. Hansen closed the gap on Hunter as each lap crossed the line. With 25 laps to go Hansen tapped Hunter's rear nerf bar going into turn 3 and was able to sneak by to grab the lead. Hunter remained in 2nd and #27 Mike Hathaway was running 3rd. #11 Tom Evans had a strong hold on 4th place and the black #66 of John Seely was running 5th. "Flippy" Jeff Hansen settled into his groove and cruised to another win, Hunter was 2nd, Hathaway was 3rd, Evans was 4th and Seely Rounded out the top 5.

FAST DASH WINNER: #77 Jeff Hansen
DASH WINNER: #28 Jeff Hunter
QUICK TIME: #27 Mike Hathaway 17.015

ERA Supermodifieds
A blazingly fast field of ERA Supermodifieds took the green flag for a 25 lap Independence Day race at Colorado National Speedway. #33 Chris Sheil grabbed the early lead but it was the familiar purple #3 of Harold Evans that was hot on Sheil's tail. Sheil masterfully worked through lapped traffic and began to build a large lead on Evans, in 3rd place was the #51 of Joe Prisilac. When the checkered flag flew it was Sheil, Evans, Prisilac, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

FAST DASH WINNER: #51 Joe Prisilac
DASH WINNER: #88 Matt Griffin
QUICK TIME: #2 Richie Castor Jr 14.580

A Comfort Shack Figure 8s
A great field of A Comfort Shack Figure 8s showed up for the huge Independence Day race at CNS and "Squirrely" Shirley Thompson was on the front row with previous main event Figure 8 winner #90 John Johnson on the outside. Johnson held his line and led the race but #15 Jereme Wall was hot on his tail. The action in the X was insane and the fans witnessed some of the most hair-raising near misses in recent memory. #26 Nick Martinez, #24 Joe Martinez and #23 Big Al Duran ran nose to tail in 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Yet the black and red #90 was just too fast and couldn't be caught as Johnson went on to win his second straight main event followed by #15 Jereme Wall and #24 Joe Martinez. The fans cheered as race winner Johnson announced that he will be donating all of his winnings as well as money collected from fans and other drivers to the victims of the recent devastating wildfires around the state of Colorado.

FAST DASH WINNER: #15 Jereme Wall
DASH WINNER: #90 John Johnson

OFFICIAL FINISHES

LATE MODELS
Pos - No. - Name - Hometown - Car
1. 26 Blake Harris# Wheatridge  CO 08 Monte Carlo
2. 11 Darren Robertson Westminster  CO 12 Impala
3. 31 Rick Smith Gering  NE 08 Monte Carlo
4. 91 Chris Atkinson Cheyenne  WY
5. 55 Jesse Runkle Lakewood  CO 08 Monte Carlo
6. 4 Bradley Tilton Cheyenne  WY
7. 51 Eric Meisner Brighton  CO 06 Camry
8. 27 Roger Avants Littleton  CO 2010 Monte Carlo
9. 78 Darren Crocker Brighton  CO '11 Impala
10. 95M Chris Muhler Morrison  CO
11. 74 Dan Savage Aurora  CO 08 SS
12. 7 Adam Deines Longmont  CO 97 Cutlass
13. 12 Bruce Yackey Greeley  CO 12 Impala
14. 84 Matt Zwingelberg Aurora  CO
15. 66 Darren Bucklan Greeley  CO 11 Monte Carlo
16. 6 Dominic Ursetta Arvada  CO 10 Victory Circle
17. 84B Bruce Borchardt Lafayette  CO
18. 29 David Johnson 
19. 108 Mark Neff 
20. 21 Mike Bowen Aurora  CO 11 Impala
21. 23 Davin Fisbeck Thornton  CO 07 Monte Carlo
22. 99B Nicholas Brimlee Broomfield  CO
23. 03 Isaac Sherman# Albo  NM 2000 Monte Carlo
24. 08 Jace Hansen Evans  CO
25. 39 Jack Nugent Lafayette  CO 05 Impala
26. 37 Derek Murphy Colorado Springs  CO

GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIEDS
1. 77 Jeff Hansen Berthoud  CO
2. 28 Jeff Hunter Brighton  CO
3. 27 Mike Hathaway Falcon  CO
4. 11 Tom Evans Cheyenne  WY 2010 Volt
5. 66 John Seely Parker  CO 12 Impala
6. 1 Jay Fields Pueblo West  CO 2011 Wade Moon
7. 44 Justin Case Brighton  CO
8. 8 Dan Alamaa Colorado Springs  CO 95 Modified
9. 4T Brad Tilton Cheyenne  WY
10. 02 Dominic Ursetta 
11. 00 Garry Richards Rio Rancho  NM 94 Impala
12. 2 Willard Nash 
13. 57B Brady Balderston Highlands Ranch CO
14. 4 Mark Sopr Cheyenne  WY
15. 01 Terry Tjarks Berthoud  CO
16. 57 Kelly Balderston Pueblo West  CO
17. 21 Jeffrey Purvis 

SUPERMODIFIEDS
1. 33 Chris Sheil 
2. 3 Harold Evans 
3. 51 Joe Priselac 
4. 2 Richard Castor Jr 
5. 14 Joe Gallegos 
6. 12 Mike Anderson 
7. 88 Matt Griffin 
8. 61 Danny McBride 
9. 58 Jason Castor 
10. 1 Stevie Gallegos 
11. 7 Ian Tolen 
12. 54 Matt Gilbert 

FIGURE 8s
1. 90 John Johnson Golden  CO 79 Chevy
2. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City  CO 72 Chevy
3. 24 Joe Martinez Centennial  CO 08 Monte Carlo
4. 26 Nick Martinez Denver  CO
5. 23 Al Duran Lakewood CO
6. 20 Lance Proctor 
7. 81 Dave Smith Englewood  CO
8. 17 Harry  Livermore Jr Englewood  CO 77 Nova
9. 10 Frank Gastineau Denver  CO 64 Chevy
10. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora CO
11. 66 John Martello Denver  CO
12. 86 Shirley Thompson Northglenn  Co 77 Camaro
13. 03 Luke Zike Morrison  CO
14. 69 Tammy Totos