LOOKING BEHIND AT 2008; LOOKING FORWARD TO 2009
COLORADO NATIONAL SPEEDWAY: A SEASON IN REVIEW (2008)
BY: GEOFF BRIGGS
The 2008 season for Colorado National Speedway (CNS) was one that will go in the record books as a huge success. The season got off with some changes in the office 2 days before the first practice session, as Scotty Backman took over as Track Manager and hung up his helmet for most of the season. The car counts in 2008 grew, and they can only get better in 2009.
Bruce Yackey claimed his fifth Colorado National Speedway ableplanet Late Model track championship, tying him with Roger Avants for the most Late Model track championships at CNS. Yackey used 4 wins, 17 top 5’s and 19 top 10’s to claim the honor by 116 points over Ronnie Hults. Tyler Chrisinger used 2 top 5’s and 10 top 10’s to claim the rookie title. The other drivers to win main events were: Ronnie Hults (5), Rick Smith (5), Roger Avants (3), and Darren Crocker (2).
After 15 years of trying for a championship, Beau Kellogg finally achieved his dream during the 2008 Snap-On Tools Pro Truck season at Colorado National Speedway. Although, Kellogg never won a main event, he had 11 top 5’s and 14 top 10’s during the season to claim the championship by 12 points over Happy Ferree. Ferree claimed the rookie honors with 5 wins, 10 top 5’s and 12 top 10’s. Also claiming main event wins during the season were: Mark Neff (2), Richard Burton (2), and Chris Leaf (1).
The SUNOCO Grand American Modified 2008 season had a huge turn-around during the last 3 races as car counts greatly improved due to a new rule package voted in by the drivers. The Car counts jumped and the racing was more intense. Paul Deines cruised to 3 wins, 10 top 5’s and 11 top 10’s during the season to claim the championship by 114 points over Jace Hansen. Hansen claimed the rookie honors with 1 win, 8 top 5’s and 10 top 10’s. Also claiming wins during the season were: Ed Vecchiarelli Jr (4), Ed Vecchiarelli (2), and Forest Smith (1).
In 2007, Tommy Roe claimed the Suss.net Sportsman championship without a single win, in 2008 Roe had 6 wins on his way to his second Sportsman championship. Along with Roe’s 6 wins he had 15 top 5’5 and 16 top 10’s to beat out Jim Bob Rogers by 12 points. Roe and Rogers both had remarkable seasons as 6th place was their worst finish of the season. In the rookie chase, Troy Meyer claimed the honor with 3 top 10’s. The other drivers who claimed wins in 2008 were Rogers (4), Jeff Walbaum (3), Lee Kemmit (2), and Eric Blackard (1).
The Doc Popcorn Super Stock division had so many cars that Last Chance races were needed every night to trip the field down to 32 cars for the main event. Emett Grazier used 7 wins, 11 top 5’s and 12 top 10’s to claim his first championship by 20 points over Dennis Edwards. Corey Cox claimed the rookie honors with 1 top 5 and 8 top 10’s during the season. The other drivers winning main events were: Edwards (2), Ric Lothert (1), Darrell Smith (1), Joel Sidel (1), Chris Cox (1) and Corey Greer (1).
The always exciting Figure 8 division saw a first time champion as Nick Martinez used 3 wins, 13 top 5’s and 14 top 10’s to win the championship by 14 points over Joe Matlock. Joe Gastineau claimed the rookie title with 1 top 10 finish. The other competitors claiming wins were: Al Duran (5), Joe Matlock (4), John Johnson (1), Jared Wall (1), and Joe Martinez (1).
The RMLRA Legend Car series was dominated at CNS by Jace Hansen as he had 7 wins, 11 top 5’s and 11 top 10’s during the season to claim the championship by 74 points over Jon Krizman. Corey Seip took the rookie honors with 1 top 5 and 7 top 10’s during the season. Also claiming wins at CNS during the season were Indiana’s Jimmy Hansen (2), Jon Krizman (1), Wayne Barlock Jr (1), Chris Eggleston (1), and Terry Plummer (1).
The CARC Modified Coupes had another great season at CNS with Frank Denning III claiming his second championship in a row. Going into the final race, four drivers had a shot at the title, but Denning prevailed. Denning used 5 wins, 11 top 5’s and 11 top 10’s to win the title by 24 points over Gary Land. Michael Fetters claimed the rookie title with 1 top 5 and 8 top 10’s to his credit. Also claiming wins during the season were: Rich Bubak (4), Land (2), and Ronnie Hults (1).
In the Witthar Racing train division, Termin-8-or used 3 wins, 9 top 5’s and 10 top 10’s to claim the championship by 18 points over their team-mate Steel Dragon. Turbo Train and Steel Dragon also had 3 wins during the season and _ Fool and Plum M.T. claimed 1 win.
The Witthar Racing School Bus season ended with a bang as Jared Wall hit the back-stretch wall head-on and breaking the wall into several pieces. Daniel Martinez used 2 wins, 4 to 5’s and 5 top 10’s to win the championship by 4 points over Nick Martinez.
The 600 Mini Sprints invaded CNS 5 times in 2008 with Jay Sant winning 3 times, and Nick Burton winning the other 2.
Nick Haygood dominated in the ERA Super Modifieds winning 6 races while Johnny Packard and Harry Stone each won 1.
Zach Merritt won the lone Sprint Car race before the Sprint Cars were joined with the Super Modifieds.
Bruce Yackey claimed 2 of the USLMA races at CNS while Ronnie Hults took the other.
Eric Holmes was able to win the NASCAR Camping World West race that was held at CNS in June.
The 2008 season at Colorado National Speedway was fantastic, and 2009 can only be better!
