September 26, 2024 ~ Dacono, CO
PLEASE NOTE ADJUSTED START TIME FOR SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH
GATES OPEN: 3:00 PM
RACING STARTS: 5:30 PM
Colorado National Speedway will play to host to our most prestigious & historic event this Saturday night: Challenge Cup presented by Bella Flooring America. Along with Super Late Models, divisional champions will be crowned in the MATCO Tools Pro Trucks (who are being added after the rain canceled their championship feature race on Sept 21st), GTI Services Late Models, & Take 5 Oil Change Trains. Last weekend, No. 24 Nathan Gasser, No. 49 Chris Cox & No. 15 Jereme Wall all claimed championships in their respective divisions. Check out the full race recap from September 21st by clicking here.
A little history on Challenge Cup at CNS:
This race marks the 49th edition dating back to 1975 when local driver Odie Robertson won the first event. There has been a total of 35 different winners in 48 races, with Larry Phillips 1982, 1984-1986, & the “High Plains Drifter” Rick Carelli 1989, 1994-1995, 2003 being the winningest drivers in challenge cup history with 4 victories each.
Winners of 2 or More Challenge Cups:
Odie Robertson 1975, 1980
Larry Phillips: 1982, 1984-1986
Rick Carelli: 1989, 1994, 1995, 2003
Jerry Robertson: 1996, 2002, 2004
Chris Eggleston: 2009, 2011
Preston Peltier: 2017, 2019
Brett Yackey: 2018, 2023
There have only been 4 drivers who have won back-to-back Challenge Cups:
Larry Phillips: 1984-1986
Terry Phillips: 1987, 1988
Rick Carelli: 1994, 1995
Dominic Ursetta: 2014, 2015
Father & Son who've won Challenge Cup:
Larry Phillips 1984-1986 / Terry Phillips 1987, 1988
Odie Robertson 1975, 1980 / Jerry Robertson 1996, 2002, 2004 / Darren Robertson 2013
Bruce Yackey 1993 / Brett Yackey 2018, 2023
*The Robertson family is the only three generation family to win at least one Challenge Cup.
2023 Winner:
Last year, Greeley's Brett Yackey No.32 dominated the 100 lap feature event leading the final 61 laps en-route to his second career Challenge Cup Victory in 5 years.
Bella Flooring America Super Late Models:
CNS’ premier division – the Bella Flooring America Super Late Models – have seen some familiar faces up front all season and the title fight will come down to the final laps Saturday night. During our last event, Michael Scott used his patented high line to cruise to the victory on September 7th. Current points leader No. 32 Brett Yackey has 4 wins this season; all of which happened consecutively from May 26th - July 13th. Two other drivers have visited victory lane in 2024 including the No. 82 Michael Scott (2 Wins) and No. 11 Darren Robertson (1 Win). These three drivers are currently all sitting first through third in points with only 8 points separating Yackey & Robertson in the championship standings. Challenge Cup has moved back to its traditional date of being the final points race of the season for the Super Late Models, and is setting up to be a fantastic finish to the 2024 season. Join us this Saturday & find out who will take home not only the championship, but also a win in the prestigious CNS Challenge Cup. Will Brett Yackey grab his third Challenge Cup Win & become only the fifth driver in the history to go back-to-back or could we see a first-time challenge cup winner?
Current Top 5 in Points:
1. 32 Brett Yackey – 249 points (4 Wins, 6 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
2. 11 Darren Robertson – 241 points (1 Win, 7 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
3. 82 Michael Scott – 224 points (2 Wins, 6 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
4. 12 Bruce Yackey – 208 points (0 Wins, 4 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
5. 3C Cassidy Hinds – 154 points (0 Wins, 2 Top 5, 6 Top 10)
Rookie of the Year:
This year’s Rookie of The Year honors will go to No. 22Y Brian Yackey who has followed in Father & Brother's footsteps joining the Super Late Model ranks. Yackey was the 2021 Pro Truck champion.
Matco Tools Pro Trucks
After last weeks rain out, CNS Officials made the call to add the Pro Trucks to this Saturday's event to make up for last weekend. Year in and year out, the Pro Truck division continues to produce some of the closest points battles at CNS, and 2024 is no different as the top three drivers are separated by only 9 points. 2022 Pro Truck champion, Curtis Heldenbrand has been on a tear lately; winning 4 out of the last 5 feature races in dominant fashion. With his win this past Saturday, Heldenbrand has taken over second in points and is sitting only 8 points out of first place. Current points leader, No. 16 Travis Roe, has been very consistent all season long; never finishing outside of the Top 10 and recently took over the points lead when he picked up his first win of the season on August 24th. No. 50 Tyler Wiggans came out on top with a victory during the first race of the season and much like Roe has been very consistent; not finishing outside of the top 10. If Roe or Wiggans can grab the championship, it will be their first ever at CNS. Father-son duo No. 34 Rudy Vanderwal (1 Win) & No. 43 Kody Vanderwal (1 Win) swept the special event night on May 25th and are the only other winners in the Pro Trucks this season. Every lap will matter Saturday as the championship will come down to the final checkered flag. Who will be the Pro Truck Champion?
Top 5 in Points:
16 Travis Roe – 260 Points (1 Wins, 6 Top 5, 8 Top 10)
9 Curtis Heldenbrand – 252 Points (4 Wins, 6 Top 5, 6 Top 10)
50 Tyler Wiggans – 251 Points (1 Wins, 6 Top 5, 8 Top 10)
7 Adam Deines– 238 Points (0 Wins, 4 Top 5, 8 Top 10)
85 Jeff Walbaum – 192 Points (0 Wins, 1 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
Rookie of the Year
This year’s rookie battle finds the No. 86 Tim Coate with a 61-point lead over No. 21 Chris Nelson.
GTI Services Late Models:
The Late Models have had outstanding car counts all season long, and with that, some fierce competition for the veterans of the division. This season has been dominated by a pair of 51 cars including No. A51 Kyle Clegg (4 Wins) who is no stranger to racing other divisions at CNS and No. 51 Eric Meisner (3 Wins) who is a veteran of the division has been consistently successful all season as well. Currently Clegg holds a 21-point leader over Meisner heading into the final night of season, but with Meisner coming off his third win of the season on September 14th he was able to make up some ground on Clegg for the points championship. Other drivers to visit victory lane this season include No. 8 Dan Alamaa (1 Win) & No. 17X Mariah Boudrieau (1 Win) who got her first ever CNS win on August 24th. This will be a great battle to watch Saturday night.
Current Top 5 in Points:
A51 Kyle Clegg – 342 points (4 Wins, 8 Top 5, 8 Top 10)
51 Eric Meisner – 321 points (3 Win, 7 Top 5, 8 Top 10)
8 Dan Alamaa – 301 points (1 Wins, 6 Top 5, 8 Top 10)
18 Casey Wiggans – 263 points (0 Wins, 5 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
7X Kyle Morse – 251 points (0 Wins, 3 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
Rookie of the Year:
This years Rookie of the Year honors will go to the No. 23, Jordan Abeyta who is a former Super Stock Champion at CNS.
Take 5 Oil Change Trains
A resurgence in the train division in 2024 with the help of new division sponsor Take 5 Oil Change has put the Wild & Crazy back in the Trains this season thrilling fans with hair raising X action each and every race. The defending train champion No. 80HD SNAFU holds a 12-point lead over No. 91 J&H Livestock Friday Night Special. Winners include No. 80HD SNAFU (2 Win), No. 91 J&H Livestock Friday Night Special (3 Wins), & No. 41G J&H Livestock Funny Farm. SNAFU is looking to go back-to-back as champion.
Current Top 5 in Points:
80HD SNAFU – 230 points (2 Wins, 6 Top 5, 6 Top 10)
91 J&H Livestock Friday Night Special - 218 points (3 Wins, 5 Top 5, 6 Top 10)
151 Crazy Train – 210 points (0 Wins, 5 Top 5, 6 Top 10)
41G J&H Livestock Funny Farm – 202 points (0 Wins, 4 Top 5, 7 Top 10)
3 Anger Management - 150 points (0 Wins, 2 Top 5, 5 Top 10)
In addition to these great divisions, CNS will also be featuring a Drift Competition from our Friends at Drift Colorado. This is believed to be a first of its’ kind: the Drifters are competing for a professional license during a NASCAR Sanctioned Event. Challenge Cup is on the can’t miss events of the year. Grab your tickets online by clicking here or at our main ticket office to purchase yours on the day of the race, as we always have plenty of tickets available.
Gates Open at 3:00pm
Racing Starts at 5:30pm
Challenge Cup Winners by Year:
2023 Brett Yackey
2022 Jace Hansen
2021 Kody Vanderwal
2020 Eddie Vecchiarelli
2019 Preston Peltier
2018 Brett Yackey
2017 Preston Peltier
2016 Kyle Ray
2015 Dominic Ursetta
2014 Dominic Ursetta
2013 Darren Robertson
2012 Adam Deines
2011 Chris Eggleston
2010 Dan Savage
2009 Chris Eggleston
2008 Ronnie Hults
2007 PJ Mattorano
2006 Scotty Backman
2005 Darren Crocker
2004 Jerry Robertson
2003 Rick Carelli
2002 Jerry Robertson
2001 Dave Finley
2000 Roger Avants
1999 MK Kanke
1998 Joe Bellm
1997 Richard Burton
1996 Jerry Robertson
1995 Rick Carelli
1994 Rick Carelli
1993 Bruce Yackey
1992 Steve Carlson
1991 Tom Carlson
1990 Fred Campbell
1989 Rick Carelli
1988 Terry Phillips
1987 Terry Phillips
1986 Larry Phillips
1985 Larry Phillips
1984 Larry Phillips
1983 Butch Speicher
1982 Larry Phillips
1981 Mike Niffenegger, Kalona, Iowa
1980 Odie Robertson, Littleton, Colorado
1979 “Wild Bill” Liebig, Rapid City, South Dakota
1978 Clayton Peterson Jr., Grand Island, Nebraska
1977 Terry Bivins, Kansas City
1976 Tommy Bartolomew, Waterloo, Iowa
1975 Odie Robertson, Littleton, Colorado