August 17, 2024 ~ Dacono, CO
Only once a year, rabid race fans from across the Rockies are treated to a visit from the Spears SRL Southwest Tour, and this year’s event included a bonus with the Spears Modified Series coming along with them for a night of unforgettable racing action. Colorado’s finest drivers stepped up their game to take on some of the best racers in the country; visiting from as close as Wyoming and Utah, and as far away as California and Florida. The hot summer sun only added to the tension that built throughout qualifying, and by the time the first green flag flew on competition, the grandstands were packed with anxious spectators who could not wait to see some of the best short track competition in the country. Just a few short hours later, four winners had found their way to victory lane in dominant fashion. Read on to see just how the Buckeye Welding Spears SRL Southwest Tour night broke down.
SRL Super Late Models
Feature – 150 Laps
With a tantalizing $10,000 purse on the line, 19 SRL Super Late Model drivers lined up to take the green flag, headed by the No. 82 of Michael Scott and the No. 98 of Blaine Rocha. As soon as the pack lunged toward the green flag, Scott and Rocha touched on the backstretch. Scott reined his race car back in and put it ahead to lead the first of 150 laps. Rocha slipped back and fell into the clutches of Kole Raz’s No. 27 machine, who made short work of Rocha heading into Turn 3 of the second lap. Raz set out after Scott, cutting his lead until he rode right up on his bumper just nine laps in. Rocha, meanwhile, was in a bumper lock with the No. 48 of Darren Robertson, roughing each other up for third place. Scott began to drift up high, opening the door for Raz to catch up to him, and it ultimately proved his undoing as Raz cruised by on Lap 11 to take the lead. Just a few laps later, the field settled into single file formation and began to catch slower traffic.
As Raz continued to lap cars, Scott attacked the track using his preferred high line. While he cut the gap on Raz slightly, Raz continued to put more lapped cars between himself and Scott, stretching his lead. The race stayed green until Lap 32 when the No. 16 of Stephen Mills went around, necessitating a hook, and the No. 22 of Chris Eggleston came into to the pits to address an ill handling race car and returned to the speedway before the restart. Raz and Scott lined up next to each other for the restart, but this time, Raz got the advantage and began to gap Scott; meanwhile, Roberston nearly botched a shift and stacked up the field, letting the leaders get away. The No. 29Z of Dylan Zampa and the No. 22S of Buddy Shepherd went at it for fourth, and the No. 26 of Dawson Sutton entered the conversation, making a quick pass for fifth before taking on Shepherd. As Raz once again ditched the field, Zampa worked on Rocha for third. Zampa pulled even with Rocha as Shepherd stalked them both. After a few laps fighting tooth and nail, Zampa cleared Rocha, hauling Shepherd through the gap with him. Shepherd soon had Zampa behind him, and the brief battle let Sutton catch up and begin pressuring them. Biding his time, Sutton finally swung wide and passed Rocha and Zampa in one fell swoop. However, things settled down again as they paced the track single file, with Zampa plummeting to sixth place behind Robertson.
Meanwhile, up front, Scott threw his race car around using the highest line he could find, and it started to work as he chipped into Raz’s lead. At this point, 70 laps in, Raz was in the thick of lapped cars and had to dive low, slapping through the apron to avoid striking the No. 33 of Cale Kanke. This slowed him just enough to let Scott cut into his lead even more, and then, Raz got held up behind the No. 3C of Cassidy Hinds. Heading to the halfway point, Scott got extremely close to Raz’s rear bumper, but it would be Raz in the lead on Lap 75.
After a short break to make adjustments and add fuel (tire swaps were not allowed), Raz and Scott were once again lined up next to each other on the front row. Raz again got the jump on the restart. Scott slipped back even further as Shepherd passed him for P2. He then had to fend off Sutton and Rocha, who battled two-wide for fourth. Sutton made the pass in Turn 2, but was blocked by Scott as he began working the high side again. Using his unique racing line, Scott finally passed Shepherd and reclaimed P2. A yellow flag waved to slow the field in response to a race car stopped on the racing surface. Raz and Scott again started beside each other while Sutton fought Shepherd for third. Before the battle could be decided, The No. 12 of Bruce Yackey and Hinds got together, resulting in significant damage to Bruce Yackey’s race car, ultimately ending his night. Hinds pulled off shortly thereafter but returned to the track after the restart.
Raz took control of the race once again when the green flag fell. Scott took a shot at him but couldn’t make it stick. He kept running his favored high line, though. Shepherd, too, tried to run the same line, followed by Sutton as they tried to track down Raz. The No. 05 of Nick Cooper muscled his way into seventh place, while the high side continued to be the choice line for Scott, Sutton, and Shepherd, all lined up in a row as they tried in vain to track Raz down. On Lap 102, the field again became a single file freight train – that is, until Sutton swung his race car abreast of Scott before falling in behind him once more. Robertson fought with the No. 32 of Brett Yackey as Cooper waited for them to slow each other up enough for him to make the pass. Sutton finally put Scott behind him, but had quite a bit of distance to cover if he wanted to track down Raz. However, Raz had his hands full of lapped cars. On Lap 117, Robertson had to pull off with an apparent issue, surrendering the battle. Then, Zampa spun after contacting the No. 22Y of Brian Yackey, causing another caution. Raz and Scott again took the green from the front row, but as Raz easily took the lead, Scott couldn’t get his car going and surrendered a few spots, narrowly avoiding incident as he fell back.
Zampa’s race car began spewing sparks and spun out, again causing a caution as he guided his machine off the track. Raz started beside Sutton this time. Sutton tried to get a good run on Raz when the green fell, but fell back as Raz reassumed control. Scott continued to struggle; his race car suddenly turned evil on worn-out tires. A few laps later, sparks showed under Scott’s race car from apparent left front damage, putting an end to his night as he pulled off the race track.
Brian Yackey and the No. 24D of Cody Dempster made brief contact on Lap 136, but were able to stay out of worse trouble. Rocha battled his way past Cooper for fifth, while Sutton mounted a late race charge on Raz, who maintained the lead. Sutton was able to get within five car lengths of Raz, working hard in the corners especially to cut the distance, followed by Shepherd and Brett Yackey ahead of a three-car battle for fifth place as Rocha, Cooper, and Brian Yackey had a tough conversation for the position. Raz used traffic to his advantage, putting lapped cars between himself and Sutton, maintaining a healthy lead all the way to the checkered flag as he absolutely dominated the field. Sutton and Shepherd followed him, tailed by Brett Yackey, whose fourth-place result was the best of the Colorado drivers. Rocha rounded out the top five.
Quick Time: No. 27, Kole Raz, 15.903
Feature: No. 27, Kole Raz
SRL Grand American Modifieds
Feature – 75 Laps
After a slightly insane start to the race that saw several cars stack up near the rear of the field, the No. 51 of Kyle Clegg filed into first place. Jace Hansen’s No. 08 charged into second past the No. 24 of Nathan Gasser. By Lap 5, the field of 22 GAMs was single file, following Hansen’s lead. It didn’t last long. Eight laps in, the No. 10V of Kevin Vossen blew up in Turn 1, spinning out and causing the field to stack up. Everyone was able to avoid him, except for the No. 6 of Scotty Scott, who drove through fluids laid down by Vossen’s race car and spun. A red flag ensued to give track personnel the opportunity to clean up. Once the racing surface was clear, Hansen reassumed the lead, followed by Clegg, while the No. 41 of Kyle Jacks and Gasser fell in behind them. The No. 17 of Holly Clark and the No. 11N of Brian Nester resumed their battle for P5 behind them. Then, the No. 2 of Steve Rodenbaugh and the No. 22 of Travis Rudolph slammed together on Lap 12, causing another caution.
Hansen took the lead again on the restart with Jacks in hot pursuit. Clegg fell to third with Gasser hot on his heels, and Nester wore out Clark’s rear bumper searching for a way into fifth place. On Lap 25, the leaders began to catch the tail end of the field. The only side-by-side fight was between the No. 11L of Jeff Longman and the No. 29W of Zach Webster for ninth, but the battle was quickly decided as Longman took the spot. Then, Scott spun in Turn 3, triggering a yellow flag on Lap 27, putting Hansen and Jacks on the front row. Hansen easily retook the lead while Jacks drifted high, allowing Clegg to get by for P2 as he set after Hansen. Clark got past Nester and tried to pick off Gasser but couldn’t make it stick. The No. 4 of Lynn Hardy drifted to the infield but gathered it back up and returned to the track, off the pace but out of trouble. Gasser, meanwhile, started to work on Jacks for second place up front. With Clegg closing, Hansen continued to lead, even as lapped traffic became an issue once again.
Clegg used lapped traffic to his advantage, cutting Hansen’s lead. Gasser kept up his mission to pass Jacks, but the two briefly touched. Jacks’ race car started to smoke as Gasser made the pass for P3. Jacks had suffered a tire rub from the contact, but Gasser wasn’t out of the woods, either – he contacted a lapped car, but was able to keep his race car going. Then, in Turn 4 on Lap 50, Jacks’ tire finally let go and he spun, triggering yet another yellow.
Clegg and Hansen took the green from the front. Hansen had another great restart, while the No. 66 of John Seely lightly brushed the wall and had to take it three-wide heading to the stripe. Hansen continued to lead, a pied piper for the frontrunners, as Clark tried to find a way around Nester for fourth place. Gasser shot around Clegg for second place and took off. While Clegg tried to answer and reel Gasser back in, he fell back. Hansen hesitated slightly as he debated how to best navigate a lapped car, but Gasser couldn’t capitalize on his distraction. Nester, having ditched Clark, was right on Clegg’s rear bumper. He demoted Clegg and took third shortly thereafter. Gasser, using up everything his race car had, got slightly loose on Lap 70, allowing Hansen to extend his lead in traffic. But just when it looked like the race would stay green to the end, Scott and the No. 8 of Benjamin Stanley tangled in Turn 4, spinning out and causing a caution.
Hansen and Gasser shot under the green flag on the restart. Hansen brought the field down fast and let Gasser get to the inside line. Even so, Hansen maintained the lead, and Clegg made the pass on Nester to reclaim third place. He brought the fight to Gasser for the runner-up spot but fell short at the line as they followed Hansen. The podium was claimed by Coloradan drivers, with Nester bringing home fourth place and Clark, another local racer, claiming fifth. Hansen was the 2023 Super Late Model winner and once again proved tough to beat winning in the modified.
Quick Time: No. 17, Holly Clark, 17.071
Feature: No. 08, Jace Hansen
Pueblo Bank & Trust Super Stocks
Fast Dash – 10 Laps
Scott Long’s No. 11W and Ben Hendricks’ No. 6 led the field to a great start. Hendricks led by a fender as the leaders fought side-by-side. The No. 4 of Chris Jordan followed in third, but as Long jumped ahead on Lap 3, Jordan pulled even with Hendricks. Then, Hendricks snapped loose while fighting with Jordan, allowing the No. 49 of Chris Cox and several other race cars past as he struggled to get his machine back under control. Jordan gave Long a shot to the rear as Cox closed on them both. Long still led on the last lap, withstanding another shot from Jordan, forcing Cox to jump out of line. Long earned the Fast Dash win.
Dash – 10 Laps
The No. 34 of Bryson Brooks took the green from the front row alongside the No. 40T of Travis Brandt. The No. 81 of Kyle Shanahan took P2 in short order. Morris Christner’s No. M60 and Dillyn Kellogg’s No. 33 battled for fourth place behind them, trading the spots back and forth for a few laps before Christner claimed the spot for good and took second away from Brandt. Brooks slipped up a bit, causing Christner to back out and letting Kellog pass him for second. Shanahan inherited the lead as Kellogg followed him across the line.
Feature – 25 Laps
The No. 61 of John Humphrey jumped to the early lead as Cox moved down to secure the inside line, leading the first lap. The No. 97 of Kyle Stidham overtook the No. 9 of Brent Cave for third, with Cox close behind Humphrey, battling for the lead. Jordan and Long banged together but were able to separate and stay headed in the right direction, while Stidham snuck up on Cox and pressured him for third place. Cox delivered a pointed bump to Humphrey’s rear bumper in the hunt for the lead, but their conversation was cut short as the No. 10W of Gauge Witthar spun, triggering a caution. Cox and Humphrey renewed their battle for the lead when the race restarted, but Stidham muscled into second place ahead of Cox and started his own quest for the lead. He had it a few laps later and left the field in his dust, while Cox also overtook Humphrey and took control of P2.
Despite two spins, the field stayed green, chasing Stidham and Cox. Lapped cars held up the leaders, and Stidham and Cox had to go four-wide with slower traffic. Cox emerged with the lead in the chaos, but then things took a turn as Stidham dove to the inside of Humphrey’s race car. Battling two abreast, Stidham and Humphrey slammed together and spun out, causing another yellow. Stidham was given his spot back while Humprey was banished to the rear of the field.
The race went green again with five laps to go. Cox got the jump on Stidham, pulling Jordan through with him on the inside line. Stidham and Jordan began to fight for P2 with Cave entering the battle from fourth place. Jordan was able to seal the deal and claimed second place while Stidham clung to third, all following Cox across the line for his fifth victory of the season.
Quick Time: No. 9, Brent Cave, 19.681
Fast Dash: No. 11W, Scott Long
Dash: No. 81, Kyle Shanahan
Feature: No. 49, Chris Cox
Exhaust Pros Northglenn Figure 8s
Dash – 12 Laps
Michael Wolfe Jr. powered his No. 3 into the lead early, trailed by the No. 38 of Javon Barnard and the No. 52 of Jared Wall. But before the field could really get going, Wolfe and Jared Wall made contact, sending the latter for a spin. Wolfe reclaimed the lead on the restart, while the No. 18 of Dennis Stepanich shot inside Barnard and took P2 away. Stepanich continued his forward march until he locked onto Wolfe, but then the No. 15 of Jereme Wall made himself known, trying to peek around Stepanich for P2, but he fell back. He rallied back and tried again a few turns later and finally got the position. A three-car battle for the lead ensued as Wolfe drove the wheels off his car trying to maintain the top spot. Jereme Wall worked his magic and shot into the lead. Wolfe fell in behind Stepanich. Stepanich, meanwhile, followed right in Jereme Wall’s tire tracks, both of them gapping the field as they headed for the stripe. Jereme Wall managed to hang onto the lead, followed by Stepanich, Wolfe, and the No. 71 of Isaac Martinez, who claimed fourth over Barnard by a hair at the line.
Feature – 20 Laps
Barnard and Jared Wall showed the way to the green, but Stepanich and Wolfe quickly overtook Barnard, followed by Jereme Wall. Stepanich worked his way around Jared Wall to take the lead as Wolfe latched onto him. They shot through The X, and Stepanich nearly clipped a pair of cars headed the opposite direction and had to make a split-second decision to swerve out of traffic, but this allowed Jereme Wall to get by for the race lead as the fans rocked the grandstands in excitement from the close call. Jereme Wall put the hammer down and started to ditch Stepanich, and Barnard passed Jared Wall for P3. Up front, Jereme Wall continued his quest for the win, dodging cross traffic in The X and narrowly missing several competitors. The fans stayed on their feet as race cars covered every available bit of asphalt, making The X a constant factor as the laps ticked down.
Meanwhile, on Lap 10, Wolfe pulled off the track, his race car suffering an apparent issue that prevented him from keeping pace with the field. Out front, Jereme Wall showed the way around the F8 course, gunning it through the center of the track while trying to avoid being tagged from opposing traffic. Barnard began to gap Jared Wall for third, while Jereme Wall picked his way around lapped traffic with ease. Stepanich wasn’t so lucky. He got held up behind the No. 67 of Kylan Swenson and the No. 74 of Sam Faus, both lapped cars, allowing Jereme Wall to open his lead even more. Then, Wolfe, who had returned to the track a lap down, tagged Jared Wall, but they kept going without need for a caution. As he tried to gather his race car back up, Jared Wall shot through The X and nearly clipped his brother Jereme Wall, headed the other way solidly in the lead. Through it all, Jared Wall held onto fourth, even under pressure from Martinez. On the last lap, the No. 13X of Isaac Slinker spun out and backed into the dirt hills; Jared Wall surrendered fourth to Martinez, and Jereme Wall crossed under the flag stand uncontested to take his fifth win of the season in wild F8 fashion.
Quick Time: No. 15, Jereme Wall, 27.228 seconds
Dash: No. 15, Jereme Wall
Feature: No. 15, Jereme Wall
We’d like to extend our thanks to not only the regular CNS drivers and crews, but to the SRL competitors who made the effort to come put on a show for our fans at CNS. It’s always a treat to host touring divisions like the SRL Southwest Touring Series, and we love it when a full house of fans turn up to support them like they did this week. As always, we’ll see you next weekend for yet another adrenaline-inducing weekend at CNS at the forthcoming GTI Services Elite Custom Vehicles night, and don’t forget the Tito’s Vodka Legend Invasion incoming at the end of the month. If you missed any of the exciting action, click here to watch on Low Budget TV
OFFICIAL RESULTS
SRL Southwest Tour Super Late Model - 150 Laps
27 Kole Raz
26 Dawson Sutton
22S Buddy Shepherd
32 Brett Yackey
98 Blaine Rocha
22Y Brian Yackey
05 Nick Cooper
24D Cody Dempster
37 Ethan Hunter
33 Cale Kanke
3C Cassidy Hinds
82 Michael Scott
29Z Dylan Zampa
48 Darren Robertson
12 Bruce Yackey
24S Scott Sanchez
22 Chris Eggleston
8 Wes Burton
16 Steve Mills
SRL Modified Series - 75 Laps
08 Jace Hansen
51 Kyle Clegg
24 Nathan Gasser
11N Brian Nester
17 Holly Clark
05 Greg Fullerton
9 CJ Wilson
66 John Seely
41 Kyle Jacks
11L Jeff Longman
22M Aaron McMorran
6 Scotty Scott
89 Jacob Smith
2 Steve Rodenbaugh
55 Damian Lockhart
88 Paul Himler
4 Lynn Hardy
8 Benjamin Stanley
22 Travis Rudolph
29W Zach Webster
13S Jordon Smith
10V Kevin Vossen
DNS 13 Darin Clark
Super Stock - 25 Laps
49 Chris Cox
4 Chris Jordan
97 Kyle Stidham
9 Brent Cave
11W Scott Long
5W Troy Witthar
33 Dillyn Kellogg (R)
8 Isaac Almaswari (R)
6 Ben Hendricks
82 Ian Clark
M60 Morris Christner
45 Shane Johnson (R)
81 Kyle Shanahan
40 Ryan Newey (R)
51 Jessilyn Dike (R)
24 Kolby Humphrey (R)
40T Travis Brandt (R)
10W Gauge Witthar (R)
34 Bryson Brooks (R)
61 John Humphrey
75 Emilio Abeyta
DQ 64 Justin Eisenhauer (R)
Figure 8 - 20 Laps
15 Jereme Wall
18 Dennis Stepanich
38 Javon Barnard (R)
71 Isaac Martinez
97 Adam Gastineau
52 Jared Wall
74 Sam Faus
67 Kylan Swenson
5W Troy Witthar
13X Isaac Slinker
3 Michael Wolfe Jr
6C Cody Palmore
20 Isaiah Proctor
DQ 8 Cassidy Creekmore