(09-10-2016 Dacono, CO) While Adam Deines was busy winning his 4th straight Snap-On Tools Pro Truck feature event it was young AJ Warren who was crowned the season champion in the division. It was Warren’s first ever Pro Truck Championship in a season highlighted with fresh blood including Kody Vanderwal who brought home the 2016 Rookie of the Year award. In the Legend division Kyle Clegg out-battled Danny Medina for the feature win setting up a dramatic final race on October 1st.
Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks
It was championship night for the Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks and going into the final night of racing 4 drivers had a shot at the number one spot. AJ Warren, Troy Witthar, Jeff Walbaum and Kody Vanderwal all started the evening within striking distance. On the final night of racing there would be two Pro Truck feature events to settle the score.
The Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks lineup for their first of two feature events (Starr photo)
In the first Pro Trucks feature #7 Adam Deines and #8 Jeff Walbaum filled out the front row for the 25 lap race. Deines quickly jumped out front but was followed closely by Walbaum and Vanderwal. Points leader AJ Warren in the #2 Truck moved into second place and began to pressure Deines for the win. Two fantastic battles for position developed between the leaders as well as for 3rd place with Walbaum and Vanderwal banging doors.
Deines and Warren raced side-by side but when the checkered flag flew it was Deines holding off Warren for the win.
In the final Pro Truck race of the 2016 feature #7 Adam Deines passed #36 Matt Burton to take the early lead with Vanderwal and the #9 of Curtis Heldenbrand not far behind. Deines having missed several nights of racing has finished the season off with a bang winning the past two feature events as well as the bonus feature earlier in the night. Deines would add another notch in his belt as he hung on to win the final feature followed by Vanderwal, Heldenbrand, #2 AJ Warren and #8 Jeff Walbaum. With the win Deines has won 4 straight Pro Truck Feature events and a total of 5 on the season.
#7 Adam Deines cruises to his 4 straight Pro Truck feature win (Starr photo)
AJ Warren’s 4th place finish was more than enough to earn him his first ever Pro Truck season championship. Warren built on 2 feature wins and consistently finishing in the top 5 to top all drivers in 2016 to secure the prestigious championship.
Kody Vanderwal finished 2nd in the season standings just 20 points behind Warren but also locked up impressive Rookie of the Year honors just ahead of Jeff Walbaum who was also a rookie in the Pro Truck division.
AJ Warren was crowned the 2016 Pro Truck champion (Starr photo)
2016 CHAMPION: #2 AJ Warren 2016 ROTY: #43 Kody Vanderwal 30 Lap FEATURE 2: #7 Adam Deines 25 Lap FEATURE 1: #7 Adam Deines FAST DASH: #43 Kody Vanderwal DASH: #5 Troy Witthar QUICK TIME: #2 AJ Warren 17.311
Legend Cars
#15 Danny Medina jumped out to the early lead in the 35 lap Legend Car feature with #25 Adam Pechman and #48 Kody Dempster not far behind. But it was the #66 of Kyle Clegg which had the crowd buzzing as he flew up though the field from his 10th place starting position to join the battle up front. After a couple of cautions Clegg moved into 2nd place and began to race Medina for the lead. Clegg and Medina began to trade the lead and race door to door lap after lap.
When the checkered flag flew Clegg had earned his 3rd feature win at CNS in the 2016 season. #6 Scotty Scott was able to grab 2nd place while Medina settled for 3rd place. However with point leader Chris Eggleston absent racing in the K&N Pro Series West Medina was able to assume the lead in the season standings. The Legends have one more points race on Challenge Cup Saturday October 1st.
Kyle Clegg in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
FEATURE: #66 Kyle Clegg FAST DASH: #15 Danny Medina DASH: #51 AJ Canada QUICK TIME: #66 Kyle Clegg 18.786
Race Rentals Modifieds
Nathan Kopische in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
UTV FEATURE: #951 Chris Deshon
Chris Deshon in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
DEMOX Lite Division Winner: Heavy Division Winner: #31 Johnson
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Pro Truck Feature 2 Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 7 Adam Deines Longmont 2. 43 Kody Vanderwal (R) La Salle 3. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand(R) Arvada 4. 2 AJ Warren Berthoud 5. 8 Jeff Walbaum (R) Brighton 6. 36 Matt Burton Englewood 7. 34 Rudy Vanderwal La Salle 8. 11 Steve Johnson Loveland 9. 19 Robert Davey Erie 10. 33 Tyler Davis (R) Thornton 11. 47 Jesse Seigel Castle Rock 12. 5 Troy Witthar Eastlake DNS 95 Duane Lighthill(R) Littleton
Pro Truck Feature 1 Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 7 Adam Deines Longmont 2. 2 AJ Warren Berthoud 3. 43 Kody Vanderwal (R) La Salle 4. 8 Jeff Walbaum (R) Brighton 5. 5 Troy Witthar Eastlake 6. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand(R) Arvada 7. 36 Matt Burton Englewood 8. 19 Robert Davey Erie 9. 11 Steve Johnson Loveland 10. 47 Jesse Seigel Castle Rock 11. 33 Tyler Davis (R) Thornton 12. 34 Rudy Vanderwal La Salle 13. 95 Duane Lighthill(R) Littleton
Legend Cars Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 66 Kyle Clegg Westminster 2. 6 Scotty Scott Arvada 3. 15 Danny Medina Colorado Springs 4. 25 Adam Pechman Morrison 5. 30 Darrell J Stewart Arvada 6. 46 Zach Witherwax Arvada 7. 16 Travis Roe Thronton 8. 51 AJ Canda Castle Rock 9. 20 Kynzer Riddell Westminster 10. 23 Austyn Radosta Pueblo 11. 47 Jason Hulvey (R) Thornton 12. 19 Larry Pachello Arvada 13. 32 Blair Cooper (R) Arvada 14. 17 BreAnn Adkison Cheyenne 15. 26 Chris Brunker Lakewood 16. 88 Paul Himler (R) Erie 17. 10 Adam Romero (R) Denver 18. 48 Cody Dempster (R) Parker 19. 37 Nathan Brasz Firestone 20. 9 Terry McBride Edgewater DNS 6x Phillip Peconi Littleton
Race Rental Modifieds Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 5 Nathan Kopische 2. 4 Trent Dedic 3. 92 Brian Norris 4. 1 Blake Hess 5. 27 Jeremy Kopische 6. 11 Cory Kenworthy 7. 18 Jeff Thyfault 8. 88 Lance Kenworthy 9. 12 Dave Kopische 10. 21 Drew Walker 11. 34 Jim Smith