(05-02-2015 Dacono Colorado) – Jeff Walbaum and Ethan Penrod finished within one one-thousandths of each other in the Late Model feature in what was one of the most exciting races in memory. Brett Yackey made a late race pass on Michael Cox to win the Super Stocks while Will Alvarado took advantage of lapped traffic to beat Kody Vanderwal in the Pure Stocks. Danny Medina and Kyle Clegg put on a great race in the legends but a surprise twist at the finish had the CNS fans buzzing.
South Philly Cheese Steaks Late Models
With #8 Jeff Walbaum starting on the pole position of the Late Model feature one might think it would be an easy win for a car and driver that has dominated this division over the past year. However, this win for Walbaum would prove to be one of the hardest fought victories of his championship career.
#8 Jeff Walbaum and #98 Lee Kermit battle at the start of the Late Model feature event (Starr photo)
When the feature started it was Walbaum and #98 Lee Kemmit who were battling side by side for several laps until Walbaum settled into the top spot all alone. Behind the leaders #3 Wade Grove had his hands full with #7 Ethan Penrod all over his bumper and #15 Scott Miller not far back in 5th.
After a couple late race restarts Penrod got the jump on Walbaum and grabbed the lead which would setup one of the most incredible finishes in CNS history. With just 5 laps to go it didn’t appear as if Walbaum could make a challenge to Penrod who looked fast holding the top spot. Yet on the final lap Penrod got just a tad loose which allowed Walbaum to make a move on the top side of Penrod through turns 3 and 4. As they came out of the final corner the two cars were locked side by side heading for the finish. When they crossed the line it was impossible to tell by the human eye which car took the victory. The NASCAR officials turned to the computer and it was Walbaum beating Penrod for the win by a mere one one-thousandth of a second!
It’s very possible that finish was the closest finish in the 50 year history of Colorado National Speedway. Behind Walbaum and Penrod, Mark Neff in the #42 car followed by Kemmit and Grove.
The Late Models return to action May 23rd.
FEATURE WINNER: #8 Jeff Walbaum FAST DASH: #8 Jeff Walbuam DASH: #28 Alan Carter QUICK TIME: #7 Ethan Penrod 17.628
Great Scott’s Eatery Super Stocks
A pair of 9s paced the field for the start of the Super Stock feature with #09 John Patee and #9 Curtis Hildenbrand on the outside. While Hildenbrand led early the impressive rookie #75 Levi Greenly took the low groove under Hildenbrand to grab the top spot. A fantastic battle for 2nd place ensued between Hildenbrand, #90 Kyle Patee and #3 Michael Cox. As the 3 cars rubbed Patee’s right front tire went flat and brought out the caution. Patee was able to fix the tire but was now all the way in the back of the field for the restart.
Super Stocks battle in the feature at CNS (Starr photo)
After the halfway point in the race Cox went to the inside of Greenly to take the lead. Yet just a couple laps later #32 Brett Yackey who started 7th also went to the inside to get around Cox for the lead. Once Yackey was out front the trophy was in his grasp as Cox wasn’t able to get back around him. Behind Yackey and Cox, Greenly finished 3rd and Kyle Patee finished 4th coming all the way back from dead last after his flat tire earlier in the race. Curtis Hildenbrand secured the final spot in the top 5.
With tons of action all over the track and several lead changes the Super Stocks are proving to be an exciting division in the 2015 and will return to action on Sunday May 24th.
FEATURE WINNER: #32 Brett Yackey FAST DASH: #3 Michael Cox DASH: #30 Jared Keener QUICK TIME: #3 Michael Cox 19.841
Lincoln Tech Pure Stocks
The Pure Stock division is designed for beginning drivers to get their feet wet in the racing world and each and every time they show up at CNS they put on a great show. It was no different tonight as #21 Jamie Ward and #43 Kody Vandwerwal were battling early in the feature side by side and navigating lapped traffic.
Pure Stocks go 3 wide in the feature event at CNS (Starr photo)
Will Alvarado celebrates his first feature win (Starr photo)
The two car battle quickly turned into a 5 car battle as #3% Will Alvarado, #4 Brian Galvin Jr, and #84 of Jose Mares Jr. joined the action. As the race wound down Kody Vanderwal took control of the race with Alvarado in chase.
On the final lap Vanderwal went low on a lapped car but the lapped car dove even lower cutting off Vanderwal and forcing him to slow. Vanderwal’s misfortune allowed Alvarado to take the lead on the outside and grab his first feature win. Vanderwal settled for 2nd with Jamie Ward taking 3rd, Mares holding on for 4th, and Galvin taking the last spot in the top 5.
The Pure Stocks will return to CNS on Sunday May 24th.
FEATURE WINNER: 3% Will Alvarado
FAST DASH: #06 Jeff Dempewolf DASH: 02e Sean Smith QUICK TIME: 3% Will Alvarado 20.344
No Limits Logistics & HO Motorsports Legends
Another large field of Legend cars were on hand and all eyes were on #15 Danny Medina and #66 Kyle Clegg who were the fastest cars all night. Clegg had set quick time with a 18.749 and Medina had won the fast dash.
A huge field of legend cars thrilled the CNS fans (Starr photo)
While Medina quickly moved to the front from the 5th starting spot, Clegg had to battle to the front from a 9th starting spot. With 13 laps to go Clegg made a fantastic move down low coming out of turn 4 to grab the lead from Medina. Later Medina returned the favor and made a great move of his own going under Clegg to regain the lead.
With time running down Clegg was all over Medina preparing to make one final move for the win yet on the final lap Clegg inexplicably slowed and Medina took the checkered flag. #6 Scotty Scott who was never far back from the leaders inherited the 2nd spot with 1w Jereme Wall grabbing an impressive 3rd place finish. #25 Adam Pechman finished 4th even with a good deal of damage to his car from an earlier incident and the final car in the top 5 was the #03 of Darrel L Stewart.
Clegg later admitted that he was pushing so hard to catch Medina in the final laps that he mistakenly thought the race was over which is why he slowed on the track. The rare mistake from the 3 time track champion will likely serve as great motivation when the legends return to CNS on May 16th.
FEATURE WINNER: #15 Danny Medina FAST DASH: #15 Danny Medina DASH: #23 Austyn Radosta QUICK TIME: #66 Kyle Clegg 18.749
DEMOX Multiple rollovers, flat tires, twisted metal is typical in the DEMOX which is a “last man standing” type of event. Levi Wolf was able to find his way to the win in the car division while Mason Fitzgerald took home the truck division win.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Late Models Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 8 Jeff Walbaum Brighton 2. 7 Ethan Penrod Thornton 3. 42 Mark Neff Westiminster 4. 98 Lee Kemmit Thronton 5. 3 Wade Grove Thronton 6. 17d Dave Deines Frederick 7. 31 Derek Smith Gering 8. 32 Brett Yackey (R) Greeley 9. 13 Joni Cowan Gering 10. 90 Frank Denning III(R) Golden 11. 28 Alan Carter Commerce City 12. 1 Tommy Powers Castle Rock 13. 16 Ryan McFadden Divide 14. 27 Wendi Lewis Johnstown 15. 29 Rayshawn Carter Commerce City 16. 49 Dennis Pobanz Colorado Springs 17. 11 Monte Paulsen Pueblo West 18. 8 Jace Hansen Broomfield 19. 15 Scott Miller Brighton 20. 30 Jan Oxley Ft Lupton
Super Stocks Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 32 Brett Yackey Greeley 2. 3 Michael Cox Englewood 3. 75 Levi Greenly(R) Kersey 4. 90 Kyle Patee Thornton 5. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand Arvada 6. 2 Darrell Smith Littleton 7. 9 John Patee Thornton 8. 23 George Gallegos Lakewood 9. 51 Jax Hughes (R) Lakewood 10. 26 Taylor Dragoon(R) Aurora 11. 30 Jared Keener Westminster 12. 84 Jose Mares Jr. Aurora 13. 18 Robert Davey Aurora 14. 89 Chuck Kilpatrick(R) Brighton 15. 60 Riley Pierce Platteville 16. 20 David Schmidt Denver 17. 56 Eric Pierce Mead DNS 61S Scott Slama Denver
Pure Stocks
Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 3% Will Alvarado Ft Lupton 2. 43 Kody Vanderwal LaSalle 3. 21 Jamie Ward Denver 4. 84 Jose Mares Jr. Aurora 5. 4 Brian Galvin Jr Byers 6. 33 Tyler Davis Lafayette 7. 02E Sean Smith Greeley 8. 74 Lindy Pinelli Dacono 9. 63 John Ebel Littleton 10. 66 Greg Meyers(R) Lyons 11. 3 Brian Lengvenas Thornton 12. 2 Chandani Raley Thornton 13. 96R Rhonda Miller(R) Severance 14. 41g Christopher Galvin Byers 15. 8 David Lewis(R) Firestone 16. 31 Mike Mathiesen Dacono DNS. 6 Jeffrey Dempewolf Denver
Legends Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 15 Danny Medina Colorado Springs 2. 6 Scotty Scott Arvada 3. 1w Jereme Wall Commerce City 4. 25 Adam Pechman Morrison 5. 3 Darrell L Stewart Arvada 6. 46 Zachary Witherwax Arvada 7. 7 Corey Seip Littleton 8. 13 Pete Dellarco HIghlands Ranch 9. 14 Chappy Adkins Kersey 10. 19 Larry Pachello Arvada 11. 97 Bill Blevins Arvada 12. 85 Dave McCray Parker 13. 17 BreAnn Adkison Cheyenne 14. 83 Donald Bedore Denver 15. 23 Austyn Radosta (R) Pueblo 16. 5 Randy Haynes (R) Cheyenne 17. 16 Travis Roe (R) Thronton 18. 53 Luke Johnson (R) Ft Lupton 19. 26 Christopher Brunker Lakewood 20. 66 Kyle Clegg Westminster 21. 20 Kynzer Riddell Westminster 22. 30 Darrell J Stewart Arvada 23. 28 Donald Brunker (R) Lakewood 24. 9 Terry McBride Edgewater