(09-14-2019 Dacono CO) A gorgeous Colorado late summer evening was the setting for the Snap-On Tools Night at the races at Colorado National Speedway. Pro Truck points leader Brian Yackey had a bitter-Sweet night winning the first feature but breaking in the second handing the win and points lead over to Kody Vanderwal. Albuquerque’s Jason Irwin won an epic battle in the Legend Car feature that might have been the best race of the season at CNS.
Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks
Two feature events for the Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks were on the schedule and it would be the second to last points race of the season for the division. In the first 30 lap race the drivers pretty much played it cool. #22 Brian Yackey led every single lap to take the win. Yackey had started on the pole after setting quick time which turned out to be a new track record of 16.474. Yackey already had the track record but eclipsed his own mark under the clock.
Brian Yackey cruised to an easy win in the 30 lap Pro Truck feature (Starr photo)
In the second and final 40 lap feature Yackey would have to start in 8th position along side #43 Kody Vanderwal who had finished right behind Yackey in the first main.
When the green flag dropped 5w Troy Witthar and $9 Curtis Heldenbrand raced side by side for the lead for several laps exciting the CNS faithful. Eventually Witthar would be all alone out front but the 22 and 43 were methodically working their way to the front.
#9 Heldenbrand and 5w Troy Witthar battle for the lead (Starr photo)
Once Yackey got within striking distance he grabbed the lead from Witthar in the outside groove and it appeared that he was on his way to sweeping the night’s event. But just then bad luck appeared and Yackey’s rear end failed and he limped into the pits ending his chances at the win.
Kody Vanderwal used the late race restart to take the lead from Witthar and begin to build his lead. By the time the race ended Kody had a comfortable lead on #7 Adam Deines as he cruised into winner’s circle. Behind vanderwal and Deines Witthar finished an impressive 3rd place while rookie #05 Nick Cooper took home 4th and Heldenbrand was 5th.
With Vanderwal taking the win and Yackey dropping out the points race is turned upside down as now Vanderwal will be leading Yackey by 4 points heading into the final race on October 5th.
Kody Vanderwal celebrates in winner’s circle after winning the 40 lap Pro Truck feature (Starr photo)
40 LAP FEATURE 2: #43 Kody Vanderwal 30 LAP FEATURE 1: #22 Brian Yackey QUICK TIME: #22 Brian Yackey 16.474
Elite V Twin Legend Cars
The best race of the night was in the Elite V Twin Legends division due to the epic five car battle for the lead. 9x Jason Irwin from Albuquerque was on hand and he joined #30 Darrell J Stewart, #22 Chris Eggleston, #66 Kyle Clegg and #15 Danny Medina in the five car fight for the win.
Clegg, Stewart, Eggleston, Irwin and Medina in an epic battle for the win (Starr photo)
The battle for the lead was similar to what you might see in a NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday afternoon. The leader would get passed on the inside and then shuffled back as the cars in the “draft” scooted by. Then the same thing would happen to the new leader just a lap later. Medina was the early leader but Irwin found a way under him. Then Stewart took a turn leading then Eggleston and Clegg. It as a frenzy of lead changes all while the leaders found their way around lapped traffic. It was musical chairs up front as all the drivers took their turn out front but which one would be there when the music stopped??
Jason Irwin takes the checkered flag (Starr photo)
It was Jason Irwin who showed why he is one of the best Legends drivers in the nation as he was out front when it mattered most as the field took the checkered.
Jason Irwin in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
Behind Irwin, Stewart snagged the runner-up spot with Eggleston and Clegg in 3rd and 4th. Medina secured the final spot in the top 5 as the dust settled.
The Legends will have one more points race in 2019 at CNS and that will be Saturday October 5th on the night of Challenge Cup.
FEATURE: 9x Jason Irwin FAST DASH: 9x Jason Irwin MID-DASH: #6 Scotty Scott DASH: #75 Austin Hackenberg QUICK TIME: 9x Jason Irwin 18.062
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Pro Trucks 40 Lap Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 43 Kody Vanderwal LaSalle 2. 7 Adam Deines 3. 5W Troy Witthar Arvada 4. 05 Nick Cooper (R) 5. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand 6. 33 Tyler Davis 7. 11 Steve Johnson Windsor 8. 16 Travis Roe 9. 34 Rudy Vanderwal LaSalle 10. 82 Michael Scott 11. 22 Brian Yackey Greeley 12. 08 Krystal Faulkingham (R) Westminster
Pro Trucks 30 Lap Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 22 Brian Yackey Greeley 2. 43 Kody Vanderwal LaSalle 3. 33 Tyler Davis 4. 7 Adam Deines 5. 34 Rudy Vanderwal LaSalle 6. 05 Nick Cooper (R) 7. 5W Troy Witthar Arvada 8. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand 9. 08 Krystal Faulkingham (R) Westminster 10. 11 Steve Johnson Windsor 11. 16 Travis Roe 12. 82 Michael Scott
Legends Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 9x Jason Irwin 2. 30 Darrell J Stewart Arvada 3. 22 Christopher Eggleston Thornton 4. 66 Kyle Clegg Westminster 5. 15 Danny Medina Colorado Springs 6. 16 Travis Roe Thornton 7. 03 Darrell Stewart Arvada 8. 6 Scotty Scott Arvada 9. 46 Zachary Witherwax Arvada 10. 44 Alfred Matthews Arvada 11. 3 Wayne Barlock Jr Peyton 12. 20 Kynzer Riddell Westminster 13. 27 Ray Oakley Conifer 14. 5 Gary Wegener 15. 37 Tanner Scarberry (R) Westminster 16. 04 Natalie Foster Westminster 17. 88 Paul Himler Erie 18. 28 Adam Powers Silverthorne 19. 75 Austin Hackenberg (R) Denver 20. 53 Ryan Scott Colorado Springs 21. 26 Chris Brunker Lakewood 22. 95 Jessilyn Dike Westminster 23. 31 Kurt Brookhart 24. 13 Jason Hulvey Thornton 25. 43 Robert Sears Firestone 26. 99 Trent Dedric 27. 21 Ryan Jones Arvada 28. 98 Brent Scheidemantle Brighton 29. 72 Cynthia Robb Wheatridge 30. 00 Chris Saykally Denver 31. 61 Chris Archer Henderson 32. 39 Zeke Hanger 33. 42 James Bowman 34. 78 Ashlyn Himler Erie
Bandolero Outlaws Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 78 Brody Moore 2. 06 Mahkrysta Hilton Brighton 3. 12 Bryanna Bruce 4. 89 Zachery Morris Greenwood Village 5. 77 Chasen Groff Denver 6. 3 Nandini Breggin Highlands Ranch 7. 98 Samuel Haugen Centennial 8. 00 Travis Sanders Aurora 9. 8 Danielle Walbaum Brighton
Bandolero Bandits Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 82 Teigan Scott Cheyenne 2. 52 Nic Wall Commerce City 3. 99I Isaiah Scott Cheyenne 4. 1x Joshua Cochran 5. 68 Wyatt Dent Brighton
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