(04-09-2016 Dacono CO) Greeley’s Brett Yackey used Mark Neff’s misfortune to win the first Palomino Industries Late Model feature event of 2016 after a brief battle with Ethan Penrod from Thornton Colorado. Adam Deines dominated the Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks and Chris Eggleston returned to CNS to sweep the Legend car portion of the evening.
Palomino Industries Late Models
One of the divisions to keep your eye on in 2016 is the Palomino Industries Late Models. Mark Neff returns in the #42 car to defend his championship and is joined by a large group of competitive drivers including: Brett Yackey, Ethan Penrod, Jace Hansen, Wade Grove, and talented young rookies Kyle Patee and Michael Valentine.
Neff got what he was looking for in the lineup of the feature when he found himself of the front row outside Brett Yackey in the #32 car. When the green flag dropped Neff quickly moved out front and Yackey lost his spot to the charging Penrod in the #7 car. After a caution flag, disaster struck for last years champ when his car broke in a shower of sparks in turn 2 and Neff’s night was done.
#7 Ethan Penrod and #32 Brett Yackey batt;e for the lead in the Late Model feature event (Starr photo)
When the race resumed it was a three car battle for the lead between Penrod, Yackey, and #08 Jace Hansen who won the FAST DASH earlier in the night. Yackey moved to the outside of Penrod and found the groove he was looking for and snatched the lead. Hansen began to work on Penrod for second place. Hansen was leaning pretty hard on the #7 car as the two battled lap after lap thrilling the CNS crowd. At one point Hansen’s nudging sent Penrod drifting sideways coming down the front straight but Penrod never lifted the throttle and wouldn’t let Hansen by in a fantastic display of driving skill. Hansen’s nudging of Penrod eventually backfired as Jace blew his right front tire and had to go to the pits to get new rubber.
In the end Penrod couldn’t catch Yackey who pumped his fist as he crossed the line winning the first Late Model feature of 2016. Penrod took the 2nd spot followed by rookies 90p Kyle Patee and #18 Michael Valentine. #3 Wade Grove took home the final spot in the top 5.
Brett Yackey celebrates in winner’s circle after capturing the first Late Model feature of 2016 (Starr photo)
The Late Models return to CNS April 30th.
FEATURE: #32 Brett Yackey FAST DASH: #08 Jace Hansen DASH: #19 Robert Davey QUICK TIME: #42 Mark Neff 17.519
Snap-On Tools Pro Trucks
Only 10 Pro Trucks were able to make the season opener for the division but a fresh face in youngster #43 Kody Vanderwal added some intrigue to the evening by demonstrating he will be a force to be reckoned with. Kody is the son of last season’s Pro Truck champ Rudy Vanderwal and made his statement early by setting quick time with a 17.225.
#43 Kody Vanderwal and his father #34 Rudy Vanderwal fill out the front row of the Pro Truck feature event (Starr photo)
In the feature Kody had the pole position next to his father as the two generations took the green flag side by side. Kody jumped out to a large lead but an early caution bunched up the field. On the restart it was #7 Adam Deines who showed the youngster how it’s done and powered his way to the front of the field and began to build a lead on the field. Deines never looked back as he went on to win the first Pro Truck feature of 2016. Kody Vanderwal finished an impressive 2nd well ahead of third place #2 AJ Warren (another promising young Pro Truck driver). Troy Witthar in the #5 truck was 4th and former Late Model champ Jeff Walbaum in the #8 truck took home 5th position.
#7 Adam Deines dominated the feature event in the Pro Truck division (Starr photo)
The trucks return to action on April 30th.
FEATURE: #7 Adam Deines FAST DASH: #34 Rudy Vanderwal DASH: #8 Jeff Walbaum QUICK TIME: #43 Kody Vanderwal 17.225
Legend Cars
On an off-weekend for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West tour Chris Eggleston brought out his legend car to CNS for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Achieves More Night and promptly swept the event. Eggleston set quick time with a 18.733, won the FAST DASH and grabbed the feature win. It was by no means an easy victory as Chris started 7th in the feature. Chris would have to catch last years champion Danny Medina who started on the pole and also battle with #66 Kyle Clegg and #21 Ryan Jones.
#22 Chris Eggleston battles #15 Danny Medina, #6 Scotty Scott, and #25 Adam Pechman in the Legends feature event (Starr photo)
The early season jitters were clearly evident as the feature event was littered with caution flags. One of those caution flags was for Kyle Clegg and Ryan Jones who made contact in turn two. Jones had to leave the race with damage and Clegg was sent to the rear of the field and ended up settling for 9th place.
Eggleston and Medina battled hard up front but in the end it was the 22 car holding off the 15 car to take the win. Arvada’s Scotty Scott in the #6 car took home 3rd, Figure 8 champion Jereme Wall in the #1w was 4th and #25 Adam Pechman was 5th.
Chris Eggleston in winner’s circle after winning a hard fought legends feature at CNS (Starr photo)
The legend cars return to CNS on Saturday April 30th.
FEATURE: #22 Chris Eggleston FAST DASH: #22 Chris Eggleston DASH: #51 AJ Canada QUICK TIME: #22 Chris Eggleston 18.733
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Late Models Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 32 Brett Yackey Greeley 2. 7 Ethan Penrod Thornton 3. 90p Kyle Patee (R) Thornton 4. 18 Michael Valentine (R) Gering 5. 3 Wade Grove Thronton 6. 19 Robert Davey Aurora 7. 11 Monte Paulsen Pueblo West 8. 16 Ryan McFadden Divide 9. 2 Don Dority (R) Brighton 10. 29 Rayshawn Carter Commerce City 11. 27 Wendi Lewis Johnstown 12. 28 Alan Carter Commerce City 13. 6 Jason Sharp Fountain 14. 08 Jace Hansen Broomfield 15. 42 Mark Neff Westiminster 16. 30 Jan Oxley Ft Lupton
Pro Trucks Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 7 Adam Deines Longmont 2. 43 Kody Vanderwal (R) La Salle 3. 2 AJ Warren Berthoud 4. 5 Troy Witthar Eastlake 5. 8 Jeff Walbaum Brighton 6. 34 Rudy Vanderwal La Salle 7. 47 Jesse Seigel Castle Rock 8. 36 Matt Burton Englewood 9. 9 Curtis Heldenbrand(R) Arvada 10. 3 John Negri III Byers
Legends Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 22 Chris Eggleston Thornton 2. 15 Danny Medina Colorado Springs 3. 6 Scotty Scott Arvada 4. 1w Jereme Wall Commerce City 5. 25 Adam Pechman Morrison 6. 46 Zach Witherwax Arvada 7. 19 Larry Pachello Arvada 8. 20 Kynzer Riddell Westminster 9. 66 Kyle Clegg Westminster 10. 16 Travis Roe Thronton 11. 2 Chris Cox Littleton 12. 51 AJ Canda Castle Rock 13. 17 BreAnn Adkison Cheyenne 14. 9 Terry McBride Edgewater 15. 32 Blair Cooper (R) Arvada 16. 48 Cody Dempster (R) Parter 17. 21 Ryan Jones Arvada 18. 26 Chris Brunker Lakewood 19. 57 Adam Osborne Fountain 20. 10 Adam Romero (R) Denver 21. 7 Corey Seip Littleton 22. 23 Austyn Radosta Pueblo 23. 47 Jason Hulvey Thornton