(09-29-2018 Dacono CO) The Sunbelt Rentals Championship night featured double main events for every division and not a single championship had been determined entering the night. Brett Yackey would finish up his rock solid season by taking home the Galitz Transportation Late Model title his second in 3 years. The other champions who were crowned were Kyle Ray in the SUNOCO Grand American Modifieds, Justin McKeachie in the Chick-Fil-A Figure 8s and Tyler Mander in the Lincoln Tech Pure Stocks.
Galitz Transportation Late Models
For 3 years running a Yackey has been awarded a track championship in the Galitz Transportation Late Models. Last year Brian Yackey was king of the division following Brett’s 2016 championship. This year Brett was once again crowned as he had a marvelous season winning 5 feature events on the year. Brett was pushed for the title by #76 Chad Cowen who also had a fantastic season and stayed within 11 points of Yackey entering the final night. But Yackey was smooth and confident and after a scare in the second feature avoiding a large crash directly in front of him cruised to the title. Yackey took home 5th and 2nd in the two features which was more than enough to top the points.
Brett Yackey the 2018 Late Model Champion (Starr photo)
Cowen on the other had had a roller coaster of a night by winning the preliminary feature event but being involved in the early race crash in the second feature which forced NASCAR officials to send him to the rear of the pack. Cowen would eventually salvage a 4th place finish but have to settle for the runner-up in the points chase.
Winning the final feature was #53 Nathan Gasser who added his second win on the season and an impressive top 5 finish in the points.
Nathan Gasser won the final Late Model race of 2018 (Starr photo)
Stellar rookie driver #07 David Hondel would take home Rookie of the Year honor.
Long time Late Model competitor Alan Carter made his final appearance in the division waving to the crowd as he led the field out for the final race. Carter’s support and devotion to the speedway is second to none and he will be sorely missed in the coming season and beyond.
Alan Cater in his final race at CNS (Starr photo)
2018 CHAMPION: 7y Brett Yackey 2018 Rookie of the Year: #07 David Hondel 40 Lap Feature: 53G Nathan Gasser Preliminary Feature: 76 Chad Cowen QUICK TIME: #76 Chad Cowen 17.665
SUNOCO Race Fuels Grand American Modifieds
The two feature events in the SUNOCO Race Fuels Grand American Modifieds were won by drivers who had either been in victory circle more than they could remember or one who made his first appearance there. Ed Vecchiarelli took home the first feature and added that trophy to his vast collection in the division. But the final feature was dominated by 44s Clint Schubert who after many close calls finally broke into victory lane. An enthusiastic Schubert thanked his crew, family and fans in winner’s circle after holding off 25x Cris Muhler who was making his first appearance in the GAMs in 2018.
Clint Schubert in winner’s circle at CNS (Starr photo)
Kyle Ray in the home built bright orange #58 Grand American Modified played it safe and stayed out of trouble cruising to his first track championship in the Grand American Modifieds and his second at the track adding to his 2014 Supermodified title. Ray entered the night with a slim lead on #44 Justin Case who took home 3rd in both feature events. Danny Liebert in the #77 GAM was awarded the 2018 Rookie of the Year Award.
Kyle Ray the 2018 Grand American Modified champ (Starr photo)
2018 CHAMPION: #58 Kyle Ray 2018 Rookie of the Year: #77 Danny Liebert 35 Lap Feature: 44s Clint Schubert Preliminary Feature: #18 Ed Vecchiarelli QUICK TIME: #58 Kyle Ray 17.264
Lincoln Tech Pure Stocks
Mike Stewart’s 33S Lincoln Tech Pure Stock was untouchable on the preliminary Pure Stock feature and also crossed the line first in the final race but a penalty would had the victory over to #7 David Robinson who would be victorious in the final Lincoln Tech Pure Stock race of 2018.
Yet all eyes were on #03 Tyler Mander and 99R Ryan Raley who entered the night 17 points apart in the final season standings. Not much changed after the first feature as Mander snagged 3rd place and Raley was 5th. But in the final feature bad luck hit Raley as he had a right rear go flat near the end of the race eliminating him from any hopes of a championship. Mander crossed the line 3rd in the final race which was more than good enough to earn him the season crown. Along with the championship Mander will be forced got move up to a higher division in 2019.
Tyler Mander is interviewed in winner’s circle after winning the 2018 Pure Stock championship.
2018 CHAMPION: #03 Tyler Mander
30 Lap Feature: #7 David Robinson Preliminary Feature: 33s Mike Stewart QUICK TIME: 33s Mike Stewart 20.414
Chick-Fil-A Figure 8s
Justin McKeachie grabbed his second Chick-Fil-A Figure 8 championship by taking 3rd in the preliminary feature and 4th in the final feature. Jared Wall who was in contention for the championship bettered McKeachie in both features by taking 2nd and 3rd but that wasn’t enough to take home Jared’s first Figure 8 title. McKeachie’s title broke Jereme Wall’s streak after winning the last 3 championships in a row at Colorado National Speedway. Justin’s other championship was in 2013 and now sets his sight on a repeat in 2019.
Justin McKeachie celebrates his second Figure 8 championship
As far as winner’s circle was concerned #15 Jereme Wall dominated the preliminary feature and #3 Joe Wolfe Jr. took home the final feature which was his first ever win in the division.
Wolfe Jr. in winner’s circle (Starr photo)
Daniel Wood in the #7 Figure 8 car was awarded the Rookie of the Year.
2018 CHAMPION: #50 Justin McKeachie 2018 Rookie of the Year: #7 Daniel Wood 40 Lap Feature: #3 Michael Wolfe Jr. Preliminary Feature: #15 Jereme Wall
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Late Model Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 53G Nathan Gasser Westminster 2. 7Y Brett Yackey Greeley 3. 24 Eric Bowers (R) Colorado Springs 4. 76 Chad Cowan Gering 5. 31 Derek Smith Mead 6. 07 Dave Hondel (R) Cheyenne 7. 98 Lee Kemmit Brighton 8. 9 Brent Cave Brighton 9. 85 Don Cole (R) Dacono 10. 28 Alan Carter Ogallala 11. 98P Natalie Phelps (R) Cheyenne 12. 3 Wade Grove Thronton 13. 6K Jonathan Knee (R) 14. 94 Kyle Morse Peyton 15. 27 Wendi Lewis Johnstown DNS 29 Rayshawn Carter Denver DNS 31S Chris Simpson Fountain
Late Model Preliminary Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 76 Chad Cowan Gering 2. 31 Derek Smith Mead 3. 53G Nathan Gasser Westminster 4. 07 Dave Hondel (R) Cheyenne 5. 7Y Brett Yackey Greeley 6. 98 Lee Kemmit Brighton 7. 85 Don Cole (R) Dacono 8. 6K Jonathan Knee (R) 9. 9 Brent Cave Brighton 10. 3 Wade Grove Thronton 11. 98P Natalie Phelps (R) Cheyenne 12. 94 Kyle Morse Peyton 13. 24 Eric Bowers (R) Colorado Springs 14. 27 Wendi Lewis Johnstown 15. 29 Rayshawn Carter Denver 16. 31S Chris Simpson Fountain 17. 28 Alan Carter Ogallala
Grand American Modified Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 44s Clint Schubert Calhan 2. 25x Cris Muhler 3. 44 Justin Case Brighton 4. 66 John Seely Paker 5. 59 Charlie Wilson Primrose 6. 18 Ed Vecchiarelli Brighton 7. 58 Kyle Ray Littleton 8. 77 Danny Liebert (R) 9. 13 Darin Clark Cheyenne 10. 72 Ryan Higgs (R) Lakewood 11. 22x Blane Lujan Pueblo West 12. 85 Dan Jagoditsh Cheyenne 13. 22 Brian Weinmaster
Grand American Modified Preliminary Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 18 Ed Vecchiarelli Brighton 2. 58 Kyle Ray Littleton 3. 44s Clint Schubert Calhan 4. 59 Charlie Wilson Primrose 5. 44 Justin Case Brighton 6. 66 John Seely Paker 7. 25x Cris Muhler 8. 77 Danny Liebert (R) 9. 85 Dan Jagoditsh Cheyenne 10. 22 Brian Weinmaster 11. 22x Blane Lujan Pueblo West 12. 72 Ryan Higgs (R) Lakewood 13. 13 Darin Clark Cheyenne
Figure 8 Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 3 Mike Wolfe Jr Westminster 2. 17 Harry Livermore Jr. Denver 3. 52 Jared Wall Commerce City 4. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora 5. 7 Daniel Wood (R) Greeley 6. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City 7. 35 Chris Voorhis Thornton 8. 9 Brent Cave Commerce City 9. 4 Sean Smith Greeley 10. 2 Jeremy Jackson Lakewood 11. 8 Brian McCartney (R) Colorado Springs 12. 12 Harvey Webb Jr Thornton 13. 18 Amanda Stepanich (R) Arvada 14. 88 Thomas Huffman
Figure 8 Preliminary Feature: Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 15 Jereme Wall Commerce City 2. 52 Jared Wall Commerce City 3. 50 Justin McKeachie Aurora 4. 35 Chris Voorhis Thornton 5. 17 Harry Livermore Jr. Denver 6. 3 Mike Wolfe Jr Westminster 7. 9 Brent Cave Commerce City 8. 7 Daniel Wood (R) Greeley 9. 4 Sean Smith Greeley 10. 18 Amanda Stepanich (R) Arvada 11. 12 Harvey Webb Jr Thornton 12. 8 Brian McCartney (R) Colorado Springs 13. 2 Jeremy Jackson Lakewood 14. 88 Thomas Huffman
Pure Stock FEATURE: Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 7 David Robinson Johnstown 2. 03 Tyler Mander Evans 3. 66 Tyler Van Den Elzen Greeley 4. 33S Mike Steward Byers 5. 60 Matt Hill Brighton 6. 18W Keanna Weber Henderson 7. 23G Michael Gallo Loveland 8. 02 Chan Raley Thornton 9. 51 Joseph Dike Westminster 10. 37 Scott Dent 11. 33X Chadron Denman Commerce City 12. 3T Christopher Galvin Thornton 13. 43X Terri Pugliese Northglenn 14. 31 Michael Mathiesen Dacono 15. 21 Jay Hill Denver 16. 99R Ryan Raley Jr Thornton 17. 23A Alyssa Salazar Arvada 18. 86 Tim Coate Highlands Ranch 19. 1NE Alexis Charette 20. 68J Matt Sowash Lakewood 21. 52 Chad Southerland Commerce City 22. 23 Jordan Abeyta Denver 23. 88 Jacob Poole Evans 24. 17B Tommy McCarty DNS 34 Ronald Johnson Wheat Ridge DNS 38C Colton Green Arvada
Pure Stock Preliminary Feature Pos No. Name Hometown 1. 33S Mike Steward Byers 2. 7 David Robinson Johnstown 3. 03 Tyler Mander Evans 4. 60 Matt Hill Brighton 5. 99R Ryan Raley Jr Thornton 6. 31 Michael Mathiesen Dacono 7. 23G Michael Gallo Loveland 8. 88 Jacob Poole Evans 9. 21 Jay Hill Denver 10. 52 Chad Southerland Commerce City 11. 33X Chadron Denman Commerce City 12. 02 Chan Raley Thornton 13. 3T Christopher Galvin Thornton 14. 37 Scott Dent 15. 68J Matt Sowash Lakewood 16. 34 Ronald Johnson Wheat Ridge 17. 66 Tyler Van Den Elzen Greeley 18. 43X Terri Pugliese Northglenn 19. 23A Alyssa Salazar Arvada 20. 23 Jordan Abeyta Denver 21. 1NE Alexis Charette 22. 86 Tim Coate Highlands Ranch 23. 18W Keanna Weber Henderson 24. 51 Joseph Dike Westminster 25. 38C Colton Green Arvada 26. 17B Tommy McCarty
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