(WEST VALLEY CITY, UT): After a week break, the drivers of the PPG Modified Series returned to action at Rocky Mountain Raceways Saturday. The week's rest paid off as they put on a show for the fans during a double main event. In the end, though, both mains came down to two drivers-Gary Madsen and Lynn Hardy.
Madsen was strong all night. He opened the night with a win in the trophy dash. He followed that up with a win and a runner-up finish in the main events. The win came during the first main. Madsen started 13th in the 20-car field. He steadily worked his way through traffic. Madsen broke into the top five on lap six. Madsen moved into second on lap 17 after second place Roger Wilson got into the back of leader Jim Eaton. Both cars spun. Eaton was given his spot back while Wilson was sent to the back of the pack for causing the accident. That put Madsen on Eaton's bumper, which was all he needed. Following the restart, Madsen got around Eaton for the lead. He led to the finish, crossing the line about 4.20 seconds ahead of Hardy, Eaton, Michael Hale and Ron Moser.
In the second main event, Madsen would have to settle for second behind Hardy. Madsen and Hardy started the main event near the back of the 19-car field-Madsen started 12th while Hardy started 16th. Early on, the battle at the front was between the cars of Jim Cooksey and Patrick Vogel. As those two battled for the lead, Madsen and Hardy worked through the field. Hardy was able to get through quicker. He jumped into the top five on lap 13 and then worked into second on lap 20. It was only a matter of time before he would get to the front. On the following lap, Hardy jumped next to Cooksey on the backstretch and then took the lead coming out of turn four. He would lead to the finish, but it wouldn't be an easy ride to the victory. Madsen had also worked his way through traffic by this time and he followed Hardy around Cooksey on lap 22. He would stay on the back bumper of Hardy. Madsen took several looks to the inside of Hardy, but he couldn't make them stick. Hardy crossed the line about a quarter of a second ahead of Madsen, Hale, Cooksey and Vogel.
In other action, Tony Walters put an end to the four-race win streak of James Burman Jr. in the Aire Tech Super Stocks. Walters took the lead from Stanley Webster on lap 13 of 25 and held off the rest of the pack to pick up his first win of 2000. He crossed the line 1.47 seconds ahead of Dennis Thomas, Burman, Gregory Young and Nick Parker. Burman and Webster won the heat races while Parker won the trophy dash.
Clint Kidd topped the field in the Maverik Late Models main event. Brett Thompson, Russell Butler, Gary Porter and Don Beamis rounded out the top five. Beamis won a heat race and the trophy dash. Rick Ellison won the other heat race.
Michael Schultz held off the field in the Legends main event. He was followed by Doyle Olsen, Jeff Kelley, Josh Crook and Brandon Burton. Schultz also won a heat race while Olsen won the other heat race and the trophy dash.
Nathan Christensen picked up the win in the AIS Super Mini Cup main event. He was followed by Michael Laing, Allen Mathis, Dave Adamson and Ron Binstock. Christensen also won the trophy dash while Laing won the heat race.
On Friday, RMR hosted the third Street Legal "Gambler" Series race of 2000. For Brandon Albritton, it was the third straight win in the High School Eliminator class. Albritton's win came during a double breakout in the final round. Albritton and challenger Jeromy Laws both ran too quick during the final pass, but Albritton was closer to his dial-in time, giving him the win.
Winners in other races were: Bruce Coggins, Street Legal Outlaw; Brandon Lundeen, Street Legal Heavy; R. Mark Bremer, Sound Warehouse Mini; Brad Deleeuw, Street Legal Truck; Alex Zinaich, Street Legal Motorcycle; and Randy Muchmore, Tri-City Polaris Snowmobiles.
Albritton's win helped him increase his points lead in the High School Eliminator class. Following Friday's action, the season points leaders are: Coggins, Street Legal Outlaw; Chris Hall, Street Legal Heavy; Bremer, Sound Warehouse Mini; Richard DaBell, Street Legal Truck; Kirk Walton, Street Legal Motorcycle; and Rod Harris, Tri-City Polaris Snowmobiles.
The action continues next weekend at RMR with the first major oval track race
of 2000. Some of the best drivers in the West will hit the 3/8-mile oval as
the track hosts the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series in the 2nd Annual
Snap-on 125. The 125-lap race will feature cars that are slightly smaller
versions of those run in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Matt Crafton returns
to the track as the defending race winner. For more information on the race,
call the track at (801) 252-9557 or visit RMR on the web at
www.rmrracing.com.
