Boise, Idaho--When the NAPA Auto Parts Rocky Mountain Challenge Series returns to Rocky Mountain Raceway located outside Salt Lake City, Utah, all teams will be focused on the championship battle. Meridian, Idaho's Bryan Warf, currently third in the standings, captured the last 125-lap event at RMR and has moved to within 87-points of point leader Zan Sharp. The series will make its fourth visit this season to the 3/8-mile paved oval this Saturday night with the running of the NAPA Auto Parts "125".
Zan Sharp from Wellsville, Utah holds a 52-point advantage over second generation driver David Minegar of Kuna, Idaho after ten events on 13-race 2005 schedule. Sharp has his eyes squarely focused on a second championship and continues to challenge for the top spot at every event. He has scored eight top five finishes in ten races this season including two wins. He has also completed all 850 laps run this season. His consistency and ability to qualify well has positioned the ten year racing veteran to claim that second title.
"This has been a tough year," Sharp said. "We have struggled a bit qualifying but we have been consistent. Winning two weeks ago at Meridian was a big boost to the team."
While sharp leads the standings, David Minegar is looking to back up his two victories this season and close the gap on point leader Sharp with a return trip to the winner's circle this weekend. "Racing at RMR involves a lot of luck, Minegar said. "We have had good runs there in the past, but we will have to be there at the end. We have a great car and team and if the cards fall our way we will be in contention at the end of the event."
Warf, Craig Bell, and Dennis Wurtz round out the top ten in the standings and will need a lot of luck in order to make a run at the title. The RMCS inverts the top twenty cars after qualifying to start the event and then awards passing points for each positioned gained in the race. Qualifying is one key to success in the second year series.
Driver's outside the top five in points hoping to make a statement at RMR this weekend include James Eaton, a multi-time winner at RMR, Retro-Design Rookie-of-the-Year leader John Newhouse, Tom Hill, fellow rookie David Doan and John Dillon. Only Dillon and Eaton out of the second five has visited victory lane this season.
More than 30 drivers from across the Intermountain West representing four states are expected at this event to battle for one of 24 starting positions in the feature event. Qualifying will be at premium at RMR as the RMCS uses a format not found in other touring series. The fastest twenty qualifiers are locked into the main event but will be inverted, putting the twentieth fast qualifier on the pole. This format produces side-by-side racing action that fans and promoter's desire. The four drivers that transfer from the non-qualifiers race will line up at the rear of the field for the 125-lap main event.
Rocky Mountain Raceway was constructed in 1998 and has turned into the regions marquee facility hosting a wide range of Motorsports events over the past seven years. Events ranging from Drag Racing to Rock Crawls are on tap at the SLC facility. The 3/8-mile paved oval has hosted the NAPA Auto Parts Rocky Mountain Challenge Series eight times since 2004.
Hoosier Racing Tire is the official tire of the NAPA Auto Parts Rocky Mountain Challenge Series in 2005. RMCS contingency sponsors include: NAPA Auto Parts, ESI Construction, Maverik Country Stores, Mirage Trailers, Energy Release, Dillon Racing Products, Five Star Racecar Bodies, Pro Shock, PowerTrain Technology, Simpson Race Products, A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning, Sharp Transportation, Nesmith Racing Engines, Retro-Design, Frank's Radio's.
The NAPA Auto Parts Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is a regional touring series that allows competitors to gain experience on different types of asphalt oval tracks up to 3/8-mile in length. It is a high-quality, professional racing series that offers maximum opportunity at an affordable price serving the Intermountain West. The motto of the series is to "Race Hard and Have Fun!" The race at RMR this weekend is the second of a special three race extra distance event sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts. The season finale September 17 at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho will feature a 150-lap contest.
NAPA was founded in 1928 to meet America's growing need for a world-class auto parts distribution system. By providing excellent customer service for more than 75 years, NAPA has become the industry leader.
NAPA's strength is unrivaled, with 6,000 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores, 58 Distribution Centers, over 12,000 affiliated NAPA AutoCare repair facilities; over 300,000 parts and accessories in inventory every day, and more ASE-Certified Parts Professionals than anyone in the industry.
In addition to being America's first choice for automotive parts and accessories, NAPA is also a leading supplier of specialty parts and equipment for the collision repair, heavy-duty truck, and industrial markets. And NAPA tools and equipment set the industry standard for quality and value. NAPA serves automotive consumers through the UAP division in Canada, Auto Todo in Mexico and with other locations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
Race Facts
What: Race 11 of 13 for the NAPA Auto Parts Rocky Mountain Challenge Series
Where: Rocky Mountain Raceway (West Valley, Utah)
When: Qualifying 6 p.m. PST, Racing at 7 pm Saturday, August 27.
Track layout: 3/8-Mile Banked Paved Oval
Race length: 125 laps
Format: Fastest 20 qualifiers inverted into main event with four (4) drivers transferring from the 25-lap non-qualifiers race.
2005 Race Winners at RMR: Craig Bell, James Eaton, Bryan Warf
2004 Track record: Zan Sharp, 15.221 seconds
Track contact: Doug Binstock, 801-252-9557
Websites:
www.rockymountainchallengeseries.com
www.rmrracing.com
NAPA Rocky Mountain Challenge Series
Standings as of August 13, 2005
Following Race 10 at Meridian Speedway, Meridian, ID
Pos Car Driver Hometown Points $Won Starts/Wins/T5/T10/Laps
1 84 Zan Sharp Wellsville, UT 1,626 $ 5,163 10 2 8 8 850
2 9 Dave Minegar Boise, ID 1,574 $ 5,000 10 2 4 8 821
3 32 Bryan Warf Meridian, ID 1,539 $ 4,138 10 1 7 10 850
4 27 Craig Bell Kuna, ID 1,449 $ 3,988 10 2 7 8 775
5 01 Dennis Wurtz Kuna, ID 1,380 $ 3,600 10 0 2 8 696
6 85 James Eaton West Jordan, UT 1,312 $ 3,388 10 1 2 6 805
7 26 John Newhouse Twin Falls, ID 1,198 $ 2,938 10 0 4 7 728
8 12 Tom Hill Eagle, ID 1,169 $ 2,825 10 0 4 6 724
9 77 David Doan Kuna, ID 817 $ 1,950 9 0 0 3 528
10 25 John Dillon Eagle, ID 747 $ 2,175 6 1 1 3 444
2005 Race Winners
Driver Car# Laps Track
1 Mike Murgoitio Meridian, ID 17 75 Magic Valley Speedway
2 Craig Bell Kuna, ID 27 75 Rocky Mountain Raceways
3 Dave Minegar Boise, ID 9 75 Meridian Speedway
4 Zan Sharp Wellsville, UT 84 75 Magic Valley Speedway
5 James Eaton West Jordan, UT 85 125 Rocky Mountain Raceways
6 Craig Bell Kuna, ID 27 75 Idaho Motor Speedway MX
7 Bryan Warf Meridian, ID 32 75 Rocky Mountain Raceways
8 John Dillon Eagle, ID 25 125 Idaho Motor Speedway MX
9 Dave Minegar Boise, ID 9 75 Magic Valley Speedway
10 Zan Sharp Wellsville, UT 84 75 Meridian Speedway
Sharp Powder Coating Pole Winners
Driver Car# Time MPH Track
1 Dennis Wurtz Jr. Kuna, ID 01 14.505 82.647 Magic Valley Speedway
2 John Dillon Eagle, ID 25 15.414 87.583 Rocky Mountain Raceways
3 John Dillon Eagle, ID 25 13.651 65.929 Meridian Speedway
4 Dave Minegar Boise, ID 9 14.359 83.488 Magic Valley Speedway
5 Nick Parker Kearns, UT 30 15.322 88.109 Rocky Mountain Raceways
6 James Eaton West Jordan, UT85 15.563 86.744 Idaho Motor Speedway MX
7 Nick Parker Kearns, UT 30 15.510 87.041 Rocky Mountain Raceways
8 Dave Minegar Boise, ID 9 15.749 85.720 Idaho Motor Speedway MX
9 Dave Minegar Boise, ID 9 14.316 83.738 Magic Valley Speedway
10 James Eaton West Jordan, UT85 13.677 65.804 Meridian Speedway
Retro Design Rookie of the Year Standings
Driver Car # Points
1 John Newhouse 26 97
2 David Doan 77 75
3 Nick Gibson 31 33
4 Bruce Quale 92 19
5 Dalton Zehr 51 10
6 Bruce Rennemann7 2 8
7 Jody South 107 8 8
8 Kelly Bettridge 48 7
Series Lap Leaders
Driver Car # Laps Led
1 Bryan Warf Meridian, ID 32 129
2 Craig Bell Kuna, ID 27 119
3 Mike Murgoitio Meridian, ID 17 108
4 John Newhouse Twin Falls, ID 26 81
5 James Eaton West Jordan, UT 85 67
6 Dave Doan Kuna, ID 77 48
7 Dave Minegar Boise, ID 9 46
8 Tom Hill Eagle, ID 12 45
9 John Wong Parma, ID 3 43
10 Zan Sharp Wellsville, UT 84 42
11 Joe Miller Tooele, UT 73 19
12 Wade Frey Bountiful, UT 8 18
13 Jeff Hillock Spanish Fork, UT 36 18
14 Chad Cannon Nampa, ID 20 17
15 Lee Hackney Boise, ID 91 17
16 Phil Dugan Nampa, ID 88 16
17 Craig Doehling Boise, ID 41 9
18 John Dillon Eagle, ID 25 7
19 Rus Ward Meridian, ID 55 1
