SMITH HOLDS OFF BACKMAN TO WIN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPRING SIZZER AT COLORADO NATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Source: Geoff Briggs
Date: 04/09/2006

The Super Stocks were first out to qualify and Mike Cox set quick time with a 20.425 second lap. Ric Lothert was second quick and Emett Grazier was third quick. Joel Hansen set quick time in the Grand American Modifieds with his 16.935 lap which was jut better then Ed Vecchiarelli’s lap. Barney Visser was third quick for the Modifieds. In the Sportsman class, Davin Fisbeck set quick time with a 17.774 lap, while Rick Hunt and John Baker were second and third quick. Chris Archer set quick time in the Late Models with a 16.290, just holding off Scotty Backman’s 16.292 lap, Rick Smith was third quick.

The first Super Stock B rolled out with Russ Middaugh and Darrell Smith sharing the front row. Middaugh led early, but here came the Cox/Edwards/Grazier train. Mike Cox and Dennis Edwards worked up and split Middaugh in turn 3 on lap 5. Emett Grazier shuffled Middaugh back on lap 7. At the end it was Cox holding off Edwards, while Grazier, Middaugh, and Sandy Thompson rounded out the top five.

The first Sportsman B rolled out with Tommy Roe and Andy Lewis on the front row. The two were still side-by-side after the first lap with Roe inching ahead on lap 2. Craig Holmes took over second from Lewis and Chased down Roe on the third lap. JimBob Rogers moved into second on lap 6, and Rick Hunt was third on lap as Roe shuffled back. Holmes took the win over, Rogers, Hunt, Davin Fisbeck and Roe.

The Trophy Dash for the night was in the Grand American Modifieds, and Randy Milan took off from the pole and had Justin Case behind him. Ed Vecchiarelli briefly took over second, but fell back to third as Milan won over Case, Vecchiarelli, Joel Hansen and Ed Vecchiarelli Jr.

The second Super Stock B hit the track and Pat Addy led early over Mark Neff. Ric Lothert got by Neff on lap 7 and then Addy on lap 8 to take the win. Lothert was followed by Addy, Neff, Jeff Philpott, and Chris Vieth.

Nathan Gasser led early in the Grand American Modified B Main as Ronnie Stringfellow Jr. was coming through. Stringfellow took over the lead on lap 9 as Gasser started falling back. Jeff Purvis took over second from Gasser on lap 11, and Jason Fields was third on lap 12. Adam Shrove shuffled Gasser back to fifth on lap 13, as Stringfellow won over Purvis, Fields, Shrove, and Gasser.

Alan Carter led early in the second B main for the Sportsman class, but Eric Blackard took over control on lap 4. Jim Lahey and Mike Hawkins both spun for a lap 7 caution. Blackard took the win over Carter, and a 4-way battle between Stan Griffin, Jeff Webb, Brad Groff, and John Baker.

Dan Alamaa led early over Darren Robertson in the first Late Model B. Chris Eggleston moved into second on lap 9 and Joe James Jr was third on lap 10 as Robertson was hung out to dry. Alamaa took the win over Eggleston, James, Rick Smith, and Ronnie Hults. Bruce Yackey and Chris DeShon took off in the second Late Model B, before Roger Avants moved into second and a caution flew for Mike Hannah and John Luck spun in turn 3. Hannah moved into third on lap 4 with Dan Savage right behind him. John Luck moved into fifth and held off Scotty Backman until Backman got by on the last lap. Yackey won over Avants, Hannah, Savage, and Backman.

After pole-sitter Jereme Wall got going the right way in the #30 that was converted into a #15 Camaro, John Johnson took off in the first Figure 8 B. Dennis Stepanich moved into second on the third lap passing Harry Livermore Jr. Wall was back flagged for smoking on the fourth lap and pulled off. Stepanich took the lead on lap 5 and Johnson slid back as Joe Matlock and Ronnie Hults both got by lap 7. The finish was Stepanich, Matlock, Hults, Al Duran, and John Johnson. Dave Smith led early in the second B main and took off as he led JD Hafemeister. Hafemeister took over on lap 4 and Smith was black-flagged for leaking fluid. Harry Bragg moved into second and stayed there as Hafemeister won over Bragg, Phil Taylor, Joe Martinez, and Randy Grubb.

After s short break the Figure 8’s were ready for battle again as it was time for their A Main. Tammy Totos pitted before the green flag, and a caution flew on the first lap when Josh Moss and Harry Bragg tangled in turn 1. Mike Steward was dragging something and the tow truck lifted his car up, and took out the dragging parts. Dennis Stepanich led early, then Joe Matlock took over on lap 3 as Jereme Wall was again black-flagged for smoking. On lap 6 Mike Steward and Michael Wolfe parked at the track exit for a caution, and the fans were on their feet for JD Hafemeister as he was absolutely showing “No Fear” going through the X. Matlock now led Stepanich, Al Duran, and Harry Livermore Jr. Duran took second on lap 10, and Matlock spun heading to the X on lap 11. Stepanich was now second ahead of Bragg, Livermore and John Johnson. On lap 12 Phil Taylor spun and was facing the wall in turn 4. Joe Matlock moved quietly back up, and Jim Egli spun on the last lap ending his good run. Duran took the win over Stepanich, Bragg, Matlock, and Livermore.

The Super Stock main had Mike Cox challenging for the lead on the first lap as he led early over Ric Lothert Dennis Edwards, Emett Grazier, and AJ Grasso. Chris Vieth took over fifth on lap 7 and their was traffic everywhere. Cox and Lothert were battling for the lead through lapped traffic with Cox holding on. On the last lap, Scott Milan’s engine blew leaving oil around turn 3 and 4 which sent cars sliding, Milan’s car then caught fire in turn 1 and was quickly put out. Cox took the win over Lothert, Edwards, Grazier, and Vieth. The Super Stock main was ran caution free.

The Modifieds were next out to do battle and leading early was Jim Stivaletta over Ed Vecchiarelli, Joel Hansen and Nathan Gasser. Nick Martinez lost his fuel cell cover in turn 3 on lap 9 for a caution. Randy Milan sparked off to the infield on lap 11. Ed Vecchiarelli Jr took fourth from Gasser on lap 13. On lap 16 Vecchiarelli shot to the inside of Stivaletta for the lead, with Hansen in tow. Vecchiarelli and Hansen started their battle and Barney Visser got into the front wall and got down off the track. At the white flag, Vecchiarelli had a nose on Hansen. As the two raced down the back-stretch Hansen edged out in front, but Pete Jurikovich was stopped in turn 1. As the two raced around turn 4 the caution flew. Track rules state that if a yellow comes out on the last lap, the finish goes back to the prior lap. Therefore Vecchiarelli got the win over Hansen, Stivaletta, Vecchiarelli Jr and Ronnie Stringfellow Jr. Vecchiarelli got out and started bowing to his car.

JimBob Rogers led early in the Sportsman main over Rick Hunt and Davin Fisbeck. Scott Estes spun in turn 1 on the second lap and Mike Hawkins pitted. Adam Gastineau looked to be on fire so a caution was flown on lap 7. On the restart, contact from Craig Holmes sent Jim Lahey spinning and collecting Tommy Roe. Holmes was sent to the rear. On the restart, Stan Griffin broke and he pulled in, but couldn’t get off the track so another caution was thrown. Rogers led Hunt, Fisbeck, John Baker, and Brad Groff. On lap 13 John Baker broke and pulled into the infield. Tommy Roe and Erik Blackard shuffled Lahey back on lap 20 and Blackard passed Roe for sixth. Fisbeck and Groff got around Hunt late, but Rogers took the win over Fisbeck Groff Hunt, and Jeff Webb.

Ronnie Hults led early in the late model main over Joe James Jr and Rick Smith. Darren Crocker, Darren Bucklen, and Darren Robertson all tangled on lap 4 with Robertson into the front wall. Smith moved into second on lap 21, and started chasing down Hults. On lap 30, Rick Smith took over commands and Scotty Backman moved into second another lap later and pressured Smith. Hults was now third over James, and Archer. Roger Avants moved into fourth by the lap 38 caution for a spun Mike Hannah. Smith held off Backman for the win, with Hults, Avants, and James rounding out the top 5.

Results from the "Rocky Mountain Spring Sizzler" held April 8th at Colorado National Speedway.

Figure 8 1. 23 Al Duran; 2. 18 Dennis Stepanich; 3. 80 Harry Bragg; 4. 22 Joe Matlock; 5. 04 Harry Livermore Jr; 6. 90 John Johnson; 7. 81 Dave Smith; 8. 25 Phil Taylor; 9. 21 Joshua Moss; 10. 7 Randy Grubb; 11. 84 JD Hafemeister; 12. 24 Joe Martinez; 13. 42 Ronnie Hults; 14. 08 Jim Egli; 15. 86 Shirley Thompson; 16. 83 Michael Wolfe; 17. 9 Mike Steward; 18. 15 Jereme Wall; 19. 69 Tammy Totos

Super Stocks 1. 3 Mike Cox; 2. 46 Ric Lothert; 3. 00 Dennis Edwards; 4. 33 Emett Grazier; 5. 79 Chris Vieth; 6. 41 Scott Milan; 7. 32 Mark Neff; 8. 51 Jeff Philpott; 9. 92 AJ Grasso; 10. 82 Sandy Thompson; 11. 34 Pat Addy; 12. 43 Russ Middaugh; 13. 75 Aaron Gailey; 14. 74 Mark Sopr; 15. 17 Dustin Atchley; 16. 02 Darrell Smith; 17. 5 Chris Naeb; 18. 81 Bob Foster; 19. 45 DJ Neff; 20. 48 Jeff Manchester; 21. 10 Mario Garramone; 22. 30 Connie Cox; 23. 8 Bruce Borchardt; 24. 62 Joel Sidell; 25. 58 Tim Weaver; 26. 52 Alex Jurys Jr; 27. 70 Tim Kiefer.

Grand American Modified 1. 18 Ed Vecchairelli; 2. 8 Joel Hansen; 3. 48 Ed Vecchiarelli Jr; 4. 71 Jim Stivaletta; 5. 38 Ronnie Stringfellow Jr; 6. 69 Forrest Smith; 7. 44 Justin Case; 8. 25 Nathan Gasser; 9. 39 Jason Fields; 10. 21 Jeff Purvis; 11. 28 JD Gresham; 12. 22 Mike Castagno; 13. 01 Terry Tjarks; 14. 52 Adam Shrove; 15. 46 Sam Calvetti; 16. 77 Jeff Hansen; 17. 7 Jon Lincicome; 18. 73 Barney Visser; 19. 6 Ryan Moore; 20. 74 Nick Martinez; 21. 11 Thomas Evans; 22. 85 Randy Milan; 23. 3 Pete Jurickovich.

Sportsman 1. 62s JimBob Rogers; 2. 32s Davin Fisbeck; 3. 08s Brad Groff; 4. 02s Rick Hunt; 5. 58s Jeff Webb; 6. 46s Eric Blackard; 7. 7s Tommy Roe; 8. 5s Jim Lahey; 9. 4s Matt Curless; 10. 24s Andy Lewis; 11. 55s Craig Holmes; 12. 39s Scott Estes; 13. 28s Alan Carter; 14. 88s Steve Green; 15. 93s John Baker; 16. 43s Stan Griffin; 17. 97s Adam Gastineau; 18. 47s Bryan Anglim; 19. 63s Mike Hawkins.

Late Models 1. 31 Rick Smith; 2. 5 Scotty Backman; 3. 42 Ronnie Hults; 4. 27 Roger Avants; 5. 54 Joe James Jr; 6. 74 Dan Savage; 7. 12 Bruce Yackey; 8. 24 Chris DeShon; 9. 22 Chris Eggleston; 10. 28 Dan Alamaa; 11. 70 John Luck; 12. 15 Mike Hannah; 13. 9 Chris Atkinson; 14. 76 Chad Cowan; 15. 78 Darren Crocker; 16. 06 Mike Gallegos; 17. 29 David Johnson; 18. 61 Chris Archer; 19. 11 Darren Robertson; 20. 66 Darren Bucklen; 21. 8 Larry Hunter.

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