HOLMES WINS THE UNITED POWER/TOUCHSTONE ENERGY 150

Source: G. Briggs
Date: 08/20/2006

The Auto Trader/Touchstone Energy 150 for the NASCAR Elite Midwest and Southwest tour will go down in record books as the last ever race for these groups in Colorado. Eric Holmes will also go down in record books as he took his Paul Oil/Taco Bell Chevrolet to victory circle Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway in the 150-lap race. Chris Leaf pushed his Garza Concrete & Structures Chevrolet to the win in the Snap-On Tools Pro Truck main event. In the wingless Modified Coupe race, Paul Deines dominated the field in his 44th Ave. Automotive ride. Dennis Stepanich got some lucky breaks and held off Ronnie Hults for his first win of the season in the Figure 8 main. Steel Dragon took the Train race.

The Pro Trucks started off the main event action and Mike Bowen and Chris Leaf were on the front row. Adam Deines was in the Mike Bernard truck after breaking his truck in practice. Leaf led the first lap over Bowen then Paul Deines and Beau Kellogg spun on lap 2 for a caution. Leaf continued to lead over Bowen, Rick Runkle, Richard Burton and Kellogg. Jimmy Donaldson took over fifth on lap 7 and Adam Deines pulled off. Some great racing was going on between Runkle and Burton, and Donaldson and Kellogg as they raced for positions. Burton moved into third on lap 18 and Kellogg was back in fifth. Kellogg caught Runkle and started making a move for fourth, but was running out of time. Leaf won over Bowen, Burton, Runkle and Kellogg. With the finish, Burton leads the points by 4 over Kellogg.

Bob Land and Paul Brendenberg were on the front row for the Modified Coupe main and Scott Steinman spun for a restart. Bob Land led the first lap over Deines and Deines stormed by on lap 2 bringing Gary Land with him. Brice Rhoades moved into third over Wayne Swanson and Joseph St. Peter. Deines took the win over G Land, Swanson, Frank Denning and Rich Bubak.

The Figure 8 main event hit the track with Shirley Thompson and Jereme Wall on the front row. A first lap altercation sent John Johnson through the infield and Al Duran spinning and both continued. Harry Bragg led early over Dennis Stepanich, Joe Matlock, Dennis Stepanich Jr and Johnson. On lap 3 there was an X-hit between Bragg and Vic Johnsen in his first Figure 8 race. Johnsen was in the former Nick Martinez ride and Stepanich no led Matlock, Stepanich Jr, Johnson, and Wall. Johnson took third on lap 3 and Ronnie Hults was now fifth. Another caution flew on lap 4 for Jereme Wall spinning, Wall started loosing body panels and pitted. Hults was up to fourth on the restart and Stepanich continued to lead. Hults took third and another X hit occurred when Stepanich Jr slammed into Bobby Duran’s door for a lap 7 caution. Duran slid to a stop in the intersection to miss the leaders and Stepanich Jr didn’t see Duran sitting there until it was too late. Caution flew on lap 9 for Mike Wolfe spinning after the X and getting tapped by Harry Livermore Jr. Johnson was dragging something and sparking so he was sent off the track. Matlock fell back on lap 10 and Stepanich took the lead. Hults was now second over Dave Smith, A Duran and Randy Grubb. Dennis Stepanich Jr came out of the pits and pulled out in front of Justin McKeachie. McKeachie climbed on top of Stepanich Jr for a lap 19 caution. Stepanich won by a fender over Hults, Smith, A Duran and Grubb.

David Mayhew and Rip Michels were on the front row for the United Power/Touchstone Energy 150. Michels had the early lead and Jim Sikes spun for a lap 5 caution flag. Michels led Steve Carlson, Mayhew, Eric Holmes and Thomas Martin. Carlson took the top spot on lap 9 and Mayhew moved into second as Michels fell back. By lap 30, Carlson still led over Mayhew, Tim Schendel, Holmes and Martin. By lap 50, Schendel was up to second and chasing down Carlson. Schendel took control of the lead by lap 57 and Holmes was now second over Carlson, Martin and Mayhew. Holmes took control on lap 67 with Schendel back to second ahead of Carlson, Mayhew and Cris Muhler. Muhler was up to fourth by the midway mark and then tagged the wall for a lap 76 caution knocking him back. Muhler was having a great run as he just moved into fourth. Mayhew was back up to the fourth spot on the restart ahead of Michels. Michels moved into fourth knocking Mayhew back to fifth on the restart. On lap 96, a big tangle occurred between Bruce Yackey, Dave Finley, Martin, and Avants on the back-stretch. Dan Frederickson was black-flagged under the caution and Holmes continued to lead over Schendel, Carlson, Michels and Mayhew. By lap 115, Josh Vadnais made his way into the fifth position. With 20 laps remaining, Holmes continued to lead over Schendel, Carlson, Michels and Mayhew. On lap 138, David Finney broke and went up in sparks in turn 2 for a caution flag. Holmes took the win over Schendel, Carlson, Michels and Mayhew.

Last Call and ½ Fool and Plum M.T. were on the front row for the train race. Last Call led the first lap over Snafu and ½ Fool and Plum M.T. Termin-8-or was second on lap 2 and Last Call was checking out. Termin-8-or took third from Snafu on lap 3. Snafu spun out on lap 5 and ½ Fool and Plum M.T. was third on lap 5. Termin-8-or took the lead on lap 6 as Last Call slowed in the X. Last Call and Termin-8-or collided and collected Snafu. ½ Fool and Plum M.T. now led over Steel Dragon and Santa’s Express. Steel Dragon took over on lap 8 and Steel Dragon took another win over ½ Fool and Plum M.T, Santa’s Express, Termin-8-or and Last Call.

In early afternoon qualifying, Richard Burton was quick time in the Pro Trucks with a 16.745 lap. Paul Deines was second quick over Beau Kellogg. In the Modified Coupe qualifying Paul Deines set quick time with a 16.991. Joseph St Peter with a wing on his helmet was second quick over Gary Land. John Johnson running an awesome hood with a tribute to his dad set quick time with a 28.393 in the Figure 8 division. Ronnie Hults was second quick over Harry Bragg. In the qualifying for the Southwest/Midwest Tour race, Tim Schendel set quick time with a 16.177. Eric Holmes was second quick over Thomas Martin.

In The first B-Main the Modified Coupes hit the track with Joe Sullivan and Carl Vair on the front row. Vair led early until Paul Deines took over on lap 2. Greg McLaughlin spun on lap 3 and Deines led over Frank Denning, Gary Land, Vair and Bruce Rhoades. Rhoades took fourth on lap 6. Deines won over Denning, Land, Rhoades and Vair.

The first of 2 B-Mains for the Figure 8 division had Shirley Thompson and Harry Livermore Jr on the front row. Livermore led the first lap as Matlock spun in turn 3. Dave Smith took the lead on lap 2 and led over Harry Bragg, Dennis Stepanich, John Johnson and Livermore. Livermore spun for a lap 5 caution flag and clipped a tire and Phil Taylor was put to the back. Matlock moved into fifth on lap 6 and reeled in the leaders. Smith took the win with Bragg, Stepanich, Johnson and Matlock all following.

The Last Chance race for the Tour cars was neck on the agenda and 10 cars started with 6 moving on to the 150-lapper. Dave Finley was on the pole for the 20-lap race with Stephan Sadler to his outside. Muhler led the first lap over Sadler with Bob Lyon taking over second on lap 2. Caution flew on lap 5 for Bobby Latham spinning in turn 1 to bunch up the field behind Muhler. Lyon was second on the restart over Roger Avants, Darren Bucklen and Sadler. Cody Pruitt was hanging onto the last transfer spot, but Brandon Loverock was right on his tail. At the finish, Muhler won over Lyon, Avants, Bucklen and Sadler with Pruitt getting the last transfer position. Loverock, Trevor Morrical, Danny Mientka and Latham were done for the evening.

The Pro Truck B-Main was next to hit the track and Jake Snider spun on the first lap and Mike Bowen was up front over Chris Leaf and Jimmy Donaldson. Bowen won over Leaf, Donaldson, David Johnson and Billy Harkins.

The second Modified Coupe B-Main hit the track next with Bill Willingham on the pole with Paul Brendenberg to his outside. Willingham had help and spun in turn 3 and Scott Steinman spun to miss Willingham. On the next attempt, Bill Willingham broke before the flagstand for another restart. On the third attempt, Jim Weese was now on the pole next to Brendenberg. Wayne Swanson led early over Jim Brederson. Brederson took the lead on lap 4 and Steven St. Peter broke for a lap 5 caution. The Invader from Texas, Brederson took the win with Bubak, Marv Slusser, Weese and Joseph St. Peter following.

The second Figure 8 B-Main was next out and Mike Wolfe Jr was on the front row with Bobby Duran to the outside. Randy Grubb led lap 1 over Joe Martinez. Al Duran was second on lap 3 over Martinez, Dennis Stepanich Jr, and Ronnie Hults. Duran took over on lap 8 with Martinez in second over Stepanich, Hults, and Grubb. Craig Moore took over fifth on lap 6 and then was back-flagged for smoking. Grubb was back in fifth and Duran won over Martinez, Stepanich, Hults and Grubb.

The Pro Truck dash was next for the 4 fastest qualifiers. Rick Runkle was on the front row with Beau Kellogg to the outside. Runkle led the first lap over Kellogg, Richard Burton and Paul Deines. Runkle won over Kellogg, Burton and Deines.

United Power/Touchstone Energy 150 Colorado National Speedway Saturday August 19, 2006

Snap-On Tools Pro Truck Main Event 1. 07 Chris Leaf, Kersey; 2. 21 Mike Bowen, Brighton; 3. 36 Richard Burton, Englewood; 4. 55 Rick Runkle, Lakewood; 5. 33 Beau Kellogg, Denver; 6. 14 Jimmy Donaldson, Arvada; 7. 0 Billy Harkins, Lakewood; 8. 17 Paul Deines, Longmont; 9. 78 Mark Bybee, Sedalia; 10. 23 Jake Snider, Grand Junction; 11. 02 Steve Johnson, Windsor; 12. 7 Adam Deines, Longmont; 13. 29 David Johnson Jr, Denver.

CARC Modified Coupe Main Event 1. 04 Paul Deines, Longmont; 2. 55 Gary Land, Littleton; 3. 21 Wayne Swanson, Golden; 4. 90 Frank Denning III, Arvada; 5. 12 Rick Bubak, Golden; 6. 30 Bruce Rhoades, Westminster; 7. 87 Joseph St. Peter, Englewood; 8. 57 Greg McLaughlin, Arvada; 9. 44 Jim Weese, Denver; 10. 48 Marv Slusser, Denver; 11. 99 Bob Land, Englewood; 12. 7 Paul Brendenberg, Broomfield; 13. 45 Carl Vair, Golden; 14. 07 Jim Brederson, Hondo, TX; 15. 51 Joe Sullivan, Denver; 16. 64 Scott Steinman, Westminster; 17. 18 Dean Carr, Aurora.

Figure 8 Main Event 1. 18 Dennis Stepanich, Arvada; 2. 42 Ronnie Hults, Centennial; 3. 81 Dave Smith, Englewood; 4. 23 Al Duran, Lakewood; 5. 7 Randy Grubb, Lakewood; 6. 25 Phil Taylor, Leadville; 7. 82 Mike Wolfe Sr, Englewood; 8. 90 John Johnson, Golden; 9. 83 Mike Wolfe Jr, Englewood; 10. 50 Justin McKeachie, Aurora; 11. 86 Shirley Thompson, Broomfield; 12. 22 Joe Matlock, Aurora; 13. 24 Joe Martinez, Centennial; 14. 04 Harry Livermore Jr, Commerce City; 15. 91 Bobby Duran, Ft. Lupton; 16. 8 Dennis Stepanich Jr, Arvada; 17. 15 Jereme Wall, Commerce City; 18. 80 Harry Bragg, Castle Rock; 19. 28 Vic Johnsen, Denver.

Witthar Racing Train Main Event 1. 0 Steel Dragon; 2. 43 1/2 Fool and Plum M.T.; 3. 25 Santa's Express; 4. 8 Termin-8-or; 5. 86 Last Call; 6. 6 Galloping Goose; 7. 80 The SNAFU Train

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