LEAF WINS THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS AT COLORADO NATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Source: G.Briggs
Date: 09/11/2006

Chris Leaf took the Snap-On Tools Pro Truck Main Event on Saturday Night during the Race of Champions at Colorado National Speedway. Dennis Stepanich held off a late charge by Ronnie Hults to win the Figure 8 Main Event. Gary Taylor passed Kyle Ray late in the race to claim another RMMRA Midget Main Event and the track championship. In the Winged Sprints, Jeff Wheeler held off a charging Nick Haygood to win the Main Event. Terry Plummer won the battle in the RMLRA Legend Car Main Event, but Chris Eggleston won the war as he claimed the track championship. In the Modified Coupes, Paul Deines dominated the race while Wayne Swanson took the track championship!

Phil Taylor and Randy Grubb were the front row for the Figure 8 Main Event and Taylor led Grubb on the first lap over Dave Smith. Joe Matlock spun for a lap 2 caution to bunch the field. Dennis Stepanich moved into fourth over Ronnie Hults. Smith got wicked loose trying to pass Grubb and fell back putting Bragg into fifth. Harry Livermore Jr broke for a lap 5 caution. Another caution flew before another lap was completed when Al Duran and John Johnson tangles with Johnson pitting. Stepanich took second on lap 6 and reeled in Taylor. Stepanich took the lead on lap 8 from Grubb. Stephen Webb spun on lap 9 and continued. Vic Johnsen pun to avoid a collision on lap 12 and Hults moved into second. Jim Egli broke and laid fluid down on the track, then Stephen Webb, Joe Martinez and Dave Smith tangled in the fluid. After a lengthy cleanup, the racing resumed with Stepanich leading Hults, Matlock, Smith and Taylor. Bragg broke on lap 18 and Stepanich won over Hults, Matlock, Smith and Taylor. Taylor was disqualified in post-race inspection moving Grubb to the fifth position.

Greg Schaefer took the early lead in the Midget Main Event. Kyle Ray moved into second early over Tony Rossi, Kyle Rayburn and Chris Shiel. Gary Taylor was fourth on lap 5. Ray took over the lead and opened up a good margin over Taylor, Rossi, Schaefer and Shiel. Kyle Rayburn broke on lap 12 and was slow on the bottom of the track. Scott Fennell broke for a lap 15 caution flag to bunch the field. Ray continued to lead on the restart with Rossi in third. Taylor took the lead on lap 22 and won over Ray, Rossi, Shiel and the final car that finished, Brandon Lee.

Kevin Schramek and Julee Jamison were on the front row for the Sprint Car Main Event. Jamison took the early lead over Jeff Wheeler. Wheeler took command on lap 3 over Jamison, Rich Bubak, Chad Corken and Nick Haygood. Bubak got around Jamison in lapped traffic on lap 12 with Haygood moving into third over Jamison and Corken. Haygood took second on lap 14 right before Jamison broke for a caution. Wheeler continued to dominate over Haygood with Corken, Bubak and Jace Penetta following. Haygood reeled in Wheeler, but Wheeler got the win with Haygood a close second over Corken, Bubak and Brian Gossell.

Rick Rusk and Keith Law sat on the front row for the Legend Car Main Event. Plummer led early and caution flew on lap 3 for Scott Miller spun. Caution flew on lap 4 for Brent Miller, Kyle McCartney and Wayne Barton Jr tangling. By lap 7, Eggleston was in second chasing Plummer with Tyler Chrisinger third. Troy Simpson spun on lap 9 to bring out another caution flag. Keith Law was fourth on the restart over Greg O’Donnell. Kyle Clegg cracked into the top 5 on lap 14 and then took fourth from Law. O’Donnell took fifth from Law on lap 16 as Law fell back. Barton and Simpson both spun on lap 19 and continued. Plummer won the race, but the championship went to Eggleston. Eggleston finished in the race over Clegg, Chrisinger, and Darrell Stewart.

Drew Utecht and Carl Clarino were on the front row for the Modified Coupe Main Event and Paul Deines was leading before the first lap was over. Steven St. Peter broke on lap 2 for a caution flag. Caution flew on lap 6 when a spinning Greg McLaughlin collected Drew Utecht. Deines continued to lead over Rick Bubak, Wayne Swanson, Jim Thorne and Bob Land. Frank Denning was fifth by the half-way mark. Denning took fourth on lap 16 and Vair was sent off for sparking. Denning took over third on lap 24 and Deines won over Swanson, Denning, Bubak and Thorne.

Mike Bowen and Jimmy Donaldson were on the front row for the Pro Truck Main Event. Leaf led early with Paul Deines, Mike Bowen, Beau Kellogg and Tim Billinger following. Kellogg took over third on lap 7 with Ronnie Hults fourth over Mike Bowen. Richard Burton took fifth from Bowen on lap 14 and Mark Bybee spun for a lap 15 caution. Burton fell back and Leaf won over Deines, Hults, Kellogg and Bowen.

In early afternoon qualifying, the Figure 8’s started the action and Ronnie Hults set quick time with a 28.531 lap. Joe Matlock was second quick and Joe Martinez was third quick. Gary Taylor was quickest in the Midgets with a 15.676 lap. Kyle Ray was second quick over Chris Shiel. In the Winged Sprints, Nick Haygood flew to a 14.453 lap. Jeff Heffner was second over Jeff Wheeler. Terry Plummer was the quickest Legend car in qualifying with a 18.822 lap. Chris Eggleston was second over Tyler Chrisinger. Frank Denning was the quickest in Modified Coupe qualifying with a 16.413 lap. Paul Deines was second quick over Jim Thorne. In the Trucks, Ronnie Hults jumped in the Tim Billinger ride and took quick time with a 16.563. Paul Deines was second over Mike Hathaway.

The early B-Mains started with the first Legend B-Main. Brittney Johnson and Bob Peck were on the front row. Brent Miller led the first lap over Johnson, Peck, and Rick Rusk. Rusk was second on lap 2 as Miller started to pull away. Tim Hindman took third from Johnson on lap 6, but Johnson fought back. Johnson pushed up on lap 9 allowing Greg O’Donnell to get by and B Miller won over Rusk, O’Donnell, Hindman and Scott Miller nipped Johnson by a nose for fifth.

The first Modified Coupe B-Main saw Gary Land and Jim Thorne battle for the lead with Thorne getting by Land late in the race over Jim Weese, Marv Slusser and Drew Utecht.

John Chiesa and David Johnson were on the front row for the Legend Car trophy dash and Chiesa led lap 1 before Kyle Clegg took over on lap 2 over Chiesa and Tyler Chrisinger. Chris Eggleston took second on lap 4 over Terry Plummer. Clegg lost the lead to Eggleston on lap 6 with Plummer moving into second. Eggleston won over Plummer, Clegg, Chrisinger and Chiesa.

Mike Wolfe Jr and Vic Johnsen were on the front row for the first Figure 8 B-Main. John Johnson took over on the first lap and led Dennis Stepanich and Wolfe. Stepanich took over on lap 3 with Johnson and Wolfe following. Phil Taylor took over third on lap 5 over Ronnie Hults and Joe Martinez. Stepanich took the win over Johnson, Hults, Taylor and Rich Leavenworth.

After David Galindo decided to move to the rear, Randy Grubb moved to the pole of the second Figure 8 B-Main with Shirley Thompson to his outside. Jim Egli led the first lap over Grubb and Harry Bragg. Egli got loose on lap 2 and was hit by Harry Bragg. Al Duran took over the lead with Grubb fighting back. Smith moved into second ad Grubb fell back. Egli spun on lap 6 and Grubb was back in third. Duran won over Smith, Grubb, Bragg and Joe Matlock.

Larry Bensenberg and Kevin Schramek were on the front row for the first Sprint Car B-Main. Bensenberg led the first lap over Jeff Wheeler. Chad Corken moved into third. Wheeler moved into the lead over Nick Haygood, Corken, Brian Gossell and John Jacob. Wheeler took the win over Haygood, Corken, Gossell, and Jacob.

Keith Rauch and Kent Conrad were on the front row for the second Sprint Car B-Main. Rauch led the first lap over Rick Bubak and Jace Penetta. Bubak took over on lap 3 and Rauch fell to second over Penetta. Penetta took second on lap 8 with Rauch falling to third over Jeff Heffner. Bubak won over Penetta, Penetta, Rauch, Heffner and John Gerloff.

Deanna Duncan and Craig Coughlin were on the front row for the second Legend Car B-Main. Duncan led the first lap over Mike Webber and Keith Law. Webber took over on lap 3 and John Baker moved into second. Baker took the lead on lap 4 and Keith Law was second on lap 6. Baker won over Law, Mike Murr, Webber and Phil Peconi.

Bob Land and Carl Vair were on the front row for the second Modified Coupe B-Main and Vair led early over Joseph St. Peter. Carl Clarino spun for a lap 2 caution flag to bunch the field. Paul Deines took the lead and opened up a huge lead over Vair, Clarino, and Rich Bubak. Deines won over Vair, Bubak, Wayne Swanson and Bruce Rhoades.

Mark Bybee and Adam Deines were on the front row for the first Pro Truck B-Main. The pack was still together after the first lap and Deines was the leader on lap 2 and Rick Runkle tagged Jimmy Donaldson for a lap 3 caution. Deines led on the restart and Mark Bybee spun before another lap was completed. Runkle spun to miss the spun Bybee truck. Deines continued to lead and Mike Bowen was now second ahead of Richard Burton. Burton too second on lap 7 from Bowen and Burton took over the lead on lap 8. Ronnie Hults took over second on lap 9 and Burton won over Hults, Deines, Bowen and Mike Hathaway.

Steve Johnson and Chris Leaf were on the front row for the second Pro Truck B-Main. Leaf led on the first lap over Paul Deines and Johnson. Beau Kellogg was third on lap 4. Leaf won over Deines, Kellogg, David Johnson and Billy Harkins.

============ Race Of Champions Colorado National Speedway September 16, 2006

Figure 8 Main Event 1. 18 Dennis Stepanich, Arvada; 2. 42 Ronnie Hults, Centennial; 3. 22 Joe Matlock, Aurora; 4. 81 Dave Smith, Englewood; 5. 7 Randy Grubb, Lakewood; 6. 1 Rich Leavenworth, Lakewood; 7. 90 John Johnson, Golden; 8. 24 Joe Martinez, Centennial; 9. 82 Mike Wolfe Sr, Englewood; 10. 4 Stephen Webb, Aurora; 11. 28 Vic Johnsen, Northglenn; 12. 80 Harry Bragg, Castle Rock; 13. 86 Shirley Thompson, Northglenn; 14. 08 Jim Egli, Denver; 15. 23 Al Duran, Lakewood; 16. 83 Mike Wolfe Jr, Englewood; 17. 04 Harry Livermore Jr, Denver.

RMMRA Midget Main Event 1. 5 Gary Taylor, Wheat Ridge; 2. 58 Kyle Ray, Highlands Ranch; 3. 14 Tony Rossi, Westminster; 4. 79 Chris Shiel, Arvada; 5. 8 Brandon Lee, Aurora; 6. 12 Greg Schaefer, Ft. Lupton; 7. 7 Billy Mentgen, Arvada; 8. 13 Scott Fennell, Denver; 9. 99 Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo West.

Winged Sprint Car Main Event 1. 82 Jeff Wheeler, Colorado Springs; 2. 1 Nick Haygood, Centennial; 3. 71 Chad Corken, Highlands Ranch; 4. 9 Rich Bubak, Arvada; 5. 6 Brian Gossell, Ft. Collins; 6. 07 Jace Penetta, Arvada; 7. 7 John Gerloff, Thornton; 8. 12 Keith Rauch, Thornton; 9. 91 John Jacob, Strasburg; 10. 11 Kent Conrad, Peyton; 11. 14 Jeff Heffner, Denver; 12. 4 Kevin Schramek, Colorado Springs; 13. 5 Larry Bensenberg, Colorado Springs; 14. 3 Julee Jamison, Highlands Ranch,

RMLRA Legend Car Main Event 1. 14 Terry Plummer, Loveland; 2. 22 Chris Eggleston, Erie; 3. 66 Kyle Clegg, Westminster; 4. 2 Tyler Chrisinger, Littleton; 5. 03 Darrell Stewart, Arvada; 6. 99 Greg O'Donnell, Laramie WY; 7. 93 John Baker, Cheyenne WY; 8. 08 Jace Hansen, Eaton; 9. 5 John Chiesa, Lakewood; 10. 06 Keith Law, Denver; 11. 96 Rick Rusk, Aurora; 12. 35 Mike Murr, Frederick; 13. 84 Mike Webber, Denver; 14. 16 Tim Hindman, Lakewood; 15. 6 Brent Miller, Brighton; 16. 62 Phil Peconi, Littleton; 17. 80 Brittney Johnson, Greeley; 18. 12 Deanna Duncan, Aurora; 19. 71 Craig Coughlin, Westminster; 20. 36 Kyle McCartney, Denver; 21. 9 Troy Simpson, Windsor; 22. 64 Bob Peck, Johnstown; 23. 7 Scott Miller, Brighton; 24. 3 Wayne Barton Jr, Johnstown.

CARC Modified Coupe Main Event 1. 04 Paul Deines, Longmont; 2. 21 Wayne Swanson, Golden; 3. 90 Frank Denning, Arvada; 4. 12 Rich Bubak, Arvada; 5. 20 Jim Thorne, Golden; 6. 44 Jim Weese, Denver; 7. 30 Bruce Rhoades, Westminster; 8. 55 Gary Land, Littleton; 9. 36 Carl Clarino, Westminster; 10. 87 Joseph St. Peter, Englewood; 11. 48 Marv Slusser, Denver; 12. 99 Bob Land, Englewood; 13. 7 Paul Brendenberg, Broomfield; 14. 64 Scott Steinman, Westminster; 15. 24 Steven St. Peter, Denver; 16. 45 Carl Vair, Coal Creek Canyon; 17. 07 Drew Utecht, Hudson; 18. 57 Greg McLaughlin, Arvada.

Snap-On Tools Pro Truck Main Event 1. 07 Chris Leaf, Kersey; 2. 17 Paul Deines, Longmont; 3. 19 Ronnie Hults, Centennial; 4. 33 Beau Kellogg, Denver; 5. 21 Mike Bowen, Brighton; 6. 27 Mike Hathaway, Fountain; 7. 36 Richard Burton, Englewood; 8. 55 Rick Runkle, Lakewood; 9. 14 Jimmy Donaldson, Arvada; 10. 29 David Johnson Jr, Denver; 11. 7 Adam Deines, Longmont; 12. 02 Steve Johnson, Windsor; 13. 78 Mark Bybee, Sedalia; 14. 0 Billy Harkins, Lakewood.

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