WARF WINS SECOND STRAIGHT AT MAGIC VALLEY SPEEDWAY

BOISE, IDAHO -- Bryan Warf of Boise fired the first shot in what is sure to be a shootout in this year's title fight for the ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series by winning round one at Magic Valley Speedway Saturday night. Warf crossed the line 1.3 seconds ahead of runner-up James Eaton. Quick qualifier Bruce Quale finished third followed Tyler Monroe and Tom Hill.

Bruce Quale earned his first career $100 Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Award with a quick lap of 14.629 seconds around the fast one-third mile paved oval. Dave Minegar was second fast followed by Warf, Chris Ratterree, and Bobby Latham. Less than one second separated the 23-car field and with the customary RMCS invert Quale would start the 75-lap feature on the outside of row ten.

Rookie Kellen Frey started the race on the pole with Chris Cook along side. The race slowed before it really began as Thane alderman from Las Vegas, NV slowed on the back stretch on lap one setting up a complete restart. Alderman suffered an ignition failure dropping him out of the race. Also retiring on lap one was CarbonX Rookie-of-the-Year competitor Mark Bard who drove to the pits with suspension problems.

On the restart, Cook was able to nose ahead of Frey for the lead and held the point for the first 14 circuits before heading to the pits with handling issues. Frey held the point for two laps before Tyler Monroe passed the rookie on the inside. By lap 19, James Eaton was able to make his way to the front from his 13th place starting position.

Eaton would hold the top spot over the next 17 laps before eventual race winner Warf was able to stick his nose under the #85 NAPA sponsored Chevrolet on lap 37. Warf would hold on to claim his fifth career ESI Rocky Mountain challenge Series victory and second in a row at Magic Valley Speedway.

While Warf took the checkers the drive of the night went to Bruce Quale who worked his way up to finish third after starting the race in the 20th position. "I was hoping for more laps for a change," Quale said. "Usually I'm hoping for the race to be over, but tonight I was sure hoping I could go a few more. We might have got past Jimmy (Eaton), but Bryan was pretty fast."

Warf was thrilled to start the season off with a win. "This series is like no other and to win from that deep in the field is amazing," Warf said. "We have class competition and I know the fans saw a good race. We had the car set up for a late run and it really came on about halfway. I am really excited to go to Salt Lake in two weeks. I can't wait."

While finishing second would excite most drivers, James Eaton knew one got away. "I have to give the kid (Warf) credit," Eaton said. "I gave him the hole and he took advantage of it. Finishing second is definitely not what we wanted but all in all it was a good race for us."

Perhaps the happiest guy on the track was Tyler Monroe after his fourth place finish. "We bought a new car and we'll hopefully have it finished for the next event, but this was a lot of fun and we are happy for a top five finish in this car," Monroe said.

Tom Hill rounded out the top five finishers in his new Port City car. "A top five finish among this group is real good," Hill said. "It was a little rough there at the end but it was a great race for the team."

Rounding out the top ten were Dave Minegar, Bobby Latham, Chris Ratterree, Nick Parker, and Carbonx Rookie-of-the-Race Kellen Frey. Four different drivers led laps with Warf leading the most laps (39). Since Quale did not win the race the ESI Hotshoe money rolls over to the next event making the bonus $800 for the driver who sets quick time and is able to win the race.

Warf also leaves Magic Valley Speedway as the point leader with an 18 point advantage over Quale (216). Eaton (187), Minegar (185), and Hill (168) round out the top five in the standings after round one. The ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series utilizes a 20-car invert for each race and pays passing points (3) for each position improved in the event.

The next event for the ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is Saturday, May 5 at Rocky Mountain Raceway located in Salt Lake City, UT where local hotshoe Lynn Hardy is the defending race winner. Please log onto www.rmcsracing.com for all the latest news and information regarding the ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series.

About the ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series

The ESI 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!"

Primary series sponsors include: ESI Construction, A-1 Heating & Air Conditioning, CarbonX, Western Speed & Fuel, Jensen Jeweler's, Integra Springs, and Port City Racing.

About ESI Construction

Engineered Structures, Inc. has been a commercial general contractor engaged in projects throughout the western United States since its inception in 1974. From its Boise headquarters, ESI provides complete general contracting, construction management and design/build services for a variety of private sector clients including retailers, grocers, developers, food processors, private schools and business owners.

ESI obtains work through a 60 percent- 40 percent mix of competitive bidding and private negotiations. Approximately one-half of ESI's negotiated projects are design/build where ESI controls and directs the architectural and engineering design as well as construction.

ESI employs approximately seventy-five permanent employees, another fifty seasonal employees and two aircraft to manage its ever expanding clientele and trade area.

About A-1 Heating & Air conditioning

Since 1956 A-1 Heating & Air Conditioning located in Meridian, Idaho has been servicing the heating and air conditioning needs of the Treasure Valley. In 2003, the company opened up a branch in McCall, Idaho to serve the growing population base. Aligned with Lennox, an industry leader in heating and air conditioning technology, A-1 is offers consumers the best equipment and service in the industry that consistently exceeds expectations.

NAPA Rocky Mountain Challenge Series

Race 1

Magic Valley Speedway

Twin Falls, Idaho; April 14, 2007

1/3-Mile Paved Oval

75 laps

Finish Start Car # Name Laps Points Status Purse

1 18 32 Bryan Warf 75 224 Running $ 940

2 13 85 James Eaton 75 187 Running $ 460

3 20 92 Bruce Quale 75 216 Running $ 600

4 5 16 Tyler Monroe 75 153 Running $ 285

5 12 12 Tom Hill 75 168 Running $ 350

6 19 9 Dave Minegar 75 185 Running $ 375

7 16 3 Bobby Latham 75 166 Running $ 325

8 17 18 Chris Ratterree 75 159 Running $ 300

9 4 30 Nick Parker 75 126 Running $ 250

10 1 08 Kellen Frey 75 113 Running $ 335

11 9 34 Chris Schrade 75 110 Running $ 200

12 11 73 Joe Miller 75 108 Running $ 200

13 14 84 Zan Sharp 74 112 Running $ 200

14 22 22 Steve Pruett 72 94 Running $ 200

15 10 4 Lynn Hardy 71 104 Running $ 200

16 23 23 Brad Ostler 70 88 Running $ 200

17 21 36 Jeff Hillock 69 76 Running $ 200

18 2 6 Matt Faulkner 68 80 Mechanical $ 200

19 15 26 John Newhouse 21 86 Mechanical $ 200

20 3 02 Chris Cook 14 76 Mechanical $ 270

21 6 10 Nick Gibson 14 75 Accident $ 200

22 7 09 Thane Alderman 1 68 Mechanical $ 200

23 8 42 Mark Bard 1 65 Mechanical $ 200

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend