BOISE, Idaho -- David Minegar of Boise, Idaho leads the ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series point standings as the tour heads to Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho for the running of the Platt Electric "200" this Saturday August 4. Minegar has a lot of momentum on his side coming off a clean sweep in the series last event in Salt Lake City. Minegar is also the track record holder and the only driver in series history to have competed in every RMCS event staged at the 1/3-mile paved oval. But if Minegar hopes to continue his reign at the top he will have to take on several local drivers who cut their racing teeth at Magic Valley Speedway, namely John Newhouse, Bobby Latham III, and Bruce Quale.
There have been fourteen previous RMCS races at Magic Valley Speedway since the series series was incepted back in the spring of 2004 with ten different winners. John Newhouse, Bobby Latham III, Bryan Warf, and James Eaton each have two victories at the facility with local drivers Newhouse and Latham both picking up wins at MVS this season. The race winners at MVS have averaged an 11th place starting position. No driver has ever won from the pole position and only one driver has won a race from the front row.
The RMCS utilizes a 20-car invert at every event putting the fast qualifiers at the rear of the field ensuring race fans see competitive racing all through the race where cars are passing cars. Drivers qualifying outside the top twenty will run a non-qualifiers race and the top four finishers will line up in 21-24 starting position for the feature event. Those drivers will start scratch and not earn passing points (positions 21-24). This format enables all drivers to improve their skill by learning how to work through the field. No other touring series in the country uses this same format making the RMCS a fan favorite. The RMCS also ensures that the field stays true to the racing format by paying the purse for each event based on total point accumulation for the race. Drivers are awarded points for qualifying (12, 10, 8.etc) and for heat races (20, 18, 16.etc) plus drivers earn three points per positioned gained during the feature event (no heat races will be run in this event due to its length and special format). This means the driver that wins the race may not be the driver with the highest point total and therefore may not win the most money for the event.
The Platt Electric "200" is the first 200-lap race in series history and the RMCS will utilize a unique racing format for the event. The 200 laps will be broken up into three segments (75 laps, 50 laps, 75 laps). A ten minute break will occur at the end of the first two segments where drivers can make minimal adjustments to their race cars. The first segment will start with the traditional 20-car invert. The second and third segments may be inverted but there will be bonus' on the line for the leaders to drop to the back and work their way to the front. The series will award passing points for each segment and points for the final finishing order based on the RMCS rule book. At the conclusion of the race the top three race finishers will be recognized as well as the driver who accumulates the most points during the event who will be crowned the Platt Electric champion.
When you are leading the point standings you know every one is chasing you which makes it tremendously challenging to stay on top. Coming off a spectacular performance three weeks ago in SLC, David Minegar is looking forward to this race and the special format. "Magic Valley is such a interesting track to drive; you really have to hit your marks each lap or it can bite you," Minegar said. "We know we will qualify well and we know we have a car the will race well. We just need to stay out of trouble and pass cars."
Minegar has started an average of 16th and finished an average of 9th in the previous 14 races at MVS. He has one win, four top five and ten top ten finishes along with the qualifying record of 14.284 seconds/83.926 mph. So far this season he is the leading money winner and has two victories along with four top ten finishes and 43 laps led. Minegar has six Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards at MVS and holds a 46-point advantage in the current point standings over Tom Hill.
Tom Hill of Eagle, Idaho has had a breakout season finishing in the top five in all races this season including two runner-up performances. Hill has also completed every lap of competition and has led the point standings twice during the season. Hill has started 13 of the 14 races staged at Magic Valley Speedway with one victory coming back in April of last year. Hill has two straight second places finishes in the last two races at MVS and is looking for one better. "We are really focused on winning Saturday night," Hill said. "This is going to be a fun event and I love racing at Magic Valley. The action is great and the fans are the best."
Moving up to third in the standings on the strength of one win, two top five and five top ten finishes this season is former MVS track champion Bobby Latham III of Twin Falls. "We keep gaining on on David and Tom and we know we are good here," Latham said. "This is going to be an interesting race with the segments. We are going to have to stay out of trouble and make sure we qualify well or that could hurt us in the points." Latham has started five RMCS races at MVS where he has collected two wins and three top five finishes. Latham is 61 points behind Minegar.
Starting 12 of the previous 14 RMCS races at MVS is John Newhouse of Twin Falls. Newhouse is tied with Latham for third in the point standings with 846 points. Newhouse has seven top five and ten top ten performances in those 12 races along with two wins. Newhouse struggled early in the season and has climbed from 14th in the standing the third in the last three races where he has scored the most race points on two occasions. Newhouse has one win win and three top five finishes this season and has led 59 laps. "This series is so much fun to race in," Newhouse said. "This series makes you a better driver with the invert and because everyone brings their "A" game to each race. A good night means you qualified well and and finished great. I am looking forward to this race as I feel we can make up some points on David (Minegar) with segment format."
Rounding out the top five in the standings is Bryan Warf from Meridian, Idaho. Warf has five top ten finishes this season and one win coming in the opening races of the season here at Magic Valley Speedway. Warf has started 13 of the 14 previous races at MVS where he has collected two wins, six top five and ten top ten finishes. Warf is tied with James Eaton for most career wins (5), has led 337 lap in series competition and is second to Minegar in total laps completed.
Chris Ratterree from Nampa, Idaho finds himself in sixth place in the point standings heading into Saturday's event. Ratterree has one top five and three top ten finishes this season and is one of only four driver to have completed every lap of competition this year. Ratterree has competed in seven of the previous 14 RMCS races at MVS with a best finish of second last September.
Five-time RMCS race winner James Eaton of West Jordan, Utah sits seventh in the point standings after five events on the strength of two top five and three top ten finishes this season. Eaton has started 13 of the 14 previous RMCS races at MVS where he has earned two victories, four top five, ten top ten finishes and one Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Award.
Nick Parker out of Kearns, Utah is eighth in the point standings with two top five and three top ten performances this season. Parker has completed 385 of 475 laps contested this season and has started five previous RMCS races at MVS with his best finish of 9th in the opening event this season.
Making the long tow from Las Vegas, NV this season is Thane Alderman. Alderman has moved up to ninth place in the point standings on the strength of four straight top ten finishes this season. Alderman has started only three races at MVS with his best finish of 6th coming last month in the ESI "100". Alderman likes the format of the RMCS and says the series is run like racing ought to be. "I love the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series or we would not be towing up from Vegas," Alderman said. "All these guys race you clean but race you hard. The invert makes it challenging for you as a driver, especially when you qualify well. We all want to win but we want to race first and in this series you have to race."
Rounding out the top ten in the standings and making his first appearance of the year in the top ten is two-time RMCS champion Zan Sharp of Wellsville, Utah. Sharp has had perhaps his most challenging season in years but knows that sometimes luck is just not on your side. "We have run good at each race all season but something mechanical would happen," Sharp said. "We really never had any bad luck in the past but that is racing. We had a strong finish at RMR three weeks ago and that is really what this team needed. I am looking forward to this races and who knows, maybe we can gain a bunch of points and salvage our year." Sharp has started 13 of the 14 previous RMCS races at MVS where he has one win, eight top five performances along with three Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards.
ESI Construction, a Boise based general contracting company, is title sponsor of the series this season and is offering two bonus awards at each RMCS race. The first is the ESI Hotshoe Bonus which will pay the driver how sets fast and goes on to win the race a $400 bonus. If the bonus is not claimed then it rolls over to the next event. For the race this Saturday the ESI Hotshoe Bonus is up to $400 after David Minegar collected the bonus in the series last event at Rocky Mountain Raceways in SLC July 14. ESI is also paying out $5 for every green flag lap lead during the season which allows drivers who may not qualify at the top of the invert to be rewarded for leading the race.
A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning is also putting up a $4000 driver incentive to be given away at this years awards banquet. Each event a drivers competes in his name and car # will go into a drawing multiple time based on the numbers of races entered. The driver must be present at the awards banquet to win the bonus.
CarbonX, a local Salt Lake manufacturing company, is sponsoring the CarbonX Rookie-of-the-Year Award providing the top finishing rookie at each race with a $100 bonus along with a season ending award to the Rookie-of-the-Year. Matt Faulkner of Cedar Hills, UT leads the currently rookie standings by two points over Kellen Frey of SLC. Brad Ostler of Pleasant Grove, Utah is third in the rookie standings.
Through five races this season there has been four different winners with 17 different drivers leading laps. Tom Hill, Bryan Warf, Bobby Latham III, and Chris Ratterree are the only drivers to complete all 475 laps of competition this season. 14 drivers have competed in each race this season with 33 drivers have earning points. More than 100 different drivers have competed in the ESI Rocky Mountain challenge Series since 2004 and the Platt Electric "200" will be the 39th race in series history. David Minegar has the most career Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards with 12, while James Eaton has led the most laps in competition (426). Zan Sharp has the most career top five finishes with 21 while David Minegar and Bryan Warf both have 29 career top ten performances. Minegar is also the career money winner and has completed the most laps in series competition with 3117.
Also on the card Saturday will be local racing action featuring the Pepsi Premier Division, Napa Auto Parts Pony Stock, Legends, and the Mankers Teen Bees. Qualifying will get underway at 6:20 pm MT with racing action in all division to follow. Tickets for the event can be purchased at any Twin Falls area Twin Stop. For all the latest news and information regarding the ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series log onto www.rmcsracing.com.
About ESI
Engineered Structures, Inc., more commonly known as ESI, is a Boise, Idaho based general contracting and construction management company engaged in commercial construction projects throughout twenty-five Western and Midwestern states. Founded in 1974, ESI began with a vision to construct quality work, establish long-term client relationships and employ a staff of exceptional, proven professionals. ESI has established a solid reputation for "Experience, Service and Integrity!" during its thirty plus year history.
Continually expanding its trade territory, ESI has earned the position as the largest privately held general contractor in the state of Idaho, one of the top ten largest general contractors in the Intermountain West and was recognized in ENR's "Top 400 Contractors" as one of the top general contractors in the United States. Still holding strong to its philosophy that building relationships is just as important as building buildings, ESI employs more than one-hundred fifty full-time, professionals and produces annual revenues in excess of one-quarter billion dollars while completing projects for many of the Country's largest retailers and developers. ESI continues to be a growing leader in the industry offering opportunities to their employees and a valuable service to their clients.
For more information on ESI you can visit them on their website at: www.esiconstruction.com or email them at: info@esiconstruction.com.
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.
For more information on A1 Heating & Air Conditioning you can visit their website at: www.a1heating.com.
About CarbonX
CarbonX is the brand name behind the products produced by Chapman Thermal Products. CarbonX, in its raw form, is a yarn created by spinning O-PAN (oxidized polyacrylonitrile) fiber with an Aramid strengthening fiber. This formula, results in a yarn with amazing fire resistant characteristics that serves as the precursor to a wide array of products and applications requiring heat and flame resistance.
Products manufactured with CarbonX® are in the hundreds and are present in all the major industry segments - Fire and Safety Apparel, Industrial Safety Apparel, Motor Sports, Police / Military and Industrial Non-Apparel. From fire fighting turnout gear to head socks, complete underwear, socks and shoelaces. Airline cargo holds, to crew ship and hotel fire escape blankets. CarbonX is also used in High performance turbo and exhaust insulation for increased horsepower. Complete auto racing suits and helmet interior lining and insulation. The applications where CarbonX® will improve and enhance many performance and safety properties are endless.
For more information on CarbonX you can visit their website at: www.chapmaninnovations.com.
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
