LATHAM MOTORS TO MAGIC VALLEY TRIUMPH IN RMCS ACTION

Source: ESI Media Relations/DS
Date: 08/05/2007

TWIN FALLS, Idaho Bobby Latham III of Twin Falls held off a determined John Newhouse by .116 seconds to notch his third career ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series victory in the Platt Electric "200" at Magic Valley Speedway Saturday night. Latham dominated the final segment of the three segment race moving him closer to his first series title. Newhouse also made a statement in his bid for the series championship by earning the most points in the event and finishing second. Two-time RMCS champion Zan Sharp was third with Craig Bell, and Chris Ratterree rounding out the top five finishers.

Latham's road to the top started after posting the third best qualifying effort placing him 18th on the starting grid for the first 75-lap segment. John Newhouse set the pace in qualifying earning his second career Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Award with a quick lap of 14.314 seconds around the third-mile paved oval. David Minegar was second quick followed by Latham, Sharp, and local hero Bruce Quale.

First 75-lap segment was set by regular RMCS race procedure inverting the top twenty cars. CarbonX rookie contender Kellen Frey started on the pole with fellow rookie Matt Faulkner along side but it was Thane Alderman of Las Vegas, Nevada who made the early moving heading to the front on lap four from his 7th starting position. Alderman would lead the next 25 laps before pitting to repair a broken sway bar bolt.

James Eaton of West Jordan, Utah then took over the point on lap 30 and held the point through the end of the first segment. Bryan Warf of Meridian, Idaho moved up to finish second followed by John Newhouse, Bobby Latham III, and Craig Bell. Passing points were issued in the first segment with Newhouse earning the most points.

The second segment started based on the finishing order of segment one. John Newhouse quickly took control of the segment and motored past Eaton on lap 80. Eaton lost power and coasted to the pits on lap 85 ending his night. Craig Bell then moved into second with Zan Sharp, Bobby Latham III, and Tom Hill rounding out the top five at the conclusion of the 50-lap segment.

Defending RMCS champion David Minegar had moved up to fifth in the second segment from his 19th starting position but tangled with a slower car send his Chevrolet to the rear of the field after the caution. Minegar suffered a slow leaking left rear and limped to an 8th place finish in segment two. That finishing position would prove to be fortuitous as the invert for the final 75-lap segment produced an 8-car invert.

Minegar started the final 75-lap segment on the front row alongside youngster Tyler Monroe. The rest of the invert included Ratterree, Hill, Latham, Sharp, Bell, and Newhouse. Also on the line for the final segment was a $1000 bonus to either Newhouse or Bell since they finished first and second in segment two. All they had to do was drop to the rear of the field and march to the front and win and the bonus would be theirs. As the cars rolled back on to the track to start the third segment all eyes were on Bell and Newhouse. With one lap to green it was Bell who dropped low on the track allowing all the cars the pass. This move electrified the crowd. Newhouse opted to start from the eighth position and earn the maximum passing points in his quest for the series title.

After the green flew, Minegar jumped to a six car length advantage over Monroe. Newhouse and Latham quickly shot past Sharp and Hill setting their sites on Ratterree. The action slowed for the spinning car of Nick Parker. On the restart Minegar and Monroe tangled cutting one of Minegar's tires dropping him off the pace. Latham then move to the front with Newhouse in tow. Over the final 30 laps Latham and Newhouse dazzled the crowed with spectacular side-by-side racing but in the end it was Latham picking up the victory by less than a foot over Newhouse.

"This is by far the biggest win of my career," a jubilant Latham said. "My crew prepared a rocket ship tonight and it was a whole lot of fun to race John (Newhouse) at the end. He drove me clean. Man is this fantastic!"

"I should be disappointed with second but I'm really not," Newhouse said. "I know we had a great points night tonight and in the bigger scheme of things this finish is going to go a long way towards the championship. It was great racing Bobby (Latham) those final few laps. I am sure the crowd say a great race."

Finishing third for the second consecutive event was Zan Sharp. "Hey I am real happy with the finish tonight," Sharp said. "We have had a tough year but we are back on our game and getting ready for next year. It was fun watching Bobby and John battle up front. I was kind of hoping they would make a mistake but those two guys are good shoes and put on a wail of a show."

Though a $1000 bonus is always great incentive it was not to be for Craig Bell. " After passing the first ten cars I thought I might have something," Bell said. "I simply had not grip left at the end after working the tires pretty hard. It was fun and it is just great to run with these guys. This is great racing and and I can't wait until the next race."

The unofficial finishing order at the conclusion of the Platt electric "200" was Latham with the victory followed by Newhouse, Sharp, Bell, and Ratterree rounding out the top five. Tyler Monroe finished sixth with David Minegar seventh followed by Tom Hill, Nick Gibson, and Bruce Quale. The unofficial point standings after the race has John Newhouse taking over the top spot with 1063 points with David Minegar dropping to second 1057 points and Bobby Latham maintaining the third position with 1047 points heading into the NAPA "125" at Rocky Mountain Raceway Saturday, August 25.

For all the latest news and information regarding the ESI Rocky Mountain Challenge Series log onto www.rmcsracing.com.

See Also .:

• Bobby Latham III Driver Card
• Magic Valley Speedway Track Page

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