RUNNER UP SPOT FOR ROBERTSON DURING DOUBLE FEATURES AT COLORADO NATIONAL

Source: Robertson Racing/rd
Date: 09/18/2007

With just one Late Model event left on the schedule at Colorado National Speedway for 2007, Robertson Racing needed two strong finishes during the Sept. 15th “Mountain Dew Showdown” twin 40-lap features. With regard to the Labor Day Weekend race events, an accident involving lapped traffic and close racing during the final laps took Darren Robertson out of the top spot in points at CNS for the first time in over four months. Due to the ‘chase’ concept being utilized at the 3/8 mile paved oval just North of Denver, Robertson’s nearly triple-digit point lead was erased to just five points with only five races left in the season. Basing the season championship on just the last five events means that one bad night for any of the chase competitors could be devastating. Robertson Racing spent all of the last two weeks rebuilding what was a destroyed racecar from both ends, optimistic that now being in a position to come from behind in the points could still be overcome.

With nineteen cars on hand for qualifying in the late model division “Mr. Quick Time” # 31, Rick Smith of Gering, NE once again set the pace for the field with a time of 16.227. The # 11 Robertson Racing Monte Carlo settled in for an eleventh place qualifying spot at 16.510 on the 3/8 mile oval. Having to schedule dual features, trophy dashes and B-main qualifying events were omitted from the night’s line-up in the late model division.

Starting on the inside of the second row for the first 40-Lap feature event behind pole sitter # 22 Chris Eggleston of Erie, CO, the # 11 of Robertson looked to be a solid contender. Although fighting a slightly loose condition with the car, Darren pulled out to an early lead. With just a few circuits remaining in the first A-main for what seemed to be a nearly caution-free night for the Late Models, the # 27 Roger Avants of Littleton, CO took the top spot and would hold it to the checkers. Robertson came in a tight second followed by # 42 Ronnie Hults of Centennial, CO, # 47 P.J. Mattorano of Trinidad, CO, and the # 22 of Eggleston to wind out the top five.

For the evenings second 40-Lapper, Robertson was slated to start in the eighth position on the grid. Leading the field to green was pole sitter # 5 Scott Backman of Parker, CO and # 70 John Luck of Colo. Springs. Under yet another caution free stretch, Robertson’s Monte Carlo was now facing a tight racing condition that was not so easily overcome. Changing track conditions and cooling temperatures seemed to play havoc with the geometry of the newly built Robertson Racing Chevy. Running a higher and slightly less aggressive line, Darren was able to keep the car underneath him and safely bring it to the checkers in the eleventh position. Taking the commanding win on this second feature was the # 47 of Mattorano followed at a distance by the # 42 of Hults and the # 27 of Avants.

Losing a bit more ground in the points battle after a tough weekend, Darren Robertson now sits in fourth place, 29 points out of the lead. With only the final event of the season remaining, a double points 100-Lap event during CNS’ Challenge Cup XXXIII on Saturday, Sept. 29th, the entire Robertson Racing crew knows that any hope for the Championship will be the outcome of an enormous amount of work and a healthy dose of luck.

Darren Robertson drives for Robertson Racing, primarily sponsored by Furniture Row out of Denver, CO. Associate sponsors the team would like to thank are Geddes Racing Engines, A-1 Differential, Alreco Aluminum Surplus, Buckeye Welding Supply, Garmin’s Painting Service, Lang Graphics, Sherwin Williams Paint, and Western Graphics. If interested in exciting sponsorship opportunities for your business, please contact Robertson Racing.

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