KALISPELL, Mont — (August 6, 2010)-Montana Raceway Park Super Stock Rookie of the Year points leader, Brandon Sickler, finally broke through for his first career victory in the division as he bested Micah Sampson in a 35-lap main event to kick-off two days of racing celebrating NASCAR’s Rumble in the Rockies.
Gary Lewis picked up the top spot through time trials in the Lucas Oil Super Late Model Series and was the only driver to time in less than 13 seconds as he bested Shane Mitchell by .109-seconds.
In the MRP Super Stock main event, Sickler patiently worked his way through traffic and moved into the lead going around Sampson in turn No. 3 with 10 laps to go. Sampson tried in vain to catch the division’s top new comer and points leader but came up short by three car lengths at the checkered flag.
Dan Morris, Tyler Schweigert and Chuck Swope rounded out the top-5.
“This is pretty cool to finally get a main event win,” Sickler said upon exiting his car. “I thought Micah would make it tough on me there at the end; I could see him getting closer. We’ve had a tough year with the motor going out on us in one race and getting caught in some crashes a few times so to get a win against a good field like we had tonight is pretty special.”
Lewis used his strong qualifying run to capture a fourth place finish in the second of two positioning heat races for the late model teams.
Wrango West and Jason Fraser earned wins in the two positioning heat races. With the wins each will have the opportunity to be part of the random pill drawing for the invert of the field that takes the green flag in Saturday night’s Best of the West Tundra 125.
A full slate of action for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West teams took place as a 20-car field showcased their skills in two evening test and tune sessions held in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Drivers made mock qualifying runs and worked on their race set-ups with David Mayhew topping the speed charts as he chases his fourth Coors Light Pole Award of the season.
“(Montana Raceway Park) is a fun little place with a lot of character,”
Mayhew said of his first visit to MRP. “There are a lot of different lines you can run. Tomorrow we’ll work on more race trim stuff.”
Greg Pursley had been atop the speed charts until Mayhew’s run came along but is also a big fan of Montana Raceway Park, he said.
“I love (Montana Raceway Park). It’s a fun little track. It looks like it’s going to be really racy. There should be some side-by-side racing.
We’re working on freeing the car up in the center of the turn.”
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Toyota/NAPA Bonus Challenge and Best of the West Tundra 125. To learn more call (406) 257- RACE (7223), log onto www.montanaracewaypark.com or text MTRACE to 91011.
MRP Super Stock Qualifying Results
Name/Sponsor/Time
Brandon Sickler, Sickler Drywall Pontiac, 14.254-sec.
Micah Sampson, M. Sampson Trucking Chevrolet, 14.487-sec.
Dan Morris, Morris Racing Chevrolet, 14.596-sec.
Tyler Schweigert, Troy’s Auto Glass Chevrolet, 14.638-sec.
Lance Gemmrig, Chicken Coup Chevrolet, 14.665-sec.
Jaelen Pace, The Sign Factory Toyota, 14.839-sec.
Don Staggs, Terry Eggelston Chevrolet, 14.905-sec.
Randy Johnson, Add Vance Engines Chevrolet, 15.002-sec.
Bruce Stinger, Stinger Automotive Chevrolet, 15.068-sec.
Chuck Swope, Spring Valley Drilling Chevrolet, 15.131-sec.
Mark Jurasek, Jurasek Construction Chevrolet, 15.138-sec.
MRP Super Stock Unofficial Main Event Results Sickler Barnett Morris Schweigert Swope Staggs Stinger Johnson Jurasek Pace Gemmrig
Lucas Oil Super Late Model Series Qualifying Results Name/Sponsor/Time Gary Lewis, SEFNCO Communications Chevrolet, 12.970-sec.
Shane Mitchell, Mitchell Trucking & Paving Chevrolet, 13.079-sec.
Alex Lessor, Rainbow Bar & Casino Ford, 13.082-sec.
Mark Owens, Red Bull Chevrolet, 13.090-sec.
Chris Skelton, Ryan Brown Competition Engines Chevrolet, 13.147-sec.
Jason Fraser, JOES Racing Products Chevrolet, 13.173-sec.
Giles Thornton, TTC Thornton Toyota, 13.182-sec.
Billy Salmonsen, Bob Herron Insurance Chevrolet, 13.214-sec.
Ryan Wells, Blue Sky Heating & AC Chevrolet, 13.241-sec.
Troy Schweigert, Jeff Bronson Construction Chevrolet, 13.241-sec.
Cory Wolfe, Don Aadsen Ford, 13.278-sec.
Bodie Morton, Scott Carlson Law Office Chevrolet, 13.295-sec.
David Garber, Pend Oreille Mechanical Pontiac, 13.324-sec.
Wrango West, Westward Bound Construction Chevrolet, 13.328-sec.
Clint Habart, Minute Muffler Pontiac, 13.392-sec.
Agni Howell, Murphy’s Carpet Cleaning Chevrolet, 13.552-sec.
Clayton Richert, www.rpmracing29.com Chevrolet, NT Bob Delorme, Deerfoot Mechanical Ltd. Chevrolet, NT
Lucas Oil Super Late Model Series Heat 1 Results West Morton Wolfe Schweigert Garber Howell Thornton Habart Heat 2 Results Fraser Salmonsen Owens Lewis Mitchell Skelton Wells Lessor
