DACONO, Colorado — Harold “H.J.” Evans wheeled his Castor Racing No. 3 to his fourth Englewood Racing Association supermodified main event win of the season Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway. Evans made the winning pass on Chris Sheil on lap 17 of the 25-lap main to score the victory.
"Evans set the race’s fast lap at an impressive 14.284 around CNS’s three-eighths-mile oval. "
Larry Lapoint and Brian Pacheco started on the row for the 12-car feature, the best ERA field since the May 21 opener which started 14 west coast-style supers. Pacheco got a good start from the outside row, jumped out to the point and led the opening circuits before Lapoint moved past while working lap three.
Lapoint, making his first ERA appearance of the season, proceeded to run strong out front and lead until lap 10, when Sheil muscled his Mountain States Toyota No. 33 past the veteran racer to take the lead.
Sheil, attempting to capture his first ERA feature win, raced out front while Evans moved past Lapoint and into second from his seventh-place starting position. It took the defending ERA champion only five laps to move past Sheil and take the lead. Evans held the top spot to the finish, pulling out to a commanding 4.4-second lead before the checkers waved.
Sheil fended off challenges from Evans’ teammate Richie Castor to hold on to second. The strong run marked Sheil’s third runner-up finish in a row as the former midget champion continues to improve behind the wheel of an ultra-powerful supermodified.
Castor took third, while Lapoint faded to fourth. Previous race winner Johnny Pickard couldn’t make it two in a row and finished fifth after starting deep in the 12-car field.
Evans set the race’s fast lap at an impressive 14.284 around CNS’s three-eighths-mile oval. Six of the 12 starters – Evans, Sheil, Castor, Lapoint, Pickard and Joe Gallegos – laid down laps under the 15-second bracket in the feature in what was one of the best ERA fields, competition wise, in recent memory.
Evans’ win should clinch the Colorado driver’s second ERA championship in a row. He now has a commanding lead over Castor, who is one of only three drivers, along with Evans and Pickard, to win this season.
One race remains on the 2011 ERA schedule. The supermodified season will close Saturday, October 15 with another 25-lapper at Colorado National.
September 17 ERA finish: HAROLD EVANS, Chris Sheil, Rich Castor Jr., Larry Lapoint, Johnny Pickard, Joe Gallegos, Joe Priselac, Brian Pacheco, Stevie Gallegos, Mike Anderson, Ian Tolen, Matt Griffin (DNS).
Lapoint and Pickard won the eight-lap heat races.
