BOISE, Idaho — The CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series returns this weekend to Rocky Mountain Raceways located West of Salt Lake City, UT for the third of four series visits this season. In two races this season at the high-banked ultra-fast 3/8-mile paved oval, Lynn Hardy and John Nesmith have split victories, but Saturday night temperatures will be well over 100 degrees testing even the most seasoned veteran.
"Local Favorites Hardy and Sharp Hope to Upstage Championship Hopeful This Weekend"
Saturday night, the popular Late Model tour returns to RMR for their 30th series event and Hardy is focused backing up his victory in May. But Hardy will need to contend with championship contender John Nesmith who is enjoying his finest season on the tour sitting third in the point standings after five races.
Nesmith dominated the action last month and has found his groove with a new car he purchased last season. Nesmith has one win (RMR) three top five and five top ten finishes this season and is one only three drivers to complete all laps so far.
The driver with the best active finish at RMR over the past ten races is Steve Jones. Jones sits second in the point standings and has an impressive nine top four finishes including four victories.
Another RMR hotshoe that will only contest a partial schedule this season in the RMCS is three-time series champion Zan Sharp. Sharp has posted three wins at the ultra-fast 3/8-mile banked oval since 2004 but his last win at RMR came back in 2009. Since then he has claimed three runner-up finishes.
Jones leads all active drivers with four victories at RMR and is tied with Jim Eaton for that honor. Hardy and Sharp share three wins apiece with Jeff Hillock">Jeff Hillock, Eric Rhead, John Dillon, and Dave Minegar each with two wins. Six other drivers have won win each.
Championship leader Bruce Quale.
Everybody in the field will be chasing point leader Bruce Quale as he holds a 102-point margin in the standings mid-way through the season. Quale has finished every lap run this season and has finished in the top five in each of the races contested so far. Quale finished in the runner-up spot at RMR last month and notched a third place performance back in May.
Following Quale in the point standings is 2010 champion Steve Jones just 102-points behind. Sitting third in the standings is John Nesmith who is quietly having a very solid season. Nesmith is a multi-time track champion at Meridian (ID) Speedway along with claiming a championship at Montana Raceway Park a few years back. Nesmithis only two-points behind Jones for second place.
Rounding out the top five in the point standings after five races is A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning Rookie-of-the-Year leader Tyler Bailey in fourth with Rick Fowble in the fifth position.
CarbonX, the world leader in fire protective clothing, is in its fifth season as title sponsor of the RMCS. Along with Century Boatland based in Twin Falls, the two companies provide significant event and series support. Since 1985, Century Boatland has been the Magic Valley headquarters for new and used recreational, pleasure, and fishing boats.
The RMCS utilizes a racing format not found in ANY other regional touring series around the country. The RMCS inverts up to the top 20 from qualifying putting the fast qualifiers at the back to start each race. This format ensures race fans see what they paid for and that is passing. Each driver is awarded three points per position gained in the event. Points are also awarded for qualifying and heat race finishes. Through the history of the series, the winning driver has averaged a 12th place starting position. To ensure competition, the RMCS pays it purse based on total point accumulation for the event and provides several special performance awards at each race.
The series is supported by a great family of sponsors including: CarbonX, Century Boatland, Project Filter, ESI, A-1 Heating & Air Conditioning, Sharp Powder Coating, Five Star Racing Bodies, Hoosier Racing Tires, Frank's Radios, Performance Solutions, Kidd's Performance and Dyno, Joes Racing Products, PPG Paint, Circle Racing Wheels, and Mike Minegar's Auto Body.
Various RMCS Historical Statistics:
The average starting position by the winner throughout the history of the series is 12th (82 races)
56% of the time the winner has started outside the top 10 (46 times)
45% of the time the winner has started inside the top 10 (37 times)
27% of the time the winner has started in positions 6-10 (22 times)
Only 10% of the time has the winner has started inside the top 5 (8 times in 82 races) of those starts two have started 2nd, three have started 3rd, one started 4th, and two started 5th
27% of the time the winner has started between positions 15-20 (22 times)
No winner has ever started from the pole position
Spectator gates open at 4pm with a full compliment of racing action on tap starting at around 6pm. For ticket information please on onto www.rmrracing.com for complete details.
