SCORING HIS SIXTH VICTORY OF THE YEAR, "JUST BORN CANDY CLASH" GOES TO POINT LEADER ROGER AVANTS

Source: Alf Rustad/Colorado National Speedway
Date: 07/07/2002

ERIE, Colo. -- Fresh off his win in a special 125 lap race at Colorado National Speedway just three days earlier, Roger Avants returned on Saturday night to pick up his sixth victory of the season at the 3/8 mile paved oval. The Littleton, CO driver took over the top slot after a spin by the leaders, then easily out-muscled the field to grab the 40 lap "Just Born Candy Clash" NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge contest. Owning nearly a full-straightaway advantage, 50-year-old Avants added to his point lead in the Prestige Capital Funding Late Models while continuing on his hot streak; he now owns four wins in his last five starts.

The division's 12th race of the season saw Dan Savage out front for the first handful of laps before feeling pressure from Jerry Robertson. Heading into turn one on the seventh circuit, the side by side battle ended as the pair made contact and both drivers lost control, bringing out the event's only caution period. Avants assumed first place, and his McDonald's / Pro Vans USA Chevrolet Monte Carlo went unchallenged the rest of the way. Fast qualifier Scotty Backman posted his third runner-up finish over the last four races, while Robertson stormed back through the field to place third. Defending division champion Bruce Yackey and top rookie candidate Beau Kellogg completed the top five.

With 598 points, Avants is now 30 marks ahead of his nearest rival in the season standings, equaling the largest margin that he enjoyed earlier in the year. Robertson continues in second, while Yackey remains third, trailing Avants by 64 points.

In Artcraft Signs Grand American Modified results, Derek Clementson notched his first victory of the year, and became the division's fifth different winner of 2002. Clementson, who led the entire 30 lap distance, outran point leader Joel Hansen by four car lengths, putting an end to Hansen's three-race win streak. Chris Muhler was involved in an early-race altercation while fighting for second, but came back to pick up a third place showing. Ronnie Hults and Wayne Muhler followed.

Jim Bob Rogers made a last-lap pass in the Dunlap's Trailers Super Stock feature race to capture his third trophy of the season. Steve Green commanded the field most of the way, as a torrid battle between Rogers, Mike Bowen, and Gary Lee raged behind. Once Rogers secured second, he moved in on Green, who drifted high in turn two on the final go-round. Green was denied his first career win, as Rogers was able to get underneath and edge him out at the stripe. Lee took third, with point leader Bowen fourth and Trent Phillips fifth.

The Super Modifieds made the third of their five scheduled appearances, with Mark Molendyk taking home the first place award. From eighth on the grid, Molendyk needed just one lap to get to the front, and was 20 car-lengths ahead by the time Johnny Pickard moved into second near the halfway mark. Pickard gained ground in chunks, but his final-lap attempt on the leader came up a car length short. Harold Evans, Harry Stone, and Rich Castor, Jr., completed the top five. On the way to his first career triumph, Molendyk completed the caution-free 25 lap contest in 6 minutes, 17.06 seconds, equating to a blistering 89.5 mph average speed for the race.

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge action continues at Colorado National Speedway on July 13th, with the "Northern Colorado Saturday Night Blow-Out". The Late Models will be featured, along with the ProTrucks, the Legends Cars, and the Baby Grands, and the evening will conclude with another running of the wild and crazy Trains.

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