ERIE, Colorado -- While the "United Power / Touchstone Energy 150" Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring event took top billing Saturday night for the 14,400 fans at Colorado National Speedway, races were also held for three of the track's regular divisions. In Snap-On Tools ProTruck results, Chris Leaf scored top honors in the 30 lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge feature contest, as he continues to boost odds of capturing his third consecutive division title. The 34-year-old Kersey CO driver took the lead on the 7th circuit, and went unchallenged the rest of the way to notch his sixth victory of the year at the 3/8 mile paved oval. Leaf now has 20 career ProTruck wins, more than twice that of any other competitor in the seven-year history of the division.
Dennis Edwards started on the pole and led the field at the onset. From third on the grid, Leaf overhauled Tim Billinger for second on lap three, then used the inside groove to make his move on Edwards. A heated battle for the runner-up slot between Edwards and Jimmy Donaldson allowed Leaf to slip away, and his Garza Concrete Chevrolet Silverado owned a three truck-length advantage at the stripe. Edwards - the division's top Rookie of the Year contender - nipped Donaldson by inches to post his best career finish. Donaldson settled with third, followed by Dave Deines and Mike Sandoval.
With 696 points, Leaf is now 46 marks ahead of Donaldson. Edwards jumped up to third in the standings, and trails Leaf by 54 points.
Jared "Wally" Wall grabbed his first ever feature trophy in the Figure-Eights, and became the division's seventh different winner of 2002. Wall led the entire 20 lap distance, and held off a lengthy challenge from eventual runner-up Keith Swenson. Point leader Lance Proctor took third, with Jim Egli fourth and Dave Roe fifth. With just two Figure-Eight races remaining on the season's schedule, 10th place finisher Scott Quintrall has now put a lock on the division's Rookie of the Year award.
Wall then completed his driving duties by teaming up with Shirley Thompson to capture the 10 lap event for the Witthar Racing Trains. Aboard the "Last Call Train", the pair out-steamed the "Termin8or" to arrive first at the station, while "War Wagon" posted a third place showing and continues at the top of the standings.
The next event at Colorado National Speedway will be the "True Value Hardware Challenge" on Saturday night, August 24th. The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge action will include the Late Models, the ProTrucks, and the Super Stocks, and the evening concludes with a 100 lap race for the pure-stock Enduro cars.
QUICK TIME:
Chris Archer, Denver
TROPHY DASH:
Tim Billinger, Denver
FEATURE:
1. Chris Leaf, Kersey
2. Dennis Edwards, Golden
3. Jimmy Donaldson, Arvada
4. Dave Deines, Gering, NE
5. Mike Sandoval, Colo. Springs
6. Darren Crocker, Littleton
7. Billy Harkins, Lakewood
8. Brian Pacheco, Elizabeth
9. Scott Wilson, Broomfield
10. Lynn Bybee, Sedalia
TROPHY DASH:
Dave Roe, Littleton
FEATURE:
1. Jared Wall, Commerce City
2. Keith Swenson, Aurora
3. Lance Proctor, Arvada
4. Jim Egli, Hudson
5. Dave Roe, Littleton
6. Bill Quintrall, Thornton
7. Harry Livermore, Jr., Denver
8. Mark Molendyk, Denver
9. Dennis Stepanich, Arvada
10. Scott Quintrall, Thornton
FEATURE:
1. Last Call Train
2. Termin8or
3. The War Wagon
4. Kody’s Express
5. Steel Dragon
6. Merl’s Revenge
7. Half Fool & Plum M.T.
8. Just Surviving
9. De Udder Train
10. Smash-n-Crash
