ERIE, Colorado -- Although Darren Crocker finished second in the final 2001 First Choice Funding Late Model standings at Colorado National Speedway, he was unable to compete in the division last season. Even after a year lay-off, he has turned in some very impressive performances since his come-back. On Saturday night he made his return complete. Crocker grabbed top honors in the 40 lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series headliner - his first career feature victory in the premier class at the 3/8 mile paved oval. While 38-year-old Crocker, of Littleton, CO, endured a fierce challenge throughout the first half of the "Waste Management Shoot-Out", he was able to pull away to an 18 car-length advantage during the closing stages.
Starting on the outside of the front row, Crocker took command at the onset, with pole-sitter Bruce Yackey in close pursuit. As the field neared the halfway mark, Roger Avants and Scotty Backman moved in on the leaders. Several overtaking moves were attempted within the tight four-pack formation, until a lengthy caution period stopped the action with 15 circuits remaining. On the restart, Crocker's Coldwell Bankers Chevrolet Monte Carlo looked like a different machine, as he immediately began to build a healthy margin over the other front-runners. For the second straight week, Yackey captured the runner-up award, while Avants earned his best finish of the year in third. Backman took fourth, and Jerry Robertson moved up from 13th on the starting grid to take fifth. Earlier in the evening, Backman broke the five-year-old one-lap track record, posting a 15.787 second / 85.513 MPH clocking.
Though Robertson saw his five-race win streak - which dated back to September 7th of last season - come to an end, he remains the point leader. A three-way tie emerged for second place in the standings, shared by Yackey, Backman, and Ron Van Briggle. They trail the leader by 28 points (192 to 164).
In Artcraft Signs Grand American Modified results, a landslide win by Cris Muhler gave him his first victory in nearly a year. With six laps remaining, eventual second place finisher Ronnie Hults passed Ronnie Stringfellow for the position, but by then Muhler had stretched his lead to nearly a half-lap. Stringfellow settled with third, while D.L. Clementson and Forest Smith rounded out the top five. Joel Hansen surrendered the point lead to Muhler after he slammed the turn 3 wall; he was credited with a 14th place showing.
The first outing of the year for the Legends Car Series saw Jay Sant take the laurels, backing up his first career win in the 2002 season finale. Anthony Medina stayed glued to Sant's rear bumper until the final turn on the final lap, when he lost control and did a quick spin, relegating him to fifth in the final rundown. Barry Dykes went on to take second, with Danny Medina able to recover from an early-race mishap to take third. Nick Cooper was fourth.
The Pure Stocks competed in a 75 lap enduro-type event, and 48 competitors took the green flag. Robbie Schneider came out on top following a race-long duel with A. J. Grasso, trailed by Eric Warrington in third. Early leader Lance Baily appeared to finish fourth, but his car failed the post-race inspection. In the revised order, Richard Lothert and Todd Larson completed the top five.
The "Miller Lite Memorial Day Challenge" will be the next event at the speedway, as two nights of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action will be held during the holiday weekend. On Saturday night, the ProTrucks will be featured, along with the Grand American Modifieds, the Baby Grands, and Figure-Eights. Late Models will headline Sunday evening's card, accompanied by Super Stocks, the Legends Series, and the Trains.
- QUICK TIME:
- Scotty Backman, Parker
- TROPHY DASH:
- Scott Wilson, Broomfield
- FEATURE:
-
1. Darren Crocker, Littleton
2. Bruce Yackey, Greeley
3. Roger Avants, Littleton
4. Scotty Backman, Parker
5. Jerry Robertson, Arvada
6. Dan Savage, Aurora
7. Jim Sikes, Jr., Fountain
8. Ron Van Briggle, Eaton
9. Rick Smith, Gering, NE
10. Steve Yackey, Greeley
- QUICK TIME:
- Cris Muhler, Erie
- TROPHY DASH:
- Ronnie Hults, Jr., Denver
- FEATURE:
-
1. Cris Muhler, Erie
2. Ronnie Hults, Jr., Denver
3. Ronnie Stringfellow, Littleton
4. D.L. Clementson, Littleton
5. Forest Smith, Bellvue
6. Derek Clementson, Denver
7. Ryan Moore, Bailey
8. Bobby Pittington, Wellington
9. Jeff Case, Brighton
10. Mike Moore, Bailey
- QUICK TIME:
- Jay Sant, Parker
- TROPHY DASH:
- Anthony Medina, Colo. Springs
- FEATURE:
-
1. Jay Sant, Parker
2. Barry Dykes, Loveland
3. Danny Medina, Colo. Springs
4. Nick Cooper, Watkins
5. Anthony Medina, Colo. Springs
6. Terry Plummer, Loveland
7. Dave Johnson, Thornton
8. Paul Harder, Windsor
9. Michael Jones, Aurora
10. Chip Newman, Colo. Springs
- FEATURE:
-
1. Robbie Schneider, Gilcrest
2. A.J. Grasso, Longmont
3. Eric Warrington, Fort Collins
4. Richard Lothert, Loveland
5. Todd Larson, Platteville
6. Jan Oxley, Fort Lupton
7. Damon Dickey, Longmont
8. Rex Walker, Kersey
9. Shawn Hymes, Arvada
10. Jeff Quinn, Arvada
