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| Dec 2, 2008 |  |
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A SUPER NIGHT FOR RICK SMITH; FIRST CAREER WIN COMES IN 125 LAP SPECIALCOLORADO NATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Source: Rustad/Colorado National Speedway
Smith’s first challenger was Jerry Robertson, who moved in on the leader’s rear bumper on lap 36. Robertson made several attempts to get by, until being forced to pit on the 78th circuit due to a flat tire. Bruce Yackey took over the second place position, but Smith remained strong, and did a superb job maneuvering through lapped traffic. His Hydrotex Lubricants Chevrolet Monte Carlo withstood Yackey’s threat and crossed the stripe with a two car-length advantage. “With Robertson behind me at first, I was worried. And then Bruce (Yackey) – he’s a real tough driver, but luckily he cut me some slack a couple of times,” Smith told the packed grandstands during the Winner’s Circle interview. “A lot of the lapped cars would point for me to go by on the left or the right; it really helped out a lot. I was ready for this thing to be over after 50 laps, but I’m sure glad we held on.” Starting on the outside of the front row, Smith quickly out-muscled Mike Gallegos for the lead. Gallegos remained in second place until losing control on the 26th go-round; the resultant melee damaged or eliminated several of the front-runners. Yackey moved into the runner-up slot, but surrendered it to Robertson shortly after the field went back to green flag racing. Robertson’s flat tire eliminated any chance that he would score his seventh win in eight starts, and Yackey reclaimed second place. During the final 47 lap caution-free stretch, the top five ran nose-to-tail, but no positions were exchanged. Yackey’s exceptional consistency continued, as he garnered his fifth runner-up award in six starts. Third place went to Ken Walter, who was making just his second appearance of the year, while Dave Finley moved up from 17th on the starting grid to take fourth. Bear Lynch was involved in the lap 26 skirmish, but after pitting to repair some slight damage he came back to finish in fifth. The top ten cars were on the lead lap at the checkered flag. While the 125 lapper was the first of four Pepsi Super Series races to be held throughout the season, the event also paid regular points towards the track championship. Robertson finally put a blemish on a near-perfect season, as he finished in 15th place, five laps down. He still owns the point lead, but is now just 12 marks ahead of Yackey (364 to 352). Smith moved up to third in the standings, 30 points behind Robertson. The Snap-On Tools ProTrucks competed in a special 50 lapper, and Paul Deines became the division’s fourth different winner in five races. By the halfway mark, defending champion Chris Leaf began challenging Deines, but could not make the pass stick. Leaf spun with 12 laps to go, allowing top rookie candidate John Luck to take over second. Deines owned a one truck-length advantage over Luck at the line, with Dave Deines – father of the winner – in third. Chris Archer and Jimmy Donaldson rounded out the top five. Leaf recovered to take eighth, but dropped into a tie for the point lead with Archer. Joel Hansen notched his second Artcraft Signs Grand American Modified triumph of 2003. Cris Muhler led at the onset, but when he lifted slightly during an encounter with lapped traffic, Hansen found the room he needed in the low groove and powered ahead. At the end, point leader Muhler trailed by six lengths, while Derek Clementson posted his best finish of the year in third. In the Leary Racing Products Baby Grands, Del Smith was cruising to an apparent easy win, until spinning out near the halfway mark. Bill Gray took over and was in command the rest of the way, while Smith stormed back to take second, followed by Jeff Pugh. The Witthar-Racing Trains saw possibly the closest finish in the division’s history. John Krieger and Leon Ellison commanded the “Termin8or” to the checkered flag, a mere three feet ahead of the “Turbo Train”. NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action continues next Saturday night, June 28th, with the “Race to Find Missing Kids”. Divisions competing will include the Late Models, the Grand American Modifieds, the Super Stocks, and the Legends Car Series. Additionally, programs will be held throughout the evening to raise money for the Missing Children's Task Force, and Extreme Motorcycle Jumper T.J. Russell will be putting on an exhibition.
Colorado National Speedway Race Results -- June 21, 2003
SNAP-ON TOOLS PROTRUCKS
ARTCRAFT SIGNS GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIEDS
LEARY RACING PRODUCTS BABY GRANDS
WITTHAR-RACING TRAINS
Craftsman Late Model Clash presented by the U.S. Army
Results from Saturday night's “Craftsman Late Model Clash presented by the U.S. Army” NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series feature event at Colorado National Speedway. (The first of four 125 lap Pepsi Super Series races to be held throughout the season for the First Choice Funding Late Model division.)
Finish showing starting position in parentheses, home town, car, and laps completed:
1. (2) Rick Smith, Gering, NE, Hydrotex Lubricants Chevrolet, 125
Time of Race: 52 minutes, 01 seconds Cautions: 4 for 25 laps (8-13, 17-21, 26-30, 70-78) Lap Leaders: Gallegos (1), Smith (2-125) Fast Qualifier: Van Briggle, 16.038 seconds, 84.518 MPH
Trophy Dash winner: Sikes, Jr. See Also .: News Index | E-mail to a Friend Article posted by RacingWest.com staff on 06/22/2003. http://www.racingwest.com
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