In recent weeks at Colorado National Speedway, Chris Leaf has lost some valuable ground in his quest to win a fourth consecutive Snap-On Tools ProTruck title. Saturday night at the 3/8 mile paved oval, the Kersey, CO driver not only scored his third feature victory of the year, but may also have switched the momentum back in his favor. The division took top billing for the “Arctic Cat ProTruck Rumble” due to a scheduled off-weekend for the Late Models, and 35-year-old Leaf edged point leader Chris Archer to capture the special 50 lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series contest. Marking the first time in four races that Leaf has gained on Archer in the standings, he now trails by just eight points.
From the outside of the front row, Archer grabbed the lead at the fall of the green flag, with pole-sitter Mike Sandoval second and Leaf third. Leaf overhauled Sandoval during the opening stages – with John Luck following – as Archer pulled away from the pack. The final yellow flag of the race waved on the 18th circuit, and when racing resumed, Archer was once again quick to open up an advantage. This time however, both Leaf and Luck were eventually able to close the gap. Following a lengthy side by side battle, lap 38 saw Archer forced to slow for a back-marker in his groove, and Leaf took over. Luck stayed in the mix until the final stages when he spun, but the lead pair stayed in a tight formation. Archer’s bid to reclaim the top spot came up short, as he was glued to the tailgate of Leaf’s Garza Concrete Structures Chevrolet Silverado at the stripe. Dennis Edwards took third, with Luck recovering to finish fourth and Dave Deines in fifth.
With just five races remaining on the division’s 2003 calendar, Archer sits on top with 420 points; Leaf has 412. Luck – the division’s leading Rookie of the Year candidate – remains third, now 26 marks behind Archer.
Last week, Trent Phillips took over the lead in the Dunlap’s Trailers Super Stock standings, and for this round he extended that lead with his second win of the season. Phillips stayed in front for all 25 laps, pursued by eventual runner-up Jim Bob Rogers during the closing stages. Phillips was never seriously challenged, and owned a five-length margin at the checkered flag. Daren Gailey and Rick Russolello – Phillips’ nearest challengers in the championship battle – were next across the line, with Mark Lowe completing the top five.
Danny Medina’s prowess in the Legends Car Series was evident once again, as he took top honors for the fourth time in six starts. Medina fought hard with Jay Sant early on, and finally wrestled first place away just before the halfway mark of the 20 lapper. On the next go-round, Anthony Medina attempted to get past Sant for second, but he spun and collected Sant in the process. Both were eliminated, allowing Terry Plummer to take over the runner-up slot. At the finish, Plummer was four lengths back as he recorded his best performance of the year. Barry Dykes, Jon Krizman, and Chip Newman completed the top five.
Del Smith outran Bill Gray to grab the Leary Racing Products Baby Grand contest, with newcomer Adam Shrove in third.
The Witthar-Racing Trains held their annual ladies-only “Powder-Puff” event to end the evening. Bette Boop Kytle and Cookie Crites, aboard the “Half Fool – Plum M.T.”, proved to be the winning combination. NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action continues at the speedway next Saturday night, August 2nd, with the “Pepsi Super Series Late Model Clash”. Headlining this special event will be the First Choice Funding Late Models in a 125 lap feature race – round three of the four-race Pepsi Super Series. The line-up will also include the Snap-On Tools ProTrucks, along with the Figure-Eights and the Witthar-Racing Trains.
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(July 26) - Results from the “Arctic Cat ProTruck Rumble” NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series event, held Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway. SNAP-ON TOOLS PROTRUCKS
QUICK TIME: Chris Archer, Denver TROPHY DASH: Dennis Edwards, Golden FEATURE: 1. Chris Leaf, Kersey 2. Chris Archer, Denver 3. Dennis Edwards, Golden 4. John Luck , Colo. Springs 5. Dave Deines, Gering, NE 6. Jimmy Donaldson, Arvada 7. Mike Sandoval, Colo. Springs 8. Brian Pacheco, Elizabeth 9. Bob Montgomery, Evergreen 10. Alan Carter , Thornton DUNLAP'S TRAILERS SUPER STOCKS QUICK TIME: Stan Griffin, Brighton TROPHY DASH: Daren Gailey, Aurora FEATURE: 1. Trent Phillips, Hemingford, NE 2. Jim Bob Rogers, Erie 3. Daren Gailey, Aurora 4. Rick Russolello, Thornton 5. Mark Lowe, Lakewood 6. John Baker, Cheyenne, WY 7. Rick Hunt, Arvada 8. Alan Carter, Thornton 9. Jim Lahey, Jr., Denver 10. Tom Powers, Aurora LEGENDS CAR SERIES QUICK TIME: Danny Medina, Colo. Springs TROPHY DASH: Anthony Medina, Colo. Springs FEATURE: 1. Danny Medina, Colo. Springs 2. Terry Plummer, Loveland 3. Barry Dykes, Loveland 4. Jon Krizman, Loveland 5. Chip Newman, Colo. Springs 6. Steve Smith, Superior 7. Michael Jones, Aurora 8. Nick Cooper, Watkins 9. Rex Jarrett, Longmont 10. Kenny Thomas, Arvada LEARY RACING PRODUCTS BABY GRANDS
QUICK TIME:
Del Smith, Berthoud
TROPHY DASH:
Bill Gray, Denver
FEATURE:
1. Del Smith, Berthoud
2. Bill Gray, Denver
3. Adam Shrove, Ft. Collins
4. Teague Heilbrun, Ft. Collins
5. Richard Perry, Denver
WITTHAR-RACING TRAINS
(Special Ladies-Only “Powder Puff” event)
FEATURE:
1. Half Fool – Plum M.T.
2. Turbo Train
3. Last Call Train
4. Smash-N-Crash
5. De Udder Train
