Fountain, Colorado (July 26, 2003)—Steve Carlson, of West Salem, Wisconsin, won the rain shortened NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series, The Wright Group Event Services 150, Saturday afternoon at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colorado.
Scheduled for 150 laps, the race was called after nearly a 90 minute rain delay cut the distance to 120 laps.
Greenfield, Minnesota’s Jon Lemke finished second with Davenport, Iowa driver Justin Diercks third. Arvada, Colorado’s Rick Carelli capped off an action packed day with a fourth place run. Carelli also competed in the NASCAR Busch Series race prior to the Midwest Series event. Wheaton, Illinois driver Eddie Hoffman rounded out the top five.
“Yesterday in early practice we had a good car, but it wasn’t a great car,” said Carlson. “We qualified 12th, but in the afternoon practice we found some stuff and the car was just a rocket today.”
Bud Pole fast qualifier, Joey Miller of Lakeville, Minnesota, led the first 20 laps before giving way to Carelli. Carlson and Carelli then swapped the lead on a pair of occasions over the next 48 laps before Carlson took command for good.
“I felt as though we had a dominating car, we were just out running laps faster than heck,” said Carelli. “We were waiting for this rain to come earlier and see if they would call it, but it didn’t come.”
The NASCAR Midwest Series next travels to Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Tuesday, August 5, for the running of the Oneida Bingo and Casino 300.
Fountain, Col - Unofficial race results for the NASCAR Elite Division, Int'l Truck and Engine Midwest Series, Saturday afternoon, July 26, at Pikes Peak International Raceway with start position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car make, laps completed, money won and status:
1 (12) Steve Carlson West Salem, WI Chevrolet 120 $10,350 running
2 (10) Jon Lemke Greenfield, MN Chevrolet 120 $7,800 running
3 (8) Justin Diercks Davenport, IA Chevrolet 120 $6,700 running
4 (7) Rick Carelli Arvada, CO Chevrolet 120 $4,500 running
5 (2) Eddie Hoffman Wheaton, IL Chevrolet 120 $4,200 running
6 (5) Tim Schendel Sparta, WI Chevrolet 120 $2,700 running
7 (1) Joey Miller Lakeville, MN Chevrolet 120 $1,925 running
8 (11) Josh Vadnais White Bear Lake, MN Chevrolet 120 $1,500 running
9 (13) Clint Bowyer* Emporia, KS Chevrolet 120 $1,900 running
10 (19) Jeremy Lepak* Wausau, WI Chevrolet 120 $1,900 running
11 (6) Nathan Haseleu Marshall, WI Ford 120 $1,780 running
12 (15) Bryan Roach Becker, MN Chevrolet 120 $1,770 running
13 (16) Travis Geisler Cranberry Township, PA Chevrolet 120 $1,250 running
14 (17) Ryan Hanson Beloit, WI Ford 120 $1,830 running
15 (25) Roger Avants Littleton, CO Chevrolet 120 $1,200 running
16 (22) Danny Mientka Colorado Springs, CO Chevrolet 120 $1,150 running
17 (3) Greg Fowler Longmont, CO Chevrolet 120 $1,120 running
18 (14) A.J. Rhoads* Hastings, MN Chevrolet 119 $1,610 running
19 (18) Ed Belec Lakewood, CO Chevrolet 119 $1,100 running
20 (4) Brian Hoppe Madison, WI Chevrolet 119 $1,750 running
21 (20) Ron Breese, Jr Dekalb, IL Chevrolet 119 $1,930 running
22 (29) Ken Walter Littleton, CO Pontiac 119 $1,000 running
23 (30) Jeff Way Burlington, WI Chevrolet 119 $1,480 running
24 (26) Les Ferris Northfield, MN Chevrolet 119 $1,470 running
25 (27) Dave Finney Sycamore, IL Chevrolet 119 $1,460 running
26 (33) Pete Moore McFarland, WI Chevrolet 119 $1,450 running
27 (28) Bruce Yackey Greeley, CO Chevrolet 119 $940 running
28 (32) Michael Gallegos Wheatridge, CO Chevrolet 118 $930 running
29 (31) Erik Darnell Beach Park, IL Chevrolet 118 $920 running
30 (36) Dan Savage Aurora, CO Ford 117 $910 running
31 (40) Robert Richardson McKinney, TX Chevrolet 116 $900 running
32 (39) J.C. Umscheid Austin, TX Chevrolet 116 $875 running
33 (34) Dave Finley Brighton, CO Chevrolet 116 $850 handling
34 (37) Mark Voigt* Marine, IL Chevrolet 116 $1,325 running
35 (9) Eric Fransen* West Bend, WI Chevrolet 116 $1,400 running
36 (35) Dave Bean* Westby, WI Chevrolet 112 $1,300 suspension
37 (38) Ronnie White Spring Hill, KS Chevrolet 109 $800 running
38 (23) Scott Wilson Broomfield, CO Chevrolet 105 $800 engine
39 (24) Ray Skillman Greenwood, IN Ford 98 $800 accident
40 (21) Kevin Clark Colorado Springs, CO Chevrolet 34 $800 engine
*Denotes Victory Circle Chassis Rookie of the Year Contender
Failed to Qualify: (1) Richard Niemann
7 Cautions for 33 Laps:
(16-19 #51 flat tire and spin; 47-53 #6 spin; 70-74 #20 spin; 82-85 #33 spin; 92-95 #95 spin; 99-103 #71 spin & contact; 117-120 #32 spin & contact)
5 Lead Changes Among 4 Drivers:
(Joey Miller 1-20, Rick Carelli 21-26, Steve Carlson 27-36, Carelli 37-70, Ray Skillman 71-72, Carlson 73-120)
Time of Race: 1 hour 14 minutes 36 seconds
Average Speed: 96.515 mph.
Margin of Victory: .524 seconds
Bud Pole Winner: Joey Miller, Great Clips/Country Joe Homes Chevrolet 27.797 sec. (129.510 mph)
POWERade Power Move of the Race Award: Steve Carlson, Wilson Oil Chevrolet
Victory Circle Chassis Rookie of the Race: Clint Bowyer, Sonic Drive Ins Chevrolet
Next Race: Wisconsin International Raceway, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Oneida Bingo and Casino 300, Tuesday, August 5, 2003
