Lee Hackney of Boise, Idaho won the NAPA 75 at Magic Valley Speedway Saturday night, the second event of the season for the RMCS. Hackney took advantage of rookie Clint Eames misfortune to take the lead on lap 44 of the 75-lap event and never looked back as he posted a two-length victory over Jimmy Eaton of West Jordan, Utah and John Nesmith of Meridian, Idaho. Starting from the ninth starting position in the full inverted 22-car field, Hackney steadily moved up through the pack breaking into the top five on lap 21. Eames had led the previous thirty-seven laps before having to pit with mechanical woes and finished in the sixteenth position. Eaton followed in Hackney’s shadow most of the evening but had nothing for the winner at the end. Nesmith came from his 14th starting position to challenge the front pair but settled for third
Craig Bell of Kuna, Idaho suffered horrible luck near the end of the race when the top end of his motor let go while running in second place, just nine laps from the end. Fast qualifier and new points leader Zan Sharp came all the way from his 20th starting spot to finish fourth while Lynn Hardy of Salt Lake City, Utah rounded out the top 5 in fifth position. Dave Minegar, Mike Marston, Don Beamis, Chris Schrade, and Chad Cannon were next in order as the race finished with eleven cars on the lead lap.
The race had seven yellow flags, all for minor spins during the event. The only serious accident of the evening involved young Phil Dugan who crashed hard on the first lap of the B Trophy Dash. Dugan was fine but the car’s front end will need some serious attention for the next race at Chaparral Speedway May 22nd.
The Hobbytown USA Pole Award went to Sharp of Logan, Utah as he rounded the speedway at a time of 14.488 seconds, an average of 82.744 miles per hour. Second quick went to Minegar of Boise, Idaho, and third fast was rookie Tom Hill. The A-1 Heating & Air Conditioning highest finishing rookie honors went to Hill of Eagle, Idaho who finished 13th. Brett Thompson of Jerome, Idaho won the A dash while Chad Cannon of Nampa, Idaho won the B dash.
Zan Sharp takes over the RMCS season points after being the high point man for the evening. Sharp is followed by first week point’s leader Dennis Wurtz Jr, Nesmith, Hackney, with Hardy and Minegar tied for fifth place in the series.
The Rocky Mountain Challenge Series will resume May 22nd at Chaparral Speedway in Eagle, Idaho. See www.rockymountainchallengeseries.com for further information.
Series Sponsors include: ESI-Engineered Structures Inc., Maverik Country Stores, NAPA Auto Parts, Energy Release, Dillon Racing Products, Powertrain Technology, Hoosier Racing Tires, Nesmith Racing Engines, A-1 Heating & Air Conditioning, Hobbytown USA, Fivestar Stock Car Bodies, Pro Shocks, and Simpson Race Products, PPG Automotive Paint, and Port City Racing.
