ERIE, Colorado -- In Colorado National Speedway’s most recent event for the Horizon Banks Late Models, Scotty Backman drove his heart out, only to lose to Jerry Robertson by a couple of feet. Saturday night, Backman turned the table. The 43-year-old – who had not won a feature race here since August of 2002 – broke Robertson’s five-race win streak, and notched his third career victory. Backman, of Parker, CO, led all 40 laps of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series contest, pursued by Robertson throughout the second half. During the evening, the “Race to find Missing Kids” event at the 3/8 mile paved oval also held many charitable activities to raise money for the Missing Children's Task Force. Starting on the pole, Backman outran Roger Avants to secure the top spot on the opening lap. Robertson, who took the green flag from sixth, moved quickly up to fourth, and gained another position when Avants cut a tire and had to pit. Robertson then engaged in a lengthy battle with Mike Gallegos for second, as Backman opened up a comfortable advantage. Finally securing the runner-up slot on the 21st circuit, Robertson began to reel in the leader, and was nearly up to his rear bumper when the final caution period came out with three laps remaining. Following the restart, and as the pack was about to receive the white flag, Robertson’s mount slid high in turn four, allowing Backman’s Xtreme Signs & Graphics Pontiac Grand Prix to pull away; he owned an eight-length advantage at the stripe. Robertson recovered and narrowly held off a hard-charging Bruce Yackey for second. Rick Smith claimed his third-straight top-five finish in fourth, while Gallegos fell back to fifth.
Robertson remains at the top of the season standings, but the next three positions took a jumble. Avants, who eventually place 19th in the race, fell from second to fourth in the standings. Yackey moved up to second, 56 points behind Robertson (392 to 336). Backman is now in third, trailing the leader by 62 marks.
The Sunoco Grand American Modifieds ran their fourth event of 2004, and Ed Vecchiarelli scored his third victory. Vecchiarelli wasted little time moving to the front in the 30 lapper, as he only needed the seven opening circuits to advance from seventh to first. Joel Hansen eventually took over second, but could not close in on Vecchiarelli, and finished six lengths back. Ricky Alvarado placed a distant third, while Denver Dodd came from dead-last in the 20 car starting field to take fourth. Jim Stivaletta rounded out the top five. In the Four Seasons Heating Figure-Eights, former champion Dave Roe – who sat out the 2003 season – made a triumphant return. Roe fended off the challenges of Al Duran during the closing stages of the race, as the division’s all-time winningest driver notched his 23rd career victory. Duran settled with second, followed by Harry Bragg, Jared Wall, and point leader Lance Proctor.
The Legends Car Series feature looked like a replay of the two races held earlier this year, as Danny Medina outran hard-charging Jay Sant for the win. Once again, Sant stayed tight in Medina’s draft, but could not find a way around. The next three drivers either equaled – or outdid – their previous best showings of the season, with Barry Dykes in third, Jon Krizman fourth, and Terry Plummer fifth.
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action continues at the speedway next weekend with a special two-night holiday show. The “Dodge Magnum Mid-Season Championship Explosion” will offer double points for most of the divisions, and begins on Friday night with ProTrucks, Figure-Eights, Legends, and Super Stocks. Saturday night will feature the Late Models in a special 125 lap race during round two of the Pepsi Super Series, accompanied by Grand American Modifieds, Sportsman, and the Trains. Both nights will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display.
