ERIE, Colorado -- John Luck extended his point lead in the Snap-On Tools ProTruck division Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway, executing a flawless drive to notch his fourth win of the season. The ProTrucks – which took top billing for the opening-night segment of the Labor Day weekend’s “Children’s Hospital Race of Champions” – completed their ninth race of the year, and now have just one race remaining on their 2004 campaign. Although Luck, of Colorado Springs, is only a sophomore driver in the division, the victory has placed the 39-year-old in a very secure position to earn his first ProTruck championship at the 3/8 mile paved oval.
Starting ninth in the 30 lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series event, Luck narrowly escaped an eight-truck melee during the opening stages. By lap 11, Luck maneuvered past Chris Leaf for second, and began to close the gap on leader Beau Kellogg. Paul Deines, who was involved in the earlier accident and was forced to pit after some slight damage, stormed back through the field and followed Luck around Kellogg at the halfway mark. Deines grabbed the inside line and inched ahead of Luck, but the challenge lasted for only a brief moment. Luck reclaimed the top position and opened up a comfortable advantage; his Transmission Clinic of Colorado Chevrolet Silverado held a six length margin at the checkered flag. Deines grabbed the runner-up award, claiming his sixth consecutive top-two finish. Jimmy Donaldson came from last on the starting line-up to take third for his best showing of the year. Billy Harkins took fourth, with Kellogg in fifth.
Luck is now 38 marks ahead of Deines in the title chase (482 to 444). When the ProTrucks return on September 17th and 18th – for the double-point-paying Challenge Cup event – he will only need to finish 10th or better to lock up the crown. Kellogg remains third, 82 points behind Luck.
In Sunoco Grand American Modified results, first year competitor Darren Robertson captured his first career feature win. Robertson led all 30 laps, but was hounded by point leader Joel Hansen during the first half of the contest. On lap 16, fifth-running Alan Smith slammed the turn one wall to bring out the red flag. Smith was uninjured, but Hansen’s mount needed assistance to fire-up for the re-start which required him to go to the rear of the field. Ronnie Stringfellow took over second, and when racing resumed he pulled alongside Robertson for several go-rounds. Robertson powered away during the closing laps however, as Stringfellow was six lengths back when the pair crossed the stripe. Forest Smith made his first appearance in several weeks, and drove a borrowed car to third. Fourth place went to Robert Martin, while Hansen battled back to take fifth. With two races still remaining for the Grand American Modifieds, Hansen is now just 20 points ahead of Stringfellow, and 22 in front of Robertson.
The Super Modifieds made their second and final visit of the season, and Johnny Pickard easily out-muscled the field in the 20 lapper. Pickard overhauled Tom Adler for second on the eighth circuit, then needed just two more laps to work the inside groove and get past Harry Stone for the lead. Once in front, Pickard set a blistering pace and was nearly a full-straightaway ahead at the finish. Adler grabbed runner-up honors, with Joe Priselac taking third, Rich Castor, Jr. in fourth, and Stone falling to fifth.
In the Train race, Jared Wall and Shirley Thompson chugged the “Last Call Train” to its third straight victory. Their nearest rival in the standings, the “Turbo Train”, finished second.
The Dunlap’s Trailers Sportsman division held twin 20 lap qualifiers to help set the grid for Sunday’s special 40-lap “John Black Memorial”. Race #1 saw Brad Groff outrun Davin Fisbeck by six lengths to take the trophy. In race #2, the two principle players in the championship battle took the top two positions, as Daren Gailey edged out point leader Jim Bob Rogers by four lengths.
The “Children’s Hospital Race of Champions” concludes on Sunday evening (September 5th). The line-up for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series event will include the Horizon Banks Late Models, the second half of the Dunlap’s Trailers Sportsman program, the Legends Car Series, and the Four Seasons Heating Figure-Eights. Once again, many fund-raising activities will be held for Children’s Hospital, along with a fireworks show. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(September 4) - Results from the opening night portion of the "Children’s Hospital Race of Champions" NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series event, held Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway (Event concludes on Sunday evening).
SNAP-ON TOOLS PROTRUCKS
QUICK TIME:
Paul Deines, Longmont
TROPHY DASH:
Rick Runkle, Lakewood
FEATURE:
1. John Luck, Colo. Springs
2. Paul Deines, Longmont
3. Jimmy Donaldson, Arvada
4. Billy Harkins, Lakewood
5. Beau Kellogg, Evergreen
6. Tim Billinger, Denver
7. Chris Leaf, Kersey
8. Rick Runkle, Lakewood
9. Lee Kemmit, Thornton
10. Randy Whitman, Ft. Collins
SUNOCO GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIEDS
QUICK TIME:
Joel Hansen, Eaton
TROPHY DASH:
Alan Smith, Pueblo West
FEATURE:
1. Darren Robertson, Arvada
2. Ronnie Stringfellow, Littleton
3. Forest Smith, Bellvue
4. Robert Martin, Northglenn
5. Joel Hansen, Eaton
6. Jeff Purvis, Federal Heights
7. Terry Tjarks, Berthoud
8. Adam Shrove, Ft. Collins
9. Jon Lincicome, Ft. Lupton
10. Jeff Case, Brighton
SUPER MODIFIEDS
QUICK TIME:
Rich Castor, Jr., Bennett
TROPHY DASH:
Joe Priselac, Westminster
FEATURE:
1. Johnny Pickard, Pueblo
2. Tom Adler, Longmont
3. Joe Priselac, Westminster
4. Rich Castor, Jr., Bennett
5. Harry Stone, Broomfield
6. Stevie Gallegos, Castle Rock
7. Skip Mikula, Thornton
8. Paco Morales, Castle Rock
9. Dave Klamm, Longmont
10. Stace Hamm, Littleton
DUNLAP’S TRAILERS SPORTSMAN
QUICK TIME:
Brad Groff, Ft. Lupton
QUALIFYING RACE #1:
1. Brad Groff, Ft. Lupton
2. Davin Fisbeck, Thornton
3. Tommy Roe, Thornton
4. Stan Griffin, Brighton
5. Greg Nelson, Ft. Collins
QUALIFYING RACE #2:
1. Daren Gailey, Aurora
2. Jim Bob Rogers, Erie
3. Darren Bucklen, Greeley
4. Craig Holmes, Arvada
5. Gary Higgs, Lakewood
TRAINS
FEATURE:
1. Last Call Train
2. Turbo Train
3. Galloping Goose
4. Steel Dragon
5. Termin-8-or
6. Merl's Revenge
7. Santa's Express
8. Spitfire Chix Choo-Choo
9. Smash-n-Crash
10. Half Fool & Plum M.T.
