DAVE MINEGAR WINS NAPA ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP


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Oct 14, 2008

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CALLENGE SERIES

Source: Mike Minegar
Date: 09/27/2006

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Dave Minegar would like to have done it a little differently. He was watching the NAPA 150 at Magic Valley Speedway from the sidelines. Minegar’s #9 Bodybulding.com Chevrolet Monte Carlo sat idle in the pit area as the race started.

During the first practice session earlier in the day Minegar’s car let loose with an oil pump drive off the front of the motor. The search was on for a part that would work. With no luck in the pit area they were relegated to find something in Boise and have it brought to Twin Falls. The call was made and a part was on its way. An alternate plan was put together as Eddie McKean offered up his tour car for Dave to run. That car was unloaded and prepped to start the race if need be. Qualifying was watched closely as Twin Falls; John Newhouse still had a mathematical opportunity to win the championship with a 4th or better qualifying effort. Newhouse qualified 3rd and made it necessary for Minegar to start the main in order to insure the championship. The part arrived from Boise and the crew was excited to be able to race the feature event. But happiness quickly turned to despair as the part did not fit the engine. Plan B was enacted and Minegar quickly crawled in the car of McKean’s to start the main event. Minegar took the green flag and with little fanfare and gathered enough points to win the 2006 championship. He pulled the car into the pit area after running two laps.

He missed a great main event. Earlier in the day Utah’s Jimmy Eaton had set the pace with the Sharp Powdercoating quick time of 13.371 followed by teammate Zan Sharp’s lap of 13.381. John Newhouse followed them with 3rd quick and the top five qualifiers were rounded out by Bruce Quale and Bobby Latham III. This relegated Jimmy and Zan to starting 19th and 20th respectively. Jimmy fell out early with engine woes and suffered a rare DNF. Sharp went on to finish 7th after having to pit for a flat tire.

The battle to watch was for third through fifth in the championship fight. Chris Ratterree came into the night with a slim advantage over Bruce Quale and Tom Hill. Quale did what he had to by qualifying over both contenders. This set up for a good shootout in the feature. Ratterree was on fire and quickly drove to the front of the field and looked to be the car to beat. Unfortunate luck struck and Nick Gibson unloaded a motor in front of the field and Ratterree got caught up in the carnage and had to restart at the rear. With no apparent damage, his chances still looked good with many laps left. Quietly Meridian’s young veteran Bryan Warf was making his presence known as he quickly made short work of several cars. He found himself at the front of the pack along with Newhouse and Quale and Emmett’s Dan Buckley. The only unknown was Ratterree and how quick he could make his way through traffic. That question was answered by about lap 135 when Ratterree had worked himself around everybody but Bryan Warf.

The checkers flew on lap 150 with a new 2006 champion and a very happy Bryan Warf.

Hoosier Racing Tire is the official tire of the NAPA Auto Parts Rocky Mountain Challenge Series in 2006. RMCS contingency sponsors include: NAPA Auto Parts, ESI Construction, Maverik Country Stores, Walker Stockcar Service, Dillon Racing Products, Five Star Racecar Bodies, Sharp Powdercoating, Port City Racing, Integra Springs, Frank’s Radio’s.

The NAPA Auto Parts Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is a regional touring series that allows competitors to gain experience on different types of asphalt oval tracks up to 3/8-mile in length. It is a high-quality, professional racing series that offers maximum opportunity at an affordable price serving the Intermountain West. The motto of the series is to “Race Hard and Have Fun!” The season finale September 16th at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho will feature a 150-lap contest.

NAPA was founded in 1928 to meet America's growing need for a world-class auto parts distribution system. By providing excellent customer service for more than 75 years, NAPA has become the industry leader.

NAPA's strength is unrivaled, with 6,000 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores, 58 Distribution Centers, over 12,000 affiliated NAPA AutoCare repair facilities; over 300,000 parts and accessories in inventory every day, and more ASE-Certified Parts Professionals than anyone in the industry.

In addition to being America's first choice for automotive parts and accessories, NAPA is also a leading supplier of specialty parts and equipment for the collision repair, heavy-duty truck, and industrial markets. And NAPA tools and equipment set the industry standard for quality and value. NAPA serves automotive consumers through the UAP division in Canada, Auto Todo in Mexico and with other locations throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

www.rockymountainchallengeseries. com

Race results:

1. Bryan Warf

2. Chris Ratterree

3. John Newhouse

4. Bruce Quale

5. Dan Buckley

6. Tyler Monroe (rookie of the year)

7. Zan Sharp

8. Chris Cook

9. John Wong

10. Chris Shrade