MINEGAR SCORES MAGIC VALLEY “TRIFECTA” IN RMCS ACTION

BOISE, Idaho -- Dave Minegar of Boise, Idaho scored his fifth career CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series victory Saturday night at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls. Minegar swept the racing action by setting the fast, winning his heat race and running away with the victory in the Falls Brand “100”.

Minegar started his evening off in fine fashion collecting his 17th (most all-time) career Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Award with a quick lap of 14.425 seconds around the tricky one-third mile paved oval. Local standout Bobby Latham III was second quick followed by two-time series champion Zan Sharp, rookie Dan Koyle, and former NASCAR NW Tour champion John Dillon.

After the qualifying the field was set for three 12-lap heat races which were won by Minegar, Latham, and TJ Woodall making his first career series start. The feature line-up put Minegar starting 20th due to the customary RMCS invert and A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning rookie competitor Mitch Dickinson and Tyler Monroe on the front row to lead the field.

Rookie Mitch Dickinson led the first three circuits before giving way to fellow rookie Dylan Caldwell who led for four laps. As the field sorted itself out, Thane Alderman, who makes the long tow from Las Vegas, NV for each RMCS race, took the reins on lap nine and would control the pace of the race for the next 75 laps.

While Alderman looked to run away with the show from his fifth starting position, Minegar started to work on the field, methodically passing cars. By lap 56, Minegar had moved into the third position just behind Dillon who had started the event from the 16th spot.

Minegar made his way to the rear bumper of Alderman by lap 78 and looked for a way around the Las Vegas pilot. Alderman and Minegar waged a spirited battle for several laps until Minegar was able to get by on lap 84 taking Craig Bell and Dillon with him. Alderman was able to get back by Bell and Dillon on lap 85 with Dillon returning the favor on lap 87.

Minegar crossed the finish line to score his fifth career triumph by just 3/10’s of a second over Dillon. Defending series champion John Newhouse rallied back to finish third followed by rookie Steve Jones and Alderman rounding out the top five. The second five were led by Woodall, Tyler Monroe, Craig Bell, Dan Koyle and Shane Thompson.

The action was slowed 12 times for caution involving several single car spins. Bobby Latham III had a top five run spoiled when he cut a tire late in the action and lost one lap eventually finishing 12th. Fourteen of 22 starters were running at the conclusion of the event with eleven cars running on the lead lap. Six of the top ten finishers started outside the top ten.

Minegar won the $100 Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Award along with the ESI Hotshoe Bonus of $800 for winning the race and setting fast time. Steve Jones picked the rookie honors and the $100 bonus from A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning. Thane Alderman earned the $100 Thompson Motorsports Halfway Challenge while Chris Schrade won the Thompson Motorsports Driver Improvement Award for improving the most positions over the previous race (10). There were three lead changes between four drivers with Dickinson, Caldwell, Alderman, and Minegar all receiving the CarbonX Lap Leader Bonus.

The unofficial point standings after three races has Minegar (655) ahead of Newhouse (476) by 179 points. Dillon is third (454) with Bell (429) and Alderman (418) rounding out the top five in the standings. Steve Jones is the top rookie in sixth just one point out of fifth.

The next event for the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is Monday, May 26 at Rocky Mountain Raceways in SLC for the Young Chevrolet “100” For all the latest news and information regarding the RMCS please log onto www.rmcsracing.com.

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