By Gary Jacob
Denver, CO -- The only driver from the western edge of the state to be running a full schedule with the Colorado Late Model Association, Brett Hallmark from Grand Junction stayed red hot by charging to wins in both his heat race and the 25 lap feature Saturday night at Rocky Mountain National Speedway. After winning the heat race from the pole, Hallmark started his GRT late model in the 4th position for the 25 lap feature. He paced the final 15 laps for the win with veteran Jim Clifton second after he also scored a heat win.The third heat winner, Rod Glenn, was third in the main event as the drivers battled heavily rutted track conditions caused by rain and snow the previous day. This was the second straight race for the traveling series at RMNS.
The series brought 17 cars to this event and they were divided into three heat races. After a three wide pass on the opening lap, Glenn came from 4th starting to win the first ten lap heat race over Mike Cox and Ken Brack. Hallmark drew the outside front row starting spot for heat 2 and was never challenged. Pole starter Dave Garmann ran second over third starting Kevin Wright. Previous race winner John Kuchar started on the pole for the third heat, but surrendered the lead to 4th starter Clifton on lap 1. Clifton won with Kuchar second over Scott Cimfl. Cimfl strained his motor and was a feature scratch to leave a 16 car field for the 25 lap feature. Clifton and Cox shared the front row with Glenn and Hallmark in row 2 as Garmann and Kuchar rounded out the front three rows. The ageless veteran Clifton raced into the lead at the start with Cox pulling alongside on lap 3. Cox could never finish the pass. On lap 6, Cox clipped a rut and spun to a stop for the first yellow flag. J T Botts elected to pit during the caution period. On lap 8, Brack also hooked a rut and spun for the last yellow flag. On lap 11, Hallmark passed Clifton for the top spot. Bill Smith retired on lap 12. Hallmark and Clifton ran away from the field over the final rounds with Glenn third over Wright, Garmann, Kuchar, Scott Lewis, Rick Lieser and Don Post. Running for the first time since his injuries at the big Albuquerque race, Terry Loos ran 14th.
Summary Heat 1-Rod Glenn, Mike Cox, Ken Brack, Chris Persichetti, J T Botts. Heat 2-Brett Hallmark, Dave Garmann, Kevin Wright, Scott Lewis, Rick Lieser. Heat 3-Jim Clifton, John Kuchar, Scott Cimfl, Don Post, Terry Loos. Main-Hallmark, Clifton, Glenn, Wright, Garmann, Kuchar, Lewis, Lieser, Post, Persichetti, Brack, Cox, Curt Daniels, Loos, Bill Smith, Botts.