Brett Hallmark Stays Red Hot With Another Clean Sweep

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.

Big Idaho Dollar Weekend For Mini Sprints

By Gary Jacob

Boise, ID -- A solid field of California invaders made the long tow to OMC Speedway to contest the Pepsi Shootout, the richest race for the mini sprints and modified midgets annually in Idaho. Brian Gard from Kelseyville, CA was the $1,000 winner for the Modified Mini Sprint 600's on Sunday night. Saturday night's $400 win had went to Idaho's Rob Grice and he ran second to Gard in the big money Sunday show. For the Modified Midget 250's, Randy Pierce from Meridian, Idaho pocketed $1,400 as he won both the $400 Saturday night show and the $1,000 Sunday night feature. Eagle, Idaho's Casey Taylor ran second on Sunday night with Larry Jackson second on Saturday night. The Stock Mini Sprint 600's also raced both nights and a pair of California drivers dueled for the Saturday night win with Ralph Cortez beating out Rick DeCosta. On Sunday night, it was Delta Speedway star DeCosta from Manteca, CA winning.

The first night action for the modified mini sprint 600's saw female racer Sara Shaffer with fast time at 10.572. Rick Cook II won the first heat over fellow California racer Shawn Wright. DeCosta beat Rick Cook I in the second heat. Grice was chased to his Saturday night win by DeCosta, Shaffer, Cook II and San Jose's Michael Trimble. On Sunday night, Gard posted fast time with a 10.358 lap. Grice was the dash winner and Gard won the first heat in front of Shawn Flagstad. Trimble beat Grice in heat 2. For the $1,000 win, it was Gard in front as DeCosta lost his engine running 3rd on the final lap. Grice placed second ahead of Shaffer, Cortez and Flagstad.

For the Modified Midget 250's, Saturday's fast timer was Pierce with a 10.556 lap. Sid Fuller won the dash and heat 1 went to Taylor over Pierce and Mike Harris. Mike Jackson beat Ryan Hansen in heat 2. Pierce took the $400 win with L Jackson second over M Jackson, Bob Hansen and Harris. Pierce also set fast time on Sunday night at 10.623 and R Hansen was the dash winner. B Hansen took heat 1 over M Jackson and R Hansen won heat 2 with Eric Turner second. For the $1,000 prize, it was again Pierce in front of Taylor, R Hansen, L Jackson and Pat Hoskins.

The Stock Mini Sprint 600's found Sacramento's Cortez posting fast time on Saturday at 10.861. Rick Cook II won the dash and Rod Huggins beat Cook II in the heat race. Cortez won the feature over DeCosta, Huggins, Tyler Mason and Cook II. DeCosta won Sunday's feature ahead of Huggins and Mason.

Both of the big purse classes started full 16 car features.

Summary

May 25
Modified Midget 250 Fast Time-Randy Pierce 10.556 Dash-Sid Fuller. Heat 1-Casey Taylor, Pierce, Mike Harris. Heat 2-Mike Jackson, Ryan Hansen, Larry Jackson. Main-Pierce, L Jackson, M Jackson, Bob Hansen, M Harris. Stock Mini Sprint 600 Fast Time-Ralph Cortez 10.861 Dash-Rick Cook II. Heat-Rod Huggins, Cook II, Rick DeCosta. Main-Cortez, DeCosta, Huggins, Tyler Mason, Cook II. Modified Mini Sprint 600 Fast Time-Sara Shaffer 10.572 Heat 1-Rick Cook II, Shawn Wright, Trevor Miran. Heat 2-Rick DeCosta, Rick Cook I, Shawn Flagstad. Main-Rob Grice, DeCosta, Shaffer, Cook II, Michael Trimble.

May 26
Modified Midget 250 Fast Time-Randy Pierce 10.623 Dash-Ryan Hansen. Heat 1-Bob Hansen, Mike Jackson, Pierce. Heat 2-R Hansen, Eric Turner, Brandon Turner. Main-R Pierce, Casey Taylor, R Hansen, Larry Jackson, Pat Hoskins. Stock 600 Mini Sprint Main-Rick DeCosta, Rod Huggins, Tyler Mason. Modified Mini Sprint 600 Fast Time-Brian Gard 10.358 Dash-Rob Grice. Heat 1-Gard, Shawn Flagstad, Shawn Wright. Heat 2-Michael Trimble, Grice, Sara Shaffer. Main-Gard, Grice, Shaffer, Ralph Cortez, Flagstad.

Clean Sweep For Boen In WDRA Season Opener

By Gary Jacob

Colby, KS -- The Grand Junction, CO based WDRA Late Models traveled all the way to Colby, Kansas to start their 2002 season Sunday night. A former IMCA Modified Super Nationals champion, Kelly Boen from Henderson, Colorado scored a clean sweep of the night's action as he won his heat, the Dash for Cash and the feature race. Colorado's hottest dirt late model racer Brett Hallmark from Grand Junction finished second with another CLMA winner in 2002, John Kuchar, placing third.

The 11 car turnout included nine Colorado based teams and a pair from Kansas. Boen beat Dave Garmann and Hallmark in heat 1. Kuchar won heat 2 with Chris Kratzer from Lyons, Kansas in second over Dean Moore from Grand Junction, CO. Boen then beat Kuchar and Garmann in the dash.

Boen outran Hallmark to win the feature race with Kuchar third over Kratzer, Garmann, Butch Clark from Grand Junction, ageless veteran Jim Clifton from Fort Morgan and Oakley, KS racer Rod Benken. Michael Cox, Curt Daniels and Moore failed to finish.

Summary Dash-Kelly Boen, John Kuchar, David Garmann. Heat 1-Boen, Garmann, Brett Hallmark, Michael Cox, Butch Clark. Heat 2-Kuchar, Chris Kratzer, Dean Moore, Jim Clifton, Curt Daniels. Main-Boen, Hallmark, Kuchar, Kratzer, Garmann, Clark, Clifton, Rod Benken, Cox, Daniels, Moore.

Hallmark Stays Hot With Rocky Mountain Win

By Gary Jacob

Denver, CO -- Brett Hallmark from Grand Junction, Colorado continued his early season hot streak by racing to a 25 lap win as the Colorado Late Model Association visited Rocky Mountain National Speedway for the first time in 2002. Hallmark has now won two of the first 3 races on the season schedule as he holds a 10 point lead over defending series champion John Kuchar, who finished 3rd. Kuchar won the other point race in 2002. With all the series events on the eastern half of the state, Hallmark has to make the long tow from his Western Colorado home, but he was also racing all of the Arizona races before the Colorado action started. Hallmark wheels a GRT Chassis. Rick Lieser climbed into fourth in points with a second place run.

There were 19 late models on hand and Kuchar won the first heat race from the pole with Lieser second ahead of Dean Moore, who towed east from Grand Junction for the first time in 2002. Rod Glenn won heat 2 from the pole with 6th starter Mike Cox second over Scott Lewis. Scott Cimfl lost an engine to end his night. Hallmark won heat 3 from third starting. Ken Brack led early, but faded to a third behind Dave Garmann. Kelly Boen spun for the only yellow flag. Boen had run a big national event in Kansas City on Wednesday night, finishing 13th in a $5,000 to win race won by Terry Phillips.

Bill Smith joined Cimfl as a feature scratch leaving 17 cars to run the 25 lap feature. The front of the lineup had Hallmark and Lieser on the front row with Kuchar and Glenn in row 2 as Cox and Garmann shared row 3. Hallmark took a quick lead and was never headed. By lap 8, he was half lap in front and passing lapped cars. Lieser continued run with Hallmark, but still finished a strong second. Kuchar was able to fend off the challenges of Moore to finish third. Despite losing an engine on the final lap, Brack ran fifth over Glenn, Grand Junction's Butch Clark and Cox. Garmann was 9th over Jim Clifton. Don Post ran 11th in his first dirt late model feature. Aaron Loos was filling in for his father Terry Loos, who is still recovering from injuries suffered in Albuquerque in April. Boen was no factor, finishing 16th.

Hallmark is 10 points ahead of Kuchar, 35 ahead of Glenn, 36 ahead of Lieser and 38 ahead of Cox. The series returns to Rocky Mountain National Speedway on May 25 and then runs at I-76 Speedway on June 1.

Summary Heat 1-John Kuchar, Rick Lieser, Dean Moore, Don Post, J T Botts. Heat 2-Rod Glenn, Mike Cox, Scott Lewis, Jim Clifton, Chris Persichetti. Heat 3-Brett Hallmark, Dave Garmann, Ken Brack, Butch Clark, Kelly Boen. Main-Hallmark, Lieser, Kuchar, Moore, Brack, Glenn, Clark, Cox, Garmann, Clifton, Post, Persichetti, Curt Daniels, Botts, Lewis, Boen, Aaron Loos.

Surprise winner at the Acres

Surprise winner at the Acres

By Matthew J. Sullivan

In only his second race in the sportsman division at Redwood Acres Raceway, Jim Norris won his first ever main event win by avoiding a late race tangle between Acres veteran, Angelo Marcelli and second year sportsman driver, David Henderson. Mike Peters made his way through heavy traffic in the real stock class to claim the victory while Jaison Chand scored his first victory of the season in mini stock action.

A close battle in the mini stock trophy dash saw Chand and defending champion, Phil Wood battle hard for the four-lap race. In the end, however, Chand took the victory over Wood and Ron Miller in his “Cow Car.” The heat race action was tight as well and again Wood and Chand battled hard for the top spot. This time Wood took the victory over Chand and Mac Collado. The first two races were a prelude to the 20-lap main event as Miller and Brian Murrell led the field to the green flag.

Going into turn one, Miller took the lead but by the end of lap one it was Chand who took command of the race followed by Collado. After a lap six caution flag a tight battle between Collado and Wood ensued that lasted until a caution flag flew on lap 14 when Chad Grammer and Murrell made contact between turns three and four. During the caution, Wood made a visit to the pits to correct his ill handling racecar. On the restart, Chand pulled out to a sizeable lead as Collado and Jason Rhodes battled for the second spot. At the checkered flag, Chand was the victor followed by Collado, Rhodes and Wood.

The real stock division again had quite a large turnout of cars with 18. In the trophy dash, Marty Walsh took the victory over defending points champion Shawn Craig. In the first of the three heat races, Gary Adams came from the back to the front to take the victory after taking the lead on the white flag lap. Behind him were Chad Trump and Chad Gurney.

The second race was even more exciting as Ron Peters forced his car past Doug Way on the last lap coming off of turn four. Third was Bill Middleton and fourth was James Henry. The action was tight in the third heat as Aaron Byers and Goinn paced the field. On lap four, Walsh spun but kept a yellow flag from coming by getting back into the action. On lap 6, Rick Fox took the lead and never looked back to claim the victory over Craig, Donnie Hyman and Byers.

Because of the high car count, a ten lap B-Main event was run with the top two finishers transferring to the main event. Taking those two positions were Adams and Craig Hoffmann. The main event was exciting as Middleton and Craig Baker led the field to the green flag. By lap two, Way led. On the same lap, Hoffmann, Craig and Walsh made contact resulting with Craig not returning to the racing action.

After the restart, Fox took the lead. On lap eight, Peters took second and began to close in on Fox and eventually he took the lead. On lap 13, Goinn spun in turn three. Under the caution flag, Mark Williams made a pit stop as well as Fox. Peters went on to take the victory over Travis Maytanes who fought hard for his second place finish with Walsh whom placed third.

Coming off of his great victory of the last race, Al Acuna used won the sportsman trophy dash over David Henderson and Shawn Andrews. Angelo Marcelli and Ronnie O’Neill paced the field in the heat race. Marcelli took the lead going into turn one and never looked back as he went on to the victory over Scotty Turner and Henderson.

The thirty lap main was close and tight as Marcelli and Jacob Winfrey led the field to the green flag. Marcelli took control of the lead as the rest of the field jockeyed for position. On lap 5, defending sportsman track champion, Shawn Andrews and veteran Pat Walsh tangled with Walsh spinning. Andrews was sent to the back and the field regrouped and took the restart.

On the restart, Turner got loose and lost several positions. The next lap, rookie Joe McDonald and Walsh tangled resulting in another caution. Under the caution, Andrews pulled his car into the pits and did not return for the rest of the action. The racing resumed again as Marcelli and Acuna fought in what was a repeat of the last race at the 3/8 mile paved oval. On lap 21, Henderson made a move under Acuna and took second position. After two more laps a caution flag was thrown when track officials noticed that Acuna was leaking water. He pulled his car into the pits and did not return.

After a restart, on lap 25 Turner and Winfrey made contact. The black flag was given to Winfrey and he pulled his car off of the track. With cool tires, on the restart Henderson took advantage and made a move on Marcelli coming off of turn two with two laps to go. Going into turn three, the two made contact, Marcelli hitting the wall with his rear end and Henderson continuing on. From third place came Jim Norris who patiently had bided his time and avoided all of the incidents. He avoided the Marcelli-Henderson incident and passed Henderson coming to the white flag and onto the victory. Second was Turner with Henderson and returning driver Ed Peters in fourth.