May Valley Speedway Race Results for July 12, 2003

By Gloria Woller

July 25, 2003

A steady stream of race cars headed to May Valley Speedway last Saturday evening about 3:30 p.m. By 6 p.m. the pit area (where the race cars gather for the evening’s competition) was well filled. Seventy-eight racers were making last minute adjustments and checking over their race cars. Track Promoter, Don Woller, had prepared the race track to be as hard and slick as asphalt, yet virtually dust free for the good turn out of excited race fans. As the temperature cooled, the weather was perfect for an action packed evening of racing and action packed it was! Nikki Henz from Lamar was our Jr. Fan Club "Grand Marshall" for the evening. Nikki finds it amazing that these drivers can take a car that is junk and turn it into a fast racecar. She got the racing action started with "Start your engines, Racers" at 7:01p.m.

Mini Stocks got the evening started with their Heat races. In Heat #1, #7 Steve Hernandez led the pack to the checkered flag with #41 Marco Macias closing in on second. In Heat #2, #29 Shawn Lopez took first with #27 Garrett Fecht in second. The Cash Dash went to a very happy #29 Shawn Lopez, following a crash involving #41 Marco Macias spinning and #7 Steve Hernandez t-boning Marco, rolling him onto his side and settling back on his wheels.

Hobby Stocks were up next for close racing action. In Heat #1, #19 Keith Stegman took first with #16 Jim Arnold in second. Heat #2 went to Jimmy Jenkins’ #97 driven by Angel Munoz in first and brother, #2 Phillip Munoz in second. The Cash Dash went to #2 Phillip Munoz.

Super Stocks took to the field, giving the crowd a great show and good competition. In Heat #1, #1 Fred Elliott brought his car around in corner 4 and got loose, bringing his car to rest on top of the big white tire, like a frog on a lily pad. The Happy Hooker came out and lifted him off. #86 Justen Beakley came out in first with #5 Andy Woller in second. In Heat #2, #67 Jeff Woller and #12 Kelly Yutterman from Rocky Ford tangled. Both cars slid to the wall in turn 4. However, they both were able to continue racing. In Heat #2, #17 Chuck Hackett took first with #68 Brad Hopkins in second. #17 Chuck Hacket won the Cash Dash.

Sixteen Dwarf cars took to the now very black with rubber race track. Heat #1 was won by #50 Stan Baumgartner of Wiggins and second won by #18 Doug Canaday of Greeley. Heat #2 was won by #9 Chris Snyder of Greeley and #38 Kent Morrell, also of Greeley, took second. #9 Chris Snyder took first in the Cash Dash.

Ten Hobby Trucks were ready for action. And good racing it was! In the first Heat Race, #43 Cameron Austin took first with #90 Keith Nidey in second in a very good race. The second Heat Race went to #7 Brad Westphal and #8 Frank Perez after a crash involving #25 Irl Hooper and new driver #9 Chad Spady. The last two Heat Races of the evening went to the Econo Class. In Heat #1, #73 Justin Rainwater took first with #93 Brett Beard in second. The second Heat Race was an awesome show for the crowd. #2 John Welch took first but it was not until the checkered flag when we knew who took second. #44 Ken Robins battled it out with #77 Dan Dewey for second. In the end, #77 Dan Dewey came in second by a bumper. The Cash Dash went to #73 Justin Rainwater.

During intermission, the Jr. Fan Club kids had a bike race – one lap around May Valley Speedway’s smooth clay oval. In the 6-9 year old class, Justin Lenox was first and Coby Truitt came in second. In the 10-13 year old class, Andy Egley was first with Robert Sharrar in second.

With the second half of the evening underway and the track black with rubber and shinny, things got very interesting. Mini Stocks took to the track first for their Main Event. With a bad start, at least 7 spinouts and a flat tire, it was clear the full moon was shining down on May Valley. In the end, #41 Marco Macias took first with #29 Shawn Lopez in second.

Hobby Stocks showed the crowd a good time with a change in lead every five laps. No one knew who would win. Halfway through the race, #16 Jim Arnold lost his rear axle bringing out the yellow flag. Several yellows later, with at least 10 spinouts, the race came to the checkered flag. #24 Seth Salisbury was victorious with his first Main Event win of this season, with #2 Phillip Munoz finishing second.

Super Stocks won the contest for the unluckiest class of the evening. #25 Tom Warner from Colorado Springs lost his engine, #12 Kelly Yutterman, leading the race with #5 Andy Woller on the outside, barely touched resulting in Yutterman’s rear bumper falling in slow motion onto the front straightaway. #17 Chuck Hacket swerved, clipping it, sent it flying into the path of #44 Max Butner who ran over it damaging his transmission, bringing him to a sudden stop. In a few seconds, #86 Justen Beakley heads for a screeching crash into the rear of Butner putting Beakley out of the competition for the rest of the evening. In the end, #12 Kelly Yutterman who had led the entire race took first with #17 Chuck Hackett right on him, finishing second.

With tires squalling, engines screaming, and cars spinning everywhere, the Dwarf cars ran from start to finish without a yellow or a serious collision. #18 Doug Canaday and #50 Stan Baumgartner swapped leads in a good race with #50 Stan Baumgartner winning and #18 Doug Canaday in second. Hobby Trucks were next out, in a close second with Super Stocks for the unluckiest class of the evening. All was well until the last lap when #9 Pat Thompson’s Chevy slid high one too many times in turn #2 clipping the wall with the rear end making the truck turn 90 degrees; right…..CRASH….square into the wall, sending an earthquake throughout the Pit Area. Then the truck rolled a complete turn, bursting into flame. Pat bailed out instantly, uninjured. The #9 Hobby Truck was demolished. Meanwhile on the other side of the track, #43 Cameron Austin took first with #90 Keith Nidey in second.

Econos were last out on the track for the evening. At least 10 spinouts later, a few black flags, and 25 laps later, #20 Brock Hall took first with #2 John Welch in second.

This Friday and Saturday, May Valley Speedway drivers will travel to the cooler high country, Thunder Valley Speedway North of Alamosa, for Valley Days Invitational Series. Four days, two tracks, one champion for the Super Stocks and Hobby Stock Classes. Friday night the Hobby Trucks will also race and the Mini Stocks will be racing on Saturday. May Valley Speedway’s June 6 & 7th Valley Days races were rained out and have been re-scheduled for September 12 and 13th. Racing action will continue July 26th at May Valley Speedway as the IMCA Modified Class comes back for more racing action. All other classes will race and the Jr. Fan Club kids will be having a sack race.