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WEST VALLEY CITY — After a long and heavy winter, Rocky Mountain Raceways' kicked off its 2013 season on the America First Credit Union Super Oval, an ASA Member Track. Saturday's racing action had fans on the edge of their seats as racers eagerly swarmed the track to shake down new machines and ignite new competition.
Surviving four restarts and the pressure of a relentless pack, #50 Roger Wilson claimed the first Maverik Modified victory of the season. Finishing second in points last season, Wilson came into 2013 with an enthusiasm to win.
His desire for first was shared by the unyielding battery on his heels. #84 Mark Ith Jr. and #30 Nick Parker consistently gave chase to Wilson and exchanged position for second. On the final restart, on lap 35 of the 50 lap main, Parker edged ahead of Ith and secured a second place finish. Ith Jr. finished in a close third, followed by #29 Zachary Webster in fourth, and #00 Tyler Whetstone in fifth.
Defending Winged Sprint Car champion #24 Jimmy Waters, reaffirmed his racing prowess with a victory in the season's first Winged Sprint race. Starting in second, Waters took an early lead and by lap 10 began lapping the competition. #65 TJ Thorn finished in second, #36 Ryan Burdett in third, #24p Nick Pepe in fourth, and #11 Mike Straub in fifth. Pepe is a rookie driver at Rocky Mountain Raceways and impressed fans by dropping down on the inside to pass Straub on lap 18.
Starting in the fifth position, #66 Eric Rhead prevailed in the Comcast Super Stock main. #13 Tim Fahrner took the lead on lap one and tenaciously held off Rhead and defending champion #25 Dillion Lawrence for the majority of the 30 lap race. With five laps to go, Rhead put a nose out ahead of Fahrner exiting turn four, outpacing the leader. Rhead crossed the finish line ahead of Fahrner in second and Lawrence in third.
2012's second place Mini Cup driver #0 Shelbi Combs went home with three achievements at the season opener—Mini Cup fast qualifier, heat race winner, and main event winner. Combs bested #88 Kevin Neff in second, #58 Zack Nelson in third, #19 Chanelle Torgerson in fourth, and #1 Sami Lovendahl in fifth.
Rocky Mountain Raceways concluded the season opener with the fan favorite, Western States Equipment Figure-8 Trains. The smell of burning rubber and exhausted brakes filled the America First Credit Union Super Oval as #13 Train Six Feet Under barreled around the figure-8 track for a first place finish.
ASA weekly racing will continue on Saturday, May 11 with the second annual Horsepower Heaven. This unique event will feature racing on both the America First Credit Union Super Oval and the NHRA Drag Strip. The racing action will be capped off with jet cars on the drag strip and a figure-8 trailer race on the oval.
Photo courtesy of Chris Dake
