BOISE, IDAHO (May 5, 2010) Every time the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series makes its way to the ultra-fast and wide Rocky Mountain Raceways located outside Salt Lake City, Utah, the fans fill the stands the for the kind of action racing is meant to provide. This Saturday night May 8, the RMCS returns to RMR for their 20th event staged at the 3/8-mile paved oval led by Steve Jones of Boise, Idaho who sits atop the point standings.
Jones finished fourth in the opening round but scored the most points in the event and holds a two-point margin over Bruce Quale of Twin Falls, Idaho who scored his first career series victory in round one.
Jones is looking for his first series top five finish at RMR and he thinks this weekend could be it. "We really never had the right motor combination before and now we have a really competitive piece," Jones said. "Racing is the most fun you can have and when you are fast it is a whole lot of fun."
Over the years, RMR has provided some of the most exciting racing in the region and this weekend will be no different. More than 20 of the region's top Late Model drivers will be on hand for a 75-lap shootout. After missing the first race so he could be by his mother's side during her final hours, two-time series champion Zan Sharp from Wellsville, Utah is excited to get back to racing.
Sharp has three victories at RMR with seven top five performances and three Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards. Winning at RMR takes patience, a great setup and a little luck. "RMR is really good track for me," Sharp said. "I have a lot of laps around there and always feel real comfortable in the car. I think this will be a real good race for us."
Lynn "The Hammer" Hardy is the track record holder at RMR with a quick lap of 14.944 seconds/90.377 mph. Hardy is back full-time with the RMCS this season and would like to add to his two RMR wins this weekend.
Craig Bell is not driving this season but will be at the track as crew chief for two-time series champion Dave Minegar. Bell leads all drivers with ten top five finishes at RMR and he hopes to put that experience to work this weekend for Minegar.
Coming off a strong second place performance in round one is Las Vegas, Nevada's Thane Alderman. Alderman's last series victory was at RMR in 2008 and he would like nothing more than to return to victory lane this weekend. "I really like racing at RMR," Alderman offered. "The facility is first rate, the crowds are great, and the RMCS always puts on a good show. We have worked real hard over the winter to get back into competitive form and we feel we have a great car for the race."
Drivers who have won at RMR include: James Eaton (4), Sharp (3), Hardy (2), Minegar (2), John Dillon (2), and six other drivers with one win apiece. Dillon is the only repeat winner at RMR in the last seven RMCS races.
After picking up his first career series victory at his home track of Magic Valley Speedway, Bruce Quale is shifting gears for RMR. "Winning in this series is awesome, but it will only get tougher to do it again." Quale said. We have a really good car and and I would love to make it two in a row." Quale has two top five finishes at RMR.
The RMCS utilizes a racing format not found in ANY other regional touring series around the country. The top 20 qualifiers are inverted for every race putting fast time in the 20th starting position. This format ensures race fans see what they paid for and that is passing. Each driver is awarded three points per position gained in the event. Points are also awarded for qualifying and heat race finishes. Through the history of the series, the winning driver has averaged a 15th place starting position. To ensure competition, the RMCS pays it purse based on total point accumulation for the event and provides several special performance awards for each event.
The CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is a regional touring series that allows all competitors to race and gain experience on different types of racetracks. It is a high-quality professional racing series that offers maximum opportunity at an affordable price serving the intermountain West. The motto of the series is to “Race Hard and Have Fun!” For all the latest news and information regarding the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series log onto www.rmcsracing.com. Follow all the racing action from throughout the West by logging onto www.racingwest.com.
Photo credit: DJS Sports Marketing. Photo of two-time RMCS champion Zan Sharp.
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