The Idaho "200" will feature several new wrinkles this year as the race becomes a point's event for the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series. The RMCS format may also be a different challenge for folks who normally do not race with the series. For the race, the top two from qualifying will secure a starting spot in the 200-lap event with the next 14 drivers earning starting positions based on their finishing position from two-25-lap heat races on Saturday night. The field will be rounded out by up to two provisional starting positions and six transfers from the 35-lap last chance qualifying race.
The other twist for some is that the top 16 will be inverted to start the race putting the fast qualifier in 16th. (The RMCS normally inverts 20-cars but adjusted the format for this event). The RMCS also has several special incentives that promotes fast action and side-by-side racing. Engineered Structures Inc. (ESI) based in Meridian, Idaho pays a $5 bonus for each green flag lap led during the event. So far this season, Jeff Hillock has earned $1,070 in ESI bonus.
ESI also sponsors the ESI Express Pass allowing the first driver a lap down the opportunity to get back on the lead lap under caution. Additionally, the RMCS awards three passing point per position gained in the race from the driver's original starting position. The final event purse is paid out based on total point accumulation for the event, so the actual race winner may not receive the biggest paycheck.
"It is a format that has worked for many years," stated Mike Minegar, President of the RMCS. "The fans will see a great show this weekend and we are thrilled to be back at Stateline for this great NAPA Auto Parts sponsored event."
Leading the series into Stateline is Jeff Hillock (Cedar Hills, UT), driver of the JH Hillock Electric Chevrolet. Hillock leads the point standings on the strength of two wins, four top five and six top ten performances this season. He is the only driver with two wins this season picking up his second career victory in the last series race last month. In his RMCS career, he has started 23 races with two, five top five and 13 top ten finishes. Hillock is making his first ever visit to Stateline this weekend.
"I am really looking forward to the race," Hillock said. "I have so many great things about the track and the event. It is going to be a lot of fun."
Steve Jones (Meridian, ID) drives the NC Enterprises Chevrolet and is the defending series champion. Jones has one win, four top five and four top finishes so far this season and sits second in the point standings just 5-points behind Hillock. In his RMCS career, Jones has started 30 races with three wins, 14 top five and 20 top ten finishes along with five Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards. Jones is coming off a third place performance last month at RMR.
"This is a race that I really want to win," Jones said. "I am more amped up about this race then ever. We have a great car and winning the Idaho "200" would be real special."
Rounding out the title contenders is two-time series champion Zan Sharp (Wellsville, UT). Sharp is sponsored by Sharp Transportation and drives a Chevrolet. Sharp has one win, two top five and five top ten performances so far this season and is currently third in the standings just 31-points behind Jones. Sharp won the RMCS Duel for the 200 last season at Stateline and in his RMCS career he has started 58 races with seven wins, 29 top five, 39 top ten performances along with nine Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time awards.
Lynn Hardy (West Valley, UT) is perhaps on the outside looking in on the championship, but knows anything can happen as he sits 64-points third place Sharp. Hardy drives a Qivana/Metaboliq sponsored Chevrolet and has two top five and five top ten finishes this season and is coming off a 4th place finish at RMR last month. Hardy has started 38 RMCS races with two wins (both at RMR) 11 top five and 19 top ten performances along with eight career Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards. Hardy finished 13th at Stateline last season in the RMCS Duel.
Bruce Quale (Twin Falls, ID) rounds out the top five in the standings in his Dish Network sponsored Chevrolet. Through six races this season, Quale has two top five and three top ten performances and would like to back up his third place run at Stateline last season. Quale has started 42 races with one win, 17 top five and 26 top ten finishes along with two Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards.
Eric Rhead (West Jordan, UT) is sponsored by ITT and drives a Chevrolet. Rhead has scored two RMCS victories in his career, both coming at RMR. This season he has two top five and five top ten finishes and is currently 6th in the point standings. Rhead has started 19 career races with two wins, 5 top five and 13 top ten finishes. Rhead was the 2010 series Rookie-of-the-Year and finished 19th at Stateline last season.
Thane Alderman (Las Vegas, NV) drives a Chevrolet sponsored by Western General Inc. and currently sits in the seventh position in the standings. Alderman won the RMCS event at Stateline back in 2008 and finished 16th last season. He has started 42 RMCS races with three wins, 14 top five and 25 top 10 performances.
John Wong (Parma, ID) sits 8th in the standings in his Champion Produce Chevrolet. Wongs has two top five and five top ten finishes this season and is coming off a ninth place finish at RMR last month. In his RMCS career, he has started 21 races with two top five and and ten top ten performances. This will be his first visit to Stateline.
Jim Wulfenstein (Pahrump, NV) is ninth in the standings driving the Desert Promotions sponsored Chevrolet. "Wulfy" has started 24 RMCS races with three top five and 15 top ten finishes. Wulfenstein is a multi-time track champion from the Vegas area and will be making his first visit to Stateline this weekend.
Rounding out the top ten and leading the A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning Rookie of the the Year standings is Devin LaHorgue (Redding, CA). LaHorgue is sponsored by the I-5 Tire Factory in Red Bluff California. He has two top ten finishes so far this season and nearly scored the victory at Meridian back in June when he was running in the second position on the final lap only to have the rear axle on his Chevrolet fail a half a lap from the finish. LaHorgue will also be making his first visit to northern Idaho this weekend.
Jonathon Gomez is the RMCS track record holder at Stateline with a quick lap of 13.466 seconds around the quarter-mile paved oval set back in 2009. Thane Alderman, Craig Bell, and Zan Sharp have all tasted victory at Stateline in RMCS action and 2009 series champion John Dillon won the Idaho 200 last season.
Other RMCS drivers making the long tow north include: John Nesmith, Travis Monett, Jody South, Jim Curbow, and Jim Eaton. Joining the RMCS regulars is local hotshoe Dave Garber along with Dan Garber, Kirk Hennefer, Ryan Wells, Todd Havens, Kameron McKeehan, Troy Sweigert, Travis Allen, Braeden Havens, Cameron Kellogg, and Blake Williams. Several other regional competitors are also expected to participate.
The action gets underway Saturday with pit gates opening at 9am and a full state of practice and tech with qualifying at 6pm and racing action to follow. On Sunday, there is a special autograph session at 1pm with opening ceremonies at 2pm. Log on to www.rmcsracing.com or www.raceidaho.com for complete details.
The RMCS utilizes a racing format not found in ANY other regional touring series around the country. The RMCS inverts the full starting field putting the fast qualifiers at the back to start the race. 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 at each race. Century Boatland in Twin Falls is a major sponsor to the series providing significant support to the series all season.
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 on to our website at www.rmcsracing.com .
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