RMCS Set for Hot Action at Rocky Mountain Raceways

Dillon leads Points but Jefferson Closing Fast  

BOISE, IDAHO (July 16, 2009) The CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series returns to Rocky Mountain Raceways located outside Salt Lake City, Utah for their third visit of the season at the ultra-fast 3/8-mile paved oval. The event will mark the midway point of the racing season as drivers begin to jockey for position in the point standings. John Dillon of Eagle, Idaho leads the points and claimed the victory at RMR back on Memorial Day, but a lot has changed in past two months. 

“This is likely my last year of racing so I really want to make the most of it,” Dillon said. “My son Johvan (7) is growing up fast and being away on the weekends racing is tough. It’s his time and I am going to spend my time supporting his interests. I have had a great racing career and had a lot of fun. I have met life-long friends and have enjoyed the competition, that is why we really want to make the most of the season and another win at RMR would be great.” 

Closing fast on Dillon for the championship lead is former three-time NASCAR NW tour champion Jeff Jefferson of Naches, WA who took over the reins in Tom Hill’s ESI Chevrolet this season. Jefferson is coming off a victory and a second place effort in the last two races to climb from sixth in the standings to second, just 35-points behind leader Dillon. “It took us a few races to figure the car out,” Jefferson said. “There are a lot of people out there who just don’t realize how tough this series is and I was one of them. I had it handed to me the first two races which meant we had to work twice as hard just to be competitive. I am a true believer in the invert and these guys in the series are among the best drivers I have ever raced against.” 

In racing it is all about the team and teamwork. Jefferson was struggling early and called former NASCAR SW tour champion Craig Raudman for help. “Craig has made all the difference in our performance,” Jefferson said. “We raced ok, but we were not fast. Craig provided a setup that made us fast and we upped our performance in the last two events. Driving from the back is a blast if you have a car is equal to the task. Dave Minegar has set the standard in the series and I can see why he is so good. I am having as much fun behind the wheel as I have ever had and I can’t wait to get back to RMR this weekend.” 

Dillon, Minegar, James Eaton, and Zan Sharp have taken most of the headlines at RMR over the years but Jefferson hopes to add his name the record books this weekend. Other winners at RMR include Bobby Latham III, Lyn Hardy, Rip Michels, Bryan Warf, and Eddy McKean. McKean won the first ever series event at RMR back in 2004. Local standout Lynn Hardy of Salt Lake holds the track record set back in May of 2006 with a quick lap of 14.944 seconds/90.334 mph. Hardy’s return to full-time competition in the RMCS this season has left the former RMR track champion a bit perplexed. “This series is tough and we have not figured out the other tracks very well,” Hardy stated. 

Other drivers ready for the summer heat at RMR include two-time series champion Zan Sharp of Wellsville, Utah who currently sits 7th in the standings 200 points out of first. Steve Jones, Bruce Quale, TJ Woodall, Dylan Caldwell, Travis Monett, Mitch Dickinson, and Jonathon Gomez.  

While Dillon and Jefferson hold the top spots in the standings, Craig Bell of Kuna, Idaho is quietly sneaking into the dance and plans to steal some of the headlines for himself. Bell currently sits third in the standings and has renewed enthusiasm for the race this weekend. Bell’s teammate and two-time series champion Dave Minegar exchanges his helmet for a crew chief hat after destroying his racecar two weeks ago at Meridian Speedway. “I would much rather have Dave on the race track competing but having him lead the team means an awful lot to me,” Bell said. Dave is perhaps one of the best race car drivers I have ever raced against and he knows how to get it done. Having Dave set up the car and tune on it is a real big deal. I can’t wait to get to RMR.”  

Minegar is expected to return to action at the end of the season but for now he will support his teammate as he closes in on a first championship run. “My wife (Heidi) and I are expecting our first child in three weeks so that is what I am focusing my attention on,” Minegar said. “Even though I am out of the car for the next few races, I am really looking forward to supporting Craig. “There is no doubt Craig can drive the car into the top five at the end of the race (he always does), but we all want to see that 99 in victory lane. Just being part of the BodyBuilding.com/Minegar Racing team is exciting and I am looking forward to the race.” 

Former RMCS champion John Newhouse of Twin Falls, Idaho holds down the fourth position in the standings with three top ten finishes this season and is looking to climb up the standings with a solid run at RMR. A-1 Rookie competitor Jonathon Gomez also of Twin Falls rounds out the top five in the standings on the strength of two top five performances this season. 

The RMCS will make their 18^th visit to the marquee racing facility of Rocky Mountain Raceways Saturday night. “We have had a really good season so far with a lot of new faces and competition on the track as good as I have ever seen it,” stated Mike Minegar, president of the RMCS. “We expect a full field of cars and a full grandstand Saturday night at RMR. Doug Binstock and his team do a great job promoting our series and the Salt Lake fans have always supported the series.” 

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 20^th 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 15^th 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 the 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 on to our website at www.rmcsracing.com 

~Distributed by RMCS Public Relations