Former Colorado National Speedway standout Jerry Robertson returned to the Erie oval Saturday and stormed from the back of the field to win the 150-lap NASCAR Southwest Series feature.
Robertson, the 2003 and 2004 CNS champion who is racing part-time in the Busch Series, qualified 19th in the 21-car field and was running last after pitting to make chassis adjustments during warm-up laps.
The changes were just what the Arvada resident needed. He plowed through the field and took the lead for good on lap 97.
“I made the wrong call for qualifying, and it hurt us,” Robertson, who was driving a Dodge owned by Tony Finley of Brighton, said from victory circle. “We made a pit stop during the pace laps and made the right changes. I’m happy for Tony and thank him for letting me drive his car.”
Series points leader Jim Pettit II of Prunedale, Calif., who won the July 23 Southwest race at Pikes Peak International Raceway, finished second. Fellow California residents Burney Lamar and Greg Pursley were third and fourth, respectively, and Idaho’s Eddy McKean completed the top five.
Footnotes
The Aug. 12-14 Grand Prix of Denver kicks off this week with Saturday’s Mini Grand Prix and Celebrity Challenge – both go-kart races at an Auraria parking lot south of the Pepsi Center. … The Aug. 12 Grand Prix-produced boxing matches inside the Pepsi Center will be carried live by ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m. Denver’s Donald Camerena (15-1) will fight Mexico’s Alberto Padilla (6-1) in one of the two 10-round main events. … The fourth winner of the Grand Prix of Denver will collect a Grand Prix Edition motorcycle from Colorado Motorcycle Company. … Taped coverage of June’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be shown on Speed Channel Aug. 14 and 21 at 4 p.m.
Driver of the week
DOUG CANADAY
He won his fourth Rocky Mountain Dwarf Car feature of the season Saturday night at I-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan. Canaday, 44, has been racing dwarfs for nine years and is looking for his first championship. He sits fourth in the standings.
Residence: Greeley
Profession: Technician, Business Equipment Service
Family: Wife Monna
Car owner: Doug Canaday
Crew: None
Primary sponsor: Motorcycle Parts Specialties
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5454 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
