Greeley’s Bruce Yackey finished second in Saturday’s Challenge Cup main event at Colorado National Speedway to clinch his fourth late-models championship, one shy of the track record held by Roger Avants of Littleton.
Yackey captured the title in CNS’ top division despite a disqualification in Week 8 for rough driving. He said the DQ and ensuing disagreements with track management has soured his desire to regularly compete at the three-eighths-mile oval.
“I feel I was unfairly disqualified in a ruling that never has occurred before and probably won’t ever happen again, (and) that’s exactly why I don’t plan on returning next year,” Yackey said Sunday from his home. “But the championship does feel real good. The track did everything they could to keep me from winning it.”
Yackey, who won the title in 1996, 1997 and 2001, went into Challenge Cup XXXI needing to finish within 13 positions of Gering, Neb., driver Rick Smith.
Yackey battled for the lead with Darren Crocker of Littleton throughout the 125-lap race but finished a straightaway behind Crocker. Smith ended fifth and finished 62 points (930-868) behind Yackey in the standings.
Avants finished third with 862 points.
Smith led the division with five wins in 20 races. Yackey had four victories and Avants three.
Footnotes
CNS support series champions are Paul Deines (pro trucks), Joel Hansen (GA modifieds), Davin Fisbeck (sportsman), Harry Bragg (figure-eights), Terry Plummer (legends) and Lance Bailey (super stocks). … Top fuel drag racer and Denver native Melanie Troxel, who made her 2005 NHRA debut in July at the Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, produced back-to-back, career-record passes of 4.509 seconds and covered the quarter-mile in 4.550 seconds and 4.509 seconds over the weekend at Maple Grove Speedway in Mohnton, Pa. Troxel was eliminated in the second round Sunday despite going 4.558 seconds (320.43 mph) against Morgan Lucas, who went 4.536 (324.98 mph). “We’re certainly seeing the car coming around,” Troxel said. “We made huge progress here this weekend.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
