By Keith Shampine

Californian Kyle Vanderpool in Victory Lane. Photo by Joe Starr

October 17, 2011, DACONO, Colo. – Madera, California’s Kyle Vanderpool and the Don Penix race team invaded Colorado this past weekend and stole an Englewood Racing Association supermodified triumph from series regulars in the season’s final race. Vanderpool became the first non-regular to win an ERA main in several seasons, and he did it by passing the best the historic supermodified series has to offer – 2011 champion Harold Evans – on the final turn of a competitive 30-lap championship night main event at Colorado National Speedway.

Vanderpool, a 23-year-old 360 supermodified veteran in his first season racing a 410-powered super, started eighth in the 12-car main, directly behind Evans. An opening lap accident involving Chris Sheil and Joe Priselac halted the heavily anticipated race as quickly as it began. Officials cleared Sheil’s and Priselac’s racecars off the track under a red-flag condition. Priselac’s No. 51 was badly damaged.

Once the race resumed, Johnny Pickard jumped into the lead while Evans and Vanderpool began picking cars off and moving toward the front of the field.

A second red flag waved on lap 19 for Ricky Otts, an ageless Texas supermodified veteran wheeling the freshly repaired Harry Stone No. 40. A suspension part apparently failed on the Stone-owned mount, sending Otts hard into the third turn wall. Otts was OK but the car badly damaged, a sad sight for the ERA community after Stone recently repaired the car from last year’s devastating accident in the 2010 season closer.

A major shakeup at the front of the field occurred during the race’s second stoppage, when officials notified Pickard that he’d be negated two positions for jumping the initial restart. The race-long leader would restart his red No. 02 in the third position.

Pickard’s misfortune handed the lead to Evans, and the cagey veteran took control of the race with Vanderpool hot on his heels. The pair raced hard throughout the last 10 laps, giving Denver-area fans a thrill in what was one of the best supermodified races at the track in recent memory.

Vanderpool worked on Evans, pulling underneath the Castor Racing No. 3 several times but not able to complete the pass. The final lap saw Evans lead Vanderpool into turn three, when Vanderpool gave the multi-time ERA champ’s rear bumper a nudge, sending H.J. slightly up the track. Vanderpool pulled low, made the pass and went on to the big victory in hisfirst visit to the CNS three-eighths-mile oval.

Kyle Vanderpool gets by Harold Evans on last lap. Photo by Joe Starr

Vanderpool pulled into victory lane while Evans pulled along side the California driver’s No. 31, offering some comments to the young racer before heading pitside. Vanderpool offered his thoughts in a phone interview Monday afternoon.

“What an awesome experience,” he said, still clearly filled with jubilation. “An awesome facility with a great crowd. I think Colorado National is my new favorite track. I worked on (Evans) for the last 10 laps and showed him a wheel a few times and he kept moving lower. I had made some adjustments, moved some weight around and made a shock adjustment, and our car was working great. I just barely touched him in the last turn and we were able to get the win.”

Evans, who came into the night already having clinched the ERA championship, spoke about the race.

“The win meant more to him (Vanderpool) than it did to me. He moved me in three and four, the last corner. No big deal. We had an incredible car this year; it was hooked up great by the Castors. A nearly flawless year and I’m very happy, but I’m tired, too.” Evans said.

Vanderpool, a second-generation supermodified racer, said he “fell in love with Colorado” and has every intention of coming back next season.

“We were going to run Shasta (Raceway Park, Calif.), but with the car counts so low in California we didn’t want to go race against only three or four cars. We’ve been watching the ERA for a long time, and Don and Chuck Penix gave me the opportunity to race at CNS. I have to thank them so much for the opportunity, and our sponsors NH3 Plus Industrial Refrigeration, Tioga-Sequoia Brewery in Fresno, Caps Bright Hot Coating, Shaffer Oil, Sponsornet.com and SpeedMeetsArt.com. Also, a big thanks to the ERA guys and Scotty Backman from CNS for helping us get out to Colorado and all they did for us. We’re hoping to run more next year,” Vanderpool added.

Richie Castor passed Pickard on the final lap to take third. Pickard, who led 18 laps of the affair, had to settle for fourth. Joe Gallegos capped off a solid season with a fifth-place run.

Next up for the Englwood Racing Association is the series’ annual Awards Banquet, slated for Saturday, November 26 at the Elks Club in Arvada, Colorado.

Oct. 15 ERA finish: KYLE VANDERPOOL, Harold Evans, Rich Castor Jr., Johnny Pickard, Joe Gallegos, Ian Tolen, Mike Anderson, Matt Griffin, Ricky Otts, Joe Priselac, Chris Sheil, Stevie Gallegos (DNS).

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For more information on the Englewood Racing Association, visit the ERA online. The ERA is now on Twitter – Follow @erasupermods today!

Press written by New Concept Race Media. For more information, visit www.newconceptracemedia.com.

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