It was a splendid night for racing and the Modified Challenge highlighted the races at I-76 Speedway in a big way on Saturday.
The challenge race paid $1,000 to win, but the drivers all raced like it was a million-dollar race. The competition was extreme and the drivers all gave it 100 percent and gave the fans 40 laps of awesome action.
Wayne Houston of Aurora started out the Modified Challenge by taking the lead on the second restart and holding on to that lead for the next 18 laps.
Brett Smith of Fort Morgan has never looked so good. Smith came from the fifth row back in the lineup, methodically picked his way through thick traffic and was in the third spot by lap 10. He then worked his way past second-place Eric Burwick of Aurora, and by lap 19 has had also put the leader, Houston, behind him.
Smith pulled away from the pack putting at least six car lengths between him and the rest of the field.
It was a jubilant celebration at the finish line for the Challenge winner, Smith, and all his fans, friends and family. Smith has been a continual front-runner, but had not won a main event in the modified division until this huge event, so his victory was super sweet.
Fastest finishers:
MODIFIEDS: 1. BRETT SMITH, FORT MORGAN; 2. Wayne Houston, Aurora; 3. Eric Burwick, Aurora; 4. Eddie Belec, Lakewood; 5. Dominic Ursetta, Arvada; 6. Jeff Walters, Commerce City; 7. Zach Hilzer, Fort Morgan; 8. Brad Shelton, Fort Morgan; 9. Bill Lundock, Wiggins; 10. Garrett Sporhase, Holyoke; 11. Brad Kembel, Fort Morgan; 12. Angie Hayes, Fort Morgan; 13. Stan Dayley, Fort Morgan; 14. D.J. Banks, Brush; 15. Stef Johnson, Arvada; 16. Dan Brack, Mead; 17. Greg Sharpe, Commerce City; 18. Kyle Maloney, Keenesburg; 19. Ryan Gaylord, Golden; 20. Tyson Groves, Orchard.
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