03/06/2024
VETERAN RACER EARNS WIN IN MOMENTUM SPRINT CAR TOUR DEBUT
6-1-24 - The newly formed Momentum Sprint Car Tour held their debut event this past Saturday, June 1st at Colorado National Speedway, in Dacono, Colorado with veteran open wheel racer Gary Land of Littleton, Colorado coming out on top of the 25-lap main event.
The non-wing asphalt sprint car series ran qualifications early in the day, establishing a new record at the track with Frank Denning of Denver, Colorado leading the way with a time of 16.682 around the 3/8's mile oval.
In heat race action, Mike Hathaway of Falcon, Colorado took advantage of a front row starting spot and set sail to win the 10-lap heat.
The 25-lap feature event was paced by Land on the pole, with youngster AJ Luttmer from Salt Lake City, Utah to his outside after Hathaway drew a 6 pill on the invert. On the start, Land took control of the top spot but was being trailed closely by Michael Fanelli of Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Dylan Riggs of Colorado Springs, Colorado. With 9 laps in the books, the race was slowed by the spinning car of Hathaway who was then contacted by Ryan Riggs. Under the caution, Dylan Riggs was black flagged for dragging parts, and brother Ryan also went to the pit area to make repairs after the contact with Hathaway.
On the ensuing restart, both Hathaway and Riggs made quick work of the mid-pack cars with Riggs eventually getting around Hathaway for 4th place. Riggs then went on an awe-inspiring charge, passing both Luttmer and Fanelli and do***ng Land in the final laps only to come up short by a few feet at the finish.
With the large position gain, Ryan Riggs was the Allstar Performance Hard Charger award winner of the event.
The Momentum Sprint Car Tour returns to racing in late July at Hwy 92 Raceway Park in Gering, Nebraska.
Feature race results:
Gary Land, Littleton, CO
Ryan Riggs, Colorado Springs, CO
Michael Fanelli, Rio Rancho, NM
AJ Luttmer, Salt Lake City, UT
Mike Hathaway, Falcon, CO
Frank Denning, Denver, CO
Kevin Schramek, Fountain, CO
Dane Albin, Florissant, CO
Josh Lewis, Aurora, CO
Dylan Riggs, Colorado Springs, CO
Photo courtesy of Randy Erwin