David Smith, Jr.
NCRA Public Relations
(405) 740-4769
[email protected]
Junghans Claims First Career Late Model Victory in NCRA Action!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Park City, Kansas – July 3, 2012 - In only his fourth start ever behind the wheel of a late model, Chase Junghans has adapted quickly his move from the open wheel modified ranks to that of a full body race car as he took the lead and never looked back in winning his first career National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by G&G Dozer late model feature at 81 Speedway in Park City in a special pre-Independence Day Tuesday night special.
Matt Johnson of Archie, Missouri started on the pole for the twenty-five lap feature with Broken Bow, Oklahoma's Gary Christian along side. Johnson quickly used the top of the three-eighths oval to take the lead at the start while third starting Junghans disposed of Christian to take the runner up position.
Johnson maintained a three car length lead over Junghans, who was working the bottom of the track while Christian had his hands full with fifth starting Gary Gorby.
The leaders would reach lapped traffic on lap seven with Johnson still maintaining a three to five car length advantage while behind them, Christian, Gorby, Delbert Smith, Tommy Weder, Jr. and Clay Daly had their own little battle for positions three through seventh. This battle would wage all race long throughout the caution free feature event.
Just past the half way point Junghans, aboard the Shop Quik/Peterson Fluid Systems sponsored, Jay Dickens powered Masterbuilt Chassis, would make his move for the lead. The Manhattan, Kansas driver drove low entering turns one and two on lap thirteen and would slide up in front of Johnson to take the lead heading down the backstretch.
From that point on not even more lapped traffic could slow down the leader as Junghans cruised to take the $2000 victory.
"I have to thank my crew as the car ran perfect all night," said Junghans. "We were set up to run the bottom and I just took my time and waited for the opportunity to make my move. I kept telling my Dad I wanted to put a car together and finally I just started building one on my own. These cars are a lot of fun to drive but I am not completely done driving my modified."
Christian would hold on to third while Gorby survived race long battles with Smith, Weder, Jr. and Daly to finish fourth.
The three heat races for the twenty-five car field were won by Smith, Gorby and Junghans while Darrick Klima won the ten lap "B" feature.
Eight different states were represented in the series second point's race for the 2012 race season. Among the states represented were: Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
NCRA Late Models
81 Speedway/Park City, Kansas
7/3/2012
25 Cars
1st Heat: 1) Delbert Smith (Wichita, Ks), 2) Matt Johnson (Archie, Mo), 3) Chris Kratzer (Wichita, Ks), 4) Ricky Thornton (Chandler, Az), 5) Cliff Morrow (Enid, OK), 6) Brad Wagoner (Colby, Ks), 7) Wylan Petrie (Solomon, Ks), 8) Garrett Alberson (Las Cruces, NM), 9) David Blocher (Newton, Ks)
2nd Heat: 1) Gary Gorby (Caney, Ks), 2) Clay Daly (Watsonville, Ca), 3) Tommy Weder Jr. (Woodward, Ok), 4) Dave Conkwright (Manhattan, Ks), 5) Dan Battaglia (Gretna, Ne), 6) Rick Leatherman (Benton, Ks), 7) David Deetz (Las Cruces, NM), 8) Chris Avery (Minden, Ne)
3rd Heat: 1) Chase Junghans (Manhattan, Ks), 2) Gary Christian (Broken Bow, Ok), 3) Jeep Berry (Grand Junction, Co), 4) Andrew Kosiski (Omaha, Ne), 5) Brian Bolster (Belle Plaine, Ks), 6) Brad Fortney (Wichita, Ks), 7) Darrick Klima (Belleville, Ks), 8) Ronnie Warman (Wichita, Ks)
B Feature: 1) Darrick Klima (Belleville, Ks), 2) Ronnie Warman (Wichita, Ks), 3) Rick Leatherman (Benton, Ks), 4) Brian Bolster (Belle Plaine, Ks), 5) David Deetz (Las Cruces, NM), 6) Brad Wagoner (Colby, Ks), 7) Wylan Petrie (Solomon, Ks), 8) Chris Avery (Minden, Ne), 9) David Blocher (Newton, Ks), 10) Brad Fortney (Wichita, Ks), 11) Garrett Alberson (Las Cruces, NM)
A Feature: 1) Chase Junghans (Manhattan, Ks), 2) Matt Johnson (Archie, Mo), 3) Gary Christian (Broken Bow, Ok), 4) Gary Gorby (Caney, Ks), 5) Delbert Smith (Wichita, Ks), 6) Tommy Weder Jr (Woodward, Ok), 7) Clay Daly (Watsonville, Ca), 8) Chris Kratzer (Wichita, Ks), 9) Jeep Berry (Grand Junction, Co), 10) Andrew Kosiski (Omaha, Ne), 11) Dave Conkwright (Manhattan, Ks), 12) Ricky Thornton (Chandler, Az), 13) Darrick Klima (Belleville, Ks), 14) Rick Leatherman (Benton, Ks), 15) David Deetz (Las Cruces, NM), 16) Cliff Morrow (Enid, OK), 17) Brian Bolster (Belle Plaine, Ks), 18) Dan Battaglia (Gretna, Ne), 19) Brad Wagoner (Colby, Ks), 20) Ronnie Warman (Wichita, Ks)
