Phillips County Raceway
Lieser triumphs to set up CLMA title showdown
From series reports
HOLYOKE, Colo. (Sept. 22) — Rick Lieser of Greeley, Colo., inherited the lead when Jim Clifton dropped out with three laps remaining for a Colorado Late Model Association victory at Phillips County Raceway.
Lieser pocketed $1,500 and stayed in the thick of a dramatic points chase that has three drivers within five points heading for the Oct. 6 series final.
Eddie Kirchoff, who recovered from a flipping accident in hot laps, is on top of CLMA points following his third-place finish. Mike Stadel, the Phillips County runner-up, is third in points just behind Lieser.
Stadel's finish was good enough to secure the championship on CLMA's fourth annual Down and Dirt Topless Miniseries. Dan Henrikson and Kevin Wright rounded out the top five in an event that drew 11 Late Models.
Clifton was running away with the race and leading after 22 laps when his overheating engine forced him off the track. He ended up eighth.
Notebook
Rick Lieser's Rayburn Race Car is sponsored by Signs by Tomorrow, GAM Racing Engines and Kohen's Lawn Service. ... The series finale is set for Oct. 6 at I-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan, Colo., with $1,500 going to the winner. The race will see the champion crowned with points leader Eddie Kirchoff (831), Lieser (830) and Mike Stadel (827) battling it out. ... Kirchoff got too high in turn one during hot laps and caught the outside wall. His car flipped over, tearing off the nosepiece, but he wasn't injured. Kirchoff's crew, along with help from Rick Vos of Lieser's crew, worked to get the car ready for a heat race. He ran without the nose in the heat. ... In the first heat race, Andy Blakemore's right leg was badly bruised when his car's driveshaft broke and came through the cockpit wall. He was treated at the track by ambulance personnel and released, but he wasn't able to race in the feature. ... Clifton and Lieser won heat races. ... Scott Lewis broke a rear brake rotor on the first lap of the feature and dropped out. ... The Phillips County race was a makeup of a July rainout.
Phillips County Raceway: (1) Rick Lieser, (2) Mike Stadel, (3) Eddie Kirchoff, (4) Dan Henrikson, (5) Kevin Wright, (6) Gary Dechant, (7) Scott Cimfl, (8) Jim Clifton, (9) Scott Lewis.
