08
Aug
Throwback Thursday: On August 17, 2002, the NASCAR Elite Division Southwest Tour was visiting Colorado National Speedway for the 14th time. To that point, there had been 10 wins by the visiting “Tour” drivers, one by the “home” team and two by a driver who represented both. On that day, Jerry Robertson put one on the board for the home team, winning the “United Power / Touchtone Energy 150”. Robertson grabbed the win over future NASCAR Cup Series competitor David Gilliland, 2002 NFSWT champion Eddie McKean two-time NFSWT champion Jim Pettit II, and NASCAR Elite Division Midwest Tour champion Brian Hoppe.
Robertson would return three years later to become a two-time CNS Southwest Tour winner grabbing a win in the 2005 edition of the “United Power / Touchtone Energy 150”. He beat Southwest Tour regulars and champions Jim Pettit II, Burney Lamar, Greg Pursley , and Eddie McKean. Robertson would make a total of 10 NASCAR Southwest Tour starts with five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Robertson was a three-time Super Late Model champion at CNS over a five-year span. He was also a three-time “Colorado Challenge Cup” victor, placing him as one of the most successful Super Late Model drivers in track history.
The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will visit CNS on August 17th for the “Salted Metals Architectural Metals 150”, paying $10,000-to-win, thanks to David Mulcahy with Salted Architectural Metals. Second will pay $3,000, third $2,500, and fourth $2,250 thanks to Vecchiarelli Land and Trust. It will be the third visit for the series after Chris Muhler won in 2007 with Jace Hansen winning the 2023 edition. The Spears Modified Series will also join the action, racing for a $5,000 winner’s purse.
Celebrating its twenty fourth season in 2024, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
Story: K. Peters, SRL Media
PC: Joe Starr Photography