Ortega Earns First ASCS Rocky Mountain Win on Friday the 13th!
Lonnie Wheatley, ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (June 13, 2008) – Friday the 13th was no problem for Albuquerque’s Derrik Ortega as he wired the field to capture his first career American Sprint Car Series feature win in the 25-lap ASCS Rocky Mountain Region feature event at Sweetwater Speedway.
Starting from the pole position, the 17-year-old outgunned fellow front row starter Jeremy McCune for the point at the drop of the green flag and led throughout aboard the Ortega Racing Wesmar-powered Hodges Automotive/Ortega's Appliance Service No. 35 Maxim.
Just five races into the season, Ortega padded his narrow points lead with the victory. Not by much however, as 19-year-old Chad Corken chased him to the checkered flag after second-runner Zach Merritt was collected in an incident on the white-flag lap. Ortega escaped the night with a six-point lead over Corken.
Veteran shoe Joe McCarthy claimed the show position behind Ortega and Corken, with Bob Schaeffer and past series champion Patrick Bourke rounding out the top five.
McCune crossed the stripe sixth, with Willy Hernandez, Greg Schaefer, Colt Treharn and Dustin Hall completing the top ten.
Bob Schaeffer, Corken and Bourke won Friday night's heat races.
ASCS Rocky Mountain Region Results from Sweetwater Speedway:
Heat Winners: Bob Schaeffer, Chad Corken, Patrick Bourke.
“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 35-Derrik Ortega, 2. 11-Chad Corken, 3. 19-Joe McCarthy, 4. 93-Bob Schaeffer, 5. 27-Patrick Bourke, 6. 0j-Jeremy McCune, 7. 1m-Willy Hernandez, 8. 12x-Greg Schaefer, 9. 77x-Colt Treharn, 10. 74u-Dustin Hall, 11. 4m-Scott Milan, 12. 36-Michelle Dodge, 13. 05-Justin Wolf Medlock, 14. 74-Zach Merritt, 15. 77-Mark Sweet, 16. 99-Jake Ossenfort, 17. 4-Billy Bingham, 18. 1j-Mike Posey, 19. 57-Don Stoutner. DNS: 10-Danielle Ossenfort, 71-Jared Little.
ASCS Rocky Mountain Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Derrik Ortega 720, 2. Chad Corken 714, 3. Colt Treharn 672, 4. Bob Schaeffer 670, 5. Greg Schaefer 664, 6. Patrick Bourke 656, 7. Jeremy McCune 624, 8. Jake Ossenfort 608, 9. Danielle Ossenfort 549, 10. Keith Rauch 544.