ProVee: Pueblo race report

Valvoline ProVee Series, presented by ADPAC and Low-E Insulation Western Division results at Pueblo (Colo.) Motorsports Park, April 16, 2000

After capturing four straight pole positions without a win, Puebloan Bob Neumeister recorded his second straight victory from the outside front role in the second round of the Western Division ProVee Series, presented by ADPAC and Low-E Insulation, April 16 at Pueblo Motorsports Park.

Mike Palermo, Jr., from Shawnee, Colo., set a new track record in qualifying as he scorched the 2.2-mile, 10-turn, course in 1:42.130. But Nuby also bettered the old track record with a 1:42.459, good for the second best starting position. The top four qualifiers were all from the mile-high state. Third place went to Littleton's Dave Hegeman (1:44.574) while Lynn Fangue from Parker recorded a 1:44.736..

Neumeister grabbed the early lead and gradually expanded his margin over Palermo and finished nearly nine seconds ahead at the checker as the field became very strung out early in the race. Hegeman held third place throughout the race, followed by Texan Jim Rainey and Eagle One points leader Travis Sellers.

One of the best runs of the race belonged to Lisa Noble, who finished second to Nuby at Phoenix. Lisa ran into mechanical problems which prevented her from running in either ProVee qualifying session. Starting last in the 13-car field, Lisa moved steadily up to grab a respectable eighth place finish.

Eagle One qualifying was lead by Hugh Sutton from Springfield, Mo., who started in the sixth spot. Travis Sellers from Peoria, Ariz., qualified in ninth. Sutton held onto fifth for the first three laps, slipped to seventh place, and then retired with mechanical problems to finish 13th. Sellers turned in another outstanding race as he finished fifth.