Bourke Prevails in URSS Race in Calhan, Colo.

CALHAN, Colo. — Confidence never truly was lacking. But Patrick Bourke admitted there was a smidgeon of doubt starting to set in. After Saturday night's United Rebel Sprint Series victory at El Paso County Speedway in Calhan, Colo., Bourke was singing a different tune. “It's good for my confidence,” he said. “Like every driver, sometimes you doubt yourself. Last year was tough. We won one race at the beginning and didn't win another the rest of the year. As a driver, you doubt yourself every now and then.”

Bourke started outside the third row in the 18-car field, one of the largest in the URSS Colorado Region’s history. 

He began his march to the front after Mike Parker, who started outside the front row along pole-sitter Tara Jo Christie, took the early lead. Parker led the early laps until being slowed up in lap traffic on the quarter-mile track. Bourke hit the back of Parker's car as he checked up for the traffic, and the hit was hard enough for Bourke's nose wing to sustain some damage, as well as Parker's ride. That slowdown allowed Adam Trimble to jump into the lead after he started fourth. “We got lucky with one of the lap cars,” Trimble said. “ … We got by both of them. We had a pretty good set-up and were hooked up pretty well.” Bourke settled into second behind Trimble. But Blake Smith got by Bourke, moving him into third with about 10 laps to go. But on one of the final two restarts, Bourke got back by Smith into second. A few laps later, the caution waved again, bunching up the field. Trimble, who said his car was having trouble firing off on restarts, said he knew that might mean trouble with Bourke on his tail. 

“We got that caution with about five or so to go, and I knew I would be in trouble,” Trimble said. “I saw Patrick Bourke there, and he's a good driver, a great driver. It was more of a game than a race. I tried the high side on the restart and blew in there too fast.” That allowed Bourke to get by Trimble for the lead. “It was kind of an experience thing,” Bourke said. “He raced hard into turn one, and he went too hard and went through the groove.” That hard charge into the turn by Trimble allowed Bourke to claim his second win of the season — doubling his win total from a year ago. “It's nice to do two in a row coming off Jetmore (in late May),” he said. Trimble settled for second, followed by Mike Anderson in third and Bob Scheaffer in fourth. Blake Smith rounded out the top five. “I think the top five or six cars were pretty close all night,” Bourke said. 

The Keizer Aluminum Wheels Hard Charger award went to veteran Rich Buback, who advanced from 16th to 6th 

Heat race winners were John Gerloff, Blake Smith and Bob Scheaffer.

Feature results

1. Patrick Bourke. 2. Adam Trimble, 3. Mike Anderson, 4. Bob Scheaffer, 5. Blake Smith, 6. Rich Buback, 7. John Gerloff, 8. Ian Christie, 9. Reed Bernbeck, 10, Jeremy Lueck, 11. Dan Brummett, 12. Blake Bogenhagen, 13. Fred Schneider, 14. Sam Wisecup, 15. Chuck Campbell, 16. Levi Wisecup, 17. Mike Parker, 18. Tara Jo Christie.