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Ortega Owns Rocky Mountain at Sweetwater

Lonnie Wheatley, ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (August 23, 2008) – Albuquerque's Derrik Ortega added another American Sprint Car Series Rocky Mountain Region feature win at Sweetwater Speedway by charging to victory lane in Saturday night's 25-lap main event.

Ortega, who also captured his first career series win at Sweetwater on June 13, took command on the 14th round en route to his third win of the season as he extended his lead in the championship points race.

In the process of cracking victory lane in the Wesmar-powered Hodges Automotive No. 35 Maxim, the 17-year-old denied Rapid City lady racer Danielle Ossenfort her first series triumph.

The 19-year-old Ossenfort had taken the lead away from Willy Hernandez following a lap two restart and held the point until lapped traffic opened the door for Ortega. Ossenfort and 18-year-old Colt Treharn kept the pressure on Ortega the rest of the way, but Ortega was up to the task.

Ortega, Ossenfort and Treharn took the podium positions, with Utah's Dustin Hall and Montana's Jeremy McCune rounding out the top five.

McCune, Ortega and Bob Schaeffer earned heat race wins. Schaeffer made an early exit from the feature after tipping over on the sixth round.

ASCS Rocky Mountain Region Results from Sweetwater Speedway:

Heat Winners: Jeremy McCune, Derrik Ortega, Bob Schaeffer.

“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 35-Derrik Ortega, 2. 10-Danielle Ossenfort, 3. 77x-Colt Treharn, 4. 74u-Dustin Hall, 5. 0j-Jeremy McCune, 6. 8-Brett Ream, 7. 99-Jake Ossenfort, 8. 3-Julee Jamison, 9. 16-Brian Hardman, 10. 47-Jay Hall, 11. 05-Justin Wolf Medlock, 12. 99x-Chuck Jackson, 13. 77-Mark Sweet, 14. 59-Butch Hardman, 15. 83-Paul Peterson, 16. 57-Don Stoutner, 17. 4-Chris Adams, 18. 3x-Mike Posey, 19. 93-Bob Schaeffer, 20. 1m-Willy Hernandez (Disqualified; Illegal right rear tire after finishing third).

ASCS Rocky Mountain Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Derrik Ortega 1,722, 2. Jeremy McCune 1,525, 3. Chad Corken 1,477, 4. Jake Ossenfort 1,476, 5. Bob Schaeffer 1,466, 6. Colt Treharn 1,464, 7. Danielle Ossenfort 1,436, 8. Justin Wolf Medlock 1,225, 9. Dustin Hall 1,198, 10. Mark Sweet 1,085.

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