HILL ASCENDS TO TOP OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE SERIES

BOISE, Idaho -- Tom Hill of Eagle, Idaho scored his third career CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series victory this past Saturday at Magic Valley Speedway in round one of the 2008 campaign. Hill started 12th and worked his way into the top five late in the race and past local favorite and A-1 Heating & Air conditioning rookie Steve Jones with two laps left in the race to score the win.

Hill, a mainstay and primary supporter of the RMCS since inception called his victory his best driving performance of his career. "It was a great night for and this win means a lot," Hill said. "We were able to pass guys like Zan Sharp and Craig Bell on the outside which I don't think I have ever done. On the final restart I hoped to get an advantage on Steve (Jones) when he washed up just a bit I drove underneath. It was a great feeling."

Hill started the race from the 12th spot after qualifying 7th. The RMCS generally inverts the top twenty cars for each feature event based on a one second rule. The inversion for the 75-lap race was set at 19.

Following Hill to the finish was Thane Alderman who scored his best career finish in second. Alderman lost a motor before the weekend began and borrowed Wade Frey's car for the race. Finishing third was A-1 Rookie-of-the-Year competitor Steve Jones followed by Sharp Powder coating Quick Time Award winner Dave Minegar and his teammate Craig Bell.

Though Hill won the race, Minegar assumes the early season point lead as the RMCS awards passing points, qualifying points, heat race points and main event points at each race. Minegar tallied the most at 209. Tom Hill ranks seconds with 197 followed by Alderman, Bell, and John Newhouse rounding out the top five in the standings.

Several drivers received special awards for the event. Minegar grabbed his 15th career Sharp Powder Coating Quick Time Award ($100) with a quick lap of 14.299 seconds to lead all 22 qualifiers. Minegar also received the Thompson Motorsports Performance Improvement Award which pays the driver $200 who improves the most positions in the race over his finish in the previous event. Minegar improve 15 spots. Bobby Latham earned the Thompson Motorsports Halfway Challenge Award ($100 for leading at the half way point of the race. Steve Jones collected the A-1 Heating & Air Conditioning Rookie-of-the-race Award ($100). The ESI Hotshoe Award which pays the drivers who sets quick time and goes one to win the race a $400 bonus will rollover to the next event and be worth $800 since Minegar was not able to score the victory. The CarbonX Lap Leader Bonus pays $5 per green flag lap led and six drivers received the bonus (Dylan Caldwell), (Nick Gibson), (Steve Jones), (Bobby Latham), (John Newhouse), (Tom Hill).

The next event for the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is Saturday, May 3 at Rocky Mountain raceway located outside SLC, Utah. Please log onto www.rmcsracing.com for all the latest news and information.

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