Sprint Cars Take Their Turn On Big Oval
It’s certainly not Daytona, but Sunday’s race for the Northern Light All-Star sprint cars definitely takes place on its version of a superspeedway.
The former mini-sprints turn a little mightier when they pay the first of two visits to the “big” three-eighths-mile oval at Northport International Raceway for the Lees Auto Haus Sprint Car Invitational. Time trials begin at 1 p.m. with racing at 2. The light sprints will run their complete show, including a 25-lap feature, and then turn the track back to superstocks and modifieds for the remainder of the dads day race. Northport’s track is about double the size of other ovals that the light sprints run on this year. The NLAS cars run regularly at the fifth-mile at the Spokane County ORV Park, as well as at similar tracks in Connell and Manson.
Powered primarily by four-cylinder, four-stroke motors from super bikes, the light sprints will be the swiftest cars to run at N.I.R. this season.
“We run 1 to 2 seconds quicker than their V-8 superstocks,” said Terry Crousore, spokesman and president of the Northern Light All-Stars. Crousore expects laps to be in the 13.9- to 14.1-second range.
Moving to the bigger track means a variety of changes for the class that expects to field 16 to 18 cars for the points race.
“We’ll be hitting 100 mph in the straights so we need a stiffer suspension and more gears,” said Crousore.
Aside from the challenge presented by the bigger track, Crousore said Northport is one of his favorite places to race.
“The track is such a quaint place. Going there reminds me of when I was a kid 40 years ago and my dad used to take me to the races. It’s a very nostalgic place.”
Stateline Open Wheel show adds mods
Vacation is officially over for the Northwest Modified Series.
After a three-week layoff, the open-wheel class will run again this Saturday night at Stateline Speedway in the second of three straight weeks of racing. Saturday’s race is a make-up for a rained out race in May.
It will be a crowded card Saturday as also on the schedule is a return of the Columbia River Open Wheel (CROW) sprint cars, Interstate Mini-Trucks, Sportsman and Compact Streets. Time trials are at 6.
Defending modified champion Greg Ochs got back on track, winning last Saturday’s feature.
Next Saturday the series moves on to Ephrata for the the running of the first annual George Keenan Memorial. That race is named in honor of the Keenan, a long-time modified racer who recently died of a heart attack.
Friday night Hobby Cars, Fever Fours and Street Stocks kick off the schedule with time trials at 6:30.
SRP runs Saturday
Spokane Raceway Park adds to its usual bracket drag racing program and presents its 7th Annual All-Star Chevy Show.
As the name would indicate, the emphasis will be on competition between Chevys with special brackets for racing.
Regular bracket racing is also on the schedule too.
On the oval track the slick Northwest Mini-Supers will headline the program that includes Super Streets, Hobby Stocks and Fever Fours.
Gates open on both tracks at 4 p.m.
Pit stops
Spokane’s Rod Hoerner was a firstround loser in last Saturday’s TRW All-Star Challenge at Columbus, Ohio, but he was beaten by the best, Texan Frank Kohutek who won this year’s title. … The NASCAR Northwest Tour will be at South Sound Speedway near Olympia on Saturday night, ending a four-week layoff. Spokane’s Mark Groskreutz is the NWT’s leading rookie. … The Interstate Superstock series visits Tri City Raceway Saturday, with Mike Sauls of Puyallup in the points lead. … The Spokane Kart Racing Association returns to racing this Sunday at the Spokane County ORV Park in Airway Heights. … The season’s third NHRA Division Six points race takes place this weekend at Yakima’s Renegade Raceway, Friday thru Sunday.