NW motorsports: Modified title up for grabs

If the images of Tim Sawyer and Rick Gimineo looked large in Chris Ochs’ rearview mirror on the race track in the past, they are certainly going to take on the stature of King Kong and Godzilla on Saturday night at Spokane Raceway Park.

That’s because the three Northwest Modified drivers are locked in what is the closest and most contested points race in many years for the open-wheel series.

Just 10 points separate the three as they decide the issue on Saturday night on SRP’s half-mile. Each of the contenders has won a race this year at SRP.

Not since 2005, when Frankie Volz Jr. edged Blaine Sneva by seven points in the standings, has a series points race been this close.

“(We need to) finish at the front like we have been and stay out of trouble,” said Colville resident Ochs, who has 935 points.

That will not be a problem, said Ochs, who was the 2004 champion in the modified class at Northport Speedway.

“For the most part, we’ve been top-fives,” he said. “We had one DNF and one other time at Stateline we might have finished sixth or seventh.”

Sawyer (926 points) and Gimineo (925) hope to shuffle the standings.

In addition to the Northwest Modifieds, the Saturday program will feature the Late Model 4s and hobby Stocks. Racing starts at 7 p.m.

Garber has secure lead

Dave Garber’s win in the first race of the season vaulted him into the points lead for the Inland Northwest Superstocks. He’s stayed in the lead since and is unlikely to relinquish the top spot when the 2007 INSSA season concludes following The Hooters Hot Wings 100, Saturday at Stateline Speedway.

Garber holds a 75-point lead over Corey Allard and Jeff Little.

The real battle, it would seem, will be for who will finish where in the top 10.

Only 39 points separate Allard and Little. Andy Brown is another 27 points back.

Unlike previous years, when the championship came down to the final laps of the night, Garber need only to start the main event to clinch the title. Last year, Garber’s brother, Dan, wound up one point back of Mike Behar.

Garber is looking forward to the possibility of his first INSSA Championship, having secured his last title in 2001 with the Northwest Late Model Association.

Also deciding titles on Saturday at Stateline are their Street Stock and Hobby Stocks. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.

Pit stops

Spokane Raceway also has two days of drag racing this weekend, starting with Friday Night Street Racing. Bracket drags, plus the season finale for the Spokane Pro Gas Association are Saturday. Racing begins at 7 p.m. Info: 244-3663.

“Sunset Speedway at the Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights will feature Speedway Karts on the one-fifth-mile clay oval Saturday. Info: Diane Thompson 924-6755 or www.Sunsetspeedway.org.

Streaks ‘n’ stats

Frankie Volz Jr. won last Saturday’s Northwest Modified Series race at Stateline Speedway. It was Volz’s second win of the season. … Gary Lewis completed a season of success by winning last Saturday’s ARCA West/Late Model Challenge race at Wenatchee. In the process, Lewis, who also won major marathon events such as the Montana and Idaho 200s, also claimed the 2007 series championship. Lewis will point toward next week’s Fall Classic at Yakima.