ICAR series fills void at Stateline after late-model tour cancellation

For the second time in the last three seasons, the Northwest Late Model Tour’s Stateline Speedway date has been canceled and track co-owner Joe Doellefeld must turn to a familiar group on short notice to fill the gap.

The ICAR Late Model Series returns this weekend, running its second race in as many weekends at the Post Falls quarter-mile. As was the case in 2008, the group is honored to be asked on short notice to thrill Stateline’s fans again.

“We knew a few weeks ago that this might be a possibility,” ICAR co-founder Corey Juhnke said. “To have Joe come to us and ask to be part of this weekend is an honor for ICAR and shows that our program is worthy of bringing in to put on a show for the fans and offer a fair price to the promoter.”

With the cancellation of ICAR dates at Spokane County Raceway, the chance to have a date added to the 2010 schedule was a nice gesture from Stateline, Juhnke said.

“We needed to make a decision about racing at SCR and they have been doing work up there and were noncommittal about when the track was going to be up and running,” he said. “Our group has to go forward and we’re hoping to go to SCR in 2011. Getting an extra date at Stateline helps with our overall schedule for the rest of this season. … The ICAR plan for this season was to run at least one race west of the Spokane area, which we did a few weeks ago at Ephrata Raceway Park, and to take the show once to a track east of here and we’re still working on that.”

Dan Garber and Andy Brown picked up wins last weekend in ICAR’s twin 35-lap main event format. Garber also nabbed wins in Ephrata and earned one of two checkered flags in the season-opening event at Stateline. The Spokane Valley native leads the ICAR driver points standings heading into this weekend’s event.

Blake Williams, who cut his teeth in Stateline’s Wednesday Night Fever program, leads ICAR’s Rookie of the Year standings after putting together three consecutive weekends of top-10 finishes.

For more information regarding this weekend’s ICAR race at Stateline Speedway, go to www.raceidaho.com.

Lind derby on tap

The Lind Combine Demolition Derby will be run for the 22nd year Saturday. For those interested in seeing a one-of-a-kind event, the short drive to the farm community located just off Highway 395 is worth the trip.

Offering more than $10,000 in prize money, the derby is put on by the Lind Lion’s Club and attracts more than 5,000 fans during its one-day event. Each year the club works to refine the rules, provide a safe environment for competitors and participants and offer a family-friendly atmosphere for the spectators.

The farming equipment used in the derby is a unique part of the event. The combines must be 25 years or older and built to the exacting safety rules required by the Lion’s Club organizers. The intent is to provide entertainment. To be sure the farm machines make contact, a driver is eliminated if no hit-to-hit action is taken during a 5-minute period over the course of the scheduled heat races.

Should a combine be damaged beyond repair for a heat race, fellow drivers are prone to jump in and work together to get the entry back into the championship-round run at dusk, according to organizers.

The event has an affordable ticket price and supports a great organization in the Lind Lion’s Club. For more information regarding the Lind Combine Demolition Derby, go to www.lindwa.com.