Keeping Pace: Colville’s Tiana Berkeley makes smooth transition to dirt modifieds

Colville native Tiana Berkeley has made the most of her progression from racing Hornet cars at Republic’s Eagle Track Raceway to running dirt Modifieds this season at the reopened Northport International Raceway and Eagle.

Just a few months removed from high school, Berkeley has scored a fast time award, her first main event victory and several top-5 finishes in the two track’s Modified divisions.

“I have faced the challenges that most people do when transitioning into a new division, which include learning a new car and dealing with different track conditions,” said Berkeley. “Racing two different tracks means learning two unique driving styles while also competing against people who have been doing this longer then I’ve been alive.”

Coming off a championship in the Hornet division at Eagle means little when moving to a new class, Berkley added.

“(The biggest challenge) so far has been trying not to be hard on myself each week. I have felt frustrated at times this season because I’m new to the Modified division. There are times when I know I could have done better and I forget that I don’t have to prove anything to anyone but myself.”

Berkeley has Hornet championships at Northport and Eagle, but two events this season approach equal billing to those successes, she explained.

“I’ve scored a main event victory at Northport this year and put our car on the pole at Republic, so we’ve had success at both tracks this year. Not only are we able to compete but also we’re running at the front of the pack right alongside the other drivers. It’s a toss-up to say which one is more special but as I’ve said we race against some of the best in our area so just being able to be out there and being competitive is a success.”

Labor Day race

Spokane County Raceway will hold its final road course motorcycle event of the year on Monday. Designed as an opportunity for riders who look to tame the twists and turns of the 2.25-mile course, the layout of the facility is something that can’t be duplicated in a safe and legal way on the streets of the Inland Empire.

Offering elevation changes, tight technical turns and corners that bring the speeds down to a snails pace, the one-day event is a challenge for beginners up to the most experienced riders.