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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Drifting back to Spokane County Raceway

By Doug Pace Correspondent

Drifting returns to Spokane County Raceway this weekend for the second annual Independence Matsuri race with a two-day competition scheduled for the popular form of motorsports.

Last summer’s event drew cars from across the Northwest and organizers are expecting an increased car count this year.

Drifting pits a driver, who purposely steers their car in a powered-slide around a racecourse, then drifts off the corners. Timing, style and technique earn points towards determining a winner. Races feature a preliminary round then conclude with a finale of high points competitors.

Competitors put forth a tremendous amount of effort to create highly tuned machines to win drifting events. Many of the cars are four-cylinder imports, but American manufacturers are also popular. The sport also features divisions for stock production vehicles. In addition, drift competitions feature events where two cars are on the course at the same time competing for points.

As the popularity of drifting has increased over the last few years, many facilities across the Northwest, including Stateline Speedway, are adding the unique form of competition to their season schedules.

Action gets underway Saturday morning and runs through Sunday. A vendor’s midway will be set up for racers and fans alike to take a look at the latest in drifting parts and fashions.

SCR also has plenty of action at its half-mile oval as the track features an Enduro race, Bump to Pass battles and the fan-favorite boat races on Saturday night.

Highlighting the night will be the Bump to Pass cars towing boats that have long since be unworthy for the seas. Swung from side to side as they are attached by chain to the racecar, the demolition of the fiberglass hulls is one highlight of the race. An increased payout is being offered to the Bump to Pass class during the weekend.

Thunder in the Valley

Republic’s Eagle Track Raceway hosts a two-day holiday event with Sprint Cars, Modifieds, Super Stocks and Fever 4’s all part of the weekend program. Dubbed the Thunder in the Valley, large crowds are expected.

Big money will be up for grabs in the Sprint Car division, a class that does not compete at Eagle Track Raceway on a regular basis. Sponsors and track organizers have come together to offer $1,500 to the winner of this weekend’s A-Main with drivers making the field pocketing $300 to start the race.

In the Modified division, the A-Main winner stands to takeaway a $1,200 paycheck. This is the highest payout for the class in the 2016 season. Andy Miller, who leads the chase for the 2016 Modified track championship, should be the favorite but with the increased purse fans could see Jason Hanks, Andy Gasho, Trevor Twamley and a host of out-of-town drivers challenge Miller.

Mike Olmstead leads the chase for the Super Stock championship heading into the weekend with Julian Braun and Jason Stone rounding out the top-3 in the standings. The division will be racing each day with plenty on the line including Olmstead’s opportunity to pad his points lead.

The Fever 4 division offers the tightest points race of the season as Steve Hood and Bob Bradshaw are separated by nine markers heading into Thunder in the Valley. Trent Twamley outpointed the competition in the track’s last event for the popular four-cylinder class and with it moved into third place in the championship standings.