Doug Pace: Hopes high for young Spokane driver Noah McConahy after serious crash

The Monster Energy Drink SuperCross Series roared through the Northwest last Saturday as a capacity crowd filled CenturyLink Field in Seattle, taking in one of the sport’s biggest events.

Spokane’s lone entry to the series, 23-year-old Noah McConahy, had plenty of family, supporters and friends who made the trek to cheer on his budding professional career.

The capacity crowd was witness to one of the series’ toughest incidents in recent memory as McConahy and his Yamaha landed on a fallen Chris Alldredge in a violent collision during the race’s main event. Both riders were transported to Harborview Medical Center with injuries that required extended treatment.

McConahy fractured his L5 vertebra and was hospitalized for several days before being released to return to Spokane. The injury is not considered to be career-ending, according to Noah’s father, Pat McConahy.

“Everything fractured away from the spinal cord so it (the vertebra break) was something that was repairable through surgery,” he said. “Noah had rods and screws inserted into the vertebra and faces a long, slow recovery.”

Having been among an elite group of privateer riders, those self-sponsored or low-budgeted riders who compete in the series, McConahy recently joined one of the top factory-supported SuperCross teams, 51FIFTY Energy Drinks/Yamaha. Entering the Seattle race, McConahy was among the top 15 riders in 250SX points with plenty to be optimistic about as much of the season was still ahead.

The crash has not dampened the team’s support of McConahy or its plans for the young rider.

“It was pretty neat that 51FIFTY’s team manager (Craig Monty) came in Saturday night and said this incident has nothing to do with our future plans and that this ride will be there for Noah when he’s ready,” Pat McConahy said. “(51FIFTY’s owner) Carlos (Vieira) also called on Sunday and was so supportive of Noah, which is a great part of being with this team. It was a relief to hear after working so hard with Noah to get to this point in the sport.”

A summer return to racing is possible, Pat said.

“Noah is hoping to get to race (late July’s Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship event at) Washougal (Washington) if his rehab goes well,” he said. “It’s a possibility and hopefully we’ll get the green light in six weeks or so to get back on a bike and maybe do some training. That’s the best-case scenario.”

Stateline ready for opener

Stateline Speedway opens Wednesday with its first Hump Day Havoc event of the season. A racing tradition at the Post Falls facility for more than 25 years, the midweek racing schedule is the only circle track format of its kind in the Northwest.

Stateline also holds events on Fridays and Saturdays during the season.

Hump Day Havoc features four-cylinder Mini Stocks and Road Runners along with the eight-cylinder Full Contact behemoths.

New to the Wednesday excitement will be the Baby Grands division. The class had been running at Spokane’s half-mile oval after originally getting its start at Stateline several years ago.

Featuring an engine combination similar to the 1200cc Yamaha motors found in the Legends class, a major draw for the Baby Grands division is a one-piece body design that gives the car a late-model look on a smaller scale.

Also new for this season, Stateline will feature a three-race schedule for Super Late Models that culminates with the Idaho 250 on Aug. 5. The summer date has traditionally held the famed Idaho 200, but this year adds an extra 50 laps with the 200-lap race set for July 8. The three-race run kicks off on June 3 with a 150-lap shootout.

In addition to the annual August late-model race, which features drivers from across the region, Stateline brings back its open-wheel extravaganza, the Ed Sneva Memorial Weekend, on June 24. Another annual event, the Fourth of July Demo Derby and Fireworks show, is scheduled for July 3.

Traveling series scheduled include the WESCO Sprint Car Tour, North American Big Rigs, a two-day Monster Truck/FMX show and the Washington Midget Racing Association.