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

Keeping Pace

Tanner Grabs Late Model Victory At Yakima Speedway

2009 ASA Northwest Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year, Joey Tanner. (Photo courtesy of JTR)
2009 ASA Northwest Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year, Joey Tanner. (Photo courtesy of JTR)

Portland's Joey Tanner topped a 17-car late model field at Yakima Speedway for his first late model victory of 2010.

Courtesy: Yakima Speedway Media Relations

May 15th, 2010 (Yakima Speedway, ASA Member Track, Yakima WA.)- Race three of the 2010 Yakima Speedway Super Late Model Challenge Series was completed Saturday night and Joey Tanner from Portland Oregon would showcase talent, persistence and bold moves that would lead him to his first win of the series.

Kelly Mann from Monroe Washington claimed fast time and set a new Yakima Speedway Super Late Model track record with an 18.841. A draw for an eight car invert would set the field placing Taylor Riddle from Naches on his first career pole but motor failure would finish his evening by lap 17.

From the drop of the green flag the fight for position immediately began. Yakima’s Ron Bemis who started on the outside pole would take the early lead and challengers, Pete Harding, Erick Hargraves, Shane Harding and Joey Tanner would contend for position. Joey Tanner would quickly move up through the field to the second spot by lap 6 followed by Kelly Mann, and Shane Harding. Tanner would take the lead from Ron Bemis on Lap 16 and maintain the lead until lap 67 when Shane Harding from Canada, who looked to have the winning car of the evening, was able to get under Joey Tanner and take the lead. The two would battle side by side for the next 26 laps, both having cars to win and waiting for any small mistake to capitalize. With only a few laps to go of the 100 lap Better Haul Auto Transport main event, Joey Tanner would get his opportunity, pass Shane Harding and drive to his first main event win into the Applebee’s Carside To Go Winners Circle and begin his quest to claim the 2010 Super Late Model Championship and a portion of the $30,000 season prize money.

“I am so excited about our win tonight, we really want this championship and motor failures earlier in the season really set us back” said Joey Tanner. “I really owe this all to Brad Tidrick who provided a motor so we could still compete and I want to thank my crew for all of the hard work and support.”

Mike VanAmburg would claim his second Main Event of the season in the Tire Centers Super Street division followed by Dusty John and Andy Beaman. Josh Washington who was second in the season points going into Saturday night won the CWI Security & EZ Credit Auto Sales Hornet Main Event. Joe Roberts who leads the points in the Youth Hornet Division also won his impressive third main event of the season.

Yakima Speedway will take a break for the next two weeks and will be back on June 5th with race 4 of the Super Late Model Challenge Series sponsored by Bemis Appliance, the Burger Ranch Sportsman, the H & H Furniture Pure Stocks, CWI Security & EZ Credit Auto Sales Hornets and Youth Hornets



Keeping Pace

Motorsports correspondent Doug Pace keeps up with motorsports news and notes from around the region.