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

Nothing Neat Planned At Track

Paul Delaney Correspondent

At most grand openings, the emphasis is on making sure everything is clean and tidy.

That will not necessarily be the case this weekend at the Spokane County ORV Park in Airway Heights when the facility lets the mud and dirt fly as it raises the curtain on the latest addition to the park.

The final major phase of the park’s construction gets its shakedown Sunday when the new fifth-mile clay oval track opens to mini-sprint races presented by the Northern Light AllStar Sprint Car association.

Gates open at 7 a.m. Racing begins at 10 a.m.

Also on the schedule at the multi-purpose facility Sunday will be go-kart racing, presented by the Spokane Kart Racing Association, and sand drag racing with the Northwest Off-Road Racing Association.

Next Thursday the Region Seven Gold Cup for Go-Karts gets underway and the motocross season begins on April 28.

The park has been under construction in various phases for some 10 years, and the only items that remain on the master plan are construction of some minor amenities.

Park manager Darrell Triber has overseen getting the park ready for a season that includes nearly 60 events. The veteran local motorcycle racer and event promoter was hired last year and brings dozens of years of important experience to the operation of the facility.

Along with the mini-sprint cars, the oval track will also host flat track motorcycle racing beginning May 5.

Stateline opens Sunday

A racers jamboree featuring all classes that regularly run at the track will open the 1996 stock car season at Stateline Speedway on Sunday.

Time trials begin at 1 p.m.

The annual event gives racers a chance to work out final bugs before the points season opens on April 28.

Hobby Cars, Compact Streets, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Super 4 Modifieds and Fever 4 Hobby cars will all be in action at the Idaho track.

Pro Gas opener

Sunday at SRP A renewed interest in the Spokane Pro Gas Association promises to bring out record fields in the heads-up racing bracket that opens a five-race season Sunday at Spokane Raceway Park.

“We’ve had a lot of people turn out for our meeting and there are a lot of new drivers coming out to run,” said spokesman Rod Hoerner. The association will also add Modified Gas cars again to their programs that run four races at SRP this year. The Mod Gas class was dropped over the past two seasons.

Pro Gas cars try to run as close to a 9.90 elapsed time in the quarter-mile, while Modified Gas racers attempt to run 10.90 ET’s.

Northport opens

A work party last Sunday put the final touches on preparation for the Northport International Raceway dirt track season opener.

Time trials begin at 1 p.m. Racing in Superstocks, Modifieds and Volkswagens is set for 2.

Pit stops

Bracket drag racing joins the the Pro and Modified Gas show Sunday at Spokane Raceway Park, where Neil Hansen will try to extend his two-week winning streak in Street Eliminator. SRP will also host stock car racing Sunday. … The ORV Park will also host N.O.R.R.A. sand drags, mud bogs and obstacle racing Saturday. … Ephrata will host the opener of the Interstate Superstock Racing Series on Saturday night . … Coeur d’Alene’s Buff Kobs was the lone area racer to post a win as the NHRA Division Six series opened last weekend at Boise’s Firebird Raceway. Kobs rode his motorcycle to victory in the Sportsman Bike class. Spokane’s Jeff Mann, driving his new Miller Motorsports ‘34 Chevy Roadster, was runner-up in the 78-car Super Gas field. Ten Spokane area racers traveled to the race which is the first of six events that culminate on September 22 in Ashcroft, British Columbia.

The Northwest Modifieds will hold a racers meeting Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at Rogers Towing in Cheney. Rules and a safety clinic will be covered and drivers will have their photos taken. For more information contact Roger Zimmerman at (509) 235-8421 or Vern Bendickson at (509) 326-0499. … The NASCAR Northwest Tour heads to Yakima Speedway on Saturday night with two-time winner Garrett Evans holding the series points lead 360 to 335 over Kelly Tanner. Spokane competitors Mark Groskreutz is in sixth place with 268 and Rick Schultz is right behind in seventh with 267 points. Schultz has won the pole in both races so far.

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