Modifieds Ready For Rare Start On Half-Mile

Maybe running on a bigger racetrack will dissolve the tight jam of drivers who are fighting it out for the Northwest Modified Series title.

That, of course, was not the intent when this Saturday’s race was scheduled, and most likely, and when the evening of running on the Tri-City Raceway tri-oval is done, there will probably be little change in the standings.

After all, it’s not the final race of the season, when most series titles have been decided. Moving to a half-mile track likely will be a treat for the drivers who normally race on quarter-milers.

The open-wheel series has been running on the Tri-City track for just four seasons and no one has won more than once there.

Five drivers - defending champ Greg Ochs of Colville, last year’s Tri-City winner Jeff Zimmerman, Blaine Sneva and Ed Hudson, all of Spokane, plus Moses Lake’s Stan Cafferty - are separated by 71 points.

Zimmerman gained some ground on Ochs by winning his last race two weeks ago in Kalispell. The victory was Zimmerman’s third in six races this season. He trails the champ 494-478.

The modifieds will make their next Spokane appearance Aug. 17 at Stateline.

High-school racers battle

Spokane Raceway Park has a two-day racing program on the schedule this weekend, one week before its biggest event, the AHRA World Finals.

The week’s competition begins on Friday night, when Lakeside of Nine Mile and Skills Center continue their battle for the points lead in the Mountain Dew High School Drag Series. Time trials begin at 5:30.

Saturday night, SRP bracket racers will get one more chance to test and tune for next weekend’s World Finals. Gates open at 4 p.m.

Also on Saturday, SRP will have stock car racing with Hobby Cars, Fever Fours and Mini-Trucks on the schedule. Time trials on the oval start at 6 p.m.

Northwest Super Fours return

Stateline Speedway will have the Northwest Super Fours back for a return engagement on Saturday night.

The touring group of compact late-model stock cars will team together with local Street Stocks and the Hobby Car Challenge in a racing program that begins at 6 p.m.

Friday night, the Hobby Cars will open the weekend schedule, along with Sportsman and Compact Streets. Time trials begin at 6:30.

Pit stops

The demanding Western 250, NASCAR Northwest Tour last Sunday at Monroe saw Ron Eaton hold on to defeat Chris Cunningham and claim the $10,125 first place prize. Spokane’s Rick Schultz finished fifth and Marc Groskreutz seventh. Kevin Richards (15th) and Monte English (25th after an accident) were other local finishers… Seattle International Raceway will be the site of the next stop on the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series for this weekend’s Northwest Nationals. Many racers who’ll compete at S.I.R., including five-time world champion John Force, will continue east for next weekend’s World Finals… . Republic’s Eagle Trac will have a special Kids Day at Saturday’s racing program featuring Street Stocks and Modifieds… . Motocross racing is back on Sunday at the Fossil Bowl in Clarkia, Idaho, starting at 9 a.m.

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