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

Kopp Patrols For Excessive Speeds At Springfield

Paul Delaney Correspondent

Memorial Day weekend is synonymous with big racing events like the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C.

Each race, at one time or another, has had a Spokane connection - Tom Sneva, an Indy regular and 1984 race winner, or Chad Little, from time to time trying for his big break in Winston Cup racing.

Now another local racer tries to make his mark during the holiday weekend when Mica’s Joe Kopp rides his Harley Davidson at the famed Springfield Mile. The race will be televised on the Turner Broadcasting System at an unconfirmed time.

Kopp is sixth in American Motorcycle Association (AMA) points going into the Sunday race at the Illinois State Fair track. He’ll look for his first race win of the season.

The Springfield Mile is one of the legendary tracks in flat track motorcycle racing. Some races feature speeds of 130 mph with riders five abreast.

Kopp started locally at the old Triber’s Stateline Speedway and went full time on the AMA circuit last season.

Stateline tripleheader

Stateline Speedway will usher in its Friday night racing program, the first of three days of racing.

Sportsman, Hobby Cars and Compact Streets make up the Friday schedule, with time trials beginning at 6:30.

Saturday night the Columbia River Open Wheel (CROW) modifieds headline the show and make their first visit of the season to the track.

The first of three Demolition Derbys take place on Sunday afternoon at 1.

SRP hosts Pro Gas racers

Spokane Raceway Park will host the second of five races for the busy Spokane Pro Gas Association on Saturday night. The 9.90 index cars return June 1 to SRP.

Todd Hoerner has the lead in points after one race.

SRP will also have its regular bracket drag racing program Saturday.

Dirt-trackin’ doubleheader

This weekend, the dirt will fly north of Spokane, as Republic’s Eagle Trac runs Saturday afternoon and Northport International Raceway on Sunday.

Street Stocks and Modifieds will run at Republic, where time trials begin at noon, while Superstocks, Modifieds and Volkswagens will be on the track Sunday for a 1 p.m. start.

Evans scores third

Garrett Evans of Ardenvoir scored his third NASCAR Northwest Tour race win in five attempts last Saturday on his home track at Wenatchee Valley Raceway.

Pit stops

Jeff Zimmerman won the modified opener at Kalispell while Blaine Sneva was second. The next action for open wheelers in June 8 at Stateline… . While the modifieds are off, Sneva will dust off his super modified at Boise next weekend for a Western States Super Modified race. Sneva hints this might be his last in the open wheels but not in racing. “I think next year we’ll try stock car racing,” Sneva said. “I’ve never done that before.” … No jet dragster ever went faster at SRP than Joe Douthit of Lakeside, Calif. At last Saturday’s Lilac Funny Car Championships, Douthit became the first driver to crack the 6-second barrier, running a 5.709 and 5.703. His 291.08 speed was also the fastest for the F-16s on wheels… . Neil Hansen has been one of SRP’s most consistent drag racers, winning the season’s first two Street Eliminator races then finishing runner-up in three of the last four. On the oval track, Dan Miller has had early dominance in Hobby Stocks, winning three of five. Shaun Bales has the other two wins. … The Northern Light All-Stars return to the Spokane ORV PArk for Sunday’s 1 p.m. race on the new clay oval… . The ORV Park will also present the second motocross race of the season on Sunday. Contact Steve Peters, 927-8087, for information… . Motocross riders will be on the track at Clarkia’s Fossil Bowl on Saturday, with practice at 9 a.m.

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