Interstate Comes To Stateline
Stateline Speedway serves up a second helping of Superstock racing for Spokane race fans this Saturday night.
The racing program, which begins with time trials at 6 p.m., will feature the 1997 debut of the Interstate Superstock racing series in a 100-lap feature race.
A second traveling series, the Northwest Mini-Trucks, will also be part of the program, as will Hobby Cars and Street Stocks.
Among the entries for the Interstate Supers are defending champion Mike Sauls of Puyallup, plus locals like L.T. Jones and Brad Allard.
“We’ve got a lot of drivers real anxious for this first race,” said Stateline promoter Joe Doellefeld.
Among them are Blaine Sneva, who plans to make necessary changes to his T-Bird - like adding weight and running different tires - to make him eligible for the Interstate Series.
Sneva’s late-model debut last Sunday at Spokane Raceway Park was spoiled by engine and handling problems. He’s confident both problems are solved.
Outlaw karts open at ORV Park
A new form of motorsports makes its debut at the Spokane County ORV Park tonight with Pro Outlaw Karts beginning a 20-week schedule of racing on the fifth-mile oval.
Racing begins at 6 p.m. at the Airway Heights facility in a class that has exploded in popularity over the last year.
“We had five in 1996,” said class organizer Ron Nelson. “This year we have 27.”
The variety of combinations allow the P.O.K.R. karts to hit speeds approaching 80 miles per hour on the clay track.
Since car owners have carte-blanche on how they power their karts, the equalizer comes in tires.
“The tire we use keeps the power to ground even,” Nelson said.
After the standard $3 per-person park fee, admission to the P.O.K.R. racing is free.
Pit stops
Spokane Raceway Park shifts to night racing this weekend. First on Friday is the opener of the Mountain Dew High School Drag Racing Series. Saturday night has both bracket drag races and stock car races. At SRP, Eldon Hallock will try to keep alive his streak of final-round appearances. Hallock has one win and two runner-up finishes in the three Street Eliminator races run to date.
Jeff Zimmerman of Spokane begins defense of his Northwest Modified Series title this Saturday on the half-mile tri-oval at Tri City Raceway. The mods’ Spokane debut comes May 17 at Stateline.
Rain washed out the conclusion of last weekend’s NHRA Division Six drag racing series event at Seattle International Raceway. Before the showers came, however, a number of local drivers advanced in their brackets. Dave Holmes, Jeff Mann, and Rod and Todd Hoerner are four of the 17 surviving drivers in Super Gas. Jody Peterson is the lone Spokane racer advancing in Super Street. The event will conclude June 7 and 8.
Greg Biffle’s debut in the Spokane-based Hall Racing Monte Carlo was successful as he finished seventh at Yakima last Saturday. Pole-sitter Rick Schultz led the first 33 laps of the race but faded to finish 12th. Kevin Richards was involved in an accident and ended up 24th.
MEMO: Paul Delaney’s Motorsports Notebook appears every Thursday. For story ideas and comments, you can reach Paul by phone or fax at (509) 928-6998 or E-Mail: pwd@thefuture.net