New, Old Series Meet At Stateline

The region’s oldest and newest racing groups will be coming to Stateline Speedway during the holiday weekend.

The Washington Midget Racing Association, a group that dates back 40 years, makes the first of two visits to Stateline for a Saturday night show along with Street Stocks and Fever Four Hobby Cars beginning at 6 p.m.

They team up with the American Race Trucks, a brand new touring series, in Saturday night’s program.

The truck series is patterned somewhat after the popular NASCAR truck series, but with one huge difference cost!

A NASCAR truck costs $70,000, and another $30,000 for an engine, according to series officials. The American Race Trucks roll onto the track for $12,500, complete and ready to run.

“This is a driver’s series,” said Mike Shaw, national competition director of the Tempe, Ariz.-based series.

“You won’t get beat by someone who out-moneys you,” said Shaw, a former Spokane resident, who may be familiar to race fans from his days as head of the old Northwest Superstock Association.

The 2-year-old series, in its first year racing in the Pacific Northwest, will call on entries from the Coast and Southern Idaho to make a competitive field.

Stateline will also kick off Friday night racing this weekend with a program of Hobby Cars, Compact Streets and Sportsman. Time trials begin at 6:30. A demolition derby closes out the holiday weekend Sunday at 1 p.m.

Hardly a holiday at SRP

Memorial Day is the first major holiday weekend of the new year for many people.

The folks at Spokane Raceway Park, however, hardly think of it as a vacation weekend since the track will be busy Friday through Monday with a variety of racing.

Friday is the third race of the Mountain Dew High School Drag Racing Series. Rogers will try to expand its lead in the points. Gates open at 5 p.m with racing at 7.

Saturday will be the busiest day, beginning with sports car racing on the 2.5-mile road course at 8:30 a.m., followed by bracket drag racing about 3 p.m. Stock car racing is also on tap that night on the half-mile oval.

Sports car racing continue Sunday and Monday. Competition ranges from Volkswagens capable of 80- to 90-mph to cars capable of speeds of 200 mph at the end of the mile-long straightaway.

“We’re well above last year as far as entries go,” said race spokesman Steve Cassel. “We have a track with the longest straightaway in the Northwest and there are a lot of drivers anxious to see how fast they can go.”

The race is being organized by Northwest Motorsports, a local club that has staged sports car races in the area for more than 30 years. For further information, contact Cassel at (509) 482-7171.

Northport, Republic run Sunday The dirt will be flying Sunday as both Northport International Raceway and Eagle Track in Republic run Memorial Day weekend races.

Northport will be site of the Parts ‘N Pieces Dirt Cup, beginning with time trials at 1 p.m. Defending modified champ Monte Zema Jr. tries to become a two-time race winner, as does superstock driver Willie Miller.

At Republic, the highlight will be the Memorial Race of Champions. Time trials begin at noon.

Playfair motorcycle dates announced

The 1998 schedule for flat track motorcycle racing at Spokane’s Playfair Race Course has been announced by co-promoter Bert Marsh.

Pro-am races are scheduled July 10-11 and Aug. 14-15. The Aug. 15 race will also be an American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Hot Shoe series event.

According to Marsh, hometown favorite and Grand National Series regular Joe Kopp will finally race at Playfair. A GN event that weekend had been canceled, allowing Kopp to run at home.

For info, contact Marsh at (509) 489-5023.

Pit stops

The Spokane Kart Racing Association returns to racing Sunday at the Spokane County ORV Park beginning at 8 a.m. … The Northwest Mini-Supers travel to Kalispell, Mont., this weekend for the second race of the season. … The Interstate Superstocks will race at Tri City Raceway on Saturday night. … With his second-place finish Sunday at Topeka, Kan., Spokane’s Kevin Richards moved up into sixth place in Winston West series points. The rookie Winston West driver will try to put the Monaco Enterprises Monte Carlo in the winner’s circle Sunday at Mesa Marin (Calif.) Speedway. … John Force won his first NHRA national event of the season Sunday at Englishtown, N.J., but that was secondary to another feat when he pushed his Mustang to the fastest speed in NHRA history at 323.89 mph.

Streaks

Steve Shaffer shoots for his third Hobby Stock win in four races Friday at Stateline Speedway. … John McCroskey has four wins in six starts in Fever Fours at SRP. … John Lanz has won two in a row in SRP’s Pro Eliminator drag racing bracket. … Also, SRP drag racer Steve Johanson has made it to the final round of Pro Eliminator the last four weeks, winning the first two and ending up the runner-up the last two to Lanz.