Richards Finds Groove

Kevin Richards is becoming some kind of a prophet.

Three months ago, Richards predicted his Monaco Enterprises team was due for a turnaround in the NASCAR Winston West Series. After struggling the first half of the season, Richards has won two of his last 10 races, including last Saturday night on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He has six straight top-10 finishes, including four top-five efforts in his last five outings.

He is 87 points out of second place with two races remaining.

“That was a big one,” the 37-year-old Spokane driver said of his first super speedway win. “We were very dominant. We were in a different league,” Richards said. “We led 76 of 100 laps and had a 6- to 8-second lead most of the race.” Next up is an Oct. 17 race at Bakersfield, Calif. The Winston West season finishes Nov. 21 in Japan.

Preston jumps the gun

After a 3,600-mile tow to Oklahoma, John Preston’s attempt to improve his standings in the NHRA Division Six Super Comp point standings came up .0048 seconds short. Preston didn’t even make it through one round, as a mechanical problem forced him to leave the starting line .0048 seconds too soon, meaning disqualification.

As result, Preston still trails Don Rhyne by 19 points, which he will try to change Nov. 5-7 at Phoenix.

Busy weekend

The Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights hosts a weekend-long series of events as that facility’s inaugural season winds down.

It all begins Friday night with a Supercross on the motocross track and outlaw go-karts at the complex’s West Plains Speedway. Racing begins at 7 p.m. at each track.

Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the Spokane Kart Racing Association runs its final points race of 1999, while Mini-Sprints race at 7 p.m. at West Plains Speedway.

Pit stops

The 9th Annual King of the Hill drags close out Spokane Raceway Park’s season, while stock cars battle for their title. Both races start at 1:30… . The 12th annual Fall Classic, which features competition in classes including Late Models, Superstocks and Street Stocks, runs this weekend at Yakima Speedway. The Late-Model winner will pocket a $10,000 first-place check. For ticket info call (509) 248-0647.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Hot Shoe champ With a pair of wins Friday at Playfair and Saturday at Emerald Downs, Mica’s Joe Kopp haswrapped up the 600cc AMA Hot Shoe series points title. Kopp will be back on the Grand National track this Saturday at Las Vegas.