2000 Season Gets Into Gear

New millennium. New racing season.

But it’s pretty much business as usual with Inland Northwest motorsports.

For those who hoped the new century would bring vast changes on the local racing scene - perhaps a NW Series race here, that promised Grand National Motorcycle race - you’ll just have to wait. Hopefully not until Y3K.

The local 2000 racing season got started last Sunday with Stateline’s annual kickoff event, the Racer’s Jamboree. It’s an exhibition tune-up event that lets circle track competitors blow out a little built-up carbon and try out new equipment.

The “real” season, where racers run for seasonlong points and chase championships, begins tonight at Stateline with a show that includes Hobby Cars, Sportsman, Street Stocks and Fever 4 Hobby’s. Time trials are at 5:30.

Sunday, Spokane Raceway Park opens its 26th season and a six-month run of weekly drag and stock car racing activities. Time trials begin at 1:30 p.m. on both the drag strip and half-mile oval.

The following is a quick look at what’s new at local racing facilities for 2000. The venues are listed alphabetically.

Eagle Trac (Republic) and Northport

Being the ultimate “small markets,” both Eagle Trac and Northport realized the past two years that in order for each to survive they had to work together. The result is that both tracks run the same set of rules and none of their race dates conflict with the other.

Republic will run nine events beginning May 13 with the big events being a pair of Dirt Cup Challenge Series races with Northport (May 13, Sept. 9) and a two-day Memorial Day weekend race.

Northport opens first on April 29 and will operate on eight weekends, running nine races. Northport’s notable dates include the Dirt Cup Challenge Series (June 3 & Aug. 26) plus the annual Liberty 5000 on July 1 and 2.

Info: Monte Zema (509) 684-2601.

Playfair half-mile

It appears flat-track motorcycle racing is history at what promoters and riders called one of the best motorcycle venues in the nation. Poor attendance caused Bert Marsh and Doug Donnaly to give up.

Spokane Motorsports Complex

The major news out of the old ORV Park at Airway Heights is that John Reidburn and Ross Cooper have taken over operation of the fifth-mile West Plains Speedway. Rod Nelson, who promoted the track in 1999, has stepped out of the operation to concentrate more on his business activities.

Outlaw go-karts, flat-track motorcycles and mini-sprints will again utilize the track that recently got a new layer of clay added to its already fine surface.

Racing begins April 22 with a mini-sprint play day, followed the next week by the kart opener. The flat-track bikes debut May 13.

There’s new lights, an improved racing surface and the possibility of seeing some yet to be confirmed racing that is perfectly suited for the clay.

Info: Ross Cooper (509) 891-1553 or (509) 995-7760.

Spokane Raceway Park

SRP begins its 26th season and - between the drag strip, oval track and road course - will offer 88 racing events.

The drag strip will share the biggest part of the racing spotlight with 46 dates, including the July 21-23 running of the 38th AHRA World Finals. Other staple races, the Lilac Funny Car Championship (May 20) and the Fox Hunt (Aug. 12), join nine Mountain Dew High School Drag Series races and five Spokane Pro Gas Association meets.

On the oval there are 28 race dates. Four local classes will rotate in weekly racing programs. They will be joined six times by the Northwest Late Model Superstocks (beginning April 16) and periodic visits from the Northwest Formula Indys.

SRP’s trick road course will host a four-day sports car race May 26-29, three Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association races and a pair of appearances by speedway karts.

Info: (509) 244-3663

Stateline Speedway

One down and 73 to go between now and the Sept. 30 close of the season. The ongoing hope of Stateline hosting a NASCAR NW Series race will continue to be just that. The track has, however, taken after other regional tracks like Yakima and Kalispell that stage successful multiday late model races.

To go with traditional events like the July 4 Demo, plus many traveling groups, Stateline’s new marquee race will be the three-day Washington Trust Bank Idaho 200. Running July 7-9, it will include qualifying races and offer a $22,700 purse with the winner’s share $5,500.

The Northwest Modifieds again call Stateline home, but more so than ever as the open wheel series run 8 of 12 races at the track. The season opens April 15.

Stateline will also be the home base to the Interstate Superstocks, which run 11 races here staring May 13.

The Northwest Mini-Trucks have moved over to Stateline this season. They are scheduled for 24 nights, including three Northwest Challenge races that will involve visitors from the coast.

Racers will be treated to some new amenities at the track this year, including a new pitside store, plus 10 additional concrete slabs to keep cars and crews out of the dirt.

Info: (208) 773-5019.

Pit stops

Northwest Water Competition and the Stateline Outboard Racing Association reportedly will stage a cooperative hydro race July 1-2 at Harrison, Idaho. That’s one of five races that the American Outboard Federation will sanction in the region… . Yakima Meadows horse racing track will soon have a new name - State Fair Raceway - and will be home for the Inland Northwest’s first-ever visit from the World of Outlaws sprint cars Aug. 22. The new ‘s mile track is being promoted by Fred Brownfield who operates Grays Harbor Speedway at Elma, Wash… . No one seemed more surprised by winning a Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring, event than rookie Gaylon Stewart after he pulled off a thrilling, last-lap pass for the win over Tom Sweatman in the Sno Country Ford 125 at Evergreen Speedway on March 25. Stewart, of Everett, pulled along side of Sweatman on the backstretch of the .646-mile oval. Stewart nipped Sweatman by two feet at the line.

Meetings

The Northwest Mini-Trucks will hold an informational and organizational meeting April 8 at 1 p.m. at 11119 East Grace in Spokane. For information, contact Ted Morris: (509) 891-0690 (after 5:30) or (509) 924-5000 (days)… . Northwest Water Competition will hold a mandatory meeting April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Liberty Lake Sewer District Building at 25510 E. Mission. For information, contact Roy Mackay at (509) 255-6237.