Drivers Battle Down Stretch

It’s a two-horse race as Kennewick’s Brad Rhoads and Spokane’s Todd Witham resume their battle for the 2000 Interstate Superstock Series championship Saturday at Stateline Speedway.

The drivers, each with three wins in seven series races, are separated by 17 points. Rhoads has been the dominant driver in races away from Stateline, winning both events at Yakima. Witham has won three of four Stateline races, showing dominance on the track on which he learned to drive.

Two races remain on the I-State schedule.

There are other points races at stake Saturday, but more opportunities remain for the likes of Brian Nevers and Joe Owens, who are locked in a battle for the Street Stock title. Nevers leads by a mere 12 points.

Mini-Trucks points leader Rob Tipps holds a 624-592 advantage over Mark DeBoodt, while Bill Currier is in charge in Hobby Cars, leading Ron Collison by 206 points.

The visiting Foreign Stock class from the Puget Sound area rounds out the racing program that begins with time trials at 6 p.m.

SRP plays host to fox hunt

The annual fox hunt and jet car show takes place Saturday night at Spokane Raceway Park.

In its 19th year, the fox hunt attracts a field of four jet dragsters or funny cars and one of the biggest crowds of the season. SRP has not released a list of competitors, but whatever cars that appear are capable to covering the quarter-mile at speeds approaching 300 mph.

Time trials begin at 3:30 with regular SRP bracket drag racing also on the schedule. There is no stock car racing this week at SRP.

Sunday at SRP, the Duke’s Car Club stages its eighth annual drag races beginning at 1:30.

Hydros return to Oldtown

After a two-year absence, the Stateline Outboard Racing Association returns to the Pend Oreille River at Oldtown, Idaho, this weekend. The race, sponsored by Aerocell, a local manufacturing company, will bring six classes of hydros to the river. Info: Rob Behm (509) 922-5648.

Yakima announces payout

Yakima Speedway has announced a possible record payout for the 13th annual Fall Classic to be held Sept. 29, 30, and Oct. 1.

The event will offer a regular payout of $10,000 to the Tour/Late Model division winner, but that prize could grow considerably with a $25,000 bonus if the winner has won a weekly racing series event at Yakima during the 2000 season.

Another $20,000 bonus is possible if a driver qualifies first or second in that class, then chooses to go to the back of the field for the start of the main event. If the driver then emerges as the winner, the possible payout climbs to $55,000.

Smith qualifies twice

Odessa’s Craig Smith qualified his Fantasy Springs Casino top fuel dragster for the second time in two races with a pass of 4.85 seconds, but lost to eventual champion Doug Kalitta last weekend at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

The week before at Seattle, he ran a 4.78/292 mph. before bowing in the first round.

“This was pretty impressive for our first NHRA outing,” said Smith, who made his debut at the AHRA World Finals in Spokane and plans to race next at Indianapolis on Labor Day Weekend.

Winged sprint show rescheduled

Winged mini-sprints and winged outlaw carts will race Aug. 19 at West Plains Speedway. The program was originally scheduled for July 29.

Pit stops

The Night Series for motocross at the Spokane Motorsports Complex continues Friday at 5 p.m. The Day MX series continues Sunday, beginning at 7 a.m… . The Spokane Kart Racing Association has a points race Sunday at the complex in Airway Heights starting at noon.

Streaks, stats

Matt Tarr took the wheel of the Watson Body Shop Pontiac for the first time at Spokane Raceway Park Saturday and drove it to victory in his first late-model race, finishing ahead of Danny Garber and becoming the fifth different winner in as many series races… . Burt Gasaway of Spokane returned recently from the International Kart Federation in Marshalltown, Iowa, with a national championship in the Star Class… . Jessee Saxby has run his Spokane Raceway Park Street Eliminator winning streak to five with his second straight victory over Sally Moore… . The Pro Eliminator team of Mark Bell and Bryan Graham have a two-race streak going at SRP… . Sean Ruble now has five straight victories in SRP’s Hobby Compact class… . Josh Roberts scored his fourth Northwest Modified Series victory last Saturday at Stateline.