Veteran Drivers Look For Breakthrough

A veteran will take his rightful place in the winners circle Saturday night at Stateline Speedway, predicts Dave Weaver, president of Northwest Modifieds.

With 20-somethings Josh Roberts and Tyler DeLong dominating so far with two wins between them, it’s time for the vets to show the kids the way around the track, said the Colville driver.

“We’ve had two young guys win our last races,” Weaver said. “The old guys will prevail this week.”

The other half of Weaver’s involvement with the open-wheel series - the role of president - seems to be going well. Competition has been keen and car counts are pleasing, with 17 at the last race.

The touring Outlaw Compacts, Streetstocks and Mini-Indys also race Saturday, with time trials at 6 p.m.

Friday’s program will feature Sportsman, Hobby Cars and Mini-Trucks and starts at 6:30 p.m.

Northwest Late Models

The biggest field of late models this year looks as if it will be assembled at Spokane Raceway Park Saturday night.

The lure of $1,000 to win, a worthwhile payday for other top finishers plus the opportunity to run on the half-mile will likely put 15 to 20 superstocks at SRP.

With a win in the April opener, Corey Wolfe of Kalispell, Mont., leads the points as the schedule reaches its halfway point. Spokane’s Dave Garber, the other winner, is the only local driver in the top five, trailing Wolfe by 26 points.

Time trials begin at 5 p.m., with Hobby Stocks and Fever Four Hobbys sharing the program.

Howard heats up

Mead’s Sherrie Howard is tearing up the Wenatchee Super Oval in the former Columbia River Sprint Car class, now the Winged Sprints. She has two wins and two runner-up finishes in her last five races.

Saturday, she timed sixth-quickest and went on to win her trophy dash, heat race and the main event.

“The car is running just awesome,” Howard said.

Howard is quite popular and regularly signs autographs for long lines of young fans. Promoters use her in their ads, warning that Howard “is coming back this week to beat up on the boys.”

Howard’s next race is June 17 at Wenatchee.

Pit stops

State Fair Raceway, the former Yakima Meadows horse racing track, opens to dirt-track racing Friday night and will host the World of Outlaws on Aug. 22… . Republic’s Eagle Track will host the last of its Sunday dates with the noon running of the annual Prospector’s Day race… . Northwest Water Competition will hold a safety inspection this Saturday. Info: Roy Mackey (509) 255-6237… . The Inland Northwest Personal Water Craft Association will run another of its races this Sunday at Sprague Lake. Info: Jon Gallagher at 509-892-0320.

Streaks ‘n stats

Dave Holmes ended Scott Benner’s two-race winning streak in the Spokane Pro Gas Association last Saturday at Spokane Raceway Park. Mark Resen (Mod Gas) and Dave Oien (Top Comp), became first-time winners in other SPGA classes… . Todd Hegel snapped Deb Brown’s two race win streak in SRP’s Hobby Stock class, while Pat Norris won for a second straight week in Hobby Compacts… . Chattaroy’s Pete Munk, a 44-year racing veteran, was the appropriate winner in the Oldtime Racer class Saturday at Stateline, scoring the sweep by setting fast time plus winning the trophy dash and heat race… . Joe Kopp picked up another win in the AMA Hot Shoe 600 cc division last Saturday in Dayton, Ohio, and now leads Chris Carr by 40 points in the standings. Kopp returns to AMA Grand National competition Saturday at Topeka, Kan… . A pair of Lewiston drivers, Bob Winker and Kevin McKeehan, are separated by three points as the Northwest Late Model 4s travel to Ronan, Mont., for their fourth race of the season Saturday… . Second-year driver Ken Kaltschmidt of Marion, Mont., claimed the Pepsi 100 at Evergreen Speedway on the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring, after race officials placed apparent winner Ron Eaton last in the finishing order. Eaton’s car was found to have nonconforming fuel.