Hydros Head For Moses Lake

Mountains, rivers, fresh air.

These are just a few of the things that draw visitors to the Northwest.

For the outboard hydroplane racers heading to Moses Lake for this weekend’s American Outboard Federation/Muscular Dystrophy Association Short Course Nationals at Cascade Park, there is one other plus.

No alligators.

The last time that many of the drivers trekking across the country hit the water to compete for national points, they “were mingling with alligators,” according to race promoter Roy Mackey.

The race is being promoted by the Spokane-based AOF affiliate Northwest Water Competition and will feature 15 classes of boats, ranging from tunnel boats to 110 mile-per-hour outboards.

“When we first began to work on this race we were going to be happy with 60 or 70 boats,” Mackey said.

Through a lot of word-of-mouth promotion, “now it looks like we have 100 boats sitting on the beach,” Mackey said.

Those include 1999 National Champions Brian Payn, Center Point, Iowa, Kevin McAfee St Louis, Mo., Bob Montoya from Lake Placid, Fla., plus Brent Harnack of Spokane and young Mich McKinnon out of Anacortes, Wash..

Racing takes place Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday is a test day. Admission is free.

Tipps, DeBoodt battle

You can’t get any closer than Rob Tipps and Mark DeBoodt in the Northwest Mini-Trucks.

With 704 points apiece, the drivers are tied for the lead going into the season’s final race Saturday at Stateline Speedway.

DeBoodt earned his share of the lead on the strength of six wins, while Tipps, with two victories, has to count consistency as his trump card.

Three other championships will also be decided, but neither the Northwest Modifieds, Hobby Cars nor Sportsmen have much mystery surrounding who will reign atop the standings.

With a runner-up last Saturday, Josh Roberts has clinched the mods title. Bill Currier long ago locked up the Hobby Stock championship, with Ron Collison and Jim Babcock fighting over second. Pat Lewis looks to become the Sportsmen champion.

In addition to the season-ending points races, a Fever 4 Open Comp is also scheduled. Time trials are at 6 p.m.

Republic to decide champs

Eagle Track at Republic will run its final race of the season on Saturday, when the lead in two of three classes could change.

Chris Anderson takes a 35-point lead over Ron Konkin into the Street Stock finale on the half-mile dirt oval, while Pat Morin leads Mike Olmstead 364-309. Should the leaders falter, there are enough points available for a change at the top.

The Fever Four class is the only division that can’t change as Ziggy Grenert holds a 110-point lead over Jim and Roy Barisoff.

Time trials begin at 12:30 Saturday. Info.: (509) 775-3436 or (509) 775-3508

Pit stops

West Plains Speedway will again present Outlaw Go-Karts on Friday at 5:30… . Spokane Raceway Park will have stock car racing Saturday featuring Fever 4, Hobby Car, Hobby Stock and Northwest Formula Indys. Bracket drag racing and International Import Drags are also on Saturday’s schedule, with racing for both at 7 p.m. Sunday at SRP is the high school drag championships with double points. Time trials begin at 10:30 a.m… . The Spokane Motorsports Complex will feature flat-track motorcycles (TT 5:30) at West Plains Speedway and a Day Series Motocross race Saturday (Gates open 7 a.m.)… . The Spokane Kart Racing Association will host a points race on Sunday at the Motorsports Complex with time trials at noon… . The final race of the NHRA Division Six drag racing series takes place this weekend at Southern Oregon Dragway in Medford.

Streaks,stats

Dan Bacon (Street Stocks) and Bill Henninger Jr. (Hobby Stocks) each won their first race of the season last Saturday at Stateline… . The totals are in and Veradale’s Todd Witham edged Brad Rhoads of Kennewick (1003-996) for the 2000 Interstate Superstock Series championship… . With his win Saturday, Jesse Saxby has now appeared in the final round of the Street Eliminator bracket at SRP in eight of the last 10 weeks…. Sean Ruble ran his SRP Hobby Compact streak to two on Saturday. … SRP Hobby Stock driver Deb Brown won for the first time in that class on Saturday… . Just nine points separate the top three contenders for the 2000 Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series championship heading into the final race Saturday at Yakima Speedway.