NW Modifieds hope to finally resume racing
Just in case they’ve forgotten the basics, it’s put your foot on the gas and turn left.
Those instructions, offered from the “peanut gallery” are for the drivers in the Northwest Modified Series who, by Saturday, will have been idle due to weather for almost a month.
Both their May races, the 8th at Stateline and last Saturday in Kalispell, were rained out.The rain has been frustrating for a variety of reasons, most of all not racing. But there’s also the expense of traveling to a race only to find it rained out.
“We went all the way over there (to Kalispell) and the weather was a little iffy,” said Vickie Shaffer, who’s husband Steve is among the point leaders. “We waited until 2:30 and they called the race. It was probably going to rain on us about trophy dashes or main but still the travel over then back,” Shaffer added.
Lack of racing keeps Richard Mucciaccio (185 points) in a slim lead over Greg Ochs (184). Dave Weaver (179), Steve Shaffer (177) and Mark Weaver (174) round out the top-5 in the standings.
Stateline has also announced the addition of another date for the NAPA Late Model Series on August 28th.The Northwest Compact Trucks, themselves victimized by the weather in their last race, and Street Stocks also run Saturday in a program that begins with time trials at 6 p.m.
Anderson takes California flat-track event
This past weekend in Lodi, Calif., 8-year-old Wyatt Anderson of Colbert won two of three events to win his 50 cc class at a flat-track motorcycle racing event.
Anderson won the Number One plate by racing on a TT, Short Track and Large Track and is now scheduled to go back east to compete for national honors later this summer.
Slow start turns out well for Allen
Former Spokane Raceway Park Fever Four champ Gary Allen has switched classes and started his Outlaw Compact season on the right foot last Saturday night at Stateline Speedway.
It took a while for Allen to get used to the smaller quarter-mile layout. “This is the first time I have ever been on a quarter-mile track and the first time racing at Stateline,” Allen reported.
After qualifying second quick, Allen was third out of four cars in the trophy dash and second to last in the eight-car heat. “I finally figured out the quarter-mile and won the main event. So, all was not lost,” Allen said.
Next up for Allen is a July race at Ephrata.
Soldier in Iraq collecting racing decals
Dexter H. McMichael, currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom has contacted race tracks across the U.S. in hopes of adding to his collection of racing decals.
McMichael recently wrote Stateline Speedway which passed his e-mail request on to others.
If you have a contribution to McMichael’s collection you can send it to: Dexter H. McMichael, Operation IRAQI Freedom (OIF I I), HHD, 759th Military Police BN APO, AE 09390
Pit stops
The 12th Annual All-Star Chevy Show and the return of the Spokane Pro Gas Association highlight Spokane Raceway Park’s first race in June. And after a rainout in their last race, the N.W. Late Models return to the oval track on Saturday. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7… . Motorcycle racing promoter Todd Somers will present a short-track motorcycle event in conjunction with the upcoming BMW Motorcycle Show at the Fairgrounds in July. Somers’ event will take place at the newly opened outdoor arena on Friday, July 16th. Info: 509-921-6432 or IEDTP@aol.com… . The Spokane Kart Racing Association will run its fourth points race of the season Sunday at the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights. Practice begins at 8 a.m. Info: Diane Thompson (509) 924-6755 (days) / (509) 928-0915 (eves.) or Greg Ressa (509) 325-2646… . The fourth race of Sunset Speedway’s point series will be Saturday at the Motorsports Complex. Gates open at 4 with racing at 7. Info: Frank Schiene Jr (509-994-5172).
Streaks & Stats
Joe Kopp picked up a third place finish in last Saturday’s TT and scored a fifth in the rain-delayed race at the Springfield (Ill.) Mile on Monday. Kopp moved into second place in national points, trailing leader Chris Carr 90-67… . Former Spokane Chiefs hockey player Jeff Fenton (6th) and Dave Garber (9th) were the top finishers in last Saturday’s Late Model Challenge race at Mission Valley Speedway in Polson, Mont. Jay Sauls of Puyallup won the 100-lap main… . Mark Jones kept his Stateline Speedway Winged Modified main event record unblemished by scoring the victory last Saturday. Also at Stateline, Rob Ballard scored his second consecutive Hobby Stock main event win… . 2003 series champion Jeff Jefferson found his way to victory lane for the first time in 2004 at the Frank¹s Chevrolet 125 at Yakima Speedway in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series. Spokane’s Matt Hall started 21st and finished 18th.