Modifieds will try beat weather to finish for a change

Colville’s Greg Ochs will take the points lead and a victory in his last race into Saturday’s Northwest Modified Series event at Stateline Speedway.

Trying to add another win to his season total will not be the only “streak” on the line. The Modifieds try to actually run back-to-back races for the first time this season.

Saturday’s race was to have been the seventh of the season, however, rain knocked out three straight races in a month’s time from May 8 to June 5.

That unheard of string of postponements ended last Saturday and Sunday at Ronan, Mont., where Ochs won a race that was shortened from 50 to 46 laps by, yes, RAIN! The defending series champion took over the lead at lap 30 and finished ahead of Jeff Braton and Lonnie Stocker in the 15-car field.

With the win, his second of the year, Ochs (312 points) leads Post Falls’ Shaffer (288) and Colville’s Dave Weaver (282).

Joining the Modifieds in a busy night of racing are the Foreign Stock Car Auto Racers, a touring group from the Puget Sound, as well as Hobby Stocks and Street Stocks, which compete in their Mid-Season Championships. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.

Shaffer a full-service team

Once they finish their racing commitment with the Northwest Modifieds Saturday, Shaffer Racing goes into the service station business on Sunday, for a day.

“We are sponsored by Clark Oil in Coeur d¹Alene,” explained team spokesperson Vickie Shaffer. The company has two locations and Shaffer Racing personnel will be on hand Sunday in Post Falls to turn back the clock to a time before service bays were replaced by soda pop, candy and coffee.

“We will fill the tanks, check tire pressures, clean windshields and check oil if necessary,” Vickie Shaffer said. They’ll do the same Aug. 14 at the Athol store.

Karts going for gold in Spokane

Top go-kart racers from across the Pacific Northwest will compete this weekend in the Region Six Gold Cup at the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights.

The event is the fourth race for the International Kart Racing Federation and will attract multi-time national champion Burt Gasaway and Nick Hartt, a national champ from Priest River.

There is an admission charge at the Motorsports Complex. However, admission is free to the spectator-viewing area of the Spokane Kart Racing Association’s five-eighths-mile road course.

Time trials begin both Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. To reach the track, follow Hayford Road north to the casino and turn left on Sprague. Follow the signs. Info: Greg Ressa (509) 325-2646 or Bob Thompson (509) 924-6755.

Seattle next for drag racers

Local drag racers barely had time to get back home from last weekend’s NHRA Division Six race in Woodburn, Ore., before they were back on the road to this week’s fifth race at Pacific International Raceway near Kent.

For most – aside from Todd Hoerner that is – it’s back the drawing board as they try to find the combinations that will get them into the winner’s circle. Deer Park’s Hoerner was runner-up in Top Comp to Mike Macbrair of Napa, Calif. when he red-lighted in the final round.

Defending Super Street points champ Tom Manfred went out in the first round as did Mark Resen. Ken Nelson of Hayden, Idaho, went to the fourth round in Super Gas while Don Juel went to the third round. Juel’s daughter, Jessica, got her dragster into the third round of Super Comp. Mike Cofini’s Alcohol Dragster failed to qualify.

Boat racers head for Banks Lake

Another group of busy people are the drivers involved in Northwest Water Competition hydroplane racing. They will be in action for the second consecutive weekend Saturday and Sunday at the Racer’s Reunion at Sunbanks Resort on Banks Lake. Of special interest to nostalgia buffs will be Todd Bohnet’s Miss Miami 266 vintage hydroplane. Outboard and inboard hydros will join flatbottom race boats for racing that starts at 11 a.m. each day.

Pit stops

It’s back-to-back weekend’s of racing at Northport International Raceway when that track features its Mid-Season Championships on Sunday afternoon. Time trials begin at 1 p.m. Info: Mark Meldrum (509) 732-1168. … Kevin Richards goes for his second straight Northwest Late Model Superstock victory this Saturday at Spokane Raceway Park. Bracket drags and imports are on the drag strip. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7 on both tracks. … The Stateline Outboard Racing Association will return to Elk River, Idaho, for the second time this season with racing set for Saturday and Sunday. … Dirt track go-karts return to Sunset Speedway at the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights on Saturday. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.

Streaks and stats

Robert Ballard won his third straight Hobby Stock main event last Saturday at Stateline Speedway. … With his 50th career victory last Saturday, Garrett Evans added to his lead the points in the NASCAR Northwest Series. Spokane’s Matt Hall was 18th in the RentQuest/Affordable Graphics Chevrolet.