Late Model title chase down to 3

The NAPA Late Model racing series was born about eight months ago and appears to have skipped past crawling stage.

The series, which has successfully served to unite a fragmented late-model racing community, concludes its inaugural season Saturday at Stateline Speedway with a championship chase that will include three drivers with a shot at the title.

Because of a special Sept. 11 tribute that includes a post-race fireworks show, time trials will begin at 4:30 instead of the usual 6 p.m. start. The visiting INEX Legends, Bandaleros, plus local Hobby Car and Street Stock classes round out the program.

Officially known as the Inland Northwest Late Model Series, the group and season has been a pleasant success, according to association president Bruce Garber.

“Our goal was to get the various classes together into one solid group,” Garber said.

To that end, that was accomplished when the recent Idaho 200 attracted 47 cars – an all-time local record according to Garber – while another race in June drew 38 entries.

Garber expects about 22 cars for Saturday’s finale, which has Dan Garber (776 points) clinging to a 17-point lead over John Gamble and a 33-point margin over Kevin Richards, all of whom have a shot at the championship.

Garber added that, “we’ve had good car counts and good racing,” and “we’ve made some good headway.”

Ochs repeats as champion

Greg Ochs made it two straight Northwest Modified Series championships, winning the battle over fellow Colville driver Dave Weaver by 129 points. Spokane’s Steve Hudson finished third, 171 points out of the lead.

Zimmer clinches crown

Thirteen-year-old Go-Kart racer Andrew Zimmer of Spokane wrapped up the season IKF Gold Cups and SKUSA Shifter Kart Series last weekend.

Zimmer won his 80cc Shifter race and his Junior Yamaha Sportsman Classes, in Boise on Saturday. Then, by placing fifth at Pats Acres, in Canby, Oregon, on Sunday Zimmerman finished third in the SKUSA shifter kart series.

Autocross At SCC

The sixth event of the Autosports Northwest PPG Certified Championship Autocross series will be Sunday at Spokane Community College. Registration opens at 8 a.m.

The Autocrosses are averaging well more than 100 cars at each event. The final event of the season – Octocross, at Spokane Raceway Park, Oct. 9-10 – is Autosports Northwest’s largest activity of the season.

Info: Gary Klawitter at (509) 926-8157 or www.autosportsnorthwest.org….

Ascol dies in Illinois

Dick Ascol , former racer and longtime sponsor and backer of many local riders, died last Monday in Springfield, Ill. He was 67.

Ascol, along with wife Pat, owned Dick’s Suzuki in the Spokane Valley for more than 30 years and sponsored many area riders over the years.

Ascol and his wife were traveling in their motorhome and following Joe Kopp on the AMA race circuit this summer. He reportedly became gravely ill while at the Springfield Mile doubleheader. Ascol was rushed Friday night to intensive care where he died early Monday.

Funeral services are planned for 1 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.

Pit stops

The next-to-last day of stock car racing at Republic’s Eagle Track takes place Saturday beginning with time trials at noon. Info: 509-775-3680. … Sportsman Superstocks headline this week’s program on Spokane Raceway Park’s oval while the Spokane Pro Gas Association, International Imports and bracket cars compete on the drag strip. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7. … Flat track motorcycle fans can catch the pre-recorded broadcast of Joe Kopp’s recent AMA Progressive Insurance Grand National Championship win at Rapid City’s Black Hills Speedway on Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. on the SPEED Channel. … In live series racing, Kopp dropped further off the pace in his attempt to overtake Chris Carr for the 2004 championship in a pair of races at Springfield, Ill. Kopp finished 10th in a Saturday short track event and seventh in Sunday’s race on the mile oval. Carr, meanwhile, won on Sunday and was second Saturday to pull 40 points ahead of Kopp with four events remaining. … The Stateline Outboard Racing Association concludes another season of hydroplane racing with a regatta at Waitts Lake on Saturday and Sunday.