Schultz packs Classic power
As a former winner of Yakima Speedway’s Fall Classic, Spokane’s Rick Schultz has a good idea about what it takes to be successful in the West Coast’s biggest paying late-model race.
“We’re going loaded for bear,” said Schultz, referring to the huge 650-horsepower motor he’ll have under the hood as he chases after a Sunday winner’s share purse that can top $20,000 and is part of more than $85,000 up for grabs in four different classes.
Schultz is taking the car he drove to three victories in the NAPA Late Model Series, including the 200-lap Idaho 200, a race half as long as he’ll run at Yakima.
The “open-comp” nature of the Fall Classic allows many modifications. Schultz will have an additional 150 horsepower from his Earl Wham-built engine.
“It’s quite a monster,” Schultz said. “We’ll have a whole different look. We get to cheat up and add a 10 spoiler.”
The Classic, in its 13th year, is a three-day event that features racing for Hobby, Stocks, Street Stocks, Superstocks and the open-comp Super Late-Models.
Racing starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday and resumes at 1 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The grand finale on Sunday afternoon will be a 200-lap main event for the Super Late Models.
Sunday’s race will have a different format from previous years. There will by no mid-race break and the event will feature a hot-pit lane featuring live pit-stops that are seen in Nextel Cup races.
Surviving is half the battle in the 100-mile run on the half-mile oval, Schultz said.
“There are no breaks,” he said, except for brief dives into the pits for tires that will barely go 100 laps.
Schultz has gone to the chalkboard with his crew as they devise strategy for pit stops, which are a new experience for most teams in the Classic.
“We have some (pit crew) guys who have been around for a while,” Schultz said. “There are so many variables.”
Spokane’s Kevin Richards and Darren Rupinski of Hayden, Idaho, are also scheduled to run in Yakima.
Ron Turner was going to drive a second Don Williams car, but it was totaled last week in Spokane Raceway Park’s late-model finale with Richards at the wheel.
Advance tickets are available at the speedway office, (509) 248-0647.
Carr drives to another AMA title
Chris Carr wrapped up his sixth AMA Grand National Championship last Friday by simply qualifying for the Du Quoin (Ill.) Short Track.
Carr, of Fleetwood, Pa., had built up a large enough lead in the series standings over Mica’s Joe Kopp that he needed only to qualify for the short track portion of the Du Quoin doubleheader finale to clinch his fourth consecutive title.
With the title in hand, Carr finished 15th in last Saturday’s short track race. He closed out the season with a third-place finish in the mile event Sunday to finish with a 298-260 point margin over Kopp.
Pit stops
The season officially comes to a close at Spokane Raceway Park with championship races on the oval track. The drag strip will be busy with the annual King-of-the-Hill race on Sunday. Gates open at 10 a.m. with racing at 1:30 p.m. … The Spokane Kart Racing Association concludes its season with races Saturday and Sunday at the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights. Practice runs from 8 to 11 a.m. Info: Diane Thompson 924-6755 (days) /928-0915 (eves.) or Greg Ressa 325-2646. … Autosports Northwest’s final two events of the season, the PPG Certified Championship Autocross Series, will be at SRP on Oct. 9 and 10. Registration at 8 a.m. Info: Gary Klawitter 926 8157 or www.autosportsnorthwest.org. … Stateline Speedway’s awards banquet is set for Nov. 6 at the Red Lion Templin’s in Post Falls. The Winged Sprints and Inland Northwest Superstocks will also be part of the festivities. Info: (208) 773-5019 or www.raceidaho.com.
Streaks and stats
Kurt and Dan Meyers finished first and second, respectively, in the 102 Hydro Class at last weekend’s N.W. Water Competition regatta at Moses Lake. Mike Mackey won the 25 Mod class. In the Runabout class, Dan Meyers and Casey Russel tied for first. Dennis Keller won in SE Hydro, the fast outboard class. Todd Bohnet and Brent Harnack tied atop the Vintage Hydroplane field with the deadlock broken by Harnack’s faster speed. … Jake Bray won the season’s final Demolition Derby at Stateline Speedway last Saturday.