Northwest Modified appears wide open
The cars have not fired up the motors, yet there’s one thing for sure in this year’s Northwest Modified Series season: A new champion will be crowned at season’s end.
Two-time defending champ Greg Ochs of Colville has turned over driving chores to son Chris for 2005. The younger Ochs, who for the past three years has raced dirt track cars in Northport, will get his first taste of driving a modified on asphalt as the open wheel cars run their first race Saturday night at Stateline Speedway.
Time trials begin at 6 p.m. for the race program that includes Street Stocks and Hobby Cars. Once again, there’s a deal for fans attending the races. They will receive a $2 discount on admission by bringing a new or gently used book that will be donated to charity.
“We’re looking for a good season,” said series president Leroy Keele of Spokane. “We have four brand new cars.”
Series officials expect fields to be strong once again with 16-18 cars at each race.
With Ochs leaving the driver’s seat, that leaves the top spot wide open. Dave Weaver, second in points last year will seek his first series title. One of the hot newcomers has been Steve Hudson, the 2003 series top rookie and winner of last year’s Gary Miller Memorial. He was third in points last year.
A number of new faces will be in the field this season. Blaine Sneva returns to the series after a couple of years away. Tim Sawyer and Rick Gimineo have both switched from late-models to modifieds. Also, former champ Jeff Bird might be making a comeback in the series.
Saturday’s opener will be the first six races at Stateline in 2005.
Rookie impresses
“Rookie of the Year” contender Tony Berry lived up to preseason expectations by winning the season opening race in the Inland Northwest Sprint Cars last Saturday at Stateline Speedway. The win for Berry, a junior at Gonzaga University, came in just his first race in a sprint car.
Berry jumped out to the lead in the No. 53, HEI Motorsports, Cyberwize.com Gambler and never looked back.
The 11-race series will make two stops at the Umatilla, Ore., track with the remaining nine races at Stateline Speedway. The next race for the INSC group will be at Stateline Speedway on May 14.
Apple Cup
Late Model racers from all across the northwest will be meeting in Yakima this weekend for the running of the 39th Annual Apple Cup, the oldest continuing stock car event in the region.
Sunday’s 200-lap race, which starts at 1 p.m., pays the winner $5,000. Wenatchee’s Shane Mitchell is the defending champion. A Spokane driver has never won the race.
Qualifying takes place on Saturday night with twin 25-lap heat races that will determine all but the top two spots in the starting field.
Pit stops
Spokane Raceway Park will continue Sunday afternoon racing this weekend. The International Imports will run race No. 3 in their drag racing series, while the NW Late Models stage their season opener. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. with racing on both tracks set for 1:30 p.m. … NHRA Northwest Division Director Mike Rice reported that nearly 40 cars traveled to his chassis inspection session held last Saturday in Spokane. Only a handful of those in attendance failed the inspection. … Doug McMillan won the season’s first race for the Early Stocks last Saturday at Stateline Raceway Park. Gary Domme was the Fever Four victor, while Rob Ballard collected the Hobby Stock win. … Jon Seehorn finished second out of 400 riders in last weekend’s Desert 100 at Odessa, Wash.