Stateline, SRP speed into action
Area ski resorts are considering reopening and racing season is beginning, all on the same weekend. Maybe the calendar makers have their dates mixed up.
That’s the picture as the 2005 local motorsports season tries again for its official first unfurling of the green flag. Both Stateline Speedway and Spokane Raceway Park get their respective motors running for another year.
Stateline attempted to get the jump on things last Sunday with their annual Racer’s Jamboree, but it fell victim to recent long-overdue rains. They’ll try it again with a rerun of this annual run-whatcha-brung tune-up event at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The schedule change forces the original classes off the program, but promoter Joe Dollefeld said Street Stock and Late Model 4 groups will be added later in the year to make up for it.
SRP has the drag strip and oval track in operation and offers double points on both. Gates open at 10:30.
Looking ahead in 2005 here are some of the featured events at each track:
SRP schedule highlights
The track’s major event is the 42nd running of the AHRA World Finals, Aug. 5-7. Leading up to that is the 30th annual Lilac Funny Car Championships May 21, and the 23rd edition of the Fox Hunt and Jet Car Show on July 2.
The Spokane Pro Gas Association will run five races on April 17, June 25, July 16, Aug. 27 and Sept. 17. The High School Drag Racing Series has six dates, many in conjunction with Friday night street racing that takes place almost every Friday except World Finals weekend.
The half-mile oval has local classes running every weekend and will add in its Northwest Late Models for 10 dates beginning April 17 and concluding Sept. 24.
The superstocks will team with the Northwest Modifieds on July 9. A new event with ARCA Trucks is scheduled for June 11.
SRP’s road course has three events of the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (May 27-29, July 23-24 and Sept. 3-4). An International Karting Federation race is set for July 26-27.
A complete schedule and other information can be found at: www.spokaneracewaypark.com.
Stateline schedule highlights
Stateline’s quarter-mile oval hosts 59 race dates and features the fifth annual Idaho 200 late-model superstock event Aug. 5-7. The Idaho 200 is one of 10 races that will be run at the track by the second-year series.
The Northwest Modifieds call Stateline their home track and will have seven race dates, including the sixth annual Gary Miller Memorial, this year a two-day race Aug. 27-28. They open on April 16.
The Northwest Late Model 4s have six races, the next being April 23. The touring Washington Midget Racing Association brings cars here on May 28 and Aug. 13.
Stateline’s popular Wednesday Night Fever series runs weekly beginning next week and offers entry-level racing for Fever 4 Hobby’s, Bump to Pass and Road Runners.
Fair warning: Get tickets early for the July 3 Independence Day Demo Derby.
Stateline’s full schedule and other information is available online at: www.raceidaho.com
Northwest Series loses opener
Rain postponed the Big O Tires 125 scheduled for last Saturday at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., the season-opening event for the NASCAR AutoZone Northwest Series.
A new date has not yet been announced. Last year’s opener was postponed by rain twice. The next scheduled date for the Northwest Series is May 28 at Yakima Speedway.
Pit stops
The motocross track at the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights operated by Extreme Motorsports will host a 4-Stroke National event on April 24. Info: www.extmotorsports.com or 218-2014 … Sunset Speedway at the Spokane ORV Park in Airway Heights has announced its schedule, presented by Digatron. The fifth-mile clay oval has a 12-race season that will feature outlaw karts. The track, located just west of Northern Quest Casino and Spokane Raceway Park, opens with its first club race on April 23. Info: Jason Stoddard, 994-4193 or Todd Havens, 993-9010.