Modified season included wax, washes
Now the truth comes out.
For a span of more than a month this spring and summer, every time the Northwest Modifieds visited a racetrack, what came with them was rain, resulting in an unprecedented five consecutive rainouts.
What was thought to have been just a strange quirk of Mother Nature appears to have plausible reason behind it. Seems series President Leroy Keele was constantly waxing the race car he owns and Steve Hudson drives.
“We had eight coats of wax on the car before we were able to race it,” Keele said. “I have never seen so many rainouts, especially consecutive,” said Keele who has been affiliated with the series for some 20 years.
The season has been “real bizarre … nothing seems to have gone right,” according to Keele.
What was to have been the season championship race will take place Saturday at Stateline Speedway as the mods team with Street Stocks and Hobby Cars. Time trials are at 6 p.m., racing at 7.
The schedule-makers are still moving the pieces of the puzzle trying to make up for some lost opportunities. So now the regular season ends next week at Ronan, Mont., in a makeup of one of those June races.
In the last race, the Gary Miller Memorial two weeks ago, Blaine Sneva had a solid performance that has allowed him to remain within striking distance – 41 points – back of Frankie Volz Jr..
Stateline will shift from racing to a special event on Sunday called a “Salute to America’s Heroes.” The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a $5 donation asked for admission.
Proceeds will go to Coeur d’Alene police officer Mike Kralicek, who is recovering from being shot last year. There will be live music and a fireworks show, among other activities.
Republic season wraps up
The last of the region’s dirt tracks will conclude its season Saturday with the running of the Rick Martin Memorial at Republic’s Eagle Track. The race will feature an open competition format. Time trials begin at 12:30 p.m.
Info: Buck Strauch at (509) 775-3508 or cjstrauch@hotmail.com
Pit stops
The Extreme Motocross track at the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights will present a two-day motocross event with the first two races of their Fall Series. Gates open at 1 p.m. with racing at 6:30. Info: extmotocross.com or (509) 218-2014.
•The Spokane Kart Racing Association runs back-to-back races, its seventh and eighth points races of the season Saturday and Sunday at its track at the Spokane Motorsports Complex. Info: Bob Thompson 924-6755 (days) or 928-0915 (days).
•Spokane Raceway Park has the ninth race for the Northwest Late Model Superstock Series scheduled for Saturday on the half-mile oval while regular bracket cars run on the drag strip. Gates open at 3 p.m.
•Sunset Speedway at the Motorsports Complex will run a points race 10 in a series on Saturday. Practice is at 5 p.m. Info: Jason at (509) 994-4193 or Todd at (509) 993-9010.
•Stateline Speedway’s finale is the Sept. 17 Dr Pepper/7UP Championship.