Kopp aims to be king at Castle Rock

Pardon Joe Kopp if he just wasn’t on his game at the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship race last Saturday at Farley, Iowa.

His mind was admittedly elsewhere.

Not only was Kopp about to head home to Mica, Wash., for the first time in three months, but he was also going to do something he hasn’t done in more than 10 years: race in a Grand National event in his home state.

“I’m very excited to have a national in front of the hometown, home-state crowd,” Kopp said of the doubleheader race that takes place this weekend at Castle Rock Speedway, just north of Portland.

Not only is Castle Rock his “home track” but the quarter-mile tri-oval was the first place Kopp had a podium finish, a second place back in 1995 when the series last visited Washington.

“It’s been quite a while and they’re finally back,” Kopp said.

Putting on a Grand National is no small undertaking. Attempts were made to run one in Spokane at the old Playfair Race Course a few years ago.

“It costs right around $70,000 to put on an event,” Kopp said. “That’s a pretty good chunk of change.”

Beaverton Honda, Kopp’s sponsor, is backing the race.

Castle Rock holds about 6,800 and there are still tickets available.

Kopp is one favorite this weekend, but there are other riders who will have their share of the crowd cheering for them.

“It’s kind of a home-track advantage for some of us who have ridden there before,” Kopp said. “If you’re racing before your home crowd, it boosts you. It gives that extra push.”

Castle Rock will be among the final stops on the Singles bike series and features a time trial Saturday and a Short Track race Sunday.

The time trial incorporates a dog leg into the track. Singles bikes feature a 450cc engine. Kopp rides a Honda in this class.

With some history and a home-track advantage, Kopp hopes a good run at Castle Rock will not only solidify his grip on the points lead in the class, but also help turn around his season on the Harley-based Twins.

“The last couple of weeks have been frustrating,” Kopp said. “And it got more frustrating the other night when I was 11th again. I thought I was getting into the thick of the points and then I didn’t put in good performances.”

“I think last weekend one of the main deals was I haven’t been back (home) since May 13. I was kind of homesick and I knew a couple of hours after the race we’re heading to Washington.”

There are four Singles races left – the two at Castle Rock plus Peoria, Ill., next week and Springfield, Ill., the traditional Labor Day event.

Omlin sets world record

It’s probably a good bet that there are few, if any, world records that belonged to Quincy, Wash.

If so, that’s no longer the case. Semi-retired peppermint farmer and part-time drag racer Gary Omlin produced a milestone in drag racing last Saturday night at Spokane Raceway Park when he became the first person to record a sub-5-second run on an entirely asphalt drag strip.

Of course, 4-second passes have been around for some time, but until Omlin’s 4.986-second, 284.67 mph run ., all had been done on tracks that feature a concrete launch pad at the starting line. Many 4-second passes are done at lower elevations, not the 2,200 feet at which SRP sits.

“We have notched our place in drag racing history,” Omlin said. “Everybody who does this (racing) knows it.”

The run was memorable for obvious reasons, but it also sticks in Omlin’s mind for what happened literally in the blink of an eye near the finish line.

“My visor popped up at 280 miles per hour,” Omlin said, nearly blinding him for a moment with the rush of wind.

“Bringin’ her back in one piece was maybe more of an accomplishment,” Omlin said. “I’m OK. Probably the only reason I came through the thing. I’ve done it before.”Omlin drove a former Craig Smith car that is now owned by Dean Alexander. He said the record was a mix of luck and skill.

“There’s a certain amount of black art involved,” he said. “The stars must align correctly and you must do your math as well.”

Pit stops

Northport International Raceway will race Saturday with times adjusted to later in the day (time trial 4 p.m., racing 5) to help fans and racers avoid the heat. Info: www.northportinternationalraceway.com. … Life returns to a little slower pace at Spokane Raceway Park following last weekend’s Nitro Extravaganza with a program of high school drags and Friday Night Street Racing. The bracket drags are back Saturday. No word on whether the oval will open Saturday. Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 on Saturday. … Stateline Speedway entertains the Northwest Outlaw Street Stocks, Winged Sprints and Early Stocks on Saturday. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.

Streak and stats

Colville’s Mark Weaver won last Saturday’s Northwest Modified Series race at Kalispell Raceway Park. It was his first win of the season. The Modifieds race next on Aug. 26 at Spokane Raceway Park.