Schultz passes racing knowledge to son on kart tour

Rick Schultz, the seemingly perpetual student of stock car racing, now takes on a new role.

The pupil becomes the professor.

So, instead of being the driver, he’ll be trying to drive home the points he’s learned to young son Colton – who whets his appetite for speed this year in go-kart racing.

Just like many other students, for Schultz and his son this time of year is test time.

A longtime local late model stock car racing veteran whose career dates back to the 1970s, Schultz will get a chance to see how well his instruction has worked this weekend. That’s when kart racers from across the Northwest flock to the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights for the International Karting Federation Region 6 Gold Cup.

Schultz likes the opportunity to help his son by passing along the experience gained in four decades of racing.

“We downsized a bit this year,” said Rick Schultz.

The late model “became labor intensive,” and his son turned the perfect age to maybe begin following in dad’s footsteps.

“It’s a good time and a good group,” Schultz said.

It’s a little lower-key environment than late models. Instead of racers getting excited, it’s the parents.

“It’s still competition. It’s still racing,” Schultz said.

Like his dad, Rick says 10-year-old Colton has already had his share of success on the track, racing in the Junior One class. Colton Schultz hopes that racing more on his home track at the Spokane Motorsports Complex will pay dividends during this weekend’s Gold Cup. Schultz’s top competitor, Jake Bisset, has raced mostly out of town this year.

The Gold Cup stop in Spokane is one of about a dozen such races that take place across the Northwest. It draws kart racers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and Alberta. About 150 entries will race in a variety of classes.

Kids can learn to drive at age 5 in the kid kart class. Competitive racing starts at age 8, with some drivers going into their 70s. Karting has been a great stepping stone to higher levels of racing.

Among the many notable names who have taken that path are Indy 500 runner-up Marco Andretti and NASCAR’s Kasey Kahne. Local products of kart racing include late model driver Shelby Thompson and Tony Polione in Northwest Modifieds.

Racing begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free for spectators outside the pit area. If you want to get a closer look at all the karts and learn more about the sport, there is a $10 pit pass for all weekend.

SRP back on track

Closed last week following a court decision that removed Orville Moe as the track’s general manager, Spokane Raceway Park will resume operations on the drag strip this weekend according to J.R. Tice, appointed as the track’s new manager.

“We plan to open the drag strip for Friday Night Street Racing and we will also have regular bracket drags Saturday,” he said.

As for the oval track, because of declining numbers of participants, that portion of the racing complex in Airway Heights will remain closed for now.

“We hope to announce plans for the stock car track soon,” Tice said.

Fever at Stateline

Stateline Speedway’s Wednesday Night Fever program becomes Friday Night Fever this week only.

The track is undergoing some work to remedy issues with paving work that was done in 2004 and moves this popular event to Friday for this week only. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.

Also at Stateline Saturday is the fourth race for the Inland Northwest Superstocks. Early Stocks and Street Stocks complete the program that begins with time trials at 6 p.m.

Pit stops

Eagle Track in Republic hosts its annual Prospector’s Day race on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. Competition includes Modifieds, Street Stocks and Fever Fours. •Flatbottom boats, along with Nostalgic Inboards and jet skis will be competing Saturday and Sunday at Lake Sammamish in the Seattle area in the annual Tastin’ and Racin’ weekend.

Streaks and stats

Local track knowledge paid off for Newman Lake’s Kevin Richards at the Inland Northwest Consultants/Comcast Late Model Challenge Series 100 at Stateline Speedway Saturday. Defending LMCS champ Mike Zamora of Kennewick finished second while another local favorite, Shelby Thompson of Spokane, finished third. It was his third top-five finish in as many LMCS events. Richards’ Chevy passed race leader Zamora on lap 22 and he went on to his first LMCS victory. … Roadrunner driver Chuck Davidson takes a two-race winning streak into this week’s special edition of Stateline’s “Friday Night Fever.” … Deer Park’s Todd Hoerner (Top Comp) came away the only local winner at last week’s NHRA Lucas Oil Div 6 Race in Mission, British Columbia.