Makeover time for NW Modifieds
Call it a middle-age makeover for the Northwest Modifieds.
As the open-wheel series moves through the early portion of its 42nd season, the schedule offers a decidedly different look. Racing has a more pronounced regional feel than in past years.
The 2006 schedule offers teams a good mix of tracks and is mindful of both rising gas prices and racers’ needs to have time to do other things on weekends.
The Mods complete an unusually busy week Saturday with a second race in just six days, this time at Stateline Speedway. Teaming up on the program will be the rain-delayed debut of the I-Car Limited Late Models as well as Hobby Cars. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.
The modifieds ran a make-up race of an earlier rainout last Sunday at Spokane Raceway Park.
“We tried to schedule a week off so the guys could have time with their families,” said Northwest Modifieds president LeRoy Keele. “We also have to have time to work on the cars. If you wreck ‘em, you have to fix ‘em.”
In a switch from previous years, the series has scheduled four races at Spokane Raceway Park – the courts permitting. SRP’s future rests in the hands of a judge who is supposed to rule soon on a court-appointed receiver’s recommendation to close the track.
The 13-event schedule has three Stateline dates, including the July 15 Gary Miller Memorial. That race, in its sixth year, benefits the local Shriners Hospital. Wenatchee will be the site of the season championship.
The 2005 season for the Northwest Modifieds was one of distinct contrasts, good and bad.
The good – maybe great – was a championship race that was decided by a mere seven points. Frankie Volz Jr. used an early hot streak to build a lead in the standings and held off the late challenge of Blaine Sneva.
The bad? Five straight rainouts and six main events lost to Mother Nature.
Last Sunday’s race at SRP was a big success for the series. It attracted an unusually large field of 20 cars for a race this early in the season.
It also provided a personal milestone for Sneva. For the first time in his lengthy career, the Coeur d’Alene driver not only scored the traditional “clean sweep” (winning his trophy dash, heat race and main event), but also set an SRP track qualifying record.
Banks Lake opener
Northwest Water Competition and the American Outboard Federation will have outboard, inboard flat bottoms and nostalgic inboards at Sunbanks Resort on Banks Lake Saturday and Sunday.
The racing spotlight will shine on a pair of woman drivers. Cheryl Veto from Milton, Wash., races in the inboard Flat Bottom class. Spokane’s Sharon Silverthorne competes in the Ski Class.
Jay Michell Kelley, a current unlimited driver, will be running multiple outboard classes. Other drivers competing include Spokane’s Mark Tharaldson, a past champion in the 468 superstock.
Racing starts at 10 a.m. and will feature 10 classes of racing per day.
Info: Brent Harnack (509) 489-0093; online at www.nwh2oracer.com.
Behar repeats
At noon last Saturday, Mike Behar didn’t even have a motor in his car. Eight hours later, the Spokane driver in the Inland Northwest Superstocks was in victory lane for the series opener.
Behar lead flag-to-flag in the 100-lap main event that saw 14 cars start, but only eight finish in a rough opening night at Stateline Speedway.
“We just showed up and won,” said an elated Behar, who also won last year’s opening race. “Bird horsepower bailed me out of a bad set-up tonight,” Behar said, referring to engine-builder Jeff Bird’s last-minute work on his motor.
The horsepower advantage enjoyed by Behar was evident as he held a significant lead all night. He finished with a 2-second lead on runner-up Christian Roeder of Ephrata, Wash.
Motocross riders busy
Extreme Motorsports hosts Spring Survivor Series race 5 and 6 Saturday and Sunday as well as round 7 and 8 of the P.R.O. Northwest (Pacific Racing Organization) Motocross Nationals at the Airway Heights track.
“This is a great opportunity to come out and see the best motocrossers that the northwest has to offer,” said spokesman David Howard.
Racers from throughout the northwest will be competing for championship points and manufacturers contingency cash. Champions will be crowned in the Spring Survivor Series as this is the last weekend before the Summer Supercross Series starts.
Pit stops
Racing returns Sunday at Northport International Raceway with Modifieds, Street Stocks and Fever 4s. Time trials begin at 1 p.m. Info: www.northportinternationalraceway.com. … Racing goes under the lights Saturday at Spokane Raceway Park with Pro Gas cars on the drag strip and the Northwest Late Model Superstocks on the oval. Time trials start at 5 p.m. with racing at 7. … Sunset Speedway at the Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights will feature Speedway Kart racing Saturday. … Russ Osborn returns to the driver’s seat for the first time in many years as he makes his debut in the I-Car Limited Late Models at Stateline Speedway. … Spokane’s Matt Hall had a good run in the NASCAR NW Series opener at Meridian Speedway last Sunday. Hall started 22nd and finishing 11th in the Affordable Graphics Chevrolet. … Craig Deaver of Sumner, Wash., started 10th, took the lead on lap seven and went on to win the winged sprint car division of last Sunday’s Cast Iron Nationals at Ephrata (Wash.) Raceway Park.