NW Motorsports: Villwock sets his sights on two fourths

One hot streak meets another this weekend on the Columbia River in Kennewick.

The interesting part is that both can remain intact after the roostertails subside at the 42nd running of the Lamb Weston Atomic Cup for unlimited hydroplanes.

Dave Villwock takes a three-race winning streak in 2007 into the event, and has also won the last three Tri-Cities races.

That the Columbia River streak is alive at all is amazing, considering Villwock’s boat suffered a spectacular blow-over during the running of Heat 2A last year.

Thanks in large part to landing upright – and a pesky wind that delayed racing for several hours –the crew repaired damage in time to win the next two heats and the overall championship.

The three wins have put Villwock comfortably in the lead of the American Hydroplane Racing Association (ABRA) point standings as he leads Steve David in the Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison by 1,070 points.

This is the first time that a driver has won three consecutive races since 2000, when Villwock accomplished the feat.

Unlike 2000, Villwock is having more fun with this winning streak.

“There are six to seven teams that have a legitimate chance to win a race,” Villwock said in a news release. “It is really a lot more fun racing with this competition than it is to go out there and win easily.”

Action at Columbia Park begins today at 10 a.m. with testing and qualifying. Qualifying continues at 9 a.m. Saturday as the expected 14-boat fleet prepares for Heats 1A and 1B, which begin at 3:15 and 3:35, respectively. Sunday’s heats begin at 11 a.m. and the championship heat is set for 4:40 pm.

Speedway sets out welcome mat

The welcome sign is out at Sunset Speedway at the Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights for the second in a series of flat track motorcycle races.

Co-promoter Mark Anderson wants to remind flat trackers and motocross riders that it’s simple to come out and compete.

“We’re allowing them to come out with any street-legal Class C tire on the rear, and give it a try” if they are a motocross rider, Anderson said.

Anderson’s son, Wyatt, will run a Supermoto at Extreme Motorsports and move across the property to do some flat tracking in the evening.

There’s further enticement in that the event provides free admission to any 50 and 60 cc bikes.

“We gained about five new riders the last time we did that,” Anderson said.

Anderson is working to get the best track surface possible – not too wet and not too dusty – on the fifth-mile oval.

Practice runs from 2 to 4 p.m. for a $10 admission.

Racing starts at 5 p.m. and costs $25 for amateurs and $45 for professionals who receive an 80 percent payback.

Sprint out to St. John

Jet Sprint racing takes place in the most unlikely of places Saturday when the speedy boats that accelerate from zero to 80 mph in a matter of seconds descend on St. John.

Racing begins at 10 a.m. at a new facility called Webb’s Slough with a field of both regional and international drivers expected.

Tickets are available at the gate starting at 9 a.m. ($15 for adults; $10 for 6 to 17; 5 and younger are free). St. John is located northwest of Colfax on State Route 23. Info: www.ussbaracing.com.

Stateline features winged sprints

The Inland Northwest Sprint Car Association’s Winged Sprints take to the track at Stateline Speedway on Saturday for the fifth race of the season.

Despite having no race win this season, Tony Berry of Spokane leads the points as the schedule hovers at its halfway point.

The series will see the return of the cars of Kevin Burck and Rod Nelson that got mangled in a crash in their last outing on July 14 when Wes Helgeson scored his first win.

Time trials start at 6 p.m. Racing also features Northwest Legends and Street Stocks.

Pit stops

Spokane Raceway hosts bracket and trophy drags Saturday (gates open 5 p.m.), but opens its weekend with Friday Night Street Racing today (9 p.m.). The Northwest Modifieds headline on the oval.

“SRP hosts the second annual Nitro Extravaganza next week. Scaled back from three to two days (Friday and Saturday nights) so fans don’t have to endure generally torrid temperatures in the grandstands, this race will feature nostalgia funny cars, alcohol dragsters and funny cars.

Streaks ‘n’ stats

Bothell, Wash., driver Gary Lewis made it two wins in two trips to Kalispell this month – he won a June 30 race – and collected the $12,000 first-place award at the Montana 200. Lewis finished a tenth of a second ahead of Eric Hargraves. B.J. Tidrick was third. Kevin Richards of Newman Lake led a portion of the second half before finishing sixth, the only area driver in the top 10. … Joe Kopp finished fourth at Greenville, Ohio, last Saturday night in an AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track series race. Ken Coolbeth won his second straight race.