High school drivers descend on Spokane County Raceway

Spokane County Raceway continues its 2011 drag racing schedule tonight with the Rockstar High School Drag Racing Series. The event allows high school drivers to compete under the lights of the quarter-mile facility in a test of skills versus the timing system.

Each driver sets a time that they think will be their best throughout the night, or may choose to run against the competition in similar vehicles with the safety of the race track the primary advantage. The program has been a mainstay of SCR’s drag racing facility since it reopened and has become one of its most popular events.

The Team Spokane Summit Series takes to the track Saturday for its second race of the season featuring a Land of the Leaders challenge race.

Gates open at 6 tonight and at 1 p.m. Saturday. For more information log onto www.spokanecounty raceway.com or call 244-3333.

Rupert roars in Road Runner

Brittany Rupert picked up her first career Road Runner victory at Stateline Speedway during Wednesday Night Fever in thrilling fashion as a side-by-side battle with Blake Hinton was the highlight of the evening. Rupert also nabbed a second-place finish in the division’s heat race.

Josh Biehl held the lead through lap 8 as Hinton and Rupert battled through the field to second place. Ruppert took advantage of Hinton’s slide in the corner to advance the position.

Over the next seven laps, Rupert stalked Biehl for the top spot in the running and moved into the lead late in the main event for the victory.

The run of the night in the Road Runner Pro Division belonged to Eric Chaney, who started in the back of the pack and raced his way to the lead by lap 6. From there, Chaney retained the lead through the race’s 20th circuit before the yellow flew. On the restart, Donavin McElliott pressured Chaney for the lead but was unable to capitalize at the checkered flag.

KC Garber continued to show the hot hand in the Fever 4 division as the third-generation driver captured his second main event of the season. Garber started his main event from the back row and cruised through the field over the first five laps to take the lead in the early stages of the 25-lap run.

With the caution coming out on lap 19 to bunch up the field, Garber withstood a challenge from Harry Hatton for the victory.

Bryce Rupert finished second with Rick Dawson and Travis Allen rounding out the top five.

Joel Schrader was the main event winner for the Bump-to-Pass division after the 25 laps of beating and banging among a large field of cars.

Stateline is back in action Saturday night with the 2011 season opener for the Northwest Modifieds. Also on the schedule will be the Street Stocks and the Baby Grands. For more information log onto www.raceidaho.com.

Sunset Speedway resumes

Sunset Speedway resumes its season Saturday afternoon with action in the Adult Modified, Junior II, Junior Clone and Adult Clone divisions.

Diane Perry and Larry Christen are separated by just two points in the chase for Modified title after one month of racing. Mike Storer, Ed Flatt and James Townsend hold down positions three through five in the class.

Ken McGuire is the Adult Clone division points leader by eight over Dan Watkins with Ed Marks (minus 11), Rusty King (minus 12) and Dave Reynolds (minus 25) rounding out the top five. McGuire’s son Corey leads the Junior II division by 10 points over Alivia Stenson, with Lucas Bird, Cale Fitzgerald and Jared Storer completing the top-five rankings.

Kolby Brown is atop the driver’s standings in the Junior Clone division with a four-point lead over Daniel Watkins. Haeden Plybon, Edward Reynolds and Tanner Pugh are also in title contention with 23 points separating the top five drivers.

Sunset Speedway is located on the grounds of the Spokane County ORV Park just north of the Spokane Kart Racing Association road course. Racing begins at 1 p.m. with free grandstand admission.