Pace: Regional racing heats up this weekend

Racing across the region kicks into full gear this weekend as all but three facilities (Spokane Karting Association, Sunset Speedway and Northport Raceway) are in action with several holding their season openers.

Among those are Spokane Speedway’s flat-track motorcycle facility, Republic’s Eagle Tack Raceway and the formal opener for the half-mile oval at Spokane County Raceway, which held a jamboree format one week ago.

Stateline Speedway features its Dr Pepper Late Model Series for the second race of the year matched with the popular Hobby Stocks and youth-focused Bandolero division. The quarter-mile’s opener for the three classes proved eventful as David Garber, who is driving as a teammate to Russ Osborne in the division, battled Andy Brown and Corey McGuire. They thrilled fans with a close battle while Haeden Plybon was the class of the field in the Bandolero division.

Aaron Nevers, one of the region’s top Hobby Stock drivers and reigning Stateline champion, picked up where he left off in 2014 as he scored his first victory of the season. He will look to make it back-to-back this weekend. More than 20 Hobby Stock drivers made the main event in the season opener. More are expected this weekend as the division is growing to become one of Stateline’s more popular weekly divisions.

Haeden Plybon capped a strong weekend with his victory in the Bandolero class. He will be challenged this week by the likes of 2013 champion Bailey Babin; defending track champion Alex Bartlett; Daniel Watkins; Jess Havens; and Montana drivers Courtney and Dustin Mitchell, who have been preparing for Montana Raceway Park’s season opener later this month.

Many Stateline regulars will be part of Spokane County Raceway’s first points race. The half-mile will hold events Sunday afternoon in the Late Model, Pony Stock and Fever Four classes.

Late-model racing has not been part of the half-mile format on a regular basis since 2013. Many of the region’s drivers are eager to return to the track where speeds of more than 120 mph down the backstretch are common. With Stateline and SCR having a similar rules package, familiar faces will be part of both programs. Some surprises, including Central Valley High graduate Garret Sawyer, who plays basketball for Walla Walla Community College, will make a long-awaited return to the half-mile.

“For me, racing is important, but so is playing college-level basketball,” Sawyer said. “I haven’t been able to race much since I started school, so having the chance to get onto the half-mile at SCR is pretty cool and we’re hoping to do more of that and get a few races in at Stateline this year.”

Spokane Speedway continues its improvements under the guidance of AMA flat track champion Joe Kopp. Kopp adds something to the quarter-mile venue each year to make it unique with the recent focus on improved lighting.

Known for its close racing action, the Kopp-designed track will host a variety of racing classes this season.

Kopp also offers a rider development and training program. Info: spokanespeedway.com