Pace: Spotlight on Stateline Speedway
After months of planning, Stateline Speedway hosts two consecutive high-profile events this weekend, making it the focal point of racing in the region.
Up first is the Northwest Super Late Model Series for the running of the Idaho Tune-Up 150. One of two super late-model races held on the quarter-mile oval during its season, Saturday’s race has long been the baseline teams use for August’s Idaho 200. Blake Williams is the defending race winner, while Garrett Evans leads the series championship standings on the strength of two wins and three top-3 finishes.
The renowned Nitro Circus action sports tour makes its first appearance in the Inland Empire on Sunday. Known for its extreme motorcycle, BMX and other action, the show is a balance of entertainment and motorsports in a X-Games-style presentation.
With the popularity of Nitro Circus at an all-time high, the group founded by Travis Pastrana has branched out from its usual venues such as Century Link Field to include more regional locations similar to Stateline. Other stops in this Northwest swing include stops in Montana and Southern Idaho that traditionally do not host high-profile motorsports events.
Pastrana is just one of several stars that make up the line-up for Nitro Circus. Others include motorcyclists Andy Bell, Jolene Van Vugt, mountain bike professional Jim DeChamp, BMX rider Chad Kagy and many more.
For more information on this weekend’s racing at Stateline Speedway, log onto raceidaho.com
Behar returns
Otis Orchards native, Nicole Behar, returns to the Northwest Super Late Model Series on Saturday with a renewed focus on her season.
The 2015 East Valley High School graduate has spent much of the first half of this year competing in races across the Southeast, but her solid finishes on the Northwest Series have propelled the past NASCAR Next star to second-place in the championship standings.
“We’ve got a good shot at winning the championship and our team has put together efforts to keep me in the series for the remainder of the year. Having run some races for David Gilliland Racing earlier this year then coming home for the Northwest Series events as a way to get more seat time, we’re excited to be in the position to challenge (current points leader) Garrett Evans for a championship.
“I’m going to run some ARCA races for Venturini Motorsports later this summer but we’ve set our sights on getting this championship and having the next few races here at home (two at Stateline and one at Spokane County Raceway) will go a long way towards making that happen.”
While Behar is just a handful of points behind Evans for the points lead, she is not the only female driver within striking distance of the four-time NASCAR champion. Brittney Zamora, a 17-year-old Kennewick native has put together a strong season en route to fifth place in the championship chase.
Having two female drivers in the top-5 is quite an accomplishment thus far in the year, according to Behar.
“I know what she’s going through trying to make your mark in racing and having the tag of being a girl racer, but we’re both doing well this year and each of us is capable of running up front on any given night. That in turn brings out more fans to cheer on the drivers and the two of us which is awesome for the show.”
Local drivers set to join Behar and Zamora include. Medical Lake’s Braden Havens (who holds down third place in the championship standings), Sagle’s Corey Allard, Mead’s Shelby Thompson and Spokane’s David Garber and Jason O’Neil will be out to wrestle a win from Evans on the tricky quarter-mile Stateline oval.