Pace: Garbers continue to leave mark in racing
Race fans know the name Garber means victories and championships are sure to be included in the auto-racing resume.
Over the years the family patriarch, Bruce Garber, has passed down those accolades to sons Dan and David, urged others in his family to take up aspects of the sport including daughter Shari who writes for famed motorsports website “Speed 51” and has grandchildren running up front at races across the region.
All of those accomplishments have come by turning the steering wheel to the left. This year two of Garber’s grandchildren, Colton and Brandon, are branching out to new endeavors at Spokane Speedway.
Brandon Garber is no stranger to winning at Spokane Speedway where the Evergreen Middle School student has already picked up a championship. Having older brother Colton join him as a flat-track champion was not part of the season’s plan, but with each having strong finishes the opportunity developed to make runs at their respective titles.
“Well since my dad and stepmom (Dan and Annette Garber) were not able to make every race this year they asked if I was willing to help get Brandon to all of his events,” 29-year old Colton Garber said. “My dad sweetened the deal by offering to let me race his (250cc) motorcycle in the MX1 class while doing my best to keep Brandon on track and focused. It worked out well for all of us.”
In recent years Colton Garber had success in the Northwest Modifieds, ICAR Late Models and Stateline Speedway’s late-model division. Returning to the circle tracks may be in his future.
“It just depends on if I need to take (12-year old) Brandon to the races again (in 2017) or maybe we’ll go for a championship in a late model.”
Younger brother Brandon is already working towards next season with an eye on adding another 85cc Advanced title for his team and sponsors.
“I just love to ride and every year I like to show my sponsors the passion I have for the sport by giving it 110 percent and bringing them home a trophy.”
Annual Fall Classic
Medical Lake’s Braeden Havens gets one final chance to close the gap on Northwest Super Late Model Series points leader, Garrett Evans, as the tour heads to Yakima Speedway and the running of the 29th Annual Fall Classic.
Sunday’s racing marks the season finale for circle track competition in the region.
In addition to the stars of the NWSLMS, the Mini Stocks hold their Northwest Nationals event, Hobby Stocks from across the region come together for one more main event and the best in the various Late Model ranks that run at tracks including Stateline and Spokane County Raceway take to the half-mile for a 100-lap race.
Havens has a win in the series (August’s Idaho 200) while Killer “B” Racing has notched two series wins on the season (Shelby Thompson, April at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval). Scoring two wins in seven races has given Havens and the team plenty of momentum heading to Yakima for the 200-lap race.
“We’re down 50 points to Evans but we can make that up by running up front and hoping he has an off day. All this team and I can do is control our own fate and not really worry about (Evans) or anything else. The team has been solid this year with two wins and plenty of finishes among the top-3 so we’ve made a mark in the performance area,” Havens said.
David Garber joins Havens as Inland Northwest representatives in the 34-car field.
Marv Schultz is the lone Spokane-area driver entered in the Late Model Fall Classic event.
Leading the charge in the Hobby ranks will be the SCR duo of Mike and Nic Bellomy along with John Vallone, who raced at Yakima earlier this month.
Nearly a dozen entries in the Mini Stocks Nationals event will hail from the region led by Stateline Speedway’s champion, Rich Hatton. Also making the trip will be Joey Nelson (second in SCR Mini Stock championship points) and Terry Armstrong Jr. who captured a top-5 championship finish in the Outlaw Mini Stock Tour.