Doug Pace: Spokane County Raceway features best of Fourth of July weekend action
Spokane County Raceway’s half-mile oval and 2-mile road course will be in action this weekend with the return of one of the region’s biggest late model races, the Spokane 200, while the road course gears up for the Matsuri Drift show.
Running from early Saturday morning through Sunday evening, SCR has cornered the market for speed thrill needs during the Independence Day weekend.
Management at SCR’s oval puts an emphasis on booking big shows at least once a month while focusing much of its schedule on local racing. The Motion Auto Supply Spokane 200 is a mix of both as the race attracts some of the top super late model talent from across the country into town to chase an $8,000 paycheck that many of the Inland Northwest’s best would also like to cash.
“We believe we’re going to have a great driver lineup for this weekend,” SCR oval manager Brycen Tarr said. “(North Carolina hot shoe) Preston Peltier, (former SCR late model champion) Jason Jefferson, NASCAR’s Gracin Raz, Summer Showdown reigning champion Tayler Riddle, past Fall Classic winner Mike Longton, current Idaho 200 champion Braeden Havens, multitime Inland Northwest Super Stock champion Dave Garber, top Northwest Super Late Model Series driver Mitch Kleyn and past Montana 200 winner Christian Roeder are just some of the names who have marked the Spokane 200 on their calendar.”
With success during the marquee shows, the Spokane 200 affords track leaders an opportunity to feature the facility to a growing fan base.
“To this date in the season our attendance is three times what it was last year. With NASCAR, our two NWSLMS races and the 200, we have some marquee events this season. Combining those with some of our destruction type races like our demolition derbies and school bus races, the fans seem to really like what we have been doing.”
Providing fans with an elite race atmosphere has been part of the planning that Tarr, oval operators Rick and Joe Nelson and their staff have put into the revived Spokane 200.
“It’s been a while since the Spokane 200 has been run,” Tarr said. “Back in 2011 and 2012 it was one of the largest races in the Northwest both in car count and attendance outside of the Montana 200. There are a lot of other races that have been added to the annual big-money super late model schedule since then, but we are trying to bring this event back to that level.
“For fans looking to stay at the track, we have an RV section on the backstretch. From the RV area, fans can watch the whole race from their parking spot. Camping spaces will also be available and we’ve got a great two-day ticket package for adults. There’s even something for kids, who can get into the race for as little as $5.”
The Spokane 200 kicks off with time trials and positioning heat races on Saturday night followed by main events on Sunday. Info: spokanesuperoval.com or text SSO to 474747.
SCR’s road course brings back the popular two-day Independence Matsuri Drift Race.
Last year’s drift weekend drew competitors from across the Northwest and organizers expect a larger field this year.
Drifting pits a driver, who purposely steers his car in a powered-slide around a racecourse, then drifts off the corners. Timing, style and technique earn points toward determining a winner. Races feature a preliminary round and conclude with a finale of high points competitors. In addition, drift competitions feature events where two cars are on the course at the same time competing for points.
The sport features divisions for stock production vehicles and highly tuned machines. American and import manufacturers make up the cars entered in the weekend’s drift completion.
Several viewing areas are available for fans to take in the drifting action. Info: spokanecountyraceway.com.