With tempatures in the low 70's, 4 divisions of cars took to Grays Harbor Raceway for the second race of the 2015 season. The Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks, Shipwreck Beads Modifieds, Sportsman Sprints, and Outlaw Tuners were on hand for the fans of the 3/8's banked clay oval.
Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks:
Austin Kerrigan of Aberdeen was looking to make it two and a row in the Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stock division, starting on the pole of the 20 lap feature. Kerrigan would lead them down to the green flag with 2014 champion Jack Parshall of Hoquiam. Right away, Hoquiam's Jason Tole would have issues and slow in turn three, but would continue on and no caution would come out. Kerrigan would continue to lead, with Parshall on his back bumper, not letting him get away, but it wasn't long before Parshall would get side by side with Kerrigan in turn one and down the backstretch on lap four. Both Kerrigan and Parshall would race side by side for a handful of laps, with Kerrigan getting ahead of Parshall out of turn two.
Throughout the field, there was plenty of action on the track, but just as the action started to heat up, the first caution of the feature would come out on lap five for debris in turn four. Setting up the restart, Austin Kerrigan, would lead Parshall, Mike Knox of Tacoma, Cory Sweatman of Aberdeen, and Olympia's Eddie Blood down to the green flag, Kerrigan would get a good restart, and pull away slightly, but it didn't take long for Parshall, and Knox to get to his back bumper. Lap seven would see Parshall get to the outside of Kerrigan in turn three, and try to make the pass out of turn four, but Kerrigan would have more momentum down on the bottom of the raceway. Parshall would try again down the backstretch a lap later, but couldn't make the pass. Many times through the feature, Kerrigan and Parshall would battle, and on lap eleven, Parshall would make the pass on Kerrigan out of turn four to take the lead.
Aberdeen's Shane Kerrigan would work his way up through the field from his 9th starting spot up to third position. Both father and son would race side by side for a handful of laps, and work on chasing down Parshall for the lead, getting to his back bumper until the caution would come out once again on lap thirteen for a multiple car crash in turn three. On the restart Parshall would lead Shane and Austin Kerrigan down, and both of them would get side by side with Parshall, Shane Kerrigan would take the lead momentarily down the backstretch, then his son Austin would take the lead, and race side by side with Parshall trying to make it three wide in the middle. The fans were cheering loudly for all three drivers as the laps would start to wind down on the feature. The final caution of the evening would come out just as the leaders took the white flag, this time for Tim Phillips of Spanaway who would spin on the backstretch. The restart would setup a green, white, checkered, as Shane Kerrigan would lead his son Austin Kerrigan, Parshall, Tole, and Blood to the green flag. Shane Kerrigan would get a great restart, and pull away from the field, and go on to pick up his first win at Grays Harbor Raceway. Jason Tole, Jack Parshall, Austin Kerrigan, and Eddie Blood would round out the top five. Heat race winners were Parshall, and Austin Kerrigan, with Shelton's Brenton Schnitzer picking up fast time.
Shipwreck Bead's Modifieds:
The 25 lap Shipwreck Beads Modifieds would take to the track, with Austin Kerrigan, who is doing double duty, starting on the pole, with Scott Miller of Shelton on the outside of the front row. Kerrigan would lead the field to the green flag, with Miller on his back bumper. A pair of Shelton drivers Kris Asche and Del Schnitzer would race side by side, with Tom Sweatman of Cosmopolis right on their back bumpers for the third position. Asche would set his sights on Miller for second, running the high side of the raceway, making the pass in turn two, on lap two. Asche would look to the outside of Kerrigan a lap later, but couldn't make the pass for the lead. The top four cars would be very close, Kerrigan leading, Asche, and Sweatman moving into the third position on lap five and getting to the back bumper of Kerrigan and Asche as they race side by side for the lead.
The first caution would come out for Bill Rowe of Raymond, who would spin in turn two on lap six. Kerrigan would lead Asche, Sweatman, Scott Miller and Schnitzer down to the green flag. Sweatman would move into second, and set his sights on Kerrigan, getting side by side with him on the backstretch. Sweatman having the momentum on the high side would take the lead on the backstretch on lap seven. Asche would look to the inside of Kerrigan, racing side by side for handful of laps, until mechanical issues would happen to Kerrigan's car and he would pull to the infield, giving up the second spot to Asche. Sweatman would continue to pull away from the field, but the caution would come out for Del Schnitzer who would spin in turn two on lap ten.
Sweatman would lead Asche, and Miller down on the restart, and pull away slightly, as the battle to watch was for third, fourth, and fifth between Bremerton's James Wolfard, Carl Larson of Kelso and Schnitzer, as they would race side by side, and almost three wide for a handful of laps. Sweatman would continue to lead the feature, and pull away from the field, while Asche, and Scott Miller would race side by side for multiple laps putting on a show for the fans. Sweatman would go on to win the Modified feature, Asche, Scott Miller, Larson, and Schnitzer would round out the top five. Heat race winners were Austin Kerrigan, and Scott Miller.
Sportsman Sprints:
The Sportsman Sprints would make it's first of two stops at Grays Harbor Raceway for 2015. Spanaway's Lance Sargent and Tyler Fox of Bow would lead the field down to the green flag. Just as the green flag would fly, the yellow flag would come out for Sargent as he would spin in turn one on the start. This would allow Edmonds driver Devin Barnes to move up to the front row on the restart. Barnes would lead the field down, and take the early lead from Fox. Jake Helsel of Monroe would move into the second position, as he would get by Fox in turn one. Barnes would pull away slightly from Helsel, and Fox, running the low side of the raceway. Helsel would try to make a charge, but couldn't get by. Roger Oudman of Sedro Woolley would do a 360 spin in the middle of turn one and two on lap three of the feature, he would keep the car going, and the race would continue to stay green. Barnes would continue to pull away from Helsel, but just as his lead would get comfortable, the yellow would come out for Mt. Lake Terrace driver Dan McGrew, as he would spin in turn two on lap four.
Barnes would lead them down on the single file restart, with Helsel, Fox, and Sargent in chase. Helsel would try to make a pass, but couldn't do it, allowing Barnes to pull away. The battle for third between Fox and Sargent would get exciting as Sargent would get side by side with Fox for a handful of laps. Fox would maintain the spot and set his sights on Helsel for the second position, moving to the high side of the raceway to find some momentum. Fox would slowly close in on Helsel and move into the second spot on lap eleven, with a pass out of turn four and down the front stretch. Fox would look to hunt down Barnes who continued to lead. Barnes on the low side, and Fox up in the high groove, Barnes lead would be cut short, and on lap eighteen Fox would look to the high side out of turn two and try to take the lead, but the yellow would come out. This time for Sargent who would spin out in turn four.
On the restart, Barnes would have tough company with Fox, and Helsel on his back bumper, but the yellow would come out again, as Oudman and McGrew would get together in turn four. Fox would be on the back bumper of Barnes on the restart, looking to make his move. Barnes would pull away slightly, but Fox and Helsel would gain ground on Barnes going into turn one. Fox would take the lead from Barnes on lap twenty one, and pull away. As the laps would start to wind down, Helsel and Barnes would battle for the second position. It didn't take long for Helsel to find the top side of the raceway, and get by Barnes, and look to go after Fox for the lead. Helsel would gain each lap, but the yellow would come out at the white flag for Dan McGrew who would spin in the middle of turn three and four. Like the Street Stock feature earlier in the evening, the crowd was once again treated to a green, white, checkered finish. Fox would lead the field down, getting a great restart, and pull away, but it didn't take long for Helsel to close in as both drivers would take the white flag. Helsel would look to the bottom going into turn one to pull a slide job. Helsel would slide Fox out of turn two, and take the lead. Fox would look to the bottom in three, with Helsel up on the top groove. Fox's car would slide out coming out of four, and Helsel would pick up the win. This would be Helsel's first career start, and win in the Sportsman Sprints, with Fox, Barnes, Sargent and McGrew rounding out the top five. Sargent would pick up the heat race win, with Fox getting fast time.
Outlaw Tuners:
With a pair of Aberdeen drivers on the front row of the Outlaw Tuners feature, Willie Wright would lead Ryan O'Nasch down to the green flag, but it wasn't long before contact was made between Wishkah's Don Brigg's Sr, Brittany Diggle, and another car, causing Diggle to get sideways after the contact. Although the yellow did not come out, the cars continued the feature. Wright and O'Nasch would battle for the lead out of turn four with Wright leading lap one of the feature. O'Nasch would try a handful of times at making a pass on Wright, but could not make the pass, allowing Wright to pull away slightly. As the laps would go by, Wright would pull away to a comfortable lead over O'Nasch.
With a feature that would go green to checkers. Willie Wright would pick up his second win of the 2015 season. Ryan O'Nasch, Jason Valentine, #86 car, and Don Briggs Sr would round out the top five. Willie Wright would also win the heat race.
Racing will resume next Saturday night with the 360 Sprint Cars returning to the 3/8's banked clay oval, as well as the Shipwreck Beads Modifieds, and Outlaw Tuners. Gates open at 5:30 PM, with racing at 7PM.
Grays Harbor Raceway
May 2, 2014
Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks:
Fast Time:
87 Brenton Schnitzer
Heat 1:
- 9 Jack Parshall, 2. 34 Jason Tole, 3. 13XXX Don Briggs Jr, 4. 97 Eddie Blood, 5. 87W Tyler Walker, 6. 8 Mike Mann, 7. 41 Tim Phillips, 8. 5 Tom Hecker, 9. 22X Kelly Fugate
Heat 2:
- AK47 Austin Kerrigan, 2. 40 Mike Knox Jr, 3. 11 Cory Sweatman, 4. 14 Jeff Daniel, 5. 43 Shane Kerrigan, 6. 91 Mike Clingen, 7. 78 Josh Anthony, 8. 19 Taylor Miller, 9. 87 Brenton Schnitzer
Feature:
- Shane Kerrigan, 2. Tole, 3. Parshall, 4. Austin Kerrigan, 5. Blood, 6. Briggs Jr, 7. Knox, 8. Sweatman, 9. Schnitzer, 10. Mann, 11. Daniel, 12. Hecker, 13. Walker, 14. Clingen, 15. Phillips, 16. Anthony, 17. Fugate, 18. Miller
Shipwreck Bead's Modifieds:
Heat 1:
- AK47 Austin Kerrigan, 2. 44 Del Schnitzer, 3. 58 James Wolfard, 4. 66W Aaron Weston, 5. 43K Shane Kerrigan, 6. 4R Bill Rowe, 7. 34 Gene Miller
Heat 2:
- 26 Scott Miller, 2. 50K Kris Asche, 3. 11 Tom Sweatman, 4. 55 Carl Larson, 5. 9K Morgan Criswell, 6. 17 Brian Izzi, 7. 47 Steve Signal
Feature:
- Sweatman, 2. Asche, 3. Scott Miller, 4. Larson, 5. Schnitzer, 6. Criswell, 7. Wolfard, 8. Rowe, 9. Weston 10. Arnold, 11. Izzi, 12. Gene Miller, 13. Signal, 14. Austin Kerrigan, 15. Shane Kerrigan
Sportsman Sprints:
Fast Time:
0 Tyler Fox
Heat Race:
- 33S Lance Sargent, 2. 22D Devin Barnes, 3. 0 Tyler Fox, 4. 2 Jake Helsel, 5. 78 Dan McGrew, 6. 7o Roger Oudman
Feature:
- Helsel, 2. Fox, 3. Sargent, 4. Barnes, 5. McGrew, 6. Oudman
Outlaw Tuners:
Heat Race:
- 17 Willie Wright, 2. 11 Ryan O'Nasch, 3. 13 Don Briggs Sr. 4. 96 Brittany Diggle, 5. 86 car, 6. 7 Jason Valentine, 7. 33 Ron Vassar, 8. 40 Elisabeth Knox, 9. 8X Melvin Welch
Feature:
- Wright, 2. O'Nasch, 3. Valentine, 4. 86 car, 5. Briggs Sr, 6. Vassar, 7. Diggle, 8. Knox, 9. Scouller
- Steve Beitler on May 03, 2015
- Article Date: 5/3/2015 by Aaron Reed