Another weekend of dirt track racing would hit the 3/8's banked clay oval of Grays Harbor Raceway on Saturday Night. Fans were treated with the Northwest Wingless Tour/Oregon Double Shot Series wingless sprint cars, along with the Northwest Focus Midget Series, Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks, and the Outlaw Tuners.
Outlaw Tuners:
With a little change in the racing program this weekend, the Outlaw Tuners would run their feature event first. Willie Wright of Aberdeen has been on a roll this year with three wins, looking to make it four in a row. Wright would start on the front row with Wishkah's Don Briggs Sr. Wright would lead the field down, with Dale Vacknitz Jr. of Ocean Shores moving into the second spot, and George Lovell of Wishkah moving into third. Wright would waste no time getting a comfortable lead on the field. The first caution of the evening would come out for Elisabeth Knox, as she would slow to a stop in turn four on lap three.
On the restart, Wright would lead the field down, and pull away from the field. The battle for third would get exciting between Briggs Sr. Vacknitz Jr, and Jason Valentine of Aberdeen. Valentine would move back to fifth, as Briggs Sr would take over the third spot on lap five. It didn't take long for more Outlaw Tuner drivers to join in on the action, as Woodland driver Cody Scouller, Lovell, and Spanaway's Timmy Phillips would battle for position. Scouller would get to the high side of Valentine out of turn four, and race side by side with him.
At the end of the 20 lap feature, Willie Wright would pick up his fourth win of the season. So far having a perfect season, out of the four races. Cody Scouller, Don Briggs Sr, George Lovell, and Timmy Phillips would round out the top five. Heat race winners earlier in the night were Wright, and Briggs Sr.
Northwest Focus Midget Series:
Tristin Thomas of Burlington would lead the field of fourteen Northwest Focus Midgets to the green flag, with McCleary's Garrett Thomas on the outside front row. Both drivers would be side by side, with Tristin Thomas taking the lead out of turn two. Garrett Thomas would look to the inside out of turn four to race side by side making the race very exciting with only one lap in. Tristin Thomas would make a move to the inside going out of turn two, taking the lead back. Thomas would lead lap two, but would have to make his lines perfect, running the low side of the raceway as one mistake would give up the lead to Garrett Thomas. Nick Evans would also join in on the battle, along with Lake Stevens driver Nik Larson. Lap three would see Garrett and Tristin Thomas once again battle for the lead, with both drivers side by side out of turn two, and down the backstretch. The first yellow flag of the 20 lap feature would be for Kensey Thomas of Bellingham would come to a stop on the front stretch on lap four.
Tristin Thomas would lead the field down on the restart, and jump to the lead, with Garrett Thomas running on the high side of the raceway, trying to find a line to get around Tristin Thomas. The top five would be close, with no room for mistake, as Michael Vollbrecht of Shorline, would also join in the battle with Tristin and Garrett Thomas, Evans, and Larson. Vollbrecht would move into the fourth spot, getting around Larson for the position. The second yellow of the feature would come out for Evans, who would spin in turn four after contact with Vollbrecht on lap six. Tristin Thomas would once again lead the field to the green flag, with Garrett Thomas, and Vollbrecht right on his back bumper waiting for the right move on the leader. Garrett Thomas would look to the inside of Tristin Thomas a few times in the feature, until Tristin would pull away slightly. Lee St. Paul of Shelton would put on an exciting battle with Vollbrecht for the fourth position, with Larson right behind them, waiting for any mistakes that he can take an advantage of.
Lap sixteen the caution flag would come out once again, this time for the second place car of Garrett Thomas, who would make contact with the uke tire in turn two, breaking the left front wheel putting an end to his night. On the final restart of the evening, Tristin Thomas would lead the field that would dwindle down to six cars to the green flag. Thomas would waste no time to pull away from the rest of the field, as the battle for second between Vollbrecht, and Evans would be the race to watch. At the end of feature, Tristin Thomas would take the checkered flag, going on to win his first career Northwest Focus Midget Series feature at Grays Harbor Raceway. Michael Vollbrecht, Nick Evans, Nik Larson, and Lee St. Paul would round out the top five. Tristin Thomas would also pick up fast time, with the heat races going to Evans, and Garrett Thomas.
Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks:
Austin Kerrigan, and Shane Kerrigan have been the ones to watch this year, as the Aberdeen father and son team have one win each this season. Austin Kerrigan and Hoquiam's Jack Parshall would lead the field to the green flag in the Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks feature. Kerrigan would take the early lead, with Shelton's Brenton Schnitzer racing side by side with Parshall for second. Parshall would maintain the position from Schnitzer, as Tacoma's Mike Knox would move into the fourth position, racing with Eddie Blood of Olympia. Kerrigan would pull away slightly, but not enough to make any drastic mistakes, but the caution would come out on lap two, this time for Hoquiam driver Matt Babcock, as he would slow to a stop in turn two. On the restart, Austin Kerrigan would lead the field to the green, with Parshall, Schnitzer, Blood, and Shane Kerrigan in chase. Kerrigan would pull away slightly, but just as the green flag would fly, the yellow would come out on lap three for debris in turn two. Kerrigan would get another great restart, and pull away from the battle for second through sixth. Schnitzer would move into the second position, with Shane Kerrigan getting by Parshall for third. Schnitzer would set his sights on Austin Kerrigan who would continue to pull away. Shane Kerrigan would get to the back bumper of Schnitzer, but on lap five, the yellow flag would come out for Doug Brewster of Spanaway, as he would spin to a stop in turn one.
Austin Kerrigan would have his hands full on the restart, with Schnitzer, and Shane Kerrigan behind him, along with a whole field of hungry Street Stocks drivers looking to pick up a win. Austin Kerrigan would have Schnitzer on his back bumper for a handful of laps, until the caution would come out again, this time for Knox, as he would stop in turn two on lap seven. On the restart, Schnitzer would stay to the back bumper of Austin Kerrigan, almost making a pass for the lead on lap nine, but could not make the pass, and Kerrigan would continue to lead. Schnitzer would look to have the momentum on the low side of the raceway out of turn two, but Austin Kerrigan's car would run better on the high side. Lap nine would see Shane Kerrigan get by Schnitzer for the second position, and get to the back bumper of his son Austin. It would be a battle between the father and son, as Austin Kerrigan would run the high side of the raceway. It wouldn't take long for Schnitzer to get back in the battle, as he would look to the inside of Shane Kerrigan a few times throughout the feature, but couldn't make the pass for second.
Shane Kerrigan would try to make a move on Austin a handful of times throughout the feature event, racing on the low side of the raceway, and getting side by side. Schnitzer would try to look to the middle and try to make it three wide on the white flag out of turn two, but couldn't make the pass. At the end of the feature, Austin Kerrigan would pick up his second feature win of the 2015 season. Brenton Schnitzer, Shane Kerrigan, Eddie Blood, and Jack Parshall would round out the top five. Heat race winners earlier in the night were Shane Kerrigan, Schnitzer, and Hoquiam's Jason Tole. Austin Kerrigan would also pick up fast time.
Northwest Wingless Tour/Oregon Double Shot Series Wingless Sprint Cars:
The Northwest Wingless Tour, along with the Oregon Double Shot Series wingless sprint cars would make their first of two visits to Grays Harbor Raceway on Saturday night. The 25 lap feature would see former Northwest Focus Midget Series driver Jonathan Jorgenson of Auburn on the front row, with Vancouver driver Mike Romig on the outside. As the field would take the green flag. Jonathan Jorgenson would get the lead slightly, but Romig would race side by side with him down the backstretch. Jorgensen would get sideways in turn three, and a massive pileup in turn three would ensue. Sean Johnson of Tulalip, Brad Rhodes of Aloha, Oregon, and Rochester driver John Butler would be involved. Also spinning out to avoid the incident would be Mount Lake Terrace's Dan McGrew. Four of the five cars involved would restart, with Johnson having damage, putting an end to his night.
With the five car incident setting up a complete restart. Romig would lead the field down to the green flag, with Tim Alberding of Salem, OR on the outside of Romig. Romig would take the early lead, with Alberding in chase, and McGrew working his way to third. Otto Jorgenson, of Auburn would spin in turn one on lap two, and do a 360 spin, McGrew would make contact with Jorgenson, and have heavy damage to the front end of his car, causing him to go to the infield. The yellow would not come out, as he was off the track far enough. Jorgenson would continue on with no major damage. Romig would continue to lead, and pull away slightly from Alberding, running the middle of the raceway, and the low side in the corners. Guy Weedman of Moro, Oregon would run in the third position, running the hide side of the raceway, looking to find a way to reel in the leaders. Alberding would start to catch Romig each lap, running the high side of the raceway, and on lap fifteen, Alberding would make the pass on Romig on the low side in turn one, completing the pass, and taking the lead. It wouldn't take long for Alberding to pull away from Romig, while Weedman would continue to catch Romig for second. Getting to the back bumper a few times.
At the end of the feature. Tim Alberding would pick up the win, Mike Romig, Guy Weedman, Otto Jorgenson, and Brad Rhodes would round out the top five. Heat race winners were Jonathan Jorgenson, and Weedman, with Jonathan Jorgenson also picking up fast time.
Racing will resume next Saturday night, with all classes, which will include the 360 Sprint Cars, Shipwreck Beads Modifieds, Northwest Focus Midget Series, Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks, and Outlaw Tuners. Gates will open at 5:30 PM, and racing at 7:00 PM.
- Steve Beitler on May 18, 2015
- Article Date: 5/18/2015 by Aaron Reed