Pursley In Perfect Position At Miller

By Jason Christley, NASCAR

NASCAR/Getty

TOOELE, UTAH -- Greg Pursley picked up his second straight win at Miller Motorsports Park on Saturday. His victory in the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix came in similar good-luck fashion as his win in 2010 on the road course just outside Salt Lake City.

Pursley held off Moses Smith's furious challenge as a pair of green-white-checkered attempts pushed the scheduled 50-lap race to 63 laps.

It was the second win of the season for Pursley, who has led the championship standings from the start of the season, and the fourth in the last six NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events dating back to last year.

“Me and Eric Holmes had a great race there,” Pursley said. “I’ve got to thank him for a little give and take there. We were having a great race together. And Moses gave us a great race there at the end.”

Pursley emphasized the importance of fuel mileage on the road course events, such as this.

“Pretty much all the road courses we run, it comes down to fuel mileage,” he said. “We’ve really worked on our stuff for our fuel mileage. You never know how many green-white-checkers you’re going to get.

“I actually thought we were going to run out there at the end,” he said. “We sputtered a couple of times. We got lucky there at the end. I’d rather be lucky than good right now. We’ve got a lucky streak going on.”  

Eric Holmes seemed poised to collect his first road-course win. The three-time series champion, however, ran out of fuel on Lap 59 under caution after a stalled car forced a second attempt at a green-white-checkered finish. Last year, Pursley inherited the lead late in the race when the dominate car of Patrick Long cut a tire in the closing laps.

Holmes and Pursley swapped the lead back and forth through the second half of this year’s event. Pursley made an outside pass on a restart to take the lead on Lap 42. Holmes gained the top spot back, however, on Lap 46 and appeared headed to victory. But a stalled car on the course brought out the caution just before the leaders took the white flag.

The first green-white-checkered finish was then interrupted by a multi-car incident that nearly blocked the track and resulted in another caution. That appeared to set up a duel between Holmes and Pursley, before Holmes ran out of gas and coasted to a stop in Turn 11. A service truck pushed Holmes’ car to pit lane for fuel and he returned to competition without losing a lap.

Smith charged after Pursley in the final two-lap dash to the finish, but was not able to get by.

Jim Inglebright finished third, followed by Jonathon Gomez and David Mayhew. Rounding out the top 10 were Luis Martinez Jr., Brian Wong, Michael Self, Carl Harr and Greg Rayl, who gained his first career top 10 finish in the series. Holmes ended the day in 13th.

Andrew Ranger won the Coors Light Pole Award and led the first 17 laps before pitting. He lost two laps on a subsequent pit stop when the team had to replace a battery. He returned to the track and was as fast as the leaders, but was unable to get either of his laps back and he finished 20th.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will return to the track on Saturday, May 21, in the annual East-West Combination Race presented by Tompkins Industries at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

Pursley remains in the lead in the championship standings, with 550 points. He is followed by Smith with 492, Gomez with 438, Mayhew with 437 and Martinez with 423. Completing the top 10 are Holmes at 410, Brett Thompson at 394, Michael Self at 381, Daryl Harr at 354 and Greg Rayl at 325.

WESTERN SPEEDWAY LATE MODELS

1	20	Bart Smith	40
2	21	Jason Terasenko	40
3	52	Geoff Morris	40
4	14	Brandon Carlson	40
5	46	Mike Schott	40
6	16	Rory Smith	40
7	54	Doug Richens	40
8	3A	Hugh Gurney	39
9	69	Mike Soppit	39
10	45	Robbie Haslam

NASCAR SATURDAY

 nascar/getty

Gunderson Wires Field for First 1200 Win

By Kaleb Hart

Deming, WA – Jared Gunderson won his first career 1200 feature on a night that ended in sprinkles at Deming Speedway. The racing gods smiled long enough to get the entire program in on Les Schwab night at the races. Other winners included Brock Lemley, Derrick Moss and Eli Schmidt.

“This was the best racecar I’ve ever driven” said a jubilant Jared Gunderson in victory lane after his first career feature win in the 1200 class. Gunderson led all 25 laps of the main event, enjoying a full straightaway lead for the majority of the contest. Aaron Fell took second and Eric Turner third. Heat race wins went to Brock Lemley and Jason Bloodgood. Fell set quick time.

Brock Lemley piloted an unfamiliar mount to victory lane, as he substituted in the Brian Andrews #10 in the Speedmart Hoosier 600 class. After winning his heat, Lemley led all 25 laps of the main event for his first win of 2011 and the second overall for the 10 car. The race was marred by a vicious late race wreck which saw the top wing of JR Thomas go flying over the turn one fence after contact with Dustin O’Brien. Both drivers walked away from the crash, but not after relinquishing the second and third place positions. Hayden Schmidt ended up taking second and Dougie James ran third. Other heat wins went to Phil Schemenauer, Greg Hamilton and Kelly Mauck. O’Brien was quick time.

Derrick Moss is now a two time winner on the year after racing his way to a hard fought win in the 600 Restricted class. Starting eighth, Moss scooted through the field and up to second place, and then took the lead from Jacob Brown while mired in lapped traffic on lap 14. Moss ran away for the rest of the distance to take the win, his second in a row in the class. Brown ended up second and Austin Sheridan was third. Heat wins went to Nate Vaughn, Kyle Mitchell and Shaun Holtorf. Ashley Thompson won the B feature and Moss was quick time.

Eli Schmidt ended the early season dominance of Isaac Abenroth in the Kasey Kashne Junior Sprints. Eli led every lap of the 15 lap feature to score his first Deming Speedway victory, holding off Isaac over the last three laps to score the win. Schmidt was followed to the line by Abenroth in second and Sawyer Sorgenfrei who picked up his third straight third place finish. Ashleigh Johnson set quick time. Lynden Lebedinski and Schmidt won heats.

The gates open at five pm next Friday for Little Caesars night at the track, featuring all four classes in action. For ticket information or driving directions, visit www.demingspeedway.com

Kasey Kahne Junior Sprints

Fast Time – Ashleigh Johnson 13.188

Heat 1 – Lynden Lebedinski, Johnson, JJ Thomas, Sawyer Sorgenfrie, Jesse Schlotfeldt, Dale Booth Jr

Heat 2 – Eli Schmidt, Isaac Abenroth, Darius Walker, Sara Haling, Tyson Lemley, Ashton Dial

Main – Eli Schmidt, Abenroth, Sorgenfrei, Thomas, Johnson, Lebedinski, Walker, Schlotfeldt, Booth Jr, Haling, Lemley, Dial

Lap Leaders – Schmidt 1-15

600 Restricted

Fast Time – Derrick Moss 10.983

Heat 1 – Nate Vaughn, Jacob Brown, Hannah Lindquist, Moss, Kayla Urqhart, Carl Graham, Ian Humphries

Heat 2 – Kyle Mitchell, Robie Price, Austin Sheridan, Rachel Westmoreland, Wyatt Gardner, Dylan Resch

Heat 3 – Shaun Holtorf, Tristin Thomas, Nikki Ramey, Alden Ostrom, Ashley Thompson, Spencer Constance

B Main – Ashley Thompson, Graham, Gardner, Resch, Constance, Urqhart, Humphries

A Main – Derrick Moss, Brown, Sheridan, Westmoreland, Ramey, Lindquist, Price, Thompson, Thomas, Holtorf, Vaughn, Ostrom, Graham, Mitchell, Resch, Gardner

Lap Leaders – Mitchell 1 Brown 2-13 Moss 14-25

1200

Fast Time – Aaron Fell 10.096

Heat 1 – Brock Lemley, Frosty Metcalfe, Fell, Jared Gunderson, Ryan Cully, Randy Price, Brandon Benson, Keefe

Heat 2 – Jason Bloodgood, Brad Davison, Eric Turner, Clennon Holloway, Tyson Cross, Liam Ryan, Ed Luke

Main – Jared Gunderson, Fell, Turner, Davison, Lemley, Cross, Metcalfe, Bloodgood, Benson, Holloway, Cully, Ryan, Luke, Keefe, Price

Lap Leaders – Gunderson 1-25

Speedmart Hoosier 600 Open

Fast Time – Dustin O’Brien 10.188

Heat 1 – Phil Schemenauer, O’Brien, Hayden Schmidt, Cory Samuelson, Derek Holmwood, Liam Ryan

Heat 2 – Brock Lemley, Jerrod Saddler, JR Thomas, Alex Gauthier, Dale Schmidt

Heat 3 – Greg Hamilton, Brandon Turner, Spud Allen, Derek Torkelson, Tayler Dougherty

Heat 4 – Kelly Mauck, Madison Hess, Dougie James, Shaun Holtorf, Robie Price

A Main – Brock Lemley, H Schmidt, James, Mauck, Schemenauer, Hess, Holmwood, Price, Gauthier, Turner, Holtorf, D Schmidt, Torkelson, Samuelson, Allen, Ryan, Thomas, O’Brien, Hamilton, Saddler, Dougherty

Lap Leaders – Lemley 1-25

Rob Scott: A Lesson In Determination

By Ken Keating

In a 1973 Demolition Derby, Rob Scott got his first ever track experience at Western Speedway and with thirty-nine years under his belt since has compiled a solid list of credentials that are the envy of a lot of race car drivers. From 1974 to 1975 he served as crew chief for Gordie Stone and won a couple of mechanic races. In 1976, he drove Dave Bennett's car in a Jalopy Class race and won the Main Event. He drove in the 1977 Hobby Stock class and won the Championship. The following year he won the Stock Car Championship and then followed that up in 1982 when he was again crowned the Stock Car Champion and was given a trip to the Daytona 500. He was awarded with the Mechanic of the Year, Best Looking Car as well as winning the 1984 Hobby Stock Championship. He got the Mechanic of the Year award again in 1989. He joined the ranks of the Old Time Racers Assoc. (OTRA) in 1990, traveled to Hamilton and Toronto for the East-West Challenge and emerged as the Western Points Champion. He drove the Milt Barnes #32 and won numerous Main Events throughout the Northwest. He was awarded the Mechanic of the Year award in 1991 and 1992, won the Cassidy OTRA Dirt Cup in 1991 and set fast time for 1991 and 1992.

In 1994, he moved to the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Series and won six features out of nine entered at Western on his way to capturing the Championship. He also received the Driver of the Year, Mechanic of the Year and the Corby Cup for most Main Event wins. He was crowned 1995 Open Wheel Champion as well as Rookie of the Year and a 3rd place finish in the National IMCA Points. An impressive IMCA record saw him become the first B.C. driver to win the National title in 1996, a feat he repeated in 1997 and 1999. He was IMCA Champion at Saratoga in 1996 and 1997 as well as overall Salmon Classic winner and Western Speedway Champion in 1997 and 1998. He won the B.C. IMCA Series Championships in 1998 and 1999 plus the Hard Charger and the Mechanic of the Year awards in 1999.

Scott joined the WILROC Sprint Car & Super Modified series in 2000 and drove the Ron Douglas Roadster to three successive 5th place points finishes. He also won four Main Events in this class. In 2005, he drove Jason Beaulieu's IMCA in one Saratoga race and won that Main event. Over his career, he has competed at Western Speedway, Grandview Bowl, Cassidy, Saratoga and Tri-Port Speedways on the Island; Penticton, Prince George, Quesnel, Vernon and Williams Lake in B.C.; Port Angeles, Skagit, Spanaway, Tenino and Wenatchee in Washington; Portland and Roseburg in Oregon; Stateline in Idaho; Kalispell in Montana; Medicine Hat and Race City in Alberta; and Flamboro and CNE Stadium in Ontario.

The races in Ontario hold a special place with Rob as it held a lot of unknowns as far as competing on such a grand level. He was running in second and about to reel in the leader when his car quit with a small carburator problem with just a few laps left but it was enough to show he could compete at that level. Of all the Championships under his belt, the 1996 National title with the I.M.C.A. Series stands above the rest. Rob ran about thirty-three races that season and had taught Pam, his wife, how to build engines and they achieved a great deal of success that season and continued winning in future years. The year 1982 was a special year as well as he was given the trip to the Daytona 500 after winning the Stock Car Championship. It was a little tougher to win Championships in the early years as car counts were high and the competition very close with many drivers in contention.

In 2002, disaster struck Rob. A fall from the roof of his house put the former IMCA Champion in the hospital and a wheelchair for an extended period of time. He suffered broken wrists and damage to his spinal cord and medical persons feared that Scott would not be capable of ever walking let alone driving a race car again. They also predicted limited use of the arms. As expected, this type of news can be life changing and devastating but he told Pam, his wife, "This is not an answer I am prepared to accept". Scott proved everyone to be wrong and in less than a year got behind the wheel of the high octane Sprint Car and drove hard as that is the only way Scott knows how. In fact he said that driving that car was part of rehab as it had no power steering. Saturday, September 20, 2008, Scott again drove hard and won the WilRoc Sprint Car Championship race. He had had minor car problems all year but on this night the car was on a rail and even the hard charging Jeff "The Hurricane" Montgomery couldn't get by Scott taking the second spot while the WilRoc Champion Scott Aumen couldn't catch either Montgomery or Scott finishing third.

Forty laps would be the distance for the Sprint Cars with Scott taking the lead on the first lap. Jeff "The Hurricane" Montgomery settled into the second spot with Duane Zeinstra in third. Behind them Guy Barrett and Darren Yates were in a tight battle for fourth and fifth. On lap fourteen Yates took over the third spot and Barrett moving to fourth. Barrett got by Yates on lap twenty-four with Scott Aumen moving to the fifth spot on lap twenty-one. A couple of yellow flags put Montgomery on Scott's nerf bar but each time, on the restarts, Scott maintained the advantage over the former N.S.R.A. and WilRoc Champion running consistent laps of 14 seconds plus. On the very last lap, Aumen made the pass to move into the third spot to follow Montgomery and Scott to the checkered flag. On this night Scott's car worked to perfection as he led start to finish in a very entertaining Feature event and finale to the WilRoc Sprint Car season.

Rob is very satisfied with his racing career as he has accomplished many things in many classes and has done a fair amount of traveling to other tracks. For all of his accomplishments, Rob was inducted into the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2006, something he is very proud of. To be mentioned and acknowledged by so many other fine racers from this area is a pretty big deal. He gives his all each race night, and even though he might be somewhat tentative, his previous accident does not lesson his drive to succeed. You can watch Rob again this season as he will be behind the wheel of the #15 Scansa Sprint Car as they open the season June 10 running for the Billy Foster Memorial and the following night the Strawberry Cup.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin won the SHORT TRACK SHOWDOWN Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway. Hamlin charged from last place, passing a fuel-starved Kyle Busch on the last lap of the caution-filled charity event.  , please visit DennyHamlinFoundation.org

Smokey Yunick’s Garage Burns Down

by Bobby Kimbrough

Perhaps it’s the thought that so many innovative race techniques and parts came from within the walls, or perhaps it is considered a shrine to anyone that has ever tried to duplicate the engineering of “The Master”, or it just could be a horribly sad day because the loss of so many one-of-a-kind prototypes that were lost when Smokey Yunick’s Best Damn Garage in Town burned to the ground on Monday evening. In any case, the racing world suffered a huge loss when firefighters let the building burn.

Smokey Yunick was a hero on so many different levels. A B-17 bomber pilot in World War Two, Smokey and his crew logged more than 50 combat missions over Europe. When victory in Europe was declared, Yunick’s crew was reassigned to the Pacific theater for the remainder of the war. It was during his pilot training that Yunick viewed Daytona Beach from above and decided that “it was warm and looked good.” That sense of  warmth and good looks eventually motivated him to move to the community in 1946 after getting married.

Yunick opened and operated ”Smokey’s Best Damn Garage in Town” on Beach Street in Daytona Beach, Florida from 1947, originally as a garage for repairing trucks. The garage shut down in 1987 when he shut the doors claiming that “there were no more good mechanics.”  The garage, which was the last remaining sign of the innovative mechanic, erupted in flame on April 25, 2011 at about 7 PM and was destroyed.

Everyone has their own favorite “Smokey Story”, and the legend continues to thrive in the 10 years since his departure. What is unique about the posthumous stories told of the man’s greatness is that they have not been exaggerated. Smokey Yunick was larger than life and there was no need to embellish the things that he achieved. Smokey’s garage stood as a testament to the man’s genius and innovation. Now it is no more.

Least we forget, Smokey Yunick is a member of over 30 Halls of Fame worldwide and holder of several patents, including a patient filed in 1996 for a safer crash barrier at racetracks. The safer barrier was the result of his early work with NASCAR when he proposed the idea in the early ’60s. NASCAR rejected the idea of a safer crash wall at that time.

Smokey’s Best Damn Garage in Town may be gone, but the legend lives on.

LATE MODELS RETURN TO WESTERN SPEEDWAY

 

JIM DARBY MEMORIAL - AGASSIZ SPEEDWAY

KYLE BUSCH LOOKS FOR HORSEPOWER

CRATE REALITY

Crate Engine Racing Leaders Come Together for Across the Board Engine Testing and Assessment Salem, IN (April 25, 2011) – The inaugural event of the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour presented by GM Performance Parts on Saturday night at Toledo Speedway was seen as a significant event by many industry insiders. The activities on the Monday following the event may have held even greater significance for the future of Asphalt Crate Late Model racing. With support and encouragement from short track representatives from General Motors and Ford, a group of racing leaders led an across the board examination of the current crate late model engine packages being utilized in most parts of the country for pavement racing. Ricky Brooks, who has provided technical leadership at events at Five Flags Speedway, Mobile International Speedway, Montgomery Motor Speedway, Lanier National Speedway and New Smyrna Speedway in the last 12 months, and Eddie Chew, representing Champion Racing Association (CRA), led the investigative efforts. DeWaine McGunegill of McGunegill Engine Performance donated the use of his facility and resources for Brooks and Chew to conduct the testing and evaluation. Following Saturday night’s inaugural event for CRA in crate late model racing, CRA officials took possession of the top finishing engine from each engine package permitted in competition: the GM 604, the Ford Blue Oval, and the McGunegill 425LM. At 8am Monday morning, officials started the dyno assessment utilizing the same carburetor on all engines, as well as a baseline set of headers. The key goal of this effort was too evaluate the different engine packages in comparison to each other, rather than establishing a specific horsepower or torque number for each type of engine. Since these numbers vary from dyno to dyno, the specific numbers were of less significance than the comparison of those numbers to each other. In addition to the process of back to back to back dyno runs, additional inspection efforts included compression checks by use of a "Whistler" as well as the removal of a head for specific head "C.C." evaluation. Camshaft profiling, bore, stroke, piston, rod, crankshaft and lifter evaluations were also part of the process. "Thorough and Complete" was the mantra for a full and busy day. To the delight of the teams whose engines were taken, but of no surprise to any of them, all engines were found to be within specifications permitted. More importantly, where the industry is concerned, is the result of the dyno comparisons: all three different engine packages fell within five horsepower of each other. Besides the results of the three engines that Brooks and Chew personally oversaw on Monday, the pair had dyno results from over a dozen more engines, from some of the top competitors in racing, to review and compare. Significant data analysis backed up the results they found in their own assessments from that day. "This was a very important day in crate late model racing," noted Brooks. "For too long we have had had to endure rumors and conjecture about how these different packages compared to each other performance-wise. We do not need to wonder anymore…we know now. Utilizing the best performing engine from each package, allows us to eliminate a whole bunch of questions and doubt. It was a great day for people to learn and analyze." For Chew, working with Brooks in Monday’s evaluation process was invaluable. "Every time Ricky and I have a chance to work together, side by side, it is a benefit to everyone involved, especially the racers," CRA’s top Technical Inspector commented. "We get the opportunity to compare our inspection tools as well as our processes, to make sure the racers are getting the most consistent technical inspection they can, when they go from the North to the South or vice versa." The results of Monday’s testing and analysis resulted in Brooks eliminating the 25 lb weight penalty for the McGunegill package that had previously been in place for the events he serviced in the South. That change puts the North and South on common ground where engine packages and weights are concerned. "We have a goal of utilizing the exact same rules for the North and South and all other willing parts of the country," Brooks stated. "Just like we have established with identical rules for the Super Late Models, we expect that the 2012 rulebook will be the same for all the parties that want to participate and utilize them." Chew additionally noted that, "it is important that teams that come from the South be able to confidently compete in our JEGS/CRA/GM events in the North, and that our teams can go to races in the South with the same confidence that they are racing under the same technical specification and inspection guidelines they are accustomed to in the North." Besides a commitment from all parties to build identical rules for 2012, officials also outlined some specific verbiage and specifications for engine builders for 2012 and beyond. After running three engines on the dyno, the tear downs that came after, and data analysis and discussions following all the work, everyone ended the day feeling confident and comfortable in the process and results. In addition to the officials previously mentioned, CRA officials Greg Wood and R. J. Scott were present and witnessed the process. Scott, co-owner of CRA with partner Glenn Luckett, reviewed the activities of the day. "It was one of the most productive days I have ever witnessed. We really appreciate DeWaine McGunegill opening the doors to his top notch facility, then stepping back and letting the Eddie and Ricky lead the process how they wanted. Getting to watch those two guys dissect the engines and poor over all the data was very special and I just think it leads to even better things in the future for everyone!"

83 Year Old Hershel McGriff Files entry for West Road Course Race

 BRENT MARTIN PHOTO

Add another year to Hershel McGriff's tally as he will race for a seven different decade in his career this weekend. McGriff ran the first even NASCAR Super Speedway race at Darlington Raceway (SC) back in 1950 and has since been a staple to racing on the West Cost.  McGriff will look to run the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event at Miller Motorsports Park (UT) on Saturday.

MEET #71 DAVE OLSON

Photo Credit: Canada West Racing

By Terry Guest, CWR Journalist

With the 2011 racing season closing in, #71 Dave Olson, is geared up and ready to go. Dave comes from the small town of Hixon, B.C. and is married to Brittany.  They have one child with another on the way. Dave works at Johnston Equipment as the shop foreman in Commercial Transport. Dave became involved with cars at a young age; he spent lots of time at his dad’s auto wrecking company and watching his dad build cars. Dave’s dad always let people use his race cars, so Dave decided that he wanted to race one. At the age of 14, Dave started racing in the Bomber car class, which he raced for four years. After racing Bomber cars, Dave got the opportunity to race in the WESCAR Series, now known as the ARCA West OK Tire Sportsman Series. 

2011 will be Dave's sixth season competing in ARCA. He stated, “Each year it has been getting more and more competitive and I feel that this year we should be fighting for top spot”.

         I asked Dave about his favourite memory and he responded by saying, “My favourite memory in racing was when the WESCAR Series and the Katana Boat Sportsman Series got together for one race. There were 32 that started the main at Thunder Mountain Speedway, and it turned out to be one of the best races I have ever raced.  If we could do that again I would be there! I lead the first half of the race then my brakes boiled and the car wasn’t the same. I ended up mid-field, but was still racing hard”. 

        Dave has many accomplishments, but two really stand out for him. The first great achievement was back when he raced in the Bomber car class. Dave won everything possible to win in one year at three different tracks! Dave won Rookie of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, Best Looking Car and, most importantly, the Championship. Dave also set two track records that year which are still in place to date. His second favourite achievement was winning last year at his favourite track; Williams Lake, in memory of Vern Ashley, who the year before helped Dave come from the very back of a 21 car field to second place. Vern passed away in 2011 in a fishing accident.

        This season will find Dave continuing to compete in the ARCA West OK Tire Sportsman Series and also some races down south. Dave would to thank his crew; Doug, Steve, Rob, Mickey, Mike and Lloyd. Dave would also like to thank his sponsors; Cinema Second Hand, CO-OP, Nick Richter Trucking, CD Lee Trucking, Davis Transport, Darlyle Trucking, Black Water Timber, Fountain Tire Quesnel, HMC, B-2 Ranch and Too Loud Graphics. 

        Make sure to watch for the #71 special.

RON EATON - LAGUNA SECA

  BRENT MARTIN PHOTO

Lapcevich Looking To Take Next Step

Team Release - April 25, 2011

GRIMSBY, Ontario Canada – Jeff Lapcevich’s Tim Hortons-sponsored NASCAR Canadian Tire Series entry will look familiar this season, but plenty has changed with the Hamilton-based team. Lapcevich recently acquired the services of veteran crew chief Tim Ellas, and the team switched to Dodge Challengers for 2011.

“All of the changes we made this winter were done so we can contend for wins,” said Lapcevich. “Tim Ellas brings proven success to the team, and with him calling the shots in the pits I feel we are in a great position to challenge for our first NASCAR win.”

The cars were serviced in the Fastline Motorsports shop in Hamilton, but they will be race-prepared by Ellas in Dave Jacombs’ shop for the race season.

“We have great people in the shop,” said Lapcevich. “Don Barnhart will remain the car chief, but working with Tim and Dave Jacombs gives us the expertise to make the best decisions on race day.

“The decision to switch to Dodge was simple. Dodge gives the best support of any manufacturer, and we are excited to run the Dodge brand.”

The changes followed Tim Hortons recent announcement that it was renewing its agreement with Fastline Motorsports. The announcement extends one of Canada’s longest motorsports marketing partnerships.

“We’re as excited as we’ve been in a long time to get to the track,” said Lapcevich. “We feel we’re on the right track towards success.”

Lapcevich will run most of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series this season starting with its opening event on May 28th at Mosport Speedway near Bowmanville, Ontario. From there the team travels to Montreal for the inaugural Grand Prix ICAR Maribel.

“A new road course will be a fun challenge,” said the road racing ace. “In the past we’ve done very well when we tackle a circuit for the first time. The fans in Montreal love their racing, so it should be a great experience.”

SAFETY FIRST

Racer Dies When Car Falls Off Jackstands In Garage

by John Gibsonon April 25, 2011

We are getting reports that a local racer from around Wall, South Dakota,  Travis McDonnell, was found underneath his car Monday Morning. The police on the scene are reporting that it looked as if McDonnell was underneath his car working on it when the jackstands failed or fell crushing him underneath the car. A story that we have heard happen before, but are never prepared for when it does occur.
You can read the report here RapidCityJournal.com
McDonnell was a regular racer at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City South Dakota. He raced modifieds, and mini sprints. He was a numerous time feature winner. From all of us at OneDirt.com our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the family that is grieving the loss of McDonnell.
Let this serve as a reminder to all of us who race out there today. I don’t know the circumstances of what happened to McDonnell, and more then likely no one will ever truly know what caused the car to fall off of the jackstands. But don’t let safety stop at your car’s cockpit. We were watching the Nationwide race a couple of weeks back and saw crew members getting underneath a car without jackstands. This should never happen!
We beg of everyone who reads this news story, to pay close attention to what is happening in your race shop and at the track. It wasn’t to many years ago that this very same thing happened at a track in the north east, which killed a crew member. Make sure before anyone gets underneath that car that all four corners of the cars are sturdy underneath jackstands. And NEVER get underneath a car that is being held by a floor-jack alone.
Safety has to be our first concern not only while we are racing, but also while we work on our cars in the garage and while at the track.

K&N West Heads To MMP

Michael Self will be racing on what he considers his home track at Miller Motorsports Park. Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Teams tackle first road course race of the 2011 season

By Kevin W. Green, NASCAR 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The first three races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West this year feature competition in three different arenas of stock car racing – including a speedway, a short track and a road course.

The season was launched with a race on the one-mile speedway at Phoenix International Raceway in February. The next event on the schedule was on the tight .333-mile oval at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., on April 16.

Now drivers and teams are preparing to shift gears as the series heads to the road course at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah for the Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix on Saturday, April 30.

Visiting different types of venues first thing in the season is something that second-year driver Michael Self welcomes.

“For me, it’s a good thing,” said the 20-year-old from Park City, Utah. “I’m not accustomed to driving on one type of track, nor do I feel like I’m better on one type of track than the other. So, it’s a really good chance for me to change things up and not get too adept to driving one type of track.”

“I also think it’s good thing for me, because I’m getting the three types of tracks out of the way early in the year,” he said. “So, as those races come up, we’ll know later what we have going into the short track races, the big track races and the road courses.”

It will mark the fifth straight year the series has visited the massive MMP complex, located west of Salt Lake City. But unlike past seasons when drivers competed on the 3.048-mile outer course, this year’s race will be contested on the track’s 2.2-mile layout.

“I think the shorter track will be better for us and better for the fans,” said Self, who drives the No. 21 Shining Monkey/GGRT/RCR Chevrolet of veteran car owner Jim Offenbach. “I think it will make for a lot closer racing and not so spread out. As far as the fans, they’ll be able to see the whole race better and get a better picture of what’s going on and be able to keep up with everything.”

Hailing from nearby Park City, Self calls Miller Motorsports Park his home track.

“I consider it my home track because it’s in my backyard,” said Self, while pointing out that he has only competed in big cars on the track four or five times. “All my friends and local fans can come out. For me, that’s what the home track is all about, having the local support.”

Practice for the event gets underway at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. Qualifying is set for 1:30 p.m., with the

MODS AT GRAYS HARBOUR

ELMA, Washington

Modifieds

Beaulieu is no stranger to the Harbor track. His father Jason won the 2020 Northwest Modified Nationals at GHRW and Chris had a top ten finish.

Shelton’s Shane Rau grabbed the lead on the first lap, followed by Aberdeen’s Joe German, Morgan Criswell of Vancouver, WA. Del Schnitzer of Shelton and Beaulieu.

The Canadian had worked his way into the second spot by lap-7n and set his sights on the front runner.

Rau was able to hold off Beaulieu on a caution flag restart on lap-15 when Criswell spun out, but the Canadian finally made the pass with four laps left in the race.

Beaulieu held on for the win, despite a last lap caution and restart when Jeff Foster of McCleary spun out in turn-2.

Olympia’s Randy took advantage of the restart to vault into the second spot past German, Carl Larson of Castle Rock edged Rau out of fourth on the final lap.

Defending series champion Josh Muller was not in the field as he is currently in Alaska working, and four time series champion, Scott Miller of Shelton failed to make the feature due to engine problems from earlier in the night.

Beaulieu, Rau and Scott Westley were heat race winners.

DeWitt, Kirkpatrick, Parker Young Win On Opening Night

DeWitt Wins First Ever 410 Main At Skagit Speedway
(Alger,WA) 4/23/11 by Kelly Hart
With the preliminary night win in last years 360 Nationals and some travelling early in the season under his belt, Josh DeWitt nailed the wire to wire win in the 410 Sprints on opening night at ASA member track Skagit Speedway. It was DeWitt leading on the initial start when Barry Martinez spun in turn 2. On the restart he rocketed to a huge lead that was eclipsed on the fifth lap when Austen Wheatley hit the turn the turn one wall and tore out a torque tube and driveline. DeWitt led the rest of the laps with defending champion Jesse Whitney and Travis Jacobson waging a spirited battle for second. Danielle Huson and Eric Fisher passed and re-passed each other numerous times as racers flew around the 3/10th mile clay. At the finish line DeWitt claimed his first ever 410 Sprint win followed by Whitney, Jacobson, Fisher and Huson. Fisher and Wheatley won the heats. Whitney was fast time at 11.645. The Weld Wheels Hard Charger Award was won by Whitney.
Defending 360 Nationals Champion Jacobson did double duty in the Shaylen Rae Motorsports #18 and started the evening by setting fast time in the Budweiser 360 division with a 12.023 second lap. Devin Madonia and Chad Hillier won the heat races. In the 25 lap Main Event Madonia flew out to a huge lead when something went sour on the 10th lap bringing out the yellow. Danny Kirkpatrick took over the lead and held on for his first win in a few years. At the line it was Kirkpatrick over Mack Brown with Jared Peterson third. The Weld Wheels Hard Charger was Peterson.
Former Cook Road Shell Sportsman Sprint Champion Steve Parker led all 20 laps of a wild Sportsman Sprint main. Parker beat Cory Swatzina and James Bundy with Derek Roberts and Rob Schroder rounding out the top 5. Paul Burdick and Derek Roberts won the heats. The Weld Wheels Hard Charger award winner was James Bundy.
For Outlaw Hornet driver Rick Young the monkey is now officially off his back. Young has scored many second place finishes in his Outlaw Hornet career but never a win. Tonight he led all 17 laps for his first ever victory. The first lap saw cars four wide coming out of turn number two and the action was fast and furious going green to checkered. Wade Swatzina and John Gunderson filled out the podium. The heat race winners were Young and Gunderson. Stacey Sims was the O'Reillys Auto Parts Hard Charger.
Next week all 4 classes return to action at Skagit Speedway. Racing starts at 7pm with the spectator gates opening at 530. For more information about Skagit Speedway go online to skagitspeedway.com.
RESULTS
410 Sprints
Fast time Jesse Whitney 11.645
Heat 1: Austen Wheatley, Whitney, Kevin Smith, Danielle Huson, Barry Martinez
Heat 2: Eric Fisher, Chris Schmelzle, Travis Jacobson, Josh DeWitt, Alec Covert
Main: Josh DeWitt, Whitney, Jacobson, Fisher, Huson, Smith, Martinez, Schmelzle, Kelleigh Johnson, Wheatley
Budweiser 360 Sprints
Fast time Travis Jacobson 12.023
Heat 1: Devin Madonia, Randy Price, Travis Jacobson, Tyler Anderson, Jared Peterson
Heat 2: Chad Hillier, Kelsey Carpenter, Mack Brown, Danny Kirkpatrick, Rod Perkins
Main: Danny Kirkpatrick, Brown, Peterson, Carpenter, Jacobson, Anderson, Price, Steve James, Madonia, Hillier, Alan Munn
Cook Road Shell Sportsman Sprints
Heat 1: Paul Burdick, Steve Parker, Eric Thibert, Michael Hodel, Cory Swatzina
Heat 2: Derek Roberts, Bill Rude, Rob Schroder, Cale Brooke, Ben Gunderson
Main: Steve Parker, Cory Swatzina, James Bundy, Roberts, Schroder, Dave Meade, Clayton Sibley, Brooke, Rude, Gunderson, Burdick, Thibert, Hodel
Outlaw Hornets
Heat 1: Rick Young, Freddy Vela, Ken Higby, Matt Ploeg, Clint Meins
Heat 2: John Gunderson, Wade Swatzina, John Edwards, Tom Warner, Tina Thibert
Main: Rick Young, Swatzina, Gunderson, Warner, Vela, Edwards, Ploeg, Cliff Ballenger, Higby, Stacey Sims, Thibert, TJ Campbell, Adam Nelson, Rich Powers, Meins, Matt Powers, Jesse Swin

Steen Wins Fifty Lap Feature

By Ken Keating

Western Speedway hosted the second appearance of the year for the Demo Cars, Demo Trucks, Figure 8s, and the Bombers for more hard hitting action in Trophy Dashes, Heat races, and Feature events for all classes. One lucky individual will win a brand new Chevy Cruze from Dave Wheaton as Allie and Hayley from The Zone @ 91.3 displayed the car that was featured in a contest from that radio station.

Andrew Wilson, Kevin Knight, Troy Tarbuck, and Ashton Campbell were winners in the Trophy Dash races while Tyler Woods and Andrew Wilson picked up wins in the Bomber Heat races. Troy Tarbuck, Alex Carey, Cam Wilkinson, and Kevin Knight also found Victory Square in Heat race action. Kids under eight years old entered a dance contest between the Heat races and Feature events each finalist winning a prize package from 100.3 The Q radio and Western Speedway.

Kyle Rizok had the pole for the start of the Figure 8 Feature event and led laps two and three and then passed by Blaine Duperreault who led the next four laps. Rizok led lap eight and lost that lead to Richard Carey one lap later as Doug Richens also used that lap to take the second position. On lap seventeen, Rory Smith took over the second spot dropping Richens back to third. Smith then grabbed the lead on lap twenty-two with Rhett Szevics taking the second spot one lap later while Kail Beck used the opportunity to take over third. On lap thirty-two Beck took the second spot as parts and stalled cars littered the Speedway. Smith held on for the win followed by Beck and Szevics rounding out the top three.

Rory Smith, doing double duty, had the pole for the start of Demo Truck Feature race action. Richard Milne grabbed the lead on the very first lap followed quickly by Kevin Knight. Behind them, George Haywood tried to take out Smith but that backfired as Haywood went around but quickly righted his truck and kept going. On the very last lap, Milne caught Smith allowing Knight to close right in trying to squeeze Milne out against the wall between turn one and two. Milne managed to get free and went on to the win followed by Haywood and Paul Scotthorne placing third.

Joe Liberatore grabbed the lead on the first lap of the Demo Car Feature event and lead the first four laps. Troy Tarbuck passed him followed quickly by Greg Sagmoen as Joe got spun around with his car stopped on turn four bringing out the yellow flag. On lap ten, Sagmoen took over the lead and went on to the win followed by Tarbuck and Liberatore who managed to refire his car and get back into the action.

Cody Loughran and Daniel David shared the front row as seventeen cars came to the green flag for fifty laps of racing in the Bomber Feature event. David led for the first four laps and was passed for the lead by Tyler woods on lap five. As he came down the frontstretch for lap six his motor blew up bringing out the red flag to allow clean up of oil and motor parts. On the restart, Daniel led for two laps and was overtaken by Brendan Moore followed quickly by Brandon Steen dropping David back to third. Brian Wakelin briefly took over the third spot and then lost that to Jamie Morgan with Jarrod Sagmoen also moving up and into contention. Andrew Wilson, who had two wins on the night, tagged something as he entered the pits with front end damage bringing out the yellow on lap eleven. Moore got away first on the restart followed by Steen, Morgan, and Sagmoen. On lap twenty-three Sagmoen moved up to run third and began putting pressure on the two frontrunners. By this time Wakelin was well off the pace and entered the pits with overheating problems. On lap twenty-seven, Steen passed Moore for the lead with Sagmoen going to second two laps later. On lap forty-three, Morgan running in fourth got a mechanical black flag as his car began to spew oil smoke sending him to the pits. When the chequered flag flew it was Steen with his first Feature win this year followed by Sagmoen, Moore, Giles Cyr, and Aaron Cameron rounding out the top five.

The next event, at Western Speedway, will be opening night for the Late Models, along with the very competitive Stock Cars, and I.M.S. 4 Mini Stocks for their second appearance on April 30th.  

NASCAR SATURDAY

 nascar/getty

P265/60D-15 AMERICAN RACERS AND AERO RACE WHEELS

Submitted by Mark Vaselenak

DATE CORRECTION

 
Race Car Products is making plans for the May 1^st season opener in Penticton. So if you need American Race tires or Aero Race Wheels please place and order with us ASAP. Based on the orders is how I plan my route. I will leave on Friday, April 29^th, I will be in Okanagan Saturday, April 30^th and then at the track (Penticton) on May 1^st to sell, change and mount tires for that race day. Call 403-345-4726, fax 403-345-2929 or e-mail your order and I will organize a drop spot or let you know where I will be. 

Follow Race Car Products on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/racecarproducts/

Thanks for all your support and I will do my best to meet your needs.

Veterans Again Top Action at Deming Speedway

By Kaleb Hart

 

Veterans of their respective divisions again topped racing action at Deming Speedway on A-1 Welding / Yeagers Sporting Goods night at Deming Speedway. Defending Clay Cup champion Reece Goetz took the 600 win, Jason Bloodgood led all 25 laps of the 1200 main, Derrick Moss found his way back to victory lane in the 600 restricted main after a long absence and Isaac Abenroth won for the second straight week in the Junior Sprints.

 

In the Speedmart Hoosier 600 Open class, Reece Goetz interrupted what appeared to be a Dustin O’Brien domination in the main event, as Goetz worked his way through the field into second place early in the feature, then found room on the inside of turn three on the 12^th lap to take the lead. After navigating some hairy lapped traffic late, Goetz held on to collect the win, his first of the season. O’Brien was second and JR Thomas third. Heat wins went to Brandon Turner, Spud Allen, Cory Samuelson and Hayden Schmidt. O’Brien set quick time. Kelly Mauck won the B Feature.

 

An early season win was exactly what Jason Bloodgood needed to erase the memories of an ugly 2010. Jason parlayed his front row starting spot to a wire to wire 25 lap victory, only undertaking serious challenge during the late laps when traffic came into play. Eric Drake piloted Forest Metcalfe’s ride into second place with Steven Hendrickson taking third. Aaron Fell was quick time. Heat wins went to Drake, Brad Davison and Bloodgood.

 

After a year layoff, Derrick Moss found his way to Deming Speedway’s victory lane again as he passed Hannah Lindquist to take the lead and the eventual win on lap 18 in the 600 Restricted class. For Moss, it was his first W since 2009. Lindquist finished a career best second with Alden Ostrom taking a career best third. Austin Sheridan was quick time. Heat wins went to Lindquist, Brayden Planko, Seth Cooper and Ostrom. Nikki Ramey won the B Feature.

 

Two weeks equaled two wins for Isaac Abenroth. After starting sixth, Abenroth stormed his way to the front and found his way inside race leader JJ Thomas on lap seven to take the lead and the win, his second in a row in the Kasey Kahne Junior Sprints. Thomas took second and Sawyer Sorgenfrei was third. Abenroth set quick time and won his heat as well, giving him a clean sweep of the night. Eli Schmidt won the second heat race.

 

Deming, Acme, Kendall and Maple Falls residents will receive 50% off admission next week at Deming Speedway for Les Schwab night. Gates open at five with racing at seven. For ticket information or driving directions, visit www.demingspeedway.com

 

Kasey Kahne Junior Sprints

Fast Time – Isaac Abenroth 13.083

Heat 1 – Abenroth, Ashleigh Johnson, JJ Thomas, Tyson Lemley, Darius Walker, Ashton Dial

Heat 2 – Eli Schmidt, Jesse Schlotfeldt, Lynden Lebedinski, Sawyer Sorgenfrei, Dale Booth Jr, Sara Haling

Main – Isaac Abenroth, Thomas, Sorgenfrei, Johnson, Haling, Booth Jr, Lemley, Walker, Schmidt, Dial, Lebedinski, Schlotfeldt

Lap Leaders – Sorgenfrei 1 Thomas 2-6 Abenroth 7-15

 

600 Restricted

Fast Time – Austin Sheridan 11.057

Heat 1 – Hannah Lindquist, Jacob Brown, Sheridan, Tristin Thomas, Spencer Constance, Ian Humphries

Heat 2 – Brayden Planko, Derrick Moss, Robie Price, Chase Goetz, Dylan Resch

Heat 3 – Seth Cooper, Nate Vaughn, Kyle Mitchell, Nikki Ramey, Jake Benson

Heat 4 – Alden Ostrom, Rachel Westmoreland, Kayla Urqhart, Ashley Thompson, Emma Morem

B Main – Nikki Ramey, Thompson, Thomas, Benson, Constance, Humphries, Resch, Morem, Goetz

A Main – Derrick Moss, Lindquist, Ostrom, Brown, Thompson, Mitchell, Planko, Thomas, Ramey, Price, Cooper, Westmoreland, Vaughn, Urqhart, Sheridan, Benson

Lap Leaders – Lindquist 1-17 Moss 18-21

 

1200s

Fast Time – Aaron Fell 10.204

Heat 1 – Eric Drake, Brandon Benson, Steven Hendrickson, Kenzi Thomas, Tyson Cross, Fell, Tom Waggoner

Heat 2 – Brad Davison, Randy Price, Clennon Holloway, Ed Luke, Liam Ryan, Brock Lemley

Heat 3 – Jason Bloodgood, Duane Mackey, Jared Gunderson, Ryan Cully, Zach Keefe, Eric Turner

Main – Jason Bloodgood, Drake, Hendrickson, Gunderson, Holloway, Lemley, Davison, Fell, Cully, Turner, Benson, Ryan, Mackey, Luke, Price, Thomas, Cross, Keefe, Waggoner

Lap Leaders – Bloodgood 1-25

 

Speedmart / Hoosier 600 Open

Fast Time – Dustin O’Brien 10.156

Heat 1 – Brandon Turner, O’Brien, Phil Schemenauer, Shaun Holtorf, Kelly Mauck, Robie Price, Cody Ridge

Heat 2 – Spud Allen, Kyle Johnson, Reece Goetz, Derek Torkelson, Jerrod Saddler, Mike Volbrecht, Bill Mercer

Heat 3 – Cory Samuelson, Liam Ryan, JR Thomas, Ryan Fischer, Greg Hamilton, Cam Smith

Heat 4 – Hayden Schmidt, Larry Jenne, Dougie James, Alex Gauthier, Derek Holmwood, Dale Schmidt

B Main – Kelly Mauck, Holmwood, Price, Saddler, Hamilton, Ridge, Volbrecht, Mercer, Kevin Wilkinson, D Schmidt

A Main – Reece Goetz, O’Brien, Thomas, Turner, Holmwood, Gauthier, Mauck, Allen, Schemenauer, Johnson, Holtorf, Torkelson, Saddler, Price, H Schmidt, James, Fischer, Ryan, Jenne, Samuelson

Lap Leaders – O’Brien 1-11 Goetz 12-25

Rowdy Busch Dominates Nashville Truck Race

Skagit Speedway’s 57th Season Opener This Weekend

By John Gibsonon April 21, 2011

 
Racefans in Washington have been ready for the 2011 season to kick off all winter. The 57th season for Skagit Speedway will be kicking off this week for dirt track fans in or near Alger, Washington. Even this week the track reported that Monday morning they saw snow on the track, and snowflakes falling that were the size of silver dollars. But the weather looks great for this coming weekend.

 
“I will be ready for some dry warm weather as soon as it gets here” said promoter Steve Beitler, “Every so often we get a late and cold spring, this year is our year. But the forecast looks pretty good for the next few weeks. I know The whole team up here is ready to hear the roar of the engines. Several new teams are ready to go so I am excited to get things started!”

The season opener will feature numerous divisions for fans. Headlined by the Outlaw 410 Sprint’s, fans will have a lot to look forward to. For the 2011 season fans will be treated to a number of big events. “Once again, Skagit Speedway has teamed up with Foothills Toyota in Burlington, WA to present the weekly local Foothills Toyota Tundra Racing Series. On the schedule this year are the 40th Annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup June 16-18 featuring $40,000 first place prize money, the Bob’s Burgers and Brew 360 Nationals August 5-6, and the World Of Outlaws Gold Rush Tour September 2-3.”

That’s not a typo, $40,000 to the winner of the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup. Fans will pack the three-tenths mile clay oval for the 40th annual event.