Submitted by Kris McKenzie
Ten cars signed in the pit gate at South Sound amid raindrops, clouds, and cold. The rain went away, as did the clouds, but it remained cold all evening long. the track was a little slick, but in general the drivers were doing a good job of keeping the cars under them. Kevin Koepke, who fought long and hard in 2010 to make "Rookie of the Year" in the 44 car, in spite of a myriad of woes, was there, and hoping that this racing luck had changed, only to learn - it hadn't! In and out of the pits, working and straining, but the bugs could never be worked out, so after failing to start the heat, Kopeke called it a night.
The three present rookies, Kris McKenzie from Abbotsford, B.C., Brian Crutcher of Covington, WA., and Steve Hughes of North bend all made their WMRA debut. Rookies Bobby Dempsey and Cole Tupling, will have their cars ready for the race at Wenatchee in early May, making the battle for rookie of the year heat up with a total of 5 rookies.
First qualifier on the track, Snake Livernash set the bar for all to shoot at with a time of 13:539. Everyone gave it their best shot, but no one could beat it and so Snake was the first driver to take advantage of two things new to WMRA in 2011. First, the Hi Tech Fast Time award of a crisp new $100.00 bill, and second, the 20 points that are now awarded for fast time.
Due to delays there were no trophy dashes for any of the classes running, and heat races were held to a minimum, so all ten cars were lined up for the first competitive event the heat race. However, Koepke was not able to get going, so nine cars took the green flag. At the start, Brian Crutcher nearly had the 45 car get away from him, but gathered it back in and took off after the field. Meanwhile Ben Petter from his third starting position grabbed the lead and really set sail. Margeson who followed Petter through was in second and Mitch Hoffses held third. The top three finished in that order, and all cars completed the 8 lap heat race.
The 30 lap main saw Abbotsford's Troy Globe take the lead from the pole, Ben Petter made a impressive 360 spin between turns one and two, kept the car going, and shot out after the field. Globe was followed by Hoffses, McKenzie, Bliss, Petter, Livernash, Margeson, Crutcher and Hughes. Pat Bliss, from third, got by both Hoffses and Globe as they were dealing with a back marker going down the back strait. Hoffses started working on Bliss, as Petter had worked his way into third and started a serious challenge to take the second position from Hoffses. Going into turn one on lap 11, the 50 and 45 car touched, sending the 45 car spinning A track official detected fluid under the car and sent it to the pits, however, an inspection revealed nothing was leaking from the car, but by then, it was too late, and the car was finished for the night. Going into turn three Petter's number 21 car got under the Hoffses Hawk/Gaerte and there was contact, which sent the Hoffses #5 up the bank, and back three positions in the field, though Hoffses retained control and was able to keep going, he dropped in right behind the 13 car of Snake Livernash. On lap 23, Petter had complete brake failure entering turn three and got into leader Pat Bliss, both cars tied together shot toward the outside wall at tremendous speed, making very hard contact, destroying the Maples #98, but thankfully, no injuries to either driver. Under the yellow, then red flag, the 11 car of Troy Globe dropped out with motor trouble. On the start, Margeson led Livernash, Hoffses, and rookie, McKenzie, and that was the finish order, seven laps later.
Qualifying: 1. Snake Livernash #13 - 13:539 2. Evan Margeson #50 - 13:609 3. Pat Bliss #98 - 13:724 4. Ben Petter #21 - 13:750 5. Mitch Hoffses #5 - 13:852 6. Troy Globe #11 - 14:185 7. Brian Crutcher #45 - 14:518 8. Kris McKenzie #41 - 14:610 9. Steve Hughes - 17:989 10. Kevin Koepke #44 - DNQ.
Heat; Petter, Margeson, Hoffses, Livernash, Globe, Bliss, McKenzie, Crutcher, Hughes.
Main Event; Margeson, Livernash, Hoffses, McKenzie, Bliss, Petter, Globe, Crutcher, Hughes.
Rookie of the Year: McKenzie 118, Crutcher 105, Hughes 100
Point Standings 1. Margeson, 157, 2. Livernash, 154, 3. Hoffses 132, 4. Petter 124, 5. Bliss119, 6. McKenzie 118, 7. Globe, 111, 8. Crutcher, 105, 9. Hughes, 100, 10. Koepke, 51.
Ten cars signed in the pit gate at South Sound amid raindrops, clouds, and cold. The rain went away, as did the clouds, but it remained cold all evening long. the track was a little slick, but in general the drivers were doing a good job of keeping the cars under them. Kevin Koepke, who fought long and hard in 2010 to make "Rookie of the Year" in the 44 car, in spite of a myriad of woes, was there, and hoping that this racing luck had changed, only to learn - it hadn't! In and out of the pits, working and straining, but the bugs could never be worked out, so after failing to start the heat, Kopeke called it a night.
The three present rookies, Kris McKenzie from Abbotsford, B.C., Brian Crutcher of Covington, WA., and Steve Hughes of North bend all made their WMRA debut. Rookies Bobby Dempsey and Cole Tupling, will have their cars ready for the race at Wenatchee in early May, making the battle for rookie of the year heat up with a total of 5 rookies.
First qualifier on the track, Snake Livernash set the bar for all to shoot at with a time of 13:539. Everyone gave it their best shot, but no one could beat it and so Snake was the first driver to take advantage of two things new to WMRA in 2011. First, the Hi Tech Fast Time award of a crisp new $100.00 bill, and second, the 20 points that are now awarded for fast time.
Due to delays there were no trophy dashes for any of the classes running, and heat races were held to a minimum, so all ten cars were lined up for the first competitive event the heat race. However, Koepke was not able to get going, so nine cars took the green flag. At the start, Brian Crutcher nearly had the 45 car get away from him, but gathered it back in and took off after the field. Meanwhile Ben Petter from his third starting position grabbed the lead and really set sail. Margeson who followed Petter through was in second and Mitch Hoffses held third. The top three finished in that order, and all cars completed the 8 lap heat race.
The 30 lap main saw Abbotsford's Troy Globe take the lead from the pole, Ben Petter made a impressive 360 spin between turns one and two, kept the car going, and shot out after the field. Globe was followed by Hoffses, McKenzie, Bliss, Petter, Livernash, Margeson, Crutcher and Hughes. Pat Bliss, from third, got by both Hoffses and Globe as they were dealing with a back marker going down the back strait. Hoffses started working on Bliss, as Petter had worked his way into third and started a serious challenge to take the second position from Hoffses. Going into turn one on lap 11, the 50 and 45 car touched, sending the 45 car spinning A track official detected fluid under the car and sent it to the pits, however, an inspection revealed nothing was leaking from the car, but by then, it was too late, and the car was finished for the night. Going into turn three Petter's number 21 car got under the Hoffses Hawk/Gaerte and there was contact, which sent the Hoffses #5 up the bank, and back three positions in the field, though Hoffses retained control and was able to keep going, he dropped in right behind the 13 car of Snake Livernash. On lap 23, Petter had complete brake failure entering turn three and got into leader Pat Bliss, both cars tied together shot toward the outside wall at tremendous speed, making very hard contact, destroying the Maples #98, but thankfully, no injuries to either driver. Under the yellow, then red flag, the 11 car of Troy Globe dropped out with motor trouble. On the start, Margeson led Livernash, Hoffses, and rookie, McKenzie, and that was the finish order, seven laps later.
Qualifying: 1. Snake Livernash #13 - 13:539 2. Evan Margeson #50 - 13:609 3. Pat Bliss #98 - 13:724 4. Ben Petter #21 - 13:750 5. Mitch Hoffses #5 - 13:852 6. Troy Globe #11 - 14:185 7. Brian Crutcher #45 - 14:518 8. Kris McKenzie #41 - 14:610 9. Steve Hughes - 17:989 10. Kevin Koepke #44 - DNQ.
Heat; Petter, Margeson, Hoffses, Livernash, Globe, Bliss, McKenzie, Crutcher, Hughes.
Main Event; Margeson, Livernash, Hoffses, McKenzie, Bliss, Petter, Globe, Crutcher, Hughes.
Rookie of the Year: McKenzie 118, Crutcher 105, Hughes 100
Point Standings 1. Margeson, 157, 2. Livernash, 154, 3. Hoffses 132, 4. Petter 124, 5. Bliss119, 6. McKenzie 118, 7. Globe, 111, 8. Crutcher, 105, 9. Hughes, 100, 10. Koepke, 51.