Courtesy: SCR Media Relations
SPOKANE, Wash. (June 3, 2012)-The night began with a field of twenty
seven late models, but in the end it was the full moon that scared the
field to a finish of thirteen remaining. After 100 laps it was the
central Washington drivers who took the evening’s podium. After running a
near perfect second half of the race Owen Riddle and his Ford Fusion
rose to the top spot to take home the big payday. Mike Longton also
driving a Ford brought home second with Eric Hargraves finishing third
in his Chevy.
Qualifying began with the top ten drivers all within one second of
breaking a track record, Mike Longton took the top spot of twenty five
drivers to qualify. As the field was set and the invert set drivers took
to the front stretch for intros and then a fury of fireworks to get
things rolling.
Drivers took four to five laps to settle down when the first caution
was thrown after Alex Kerslake spun on the back stretch. Lap 33 brought
out the second caution of the night as Shane Mitchell appaired to have
some mechanical issue which ended the night for himself and Pete
Harding. The start of lap 33 as the leaders Gary Lewis and Dave Garber
came out of turn four Lewis spun leaving JC Wofford no were to go but
into Lewis, now our third caution on lap 33. As the line up was adjusted
once agan the green flag for lap 33 brought once more a caution
involving seven cars with the worst damage to Garrett Evans and his
Chevy retiring for the evening.
With the field dwindling in car count Dave Garber took over as the
leader till Owen Riddle came from the back of the pack and pressured
Garber. To the rear of the field a battle of Chevy crate motors swapped
positions as Andy Brown and Jake Bisset put on a show of side by side
racing for near 20 laps. With Garber and Riddle still racing on lap 83
Garber exited to pit road for Fuel surrendering the lead to Owens who
settled into a rhythm and take the first win in the Dr. Pepper Super
Late Model Series.
Dr. Pepper SLM Sunkist 100: (1) #10 Owen Riddle Naches, WA. (2) #37
Mike Longton Moxee, WA. (3) #51 Eric Hargraves Yakima, WA. (4) #28 Alex
Kerslake Maple Valley, WA. (5) #41 Andy Brown Spokane, WA. (6) #96 Jake
Bisset Valley Ford, WA. (7) #93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA. (8) #09 Clint
Haybart Cranbrook, BC. (9) #16 Blake Williams Spokane, WA. (10) #73 Gary
Lewis Snohomish, WA. (11) #5 Ryan Wells Hingham, MT.(12) #15 Taylor
Riddle Naches, WA. (13) #7 Jessie Taylor Clay7ton, WA. (14) #99 Shane
Mitchell Orondo, WA. (15) #39 Pete Harding Surry, BC (16) #100 JC
Wofford Wapato, WA. (17) #64 Garrett Evans E. Wenatchee, WA. (18) #0
Brent Harris E. Wenatchee, WA. (19) #95 Dan Garber Spokane, WA. (20) #05
Zach Moran Kennewick, WA. (21) #5B Billy Belton Spokane, WA. (22) #80
Travis Allen Spokane, WA. (23) #12 Giles Thornton Whitefish, MT. (24) #4
Dave Smick Pasco, WA.