We also remembered long, long time fan and
former racer, Jimmie Collier, who passed on to his sweet reward
on
Racing Action by Andrew Kunas
It was gorgeous evening at Skagit Speedway
with a great crowd and 64 winged sprint cars on hand for the
fourth regular weekly show of the season on the
In qualifying, it was 1997 Northern Sprint
Tour champion Rick Fauver running around the 3/10 mile track the
quickest in the 360's with a time of 12.118 seconds. In the 410
class, former track champion Jim Carter of
Action started off with the 360's taking to the clay oval. In Heat 1, Jayme Barnes in the D.I.R.T. Racing #9 and John Huggins in the #17H started on the front row. Mike Sather would spin the Wil Kennedy #39 sprinter in turn 3 on the start. On the restart, it was Barnes who jumped out to the early lead, with Barry Martinez in the Jolly Construction #66 following him. Fauver would steer his #4 machine to second place on lap 2. Two laps later, Huggins would maneuver his way to third place. After eight laps, it was Barnes taking the win.
The second heat, the #98 of Bob Stephens and the #56 machine of the veteran John Youngquist started up front. On the third lap, the #7k of Danny Kirkpatrick went for a ride to bring out the red, but he walked away without injury. On the restart, it was Stephens leading the #24c of Chad Hillier, who won the 1999 track championship in the 360 division. The restart went bad right away, as Hillier got tangled on the front stretch fence, which turned him sideways and ended up being drilled by young Nick Engberg's #69E and Roger Oudman's #7o. Hillier's car was virtually destroyed, but Hillier surprisingly start climbing out of the car immediately after coming to rest. Oudman was not hurt and Engberg only needed an ice pack for his head, much to everyone's relief. Winning the race was Jason Solwold in the Huson Bros. Racing #3s.
Heat 3 had the #74 Drew Church and the #41 of Mark Withrow scheduled to start up front, but Church was unable to make the call. The Munn Logging #42 of Granite Fall's Alan Munn jumped out to the lead from his fourth starting position. Withrow followed as did the #59 of soon-to-be high school-graduate Andy Jacobson. On lap 6, the John Carroll Memorial #36 sprinter of Travis Hawthorne passed Jacobson for the third position, and on the last lap took second place from Withrow. At the checkered flag, it was Munn.
The sportsman sprints' first heat race had the #XX of Jimmy Dietz and #69 of Stanwood's Justin Knowles starting up front. Knowles took the early lead and after took laps it was Dietz, Alex Hantell, Kelsey Carpenter, and former NASCAR driver Gaylon Stewart rounding out the top five. Hantell would sprint in turns 3 and 4 for a caution on lap five. On the restart, the #3 of points leader Brian Ash would jump to fifth on the restart and went after fourth place immediately, eventually taking it from Stewart. Knowles took the win.
In Heat 2, the #73 of Brady Dart and #55 of Larry Weiding started on the front row. Dart would win it.
Heat 3 had the #47r of rookie Boyd Star and the #31 of Danny Bullock, last year's Clay Cup Nationals winner at Deming Speedway, starting in the front row positions. Bullock would take the early lead and would win it. On lap 4, Steve Parker, who won the May 11th feature, spun around in turn 4 for a yellow flag. Bullock was first across the stripe.
In the first heat race for the 410 sprints, fast timer Jimmy Carter in the Rudeen Racing #14c had problems and had to drop out and finish last. Jayme Barnes started second and would take the lead, followed by Jason Solwold in the #3s and Aaron Fell in the #15 machine. Solwold and Barnes were soon fighting for the lead, and on lap five, Solwold made the pass, taking the win ahead of Barnes.
Heat 2 had the #3b of Bob Duncan starting up front with the #26 of Kevin Rudeen. Rudeen would lead, followed by Duncan, Travis Hawthorne, the #77 of Kirk Fellers, the #96 of veteran Eddie Evans, and the #2 of points leader Mike Melwicks. Rudeen would win the event. Fellers spun in turn four coming to the checkers, allowing Evans and Melwicks to each move up a spot in the finishing order.
Heat 3 for the 410's had Jay R. Harkness in
the #6 and 40-year veteran Butch Gilbert in his familiar #604
machine started out front. Harkness would lead, followed by
The eight-lap B-main for the popular 360 sprints were next. Hillier, Engberg, and the troubled #18 of Travis Jacobson were unable to make the call. After eight laps, it was Sather taking the victory. The #77d of Dean Junell and #3P of Dan Pierson took the last transfer spots to the 25-lap A-main event, which was up next. Ron Florence in the Northwest Tug Sales #65 would be the alternate after taking fourth place.
The main event for the 360's turned out to
be a great race. Steve Kilcup and Alun Munn occupied the front
row to start the event. Danny Kirkpatrick and Barry Martinez
started in row two. There was trouble right away as the #9b of
Jeff Bell went flipping down the backstretch on the opening lap.
He walked away unhurt, but he was finished for the night. On the
complete restart, Munn jumped out ahead, with Kilcup,
Steve James and Kelsey Carpenter started on the front row the sportsman sprint main event, which was shortened to 15-laps due to numerous cautions and time constraints. Kirk Kappon would take the early lead only to spin out in turn 4 on the second lap. James would inherit the lead. On lap five, Larry Weiding spun his #55 sprinter in turn 4 also. Chuck Ashe pulled his #5x machine into the pits to change a left rear tire. On the restart, Bud Ashe would charge from fifth to third on the backstretch in his #57 car. Soon after, Weiding spun again, as did Kevin Kirkpatrick and Steve Parker. On the restart, it was James, Marc Baddock's #2m, Bud Ashe, Brian Ash, and Gaylon Stewart running in the top five with five laps down. Baddock went for the lead on the restart but slipped, allowing Bud Ashe to make the pass inside for second place. Ashe was soon duking it out with James for the lead, and on lap 11 he got in turn 1. Brian Ash would pass Baddock for third place on the next lap, but a caution flag flew again when Kevin Kirkpatrick, Weiding, and Boyd Star's #47r were all sitting backwards on the backstretch. The restart afterwards failed, as Baddock flipped in turns 1 and 2, collecting Brady Dart in the process. Baddock walked away unhurt. Ash would pass James for second place on the restart. On lap 14, Chuck Ashe would spin his car around. Officials then decided to shorten the race to 15 laps. After the restart, Bud Ashe took the win.
The "Thunder 'n Lightning
Commission" 410 sprints had their 25-lapper next to cap off
the great evening of racing. Jim Carter's 14C was unable to
start, so teammate and owner Kevin Rudeen allowed Carter to drive
his #26 car and tag the back of the field. Travis Hawthorne and
Jason Solwold both started up front to lead the pack to the green
flag. On the very first lap, Aaron Fell, last year's 1100cc
mini-sprint champion at Deming Speedway, flipped upside down in
turns 1 and 2. On the restart, Solwold jumped out ahead and was
running away with it. However, Mike Melwicks and Toni Lutar, both
from
Hillier, the #99s of Randy Ridge , and a fast moving Jim Carter running in the top five spots. Carter would soon pass Ridge for fourth place. On lap 18, disaster struck for Solwold's #3s as he was puting more distance between himself and Evans, as he collected with the #27c of Jim Cress and spun out in turn 4, stunning the crowd. Evans would inherit the lead, with Hillier, Carter, Ridge, and Alun Munn behind him. On lap 19, another red flag came out as Cress went upside-down on the backstretch. He walked away unhurt as well. After the restart, Toni Lutar, who raced his way back to sixth place, passed Munn for fifth on lap 21. At the checkered flag after 25 laps, it was Eddie Evans in his #96 sprinter winning his very first 410 main event victory.
FAST TIME 360: #4 Rick Fauver 12.118; FAST TIME 410: 14c Jim Carter 11.928
360 Heat 2: 3S Jason Solwold, 98 Bob
Stephens, 56 John Youngquist, 9B Jeff Bell, 7K Danny Kirkpatrick,
18 Travis Jacobson, 24c
360 Heat
SPORTSMAN Heat 1: 69 Justin Knowles, XX Jimmy Deitz, 79K Kelsey Carpenter 3 Brain Ash, 21C Gaylon Stewart, 27 Randy Barnes, 99E Alex Hantel
SPORTSMAN Heat 2: 73 Brady Dart, 29 Steve James, 2M Marc Baddock, 33s Kirk Kappon, 88 Larry Weiding, 7K Kevin Kirkpatrick
SPORTSMAN Heat
410 Heat 1: 3s Jason Solwold, 9
Jayme Barnes, 24c
410 Heat
410 Heat 3: 6 Jay R Harkness, 3c Cal
Herdson, 604 Butch Gilbert, 42 Alan Munn, 4x Toni Lutar, 99s
360 B
SPORTSMAN A
360 A
410 A
By J&J Motorsports
Friday, May 10, 2002 (Alger, WA)-Sixty-two 360 sprinters made the trip to Skagit Speedway on a sunny Friday evening to participate in the opening race of the season of the hy-per-lube Northern Sprint Tour. We welcomed back Fred and Debbie Brownfield, George Hespe, Fred Raynard, other N.S.T. staff as well as Chet Corey for the first time in six years. Fred R. took over the booth from Skagit’s own Danny B. for this event. He will be here again tomorrow night for the second race, rescheduled at Skagit after the Portland track lost its lease. The track conditions were incredible from start to finish. Tonight’ races consisted of time-ins, two non-qualifier heats with the winner of each moving up to the C-main. Four heats followed the non-qualifiers. The top four finishers of each heat moved directly to the A-Main. There were three main events, C-main, B-main and A-main. The time-ins was completed without incident until the 7o of Roger Oudman, the last car to time-in rolled at the flag stand.
In two close races, Melissa Yates in her 34 and Nick Engberg in his 69 moved up to start at the back of the C-main. In heat #1 John Tharp took the checkered followed by the V8 of Jeff Hodgson; Barry Martinez, fast time of the evening, had a good lead until he spun out in turn 2. Quick Rick Fauver crossed the finish first in heat 2 with Glen Borden Jr nipping at his tail tank. #11 Roger Crockett and 9K Kasey Kahne dueled for the lead in heat 3 with Roger coming out on top. A red flag marred heat 4 when the 9 of Jayme Barnes went over the wheel of 24C Chad Hillier and rolled. Heat 4 saw Joe Ramaker’s 98 beat out the 0J of Jay Cole.
The C-Main event started with the 96 of Eddie Evans on the pole beside Dan Menne in the 75. Behind them were 39 Steve Tiner and 77F Jason Finley, followed in third row by 23 Richie Peterson and 68 Gary Vaughn. The 75 pulled out ahead to be the first past the flag stand at the start. Through lap five Menne was chased by Evan and Tiner. In the sixth lap Dean Junell spun in turn two. Dan Menne led the field at the restart. A battle for the lead ensued but Menne maintained with three laps to go. After keeping the lead throughout the C-Main, the 75 of Dan Menne took the checkered followed close behind by Steve Tiner, both moving into the B-Main.
Between the C-Main and the Lighting Ceremony, the young guns dominated the track with a six-car six-lap trophy dash. Kasey Kahne had the pole next to Tony Menard, then Travis Jacobson and Jason Solwold, followed by Chad Hillier and Rick Fauver. Kasey jumped right out for the lead, which he kept throughout the event. Kasey Kahne took the checkered in this fast and furious event followed at a distance by Tony Menard, Travis Jacobson, Jason Solwold, Rick Fauver and Chad Hillier.
With Danny B. announcing, the new era at Skagit Speedway continued to unfold after a rousing speech from Steve Beitler. As he talked, the new lights gradually came on like the sun rising at dawn, turning night into day. It was awesome to see the change take place on and around the track. It took 3-4 minutes to complete, then Steve gave Louie Armey the order to turn out the lights for the final time and they twinkled off. Not only did the track glow, the parking lot and the camping area were bathed in light.
Lining up for the B-main Barry Martinez and Jeff Jansma, Travis Hawthorne and Jayme Barnes, and Todd Heikes with Brandon Harkness. As they swept two abreast around the track Barry Martinez took the lead and by lap six was moving into lap traffic. A yellow in lap 6 put Travis Hawthorne into the pits for a tire change but was unable to make it out in time for the restart. At the start of lap twelve, Heikes, Barnes and Harkness were still attempting to overtake Martinez. They started spreading out, moving through lap traffic. As they approached the white flag, a yellow was through when a spin out sent the 22 to the back. A green/white was thrown then Martinez took the checkered followed by Jansma, Barnes, and Heikes, all moving up to the A-Main.
Kasey Kahne in the 9K had the pole at the start of the A-Main. Next to him was the 12 of Tony Menard, Travis Jacobson and Jason Solwold started in the second row with Rick Fauver and Chad Hillier in row three. Coming around and breaking out to take the lead at the start was the Kahne followed by Jacobson, Solwold and Hillier. In lap two, Solwold overtook Jacobson. Flying into the fifth lap were Kahne, Solwold, Jacobson, and Hillier. The leaders had moved into lap traffic by lap nine. Jeff Jansma brought out the yellow when he spun in the back straight. The track was incredible, no dust, all grooves useable and the awesome new lights. The Kahne took the lead at the restart out of turn 4 when the V8 of Jeff Hodgson spun and brought out another yellow. With nine laps down, Kasey was on the gas out of turn four. The 9K of Kahne kept the lead with Solwold, Jacobson, and Hillier maintaining their positions. The red was thrown in the eleventh lap when Hodgson flipped in the front stretch. The car was taken off the track in surprisingly good condition. Kasey led the field out of three into four at the restart, with 15 laps remaining. In fifteen, Jacobson had moved into third and maintained that spot until he pulled into the pits in the 20th lap. The lead changed in lap 21 with Solwold taking over. Kahne took it back but lapped traffic slowed him and Solwold took it back. Moving through lapped traffic and dueling for the lead were Solwold, Kahne and Hillier. The checkered was taken by Jason Solwold as Chad Hillier slipped past Kasey Kahne to take second, leaving third for Kahne. So a great night of racing came to an end, good track, great lights, good crowd for a Friday night, a successful night of racing.
66 Barry Martinez 12.131, 27C Jeff Jansma 12.256, 36 Travis Hawthorne 12.294, 9 Jayme Barnes 12.302, 22 Todd Heikes 12.311, 12 Tony Menard 12.317, 3 Jason Solwold 12.353, 24C Chad Hillier 12.357, 29H Brandon Harkness 12.373, 4 Rick Fauver 12.376, 9 Kasey Kahne 12.399, 21 Ron Miska 12.403, 18 Travis Jacobson 12.424, 3C Cal Herdson 12.437, 6 Jay R Harkness 12.444, 5SP Shawna Wilskey 12.465, 69 John Tharp 12.471, 72 Glen Borden Jr 12.493, 11 Roger Crockett 12.513, 98 Joe Ramaker 12.515
#1—34 Melissa Yates, 17 Richie Brown, 49 Dawn Morrison, 7 Cal Carter, 0H Mark Hinkle, 3K Brian Ash, 69P Rod Perkins, 7XB Brian Kirkpatrick, 7K Danny Kirkpatrick, 99 Tyler Pinceman
#2—69 Nick Engberg, 76E Josh Edson, 28 Rick Smith, 59 Andy Jacobson, 17 John Huggins, 17J Joe Constance, 98S Bob Stephens, 79K Kelsey Carpenter, 65 Ron Florence, 28K Kevin Smith, 77D Dean Junell
#1--69 John Tharp, V8 Jeff Hodgson, 18 Travis Jacobson, 42 Alan Munn, 29H Brandon Harkness, 22 Todd Heikes, 23 Richie Peterson, 96 Eddie Evan, 56 John Youngquist, 66 Barry Martinez
#2--4 Rick Fauver, 72 Glen Borden Jr, 3N Billy Nutter, 12 Tony Menard, 57C Chris Schmelze, 22 Geoff Beck, 27C Jeff Jansma, 75 Dan Benne, 3C Cal Herdson, 68 Gary Vaughn
#3—11 Roger Crockett, 9K Kasey Kahne, 75S Dale Smith, 3 Jason Solwold, 2 Scott Aumen, 39 Steve Tiner, 0 Steve Kilcup, 14 Robert McNulty, 6 Jay R Harkness, 36 Travis Hawthorne
#4—98 Joe Ramaker, 0J Jay Cole, 5SP Shawna Wilskey, 24C Chad Hillier, 21 Ron Miska, 41H Danny Horner, 77F Jason Finley, 34S Donny Fry, 41 Mark Withrow, 9 Jayme Barnes
1st #75 Dan Menne, 39 Steve Tiner, 96 Eddie Evan, 23 Richie Peterson, 77F Jason Finley, 68 Gary Vaughn, 41 Mark Withrow, 69 Nick Engberg, 99 Tyler Pinceman, 98S Bob Stephens, 34 Melissa Yates, 77D Dean Junell
1st 66 Barry Martinez, 2nd 27C Jeff Jansma, 3rd 9 Jayme Barnes, 4th 22T Todd Heikes, 5th 6 Jay R Harkness, 29H Brandon Harkness, 39 Steve Tiner, 57C Chris Schmelze, 3C Cal Herdson, 57C Chris Schmelze, 34S Donny Fry, 41H Danny Horner, 75 Dan Menne, 0 Steve Kilcup, 21 Ron Miska, 56 Youngquist, 22 Geoff Beck, 2 Scott Aumen, 36 Travis Hawthorne
1st #3 Jason Solwold, 2nd #24C Chad Hillier, 3rd #9K Kasey Kahne, 4th #75S Dale Smith, 5th #22T Todd Heikes, 6th #66 Barry Martinez, 7th #9 Jayme Barnes, 8th #11 Roger Crockett, 9th #4 Rick Fauver, 10th #5SP Shawna Wilskey, 11th 0J Jay Cole, 12th #98 Joe Ramaker, 13th #3N Billy Nutter, 14th #72 Glen Borden Jr, 15th #69 John Tharp, 16th #12 Tony Menard, 17th #42 Alan Munn, 18t #18 Travis Jacobson, 19th #V8 Jeff Hodgson, 20t #27C Jeff Jansma