By Stefanie Nordberg

Pablo, MT - (July 20th, 2002) - Half time entertainment at Mission Valley Speedway on Saturday thrilled kids and adults alike. The annual roll-over contest was held pitting four drivers and their cars up to the task of who could roll the most times after three attempts at the ramp. Defending 2001 champion, Willy Ovit of Plains, was the first to try completing 1-¾ rolls earning him nine points. Tim Wanamaker of Noxon completed a ¾ roll on his first run. David Scray of Polson made a complete roll for five points, while Michael Snell of Pablo was unable to roll his car on his first attempt.

Each car had three attempts (if the car would run to do so), bringing the final runs down to Ovitt and Wanamaker, who had both accumulated nine pts after their first two runs. Ovitt’s third and final attempt was a half roll ending on his roof giving him three more points for a total of 12. Wanamaker, on his final attempt, revved his car engine, hitting the ramp just right and rolled for three complete turns. Fifteen points were added to Wanamaker’s nine giving him a 24-point total for the $200 and trophy win.

Trophy girl for Saturday nights’ presentations was Jessica Steinebach, a Plains High School Freshman and daughter of Bomber driver Ken Steinebach and wife Dede. Trophy sponsor of the night was Snap-On Tools, Donald Jergesen - Kalispell sales rep. Thanks to George Flynn for providing his1969 Chevy Chevelle, driven by his son Dean as trophy car for the evening.

MGD Light Hobby’s, Bombers, Bomber 4’s and Krusers, along with kids rides and the rollover contest made for an exciting evening with excellent weather conditions for fans and drivers alike. Bomber points leader, Ron Watt, #48, of Pablo, posted fast time of the night as well as first place finishes in the Heat and Main Event Bomber races. He was unable to complete a clean sweep however due to the Bomber A Trophy Dash being won by Plains driver, Rob Steinebach, #9.

Plenty of spinouts, cautions, red flag restarts and black flags flew on Saturday night as well. With only a lap into the Bomber heat race, Lolo’s Doug Moeller, #74 spun. Moeller gathered it back up and got back into the race, only to have Watt #48 and Pete Zeiler, #44 of St. Ignatius spin out on the next lap as well. This one called for a red flag restart which thereafter saw #43, driven by Rick Lozeau spinout. The second restart lasted, but saw #0, Ovitt spin on lap 6, and #54 John Knerr receive a black-flag. By lap nine, Lozeau #43 spun a second time and opted to pull from the race. The final sixteen laps of the heat race were run with no further mishaps.

MGD Light Hobby Stock #2, Shawn Blixt took his first ever Main Event win fending off rookie #17 Brian Hewankorn the final two laps. Blixt who was involved in a disappointing Heat race wreck with Missoula’s #69, John Sterrett, on turn four of the start, was able to take off the torn fenders and nose allowing him to compete in both Hobby Stock Races. Sterrett received a black flag due to the incident in the Heat race.

On tap next weekend the 27th July is the Pepsi/Pizza Hut Super Stock Twin 50 - dbl pts race, Flathead Legends, Noon’s Formula Indy’s and Budweiser Compacts! Time trials begin at 6 pm with racing at 7 pm. Check our website for current race stats and photos at www.missionvalleyspeedway.com or our 24 hr information hotline at 675-RACE.

Results (DNS=Did not start, DQ=Disqualified)

All race results unofficial pending tech official’s rulings.

July 20th^th, 2002

Fast Time of the night: Brian Hewankorn - 18.03

Trophy Dash A: 1) Shawn Blixt, 2) Chuck Morigeau, 3) Brad Lee, 4) Hewankorn

Heat: 1) Hewankorn, 2) Lee, 3) Jon Blixt, 4) Morigeau, 5) S. Blixt, 6) George Bruun, DQ) John Sterrett, DNS) Bob Watt

Main: 1) S. Blixt, 2) Hewankorn, 3) Lee, 4) J. Blixt, 5) Bruun, 6) Morigeau, DNS) Sterrett and Watt

Fast Time of the night: Ron Watt - 19.13

Trophy Dash A: 1) Rob Steinebach, 2) Watt, 3) Ryan Troutwine, 4) Tom Faber

Trophy Dash B: 1) Willy Ovitt, 2) John Knerr, 3) Pete Zeiler, 4) Steve Mills

Heat: 1) Watt, 2) Troutwine, 3) R. Steinebach, 4) Faber, 5) Ovitt, 6) Doug Moeller, 7) Mills, 8) Zeiler, 9) Rick Lozeau, 10) Ken Steinebach, DQ) Knerr

Main: 1) Watt, 2) Troutwine, 3) R. Steinebach, 4) Zeiler, 5) Ovitt, 6) Mills, 7) Knerr, 8) Faber, 9) Moeller, 10) Lozeau, 11) K. Steinebach

Fast Time of the night: Ben Dumont - 19.53

Trophy Dash: 1) Dumont, 2) Bonnie Shepard, 3) Alvin Mitchell, 4) Kchena Bisson

Heat: 1) Dumont, 2) Shepard, 3) Mitchell, 4) Bisson

Main: 1) Shepard, 2) Bisson, 3) Mitchell, DQ) Dumont

Fast Time of the night: Dicken & Marjerrison - 21.16

Trophy Dash: 1) Steinert & Chappel, 2) Aimsback & Morigeau, 3) Dicken & Marjerrison, 4) Miguel & Sanders

Main: 1) Steinert & Chappel, 2) Aimsback & Morigeau, 3) Miguel & Sanders, 4) Taber & Barrett

1^st place $200.00 w/Trophy: Tim Wanamaker - Noxon: 1) ¾ roll - 4 pts, 2) Full roll - 5 pts, 3) 3 full rolls - 15 pts for a total of 24 pts!

2^nd place: Willy Ovitt - Plains: 1) 1 and ¾ rolls - 9 pts, 2) no roll, 3) ½ roll - 3 pts for a total of 12 pts.

3^rd place: David Scray - Polson: 1) Full roll - 5 pts, 2) no roll, 3) scratch…car dead. Total pts 5.

4^th place: Michael Snell - Pablo: 1) no roll, 2) ¾ roll - 4 pts, 3) scratch…car dead. Total pts 4.