Evergreen Speedway Super Speedway of the West! – Northwest's Destination for Motorsports!
What’s Fair is Fair
Monroe, WA – Six classes took to the various tracks that Evergreen Speedway offered up as FoxSports 1380-KRKO Radio and Frontier Communications presented NASCAR Night at the Races. In addition to the racers on the tracks, the lights, smells and attractions of the Evergreen State Fair added to excitement.
The Interstate Battery Youth Hornets took to the track for the first main event of the evening. With the divisions best car count of the season, Cassidy Sundholm raced to her 2nd win of the season in the 15-lap feature on the 1/5th mile flat track.
The Foster Press Mini Stocks took to the 3/8’s oval for their 25-lap main event. Points leader Nat Barber appeared to be on his way to another victory in what has been an amazing season until issues with his car sent him to an eventual 7th place finish. Brad Thomas picked up his first victory of the season in a thrilling battle with Devin Kessler. Travis Woodward made it to the Angel of the Winds Victory Stage with his 3rd place finish. Barber maintained his season long lead in the Championship Points over Michael Fritz who could only manage 11 laps in the main event.
The Les Schwab Street Stock division may come down to the closest points battle of the season. 18 points separated the top 3 drivers with Darrell Lutovsky coming into the night with a 3-point lead over Chad Fitzpatrick and an 18-point lead over Steve Woods. Lutovsky’s night was over when mechanical issues allowed him to run only 11 out of the 30 laps in the main event. Woods drastically improved his position in the points with another win. The racer who finished 2nd, Duane Schoesbeck has raced Street Stocks sporadically over the past few years, but has been an absolute master on the 3/8’s winning 11-Championships with the Western Washington Racing Association over the years. Chad Fitzpatrick finished 3rd.
The Interstate Battery Hornets lined up for a 20-lap main event with 22 cars taking the green flag on the road course. There is one point on the 3rd turn of the course that is a narrow connecting point between the infield and the backstretch of the 3/8’s that the Hornets use as part of their track. It’s best described as a “choke” point because it can create a log jam of cars on the opening laps. Points leader Dawson Cox found himself slammed up against that wall at the beginning of the race that forced him into the pits for a check-up on his Championship bound car. Cox’s team managed to keep him on the lead lap and Cox managed a 9th place finish. Race winner Michael Jensen picked up another win with Jamie Corbett and Pete Jensen finishing behind the 521 car.
The WESCO Sprints qualified 21 cars and started 18 for their 25 lap main event. Points leader Randy Dubois put a spanking on the field in qualifying with a 14.818 second lap on the 3/8’s track. Local racer Bert Johnson took home the main event trophy with the win over Dan Matthews and Tim Halliday. This victory was special for Johnson for the simple fact that when the series raced Evergreen back in June, Johnson was unable to make it to the main event!
Wrapping up the night was a 75-lap feature for the Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Models. Jeff Knight led qualifying over the 14 cars attempting. Doni Wanat led the early part of the race until Tyler Tanner took the lead around lap 30. Numerous cautions due to spins, mechanical issues, etc. plagued the race. Tanner hung on for his first win of the season with a strong run. Defending Champion Mike Holden charged to 2nd and former Champion Daniel Moore finished a season best 3rd. Points leader Naima Lang charged to the front before what appeared to me a handling issue sent him to an 8th place finish.
The 2nd race weekend of the Evergreen State Fair starts this Saturday with a night featuring all 3 Figure 8 divisions, along with the return of the West Coast Vintage Modifieds, the Northwest Pro-4 Trucks and the Dwarf Cars. Sunday September 4th will feature the Demo Derby Fireworks Show at the Fair Presented by Dodge of Monroe. Evergreen Speedways own Mr. Dizzy Mike Buse will treat the crowd to another of his fantastic stunts. Check out www.evergreenspeedway.com for ticket information.