Evergreen Speedway Super Speedway of the West! – Northwest's Destination for Motorsports!
What a crazy night!
Monroe WA – It was Driver Reunion Night presented by KLB Construction this past Saturday at Evergreen Speedway. With many drivers, crew members and past track employees in attendance, along with an energetic crowd and threatening skies, six classes of competitors made for a busy atmosphere.
FOXSPORTS 1380-KRKO Radio was also involved in the night’s proceedings as the official Radio Station of Evergreen Speedway provided listeners with passes to the track. Qualifying took place early in the afternoon, with the Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Models not participating due to the damp track conditions. The Interstate Battery Hornets used their 3-lap European style qualifying session. Pete Jensen bested the 24 cars that went out in groups of 6 to set the fast time. Foster Press Mini Stock qualifying was led by Cody Koroshes. “Cowboy” John Carlson set the fast time in the Outlaw Figure 8 class and Cody Hoopes topped the 11 car Buzz Inn Steakhouse field. The Les Schwab Street Stocks determine their line-ups based on points.
The main events started with the Interstate Batteries Hornets taking to the road course in a 20 lap feature. Michael Jensen continued his magical month of June with his second consecutive main event win. Jaimie Corbett took second with points leader Dawson Cox finishing third.
The Foster Press Mini Stocks took to the 3/8’s oval with points leader Nat Barber starting mid-pack. A lot of beating and banging occurred in this 25-lap main. Race winner Michael Fritz held off a charge late in the race from Barber to finally put an end to “The Streak”. Barber fiished second with a very well running Devin Kessler taking third.
The Interstate Batteries Youth Hornets returned to the 1/5th mile flat track with a 15 lap main event. In the end, it was Cameron Iverson winning the race, with Dodge Smirz in second and Dario Retych continuing to get on the podium with his third place finish.
The Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Models were already a race behind with the rained out Galloway 150 Shootout. Teams had hoped to use that valuable practice, qualifying and competing for 150 laps on the 5/8’s oval to: A) claim bragging rights to a nice winner’s purse and B) gain seat time to prepare for the 5th Annual Summer Showdown coming up on June 24th & 25th. While the teams got some 5/8’s practice time for a while on the Friday preceding the Galloway, they’ll have to alter their plans in order to run the Showdown. With the division scheduled to compete on the 3/8’s this past Saturday, teams were looking forward to actually racing a 75 lap main prior to the weekend off before the Showdown.
Track conditions didn’t allow practice or qualifying attempts for the SLM cars. With a break in the weather forecast for mid-way through the main events, officials decided to at least attempt to run a main event. Teams lined up for a single file start and with Tyler Tanner led the pack to the green flag. Only eight laps in, the rain started back up and the race was red-flagged with the hope that it would be a short squall moving through the area. Cars were parked on the backstretch of the 3/8’s and the remaining divisions lined up for their mains.
The Outlaw Figure 8 class presented 9 cars with John Carlson on the pole. Points leader Chris Harrison led the early part of the race until his car visibly slowed. The race developed into a 2-car battle between Nick Gunderson and Chris Curtis. Gunderson led Curtis as the laps wound down and upon the white flag being displayed, the two tangled with Curtis trying to get inside Gunderson at the line. Seth Funden took advantage of the incident to get his first win of the season and take over the points lead. Gunderson recovered to finish second and Zack Larson finished third.
The Les Schwab Street Stocks were broug ht out to attempt to help dry the 3/8’s so the Super Late Models could finish their main. 13 cars lined up for the 30-lap main event with Steve Ptacek finally getting the win that has eluded him this season. Ptacek ran strong and hit his marks with precision finishing ahead of Steve Woods and Darrell Lutovsky.
Officials determined that the track still wasn’t dry enough to allow the Super Late Models to run on, so with tow trucks, pace cars and members of the Cascade Push Truck Association tried valiantly to dry the track, but with the curfew approaching it was decided to cancel the race and it will be run at a later date in the season.
Coming up this Saturday will be Family Night Presented by Nelson Motorsports. The Monroe Grocery Outlet Super Stock Figure 8’s will run, along with the Buzz Inn Steakhouse Stinger 8’s, Northwest Pro-4 Trucks, V-8 Extremes and the return of the Northwest Pro-4 Alliance.
Tickets can be reserved online at www.evergreenspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway office at 360-805-6100.