Twice the racing action at SCR
Spokane County Raceway hosts a special dual-ticket program of drag racing and oval track action this weekend.
Doug Pace
The Spokesman-Review
Spokane County Raceway hosts the “Napa Night of Fire & Fox Hunt” Saturday evening with racing going on simultaneously on the quarter-mile drag strip and half-mile oval in a unique dual-ticket opportunity for race fans.
Female race fans young or old receive free admission to the facility. Once inside, depending on where a person sits, it could be possible to watch racing on both tracks at the same time.
Access to each facility is available with the single ticket purchase.
On the drag strip will be Nostalgia Funny Cars, Jet Cars, Nostalgia Alcohol Funny Cars and the final round of SCR bracket racing for 2009. More than 250 race cars are expected on the grounds Saturday night, according to SCR Marketing Manager Cindy Gibbs-Arias.
“This will be the final appearance of the year for the Nostalgia cars and the ground-pounding Jet Cars,” Gibbs-Arias said.
Running the race at night adds to the excitement.
“It’s a sensory overload because you see the flames coming out of the (dragster) headers much better at night,” Gibbs-Arias said. “It’s a more festive atmosphere at the track at a night race on either side of the racetrack. This is a great nighttime facility with its sight lines and the lighting is really good for racing after dark.
“A fan can come into either facility and walk atop the oval track side and see the cars go down the strip while the race cars run on the half-mile.”
Both tracks are working together Saturday night to take a dedicated intermission for several contests and special activities.
“We’re going to have a solid field of late models on Saturday,” said SCR oval track general manager, Larry Bertrand. David Garber, Andy Brown, Casey Akers, Ryen Tarr, the Northwest Early Stocks and the Pony Stocks will be racing.
Car counts in the late model and Pony Stocks classes have been strong all year and Bertrand expects that to continue this weekend, he added.
“Our Zip’s Pony Stocks division has been averaging nearly 20 cars each time they’ve raced here at Spokane County Raceway and we expect that along with some new drivers including Billy Husk and Rod Bambino to challenge the points leaders (first place) KC Garber and (second place) Rod Sankey plus our late model class has a great points race with the Dean Boever team having a chance to move into the points lead with their driver if they have a good night,” Bertrand said.
Sprint boats
United States Sprint Boat Association (USSBA) racing returns to Webbs Slough for the final time this season with their second stop in the farm community of St. John.
Events kick off with a boat display in downtown tonight. Festivities get under way at 5 p.m. with safety inspections and a show and shine on Front Street.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday, with qualifying at 10 and racing to follow.
Fans interested in making a late summer camping trip to the Palouse can stay at the St. John Fairgrounds, which offers sites featuring full RV hook-ups. Camping is also available at the slough without a reservation.
Tickets can be purchased through TicketsWest until end of business on Friday or at the gate on Saturday. Seating is general admission with plenty of open ground to choose from. Coolers are allowed, but race organizers ask that no alcohol be brought inside the spectator area.
