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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Keeping Pace

Riddle Wins Late Model Season Opener

Yakima Speedway logo. (courtesy of Yakima Speedway)
Yakima Speedway logo. (courtesy of Yakima Speedway)

Defending Yakima Speedway late model champion Owen Riddle continued to show a strong hand after an impressive top-3 run at the 44th Annual Apple Cup on April 18. Riddle broke through for his first win of 2010 over Erick Hargraves and JC Wofford as Ford Fusions took two of the top three finishing positions.

Courtesy: Yakima Speedway Media Relations

Yakima, Wash. (April 24, 2010)-2009 Track Champion Owen Riddle made a statement at the Yakima Speedway Super Late Model Challenge Series season opener last night by setting fast time and capturing the main event win in his 2010, Better Haul Auto Transport, Don Riddle Excavating Ford Fusion. Owen Riddle started in the sixth position, due to a six car invert draw, and then battled Wapato’s JC Wofford for 2nd place for 49 laps then assumed the lead on lap 61 after passing Yakima’s Erick Hargraves who had been leading the race from the green flag. Portland Oregon Native Joey Tanner, who started in the fourth position, lost a motor on the first lap causing the whole pack to stack up. All of the field avoided the wreck and quickly began to battle for position until lap 7 when oil coming from the blown motor of the Sommerset Glass & Mirror Chevrolet driven by Chuck Dills of Ellensburg caused Moxee’s Mike Longton and Yakima’s Ron Bemis to get together resulting in both of the cars going off the track in turn one and bringing out the red flag for the necessary track clean up. Both Longton and Bemis would both make it back on the track and battle each other for the rest of the race finishing fourth and fifth respectively. th position would take the lead from Don Klang by lap 5. Chris VanAmburg who started in the 7th position would later make his way through the pack to challenge Huffines for the lead, the two would come together resulting in a black flag penalty for VanAmburg and opening the door for the Chevy Malibu of Richard Peters who would assume the lead and take the checker Flag. Yakima Speedway opening night would also see Joe Roberts win the Youth Hornet Main Event and Josh Parmentier dominate the hornet main event for the win. The always wild and entertaining Bump To Pass cars would put on a crowd pleasing show that would result in the first win in 2010 for Donnie Stevens. The next race for Yakima Speedway is scheduled for next Saturday Night, May 1st, featuring the youth Hornets, Hornets, Pure Stocks, Bump To Pass and the Super Late Model Challenge Series. Gates open at 4:00, opening ceremonies at 6:00, side by side racing action to follow.

"It was a good night for me and my crew, and to be able to start of the 2010 season with a Super late Model Challenge Series win is just what we needed" said Riddle. Owen Riddle, who is the current reigning division champion, is competing to win the Yakima Speedway Late Model Challenge Series championship which consists of 11 races and a record $30,000 purse this season.

In the Sportsman Division, Jason Huffines who started in the 8



Keeping Pace

Motorsports correspondent Doug Pace keeps up with motorsports news and notes from around the region.