Naches, Wash. native Owen Riddle rode into Spokane County Raceway's Dr. Pepper Late Model Series season-opening Sunkist 100 with momentum on his side. Winning this year's Yakima Speedway Apple Cup, then running strong in Wenatchee's 200-lap late model opener set the table for Riddle to show the Spokane faithful his talent. He did not disappoint!

Courtesy: SCR Media Relations

SPOKANE, Wash. (June 3, 2012)-The night began with a field of twenty seven late models, but in the end it was the full moon that scared the field to a finish of thirteen remaining. After 100 laps it was the central Washington drivers who took the evening’s podium. After running a near perfect second half of the race Owen Riddle and his Ford Fusion rose to the top spot to take home the big payday. Mike Longton also driving a Ford brought home second with Eric Hargraves finishing third in his Chevy.

 

Qualifying began with the top ten drivers all within one second of breaking a track record, Mike Longton took the top spot of twenty five drivers to qualify. As the field was set and the invert set drivers took to the front stretch for intros and then a fury of fireworks to get things rolling.

 

Drivers took four to five laps to settle down when the first caution was thrown after Alex Kerslake spun on the back stretch. Lap 33 brought out the second caution of the night as Shane Mitchell appaired to have some mechanical issue which ended the night for himself and Pete Harding. The start of lap 33 as the leaders Gary Lewis and Dave Garber came out of turn four Lewis spun leaving JC Wofford no were to go but into Lewis, now our third caution on lap 33. As the line up was adjusted once agan the green flag for lap 33 brought once more a caution involving seven cars with the worst damage to Garrett Evans and his Chevy retiring for the evening.

 

With the field dwindling in car count Dave Garber took over as the leader till Owen Riddle came from the back of the pack and pressured Garber. To the rear of the field a battle of Chevy crate motors swapped positions as Andy Brown and Jake Bisset put on a show of side by side racing for near 20 laps. With Garber and Riddle still racing on lap 83 Garber exited to pit road for Fuel surrendering the lead to Owens who settled into a rhythm and take the first win in the Dr. Pepper Super Late Model Series.

 

Qualifying:

95.5 KPND Hobby Stocks: Reesen Tarr #91 22.453

Andy’s Auto Pro Four Modifeds: Billy Husk #35 21.290

Dr. Pepper Super Late Models: Mike Longton #37 18.006

 

Trophy Dash:

95.5 KPND Hobby Stock B: John Vallone #77

95.5 KPND Hobby Stock A: Gerald Nash #47

Andy’s Auto Pro Four Mod A: Jeff Hector #88

Dr. Pepper SLM B: Giles Thornton #12

Dr. Pepper SLM A: Shane Mitchell #99

 

Heat:

95.5 KPND Hobby Stock B: (1) John Vallone #77, (2) Steve Nelson #13, (3) Brenden Tarr #21

95.5 KPND Hobby Stock A: (1) Vance Reynolds, (2) Aaron Nevers #17, (3) Troy Lanoy #4

Andy’s Auto Pro Four Mod A: (1) Billy Husk #35, (2) Jeff Hector #88, (3) Lucas Cody #13

 

Main:

95.5 KPND Hobby Stock: (1) Brenden Tarr #21, (2) Aaron Nevers #17, (3) John Vallone #77, (4) Vance Reynolds #3, (5) Gerald Nash #47, (6) Troy Lanoy #4, (7) Brian Butterfield Jr. 15X, (8) Reesen Tarr #91, (9) Jim Prayther #62, (10) Steve Nelson #13, (11) Ed Snyder #5, (12) Tim Olmsted #22

Lap Leaders: Brenden Tarr 1-25

 

Andy’s Auto Pro Four Mod: (1) Billy Husk #35, (2) Jeff Hector #88, (3) Lucas Cole #13

Lap Leaders: Jeff Hector #88 1-2, Billy Husk #35 3-15

 

Dr. Pepper SLM Sunkist 100: (1) #10 Owen Riddle Naches, WA. (2) #37 Mike Longton Moxee, WA. (3) #51 Eric Hargraves Yakima, WA. (4) #28 Alex Kerslake Maple Valley, WA. (5) #41 Andy Brown Spokane, WA. (6) #96 Jake Bisset Valley Ford, WA. (7) #93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA. (8) #09 Clint Haybart Cranbrook, BC. (9) #16 Blake Williams Spokane, WA. (10) #73 Gary Lewis Snohomish, WA. (11) #5 Ryan Wells Hingham, MT.(12) #15 Taylor Riddle Naches, WA. (13) #7 Jessie Taylor Clay7ton, WA. (14) #99 Shane Mitchell Orondo, WA. (15) #39 Pete Harding Surry, BC (16) #100 JC Wofford Wapato, WA. (17) #64 Garrett Evans E. Wenatchee, WA. (18) #0 Brent Harris E. Wenatchee, WA. (19) #95 Dan Garber Spokane, WA. (20) #05 Zach Moran Kennewick, WA. (21) #5B Billy Belton Spokane, WA. (22) #80 Travis Allen Spokane, WA. (23) #12 Giles Thornton Whitefish, MT. (24) #4 Dave Smick Pasco, WA.

 

Lap Leaders: #95 Dan Garber 1-9, #73 Gary Lewis 10-33, #51 Eric Hargraves 34-38, #10 Owen Riddle 39-72, #37 Mike Longton 73-73, #10 Owen Riddle 74-100.

---

---