Playfair Heats Up With ‘Hot Shoe’
Spokane could move a step closer to becoming a stop on the 1998 American Motorcyclist Association Grand National flat track motorcycle series when the AMA’s “Hot Shoe” series visits Playfair Race Course on Saturday night.
The Spokane stop is part of a 14-race national series and the culminating event of a two-day race at the Spokane horse racing track. Gates open at 3:30 each day with time trials at 5:30 and racing at 7:30.
“The Hot Shoe series would be somewhat comparable to the Busch series in NASCAR,” said co-promoter Bert Marsh of Spokane. “You have a mix of both up-and-coming riders and Grand National riders who will come down to improve their skills.”
More than 30 riders have entered the weekend event including past Playfair winners Ron Yamamoto and Rex Fisher.
How the area responds to this weekend’s racing program will go a long way in determining if Playfair will be added to the AMA’s premier flat track division next year. A leading AMA official is coming to Spokane in September to survey the facility at Playfair.
Friday’s racing will feature a Pro-Am event. Ticket information: (509) 489-5023.
Super Class Shootout At SRP
Interest from across the Northwest could produce impressive fields for the Spokane Pro Gas Association’s “Pepsi Super Class Shootout” Saturday at Spokane Raceway Park.
Time trials begin at 5:30 with eliminations at 7:30.
The inaugural event will feature three classes: Super Comp (8.90 index), Super Gas (9.90) and Super Street (10.90), all competing in heads-up racing.
The Super Class Shootout will run along with SRP’s regular bracket drag racing program.
Sunday at SRP, the Dukes Auto Club will present its annual Nostalgia drags with eliminations beginning at 1:30.
Washington midgets visit Stateline
The Washington Midget Racing Association will try again to run a race at Stateline Speedway. Its last visit over the Memorial Day weekend was rained out.
This will be the 11th stop on the WMRA schedule and the guy to watch will be runaway points leader Rick Moss. The five-time WMRA champ enjoys a 204-point lead over Rick Kraft.
Also on Saturday, Allen Swain puts his three-race win streak at Stateline on the line as the Northwest Mini-Supers make an appearance.
Friday’s schedule features Hobby Cars, Sportsman and Compact Streets.
Pit stops
The Pro Outlaw karts will open the racing weekend tonight at 6 at the Spokane County ORV Park in Airway Heights. … Spokane Raceway Park will have Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Fever Fours running on the half-mile oval Saturday beginning with time trials at 5:30. … Qualifying for Sunday’s Columbia Cup for unlimited hydroplanes begins Friday morning off Columbia Park in Kennewick. … The Spokane Kart Racing Association will run its sixth points race of the season and host its annual barbecue on Saturday afternoon at the ORV Park. … Gary Lewis won last Saturday’s NASCAR Northwest Tour race at Wenatchee. Two Spokane drivers had their best NWT finishes of the season at Wenatchee. Greg Biffle, driving for Ron Hall Racing, finished third and Rick Schultz was fourth.
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