SRP steps on gas
As Spokane Raceway Park readies for the meaty portion of its schedule, track general manager J.R. Tice hopes that people have a good memory and remember back to the end of last season.
“We had built the drag shows up to about 200 cars a night,” Tice said, noting that when he took over management duties last June the car count had dwindled to less than 50 a night.
After a few weeks of “test and tune” sessions in April, the track opens for real tonight with the first edition of Friday Night Street Racing. This racing event, in which just about anything can compete, is designed to cut down on illegal street racing and give racers a safe place to run. Gates open at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, the drag strip and oval will be in action with a doubleheader, one-ticket event. Bracket drags featuring Top Comp and Super Street highlight that program.
“We adjusted the times on these two classes,” Tice said, noting the Top Comp cars are a 10.49 seconds and quicker class while Super Street runs 10.50 and slower.
Over on the half-mile, the Northwest Modified will try to run its first race after having been rained out in their April 21 opener at Stateline. Also on the program are ICAR limited late models and Hobby Cars.
Northwest Modified officials are expecting a field of about 20 cars as they tackle the big oval for the first of five races in 2007. Gates open at 5 p.m.
WMRA will make visit
The Washington Midget Racing Association will make its lone appearance in Idaho this season on Saturday night when the series visits Stateline Speedway.
Dallas Melby of Ravensdale, Wash., is the series’ hottest driver and he will lead the pack onto the one-fourth-mile, high-banked, asphalt oval after scoring the win in last Saturday’s season opener at South Sound Speedway near Tenino, Wash. Melby also won a BCRA event at Shasta Raceway Park in California in March and later took ninth in a 100-lap USAC Western States race at Madera Speedway, also in California.
Melby, who scored three victories and finished second in WMRA points last year, is piloting the Chris Melby Blue Dot with a Stanton Mopar motor under the hood.
Everett driver Matt Stone won his first WMRA main event in last year’s event at Stateline, but Stone didn’t finish in last Saturday’s event at South Sound.
One person who will not run is Tony Villelli of Hayden.
“(The car is) in need of work before it goes back out on the track and I have not had the time or help to get it ready,” Villelli said.
Saturday’s program will also feature Street Stocks and Hobby Cars. Time trials begin at 6 p.m.
Real starts on horizon
Last week’s column incorrectly noted the start of the Late Model Challenge Series and the ASA Northwest Tour. They both actually run Saturday.
The ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour visits South Sound Speedway near Tenino for a 150-lap race. This marks the return of the NW Tour to this storied race track after a five-year hiatus.
Visiting drivers such as Matt Hall of Spokane will have to contend with some the locals, who have had significant success at SSS in the past.
They include Tour veterans Tom Sweatman and Ron Eaton, both of whom consider SSS their home track. Sweatman won the track Super Stock Championship in 2005. Eaton, a three-time NW Tour Champion, has a large number of his career wins at what has been called one of the fastest three-eighth-mile tracks in the West.
The Late Model Challenge Series runs at Wenatchee in the Apple Blossom 125. Some notable drivers who have been Tour staples have opted to run in the LMCS.
They include defending 2006 NW Series champion Gary Lewis, three-time champ Jeff Jefferson, and Garrett Evans, a four-time titlist. Local drivers competing at Wenatchee include 2006 points runner-up Shelby Thompson and Kevin Richards.
Pit stops
Northport International Raceway returns to racing Sunday for the first of two May races. Time trials begin at noon. Info: northportinternational raceway. com or Don (Butch) Hegel, 509-258-7007.
Streaks ‘n’ stats
Dave Garber took the chance to pass John Mandere on the outside on lap 60 and went on to score the win for the Inland Northwest Super Stocks Series’ season opener last Saturday at Stateline Speedway. Garber bested a 17-car field to finish ahead of Jeff Fenton, one his best late-model finishes. Andy Brown was third.