6/16/2014
Sunset Speedway Park
Sunset Speedway Park Completes Exciting June 14th Event
Sunset Speedway Park Completes Exciting June 14th Event
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Ken O'Neil)
Sunset Speedway Park would get another 2014 installment in the books after losing so many races to weather earlier in the season. Classes that were in action at the “Banks Bullring” included the IMCA Modifieds, Northwest Extreme Modifieds, 4-Bee’s, 600cc Open Micro Sprints, and 600cc Restricted Micro Sprints.
Matt Jenner of Vancouver, Washington would take care of business in the IMCA Modified ranks. The Dancin’ Bare/Extreme Auto Repair/Eric’s Frame Repair/Tom’s Performance #6M Shaw of Jenner would lead the entirety of the race despite nearly losing the race on the last lap. Rob Ireland from Banks would make a bonsai last lap pass on the white flag lap only for Jenner to retake the lead and win his first career SSP IMCA Modified victory.
Rob Ireland was second in his Ireland & Ireland at Law/Privateer Racing/Applebee Aviation/Klecker Knives #8 Dirt Works by Jerry Hoffman machine followed by Doug Lockwood of Aloha in the Aloha Station Tavern/Perfection Automotive/Ross Electric/Curtis Trailers #66 Shaw in third. The rest of the top five would consist of Robert Jenner Vancouver, Washington driving the Extreme Auto Repair/Dancin’ Bare/Tony’s Auto Parts/Eric’s Auto Parts #5R Shaw to a fourth place finish and Don Jenner, also from Vancouver, Washington, was fifth in his Tom’s Performance/Dancin’ Bare/Eric’s Frame Shop #6X Dirt Works.
In the 4-Bee main event Ron Sweere from Banks was the early race leader in his Sweere’s Auto Body #99 entry. Vancouver, Washington’s Travis Koch would seize the lead from Sweere but would get passed on lap ten. The driver that would pass him was the Ram Light Truck Salvage/Napa Auto Parts/Ace Car Detailing/J&T Racing #48 Mitsubishi Eclipse of Portland’s John Gartner. Gartner would show the way the rest of the distance to win his second victory of the 2014 campaign.
The Gary Meyer owned Meyer Auto Body/Transaction Transmissions/Champion Signs #26 Dodge Neon driven by Stan Asanovic from Gaston was second while third went to Travis Koch in his North's Plumbing/Dusty's Automotive/Mac Tools #21 Dodge Neon. Chris Bataglia of Forest Grove, in the Sweere’s Trucking #38 Dodge Neon, came across the wire in fourth and behind him in fifth was Jake Henry from North Plains in his Henry Racing/Joe’s Autobody and Paint/Social Lies Pub and Grill #77 Toyota Celica.
In the 600cc Micro Open main event was a good one with Spud Allen of Bellingham, Washington making some key moves on a restart to get around Dustin O’Brien for the lead. Allen would lead the rest of the race, in his Beaver Inn/Driven Performance/The Shirt Works/Sweitzer Trucking #12 D1, to become the third different winner in as many races in the division.
Dustin O’Brien, of Snohomish, Washington, was second in the Every Little Detail/JRS Motorsports/Accent Interiors #71 Pace entry and in third was Lake Stevens, Washington’s Kaitlyn Hammer in her Pacific Tire/Rob Graham Trucking/Pacific Logging/#39K PMP. The balance of the top five was Brandee Wood from Ferndale, Washington in her Whatcom Windshields/RAW Motorglass #1W in fourth and the D&D Custom Service/Mobile Hardware #86 PMP of Deming, Washington’s Jeff Little in fifth.
In the Northwest Extreme Modified main St. Helens chauffeur Brandon Potter lead for the first eight laps before Mike Graham of Vancouver, Washington, in his Perfection Automotive/21st Century Towing/Freeman Tile #12X FR1, would get around him. Graham would lead until lap twenty-one when Potter would reclaim the lead and earn the victory while holding off a hard charging Oscar Luckman. Potter would break the two race win streak established by Luckman and pick up his second win for the Hope House/ Ri Ky Roofing and Sheetmetal #11 Pro team after winning down in Cottage Grove earlier in the season.
Oscar Luckman of Banks in his Privateer Racing #96 Dirt Works by Jerry Hoffman was a respectable second followed by the Dancin’ Bare/T&D Tires and Wheels #31 of Tony Hendon in third. Scott Ruth, driving the Ruth Racing #11X entry, was fourth and Vancouver, Washington’s Michael Melton was fifth in the Melton Racing #04 Dirt Works.
Arlington, Washington’s Jesse Schlotfeldt would dominate in the 600cc Micro Restricted ranks. It would be the third win to the young man’s credit and his Reliant Homes/Every Little Detail Auto Detailing/Service Pro of Everson, Washington #21 Pace team.
The Brien Ford/Kathy's Mobile Massage/Nymo Signs/Edaleen Dairy #0 D1 of Ashleigh Johnson, from Ferndale, Washington, was runner-up followed by Grand Prairie, Alberta’s Benjamin Silliker in third in the Black Dog Drilling/Silico Racing #24 PMP.
Sunset Speedway Park will be back in action on Saturday June 21st for Fan Appreciation Night. Just before opening ceremonies all race cars in the pits will be brought on the track for race fans to get up close and personal with their favorite drivers and receive autographs, hero cards, and more. Classes in action will include the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series, Northwest Extreme Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Northwest Extreme Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Dwarf Cars, Womens, and 4-Bees. Due to so many events happening and so many classes running there will be no heat races ran.
Pit Gates will open at 2:00 PM, Front Gates open at 3:30, and racing starts at 6:00. Tickets for the event are Adults $12.00, Seniors/Military/Juniors (13-17) $10.00, Youths (Ages 12-6) $5.00, and Children under the age of 5 are FREE and a Family Pass will be offered for two Adults and up to four Youths for just $35.00. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.
Race Summary:
Saturday June 14th, 2014
Sunset Speedway Park
Banks, Oregon
IMCA Modifieds
A Feature: 1. 6M-Matt Jenner; 2. 8-Rob Ireland; 3. 66-Doug Lockwood; 4. 5R-Robert Jenner; 5. 6X-Don Jenner; 6. X3-Chris Quinn; 7. 4D4-Danny Daniels; 8. 05-Rayun McMichael; 9. D4-Shawn Dorie; 10. 00-Kent Dollarhyde
Northwest Extreme Modifieds
A Feature: 1. 11-Brandon Potter; 2. 96-Oscar Luckman; 3. 31-Tony Hendon; 4. 11X-Scott Ruth; 5. 04-Michael Melton; 6. 12X-Mike Graham; 7. 9-Pat Lechner
4-Bee's
A Feature: 1. 48-John Gartner; 2. 26-Stan Asanovic; 3. 21-Travis Koch; 4. 38-Chris Batalgia; 5. 77-Jacob Henry; 6. 1-Crystal Flath; 7. 22-Nick Henry; 8. 7-Gary Jones; 9. 53-Lonnie Jackson; 10. 50-Mike Keely; 11. 82-Bo Jones; 12. 99-Ronald Sweere; 13. 98-Thomas Calhoun; 14. 97-Joe Loy
Micro Sprints 600cc Restricted
A Feature: 1. 21-Jesse Schlotfeldt; 2. 0-Ashleigh Johnson; 3. 24-Benjamin Silliker
Micro Sprints 600cc Open
A Feature: 1. 12-Spud Allen; 2. 71-Dustin O'Brien; 3. 39K-Kaitlyn Hammer; 4. 1W-Brandee Wood; 5. 86-Jeff Little; 6. 25-Dylan Marsh; 7. 29T-Jake Tupper; 8. 16-Jeff Hatcher
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage