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Hickle Opens 2015 with STSS Win at Yakima

Yakima, WA – Sprint car racing has officially kicked off in the state of Washington in 2015, and after the dust settled on Saturday night, JJ Hickle stood triumphant in victory lane at Central Washington State Fair Raceway with the Summer Thunder Sprintcar Series presented by Here 2 Wire and Finishline Graphics. The large crowd also witnessed a crazy inaugural main event for the Washington Modified Tour presented by Shipwreck Beads with BJ Wild claiming top honors at the end of the 25 lap feature.

Evan Margeson and Hickle led the 22 car field down to the green flag for the 25 lap A Main, with Margeson getting the initial jump into turn one. Hickle stalked Margeson over the first seven circuits, looking for a lane around or under the reigning Grays Harbor Raceway track champion. JJ, himself a GHR champ in 2013, saw his opportunity pop up on the inside groove of turns one and two on lap 8. After closing to with a car length at the exit of turn four, Hickle put both left front and left rear tires up onto the apron and pulled even with Margeson at the exit of the corner. Rocketing down the back stretch, Hickle nosed ahead into turn 3 and completed the race winning pass on the exit of turn 4. From there, Hickle stretched his advantage to over a full straightaway before crossing under the checkered flag to pick up the $3,000 winner’s check. Margeson and quick qualifier Jason Solwold waged a battle for second place over the waning laps, with Solwold emerging second and Margeson taking third. 31 sprint cars signed in for competition at the big ½ mile, with Solwold setting quick time at 15.689 seconds late in the session. Skylar Gee, Joe Ramaker and Logan Forler won heat races. Tayler Malsam was the b feature winner and Eric Fisher won the last chance race.

After the events of Saturday night, the bar has been set high for future events with the Washington Modified Tour. Mel Decker set to the early lead, as drivers diced, sliced and maneuvered behind him to gain track position and find the fastest line around the rapidly slicking off surface. As the mid way portion of the main approached, BJ Wild had found moisture off the top side of turn two and used it to work himself from his tenth place starting spot up to second and in a position to challenge Decker for the lead. Wild would take the lead off the top of turn two on lap 12, but that wasn’t the end of the story by any means. Over the final 13 laps, Decker, Mark Carrell and Travis Peery would all challenge Wild, with Carrell coming the closest to taking the lead from him. Peery, who hauled to the race from Williston, ND, also used the high groove to close up to Wild, but spun out around lap 15 and went to back of the field. Over the final 10 laps, Peery worked himself back up to third place, but could advance no further, as Wild took home the first ever Washington Modified Tour win, followed by Carrell. Heat winners were Shane Mills, Peery and Lawrence O’Connor. Kris Asche won the B Main. 25 modifieds were on hand.

Sprint Cars:
Heat 1) Skyler Gee, Colton Heath, Jered Peterson, Jason Solwold, Robbie Price, Tayler Malsam, Trey Starks, Brock Lemley, Nick Thornhill, Cam Smith, Roger Cummings
Heat 2) Joe Ramaker, J J Hickle Steve Vague, Kyle Miller, Justin Youngquist, Bud Ashe, Michael Bollinger, Guy Weedman, Steve Reeves, Matt Jensen
Heat 3) Logan Forler, Reece Goetz, Henry VanDam, Evan Margeson, Jerad Ridge, Greg Hamilton, Chris Schmelze, Eric Fisher, Jeremy McCune, Chase Goetz

B Main) Tayler Malsam, Trey Starks, Cam Smith, Brock Lemley, Eric Fisher, Greg Hamilton, Chris Schmelze, Jeremy McCune, Matt Jensen, Chase Goetz, Michael Bollinger, Steve Reeves, Nick Thornhill, Bud Ashe, Guy Weedman, Roger Cummings

Last Chance) Eric Fisher, Chris Schmelze, Greg Hamilton, Chase Goetz, Matt Jensen, Jeremy McCune, Michael Bollinger, Bud Ashe, Steve Reeves, Nick Thornhill, Guy Weedman, Roger Cummings

A Main) J J Hickle, Jason Solwold, Evan Margeson, Jared Peterson, Trey Starks, Colton Heath, Reece Goetz, Skyler Gee, Jered Ridge, Brock Lemley, Logan Forler, Henry VanDam, Robbie Price, Cam Smith, Greg Hamilton, Chris Schmelze, Eric Fisher, Justin Youngquist, Tayler Malsam, Steve Vague, Kyle Miller, Joe Ramaker

Shipwreck Beads Modifieds:
Heat 1) Lawerance O'Conner, Heat 2) Travis perry, Heat 3) Shane Mills,
B Main) Chris Asche, Danny O'Neil, Duane D'Amico
A Main) BJ Wild, Mark Carrell, Travis Perry, Lawerance O'Conner, Mel Decker, Joey Price, Matt Jenner, Joe German, Chris Asche, Shane Mills, Danny O'Neil, Don Jenner, Duane D'Amico, Morgan Criswell, Larry Buchanan, Alan Muenchow, Vic Miller, Clayton Merritt

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