SALEM, Oregon -- More than 75 Speedway Karts, Outlaw Karts and Micro Sprints timed in Sunday morning over six classes to compete for over $3000 in prize money and bragging rights for the entire year. Another 45 Quarter Midgets, Speedway Karts and Outlaw Karts raced for trophies in twelve additional support classes. The New Pavilion building provided the stage for this extravaganza, and drew racers from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The event was a late addition to the indoor season when an opening became available as a result of the Gene Romero West Coast Flat Track motorcycle racing series scheduling a Friday and Saturday night event. When asked why he would try and pack 18 classes of racing into a single day with such a large contingent of racers, Promoter Bob Leach (who also owns Cottage Grove Speedway with his brother, Russell) replied “I must have been dropped on my head”. His sister-in-law, Lori Leach, offered a more reasonable summary: “We already had the facility for the weekend, so it made sense to add another race to the program”. The New Pavilion is a fresh addition to the Oregon State Fairgrounds complex, sporting state-of-the-art ventilation and excellent lighting. With 360 degrees of spectator accommodations, this building is tailor-made for indoor racing. A clay track was built on top of the smooth concrete floor, with organic energy absorbers (hay bales) ringing the outer radius of the track. Six degrees of banking were built in to the track, allowing for a second groove to take shape early in the program. The idea behind this inaugural event is to provide one last hurrah for the Northwest indoor racing season, and give some of the best racers in the region a chance to bring home some serious cash.
QUALIFYING
Nine of the high-revving 125cc Outlaw Karts timed in, with the #16 of Nick Tomlinson setting the pace at 9.23 seconds. Tomlinson pulled off a stunning lap, leaving the rest of the field at least eight-tenths of a second behind.
The #15 kart of Jake Mann led the Yamaha Heavy Speedway Kart class in qualifying with a 9.61 second lap. It was no easy task, as the top ten qualifiers were in the nine-second range, with the rest of the class mere ticks behind.
The Micro Sprints attending this event were fewer in number than the kart classes, but no less anxious to answer the bell for the bucks on a track that many might consider too small for these fully-suspended race cars. Running wingless, the seven cars in the 250cc class were paced by 2005 Salem Indoor champ Kyler Barraza’s 9.62 second tour in the #87 Micro.
In the 600cc class, also racing sans wing, wily veteran Alan Norton (#13) put down a 9.60 second lap, barely squeezing by both Breanna Lopez (#98), and Derek Van Riper (#2) by 3/100ths of a second, to earn fast time out of seven Micros.
The Open 2/4 Cycle Speedway Kart class signaled the arrival of the high power-to-weight ratio vehicles. Fifteen Opens, ranging from the 15,000 RPM 2-stroke screamers to the torquey, thumping, alcohol-fed 4-strokes, were led by the #4 of 2005 Salem Indoor Champ (Yamaha Heavy) champion Joe McLain, with his fast time of 9.41 seconds measuring less than 1/100th of a second quicker than Jason Gibb’s (#83) best lap.
Twenty-two 500cc Open Outlaw Karts converged on the fast 1/10th mile oval. Ian Bandey’s #3B set the pace early on with a 9.12 second effort, which held up until David Lyons, qualifying next-to-last for the entire evening, responded with a blistering 9.06 second lap in the immaculate #98 Outlaw Kart. The young Lyons set fast time for the class and the entire field of racers. Overall, the six fast qualifiers, representing three distinctly different forms of open wheel racing, were separated by only 0.56 seconds!
Bob Leach has been something of a fixture at the Fairgrounds, promoting indoor events since the 1980s. Between motocross and oval track events, Leach has honed his skills and built a strong following through long hours and a love for motorsports. The clay surface that was put down inside the pavilion was of the same lineage as his kart ovals and motorcycle tracks. “It’s a mix of the same batch of dirt I’ve been using for many years” Leach explains of his earthen cocktail. Bill Arnold of Willamette Speedway fame cuts the track shape and contour, and then applies the right amount of water, magic, and science. The Leach/Arnold brew of clay has an uncanny tendency to remain smooth, consistent, and racy all through an event with only minor maintenance required. The event crew consisted of many of Cottage Grove Speedway’s cast of characters: Peggi Rush (Pit Boss), Ricky Ashley (Flagger), Ernie Owens (Race Director), and Kitty the Tech Official, with Heather Boyce and April Howard keeping score. Ben Deatheredge provided the vocal complement, keeping the crowd apprised of all the on-track action.
HEAT RACES
Qualifying was of utmost importance in this event, especially in the Yamaha Heavy, Open 2/4 Cycle, and Open Outlaw classes. The top six qualifiers were locked into the A-Main, leaving only four spots to be filled from heat race transfers. The balance of the A-Main field would be determined by the top finishers in the B-Mains.
In the 125cc Outlaw class, Fast Timer Nick Tomlinson started from the pole with Brody Pompe to his right. At the green, Pompe took the early lead with 2004 Medford Box Stock champ Seth Nunes’ 5N in close pursuit. Tomlinson and Derek Leach (#5D) made contact in Turn 4, with both karts stalling and restarting at the back of the field. After the restart, Tomlinson spun in Turn 1, resulting in a black flag for the 2-spin rule. On the restart, Pompe continued to lead while the middle of pack was battling hard for every position. 2005 Salem Indoor 125 champion Brittany Ray (#12) passed the #2C of Logan Allen for third as his kart began to slip towards the middle of the pack. 2005 Roseburg Box Stock champ Marena “Fireball” Starr, the only 4-stroke in the field, was at a sizeable horsepower disadvantage but gamely diced with the quicker 2-strokes of Zach Spaulding (#24S) and Natasha Kress (#5K). At the checkered, it was Pompe holding off a fast-closing Nunes and Ray, followed by Spaulding, Allen, and Starr. Kress and Leach had been dicing at the back of the pack, with Kress getting a great run out of Turn 4 to nip Leach at the line.
The Yamaha Heavy class was broken into three heat races. Heat 1 began with the #15 of Jake Mann and the #9 of John Rebello colliding going into Turn 3, resulting in Mann’s kart breaking. On the restart, the #09 of Darin Marcum led the pack and began to lose the rest of the field. Jeff Fox (#54) and Hadley Loveall (#18) spent the entire race swapping spots and trading paint as the #20 of Joe Thuney held fast to second spot. At the end, it was Marcum, Thuney, Loveall, Rebello, and Fox, whose kart began to fade near the end of the heat.
In Heat 2, Seth Bergman (#2) and 2005 Oakwood champ Shane Biles (#31) started from the front row. Biles was already locked into the A-Main by virtue of timing in 5th fast, but Bergman had to transfer. At the green, Bergman set the pace with Biles staying close. The rest of the pack, Allen Terrell (#35), Chris Passanante (#58), and Chuck Dollar (#8), were dicing back and forth for position. Bergman and Biles made contact in Turn 4, with both karts spinning and bringing out the yellow. Terrell assumed the lead, but that did not last long as he tangled with Passanante and spun going into Turn 1. Another yellow, another restart, with the action staying green the rest of the way. Biles’ kart broke as Bergman began a march to the front, with Passanante leading. Passanante did his best to hold off Bergman, but at the end the #2 kart of Bergman prevailed, followed by Passanante, Terrell, and Dollar.
Heat 3 didn’t start well, as the #45 of David Nash spun in Turn 2, causing a restart. After a fresh green flag, Ronnie Cox (#78) took the point and began to pull away from the field. Brandon Finch (#37) was working his way from the back of the pack while Meghan McLain (#4) and Brittany Thuney (#07) were fighting for position. At the checkers, it was Cox, McLain, Finch, Nash and Thuney.
From these heats, Marcum, J. Thuney, Cox, and McLain transferred to the A-Main.
The 250 Micro Sprints had a single heat race with Kyler Barraza (#87) on pole. After a good start, the #10 of Alyssa Desbiens spun in Turn 4. Under the caution, the #88R of Ashley Reece pulled off the track with engine problems. On the restart, 2004 Cottage Grove Open Outlaw Kart champ Jake Farman (#1) and 2004 Medford 250cc Outlaw Kart champ Brandi Bounds (#3) collided in Turn 2, with Bounds’ front axle badly damaged. After that restart, David Lyons (#98) pressured Barraza for the lead, staying inches from #87’s rear nerf. Lyons looked inside, thought about the outside, but could not make the pass. Barraza took first, followed by Lyons, Farman, and the #17 of Scott Turley, who lost third spot to Farman after a spirited battle.
The 600 Micro Sprints also staged one heat race, with Alan Norton’s #13 setting the pace. Going into Turn 1, a minor pile-up involved Breanna Lopez (#98), Derek Van Riper (#2), and Lawrence Van Hoof (#35A), with the nose of the #35A resting on the engine of the #2. On the restart, Van Riper’s car broke due to the damage inflicted in the crash. Norton continued to lead with 2005 Salem Indoor champ Rob Lindsey (#8) in hot pursuit. Lopez, Joe Eaton (#51) and Van Hoof wrestled each other for third spot as Norton and Lindsey pulled away. At the checkered flag, it was Norton, Lindsey, Lopez, Van Hoof, and Eaton. Spencer Gattrell (#50), who had been as high as third spot at one point, took a black flag for the 2-spin rule towards the end of the race.
The Open 2/4 Cycle class formed up into two heats. In Heat 1, Eric Stansberry (#7) sat on the pole, and after an early yellow, the field settled into some serious action. The #26 of 2005 Salem Indoor champ Devin Patterson worked his way into the lead from the second row as the #11 of Matt Panhoza began to fade. The #71 of Ed Stumphauser and the # 01 of John Davis battled intensely for third spot, colliding at one point but maintaining forward motion. Stansberry held on to second but eventually worked his way past Patterson, and the two drivers began a three lap duel for the lead. In the end, Patterson passed Stansberry on the outside coming out of Turn 4 for the checkers. Davis came in third, followed by #19 of Tim Walker, Stumphauser, Panhoza, and the #21 of Jerry Patterson.
Heat 2 was a quick affair, as the beautifully-prepared #1 of 2005 Oakwood (Yamaha Lite) champ Renee Angel took the early lead with the #04 of Dwayne Nunley and the #13 of Steve Mueller close behind. Jason Gibb (#83) and Ronnie Cox (#9) battled toward the back, with Cox eventually pulling off the track in an ailing kart. Tom Bell (#7T) fought a wickedly-loose kart and was eventually lapped by race winner Angel. She was pursued to the flag by Nunley, Gibb, Mueller, and Bell.
From these heats, D. Patterson, Angel, Stansberry, and Nunley transferred to the A-Main.
The last set of heats featured the Open Outlaw class, which was divided into three fields. Heat 1 started with a yellow, as the #33B of Brad Hicks spun at the start. Hicks fought a loose kart all night, and did his best to hold on to the finish. After the restart, Stephanie Rotarius (#91) broke and pulled into the pits. David Lyons’ #98 held the lead all race, but was kept in sight by the #10J of Jake Waddell. Jake Claussen (#7), running a Honda CRF450 4-stroke against a field of 500cc 2-strokes, maintained third until colliding with the loose kart of Waddell. The 10J kept going, but Claussen spun. Unfortunately, the thundering 4-stroke seized, dropping Claussen out of the race and forcing a swap to his trusty Honda CR500. After the restart, Lyons held off Waddell, Tate Major (#4T), Michael Hansen (#16DC), Brian Osterman (#14), and Hicks.
Heat 2 began with the #3B of Ian Bandey on the pole, but quickly went yellow as there was plenty of contact coming out of Turn 2, leaving the #8X of Kyle Miller stalled on the backstretch. On the restart, Bandey took charge of the lead as the rest of the pack settled in. The #6R of E.J. Ross was enjoying a furious battle for second spot with long-tow Ben Hinkle (#3), who was trying every angle to get by the smooth, fast driving of Ross. Hinkle had worked up from the third row by getting great runs out of Turns 2 and 4, and it was this same technique that finally pulled him past Ross. Meanwhile, Miller, Patrick Dills (#5D), and Chris Kress (#6K) tangled in Turn 2, resulting in the 8X and the 5D leaving the race. On the restart, Bandey led Hinkle and Ross to the green. With Hinkle applying intense pressure on the lead spot, Bandey went wide in Turn 2, allowing most of the pack to get by. After another yellow flag and restart, the race went green-white-checkered with Hinkle holding off the persistent Ross for the victory. Kress came home in third, followed by Bandey and the #37X of Brandon Governor.
Heat 3 had Logan Allen’s #2C on pole, with QRC All-Star Tour regular Brandon Farquhar (#6) beside him. Allen got the jump at the initial green flag, but contact between the #4D of Brendan Boyce (who normally runs a Sprint Car at Cottage Grove Speedway) and the #9L of 2005 Roseburg Indoor champ (125cc) Leslee Pierson called the start back. Pierson pulled off the track as a result of the contact. On the restart, Farquhar and the #87 of Kyler Barraza tangled in Turn 2. Farquhar was able to maintain position while the #87 stalled. The ensuing restart had Allen in the lead, and as more green laps ticked away, his advantage over the second-place Farquhar grew. The #6 had his hands full with the #7K of T.J. Kress, and the three top karts pulled away from the pack. At the finish it was Allen, Farquhar, Kress, Boyce, Barraza, and the #34 of Ron Osburn.
Out of these heats, Chris Kress, Tate Major, E.J. Ross, and Ben Hinkle transferred to the A-Main.
The allure of this event was felt as far away as Idaho and Northern California. In many ways, this event became something of an All-Star event, with current and past track champions from programs at Cottage Grove, Salem, Roseburg, Medford, Oakwood, and Monroe converging to match up with some of the best in the business. Ben Hinkle, from Meridian, Idaho, clinched his Caldwell Indoor Open Outlaw Kart track championship on Saturday night in Caldwell, Idaho by transferring out of the B-Main and working his way through the field to score a second-place finish in the A-Main. Leaving Caldwell at 10 PM, the Hinkle family drove all night, arriving in Salem around 4:30AM, and caught three hours’ sleep in their truck. Ben, the 15-year-old driver of the #3 kart, was unfazed by the unfamiliar venue and drivers, but his father Barry was more concerned with hitting the right setup and making sure everything was ready to race. Ben’s mother also made the long journey to support Ben’s efforts, as she does with all of his races.
Pulling double-duty in both of the Speedway Kart money classes was Ronnie Cox, who thrives in these money races. He was one of the favorites to win in both the Yamaha Heavy and Open 2/4 events driving for Jeff “Buddha” Benson. Cox, a veteran of Speedway Karts and 1200cc Minisprints, also pulled a tour of duty in one of Northwest sprint car legend Dick Wilskey’s 360 Sprint Cars a few years ago. Ronnie does not blend in with the crowd at all; besides folding his tall, lanky frame into these miniature race cars, he prefers to race with the bare minimum of body work in a field dominated by brightly-colored, beautifully-prepared karts sporting plastic noses and side panels. Cox’s real trademark is his driving style, which is fast, aggressive, and clean.
Pit Boss Peggi Rush has spent a lifetime at race tracks, and may be the single most recognized person at any dirt oval in Oregon. Her husband, Mel, can usually be found working the infield at these events, but was home for this one recovering from knee surgery. The injury was sustained, naturally, working at the races. Peggi is at times a diplomat, field general, big sister, and/or race mother, dealing with the usual concerned parents, upset racers, and fussy crew chiefs, as well as keeping her track crew up to date on any changes or problems that need attention. In the days before any event, her home phone is constantly ringing with inquiries and suggestions, or just her extended racing family calling to say hello.
B-MAINS
Three of the six money classes required B-Main events to fill the remaining spots of their respective A-Mains: The Yamaha Heavy, Open 2/4 Cycle, and Open Outlaw.
In Yamaha Heavy, the #18 of Hadley Loveall won from the pole to transfer with the #4 of Meghan McLain. Allen Terrell (#35) fought valiantly from the back, but ran out of time, finishing fourth behind Chuck Dollar (#8).
In Open 2/4 Cycle, the #01 of John Davis led wire-to-wire to transfer with the #13 of Steve Mueller. Mueller spent the entire race dicing with Tom Bell (#7T), who had cured his earlier handling woes, and gave the #13 a good run for the position.
In the Open Outlaw class, Jake Claussen (#7) clawed his way from 5 rows back to take the win and the first transfer spot. T.J. Kress (#7K) held on for second after starting on the pole in an action-packed event. Stephanie Rotarius (#91) fought off the flu and a last-row starting spot and methodically wheeled her way into a third-place finish and an A-Main transfer. The final transfer spot was up for grabs with five laps to go, as Brendan Boyce (#4D), Brian Osterman (#14), and Leslee Pierson (#9L) were mixing it up with plenty of intensity. With four to go, Osterman fell back a bit, while Pierson and Boyce turned up the heat. The two squared off for four complete laps of classic wheel-to-wheel, wing-to-wing action, with unrelenting attacks on the last slot for the A-Main. Pierson came away with the spot through sheer will and hunger over a surely-exhausted Boyce. In only her second event in a 500cc kart, Pierson overcame some earlier miscues to prove that she is able to get it done when it’s time to walk the walk.
Early in the race day, many of these talented racers expressed confidence in being able to win their class, while some said they would be happy just to do well. Others were glad just to be racing, but one driver didn’t come to compete – just having the desire to drive again was a victory. Steve Borns of Rochester, WA, wasn’t the least bit concerned about a trophy or a cash prize. Steve, his wife Shilene, and daughter Ranae had spent the holiday season mourning the loss of Joseph Borns, their 18-year-old son and brother. Joseph, an avid ATV rider, also enjoyed supporting his father’s racing efforts in the 250cc Outlaw Kart class. However, the young man had been battling cancer for most of his teenage years, and the disease quickly overwhelmed him late last year. Steve had parked his kart for nearly two years and focused all of his attention on his son and family as they dealt with Joseph’s health together. For Steve, part of his healing process was getting back to the race track: “I was looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and making some new friends. It’s just good to know I can still do this.” Borns only ran a single heat race in his #40 kart, but saved his best stuff for 5 memorial laps in Joseph’s honor. Two of the laps were slow, with Steve displaying the checkered flag for Joseph, “…who is probably racing ATVs up there right now”, before a hushed pavilion crowd, and then he matted the throttle for three solo hot laps to complete the gesture. After that, Steve parked his kart, removed his racing gear, and loaded up his equipment. After all of this, he left the New Pavilion with something of a smile and (hopefully) a little lighter ache in his heart.
TROPHY DASHES – MONEY CLASSES
Yamaha Heavy – Jake Mann (#15)
125cc Outlaw Kart – Derek Leach (#5D)
250cc Micro Sprint – Kyler Barraza (#87)
600cc Micro Sprint – Rob Lindsey (#8)
Open 2/4 Cycle – Ronnie Cox (#9)
Open Outlaw – Jake Waddell (#10J)
MAIN EVENTS - TROPHY CLASSES
5HP Outlaw Kart – Briley Pompe (#49)
250cc Outlaw Kart – Sterling Kane (#2K)
Quarter Midget JR. – Autumn Johnson (#1)
Quarter Midget SR. – Garrett Johnson (#19)
Quarter Midget Open – Brett Scott Jr. (#23)
Rookie Speedway Kart – Wyatt Dollar (#10)
STAR – Matt Panhoza (#11)
Junior 1-2 Cycle – Sammy Wright (#8W)
Junior 2-2 Cycle – Britton Lorentzen (#38)
Junior 1-4 Cycle – Sammy Wright (#8W)
Junior 2-4 Cycle – Tyler Davis (#42)
Yamaha Lite – Derek Rebello (#00)
Renee Angel, who wheels the familiar purple and black #1 Open class Speedway Kart throughout the Northwest, rolled into Salem as another favorite to win big as one of the more successful kart drivers out of Washington State in recent years. Renee enjoys this sport with her husband, Shane Biles, who normally runs his #31 Speedway Kart in the Yamaha Heavy class. Biles is no slouch behind the wheel, and he spends his summers racing a Ford Taurus Late Model. And who is that dialing in the set-up as the crew chief? Renee, of course.
This race day was not all fantastic finishes and smiling winners, as there was some controversy mixed in with a group of tired racers and fans who endured an event that overall ran about 2 to 3 hours too long. Nothing extraordinary, but running 18 classes, 18 practice sessions, 150 qualifying laps, 30 heat races, 3 B-Mains, 6 Trophy Dashes, and 18 Main Events is destined to have some level of logistical chaos, not to mention the added catalyst created by bent parts, black flags, adrenaline-charged racers, and the incentive of cold cash. Through it all, Bob Leach was in the stands, the pits, the infield, and anywhere else he could get a vantage point to take it all in and see some way to make next year’s event bigger and better. At the end of the day, it came down to six classes running for all of the money. The track was smooth and had started taking rubber, but the second groove that had looked promising early on was now mostly marbles. A few brave drivers were able to make it work at times, but the key was to be fast, smooth, have a good set-up, and avoid getting mixed up with lapped traffic while holding the inside line. Regardless of any concerns, criticism, or needed improvements, this event was truly a showcase of Northwest driving talent and top-notch equipment in all classes, and proved that the region needs and supports an event of this magnitude.
125cc OUTLAW KART MAIN EVENT
The fast way around the clay oval in a 125cc Outlaw Kart requires a heavy foot and nerves of steel. RPMs are the name of the game in this class, and keeping these 2-strokes in the 10,000 RPM range at all times is the key to success. Derek Leach (#5D) drew the pole of the 9-kart field by virtue of his Trophy Dash win, but he quickly fell back to mid-pack after the start. Brody Pompe (#27) took control of the lead in a race highlighted by close racing throughout the field. Nick Tomlinson (#16) tasted trouble early, spinning in Turn 2 and restarting at the back. From there, the young driver got his elbows up and began a methodical procession to the front. Marena “Fireball” Starr broke a drive chain, ending her night, while Derek Leach wrestled a loose kart that eventually would end his quest for the win. Zack Spaulding (#24S), in his first real test in a 125cc kart, had his hands full in an otherwise valiant effort to finish well. At the front, Pompe dueled with the #5N of Seth Nunes, who was patiently waiting for the right opportunity to pounce. Behind the leaders, Natasha Kress (#5K) drove a smooth, calculated race, staying out of trouble and maintaining her position. The #12 of Brittany Ray broke, but came back on the track under a yellow. Logan Allen (#2C), in only his second 125cc start, held his line and quietly maintained fifth position for most of the race. Late in the race, Tomlinson made his move on Nunes for second spot, and so began a great battle for the lead between Tomlinson and Pompe. These two racers put on an outstanding show, and only a slight bobble by Tomlinson prevented a photo finish. Brody Pompe earned the checkered flag with a mature, seasoned style of driving that forced the other competitors to take chances or wait for the #27 to make a mistake. Behind Pompe, Tomlinson held second, followed by Nunes, Kress, Allen, Spaulding, and Ray.
YAMAHA HEAVY SPEEDWAY KART MAIN EVENT
The Yamaha Heavy kart requires finesse and smoothness, as well as keeping the revs up on the KT100 engine. These are twitchy, sensitive race cars, and losing momentum means losing positions. Jake Mann (#15) was on pole of the 12 kart field, but the #5 of Rick Grout got the jump at the green. However, a big pileup in Turn 2 negated that advantage as a complete restart was called. There was some confusion getting the field lined up properly, but the green flew again and the race was on! Brandon Finch (#37) held the early lead while Grout held second. Back in the pack, Hadley Loveall (#18), Derek Schoessler (#0), Mann, and Ronnie Cox (#78) were mixing it up trying to keep Finch in sight. After the initial pileup at the start, the Yamaha Heavy class settled into a long green flag run. While the racing was close and plenty of sparks flew, these drivers displayed the talent and bravado they have become known for. As the race progressed, Finch began to weave his way through lapped traffic, and left the field in his dust. Jake Mann broke late in the race dicing for second spot, and at the end Brandon Finch had lapped up to fourth position as he dominated the Yamaha Heavy class. Grout came home second, followed by Schoessler, Loveall, Seth Bergman (#2), Chuck Dollar (#8), Meghan McLain (#4), Darin Marcum (#09), and Ronnie Cox (#78).
250cc MICRO SPRINT MAIN EVENT
The first class of the big cars took to the clay for their Main, with Kyler Barraza (#87) and David Lyons (#98) leading the way. Lyons jumped to the lead on the start, but Barraza took back the point coming out of Turn 4. Brandi Bounds (#3) tough night continued with another suspension failure after she spun and Alyssa Desbiens, with nowhere to go, drilled Bounds’ front axle. On the restart, the #87 and #98 put on a driving clinic and checked out on the pack. Desbiens worked her way into third spot, but over-drove into Turn 4, spinning out and collecting the #17 of Scott Turley. Barraza and Lyons took off again after the restart, and soon encountered lapped traffic. Lyons pressured Barraza all through traffic as they sliced and diced their way along. Lyons made contact with the #88R of Ashley Reece, putting her car into the Turn 2 bales. After the restart, Lyons continued to force the issue with Barraza, but something on the #98 car gave up, ending Lyons’ race day. Desbiens” #10 was also on the casualty list, while Bounds had patiently worked her way towards the front. Near the end, Turley and the #1 of Jake Farman collided, knocking Turley out of competition. With the field pared down by attrition, Barraza took the win ahead of Farman and Reece.
600cc MICRO SPRINT MAIN EVENT
Another class of the big cars took the track, led by the #8 of Rob Lindsey. Derek Van Riper (#2) was also on the front row, but Alan Norton took second spot soon after the green. Breanna Lopez (#98) and Lawrence Van Hoof (#35A) spent the bulk of the race banging wheels for third spot, but the inevitable spin in Turn 2 left the 35A on the tow hook. Lopez was able to continue, but joined by Spencer Gattrell (#50), could only watch as Norton and Van Riper worked on Lindsey for the lead. The #8 held fast, but not for lack of effort on Van Riper’s part. The young racer was driving so hard into the corners and working the brakes that the rotor was a solid mass of red-hot glowing steel, which eventually rendered the brake system useless, parking the #2 for the night. Lindsey stayed out front for the win, with Norton, Lopez, and Gattrell in tow.
OPEN 2/4 CYCLE SPEEDWAY KART MAIN EVENT
So you take an already squirrelly race car and pile on another 15-20 horsepower. Mix it in with 11 other hungry drivers, shake, bake, throw the green, and see who rises to the top. And so they did, with Ronnie Cox at the head of the table. Just like that, his night was done as the #9 broke early, making for a long drive home to the Seattle area. With Cox out, and the #01 of John Davis also breaking, two favorites were now spectators. After the restart, the #19 of Tim Walker took the point as Jason Gibb (#83) lurked in second spot. Gibb, another one of the top drivers to come out of Washington, made quick work of Walker and moved out front. This race featured plenty of three-wide action as the Open drivers pulled out all the stops to improve their position. In the end, Gibb was out front by himself, followed by Joe McLain (#4), Jerry Patterson (#21), Walker, Phil Pfau (#65), Devin Patterson (#26), and the #1 of Renee Angel.
OPEN OUTLAW KART MAIN EVENT
Many would argue that the Open Outlaw Kart is the equivalent of the 410 Sprint Car. With 80+ horsepower in a 400 to 450-pound vehicle, it’s not so much steering or driving as it is aiming these vehicles down the track. Speaking from experience, you point the nose in a certain direction, mat the gas, and hope it goes in the direction you intended, lap after lap, after lap. Where the Speedway Kart is about finesse and touch, driving the Outlaw Kart is like performing surgery with a sledgehammer. There’s a fine line between a balanced kart that gets good traction off the corners and pulling a hard wheelie that points the nose at the sky, usually without any warning, as both Chris Kress (#6K) and Ben Hinkle (#3) discovered after the green flag dropped. By now, the track had taken rubber laid in the groove, and these two had their hands full all race long. Kress would eventually end his night after contact with the Turn 2 wall that also included the #4T of Tate Major. Major was able to continue and finish, but the incident was so violent that it tore Kress’s wing right from the wing mounts. Kress was O.K., but he said later that the contact was pretty solid. The #10J of polesitter Jake Waddell got the early lead over the #6 of Brandon Farquhar. Waddell had to run a perfect race to hold the lead over Farquhar, a seasoned veteran at age 19. The driver of the #6 has developed his talents running with the best in the business on the QRC All Star Tour, and was making a rare Oregon indoor appearance. An early tangle put E.J. Ross (#6R) and the #3B of Ian Bandey at the back of the pack, limiting their chances for success. Ross, one of the fastest racers on any track, parked his ride early with a sticking throttle – not a good condition to have on a small track with a lot of karts! Bandey fought hard to try and improve his position, but made little progress in this stellar group of racers. The #3B was working so hard at one point that he smacked the backstretch wall, kept his foot in the gas, and rejoined the pack without missing a beat. Leslee Pierson, who drove her heart out just to transfer to the A-Main, worked her way from the last row to eighth spot before a steering failure put her in the pits for good. T.J. Kress (#7K) made a beautiful pass on the outside of Patrick Dills (#5D) to take fourth spot. Kress, one of the three racing Kress children, had moved up from the sixth row to put himself in a payoff position. Dills, a recent convert from the 125cc ranks, has been making noise all season long, and led much of the 2005 Salem Indoor (Open Outlaw) season points battle. Stephanie Rotarius (#91), who prior to the event sounded like she didn’t even want to be here (a wonderful side effect of the flu!), quietly moved up to mid-pack. Jake Waddell had held off the #6 of Brandon Farquhar for most of the 25 laps, and it seemed as though he had been toying with the field to that point. After the last restart, the #10J distanced himself from the #6 and the rest of the field. David Lyons (#98) held steady in third, and was not able to make any progress on Farquhar. At the final checker of the night, Jake Waddell scored an improbable win over perhaps the most talented group of racers ever joined together for an event in Oregon. The #10J was followed home by Farquhar, Lyons, T.J. Kress, Dills, Rotarius, Major, Hinkle, and Bandey. A few days after the event, Waddell’s mother posted a message on an Internet racing board, stating how surprised and elated they all were over Jake’s victory. The intent of this venture, she posted, was just to get Jake some seat time and see how well he would fare against these heavy-hitters. Very well, as it turned out.
The first Salem Pro-Am Championship is in the books, and the plan is to bring it back next year even bigger and better. The majority of the racers and crews and spectators had a great time, the track was in fantastic condition at the end of the night, and the entire facility was extraordinary! On a personal note, I knew that covering this event would make me wish I had parked the laptop and rolled out my own 500cc Outlaw Kart. Even though it was a long day, I was envious of my racing counterparts from the moment I walked into the pit area and saw the pavilion and the track. Note to Bob Leach and Peggi Rush: Thanks for the opportunity and the hospitality, but I’m getting’ dirty and sideways next February! I won’t be missing this deal again!
