Saturday night June 4 was successful for some but not others on USG Night at Evergreen Speedway. The Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Super Stock winner Shane Harding has won two in a row and fourth of the season. Steve Ptacek won for a second time this season in the Les Schwab NASCAR Bomber Division. A third win of the season came for Nat Barber in the Mini-Stock Division. Steve Peters and Ryan Gunderson were victorious on the Figure Eight.
Shane Harding started the 50-lap Super Stock main in fourth and by lap 15 he was first. The race was setting up to be a battle between Jason Fraser, Gaylon Stewart, Doug Davidson and Harding. Stewart’s part of the battle ended when he lost control going into turn three ending against the wall exiting turn four. Davidson fell back after a spirited skirmish with Harding and Fraser. Fraser fought all the way to the end but could not muster enough ammo for Harding. Harding’s fourth win and another second for Fraser has the two only eight points apart for the championship. Division rookie John Burtsche matched his career best of a week ago with another third, passing Davidson in the last few laps.
Steve Ptacek’s win in the 35-lap Bomber main did not come easily. A late race spin by a lapped car changed the complexion of the race when leader Jill Lang went off the track to avoid the spun car. At the time Ptacek and Lang were in a tussle for the lead as two were side by side. Ptacek had taken the lead from Lang only to have the rookie pass him back and they seesawed until the late race incident. On the restart with only 1-lap remaining Travis Blackwood who had recovered from an early race problem made an attempt at the lead but Ptacek held him at bay. It is two wins for Ptacek and a fifth second for Blackwood. James Mugge was third.
Mini-Stock defending season champion Nat Barber won for the third time this season. As with his previous two wins Barber was dominate. Taking the lead early on with some skillful passes Barber went on to an unchallenged win. Rick Lapinski finished a distant second ahead of Mark Weedin.
Super Figure Eight Division driver Ryan Gunderson was able to hold off teammate John Zaretzke for his first win in 2005. Gunderson passed race leader Zaretzke midway through the 30-lap main. A few close calls at the X were all that Gunderson had to deal with after the pass. Zaretzke finished second with John Carlson directly behind for third.
Steve Peters the point leader in the Super Figure Eight Division brought out his Extreme Contact Figure Eight car and went on to win the Extreme 20-lap main. Bill Wade survived the bump-to-pass contact for a second place with 16-year old Sean Peters third.
Next up at Evergreen Speedway at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA will be Wedding Night at the Races. Couples wishing to get married, this will be the night to have that done, as the track will be offering the free service. In addition there will be a ‘Super 7’ racing program. Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Super Stocks, Les Schwab NASCAR Bombers, Northwest Legends, Stinger 8’s, Hertz Hornets, Super and Extreme Contact Figure Eights will be in action. Racing starts at 7pm with front gates opening at 4pm.
Evergreen Speedway USG June 4 Results:
Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Super Stocks:
50-Lap Main: 1-Shane Harding; 2-Jason Fraser; 3-John Burtsche; 4-Doug Davidson; 5-Naima Lang; 6-John Pierce; 7-Joey Decker; 8-Richard Harriman; 9-Dan Beecher; 10-Wade Bennett; 11-Joe McNeil; 12-Don Cralle; 13-Daniel Boys; 14-Kelly Mann; 15-Gaylon Stewart
Les Schwab NASCAR Bombers:
35-Lap Main: 1-Steve Ptacek; 2-Travis Blackwood; 3-James Mugge; 4-Steve McElroy; 5-Russ Hales; 6-Jim Foti; 7-Darrell Lutovsky; 8-Craig Rowalt; 9-Darin Stordahl; 10-Brad Sweeney; 11-Merlin Cook; 12-Eric Shover; 13-Marv Monty; 14-Jill Lang; 15-Mark Trail; 16-Brian Cottrell; 17-Dwayne Humenny; 18-Kenny Paine; 19-Naima Lang
NASCAR Mini-Stocks:
Gem Star Homes Dash for Cash: Mark Weedin
25-Lap Main: 1-Nat Barber; 2-Rick Lapinski; 3-Weedin; 4-Tony Bunkleman; 5-Jamie Richardson; 6-Douglas Hinds; 7-Dave Ramey; 8-Steve Kelly; 9-Travis Bliven; 10-Chadd Chase; 11-Troy Selby
Super Figure Eights:
Dash: Steve Peters
30-Lap Main: 1-Ryan Gunderson; 2-John Zaretzke; 3-John Carlson; 4-Peters; 5-Brandon Lindberg; 6-Nick Gunderson; 7-Gordy Severson; 8-Doug Wilkinson; 9-Augie Vezzoni; 10-Jerry Funden; 11-Earl Rohn; 12-Renny Marose; 13-Richard Shaver
Extreme Contact Figure Eights:
Dash: Russ Stotler
20-Lap Main: 1-Steve Peters; 2-Bill Wade; 3-Sean Peters; 4-Benny Raynes; 5-Stotler; 6-Noah Chandler; 7-Bruce Wilson; 8-Jeff Chandler; 9-Mike Buse; 10-Earl Davis; 11-Josh Beckel; 12-Mike Johnson; 13-Bryce Kolar; 14-Nick Niesen
