On a race night the local boys appeared poised to dominate, it was the out-of-state contingents that eventually stole the show.
Justin Mack of Benton City, Wash., led nearly every lap en route to capturing the annual Don Hein Memorial Saturday night at the Douglas County Speedway an ASA Member Track in Roseburg, Oregon. Victoria, B.C.’s Jeff Montgomery placed second and Jake Mann, Monroe, Wash., finished third.
The race card began with Roseburg’s Matt Hein winning his first American Speed Association/Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association qualifying session. The 2006 RHS grad drove the short, half-mile oval in 12.626 seconds. The mark nearly eclipsed the all-time track record (12.494) set by 2007 NSRA champ Andy Alberding. Alberding, of Winston, timed in second fastest. Other local track entrants, Rick Brown and Brett Smith qualified third and fifth respectively.
But when the checkered flag flew after the 40-lap feature, the winner’s grid was full foreign celebration and the local favorites were already in their pit stalls contemplating the next race.
Hein, started eighth and had moved into the top five when he wheel hopped a lapped car, lost several positions and wound up fifth. Alberding was involved in a collision on Lap 2 and did not return. Brown’s sprinter had mechanical failure during his heat race and did not start the main. Smith, piloting a new car for the first time, followed a stellar qualifying run by experiencing handling problems throughout the feature and was seventh. Jim Brock, from Sutherlin, made his sprintcar debut and finished eighth. Roseburg’s Mike Sullivan’s night ended before it began as he blew a motor prior to qualifying.
For Mack, his fortune with a last-minute lineup change. His No. 17 was slated to start on the inside of the fifth row, but after Brown was unable to start the feature, it bumped Mack all the way up the pole position due to an eight-car inverted starting grid. Mack had qualified 12th of 15 entrants.
“Moving to the pole really helped a lot,” Mack said. “After qualifying we put more stagger in our setup to loosen the car in the corner. As it turned out, this was probably the best setup we’ve ever had.” Mack has found success in previous Roseburg races, but Saturday was his first to finish.
“This (DCS) is actually one of our favorite tracks,” Mack said. “We’ve done well here before. Tonight, everything came into place just right.”
Montgomery was a bridesmaid in all three of his races. Prior to the Canadian placing second in the feature, he was second in his heat race behind Mack and second to R.J. Fronsman of Ephrata, Wash., in the trophy dash.
“We had a fast car early in the night, but lost the power steering early on in the feature,” Montgomery said. “I think we gave it a pretty good go under some tough conditions.” Doug Risley, Dillard, reeled in top qualifier Dan Fouts to win the Super Stock main event. Risley past Fouts on Lap 22 of the 25-lap race.
Fouts won the Super fast heat and the dash. Donald Moore won the first heat.
Rob Mueller won the Mini Stock main, by topping the largest field of the night, 15 cars. The Roseburg racer edged Winston’s Jim Smith at the finish line. Mueller also won his first-ever dash. Gary James, Nick Hanson and Smith each won their respective heats.
Jeff Solberg topped a 14-vehicle Hornet main. Chris Allmendinger recorded his highest finish in a main with a second place effort. James Jobe and Andy Nelson won the two heats.
In the Old Timer cars, Mike Batman registered a trifecta. The Roseburg driver won the main, the fast heat and the dash. Tim Jennings won the first heat.
Local racing will be dormant this coming Saturday with a monster truck show and will return May 10 featuring the DC Outhouse Grandprix with ASA Premier Division, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Mini Vans, Lady and Jr. Stingers and J-Car racing.
• You can reach Douglas County Speedway announcer/writer BZ Zeller by e-mail at stock23@aol.com Results DON HEIN MEMORIAL
ASA NW Sprint Car Series
Fast Time: Matt Hein, 12.626
B-Dash: RJ Fronsman
A-Dash: Jeff Montgomery
1st Heat: Justin Mack
2nd Heat: Corey Lockwood
40 Lap Feature: 1. 17 Justin Mack, 2. 33j Jeff Montgomery, 3. 51 Jake Mann, 4. 99r Lockwood, 5. 98h Matt Hein, 6. 82 Adam Roduner, 7. 9 Brett Smith, 8. 37 Jim Brock, 9. 25z RJ Fronsman, 10. 25j Sierra Jackson, 11. 76 Andy Alberding, 12. 57 (dns) 99d Rick Brown
SUPER STOCK
Fast Time: Dan Fouts, 16.793 sec.
B-Heat: Don Moore
A-Heat: Fouts
Trophy Dash: Fouts
25 Lap Feature: Doug Risley, Fouts, Bobby Edwards, Bob Brumback, Bobby Wright, Moore, Jim Brock, Tom Ditmer
MINI STOCK
Fast Time: Jim Smith, 18.041 sec.
C-Heat: Gary James
B-Heat: Nick Hansen
A-Heat: Jim Smith
Trophy Dash: Rob Mueller
25 Lap Feature: Mueller, Smith, Hansen, Dale Yarbrough, Dave Wilson, Daniel Jobe, Jason Gotz, Bob Bartleson, Dena James, Scott Sheridan, Gary James, Gary Carnes, Eddie Stamey, Rich Dickenson, Jerry James, (dns) Ryan Fullerton
OLDTIMER HARDTOPS
Fast Time: Mike Batman, 17.771 sec.
B-Heat: Tim Jennings
A-Heat: Batman
Trophy Dash: Batman
20 Lap Feature: Batman, Dennis Minter, Jennings, Dean Cast, Dave Hufford, Robert Lavorico, Dill Trotter
HORNETS
1st Heat: James Jobe
2nd Heat: Andy Nelson
15 Lap Feature: Jeff Solberg, Ryan Allen, Chris Allmendinger, Jack Edwards, Boone Banducci, George Almendinger, Daniel Murphy, Cody Rassmussen, Mark Myers, Andy Nelson, Amy Sherman, James Jobe, (dns) Jerry Batman III
