HERMISTON, Oregon — With most racing events for the 2009 season having concluded some enthusiasts are starting to turn their attention towards football and hunting season, but WAIT – there is one more big event yet this year! The Northwest Sprint Car Invitational will be this weekend, October 10th, 2009 at Columbia Motor Speedway in Hermiston, Oregon.
The track which had racing return to it full time this year will be the site for the ground-pounding action of pavement sprint cars – as teams from INSCA, WESCO, the ERP Sprint Cars and WILROC compete against each in the first annual event. The track will open for practice Friday at noon and run until dusk. The track will open Saturday at 10, with qualifying slated for 1:30 pm.
On Saturday, the competitors will join forces as they walk through the stands with their helmets for a “Pass the Helmet” donation for injured sprint car driver, Travis Rutz. The Northwest native was racing at the famed Terre Haute Action Track in Indiana when he was involved in a serious racing accident. Travis was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he has received care from perhaps the premier medical staff in regards to racing trauma. All donations received during this Pass the Helmet will be given to the Rutz family as they work through this difficult time and we all wish Travis a speedy recovery.
Then the drivers will suit up and compete in the main event, which will be a 50-lap feature with the winner taking home $1200 in prize money.
A special thanks to our contingency sponsors:
Longacre Racing Products
Hinchman Racing Uniforms
Lejeune Performance and Fabricating
Speedmart Inc.
Whitley Fuel
Race Car Supply
Oak Tree Inn – Hermiston, Oregon – Official Hotel for the 2009 NWSCI – 541-567-2330.
Also a special thanks to our Race Officials:
Bill Birdsell (Race Director)
Rabbit (Flagman)
Doug Pace (Announcer)
Trish Eklund
Beth Dudley
The expected entry list for the First Annual Northwest Sprint Car Invitational:
Name Hometown Club
1 Rich Leighty Pacific Beach, WA WESCO
2 Justin Popple Spokane, WA INSCA
3 Mark Jones Smelterville, ID INSCA
4 Wes Helgeson Couer da Lane, ID INSCA
5 Craig Deaver Lake Tapps, WA WESCO
6 Tony Berry Spokane, WA INSCA
7 Cole Tupling Okanogan, WA INSCA
8 Doug Mclees, Jr. Olympia, WA WESCO
9 Brian Mclees Olympia, WA WESCO
10 Ralph Deaver Edgewood, WA WESCO
11 Kirk Eklund Edgewood, WA WESCO
12 Mike Fought Othello, WA ERP
13 Rich Fast Ephrata, WA ERP
14 Bob Witte Ephrata, WA ERP
15 Corky Harbison Otis Orchards, WA INSCA
16 Rob Matherly Colbert, WA INSCA
17 Butch Duren Cheney, WA INSCA
18 Jerry Proper Spokane, WA INSCA
19 Eddie Isaacson Redmond, WA WESCO
20 Mike Basher Olympia, WA WESCO
21 Ray Lince Tacoma, WA WESCO
22 Justin Mack Tri-Cities, WA INSCA
23 Mitch Olson Tacoma, WA WESCO
24 Ron Rohde Lewiston, ID INSCA
25 Donnie Kudrna Othello, WA ERP
Other drivers and teams are still attempting.
