WENATCHEE, Washington — Wenatchee Valley Super Oval opened the new season of Big 5 Series Late Model racing with a huge event. A great crowd, a big, diverse field of late models, cool weather and good family pricing, made for a great opener. The staff and management offered a live band, kids land, cars on display show casing upcoming races, and good food as the fans entered the beautiful facility. The first of five events took on a carnival atmosphere and the huge crowd was not disappointed.
The series had 16 entrants at the first race. The field was an excellent mix of new cars, older homebuilt cars, veterans and rookies, open motors, crate engines, where every combination seemed to be very competitive.
Qualifying set the tone for the evening. Nine cars qualified in the 12 second bracket. Travis Bennett set the mark with a track record time of 12.652 sec. Shane Mitchell was close behind with Michael Knutson, in a home built, stock stub car timing in third. Shane Mitchell won the dash over Todd Walters. The heat racers were won by Eric Hector and Travis Bennett.
Anticipation was high as the 14 cars were introduced to the crowd. The entries of Dustin Kaegle and Ricky Allen had mechanical problems earlier and could not compete. With a totally inverted field, rookie Aaron Haley from Yakima, brought the field down for the green for the start of the scheduled 100 lap race. Eric Hector, from Ephrata, took over the point with the field close behind. Lap 8 saw the first caution, and again one lap later for spins, the fans were treated to double file restarts and the use of the cone. The lap 9 wreck was a spin in turn 4 by Paul Dart that collected Mike Knutson. Dart comes from the sprint car ranks and Knutson out of the Outlaw Street Stocks. Neither car was able to continue.
While all this was happening, Joe Constance, Shane Mitchell and Travis Bennett were moving from the rear of the field. The mix of combinations of cars and chassis was exciting to watch. Constance had a crate engine and was able to nail the center of the corner and enter deeper into the turns while the Tour engine of Mitchell and the spec headed engine of Bennett pulled a little harder off the corner. This provided side by side, fender banging action at its best. Bennett was finally able to secure the point on lap 28 and hold on for a very close finish in the time shorted 50 lap race. Mitchell and Constance were both within a car length at the checkers. Amanda McDonald from Ephrata, coming off the NW Tour, finished a strong fourth and Josh Roberts, from the modifieds was fifth. Eric Hector, making his late model debut was next with the local Todd Walters and veteran Marty Wasson from Chelan, finishing on the lead lap. Chris Walters was 9th with veteran Ron Fritzley, from Lynnwood, rounding out the top 10. Fritzley made a return to the drivers seat after taking a few years off to help his daughter and son in law establish their own racing history. Jason Ogle ran strong but collected the outside wall in turn three and damaged his new car. Paul Dart, Mike Knutson and young Aaron Haley were unable to complete the race.
The win for Bennett was emotional for the entire team. The racer from Ellensburg, and his wife brought the new addition to their family, 3 week old baby girl, Addison, to her first, of what will be many, races. Also the Bennett family lost a member of their family this past week.
The next race scheduled for the Big 5 series is May 15. This series, with spec, steel bodied shocks, Hoosier tires and a two tire rule, weight breaks for different combinations, Danny Grill as race director and backed up with a good staff, has the fans and racers excited. Mark the date, the next event looks even better as we move into warmer weather.
Questions about all the racing action at WVSO can be answered by calling 509 886-5801 or going to the web site.
