ELMA, Washington — Burlington’s Jason Solwold took advantage of a late race motor problem by race leader Seth Bergman, Snohomish to take the opening night win in the American Sprint Car Series Northwest Region “360 Sprints” series 30-lap feature race at Grays Harbor Raceway Saturday night.
Forty-one sprint cars, from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and two Canadian Provinces were on hand for the two day show. Unfortunately rain washed out the Sunday portion of the program.
Seth Hespe, Snohomish parlayed a late red flag which eliminated two of the three cars in front of him to win the “Midgets 25-lap feature race.
Solwold, a former “World of Outlaws” and Northern Sprint Tour driver said than you very much when Bergman cam up short on the front stretch after experiencing motor problems on lap-20.
Hespe was tied in the points race with Allison Journey, last weeks winner, when Journey, early race leader Ariel Biggs, Dustin O’Brien, Snohomish and Montesano’s Jeremy Miller all tangled up in turn-4 on lap-23.
Journey was transported to a local hospital, to be checked out. Both Miller and Biggs were checked by track safety officials and didn’t need more medical attention, and O’Brien was unhurt in the incident.
Sprints
Brian Kirkpatrick of Woodinville brought out the first of three red flags in the accident marred race when he flipped his car in turn-2 on the start.
Solwold had the lead after the second attempt to get the race underway, but Woodinville’s Josh Dewitt quickly assumed the top spot on the second lap.
DeWitt surrendered to top spot to fellow Snohomish driver Seth Bergman on lap-8. Solwold was third, Tacoma’s Mitch Olson fourth and Orting’s Logan Forler fifth.
The caution flag came out on lap-9 when Jared Peterson coasted to a stop in turn-2. On the restart, JJ Hickle, Quilcene took a wild flip off of the wall in turn- 2.
Dewitt’s night was done just on the next lap when he flipped his car in the same area as Hickle. DeWitt, Hickle and Kirkpatrick were all checked out by track safety crews and were all right.
On the restart it was Bergman out in front, Solwold second, Forler third, Everett’s Jayme Barnes fourth and Bellingham’s Brock Lemley fifth.
Bergman seemed to have the race well in hand when lady luck smiled on Solwold and frowned on Bergman when he coasted to a stop on the front stretch with motor problems, out of the race and Solwold back in front of the pack.
Barnes made a run at the leader but was unable to accomplish the pass and had to settle for second place. Forler finished third, Medford’s Roger Crockett finished fourth and Lemley rounded out the top five.
Midgets
Hoquiam’s Ariel Biggs had the pole position and the lead at the start of the followed by Marysville’s Jeff Bell, Allison Journey, Springfield, OR.
And a pair of Snohomish drivers, Dustin O’Brien and Reece Goetz.
With Biggs having her best run of the year, Bell, Journey. O’Brien Goetz and rookie driver Derek Holmwood of Ferndale were all jockeying for position.
Goetz got the first break of the race when a caution flag came out and bunched the field back up for a restart.
Both Goetz and Holmwood got by Biggs on the restart while O’Brien and Snohomish’s Seth Hespe shuffled Bell out of the top five.
Goetz gave up the lead when he coasted to a stop in turn-2. It was the second time this season when the young Monroe driver has had the same problem when leading the race.
Hespe grabbed the lead on the restart after the accident on lap-24 when O’Brien, Journey, Miller and Biggs all tangled in turn-4.
Holmwood finished second. Garret Johnson of Poulsbo third, Gaylon Stewart fourth and Journey ended up fifth.
All five classes of cars will be on hand next Saturday night, “Sprints, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Midgets and Hornets for KDUX fan appreciation night.
Gates open at 4:30 with racing around 6:30.
| Lucas Oil ASCS |
|---|
| A Main. 1. Jason Solwold, Burlington. 2. Jayme Barnes, Everett. 3. Logan Forler, Orting. 4. Roger Crockett, Medford, OR. 5. Brock Lemley, Bellingham. 6. Mitch Olson, Tacoma. 7. Jared Peterson, Stanwood. 8. Jay Cole, Shelton. 9. Colin Baker, Cottage Grove, OR. 10. Shawn Rice, Tacoma. B Main 1. 1. Lemley. 2. Cole. 3. Steven Tiner, Vasalia, CA. 4. Cam Smith. 5. Barry Martinez, Snohomish. B Main 2. 1. Peterson. 2. Glenn Borden Jr. Raymond. 3. Mike Melwicks, Abbotsford, B.C. 4. Trey Starks, Puyallup. 5. Phillip DelRosa, Central Point, OR. Heat 1. 1. Shane Broers, Stanwood. 2. Evan Funk, LaConner. 3. Garen Linder, Central Point. 4. Dan Dunlap, Renton. 5. Chris Schmelzle, Victoria, B.C. Heat 2. 1. Forler. 2. Baker. 3. Josh DeWitt, Snohomish. 4. Barry Martinez, Snohomish. 5. Steve Vague, Kirkland. Heat 3. 1. Solwold. 2. Olson. 3. Tiner. 4. Cole. 5. Billy Nutter, Central Point. Heat 4. 1. Barnes. 2. Brian Kirkpatrick, Woodinville. 3. Rice. 4. JJ Hickle, Quilcene. 5. Lemley. Heat 5. Seth Bergman, Snohomish. 2. Crockett. 3. Borden Jr. 4. TJ Hartman, Puyallup. 5. Melwicks. |
| Triple X Racing ford Focus Midgets |
| A Main. 1. Seth Hespe, Snohomish. 2. Derek Holmwood, Ferndale. 3. Garret Johnson, Poulsbo. 4. Gaylon Stewart, Everett. 5. Allison Journey, Springfield, OR. Heat 1. 1. Journey. 2. Ariel Biggs, Hoquiam. 3. Jeremy Miller, Montesano. 4. Jeff Bell, Marysville. 5. Annika Johanson, Lacey. Heat 2. Reece Goetz, Snohomish. 2. G. Stewart. 3. Dustin O’Brien, Snohomish. 4. Holmwood. 5. Johnson. |
