YAKIMA, Washington — Yakima Speedway hosted Saturday night at the races presented by Mel’s Diner. The Event included the Yakima Speedway Super Late Models, Burger Ranch Sportsman, EZ Credit Auto Sales & CWI Security Hornets and the Mel’s Diner Bump To Pass. Moxee's own Mike Longton won the Yakima Speedway Super Late Model season opener and starts the season in the points lead.
The evening started with the EZ Credit Auto Sales & CWI Security Hornets putting on an exciting first race of the season. The cars were nose to tail trading positions and paint, racing hard through the first 10 laps. By lap seven Josh Washington passed for the lead. By lap 10 the first caution fell when Julie Melville, who earlier won the B Trophy Dash, got together with Josh Parmentier and would end her night in the pits. Josh Parmentier went on to restart the race but his car caught fire and he had to pull in the pits. Josh Washington went on to take the first win of the season followed by, Jesse Eaton and Chris Marang.
The Burger Ranch Sportsman fielded 17 cars in the main event. Kyler Conduff started on the inside pole and had just taken an early lead when the drivers went three wide into turn three, got together and brought out the first yellow flag of the 35 lap main event. The field was red flagged for track clean up and reset for a complete restart.
Kyler Conduff and Jerry Walker raced side by side each wanting the lead but Jerry Walker came out the leader and Mike Hill followed him through moving Kyler Conduff into third and 2011 Apple Cup Winner Buck Noel Jr into 4th. Ron Hill continued to lead the race with multiple challenges from Buck Noel Jr in and out of lap traffic to the white flag lap but the car of Ed St. Mary spun out in turn two, bringing out the yellow flag and setting the field up for a green, white, checkered flag finish. On the restart Ron Hill and Buck Noel Jr raced side by side, beating and banging down the back stretch and into turn four. Buck was able to pass for the lead and raced on to take his second win of the 2011 season followed by Mike Hill, Ron Morton, Kyler Conduff, Lucas Valdez and Jerry Walker Jr.
The first point’s battle for the Yakima Speedway Super Late Models got under way. Tayler Riddle and Randy Marshall Jr. led the field starting first and second and Tayler Riddle immediately took the lead position. A six car invert put 2010 Season Champion Owen Riddle and Mike Longton in the back and they began to race their way to the front. By lap 15 Tayler Riddle was still the leader followed by Randy Marshall Jr., Owen Riddle, Mike Longton, Erick Hargraves and Christopher Kalsch.
Tayler Riddle and Randy Marshall Jr who unveiled new cars, were impressive racing first and second the first 47 laps of the race. On lap 48 Randy Marshall Jr slipped up on the back stretch giving Owen Riddle and Mike Longton the opportunity to pass and begin to pressure Tayler Riddle for the lead.
Tayler Riddle held the lead up to lap 58 when Owen Riddle made a pass on the inside followed by Mike Longton and Randy Marshall Jr. On the next lap Tayler Riddle spun out and brought the first caution out of the 100 lap main event. Mike Longton dove into turn four and was able to get under Owen Riddle on lap 65 and started to extend his lead.
With 15 laps to go Owen Riddle made several attempts to pass veteran racer Mike Longton but they would go unanswered and Mike Longton went on to win his first main event of the 2011 season and leave as the points leader for the Yakima Speedway Super Late Model Series.
The fan favorite Mel’s Diner Bump To Pass class started off the year just where they left off crashing, spinning, beating and banging into each other. Ben Briggs was the race leader and left the others to sort it out until lap 9 when the car of Joe Stevens took the lead. The first caution came out on lap 11 but the field got together behind the leader and no one could catch up to Joe Stevens who finished in first place followed by, Mike Parmentier, Peppie Rojas, Merle Stiltner and Cody York.
Yakima Speedway will host the next event April 30, 2011, featuring the Tire Centers Street Stocks, H & H Furniture Pure Stocks, EZ Credit Auto Sales & CWI Security Hornets, Youth Hornets and the Mel’s Diner Bump To Pass. For more information please visit www.yakimaspee
| Hornets |
|---|
| FAST TIME QUALIFIER 06 Josh Washington A DASH 44 Chris Marang 06 Josh Washington 50 Joshua Henne 51 Josh Parmentier B DASH 91 Julie Melville 81 George Jankoweis 49 Jeff Ball 76 Michael Beck HEAT RACE 06 Josh Washington 91 Julie Melville 51 Josh Parmentier 50 Joshua Henne 81 George Jankoweis 84 Jesse Eaton 49 Jeff Ball 76 Michael Beck 44 Chris Marang |
| Bump to Pass |
| FAST TIME QUALIFIER 44 Donnie Stevens A DASH 08 Robert Albert 43 Joe Stevens 22 Peppie Rojas 44 Donnie Stevens B DASH 37 Merle Stiltner 47 Cody York 50 Mike Parmentier 17 Dennis Clouse HEAT RACE 43 Joe Stevens 22 Peppie Rojas 50 Mike Parmentier 47 Cody York 37 Merle Stiltner 08 Robert Albert 51 Josh Parmentier 17 Dennis Clouse 01 Ben Briggs MAIN EVENT 43 Joe Stevens 50 Mike Parmentier 22 Peppie Rojas 37 Merle Stiltner 47 Cody York 17 Dennis Clouse 01 Ben Briggs 08 Robert Albert |
| Sportsman |
| FAST TIME QUALIFIER 14 Mike Hill A DASH 95 Buck Noel Jr 24 Mike Hill 08 Ron Morton 21 Brian Pepper B DASH 12 Ed St. Mary 15 Bobby Smith 06 Morgan Morrison 13 Darrell Tidrick HEAT RACE #1 31 Terry Cook 15 Bobby Smith 03 Bill Cuellar 12 Ed St. Mary 07 Allen Reid 58 Derek Raptcheff 06 Morgan Morrison 13 Darrell Tidrick HEAT RACE #2 95 Buck Noel Jr 14 Ron Hill 38 Lucas Valdez 08 Ron Morton 96 Jerry Walker Jr 21 Brian Pepper 63 Don Klang 86 Kyler Conduff MAIN EVENT 95 Buck Noel Jr 14 Ron Hill 08 Ron Morton 86 Kyler Conduff 38 Lucas Valdez 96 Jerry Walker Jr 63 Don Klang 15 Bobby Smith 06 Morgan Morrison 58 Derek Raptcheff 07 Allen Reid 12 Ed St. Mary 21 Brian Pepper 31 Terry Cook 13 Darrell Tidrick 03 Bill Cuellar |
| Super Late Model |
| FAST TIME QUALIFIER 37 Mike Longton A DASH 51 Erick Hargraves 37 Mike Longton 33 Christopher Kalsch 10 Owen Riddle MAIN EVENT 37 Mike Longton 10 Owen Riddle 25 Randy Marshall Jr 33 Christopher Kalsch 15 Tayler Riddle 51 Erick Hargraves |
