As usual, the MidState Late Model and Limited Sportsman Series was the highlight of weekend racing activities at Yakima Speedway.
Running on a rare Sunday night because of being at Tri-City Raceway Saturday night, the Series brought 21 Late Models and ten Limited Sportsman to the half-mile asphalt oval. Also racing Sunday night, and new members of the Series, were the newly-formed MidState Super 4s. Brought together by Williams Promotions in an effort to save the struggling Northwest Super 4 series, the Super 4s put on an exciting show and is looking forward to growing in numbers throughout the season.
Fresh off a win at Tri-City Raceway Saturday night, Series Late Model leader Jason Jefferson had high hopes of repeating and continuing to expand his points-lead. But that was not to be. Qualifying fifth behind Rod Schultz, Brandon Riehl, Jon Zaretzke and Tom Sweatman, Jefferson could advance no further than third place in the 75-lap main event.
Both Schultz (18.993) and Riehl (18.997) set new track records, breaking the old standard set earlier in the season by Jefferson (19.075). And while Schultz was the faster of the two in qualifying, it was Riehl all the way from his third place start to first place at lap 12. And even though several cautions served to tighten the pack, Riehl was not to be denied.
It appeared as though Jefferson (in third) was playing a waiting game on Zaretzke (second) and Riehl (first) throughout the race. On lap 66, as the last of seven caution flags dropped, Jefferson attempted to make his last move for the lead, but Zaretzke held his line and Riehl sprinted to a quick ten car lead on the pack. It was a lead that would take him all the way to the checkered flag and his third win of the season. Zaretzke took second, as Jefferson, Sweatman and Brad Rhoads rounded out the top-five. For his efforts, Riehl has moved into second place in the MidState Series, with Jefferson alone at the top.
For the Limited Sportsman class, 2000 Speedway champ B.J. Tidrick won his third race of the season, but it wasn’t easy. Beginning the race in last place of the 35-lap main event because of a complete invert, Tidrick was quick to advance through the pack.
In less than five laps, Tidrick moved up to fifth place, and into third by lap 10, and into second behind John Rose ten laps later. For the next few laps, both he and Rose raced side by side until Tidrick slipped by Rose on the frontstretch of lap 26.
Rich Peters, whose appearances in the Series have been limited, ran well to capture third behind Rose. Rookie J.C. Wofford ran a steady race to place fourth, with Norb Barthel grabbing fifth after rallying from a black flag stop and go on lap 13.
For the MidState Super 4s, Tri-City Raceway undefeated Mini Stock points-leader Kevin Gustafson started on the pole as the result of four-car invert. Gustafson fought off stiff challenges by both Rick Thompson and Eric Nowadnick, who took the lead from Gustafson for a couple of laps. Nowadnick again captured the lead on lap 11, but lost it for good only a few laps later when his racer began to lose power.
Thompson, who started the race at the back of the pack, moved steadily through the field until he was able to grab the lead from Gustafson on lap 17 when Tommy Macomber forced the Tri-City racer off the track. Randy Marshall, Zack Pfister, Gustafson, and Macomber rounded out the top five.
Saturday night, the Big Rigs brought an exciting show to the Speedway as ten rigs rumbled their way around the half-mile track. For 30 laps, they thundered as Peter VanDyke came from last place to take the lead on turn four of lap 10. And while he held the lead all the way to the checkered flag, both A.J. Watson and Merv Pidhenry fought for several laps for position until Pidhenry muscled his way around Watson on lap 24 for second place, with Cory Ripplinger and Darwin Berdahl taking fourth and fifth places, respectively.
In the Hobby Stock division, E.J. Trujillo, who began the race toward the rear of the field, came from behind to capture his first Hobby Stock win of the season, but his victory did not come easy.
Hobby Stock points-leader Andy Beaman began the race in last place because of a complete invert, and despite weaving his way through the field until settling in second place on lap 17, he wasn’t able to get around Trujillo. Throughout the 30-lap main event the lead pack was seldom separated by more than a car-length.
Bobby A. Trujillo grabbed the lead from pole-sitter Mark Harrah on lap three, and held that position for more than 25-laps, until E.J. Trujillo passed him on the white flag lap for the lead and the win. As a result of his efforts, E.J. moved into sole possession of second place, behind Beaman. James Heinle, Kevin Washington, and Mike Hill rounded out the top five.
For the Bombers, Jason Trujillo grabbed the lead from Don Klang on lap 11 when Jeremy Lennartz came together with Klang causing the leader to lose control of his racer. For the remainder of the 30-lap main event, Trujillo fought off continual challenges by Ralph Smith to take his second victory of the season. Ryan Williams, Neal Smith and Gary Haley rounded out the top-five.
Next weekend, the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series will make its first of three stops at Yakima Speedway. The 125-lap main event will feature the best drivers in the Northwest, including Kevin Hamlin, Chris Hart, Garrett Evans, Ron Eaton, and Pete Harding. Also scheduled will be the Northwest Late Model 4s. See www.yakimaspeedway.com for additional information, or call 248-0647.
Results: MidState Late Models: 1. Brandon Riehl (Boring, OR), 2. Jon Zaretzke (Yakima), 3. Jason Jefferson (Naches), 4. Tom Sweatman (Cosmopolis), 5. Brad Rhoads (Kennewick), 6. Luke Ledgerwood (Pomeroy), 7. Jody Tanner (Portland), 8. Rod Schultz (Woodland), 9. Bill Brock, Jr. (Union Gap), 10. John Bender (Everett), 11. Ted Mikkelson (Amboy), 12. Ron Bemis (Yakima), 13. Jerry Markee (Ellensburg), 14. Derek Lusk (Kennewick), 15. Brad Tanner (Portland, OR), 16. Don Waterman (Portland, OR), 17. Kirk Hennefer, (Darby, MT), 18. Christopher Kalsch (Hillsboro, OR), 19. Bill Mills (Zillah), 20. Scott Walker (Prosser), C.J. Miller (Vancouver). Top Qualifier: Schultz (18.993) A Trophy Dash: Riehl, Sweatman, Zaretzke, Schultz B Trophy Dash: J. Tanner, Kalsch, Waterman, B. Tanner
MidState Limited Sportsman: 1. B.J. Tidrick (Yakima), John Rose (Yakima), 3. Rich Peters (Yakima), 4. J.C. Wofford (Wapato), 5. Norb Barthel (Yakima), 6. Darrell Hanson (Portland, OR), 7. Don Martin (Yakima), 8. Rod Schultz, Jr. (Woodland), 9. Jeff Estabrook (Maple Valley), 10. Jack Mondor (Wapato). Top Qualifier: Tidrick (21.183) A Trophy Dash: Mondor, Barthel, Tidrick, Schultz B Trophy Dash: Rose, Hanson, Martin Heat Race 1: Peters, Tidrick, Mondor, Barthel, Rose, Schultz, Martin, Wofford, Hanson, Estabrook
MidState Super 4s: 1. Rick Thompson (Prosser), 2. Randy Marshall (Moxee), 3. Zack Pfister (Prosser), 4. Kevin Gustafson (Richland), 5. Tom Macomber (Selah), 6. Eric Nowadnick (Tacoma). Top qualifier: Nowadnick (20.959) A Trophy Dash: Nowadnick, Thompson, Macomber B Trophy Dash: Gustafson, Marshall, Pfister Heat Race: Nowadnick, Thompson, Gustafson, Pfister, Macomber, Marshall
Hobby Stocks: 1. E.J. Trujillo (Union Gap), 2. Bobby A. Trujillo (Union Gap), 3. James Heinle (Yakima), 4. Kevin Washington (Yakima), 5. Mike Hill (Yakima), 6. Larry Norman (Yakima), 7. Tony Huffines (Selah), 8. Andy Beaman (Yakima), 9. Harold Seekins (Yakima), 10. Chuck Cook, Jr. (Yakima), 11. Tim Mills (Yakima), 12. Mark Harrah (Yakima), 13. Ted Wilburn (Yakima). Top qualifier: Beaman (232.676) A Trophy Dash: Hill, Beaman, Washington, E.J. Trujillo B Trophy Dash: Cook, Huffines, Bobby A. Trujillo, Heinle Heat Race 1: Heinle, Seekins, Huffines, Cook, B. Trujillo, Mills, Harrah Heat Race 2: Norman, Beaman, Washington, E. Trujillo, Wilburn
Bombers: 1. Jason Trujillo (Union Gap), 2. Raplh Smith (Yakima), 3. Ryan Williams (Toppenish), 4. Neal Smith (Selah), 5. Gary Haley (Yakima), 6. Eric Hargraves (Toppenish), 7. Jeremy Lennartz (Yakima), 8. Don Sowder (Yakima), 9. Derrick Denton (Yakima), 10. Don Klang (Yakima), 11. Fred Bergrin (Yakima) Top Qualifier: Ralph Smith (24.707) A Trophy Dash: Trujillo, Hargraves, R. Smith, Noel, Jr. B Trophy Dash: Lennartz, Klang, Denton, Bergrin Heat Race 1: Klang, Denton, Bergrin, N. Smith, Haley, Girard Heat Race 2: R. Smith, Trujillo, Hargraves, Williams, Sowder, Noel, Jr., Lennartz
