ROCHESTER, Washington — What better way to finish off the 2011 season at South Sound Speedway, than with a 3rd place finish in the first of the Twin 50 lap mains followed by a 2nd place finish in the Season Championship Olympic Trailer and Truck Late Model Super Stock series.
"With the temperature at a scorching 90 degrees Saturday, it made track conditions a bit challenging for most Late Model drivers. "
With the temperature at a scorching 90 degrees Saturday, it made track conditions a bit challenging for most Late Model drivers. It made no difference however for 20 year old ASU student Tyler Tanner driving the #65 X-factor/Panowicz Chevrolet, recording 2nd quickest time with a steaming 13.570!!
The field of 20 was inverted by six placing Tanner on the inside of the 3rd row. It took a while for this race to begin as a result of 3 restarts including 2 jump starts and a spin out by other drivers approaching the green. On the fourth attempt at a start, Tanner wasted no time in charging to 2nd coming up behind the 6 of Rhodes and followed closely by the 9 of Mann as well as the 17 of Presley. The four of them quickly pulled a good seven car lengths away from the pack until lap seven when there was a spin out by the 25 car driven by Dave Cline and a black flag on the 21 car belonging to Jared Vorse. The cone appeared for the restart placing Tanner in 2nd position behind the 6 car. The next five laps displayed an exciting nose to tail race between the 6, 65, and 9 cars. Tanner attempted at the lead while the 6 of Rhodes made a last minute decision to shut the door on the 65 car causing himself to spin out and sending both drivers to the back of the pack.
The next ten laps proved to be most exciting when Tanner, beginning from the very back, wasted no time showing he had the dominate car. Tanner passed 2 and 3 cars a lap on his mission to the front displaying the best passing run I have ever seen!! The only thing interfering with Tanner’s advance to the front was a spin out in turn three by Hoss Thom’s 93 car and the 6 car belonging to Wes Rhodes.
The cone came out to begin lap twenty four where Tanner began in sixth on the inside. Once again he quickly advanced to forth and then third on lap twenty seven. Another spin out by the 6 car caused a black flag on the 25 car and restarts the race once again, where Tanner began in third position on the outside. Its another 9, 17, 65 fight to the finish where 21 of Vorce took forth, Tyler Tanner in the 65 car took third, Bob Presley in the 17 car caught second, and the number 9 car driven by Kelly Mann took first.
The second 50 lap Olympic Trailer and Truck Season Championship main began with an introduction of each driver and an announcement of points earned through out the season followed by a collective yell from all of the kids with a “Start your engines!!”
Tanner once again began sixth on the outside falling to ninth on lap five, but quickly advancing back to eighth on lap eight and seventh on lap fourteen. Fighting side by side with cars 9 and 6, Tanner advanced to sixth on lap fifteen and fifth on lap seventeen. The Yellow appeared for the first time in this race bringing out the cone and placing Tanner high in fifth on the restart. Tanner again quickly passed cars 93 and 04 to pull to third. An awful spin out by the 93 brought out the red flag to allow for clean up. The restart placed Tanner high in 3rd with the 12 car bellow and the 17 out in front. Tanner quickly disposed of the 12 of Dana to advance to second and begin an intense nose to tail fight for first position with Presley in his 17 car. The Yellow flew again when the 12 of Dana drove into the dirt in turn three causing yet another spin out, this time by the 93 car. As a result of driving over the curb, the 12 car lost an oil pan causing an extensive clean up by the track crew. The cars eventually line up single file to re-start the race with Presley’s 17 car out front followed closely by Tanner in the 65. Presley and Tanner quickly pulled away from the pack leaving a ¼ lap gap for several laps. After another spin out, the field uses the cone again allowing Tanner and Hamliton to line up side by side behind Presley. The next 5 laps prove to be intense as Tanner and Hamilton show the crowd it is possible to race side by side on a short track. The two fought for the right moment to get by Presley, but with oil still on the track the outside groove was shot. The 93 car spun out right as the white flag signaled one lap to go, but the race continued unaffected by the spin out. At the end of the Championship race, Bob Presley in the 17 car finished 1st, followed by Tyler Tanner, the fan favorite, in the 65 car in 2nd, and JJ Hamilton in 3rd!!!
Tanner Motorsports would like to thank the crew from Panowicz Jewelers for joining us at the Speedway as well as their continued support through out the season. Another big thank you to X-Factor Hand Cleaner for being the 1st Corporation to see Tyler Tanner to the next level of his racing career in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Tanner Motorsports would also like to thank their other loyal sponsors and contributors: Capitol City Press, Safe Air Inc., Cellar2Cellar, Olympic Trailer and Truck, Inc., Racing Electronics, Vital Signs, Kings Transmissions, Quiznos, Spin Tees, The Miller Family, The Loehner Family, The Crane Family, Applebee’s, Auburn Golf Course, South Sound Speedway, T.O.E, Auburn Valley Pontiac, and Hamke Race Cars for their help and support during the 2011 season.
If you have an interest in an advertising partnership with Tanner Motorsports and want to ride with Tyler Tanner to NASCAR, please contact Erin Dafoe erin.dafoe@hotmail.com or Leanne Tanner leanne@tylertanner.com
Tanner Motorsports hopes to race next at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring for the Fall Classic Open Compition on November 4th and 5th.
