YAKIMA, Washington -- Derricke Cope, a graduate of NASCAR racing in the Northwest and Yakima Speedway, will be in Yakima, Wash. on June 21 for the first time in almost 20 years. While the Daytona 500 winner is not expected to take a seat behind the wheel of a NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series late model, fans can expect a wonderful evening, with an autograph session and other ceremonies during the event.
Scheduled to compete this weekend are Cope’s nieces, Amber and Angela, and their uncle will be assisting on with the teams late model program as the twins prepare for the 75-lap main event.
Also scheduled to compete are the Boomers Roadside Bar & Grill Street Stocks and the Yakima Speedway Hobby Stocks. The Hobby Stock race is that division’s mid-season championship.
“It is an honor to welcome Derricke Cope back to Yakima Speedway,” said general manager Ron Bennett. “He could have gone to a great number of tracks to watch his nieces race, but he choose to come to Yakima and we hope his fans and our supporters show their gratitude for his efforts while racing here at the Speedway by coming out this weekend.”
The focus may be on Cope’s return to Yakima, but for Street Stock driver, Erick Hargraves, the attention is on capturing the Speedway’s famed bonus for winning three consecutive main events. Hargraves is the defending champion in the Street Stock division and comes into the evening in fourth place in the current points standings. Over the past four races, his Pontiac Firebird has been one of the most consistent race cars competing on the famed .500-mile paved oval.
Fans can expect a tight battle for the Hobby Stock mid-season championship, as Buck Noel Jr. and Neal Smith are tied for second place in the points standings with defending champion, Don Klang, holding the top spot by just four points.
Klang and Noel have earned main event victories this season while Smith is still searching for his first trip to victory lane in 2003. Smith has been consistent all season long with several top-5 finishes. Klang has picked up two main event wins in a row to climb to the top of the Hobby Stock points ladder. Noel is the Hobby Stock winner in the 38th Annual Apple Cup, and used the win to propel him to a successful first-half of the season in the Hobby Stock ranks.
In the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series late model division, points leader Scott Walker looks to extend his lead over Ken Olson as the class approaches their mid-season championship on June 28. Walker won the most recent event for the late model class, with Olson finishing second. Walker is ranked sixth in the Northwest Region for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series National Championship and is looking to move into the top-5 with a win this Saturday night.
One driver to keep an eye on will be Troy Trammell. The rookie-of-the-year contender had his best career finish at Yakima Speedway on June 7. Trammell hopes to build off third place finish with another top-flight performance this weekend.
For more information on this weekend’s exciting action at Yakima Speedway, call (509) 248-0647 or log onto the track’s website at www.yakimaspeedway.com
