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YAKIMA SPEEDWAY
Source: Yakima Speedway Public Relations
Date: 05/21/2006
YAKIMA, Washington -- It was a warm breezy day and a full night as three different classes competed at Yakima Speedway on Saturday. It also saw the return of the Late Model Challenge Series to Yakima Speedway with 40 Late Models showing up to race. Of the 40 that did show up to race, 39 qualified with the top 20 locked into the main event. Marc Sunburg and James Spiering took the two available provisionals to make it a 22 car field and the four remaining positions would be decided in the last chance main of 35 laps to fill out the rest of the 26 car field. When the last chance main started it was truly a competition to get into those top four places. It all came down to the last lap out of turn three when fourth place was decided as Willy Thom, Amber Cope, and Todd Walters all tangled and allowing Ron Wolf to move into that final transfer spot of fourth place. Mike Obrist, Ron Bemis, and Jason Hedrick all respected each other as they raced for first, second and third. In the Wix Filters 100 it looked like Wes Rhodes was going to dominate the race as he took the lead to five car lengths and beginning to look like nobody was going to challenge him. Throughout the night turn three and four seemed to be the problem portion of the track along with some problems in turn one. On lap 10 Mike Zamora and Troy Conrad both looked at the rocks off of turn three before returning to the track. Lap 22 Mike Obrist visited the rocks off of turn one. Lap 38 Lon Werremeyer spun in the middle of turns three and four and Ron Wolf tried to avoid Werremeyer and ended up in the water barrels and wall of turn four. It looked like at full speed as Wolf lost his brakes. Wolf walked away to begin planning for his next race. By lap 45 there were only 20 cars left on the track. On lap 49 Ron Bemis slid off of turn three and managed to drive back onto the track and continue racing. On lap 53 Jason Jefferson and Jason Fraser ended up in the wall together in turn one. They both climbed out their cars and checked on each other to make sure everyone was all right as they both walked back to the pits together. During all the excitement on the track Erick Hargraves methodically worked his way up to third. After the restart on lap 55 Hargraves challenged second place B.J. Tidrick and passed him and began slowly working his way up to challenge Rhodes. Kelly Mann was also working his way up until he blew a tire in the middle of three and four on lap 64. Darren Shaw having a good run, on lap 74 drove into turns one and two a little high and slid off the track. Four laps later Mike Obrist spun on the front straight, but stayed out of everyone’s way. Erick Hargraves began his challenge for first place on lap 86 as Wes Rhodes did his best to defend his position. Hargraves worked his way underneath of Rhodes and on the backstretch it was a drag race with Hargraves on the rear quarter panel of Rhodes. Both going into turn one Rhodes and Hargraves made contact and Rhodes spun. Hargraves got the black flag and had to take a tour of the pits before going back out on the track. This gave the lead to B.J. Tidrick and his Cope Brothers prepped engine with Christian Roeder in second and Shelby Thompson in third on lap 87. With only 13 laps left Roeder tried his best to challenge Tidrick as Thompson and Troy Conrad battled for third. It was Conrad and Thompson racing door handle to door handle for several laps until Conrad just managed to cross the finish line in third place. Roeder took second and B.J. Tidrick hanging on to win the Wix Filters 100.
The Yakima Street Stocks provided a good show with Andy Beaman ending the dominance of Rick Christopherson by coming from the middle of the pack to win the main event, trophy dash, and heat race. Casey Merrill set fast time but climbed the wall during the main to cause major damage to his car. With the wind knocked out of Merrill he managed to walk away from the wreck back to the pits.
The 24-car field of the Yakima H and H Furniture Hobby Stocks offered some great racing. Ben St. Mary came from the middle of the pack to take the checkers as Dusty John worked his way up to third place behind second placer Marcus Maggard. With the current point standings Brian Moser moved back into first place by setting fast time and placing fifth in the main event. This was one of the best races from this class as drivers worked hard at avoiding wrecks and spins.
Next week on May 27 the NASCAR Northwest Tour will roll into town. Another large field of cars are expected. A NASCAR approved practice is scheduled on Friday, May 26 from 3:00 to 8:30, but not sanctioned by NASCAR. Large crowds are expected; arrive early for best seating and time trials.
Late Models:
Fast Time: Kelly Mann 18.987
Finish Position, Car Number, Name, Location
Last Chance Main – 35 Laps
1 5 Mike Obrist Portland OR
2 12 Ron Bemis Yakima WA
3 91 Jason Hedrick Graham WA
4 43 Ron Wolf Auburn WA
5 70 Troy Eaton Tacoma WA
6 21 Loran Payne Renton WA
7 6 Jarrod Crum Kennewick WA
8 44 Mike Kenyon North Bend WA
9 62 Chance Overholt Yakima WA
10 37 Marty Wason Chelan WA
11 21 Rob Angus Surrey BC
12 92 Bryon Harvey Sutherlin OR
13 99 Willy Thom Dundee OR
14 77 Ryan Fischer Surrey BC
15 14 John Boyatt Spanaway WA
16 35 Amber Cope Puyallup WA
17 4 Todd Walters E. Wenatchee WA
Wix Filters 100
1 72 B.J. Tidrick Yakima WA
2 84 Christian Roeder Ephrata WA
3 46 Troy Conrad Tacoma WA
4 3 Shelby Thompson Spokane WA
5 81 Darrell Midgley Sidney BC
6 91 Jason Hedrick Graham WA
7 20 Gaylon Stewart Everett WA
8 51 Erick Hargraves Yakima WA
9 17 Darren Shaw Salisbury NC
10 02 Lon Werremeyer Yakima WA
11 7 Mark Sundberg Seattle WA
12 5 Mike Obrist Portland OR
13 18 James Spiering Redmond WA
14 61 Wes Rhodes Yelm WA
15 9 Kelly Mann Monroe WA
16 55 Rick Thompson Prosser WA
17 12 Ron Bemis Yakima WA
18 41 Mark Owens Kalispell MT
19 57 Mike Zamora Kennewick WA
20 31 Jason Fraser Snohomish WA
21 27 Jason Jefferson Yakima WA
22 2 Duke Langley Umatilla OR
23 43 Ron Wolf Auburn WA
24 36 Scott Davis Kennewick WA
25 54 Billy Coates Bothell WA
26 11 Don Vickery Seattle WA
Street Stocks:
Fast Time: Casey Merrill 22.070
A-Dash: 7 Tony Huffines, 100 J.C. Wofford, 2 Rick Christopherson, and 17 Casey Merrill
B-Dash: 3 Andy Beaman, 13 A.J. Rose, 60 Brian “Montana” Tischler, and 95 Buck Noel Jr.
Heat: 3 Andy Beaman, 7 Tony Huffines, 2 Rick Christopherson, 17 Casey Merrill, 100 J.C. Wofford, 13 A.J. Rose, 60 Brian “Montana” Tischler, and 95 Buck Noel Jr.
Main Event: 3 Andy Beaman, 2 Rick Christopherson, 7 Tony Huffines, 100 J.C. Wofford, 95 Buck Noel Jr., 60 Brian “Montana” Tischler, 13 A.J. Rose, and 17 Casey Merrill
Hobby Stock
Fast Time: Brian Moser 24.578
A-Dash: 07 Brian Pepper, 61 Bryan Moser, 21 Darrell Wynn, and 27 Marcus Maggard
B-Dash: 70 Jason Wilmoth, 66 Brandon Hailey, 45 Jeff Stinson, and 96 Jerry Walker
Heat 1: 22 Francisco Rojas, 70 Jason Wilmoth, 96 Jerry Walker, 45 Jeff Stinson, 71 Matt Chapel, 08 Jamie Benge, 58 Billy Benge, 04 Mel Patnode, 14 Rich Peters, 66 Brandon Hailey, 15 Michael Plunket
Heat 2: 38 Dusty John, 50 Ken Mullins, 12 Ben St. Mary, 44 Don Sowder, 27 Marcus Maggard, 07 Brian Pepper, 21 Darrell Wynn, 05 Chris Van Amberg, 88 Jason Trujillo, 63 Don Klang, 54 Jessie Vincent, 61 Bryan Moser
Main Event: 12 Ben St. Mary, 27 Marcus Maggard, 38 Dusty John, 14 Rich Peters, 61 Bryan Moser, 63 Don Klang, 66 Brandon Hailey, 54 Jessie Vincent, 77 Gene Wachtel, 88 Jason Trujillo, 50 Ken Mullins, 07 Brian Pepper, 96 Jerry Walker, 44 Don Sowder, 58 Billy Benge, 08 Jamie Benge, 21 Darrell Wynn, 45 Jeff Stinson, 71 Matt Chapel, 05 Chris Van Amberg, 04 Mel Patnode, 15 Michael Plunket, 22 Francisco Rojas, 70 Jason Wilmoth See Also .: News Index | E-mail to a Friend
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