Source: Douglas County Speedway Public Relations
Date: 04/30/2007

ROSEBURG, Oregon -- During a race delay on Lap 23, Rick Brown sat behind the wheel in the black No. 99D, confident he could win the Don Hein-Casey Diemert Memorial Classic Saturday night at the Douglas County Speedway.

‘Quick Rick’ was right.

When the ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series feature returned to green, the veteran sprint car driver vaulted from third to second position and six laps later, surged past Portland ’s Pat Bliss for the lead and ensuing trophy.

“I think I’ve got something for those boys,” Brown said inside the cockpit during the red flag. “I’ll have to take whatever line they give me, but I’ll probably have to make a move on the outside.”

Bliss, who started the 35-lap main outside the front row and led the first 29 laps, held true to his strategy of maintaining the inside groove. “The red flag just killed us,” Bliss said. “I knew after we went back to green, I needed to hold the inside. But, (Brown) had a great run and made a great move outside of me.

The race stoppage on Lap 23 did more than damage only Bliss’ victory hopes. The red flag was thrown after Craig Deaver, Sumner Wash., raced hard into the back of Brett Smith in Turn 4, sending both cars into the corner of the frontstretch wall. Both drivers emerged unhurt from their cars to exchange heated words and were separated by track officials. Smith, who was running third prior to the contact, suffered a bent front end, was able to resume racing, but from the rear of the field. Deaver’s car, heavily damaged, was unable to continue.

Bliss finished second in the feature, followed respectively by Monte Zema Jr. (Colville , Wash. ), Andy Alberding (Roseburg ) and Justin Mack ( Benton City , Wash. ).

Brown drives for car owner Jim Diemert, father of the late Casey Diemert who died in 1999 at Irwindale Speedway. Smith and Matt Hein are both grandsons of the late Don Hein, a local racing legend.

Nine of the 18 feature racers had Douglas County connections. After Brown and his son-in-law Alberding made their top-five finishes, Matt Hein finished ****, Ray Douglas, ****, Kyler Barraza, Tim Alberding, Smith, Donnie Fain and Scott Adams.

Bliss, Hein and Alberding all won their respective NSRA heat races. Brown won the A trophy dash and RJ Fronsman took the B dash. Albderding, who owns the track record (12.494 seconds) won the qualifying session with a 12.710 lap. Adams was the second fastest in the time trial (12.947).

Rob Mueller captured the Mini Stock main. The Roseburg driver started tenth in the field of 12 and passed Grants Pass ’ Dave Wilson on Lap 27 of the 35-lap event.

Mueller, who also won the fast-time award, was followed to the checkered flag by Wilson, Sutherlin’s Tyson Eaton, Sutherlin’s Dale Yarbrough and Portland ’s Jason Gotz respectively. Eaton won both the trophy dash and the fast heat. Karl Smith, a 14-year-old rookie from Coquille, won the other heat.

The Modified main was won by Kris Nace. It was the second-year driver’s first main win. Former track champion Sam Potter, Independence , won the fast heat and finished second in the main. Nace won the first heat, Dale Sexton, Eugene, won the trophy dash and Greg Saily, Riddle, qualified with the fastest lap.

Reigning J-Car champion Tim Thorp, Myrtle Creek was first to cross the finish line in a reversed direction, water soaked track scramble. Tiller’s Dan Crume was second and Roseburg ’s Clarence Senger finished third. Clint Hatfield, Roseburg , won the trophy dash, but his early season dominance in the class was dampened when his car was disabled shortly after the start of the 20-lap feature. Edgar Phillips was the class’ fast qualifier.

Andy Nelson won the California-style, stop-n-go Hornet race.

Racing resumes Saturday, May 12, at the Douglas County Speedway with the COOL FM Five Dollar Fever Series and concludes Sunday May 13, with the United Rentals Street Racer Drags.

Douglas County Speedway Results for April 28, 2007

Fast Qualifiers

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series -Andy Alberding -12.710

Modifieds -Greg Saily -16.133

Pepsi Mini Stocks -Rob Mueller -18.376

Oregon Tool J'Cars -Edgar Phillips III -19.897

Trophy Dash Winners

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series A -Rick Brown

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series B -RJ Fronsman

Modifieds -Dale Sexton

Pepsi Mini Stocks -Tyson Eaton

Oregon Tool J'Cars -Clint Hatfield

Heat Race Winners

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series A -Andy Alberding

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series B -Matt Hein

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series C -Pat Bliss

Modifieds A -Sam Potter

Modifieds B -Kris Nace

Pepsi Mini Stocks A -Tyson Eaton

Pepsi Mini Stocks B -Karl Smith

Main Event Top 3

ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series -1. Rick Brown 2. Pat Bliss 3. Monte Zema Jr.

Modifieds -1.Kris Nace 2. Sam Potter 3. Tod Taguchi

Pepsi Mini Stocks -1. Rob Mueller 2. Dave Wilson 3. Tyson Eaton

Oregon Tool J'Cars -1.Tim Thorp 2. Dan Crume 3. Clarence Senger

Taco Bell Hornets -1.Andy Nelson 2. David Lyons 3. Ben Herbert Jr.

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