ROCHESTER, Washington --The March 22, 2008 season opener at South Sound Speedway was held under cold and clear blue skies. The racing action on the track was hot and heavy all night long.

The Bumblebee top three in Heat 1 were winner, #39 Brett Belt, Brian Wilson, and Brad Newbury. The top three in Heat 2 were winner #33 Ben Callies, Eric Franson, and Chriss Pitcock.

Bringing the 18 car field around to the green flag was the #37 Mark Tankersley, but it was the #27 Pitcock leading the first four laps. The #20 Franson led lap 5 until Pitcock took the lead back leading the next three laps. Franson, in hot pursuit of Pitcock, took the lead back on lap nine and lead until the white flag lap. That’s when Olympia, Washington’s #33 Ben Callies made a last lap pass for the lead and took the checkered flag winning the Bumblebee season opener main event at the West Coast’s fastest 3/8’s mile paved oval. Rounding out the top five were runner up Franson, Pitcock, Devin Matthews, and Charles Meadors.

The Delta Camshaft Mini Stocks saw Tacoma, Washington’s #56 Dennis Shaffer set fast time with a 16.856. The top three in Heat A were winner #14 Reggie Gill, Kyle Matthews, and Devin Matthews. The top three in Heat B were winner #4 Tim Gerske, Bill Hayes, and Aaron Werner.

The #29 Kyle Matthews led the first six laps until he was passed by Shaffer on lap seven. Shaffer, with Gill in tow, led until lap 13. That’s when Tacoma, Washington’s #14 Gill, driving the Applebee’s Ford Mustang, made a pass on the outside and never looked back winning the Mini Stock season opener main event. Rounding out the top five were runner up Shaffer, Duane Lacy, D Matthews, and Freeman Pruitt.

The Northwest Baby Grands saw Edgewood, Washington’s #22 Cody Stewart set fast time with a 15.301. The top three in their Heat race were winner #33 Brooke Lefor, Brian Balmelli, and Stewart.

The #12 Kayla Roberts brought the field around for the start of the race, but it was Brooke Lefor leading the first 20 laps. On lap 21, Bothell, Washington’s #39 Lash Larew made a pass for the lead. Larew led the final five laps and went on to win the 25 lap Baby Grand season opener main event. Rounding out the top five were runner up Lefor, Stewart, Brandon Barlow, and Mark Boles.

The Hinkle Homes Pure Stocks saw Yelm, Washington’s #70 Rick Casebolt set fast time with a 16.667. The top three in their Heat race were winner #22 Kenny Ericson, Scott Johnson, and Jeff Boheler.

The #52 Boheler led the first lap of the Pure Stock main event. On lap 2, South Sound Speedway’s 2007 Pure Stock Champion, Longview, Washington’s #15 Johnson, picked up right where he left off last season, leading the next 19 laps to win the season opener 20 lap main event. Rounding out the top five were runner up Boheler, Ericson, Leon Collins, and Matt Duffey.

The AMRS Mini Cup Future Stars saw Puyallup, Washington’s #15 Tyler Shipman set fast time with a 17.752. The top three in their Heat race were winner #12 Seth Odell Cooper, Shipman, and Dustin Torrey.

Odell Cooper brought the field around for the start of the main event leading the first lap. Shipman took over the lead on lap two and never looked back winning the Future Stars season opener. Rounding out the top four were runner up Blake Wood, Torrey, and Odell Cooper.

Racing returns to South Sound Speedway on Saturday, March 29, 2008 with the Street Stocks, Vintage Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bumblebees. Back gate opens at 1:30 PM; front gate opens at 4:45 PM with qualifying starting at 5:00 PM, and racing at 6:30 PM. Visit southsoundspeedway .com for more information.

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