SWEATMAN WINS SEASON OPENER

Source: South Sound Speedway Media Relations
Date: 05/05/2008

On Saturday, May 3, 2008, The Super Stocks saw Cosmopolis, Washington’s #11 Tom Sweatman set fast time with a 13.577.

The #1 Rod Schultz, JR. brought the field around to the green flag start and jumped into the early lead. As the race unfolded, Schultz, JR., Sweatman, #99 Jeff Barkshire, #5 Tom Moriarity, and #9 Kelly Mann were nose to tail lap after lap. Sweatman wrestled the lead away from Schultz, JR. twice, and just as he made the pass both times, the caution flag came out. At South Sound Speedway, the rule is if the yellow comes out, the cars are lined up by the last completed green flag lap so Schultz, JR. was put back into the lead both times. On lap 76, Sweatman made a third pass on Schultz, JR. for the lead with no yellow flag. The #11 Sweatman, driving the Masco Petroleum Chevy Monte Carlo went on to win the 125-Lap season opener and the first of four races of the Big 4 Series. Rounding out their top five were runner up Mann, Brad Stanwood, Barkshire, and Schultz, JR.

The Bumblebees top three in Heat 1 were winner #29 Kyle Matthews, Devin Matthews, and Kevin Haider. The top three in Heat 2 were winner #27 Criss Pitcock, Eric Franson, and Eddie Blood.

Bringing the field around to the green flag and leading the first lap was the #35 Charles Bangs. On lap 2, Olympia, Washington’s #15, Kevin Haider, driving the Haider Racing Nissan Sentra, took over the lead and went on to win his first 20-Lap Bumblebee Main Event at the West Coast’s fastest 3/8’s mile paved oval. During post race inspection, the third place finisher, current point’s leader, #33 Ben Callies was disqualified for having an altered suspension. Rounding out their top five were runner up Devin Matthews, Blood, Ron Anctil, JR., and Ray Hahn.

The season opener for the Foreign Stock Car Racing Association Super 4’s saw last years champion, Rochester, Washington’s #5, Wayne Dillon, set a new track record with a 14.310. The top three in their A Heat were winner #10 John Grosvenor, Dillon, and Jerry Koepping. The top three in their B Heat were winner #02 Dan Hale, Bob Quarterman, and Tom Keehan.

The #24 Craig Derksen brought the field around for the start and led the first three laps until he was passed by Grosvenor on lap 4. On lap 5, the #5 Dillon, driving the Junction Sports Bar & Grill Ford Fusion, made a pass for the lead and never looked back, winning the 25-Lap Super 4 Main Event. Rounding out their top five were runner up Grosvenor, Chris Celorie, Keehan, and Derksen.

The Northwest Baby Grands saw Bothell, Washington’s #39 Lash Larew set fast time with a 14.947. The top three in their Heat race were winner #33 Brooke Lefor, Mark Boles, and Steven Daskam.

The #10 Daskam brought the field around for the green flag start and led the first six laps. Then on lap 7, Boles made a pass for the lead and looked like the man to beat. Edgewood, Washington’s #22, Cody Stewart, driving the K & D Auto Body Ford Fusion, ran down Boles and made a pass for the lead on lap 20 and went on to win the Baby Grands 25-Lap Main Event. Rounding out their top five were runner up Boles, Lefor, Brandon Barlow, and Larew.

The Washington Midget Racing Association saw Tacoma, Washington’s #50 Evan Margeson set fast time for the second race in a row at South Sound Speedway with a 13.155. The top three in their Heat race were winner Mark Atkinson, Spence Gatrell, and Mitch Hoffses.

The Midgets 25-Lap Main Event saw #23 Atkinson bring the field down for the start of the race and lead every lap to win race #2. Rounding out their top five were runner up Margeson, Gatrell, Brea Lopez, and Rick Brown.

Upcoming racing at South Sound Speedway: Saturday, May 10, 2008 features the Limited Late Models, NW Outlaw Street Stocks, Pro 4 Trucks, and NW Legends. Then on Saturday, May 17, 2008, the Super Stock 100, Wesco (Sprint cars), Super 4’s, Mini Stocks, and Mini Cup Future Stars will compete. Back gate opens at 1:00 PM; front gate opens at 4:45 PM with qualifying starting at 5:00 PM, and racing at 6:30 PM.

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