9/29/2014
Grays Harbor Raceway
Cole, Goetz, Tole, Berg, and German Hit Victory Lane on Championship Night!
Cole, Goetz, Tole, Berg, and German Hit Victory Lane on Championship Night!
The final race of the season at Grays Harbor Raceway brought a lot of excitement to the fans, along with the fireworks after the races. The 360 Sprint Cars, USAC Northwest HPD Midget Series, Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks, Shipwreck Bead's Modifieds, and Outlaw Tuners were on hand to thrill the fans at the 3/8 banked clay oval.
USAC Northwest HPD Midget Series:
Chase Goetz was looking to wrap up the 2014 season with another win, and championship in the USAC Northwest HPD Midget Series. Starting on the outside of the front row with pole sitter Garrett Thomas, Goetz would take the lead into turn one at the start of the feature. Garrett Thomas, would soon have company as Tristin Thomas and Michael Vollbrecht were on his back bumper. Goetz would pull away slightly as the battle between Garrett and Tristin Thomas was the race to watch. Tristin would look to the top side of the speedway, but Garrett would hold him off. This would allow Goetz to pull away from the second and third place cars. The battle for second would continue between Garrett and Tristin Thomas, as Tristin would try a handful of times at making a move on Garrett, but could not make the pass on him. Goetz would extend his lead to almost a straightaway, as he would hit lapped traffic, but that wouldn't slow him down much as he would work his way through lapped traffic.
The first and only caution of the 25 lap feature would be for Tristin Thomas, as he would come to a stop in turn 2 on lap 22. On the restart, Goetz would lead the field down with Garrett Thomas, and Jeremy Miller in chase. Thomas would look to make a move on Goetz but Goetz had more momentum and would pull away. The battle for third would heat up between Miller and Michael Vollbrecht. As they would race for a handful of laps for position. At the end of the feature, Chase Goetz would pick up the win, Garrett Thomas, Jeremy Miller, Michael Vollbrecht and Lance Sargent would round out the top five. Garrett Thomas would win the scramble earlier in the evening.
Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks:
Points leader Jack Parshall was looking to wrap up the season with his first career championship, and was looking to pick up one last win to close out the season. After having issues in the scramble, Parshall would start sixth in the 25 lap feature. Eddie Blood and Brenton Schnitzer would lead the field down with Blood taking the early lead. Schnitzer, and Don Briggs Jr would be in chase, and it didn't take long for Parshall to join in on the battle. Schnitzer would look to the inside a few times early to try an take the lead from Blood, but couldn't do it. Parshall would quickly move into the second spot, taking the position from Schnitzer and start to work on Blood for the lead. Lap traffic would be a factor early, as Blood and Parshall would battle through the lapped traffic. Splitting cars, until the first caution would come out for Parshall, as the lapped car of Doug Brewster would make contact, spinning Parshall in turn one. On the restart Blood would lead them down, with Briggs Jr, and Schnitzer in chase. Parshall would make it back out and join the tail of the field and try to work his way to the front, just as the green flag would fly, the yellow was back out for Brewster once again, as he would slow to a stop on the front stretch.
Blood would lead them down on the second restart, and pull away slightly as Briggs Jr and Schnitzer would battle for second. It didn't take long for them to catch Blood to try and take the lead from him. Parshall would once again work his way through the field, and it didn't take long for him to crack the top ten, but the yellow would come out for Nick Brammer as he would slow with a flat tire on the front stretch on lap 9. Blood would lead the field down again, this time with a whole pack of cars on his tail. The battle for fourth and fifth between Tom Hecker and Jason Tole would be the race to watch, as they would try and work on Briggs Jr for third. Schnitzer would get to the back bumper of Blood, and would try to make the pass on Blood for the lead, but Blood would have the momentum on the high side. Schnitzer would stay to the back bumper, and while that battle was going on, the battle for the third position would be between Hecker, Briggs Jr., Tole, and Parshall. Schnitzer would look to the inside out of turn four again on Blood, but could not make the pass. The yellow flag would come out, this time for debris in turn one.
On the restart Blood would lead Hecker and Schnitzer down the front stretch and to the green flag. Blood wouldn't pull away much fron the second and third place cars. Schnitzer would look tot he inside and take the lead, with Jason Tole on his back bumper. The top seven cars would be close, even getting three wide a few times for position. Schnitzer would lead a few laps, as Tole would be right there waiting for a mistake. Schnitzer and Tole would battle for position for a handful of laps, until the caution would come out on lap 20 for Blood as he would stop in turn one. Tole would lead the field down to the green on the restart, with Schnitzer, Hecker, Parshall, and Kevin Roberts in the top five. Tole would get a good start, and pull away slightly. Hecker and Schnitzer would battle for a moment, as Roberts would move into the fourth spot. The yellow would come out again for debris in turn two. This restart would allow Schnitzer another shot at Tole. On the restart Tole would get another great start pulling away slightly, as Schnitzer, Roberts, Parshall and Hecker would run the top five. With just a few laps to go, Schnitzer would try to make the move on Tole for the lead, and try to make a last lap pass out of turn four, but Jason Tole would hold him off for the win, Brenton Schnitzer, Kevin Roberts, Jack Parshall and Tom Hecker would round out the top five. Eddie Blood would win the scramble.
Sprint Cars:
Evan Margeson was looking to wrap up his first career Grays Harbor Raceway championship for 2014 as he would start on the front row with Dan Dunlap to his outside. As the field took the green flag Margeson would jump to the early lead with Hickle in chase. The caution would soon come out for Hickle with problems as he would stop in turn four. On the restart, Margeson would lead Dunlap, Cole, and Van Dam. Margeson would pull away quickly, but just as the race would go green, the yellow would come out again for Jason Reed, as he would spin in turn four. On the restart, Margeson would once again get a good start, but the yellow would come out for Michael Hodel, as he would bicycle the car in turn two. With only one lap in, the third restart would see Margeson bring the field down, with Dunlap in chase. It didn't take long for Margeson to pull away, as the field behind him would battle for position. Lap five would see a red flag for Lawrence Kirkham as he would go for a wild ride in turn one. He did walk away. Margeson would lead Dunlap, Cole, Trey Starks, and Austen Wheatley down to the green flag, and Margeson would once again get a good start. Cole would look to make a pass on Dunlap for second, but could not get by. Starks would get around Cole for third as Van Dam and Wheatley would battle for position, with Robbie Price behind them. Starks would start to slow on the backstretch, giving the third position back to Cole, Starks would pull to the infield. Margeson would continue to lead as he worked his way through lap traffic, as Van Dam and Wheatley would get by Dunlap. The yellow would come out once again for Hickle as he would pull to the infield with smoke coming from the motor.
Margeson who would look good on the restarts would lead the field down, and have a clear track in front of him. Cole wouldn't let him go very far, as Van Dam would be there as well. Price would move into the fourth position and set his sights on the top three. Margeson would start to pull away from Cole as he would run the middle of the speedway. It looked like Margeson would almost run away with the win, but the top wing would collapse bringing out the caution, giving the lead to Cole. Cole would get a good start and lead the field down with Van Dam, and Wheatley in chase. Lap traffic would soon be a factor for Cole, as Van Dam and Wheatley would close in on him. Wheatley would try to make a move on Van Damf or second, but could not get by him. Van Dam would try and make one last move out of turn four to get the win coming to the checkered but Cole would hold him off, winning the 25 lap feature. Henry Van Dam, Austen Wheatley, Robbie Price and Reece Goetz would round out the top five. Evan Margeson would be the winner of the scramble, and fast time would go to Trey Starks.
Shipwreck Bead's Modifieds:
The 25 lap feature for the Shipwreck Bead's Modifieds would be a exciting one. With a heavy fog setting in on the track, Craig Moore and Scott Miller would lead the field down for the green flag. Miller would take the early lead from Moore, as Kyler Moore would move into the third spot, but the yellow would come out for a crash on the backstretch involving Collen Winebarger and Graham Cook, who's car would launch and hit the wall. Both drivers were ok. On the restart Moore would get the jump on Miller, but Miller would take the lead out of turn two. Battling for position would happen all through the field, with cars going three and four wide for position. Miller would pull away sfrom Craig and Kyler Moore as the battle for the fifth position would get exciting between Chris Quinn, Steve Signal, Carl Larson, and Joe German would join in on the battle. Larson would take over the spot, with Quinn right on his back bumper, Quinn would look to the take the position out of turn four but couldn't quite make the pass.
It didn't take long for Miller to hit lapped traffic, allowing Craig Moore to close in on Miller a few times. Kyler Moore would look a few times to try and take over the second position from his dad Craig Moore, but just as the battle was getting exciting, the yellow would come out for Mike Sweere as he would spin on the backstretch. On the restart, Miller would get a good jump as Craig and Kyler Moore, German, and Quinn would all battle for position. Craig Moore would maintain the second spot, as Miller pulled away from the field. German would slip into third, looking to get around Moore for second. German would get around Moore in turn one, and set his sites on Miller. The yellow flag would come out for Bubba Foster who would lose a tire and come to a stop in turn four. Miller would lead German, Craig Moore, Chris Quinn and Kyler Moore, German would be on the back bumper of Miller, and cautiously set him up for the pass. German would try to make his move out of turn two, but couldn't do it. As Miller went into turn three, he would start to slow, giving the lead to German. The caution would come out for Miller as he would come to a stop on the track.
German would lead the field down on the restart, with Quinn in the second position. German would pull away slightly as the battle for third would get exciting between Craig and Kyler Moore. German would have company as Quinn would start closing in on him, getting closer and closer each lap. At the end of the feature, Joe German would pick up the win, Chris Quinn, Kyler Moore, Craig Moore and Carl Larson rounding out the top five. Craig Moore would win the scramble earlier in the evening.
Outlaw Tuners:
The closest points battle for 2014 was in the Outlaw Tuners class, as the top two in points, Chad Norton and Jeff Daniel would start on the front row of the 15 lap feature. Norton would lead the field down, but contact between Norton and Daniel would bring the yellow out, setting a complete restart. As they took the green, Norton and Daniel would race side by side for position. Willie Wright would also join in on the battle. Daniel would start to pull away from the field as Norton would have issues and go to the back of the field. The battle for second would be the one to watch between Wright and Brandon Berg. Berg would set his sites on Daniel, and take the lead from him in turn four. Adam Nelson would also join in on the mix, getting by Daniel a few laps later for the second position. Berg would pretty much run away with the feature event, as there would only be one yellow, which was the earlier incident in the feature.
After the races, the fans were greeted with an amazing fireworks show to cap off an amazing season at Grays Harbor Raceway under Fun Time Promotions. Make sure to keep track of all racing news regarding Grays Harbor Raceway on www.graysharborraceway.com
Article Credit: Aaron Reed
Submitted By: Steve Beitler
