Speedmart Blog
Colton Heath takes his first win of the 2016 win in the 360 division at Skagit Speedway.
Logan Forler wins the Sportsman Sprints feature event.
Kevin Smith beats out his brother Rick for a win in the High Society Modifieds main event.
Eric Fisher would beat Colton on the initial start out of turn two to take the lead in the 360 Sprints 25 lap feature. However, a yellow for a spinning Greg Hamilton would bring the field to a complete restart, and it would be Colton beating Eric out of turn two to grab the lead. Colton would race in clean air using the high groove as well as using the bottom to get past slower traffic. The race behind him for second would get going as Travis Jacobson and Jason Solwold diced in and out of traffic fighting for position. They would both eventually passed Eric, who had encountered some mechanical issues and had to take his car to the infield. The field would bunch together on lap 17 for one last restart, but Colton was able to get away from Travis who had taken second place. Traffic would hinder Colton a little at the end, which would allow Travis to close in some, but Colton would pick the his lines consistently and to make his way for the win. Travis Jacobson and Jason Solwold would take second and third.
Heats were won by Travis Jacobson and Michael Bollinger.
Bill Rude would take to the early lead in Sportsman Sprint feature event and worked to fend off Logan Forler, piloting the Doug Rutz #8. Logan would be all over Bill, but the former track champ would fight off Logan until lap 11, that's when he would spin by himself in turn two, handing the lead to Logan. The race would be hounded by delays and as the race halted four more times before track officials would decide on a green white checkered restart that would be the last restart of the race. Logan would bring the field back to green slowly and the field stacked up behind him with the result being a red flag that ended the race one lap early and gave Logan the victory. Greg Otis capped a strong night with second and Steve Parker ended up third.
Heat races were won by Greg Otis, Roger Oudman and Derek Roberts.
The High Society Modified division would see the Smith Brothers bring their sibling rivalry to the feature event and it would be Kevin coming out on top of Rick to win 25 lap main event. Rick would hold the lead for the first five laps until losing the handle on the outside of turn four, allowing Kevin to take the lead. Kevin held the lead for the next twelve laps while Rick drifted back as far as fifth before finding a good line around the outside of the speedway and working back up to third. Following a yellow on lap 18, the field bunched up for a Delaware style restart where Rick would blast around the outside of Mel Decker and brother Kevin to take the lead. Kevin rallied back down low and would go side by side with Rick until lap 22 when he slid past him to retake the top spot. Rick returned the favor back to Kevin by again putting his right rear on the cushion and claiming the lead on lap 23. Kevin then barreled deep into the first turn on the 24th lap and took his brothers line away by washing up high, securing the lead for the final time coming to the white flag. In the end it would be Kevin and Rick. They would followed by Mel Decker in third.
Heats were won by Kevin and Lawrence O'Conner.
The 2016 Grays Harbor Raceway Opening Night would see:
Reece Goetz get his first win of 2016 in the 360 Sprints....Tristin Thomas takes the win in the Northwest Focus Midget Series and Graham Cook win the Shipwreck Beads Modified feature event.
Jeff Dunlap would set the pace for the 25 lap 360 Sprint Car main event with Henry Van Dam of on the outside. Henry would take the early lead. Jake Helsel would look to the outside of second place Jeff Dunlap, but would be unable to make the pass. Jeff would keep his sights on Henry, hoping to take the lead on any mistake. Jake, who was running in the third would slow on the backstretch on lap 10 and pull to the infield with mechanical issues.
Henry then set his sights on lapped traffic, hoping to be able to make his way through the slower cars, but would find some difficulty getting by, thus giving Jeff the chance to close in on him. Reece Goetz, who had moved into third place, would take a shot at Jeff for second, but would be unable to make the pass. But, a caution flag flew on lap 21 for Jeff after he came to a stop after blowing a right rear tire in turn one. This would sett up a 4 lap shootout for the win, with Van Dam leading the field to the green flag. Reece would look to the inside to try and make the pass a handful of times, racing side by side with Henry. Reece would take advantage just a bit more power to take the lead coming to the white flag and lead the field to the checkered to pick up his first win of 2016. Henry would follow in second and Tayler Malsam came in third.
Heat winners were Henry - Jeff Dunlap - Jay Cole
Quick time was set by Trey Starks.
There would be 32 Focus Midgets for the start of the Northwest Focus Midget Series 2016 season. It would be Tristin Thomas, who seemed to not have missed a beat to start the season, that would take the feature event win.
Tristin would lead the field to the green flag. Tristin would pull away from the field, leaving Eric Turner and Nick Evans running second and third. Soon Nick would have his hands full with Ross Rankine and Garrett Thomas as they all battled for that third. The first caution would come out on lap 4, bunching the field up. Tristin Thomas, would have Turner, Rankine, and Evans on his back bumper as they took the green flag on the restart. Garrett would move into the fourth, as Ross would slip back a few spots. The red flag would fly later for Garrett Thomas, as he would get upside down on lap 9 in turn two. Garrett would be okay. Another restart gave Turner and Evans to make their moves on Tristin Thomas for the lead, but Tristin would have the momentum to pull away quickly from the field, leaving Nick Evans running comfortable in second and Turner and Rankine to battle for third. Tristin wouldn't look back in the 20 lap main event as he would pick up his win. Nick would cross in second and Ross would win the battle taking third.
Heat wins were taken by Tristin - Eric - Garrett and Nick. Todd Hartmann would win the B feature.
Quick time was set by Tristin.
SpeedMart Hard Charger - Ryan Cully +8
Shipwreck Beads Modified main event would see Graham Cook and Jason Beaulieu bring the field to the green flag and Beaulieu would take to the early lead. However, just as fast as the green flag dropped, the yellow flag flew for a multi car pile up in turn one. On the restart, Beaulieu once again took the early lead, with Cook, and Sean Fox working to chase Beaulieu down for the lead. Morgan Criswell and Fox would battle for third. Criswell would take third momentarily, but Fox would regain the position a lap later. Jason soon found traffic and would work his way through until lap 9 and he would blow a right front tire bringing out the caution. Graham then took command of the lead and he would have Fox right on the back bumper looking for any mistake. A late race caution would bring a showdown between Cook, Austin Kerrigan and Fox for the lead. Cook would remain leader, Kerrigan moving by Fox for second. Debris on the track would set up a green, white, checkered that gave Kerrigan one last shot at Cook. Kerrigan would look to the inside a handful of times, including down the backstretch, but wouldn't have enough to get by him. Graham would go on to pick up the win.
Heats were won by Graham - Jason - Sean
