Walters Conquers Firecracker 100; Catalano, Ireland, And Oyler Earn Feature Wins
By Ben Deatherage
(Photos Courtesy of Steve Veltman)
A packed house was on hand on Independence Day at Sunset Speedway Park for the annual Firecracker 100. The Thursday July 4th affair had the Northwest Extreme Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, and 4-Bees all on the card.
The one hundred-lap Firecracker 100 nearly went caution free as Greg Walters of Banks would take the lead on lap seven to lead the rest of the distance to put his T&G Trucking/American Landscaping #97 Victory Circle in the winner’s circle for the third time this season. Vancouver, Washington’s Jerry Schram was the early race leader in his Schram Brothers Excavating/Century III Stables #16 MasterSbilt before losing the lead to Walters.
Rob Ireland of Banks was able to seize the lead in the IMCA Modified feature on lap twelve. Early race leaders were the Aloha Station Tavern/Perfection Automotive #66 FR1 of Doug Lockwood from Aloha and Sandy’s Chris Hallberg in the Hallberg Racing #01. The Privateer Racing/Ireland and Ireland at Law #8 Dirt Works, of Robbie Ireland would take off with the race lead and earn his first IMCA Modified feature win of the year.
The #19 Monte Carlo of Tony Catalano from Forest Grove simply dominated the Street Stock ranks and became the newest winner at SSP in the division. John Oyler of Scappoose received his second win of the season in the 4-Bee division after taking the lead in his #14 mount on lap fourteen.
Sunset Speedway Park will take Saturday July 6th off and return to action on Saturday July 13th. Classes that will be competing include the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Women’s. On Sunday the 14th SSP hopes to have the first 300-Lap Iron Man Enduro Series event of the season. There will also be an open practice for any drivers wanting to make it out. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.