Sunset Speedway Park Finally Gets Season Opener In The Books
By Ben Deatherage
(Photos Courtesy of Alyssa Jones)
After nearly a month of waiting Sunset Speedway Park would finally beat the weather to get their first race of the 2014 season in the books. Despite the threat of rain all day the entire program for Saturday May 17th was completed at SSP. Classes in action were Street Stocks, Northwest Extreme Modifieds, Dwarf Cars, 4-Bees, 600cc Restricted Micro Sprints, and 600cc Stock Micro Sprints.
The Street Stock feature would be a caution free affair with John Ireland of Banks stunning the crowd. The veteran hometown driver managed to work his way from the back of the field to take over the top spot and put his Ireland & Ireland at Law/Privateer Racing #88 machine in victory lane.
Finishing in second was Brian Roden of West Linn in his JNR Construction/Molecular Motion Inc./Dockweiler Stainless Steel Tube Systems #14 Camaro followed by the Big Sky Landscaping #88X Camaro of Gresham’s Kevin Roberts in third. Ending the evening in fourth was the Liberty Welding/Old Iron Classics/City Sprint Deliveries/Buz’s Equipment Trailers #01 Camaro of Craig Loomis from Vancouver, Washington while Marc Farrar from Sherwood was fifth in his A.F.T. Racing Engines/Aftermarket Enterprises #5 Camaro.
In Northwest Extreme Modified action it was the smooth sailing for Oscar Luckman. Luckman, from Hillsboro, would put his Privateer Racing #96 entry in the winner’s circle after dominating the field. Ending the night in second was the Hope House/ Ri Ky Roofing and Sheetmetal #11 Pro of Brandon Potter from St. Helens and crossing the stripe behind him was Aloha’s Doug Lockwood in the Brandon Penney owned Advocare/Perfection Automotive/Duncan Automotive #00 entry in third. Completing the finishing order was Michael Melton of Battle Ground, Washington in his Melton Racing #04 Dirt Works in fourth.
In the Dwarf Car main event it was a thriller between Gaston’s Corey Esteban and Ryan Martinez of Portland duking it out. Martinez lead for much of the caution filled race but in the last few laps Esteban managed to get the job done. For Esteban it was a big victory for him and his #36 team.
A respectable second was Ryan Martinez driving the Auto Truck Wholesale/Van Raden Industries/St. John's Tire Factory #9 M&M while third place went to the Two Guys Racing/Ron Greer Trucking & Excavating/Hicks Family Racing #46 M&M of Rainier chauffer Guy Tow Sr. The rest of the top five would include the Matt’s Auto Center of Scappoose/Finish Line Technologies #2 Hot Rod of St. Helens driver James Brinster in fourth and Creswell native Kevin Hicks in The Wright Shop/Hicks Family Racing/B-Rad Motorsports #78 Philpott entry in fifth.
Having a fast car all night, John Gartner of Portland was able to park his Ram Light Truck Salvage/Napa Auto Parts/Ace Car Detailing/J&T Racing #48 Mitsubishi Eclipse in the winner’s circle for the 4-Bee division. Leading the majority of the laps in the feature Gartner was definitely the car to beat and it was a great way to open the campaign up as a full field of cars were on hand.
The Meyer Auto Body/Transaction Transmissions/Champion Signs #26 of Gaston's Stan Asanovic was second followed by Travis Koch of Vancouver, Washington in his North’s Plumbing/Dusty’s Automotive/Mac Tools #21 Neon in third. Crossing the line in fourth was the #10 of Jeremy Hughes while the Bill’s Repair #77X Neon of Bill Blythe from Buxton was fifth.
In the 600cc Open Micro Sprints Kaitlyn Hammer of Lake Stevens, Washington was the dominant driver. She would set a rapid pace and eventually picked up the win in her Pacific Tire/Rob Graham Trucking/Pacific Logging/#39K PMP. It was a perfect evening for young Kaitlyn as she also won the night before in the 600cc Restricted Micro Sprints at her home track, Deming Speedway. Ending the evening in second was the #90 of Rich Speer from Portland while third was Jake Tupper of St. Helens was third in his Freight West Global/Fritts and Company/All Hazards Rescue #29T PMP.
In the 600cc Restricted Micro Sprints Jesse Schlotfeldt from Arlington, Washington was very fast. Despite being only ten years old Schlotfeldt dominated the feature and was the big winner in his Reliant Homes/Every Little Detail Auto Detailing/Service Pro of Everson, Washington #21 Pace. Ending the evening in second was Ferndale, Washington native Ashleigh Johnson in her Kathy’s Mobile Massage/Brien Ford/Finish Line Detail #0 entry and Grand Prairie, Alberta’s Benjamin Silliker was third in the Black Dog Drilling/Silico Racing #24 PMP.
Next Saturday and Sunday Sunset Speedway Park will be a very busy place as they will host the Spring Challenge. Classes in action for both nights include the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, Dwarf Cars, and 4-Bee’s. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.
Race Summary:
Saturday May 17th, 2014
2014 Season Opener/Race #1
Sunset Speedway Park
Banks, Oregon
NW Extreme Modifieds
A Feature: 1. 96-Oscar Luckman; 2. 11-Brandon Potter; 3. 00-Doug Lockwood; 4. 04-Michael Melton
Street Stocks
A Feature: 1. 88-John Ireland; 2. 14-Brian Roden; 3. 88X-Kevin Roberts; 4. 01-Craig Loomis; 5. 5-Marc Farrar; 6. 87-Shawna Long; 7. 7-Doug Pitsch; 8. 5H-Tom Hughs; 9. 32-Robert Summerhalder; 10. 00-Terry Mason; 11. 70-Johnny Adams
Dwarfs
A Feature: 1. 36-Corey Esteban; 2. 9-Ryan Martinez; 3. 46-Guy Tow Sr.; 4. 2-James Brinster; 5. 78-Kevin Hicks; 6. 777-Dennis Liebig; 7. 77-Brad Hicks; 8. 76-Brian Hicks; 9. 8-Chris McCleary; 10. 48-Neal Hopwood; 11. 37-Guy Tow Jr.; 12. 24-Driver 24; 13. 1-Ted Rees; 14. 33-Bill Lamm; 15. 31-Roger Moore Jr.; 16. 17-Chris Trickle
4-Bee's
A Feature: 1. 48-John Gartner; 2. 26-Stan Asanovic; 3. 21-Travis Koch; 4. 10-Jeremy Hughes; 5. 77X-Bill Blythe; 6. 77-Jacob Henry; 7. 72-Alex Rees; 8. 53-Lonnie Jackson; 9. 22-Nick Henry; 10. 38-Chris Batalgia; 11. 97-Joe Loy
Micro Sprints 600cc Restricted
A Feature: 1. 21-Jesse Schlotfeldt; 2. 0-Ashleigh Johnson; 3. 24-Benjamin Silliker
Micro Sprints 600cc Open
A Feature: 1. 39K-Kaitlyn Hammer; 2. 90-Rich Speer; 3. 29T-Jake Tupper