Greg Walters Picks Up Win #3 Of 2014 With NELMS
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Ken O’Neil)
The Northwest Extreme Late Model Series were on tap for the annual Firecracker 100 at Sunset Speedway Park this year presented by Baseline Pawn of Cornelius. The Friday July 4th would feature fourteen entries at the “Banks Bullring”. The race would mark the third time the series had visited SSP and the fifth total of the current campaign.
Rob Ireland from Banks would set the pace early in his Ireland and Ireland at Law/Privateer Racing/Klecker Knives/Applebee Aviation #8 entry. He would lose the lead briefly to Ryan Bothwell out of Aurora on lap four. Bothwell kept his Schram Brothers Excavating/Herz Precision Parts #51 MasterSbilt out front until Ireland would reclaim the lead on lap six.
Ireland would be the trail blazer for just one lap as another hometown driver, Greg Walters from Banks, would seize the lead on lap seven in his T&G Trucking/American Landscaping/Duncan Automotive/Warpaint Motorsports Graphix/Schram Brothers Excavating #97 Victory Circle. From there Walters would put on a clinic and cruise to victory to score his second consecutive Firecracker 100 triumph and his third win at SSP in 2014 with the Northwest Extreme Late Model Series.
Vancouver, Washington’s Jerry Schram would win the multi-car battle for the runner up spot in his Schram Brothers Excavating/Century III Stables/Bodies By Steve-O #16 MasterSbilt followed by Rob Ireland in third. The balance of the top five would consist of Warren native Brad Martin in the Reser’s Fine Foods/Wayne Martin Floor Covering/Competitive Edge Sign & Design #99 MasterSbilt in fourth and crossing the stripe behind him in fifth would be the Jackhammer Trucking/T&G Trucking #76 Rayburn of Jason Johnson hailing from Gresham.
Earlier in the evening Brad Martin was fast time of the night while heat races were won by Martin and Greg Walters. Picking up the victory in the trophy dash was also Martin.
The Northwest Extreme Late Model Series will be in action on Saturday July 5th for their second night of the doubleheader. Pit Gates will open at 2:00 PM, Front Gates open at 3:30, and racing starts at 6:00. Tickets are Adults $12.00, Seniors/Military/Juniors (13-17) $10.00, Youths (Ages 12-6) $5.00, and Children under the age of 5 are FREE and a Family Pass will be offered for two Adults and up to four Youths for just $35.00. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.
Race Summary:
Firecracker 100 presented by Baseline Pawn
Northwest Extreme Late Model Race #5
Friday July 4th, 2014
Sunset Speedway Park
Banks, Oregon
A Feature: 1. 97-Greg Walters; 2. 16-Jerry Schram; 3. 8-Rob Ireland; 4. 99-Brad Martin; 5. 76-Jason Johnson; 6. 9-Jacob Myers; 7. 67-Dave Walters; 8. 20-Josh Sim; 9. 88-John Gamell; 10. 18-Kristi Somers; 11. 8X-Daniel Modaff; 12. 56-Jack Marontate; 13. 51-Ryan Bothwell; 14. 79-Phil Johnson
Dash: 1. 99-Brad Martin; 2. 97-Greg Walters; 3. 9-Jacob Myers; 4. 67-Dave Walters
Heat 1: 1. 99-Brad Martin; 2. 67-Dave Walters; 3. 16-Jerry Schram; 4. 8X-Daniel Modaff; 5. 88-John Gamell; 6. 56-Jack Marontate; 7. 79-Phil Johnson
Heat 2: 1. 97-Greg Walters; 2. 8-Rob Ireland; 3. 9-Jacob Myers; 4. 51-Ryan Bothwell; 5. 76-Jason Johnson; 6. 18-Kristi Somers; 7. 20-Josh Sim
Qualifying: 1. 99-Brad Martin; 2. 9-Jacob Myers; 3. 67-Dave Walters; 4. 97-Greg Walters; 5. 16-Jerry Schram; 6. 51-Ryan Bothwell; 7. 88-John Gamell; 8. 8-Rob Ireland; 9. 79-Phil Johnson; 10. 76-Jason Johnson; 11. 56-Jack Marontate; 12. 18-Kristi Somers; 13. 8X-Daniel Modaff; 14. 20-Josh Sim