Skagit report 95-07-08

Midseason Championships By Becky Abbey-Heckt

The track was in good shape this week for the midseason championships. We had enough cars in the 360 division and the Skoal Sportsman Sprints to run semi-mains.

In the 360 semi it was 07 of Paull on the pole, next to him on the outside was #89 car who I don't have on my driver roster, which means he was a the track for the first time last night. The second row was #98 Hancock and #26 Carter bringing up the rear was #96 Hunziker. The #07 car spins on the first lap in turn 4, putting #89 in lead and #26 takes 2nd by running in the high groove. At the finish it was #89 and #26 transfering to the back of the main.

In the SSS semi #29 James was on the pole with #93 Siroshton on the outside, row 2 #31 Florence and #99 Stribling, row 3 #71 Thomas and #14, row 4 #1 Botten and #65 Logsdon and row 5, #63 Sherin. #29 jumps out on the start to lead the cars through the first lap. The #14 car takes his ride to the pitts on the first lap. On lap 4 the #99 car spins around in turn 2 and the #65 car with no place to go hits him head-on in a nasty crash. Both drivers were ok but their cars were trashed. On the restart the #29 and #93 battled for the top spot. At the finish it was the #93 with the win and #29 getting 2nd and the transfer spot.

Then it was trophy dash time. In the 360 dash is was the four point leaders, #12 Rany Ridge, #24 Wes Gibbs (with a one piont advantage over the third place) #73 Marc Huson and #21 Jay Smith. #12 leads all four laps with a hard charging #73 right behind him. #21 took third from #24.

In the SSS #24 (16 years young) Hillier with the pole, #04 Matt Loving on th outside, and #92 behind them. The 3rd place point car of #6 Brian Loy was having motor problems and didn't race tonight. At the checkers it was #24 with his first ever trophy followed by #04 and #92.

In the 410's its was #73 Huson, #15 Tom Waggoner, #23 Ridge and #42 Alam Munn. The #15 slowed while running 2nd for unknown reasons and dropped to last. then the #23 car did the same thing on the last lap and ended up last. #73 huson took the hardware with #42 getting 2nd.

The 360 main lineup #12 Ridge, #24 Gibbs, #73 Huson, #21 J. Smith, #09 Cross, #5 Fletcher, #15 Solwold, #77 Heikes, #37 Armey(back behind the wheel after a week off from his crash), #39 Fauver(he's been running with the 410's but changed motors again this week.) #97 Hartjoy, #57 Bundy, #67 Borden, #60 Rose, #69 Perkins, #27 Cram, and the two move-up cars from the semi main #89 and #26.

#26 car goes to the pits on lap 7 without bring out the yellow. The first yellow comes out on lap 16 the #09 Cross who does a 360 in turn 4 and something breaks and he can't keep it going. The next yellow was on lap 23 for #73 car, moving #24 to second, #21 to third #39 to 4th and the #37 to Fifth. The #12 car of Ridge has lead every lap to this point fighting a persistant #73 car. On the last lap #27 and #69 get together and #69 car flips on turn 4. Perkins is ok. At the finish it was #12 leading every lap, followed by #24, #21, #39, #37, #77, #5, #57, #97, #89.

The SSS main had #04 Loving taking the early lead from his outside front row start. followed by the pole sitter #24 Hillier. These two would race each other for the entire race. We had yellows on lap 3 for the #35 Conners, On lap 13 for a spinning #30 Green. We also had the 2nd red flag of the night for a bizzar incident on lap 15 when #66 Martinez came to a stop against the wall on the front strech and then suddenly drifted down the steep banked track to collect the #41 Ryason who had nowhere to go. Also #02 Field hit the inside guard rail trying to avoid the crash and he was done for the night. After the restart on lap 16 the #92 Cram does a 360 in turn 4 but keeps it going to avoid another yellow. At the finish it was #04 Loving winning it, #07 Stratton getting second and #24 Hillier for thrid.

In the 410 main #73 Huson and #56 Youngquist would put on the best show of the night. #15 Waggoner was in that battle for awhile until lap 14 when he flipped his car and the #9A car of Dyer whould also flip about 20 yards away and the same time for a rare double flip in turn 4. We had another red flag on lap 17 for #17 and #26 cars. All drivers were ok. The #1B Burrow car having started 14 had climbed all the way to 5th when he lost his brakes and had to take his car to the pits on a yellow flag caused by the #17 and #9 Vonstroberg, when they collieded. The last yellow of for the #23 Ridge on final lap while running 3rd.

At the finish it was #73, #56, #11 Ellis, #42, #04 Gilbert #6 Sivo as your top 6.

Up coming events: Jully 15 Hummid July Nights Rod and Custom Show: July 21-22 "Flying Without Wings" BCRA Midgets Show. Aug. 24-26 World of Outlaws Wild Wild Northwest Tour. Ticket Info: 1-800-825-4832. (say you saw it on the internet)