Huge Crowd Enjoys Opening Night at Skagit Speedway

From Kaleb Hart

Alger, WA – ASA sanctioned Skagit Speedway kicked off its 56th season on Saturday night, with a huge crowd seeing three first time winners grace victory lane in the Sprint Car divisions, and a former champion taking the Outlaw Hornet win on Haggen Food and Pharmacy night. Round one of the Foothills Toyota Tundra Series saw Eric Fisher score his first career victory in the Associated Asphalt 410 division. Fisher started outside the front row for the 25 lap A Feature, settling in to second place after the initial start. While leader Travis Jacobson streaked away, Fisher patiently worked his car through the different lines on the track. Finding the smoothest line around the surface, Fisher gradually reeled in Jacobson, then powered by him down the back straight around lap ten to secure the lead and eventual win in his family sponsored #59 XXX. Defending Dirt Cup champion Jayme Barnes used a late race restart to power by Jacobson and 3rd place at the time Jesse Whitney to secure the runner up position in the Law Motorsports #33 XXX. Jacobson, the 2007 410 champ, held on for third in the Mike Anderson / Gary Funk owned # 8r Eagle. Heat wins went to Fisher and last year’s 410 champion Jesse Whitney in the Rick & Joni Bedker #88 Eagle. Barnes set quick time.

Devin Madonia scored his first career win in the Budweiser 360 Sprints. Mack Brown set the pace in

the early going, pacing the field on the bottom side of the 3/10 mile oval. Madonia kept pace with Brown through the opening circuits, gradually closing on Brown as the laps ticked by till Mack caught a soft spot in turn three. His car pitched sideways, and in the process, packed the right rear wheel full of clay. Madonia would jet by Brown down the back straight on lap 17 as Mack slowed and pulled to the high side with his car vibrating badly due to the packed wheel. It was academic from there for Madonia, who cruised to victory lane in his family owned #42m Rocket. Kelsey Carpenter enjoyed a career best second place finish in the 360s aboard his Dri-Eaz #27c XXX. Brett Cole came in third aboard his #65 XXX in only his second ever appearance at Skagit Speedway. Alan Munn was fast time in his #42 XXX. Heat wins went to Cole and Shane Broers in the Ed Broers #11 XXX.

Dylan “Pickle” Dunham was also a first time winner at Skagit Speedway in the Cook Road Shell Sportsman Sprint class. Dunham, who only has a handful of starts at the track, displayed the patience of a veteran as he reeled in race leader Glen Reinstra then blew by him toward the mid race point. Dunham would hold the lead through the rest of the twenty lap feature, fending off multiple challenges on restarts on his way to the final flags in his #7d J&J. Bill Rude debuted his new ride successfully, ending up second in the Dri-Eaz #33 XXX. In a night full of career best finishes, Cale Brooke also set a new career high with a third place result in his #4b Rocket. Heat wins went to Brooke, Reinstra and Steve Parker.

Ben Gunderson won a wild Outlaw Hornet main event, as the 2008 division champ ran down Stacy Day and passed her up at the midpoint of the 25 lap feature. Gunderson coasted to victory shortly thereafter, with Rick Young taking second and Day taking third. 18 hornets started the feature and only 7 finished, as the cars careened and crunched all over the track.

Round 2 of the Foothills Toyota Tundra Series kicks off next week at Skagit Speedway with all four classes back in action. Gates open at 5p with racing to follow. For advanced ticket info on this year’s Dirt Cup, visit www.skagitspeedway.com