From Gary Costa, image courtesy of John’s Racing Photos
Cottage Grove, OR – Alger, WA (June 14 – 19, 2010) – Easton gasser, Tommy Tarlton had the “Eye of the Tiger” in his eyes, when he rolled out the Corporate America Lending No. 21 for competition during “Western Speedweek”. Tarlton Motorsports put together a unique paint scheme that the team dubbed “Black Magic” that was a big hit with the huge throng of racing enthusiasts.
Due to work commitments, Tommy missed the first couple of races, but he immediately made his presence known and left his mark on the swing during the Golden State Challenge 410 stop at Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Tarlton wheeled the Paul Baines wrenched machine to score the tenth-quickest lap of the night. He then finished third in his heat race and sixth in the dash.
From his sixth starting spot, all eyes were on Tarlton as he was the show in the 30-lap feature. Tarlton eventually moved himself into the second position and began to stalk race leader, Tim Kaeding for the top-spot. Laps would run out, and Tarlton crossed the line in second.
The next stop on Tommy’s schedule was Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Oregon, but the race would fall victim to rain.
So it was off to Skagit Speedway in Alger, Washington for three consecutive days of high-powered Winged 410 Sprint Car action for the 39th Annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup. Tommy quickly showed that his second place finish at Cottage Grove Speedway was no fluke. Again he showed amazing speed in the potent mount and proceeded to set quick-time over a stellar field of cars. He went on and finished third in his heat race, which automatically locked him into the 30-lap feature where he finished a solid sixth. Due to his powerful performance, Tommy was second in points after the first night of racing.
Night two of the Dirt Cup was a wild one to say the very least. After finishing third in his heat race, Tarlton was on the move in a wild 30-lap feature. Tommy along with the Tarlton Motorsports team, were moving to the front, and clearly were the baddest kids on the block this night. However, late in the race, Tarlton jumped the cushion and tagged the wall, in the process injuring the suspension on the car. Tommy stayed out and managed a 14th place finish with a broken and battered car.
It was time to lay it all on the line for the final night of Dirt Cup action. With $25,000 up for grabs, the cagey veteran began his night by winning the “Quick Time Qualifying Challenge” against local favorite, Jayme Barnes. In addition, Tarlton turned the fastest lap of the year at the historic speedway. Tommy then capped off his busy week of racing with an eighth place finish in the 40-lap finale.
“It was a good week overall. We ran strong in Oregon and I was real happy with our effort there. We had a good three days at Skagit, too. I was really pumped after winning the Qualifying Challenge,” Tarlton commented. “The car felt so fast out there; I didn’t lift! I want to thank all of our sponsors for all of their support.”
Be sure to witness Tommy “mash the gas” during the “Quick Time Qualifying Challenge” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJqrd2hC27s
Tommy will be in action this Friday at Ocean Speedway and Saturday at the Giant Chevrolet Speedway.