From Andrew Kunas
COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – Corey Esteban’s fifth place finish in the first split main in Friday’s preliminary events for the Northwest Non-Wing Nationals at Cottage Grove Speedway was more than good enough to clinch the Gaston, Ore. driver his first career Northwest Wingless Tour sprint car series championship, as Creswell, Ore.’s Jesse Thistle mathematically cannot catch him now with just Saturday’s finale remaining.
Tacoma, Wash.’s Evan Margeson picked up his first career NWWT sprint car main event win in the first split main event, after both Justen McConville and Dale Smith both led laps earlier. It was slip ups by both of those drivers that allowed Margeson to catch up and eventually pass them both. Margeson also swept the WMRA midget program on Friday night.
Eugene’s Kyle Miller made a mid-race pass around Jeff Bell and went on to win the second split main event, which being his fourth career NWWT triumph also put him atop the all-time win list. It was Miller’s record-tying third win of the season as well.
Saturday’s action at Cottage Grove Speedway will conclude the third season of competition for the Northwest Wingless Tour sprint car series. More information on the NWWT can be found online at http://www.nwwinglesstour.com
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Northwest Wingless Tour sprint car series
3rd Annual Northwest Non-Wing Nationals – Preliminary Night
Cottage Grove Speedway
Cottage Grove, OR
September 23, 2011
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
24 cars
Fast qualifier: 23b Colin Baker, 12.303 seconds
Dash (4 laps): 1. 10 Kyle Miller, 2. 41 Dale Smith, 3. 50 Evan Margeson, 4. 23b Colin Baker.
Heat 1 (8 laps): 1. 41 Dale Smith, 2. 23b Colin Baker, 3. 1t Tony Thomas, 4. 7k Kyle Mehner, 5. 1v Raquel Ivie, 6. 64 Mark Nichols, 7. 2k Sterling Kane, 8. 27 Guy Weedman.
Heat 2 (8 laps): 1. 50 Evan Margeson, 2. 6m Phil Del Rosa, 3. 8j Justen McConville, 4. 28 Mark Herz, 5. 52 Tim Alberding, 6. 41z Chris Peterson, 7. 36 Corey Esteban, 8. 04 Brad Rhodes.
Heat 3 (8 laps): 1. 22 Mike Romig, 2. 24z Zack Spaulding, 3. 10 Kyle Miller, 4. 9 Jeff Bell, 5. 4 Jesse Thistle, 6. 18 Mike Carrothers, 7. 57 Steve Hix, 8. 14 Joe Bosso Jr.
Main #1 (25 laps): 1. 50 Evan Margeson, 2. 8j Justen McConville, 3. 41 Dale Smith, 4. 6m Phil Del Rosa, 5. 36 Corey Esteban, 6. 1t Tony Thomas, 7. 7k Kyle Mehner, 8. 57 Steve Hix, 9. 4 Jesse Thistle, 10. 28 Mark Herz, DNS – 2k Sterling Kane, 04 Brad Rhodes.
Main #2 (25 laps): 1. 10 Kyle Miller, 2. 9 Jeff Bell, 3. 22 Mike Romig, 4. 18 Mike Carrothers, 5. 23b Colin Baker, 6. 64 Mark Nichols, 7. 52 Tim Alberding, 8. 1v Raquel Ivie, 9. 41z Chris Peterson, 10. 27 Guy Weedman, 11. 24z Zack Spaulding, 12. 14 Joe Bosso Jr.]