From Kelly HartAlger, WA — (July 7, 2012) — The biggest crowd of the year was greeted with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80’s at Skagit Speedway on Saturday night. It was the midseason championships and the giant Les Schwab Fireworks show. The main event winners each extended their point leads as well with Eric Fisher (410 Sprints), Trevor Turnbull (360 Sprints), Steve Parker (Sportsman Sprints) and Freddie Vela (Outlaw Hornets).
Leading every lap but one of the Sportsman Sprint main event. Parker took off and was eventually hunted down by Cory Swatzina who passed him for the lead on lap 10. On the next go round Swatzina was passing a lapped car when contact was made tearing off the front part of the car ending his evening. Parker was running second at the time and was once again the leader. Derek Roberts and Zach McCabe gave chase but had to settle for second and third. Rob Schroder and Dylan Dunham rounded out the top 5. In the six lap scramble it was Parker earning the pole for the main event with the win.
Second place in points Alan Munn started on the outside front row of the Scramble and beat point leader Trevor Turnbull to the first turn to win the Scramble for the 360 Sprints. Turnbull was not to be denied in the main event however leading all 25 laps for the win. Turnbull takes a commanding point lead into the upcoming Bob’s Burgers and Brew 360 Nationals at ASA Member Track Skagit Speedway coming up July 27th and 28th. Second through fifth place was Munn, Justin Youngquist, Randy Price and Turnbull’s teammate Kenny Rutz.
The 410 Sprint car Scramble was won by Barry Martinez with Fisher second. In the main event Martinez led the first 5 laps hooked up and pulling away from the field. On lap 5 Brock Lemley gently spun in turn 4 just barely losing the handle. On the restart Fisher made his move and pulled away for the win. Martinez, Trey Starks, Chad Hillier and Kevin Smith rounded out the top five. Hillier pulled off on the 14th lap with mechanical woes only to rejoin the back of the pack and rally to come back and finish 4th with a massive charge through the field.
Twenty-two Outlaw Hornets took the green flag for the main event with point leader Freddie Vela never headed. Vela got a great start and used that to keep teammate Cliff Ballenger behind him with second in points Rick Young having to battle his way back through the top cars to finish third. Plenty of action behind him saw Ben Gunderson finish fourth from deep in the field and Mike Powers passing 15 cars to pick up a 5th place finish. Vela won the scramble.
Next Saturday night July 14th, Skagit Speedway hosts the Big Rig Challenge with 1000 horsepower semi trucks rolling around the 3/10th mile clay oval. Also scheduled is the $1,000.00 to win Sportsman Sprint Challenge and the Outlaw Hornet races. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with racing at 7:00 p.m.
410 Sprints
Scramble: Barry Martinez, Eric Fisher, Brock Lemley, Chad Hillier, Kevin Smith, Liam Ryan, Josh Edson, Luke Didiuk
Main: Eric Fisher, Martinez, Trey Starks, Hillier, Smith, Edson, Toni Lutar, Didiuk, Daniel Anderson, Lemley, Ryan
Lap Leaders: Martinez 1-5, Fisher 6-25
Hard Charger: Starks +7 positions gained
360 Sprints
Scramble: Alan Munn, Trevor Turnbull, Justin Youngquist, Randy Price, Kelsey Carpenter, Kenny Rutz, Bud Ashe, Steven James
Main: Trevor Turnbull, Munn, Youngquist, Price, Rutz, Jason Solwold, Trey Starks, Ashe, Jesse Whitney, Brian Kirkpatrick, James, Carpenter, Tyler Anderson, Darcy Valliant
Lap Leader: Turnbull 1-25
Hard Charger: Jason Solwold +6 positions gained
Sportsman Sprints
Scramble: Steve Parker, Cory Swatzina, Derek Roberts, Rob Schroder, Zach McCabe, Dylan Dunham, Clayton Sibley, Cale Brooke
Main: Steve Parker, Roberts, McCabe, Schroder, Dunham, Skyler Pawlowicz, Ben Gunderson, Roger Oudman, Curtis Clark, James Bundy, Wes Tyra, Bill Rude, Ashley Lewellen, Dave Mead, Ray Parker, Brooke, Swatzina, Sibley, Victoria Cantu
Outlaw Hornets:
Scramble: Freddie Vela, Rick Young, Matt Powers, Cliff Ballenger, Howard Vos, Clint Meins, Matt Ploeg, Jon Edwards
Main: Freddie Vela, Ballenger, Young, Ben Gunderson, Mikey Powers, Matt Ploeg, Meins, Tyler Ketchum, Patrick Adams, Jon Gunderson, Brian Michelson, Edwards, Brandon Berg, Mike Ploeg, Tina Thibert, Matt Powers, James Sims, Rich Fry, Howard Vos, Terry Graul, Mark Toth, Becky Boudreau
Lap Leader: Freddie Vela 1-17
Hard Charger: Mikey Powers +15 positions gained