DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2016) – The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will be making its 52nd trip to Washington’s Evergreen Speedway Saturday for the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Toyota. Below is a look at the past performance of the series and selected drivers.

NAPA Auto Parts 150 Race Setup:
• With their series a little past the halfway point, rookie Todd Gilliland holds a three-point lead over Ryan Partridge and a 24- and 25-point lead over Noah Gragson and Chris Eggleston, respectively.
• None of the former Evergreen race winners, including David Mayhew, the winner the past two years, will not be competing at the Washington oval this weekend.

At Evergreen Speedway:
History
• This will be the series 52nd visit to the track since 1968.
• Evergreen Speedway is located on the fairgrounds facility in Monroe, Washington. The track features a .646-mile oval, a .375-mile oval and a 1/5-mile oval.

Notebook
• Ray Elder has the most wins at Evergreen, with five. Elder won in 1971, twice in 1972 and twice in 1975.
• Other multiple winners include: Ron Easton (1979, 1980, 1982), Chad Little (1986, 1988 and 1989), Bill Amick (1964 and 1965), Dick Bown (1974 and 1970), Brendan Gaughan (2000 and 2001), Butch Gilliland (1996 and 1998), Harry Jefferson (1974 and 1977), David Mayhew (2014 and 2015), Jack McCoy (1968, 1968, 1969, 1973), Neil Newberry (1976 and 1979), Jim Robinson (1983 and 1984) and Bill Sedgewick (1990 and 1992).
• Bill Elliott has the most poles at Evergreen, with four (1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990).
• The late Roy Smith leads the lists for most top-five finishes (nine) and top-10 finishes (14) in competition at the track since 1971.
• Chad Little has led the most laps around the Monroe track since 1971, staying out front for 1,153 circuits.
• Ten of the 45 races in the modern era of the K&N Pro Series West at Evergreen Speedway were won from the pole position. Geoff Bodine came from deepest in the field to win, starting 21st in 1991.
• None of the K&N Pro Series West races at Evergreen have ended in a green-white-checkered finish.

Evergreen Data:
Race: #9 out of 14
Race Date: Saturday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m. PT
Track Layout: .646-mile paved oval
Race Length: 150 laps, 96.9 miles

Evergreen Qualifying/Race Data:
2015 Winner: David Mayhew
2015 Pole Sitter: James Bickford
1-Lap Qualifying Record: Greg Pursley, Ford, 22.831 seconds, 101.862 mph, July 10, 2011
150-Lap Race Record: Ray Elder, Dodge, one hour 10 minutes 15 seconds, 80.071 mph, July 6, 1975

Evergreen Leaders:
Wins
Ray Elder … 5
Jack McCoy … 4
Ron Eaton … 3
Chad Little … 3
Seven different drivers … 2
Twenty-two different drivers … 1

Poles:
Bill Elliott … 4
Ron Eaton … 3
Jack McCoy … 3
Ten different drivers … 2
Twenty different drivers … 1

Laps Completed:
Bill Schmitt … 6148
Jack Sellers … 5418
Hershel McGriff … 5018
Roy Smith … 4088
Chad Little … 3597
Ron Eaton … 3306

Laps Led:
Chad Little … 1153
Bill Elliott … 703
Bill Schmitt … 683
Ray Elder … 653
Derrike Cope … 505
Ron Eaton … 484

Selected Driver Highlights:
Chris Eggleston (No. 50 NAPA Filters Toyota)
• Heads into Evergreen ranked fourth in the standings with two wins and six top fives.
• In his first start at Evergreen last season, he finished third after starting fifth.

Todd Gilliland (No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
• Holds the top spot in the standings headed into the weekend with four wins and seven top fives.
• Earned his victories at California’s Irwindale Speedway and Kern County Raceway Park, Idaho’s Stateline Speedway and Iowa Speedway.
• This will be his first series start at Evergreen.
• Is a member of the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class.

Noah Gragson (No. 7 SPEEDVEGAS/AlertID/Colliers International Ford)
• Is third in the championship standings with four top fives and eight top 10s.
• Last year at Evergreen, he finished fifth after starting fourth.
• Is a member of the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class.

Riley Herbst (No. 19 NOS Energy Drink Toyota)
• Is seventh in the standings with three top fives and six top 10s.
• Is coming off his best series career finish, third, at Iowa Speedway.
• This will be his first K&N Pro Series West start at Evergreen.

Julia Landauer (No. 54 Curb Records Toyota)
• Heads into the weekend ranked sixth in the standings with three top fives and seven top 10s.
• Earned her best series finishes, fifth, at Arizona’s Tucson Speedway, California’s Orange Show Speedway and Idaho’s Stateline Speedway.
• This will be her first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start at Evergreen.
• Is a member of the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class.

Matt Levin (No. 14 Wealth Management Ford)
• Is ranked ninth in the standings with four top fives.
• At the .646-mile oval last year, he finished 10th after starting 14th.

Ron Norman (No. 30 Port of Tucson Ford)
• Heads into the weekend ranked 10th in the standings with four top 10s.
• He finished 13th at Evergreen last year after starting 12th.

Ryan Partridge (No. 9 Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs/Lucas Oil Ford)
• Is second in the standings with one win, six top fives and eight top 10s.
• Won earlier in the year at Tucson.
• At Evergreen last season, he finished second after starting third.

Gracin Raz (No. 27 Montana Tech Ford)
• Is ranked fifth in the K&N Pro Series West standings with five top fives and six top 10s.
• In his two series starts at Evergreen, he finished sixth (2014) and fourth (2015).

Cole Rouse (No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs/Lucas Oil Ford)
• Is seventh in the standings headed into Evergreen with five top fives and six top 10s.
• Collected his best K&N Pro Series West finish, third, at Kern.
• This will be his first series start at Evergreen.

Other Driver Notes:
• Garret Archer will be making his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West debut this weekend with Jefferson Pitts Racing. Has experience at Evergreen competing in their Super Late Model division.
• Nicole Behar will return to the K&N Pro Series West this weekend. She finished 17th (2014) and ninth (2015) with the series at Evergreen.
• Braeden Havens will make his second start of the year. In his last three K&N Pro Series West starts at Evergreen, he’s finished 11th (2012), fourth (2013) and 15th (2015).
• Cole Moore will make his third start of the year with Bill McAnally Racing. This will be his first K&N Pro Series West start at Evergreen.

Up to Speed:
• The 2016 season is the 63rd for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
• The 2016 schedule features 14 races at 13 different tracks across eight states.
• Third-generation driver Todd Gilliland won the season opener at California’s Irwindale Speedway on March 19 after leading a total of 33 laps.
• Gilliland expanded his K&N Pro Series West streak to three after winning the second race of the season at California’s Kern County Raceway Park.
• Ryan Partridge collected his first win of the year at Arizona’s Tucson Speedway after leading 127 laps.
• Chris Eggleston, the defending NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion, picked up his first win of 2016 after gaining the lead with nine laps to go at California’s Orange Show Speedway.
• Eggleston made it two-for-two after leading 102 laps at his home track, Colorado National Speedway.
• Chase Elliott scored the first road course victory of the year at California’s Sonoma Raceway after passing Noah Gragson with two laps to go.
• Todd Gilliland scored his third win of the year at Idaho’s Stateline Speedway after crossing the finish line .004 seconds in front of Gragson.
• Todd Gilliland won the K&N Pro Series combination event at Iowa Speedway to make it two-for-two and collect his four win of the season.

Mike Beeler has won the last two PCS races, taking Stockton and Ukiah (Photo Courtesy Patriot Media)

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (August 9, 2016) - The Pacific Challenge Series presented by PenneyLawyers.com will stage its second televised race, as the series returns to Kenny Shepherd's LoanMart Madera Speedway on Saturday night. The Super Late Model tour will see its 75 lap feature broadcast for a later showing on MAVTV. A strong field of competitors from across California will be in action on the one-third mile asphalt oval.

The PCS is a bullring series and Madera is one of the largest and fastest tracks on the 13 race calendar. Saturday's race serves as the ninth points race of the year with five different tracks visited. Through it all, six different race winners have visited victory lane including Jeremy Doss of Upperlake, CA who leads the standings. Doss is fresh off of winning the Montana 200 for one of the biggest victories of his career as well.

The 2012 PCS champion won the inaugural Madera event last August before a narrow defeat at the hands of Jacob Gomes in the March 19th race. Although Gomes is not expected, a bevy of other top drivers will be on hand to face off for the victory.

Valley Springs' Tracy Bolin set the track record in March with a blistering 14.173 second lap. He went on to get his first PCS win in June at Shasta Speedway. A pair of DNFs in July dropped Bolin down to fourth in the points but he is primed for a comeback.

Only two drivers have had repeat wins this year; 2014 champion Mike Beeler who is second in the points and has won the last two features, and Jason Romero, the 2009 All American Speedway champion who has swept both All American races. Both drivers will be at Madera. Beeler has a great opportunity to try to close the 18 point gap on Doss in the standings.

Clovis' Bryan Herzog will lead the efforts of the local drivers. Herzog was the runner-up in the track's prestigious LoanMart Open Late Models in 2015 and has a win under his belt in the 2016 edition as well. Saturday will mark Herzog's PCS debut. Justin Westmoreland of Fresno will also compete in the PCS competition at his home track.

Manteca's JR Courage scored a career-best second place finish at Ukiah in the last PCS race and is third in the points standings. He has not finished outside of the top-ten this year. Rookie Matthew Wendt is fifth in the standings. Wendt will be making his first Madera PCS start but a sixth place finish at the 3/8ths mile Shasta Speedway may be an indicator of a big night at Madera.

Tracy's Jeff Bischofberger will return to competition ranked sixth ahead of Granite Bay's Cole Moore. Hayward's Danny Malfatti, John Moore, and Loomis' Chris Scribner round of the top-ten.

11th in points Mike Hite of Elk Grove, Idaho's Travis Milburn, Modesto's Kyle Gottula, and 2006 Westcar champion Shannon Mansch are all expected. Popular third generation driver Ross Strmiska, Ukiah-area racer Corey James, and Grass Valley's Don Swartz also have intentions to race.

Not only will fans be treated to one of the strongest lineups of the season, the undercard includes the North State Modified Series, CSS 360 Super Modifieds, and USAC HPD Midgets for a full compliment of open wheel racing to go with the Super Late Models.

An open practice kicks off the weekend on Friday before another full day of action on Saturday. Pit gates open at noon with practice from 1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Qualifying will follow with heats and dashes at 5:45 p.m. Opening ceremonies and the main events begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and military, $10 for youth ages 6-12, and kids five and under are free! Madera Speedway is located on the Madera Fairgrounds on Cleveland Ave and 99. For more information, visit www.RaceMadera.com

For more information on the Pacific Challenge Series, visit them online at www.PacificChallengeSeries.com or on Facebook and YouTube.

The Pacific Challenge Series is presented by: Penney Racing Supply, Penney & Associates, American Racer Tires, Maita Chevrolet, Tech2U, Compact-It, Northwest Compactors, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, BrakeOMeter, Lefthander Chassis, ARP Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Bassett Wheels, Frank's Radio, WrapStar Pro, and Blakesley Sports Media. All PCS Super Late Models race ABC Bodies or Muscle Car bodies on American Racer Tires with Sunoco Racing Fuel.

2016 Pacific Challenge Series Schedule
(Subject To Change)

March 19 Madera Speedway (Madera, CA) *Televised on MAVTV, presented by Loanmart* - Winner: Jacob Gomes

April 16 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) Winner: Jason Romero

May 8 Ukiah Speedway (Ukiah, CA) Winner: Jeremy Doss
May 28 Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA) *Round #1 of Tri-Holiday Series* Winner: Eric Schmidt

June 4 Shasta Speedway (Anderson, CA) Winner: Tracy Bolin
June 25 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *w/ North State Modified Series* Winner: Jason Romero

July 2 Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA) *Round #2 of Tri-Holiday Series* Winner: Mike Beeler
July 16 Ukiah Speedway (Ukiah, CA) Winner: Mike Beeler

August 13 Madera Speedway (Madera, CA) *Televised on MAVTV, presented by Loanmart*

September 3 Stockton 99 Speedway (Stockton, CA) *Round #3 of Tri-Holiday Series*
September 24 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *w/ North State Modified Series*

October 1 Ukiah Speedway (Ukiah, CA) *2016 Championship Race*
October 15 All American Speedway (Roseville, CA) *w/ K&N West, Non-Points*

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 9, 2016) - When the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West hits the track Saturday night at Washington’s Evergreen Speedway, two drivers will be duking it out for the continuous championship battle, while another two will be fighting to join the scrum for the trophy.

With David Mayhew, Evergreen’s victor the past two years, out of the lineup this weekend in the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Toyota, the door is open for a new winner in Victory Lane. The two notable favorites are championship contenders Todd Gilliland and Ryan Partridge.

Gilliland, 17-years-old from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, heads into the weekend on a two-race win streak. After an early exit at California’s Sonoma Raceway in June, the NASCAR Next driver has rebounded to win at Idaho’s Stateline Speedway and the K&N Pro Series combination event at Iowa Speedway.

Partridge, 28, from Ranch Cucamonga, California, trails Gilliland by only three points. The veteran has some success at the .646-mile semi-banked oval, he finished runner-up to Mayhew in Washington last year.

Not to be counted out of the competition are Noah Gragson and defending series champion Chris Eggleston. They head into the NAPA Auto Parts 150 24 and 25 points back, respectively, and both will be looking for a victory in order to join Gilliland and Partridge in the battle for the title. Eggleston and Gragson finished third and fifth, respectively, at the track last season.

RACE: NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Toyota
PLACE: Washington’s Evergreen Speedway
DATE: Saturday, August 13
TIME: 6:30 p.m. PT
TV SCHEDULE: NBCSN, Thursday, Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. ET
TRACK LAYOUT: .646-mile semi-banked oval
2015 WINNER: David Mayhew
2015 POLE SITTER: James Bickford
EVENT SCHEDULE: Garage opens: 9 a.m.; Practice: 12-12:45 p.m.; Final Practice: 1:15-2 p.m.; Qualifying: 4:15 p.m.; Driver Autograph Session: 5 p.m.; Driver Introductions: 6:20 p.m.; NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Toyota: 6:30 p.m.
TRACK CONTACT: Doug Hobbs, (369) 805-6100, doug@evergreenspeedway.com
TWITTER: @WAStateNascar
EVENT HASHTAG: #NAPAAutoParts150
NASCAR IMC CONTACT: Brooke Franceschini, (386) 631-6142, bfranceschini@nascar.com

FAST FACTS:
The Race: The NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Toyota is the eighth race of the 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season. It’s the seventh of 11 oval events and 14 races overall on the schedule. This will be the series’ 52nd visit to the Monroe, Washington, facility.

The Procedure: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 20 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials with the remaining four spots being awarded through the provisional process. The race is schedule for 150 laps covering 93.75 miles. The race will be run in two segments, with a five-minute break at or near the conclusion of Lap 75.

The Track: Evergreen Speedway is a semi-banked .646-mile oval with turns banked eight degrees and four degrees banking in the straights.

Records: Qualifying: Greg Pursley, 22.831 seconds (101.862 mph), July 10, 2011; Race: Ray Elder, one hour 10 minutes 15 seconds (80.071 mph), July 6, 1975.

EVERGREEN SPEEDWAY RACE NOTES:
Behar Making Her Return: Nicole Behar will be returning to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West this weekend. The Spokane, Washington, native finished last year 10th in the championship standings. In her two series starts at Evergreen, she finished 17th (2014) and ninth (2015).

Notable Winners at Evergreen: There have been 46 different winners in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Evergreen Speedway. Notables include: Ray Elder, Bill Elliott, Butch Gilliland and Brendan Gaughan. Only seven drivers have managed to win back-to-back races at Evergreen since 1964, Bill Amick, Ray Elder, Ron Eaton, Jim Robinson, Chad Little, Brendan Gaughan and most recently, David Mayhew.

Ford Paving the Way at Evergreen: Ford has proven to be successful at the .646-mile track, earning 14 victories at Evergreen Speedway. Chevrolet has been closing the gap the past few years, trailing with 12 wins. Dodge also has 12, while Pontiac has five, and Buick Mercury and Plymouth each have three wins. Oldsmobile has registered two wins and Toyota has earned one.

NASCAR Next Update: Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson and Julia Landauer are showing why they were selected for the NASCAR Next program. Gilliland is leading the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West standings with 336 points, while Gragson trails by 24 points in third and Landauer is sixth with 294 points.

NASCAR Home Tracks: Three Events Highlight Packed Saturday Schedule
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will be joined by three local divisions Saturday night, Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Models, Les Schwab Street Stocks and Foster Press Mini Stocks. Naima Lang leads the Super Late Model division with four wins and 319 points. Trenton Moriarity trails with 281 points, while Tyler Tanner sits in third with 279. Darrell Lutovsky leads Chad Fitzpatrick by seven points (462-455) in the Street Stock division. While Nat Barber carries a 16-point lead over Michael Fritz (433-417) in the Mini Street standings.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (August 9, 2016) – Meridian, ID's Bryan Warf took over the controls of Glenn Hutchison's #8 Royal Purple / All Valley Towing Winged Sprint Car in May and has rocketed to three wins and a runner-up finish in four starts. His third win came on Saturday night with the Orchex King of the Wing Western Sprint Cars at Stockton 99 Speedway.

Warf won against a strong 15 car turnout on the historic quarter-mile paved oval, now in its 68th year of competition. The victory further establishes the Rex Hutchison-powered Beast Chassis as one of the strongest cars and teams in the sport. Glenn's son Dylan drove the car in the season opener at Madera en route to a third place finish, but has been on an extended hiatus due to an injury unrelated to racing. Combined with Warf's two King of the Wing-sanctioned victories, the team now ranks second in the Western King of the Wing owners points.

Warf qualified sixth with an 11.995 second lap on another Stockton race where track records were shattered at the top of the grid. He picked up his first heat race win for Hutchison which set him up for the second heat race. He won the heat race over recent King of the Wing Northwest Swing champion and Western points leader Eric Humphries.

Starting on the pole for the 30 lap feature, Warf would have to fend off numerous challenges. He held off a late charging Humphries along with Davey Hamilton, Jr. to lead all 30 laps for the big $2000 win. The win moves Warf up to sixth in drivers points and has Glenn Hutchison Racing only two points behind Humphries' STE Racing in owners points with a slew of races in October left to run for the King of the Wing Western division.

Along with two King of the Wing Western win, Warf has a win and a second place effort in his two starts in the MAVTV-televised Madera Western Super Sprints. The series last competed on July 9th as part of the Gerhardt Memorial. Warf qualified third and also ran third in his heat race.

His fortunes improved in the 30 lap feature as he found half a second from qualifying and took over the lead from Tom Baker on the second lap of the race. He held off the race's namesake Cody Gerhardt until lap 26 and ripped across the stripe in second position at the finish.

Madera Super Sprints air on MAVTV on Thursday nights at 5 p.m. Pacific / 8 p.m. as part of the "Madera Racing" motorsports show. Check your local listings.

The next race for the Glenn Hutchison / Royal Purple #8 will be September 17th at Madera Speedway for the Madera Western Super Sprints. You can learn more about Dylan Hutchison Racing at www.dylanhutchison.com or by visiting the team on Facebook at keywords “Dylan Hutchison Racing”.

Dylan Hutchison Racing is presented by LearnPort, Royal Purple, Rex Hutchison Racing Engines, Naake Suspension, All Valley Tow, Rich Howell Racing, Race Tec Pistons, DT Headers, Harris Industrial Gases, WrapStar Pro and Blakesley Sports Media.

Tracy Bolin set a new PCS track record whent he series last visited Madera in March

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 8, 2016) – A dual-headliner show at Madera Speedway on Saturday night will give valley race fans the best of both worlds with the Pacific Challenge Series Super Late Models bringing the thunder and North State Modifieds bringing the lightning to the fastest one-third mile in the west. MAVTV cameras will again be rolling for the 75 lap feature for the PCS while the Modifieds will race for 60 laps. CSS 360 Super Modifieds headline an undercard that includes USAC HPD Midgets, MSTs, and Toyota Sedans.

For the Pacific Challenge Series, parody has been the name of the game with six different winners in eight races at five different tracks. 2014 champion Mike Beeler of Modesto has won the last two races for the series to close within 18 points of leader Jeremy Doss of Upperlake, CA. Jacob Gomes won the first PCS appearance at Madera on March 19th, while Tracy Bolin set a new track record in qualifying. Track records have been broken at nearly every race this year as the PCS continues to be one of the fastest stock car tours around.

Local fans will be treated to a variety of top drivers to pull for including Clovis' Bryan Herzog. Herzog will use the same car he drove to the June 18th victory in the MAVTV-televised LoanMart Open Late Models. Herzog ranked second in last year's LoanMart points as well. Ross Strmiska nearly won the Stockton PCS race in July while Justin Westmoreland of Fresno made his 2016 racing debut in a new car at the SRL event at Madera in July. Both drivers figure to be contenders on Saturday night.

The North State Modifieds staged one of the most exciting and deepest races of the entire Madera season when they raced on June 11th during the Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals. Popular Sacramento-area driver Jason Philpot scored a new track record and picked up the 60 lap victory.

The series notably attracts most of its drivers from the Lakeport area making for a long tow to Madera. That long tow has not deterred Kelseyville's Darrin Knight as he leads the points by 65 points. Brian Denton ranks second in a tie with rookie Codi Barba. Sacramento's rookie Joe Rhodes, Jr. also led laps in the June 11th event.

CSS 360 Super Modifieds are some of the fastest cars that compete at Madera with Bakersfield's second generation driver Justin Tuey leading the way by 15 points. Veteran Lance Jackson ranks second ahead of Donnie Large, Jr., Austin Carter, and open-wheel standout AJ Russell of Clovis fifth.

USAC HPD Midgets are a great development series that see drivers in nearly identically prepared cars, powered by either Honda Fit or Ford Focus virtually street legal power plants. The Breidinger sisters of Toni and Annie top the points, with three wins in the five races at Madera so far. Youngester Jesse Love started the year with three straight top-threes to move up to third in the points over Sprint Car driver Davey Hamilton, Jr. and Mini Cup driver Adam Lemke.

Jillaun Holden and Lucy Carmona have dominated competition for the Toyota Sedans although it was Tim Curtis using his wife Shirley's car to win on July 30th and August 6th, while MSTs have been all about Kevin Thompson with a 42 point lead on back-to-back winner Bert Stephens.

Race fans can catch up on LoanMart Madera Speedway racing Thursdays on MAVTV at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific.

An open practice kicks off the weekend on Friday before another full day of action on Saturday. Pit gates open at noon with practice from 1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Qualifying will follow with heats and dashes at 5:45 p.m. Opening ceremonies and the main events begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for this great night of racing are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and military, $10 for youth ages 6-12, and kids five and under are free! Madera Speedway is located on the Madera Fairgrounds on Cleveland Ave and 99. For more information, visit www.RaceMadera.com

By Dave Grayson

Speedway Willow Springs is set to launch the second half of their 2016 racing season this Saturday night, August 13th. The one quarter mile paved oval is located within the massive, 600 acres plus, Willow Springs International Raceway in the beautiful community of Rosamond California.

Like many race tracks, located in the western states area, Speedway Willow Springs took a racing break during the month of July to beat the heat. Like many southern California desert communities, it's gets extremely hot in beautiful downtown Rosamond. However, here's the good news according to the National Weather Service regarding Saturday race day: the mid day high temperature will be 101 but, with a 6pm green flag start, the temperature should be dropping to the mid to upper 80's while turning into a nice evening to watch some red hot stock car racing.

The red hot stock car racing action will be presented by the Hooper's Rear End Elite Division. This is a special racing class that allows super late models, late models, modifieds and trucks to race together under the auspices of the same rule book. Also getting red hot on the Speedway Willow Springs will be the Platinum Loan & Jewelry Street Stocks. the Wayne & Dave's Automotive Hobby Stocks, the Lucas Oil Products Mini Stocks, the Tire Store Skid Plates and the So Cal Enduro Series whose racing this Saturday will be sponsored by A To Z Graphics of Ridgecrest and DRC Pump Systems of Lancaster.

David Brandon, in his bright red #96 late model, has totally dominated the Hooper's Rear End Service Elite division so far this year. He's also on top of the championship standings based of three main event wins and a second place finish. He goes into next Saturday's race with a 20 point advantage over speedway veteran and former division champion Chris Peedan.

The one thing that you can't help but notice while watching Brandon on the track is his remarkable abundance of driver patience. Regardless of his initial starting position in a main event, he spends the first half of a 40 lap main event making carefully calculated, one car at a time, maneuvers that creates an improvement in his track position. Before you know it, he's running second and somewhere between laps 25 to 30 he seems to find that race winning move he needs to collect another Speedway Willow Springs trophy.

Also of interest here is the fact that there's only a 17 point separation between positions two through five in the Elite division championship rankings. That group is led by Peedan with drivers Randy Wilkins, Alex Anderson and John Penning lined up behind him. From this group only Anderson has a feature win so far. The local Rosamond driver won the season opener last March.

The Platinum Loan & Jewelry Street Stocks currently has driver Tony Forfa IV as its resident hot shoe. The fourth generation driver of this well known racing family leads the division's points standings based on two feature wins and three top five finishes and a lead of 20 points going into next Saturday night's race. Drivers Justin Good and ageless wonder Bruce Secord are ranked second and third in the championship hunt. Both drivers have won main events during the first half of the season.

The Wayne & Dave's Automotive Hobby Stock division also has their own hot shoe. That would be Johnny Troesch whose three feature wins, along with four top five finishes, easily places him on top of the division's championship standings with 70 points. At a point in time when many wondered if anyone could step up and snap the Troesch win streak, it turned out to be Michael Williams who won the last race on June 4th. Williams is only 12 points behind Troesch and making up that deficit during the remaining series' races is doable. However, Williams will have to keep an eye out for the presence of Brandon Fisk in his rear view mirror. Fisk's consistent four top five finishes places him third in the hobby stock points only three makers away from second.

Of all of the division championship standings at Speedway Willow Springs, the Lucas Oil Products Mini Stocks so far has turned out to be the most intriguing due to special circumstances. John Dunlap, and his #68 Mustang, won the season opener in March and then Dunlap made an executive owner's decision when he turned the ride over to speedway veteran, and former champion, Bobby Dezarov who immediately responded with a feature win, along with a third place finish, in the division's April and May events. However, Dezarov had a commitment to another speedway and the team missed the race in June. Enter Ryan Bragdon, an Irwindale Speedway mini stock driver, who visited Speedway Willow Springs two times and went home with two trophies after winning the division's May and June main events.

So, who's in command of the Mini Stocks points standings? How about Greg Didoha who quietly drove his #19 Ford to three top five finishes and now leads the standings with 44 points. However, Dezarov is only three points behind the leader and has indicated that he will be available to drive the #68 for the remainder of the season. Bragdon is ranked third only six points away from first. It appears that mini stocks are not running at Irwindale this Saturday so it's highly possible that Bragdon will be making another visit to Speedway Willow Springs. This championship may not get resolved until the final night in October.

The Tire Store Skid Plates is a concept that has captured the fancy of the Speedway Willow Springs fans due to the unique racing format of the division. The rear tires of the cars are removed and replaced with metal plates welded to the rear hubs. This creates an extremely challenging handling situation for the drivers because these small cars will very easily slide their way into a 360 degree spin. Going into Saturday night's race, Jon Carter leads the series' points with 64 and has a ten point lead over drivers Mike Howard and Daniel Chadwick.

One of the true highlights, during any given Saturday night at Speedway Willow Springs, is the excitement generated by the So Cal Enduro Racing Series. This series races small sport compact sized race cars that is regarded as an extremely affordable entry level for newcomers to take on the sport of racing. It's also a very challenging racing series that employs the use of large tractor tires that turn the speedway's oval into a simulated road course.

The promoter of the series is Ridgecrest resident Danny Quinn who is very good at creating different racing configurations that challenges the drivers and entertains the fans. This Saturday night Quinn will have his teams racing in a trio of 20 lap segments. The line up for the first segment will be based on the traditional pill draw held during the driver's meeting. The segment two line up will line up by reverse order of the finish of segment one. Segment three will line up based on a combined average finish from both the first and second segments with the best average finish starting at the front of the line. Only the finishing order of segment three will be awarded prize money and season points. There will be multiple winners when the So Cal Enduro Racers completes their three segments of racing. The first is, of course, the driver that takes the checkered flag. The other winners are the fans who get to watch this form of racing excitement and fun.

The cost of all of this motor sports fun is a $10 wrist band available at the front gate of the Willow Springs complex. Bring the family, kids age ten and under are admitted free. These wrist bands will admit you to Saturday and Sunday's Willow Springs race programs at all of their tracks within the complex. In many cases, especially at the road course events, the wrist bands will grant fans direct access to the pit areas where you get an up close look at the race vehicles and talk to the drivers.

In the case of this upcoming weekend, fans can take in the Classic Motorcycle Track Day which will race on the massive 2.5 mile, nine turn, road course known as Big Willow all day Saturday from 8 am until 5 pm. Then at 5pm the Big Willow long front stretch will be converted into a one-eighth mile drag strip for an evening of grudge racing. Fans can catch an hours worth of straight line racing and then make a very short drive to the other side of the complex to take in the 6 pm stock car action at Speedway Willow Springs. On Saturday and Sunday there will be day long sports car racing provided by Extreme Track Events on the 1.6 mile road course known as the Streets of Willow Springs. That's what you'll get to see for $10. It's also what makes the Willow Springs International Raceway so fan friendly.

The Speedway Willow Springs racing program is presented by a highly potent, and much appreciated, list of track sponsors that includes: A To Z Signs, Abadak, Adams Metalizing & Grinding, Angel's Touch Towing, Benz Sanitation, Deist Safety, Dezarov's Mobile Auto Service, Dominguez Mexican Restaurant, 51 Fifty Energy Drink, Frank's Radios, High Desert Cellars, Hooper's Rear End Service, KGG Electric, K&N Performance Filters, Linny White's Race Shop, Lucas Oil Products Inc, Misfit Motorsports, Pinnacle Peak Steak House San Dimas & Colton, Platinum Jewelry & Loan Lancaster, Scramblez, Street Customs, Studio Equipment Rentals, 10,000 RPM, The Tire Store and Wayne & Dave's Automotive.

For additional information regarding the speedway's race programs, dial up their official website at www.thespeedwaywillowsprings.com

Photo Courtesy ME Wright Photography

Post Falls, ID (August 8, 2016)–Short track racing was at its best this past Saturday night at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls, ID for the 17th running of the NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200. The main event saw many lead changes, hard racing amongst the leaders and a few drivers coming from the back of the field. At the end of the night it was Braeden Havens coming out on top to win his first Idaho 200 en route to capturing his first Northwest Super Late Model Series victory.

Havens was able to hold off a hard charging Ryan Wells who came from the back of the field after a late race incident to finish second. Josh Roberts topped off the podium in third followed by Dave Garber and Glenn Knutson rounding out the Top-5.

The weekend started out with current points leader and two-time defending champion, Garrett Evans, winning the pole with a blistering time of 13.055-seconds. Young gun Joey Bird followed in second with a time of 13.075. Evans went on to draw for an eight-car invert putting Shane Mitchell and Bodie Morton on the front row.

Mitchell brought the field to the green flag and grab the hole-shot lead with the field heading into turn 1. Mitchell held the lead for the first 66 laps while drivers battled behind him. Evans worked his way through the field from his starting spot in row four and overtook Mitchell on lap 67 to grab the lead.

An incident at the front of the field on lap 72 involved three of the top seven cars including Bird, Morton and Clint Habart. Bird’s damage was too much and he would retire from the race after running in the fourth position.

Evans brought the field to the break at lap 100 holding off a hard-charging Wells who was running in second. The teams were given a long break while another class ran their feature. Teams were allowed to change two tires, add fuel and make any adjustments they needed while the time allowed.

The second-half featured Evans and Wells battling out with Wells trying to make passes to the outside but Evans holding him off. Lap 118 saw the caution come out and bunch the field back up for a restart. During the restart Evans grabbed the lead once again but would now be trying to hold off both Wells and Havens who was running third. As the drivers came back around during lap 125 Evans car slowed and Wells made contact with Evans sending him to the infield.

Both Evans and Wells were sent to the rear of the field for the incident. Havens gained the lead with Trevor Cristiani running in the second position on the restart. Havens held the lead for a few laps until Cristiani grabbed the inside and took the top spot. Garber would follow to the inside and move to second.

Cristiani’s lead didn’t last long as Garber worked himself into the lead on lap 139. Garber held the lead for the next 17 laps until Havens was able to work his way back to the bumper of Garber. The two drivers raced side-by-side making contact on several occasions while battling in a 20-lap stretch. On lap 181 Havens got a run to the outside and gained the lead.

The KRC Power Steering Power Move of the Race went to Wells who came from 17th to second in 40 laps as he passed Garber on lap 182. Havens worked hard but was able to hold off Wells in a final lap shootout to the front.

The JOES Racing Hard Charger was 2015 Rookie of the Year Glenn Knutson who advanced 14 positions from 19th to a top-5 finish.

Next up for the NWSLMS is the Park Model Homes 125 at Spokane County Super Oval August 20.

The Northwest Super Late Model Series Inc. is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Pacific Northwest. The series has many valued sponsors including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Port City Race Cars, AR Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Accelerated Graphics, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, Wheel Chill, KRC Power Steering, Racers Against Child Abuse, Atomic Screenprinting and Embroidery, Franks Racing Radio, BLP, Jefferson Pitts Racing and Racing Dynamics. For more information on the series visit www.nwslmseries.com or on Facebook or Twitter. To contact the series please email northwestsuperlatemodels@gmail.com


NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
17th NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200
Stateline Speedway .250-Mile Oval
200 laps 50 miles

Unofficial Finishing position/Car No./Name/Hometown/Laps completed
1. 83 Braeden Havens Medical Lake, WA 200
2. 5 Ryan Wells Hingham, MT 200
3. 9 Josh Roberts Ephrata, WA 200
4. 93 Dave Garber Spokane WA 200
5. 51 Glenn Knutson Quincy, WA 200
6. 90 Trevor Cristiani Nampa, ID 200
7. 16 Blake Williams Spokane, WA 200
8. 1K Mitch Kleyn Quincy, WA 200
9. 29 Jason O'Neil Spokane, WA 200
10. 52 Brittney Zamora Kennewick, WA 200
11. 77 Bodie Morton Kalispell, MT 200
12. 3 Barry Shingar Cranbrook, BC 200
13 88 Dirk Bennett Spokane, WA 197
14 38 Terry Armstrong Jr Hauser, ID 195
15 11 Ed Thomsen Pasco, WA 194
16 09 Clint Habart Cranbrook, BC 186
17 98 Chris Kellogg Spokane, WA 162
18 23 Corey Allard Sagle, ID 160
19 64G Garrett Evans East Wenatchee, WA 159
20 64j Jan Evans East Wenatchee, WA 152
21 99 Shane Mitchell East Wenatchee, WA 125
22 24 Joey Bird Spokane, WA 71
23. 15 Tom Plybon Spokane, WA 10
DNS 67 Alex Lessor Kalispell, MT DNS

Race Contingency Awards-
Wheel Chill Fast Time- No. 64 Garrett Evans 13.055 ($200 award)
Wheel Chill Lucky “7” Award- No. Blake Williams (7th place finisher $25 award)
Wheel Chill 11- No. 77 Bodie Morton (11th place finisher $25 award)
JOES Racing Products Hard Charger- No. 51 Glenn Knutson (advanced from 19th to 5th)
JOES 12th Man Award- No. 12 Barry Shingar (finished in 12th place)
KRC Power Steering “Power Move Of the Race”-No. 5 Ryan Wells
Racers Against Child Abuse Hard Luck Award- No. 24 Joey Bird ($50 award)

2016 Top-10 NWSLMS Unofficial Points
Driver Total
1. Garrett Evans 242
2. Ryan Wells 206
3. Braeden Havens 196
4. Mitch Kleyn 188
5. Brittney Zamora 183
6. Ed Thomsen 174
7. Nicole Behar 152
8. Glenn Knutson 147
9. Clint Habart 139
10. Corey Allard 130

Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Renner Petroleum/Bear River Hotel and Casino 125 winner, #43 Derek Thorn (Photo Courtesy Matthew J. Sullivan Racing Photography)

By Matthew J. Sullivan

Redwood Acres Raceway was at full capacity this past Saturday night for Bear River Hotel and Casino/Renner Petroleum Night at the Races. In addition to four local classes of roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Legends, fans were treated to the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series’ third visit to the 3/8-mile paved oval. The SRL’s Renner Petroleum/Bear River Hotel and Casino 125 proved to be a memorable race for a variety of reasons.

Bethany Rapp was fast time for the California State and Federal Employees Credit Union with a 21.064. Dominic Vogelsang was the trophy dash winner while the heat races were won by Bob Ratzloff and Vogelsang. The main event was scheduled for 20-laps but was marred by several caution flags. The scariest incident involved Tim Ratzloff who got sideways in turns one and two and slid into the pit entrance in turn two. Thankfully nobody was harmed and Ratzloff somehow avoided getting damage.

At lap 10, the field was turned around and ran the track backwards. The battle up front between Rapp and Vogelsang proved to be contentious and controversial. Vogelsang appeared to have the superior car and was able to take the lead from Rapp but was moved back to second due to driving through the dirt to make the pass. With three laps remaining, Vogelsang got into Rapp sending her sliding out of the lead much to the dismay of the fans. Officials black flagged Vogelsang which gave Bob Ratzloff the top spot. The race was called at that point with Ratzloff winning over Tyler Peach, Jake Keeling and Rapp.

Ukiah racer, R.J. Randall was quick time for the Fortuna Wheel and Brake bomber division with a 18.133. Randall took the trophy dash victory while the heat race featured an incident that knocked Ryan Ahrens out for the race. James Moore was the heat race winner. Dave Jones led the opening four laps of the 25-lap feature until Moore took over. The race looked to be Moore’s until a restart in the final handful of laps did him in. Jones was able to take the lead with three laps remaining and held off Moore to claim the win. The top three drivers were awarded a special monetary bonus thanks to Lally Motorsports and Four Star Realty with Moore and Tyler Avelar being the other two drivers receiving the extra money. John Lally placed fourth while Jimmy Sorrels rounded out the top five.

Dylan Hagmann continues to impress in his rookie campaign in the Humboldt Hydroponics mini stock division. Hagmann set quick time with a 18.949. Gary Klinetobe took trophy dash honors while heat race winners were Brian Murrell, Sr. and Eugene Palmer. A strong field of 15 cars started the 25-lap feature. Troy Lee and Jordon Paiment traded the lead the first two laps before Brett Murrell took over. Hagmann had already maneuvered through by lap seven and on lap eight, he took over the lead and would never look back. The best battle for the rest of the race was for second with Daniel Buell and Rick Estes battling tooth and nail. At the finish it was Hagmann winning his first mini stock feature. Estes managed to take second followed by Buell, Klinetobe and Sam Brown.

Brad Curtice was fast time in the Legends division with a 18.114 and went on to win the trophy dash and heat races. The main event featured a two-man battle for the lead between Robert Miller and Curtice. With just three laps remaining, Miller and Curtice got together off turn two. Anissa Curtice inherited the lead and was able to hang on to take her first Legends main event win. Brad Curtice placed second while Miller and M’Kinzy Uselton were credited with third and fourth.

16 Spears SRL Southwest Tour drivers qualified for the Renner Petroleum/Bear River Casino 125. Blaine Rocha set quick time and a new SRL Redwood Acres Raceway track record with a 15.410. Rocha drew an invert of four which put local driver, Brandon White on the pole, much to the delight of the partisan crowd. White took the lead from the drop of the green flag in what proved to be a clean start. The first caution dropped 10 laps in due to a spin off turn four by Oregon racer, Alan Cress.

A lap 19 restart proved to be to the benefit of Derek Thorn as he was able to get by Jacob Gomes for second. White and Thorn had a fantastic battle for the lead with Thorn briefly taking the top position on lap 24. However, White was able to regain the lead. On lap 38, Thorn found the line he needed to maneuver past White for the lead. A lap later, Andre Prescott hit the wall in turn three from that point on, the race was caution-filled.

On lap 36, a massive pile-up took place in turn three involving Carlos Vieira, Alan Cress and Dennis Furden. All four drivers were knocked out of the race. Also involved were Craig Raudman and Luke Hall but drivers were able to continue. The race slowed again a few laps later when Raudman and and Hall got together going into turn three. Another caution quickly followed when White spun going into the third turn and hit the wall ending his night.

Thorn led the field on the restart and the race was clean the rest of the way. Rocha was right on Thorn’s bumper for the early stages of the long run but as the race progressed, Thorn’s car appeared to be more stable and Rocha’s appeared to lose grip. Thorn began to pull bigger gap lap after lap. Rocha eventually lost the second spot to Gomes just before the final caution flew for oil on the track. Unfortunately due to curfew, the race was cut to 102 laps with Thorn taking the win over Gomes, Rocha, Ryan Cansdale and Keith Spangler.

Racing at the Acres takes a two week break before returning on August 20th for Driver Appreciation Night presented by Fastenal. Fans can get complimentary tickets from their favorite driver. In addition to the five local classes, the second annual Murrell 500 will be held. Track officials also announced the return of the Fall Spectacular on October 8th and 9th. More details will be provided on the season-ending event soon. Also, the final outlaw kart race of 2016 will take place August 27th. It’s certain to be an exciting event as youngsters will take to the .110-dirt oval for the final time this season. For more information on everything going on at Redwood Acres Raceway including video of the Spears SRL Southwest Tour race from this weekend, please visit the track’s official website www.racingtheacres.com