31 Aug 2014 Woodburn, OR – In the rotation of host tracks for the E.T. Finals in the Northwest, Woodburn claimed this year’s event.
Having not been to this track in a number of years I was impressed at the changes made. All improvements made to make it better for both racers and spectators alike. Well done.
Temps were in the 90’s, and the heat greeted all to the test and tune on Thursday with a forecast for the weekend of thunderstorms. This weather change had many a racer thinking of the tuning and a head wind to go into down the track.
On to Friday and let the racing begin. Classes split into those in the Gambler and the test and tune only, ether way you get info on how things are working according to log-books and brains with seat time. The big help, it was not as hot as yesterday for the TNT.
More than 380 entries to the gambler had five or six rounds to get to the finals, that’s a lot of racing to manage and watch. Combining both track and division personal makes for quite a talent pool to run the race with all bringing their A-game. As far as the racer’s go you know they are on top of it as the best at their tracks sent to represent the rest.
As in any sport you pit the best against the best the outcome is like picking lottery numbers, any one is capable of winning. Getting the bucks this day in the Jr. Dragster class was Emily Lewis, she got the gift as Kennedy Krier broke, tough one to take either way. In MC, Pacific and Bremerton faced off with a red light deciding the outcome before both started. Bremerton’s John Plaster gave it to Pacific’s Chris Benda. In Sportsman a pair from Vancouver, WA. battled and saw Gordon Cady Jr. running closer to his dial over John Nelson giving him the win in the greatest number of entries per class.
In Super Pro Lonnie Sharkey from Bremerton, WA. pitted against Keizer, OR. native Danny Wargnier. The double break-out race had Lonnie closer to the dial ending Danny’s bid for the bucks. What a day of racing and two more day’s to go.
4:00 am Saturday Mother Nature soaked everything not water tight. Many racers’ camps include tents, most not set up for the rain as bedtime saw mid 70’s, not the best for falling asleep in. This soaking had the track personal hot and heavy to get the water away. Go ahead she said and rained again forcing a start over a short time later. Thus went the morning of the most important race of the event. The race of champions is set in stone, it has to be run and completed. These winners go to Pomona. With at least three hours lost to the weather and a curfew in place the race pace went hot and heavy through the rounds, a testament to those who are running the show, even Mother Nature kicked in by providing partly cloudy conditions thru the racing. Toss in the “Track Manager’s Challenge” and a lot is at stake.
Some said it was a runaway but by 7 is difference between Pacific Raceways and the host Woodburn to give them the Challenge title. Sure sign of a strong team. Two class winners in the ROC proved that.
In the “Race of Champions” in Jr. Thunder Alisha Miller from Warren OR. stopped Levi Burke from Bates OR. In Jr. Lightning Adam Lint used better reaction and closer to the dial to end it for Jordin Howell. The high school class pitted a car and a truck with the ’65 Chevelle of Cameron Loos with the ’00 Sonoma of Zach Zurbrugg going too quick. The MC class saw Jeff Havens become a three timer as he ended Al Omond’s chance to claim the Wally and the trip to CA. An .029 light and closer to his dial gave Gordon Rust in his ’69 Chevelle the win over Brian Jennen in his ’70 Pontiac. The finals in PRO had Washington State between them. Nicholas Shepherd from Tigard, OR. ended Chris Stone from Mission, BC his chance at the title. Pacific’s SPRO champ Norm Braedt punched his ticket to Pomona with a foul by Sean Shaffer from Boise, ID. Putting an end to a tough day of racing by all.
Sunday, Sunday the Team Championship was up for grabs. All team member’s compete here with the Jr’s having a say so this year. With a number nearing 500 the racer’s came to run for their track not against each other as normal. Team racing at its best, one for all and all for one. 14 tracks on site made for some interesting displays in the stands surrounding the track as each team brought their flavor. After a while you could tell who won just by the noise made be each team, great support by team members.
Granted in the end there are single winners in each class but the point you gain is “TEAM” and in this case turn- around is fair play came into play. Remember the Manager’s race and how host Woodburn and Pacific battled it out for the top well these two were at it again in what was said to be the closest racing for the team championship ever. Four points was the diff. between first and third with second just one point ahead in-between. It could have gone so many way’s in the late rounds as it was anyone’s for the grab. In the end though host Woodburn claimed the title to go along with the “Team Spirit” award. In some way just like the Olympics the host team puts on a great display for everyone to see, great job by all those involved.
On a personal note I would like to thank the Evans family for Wednesday night’s chicken dinner and the Johnson’s for the 110 to see and charge up, Thanks to both, and to Joey Severance in finding a ladder for a group picture, thanks again. And in what the track photographer described as the ‘hardest working’ mop guy he has ever seen Jason Ronan proved that it can be done but you better be in shape and have your head in the game, great job young man.
