ELMA — While the Grays Harbor County Fair was the place to be this weekend, on Saturday evening it took a backseat to Grays Harbor Raceway.
During the fair, the 3/8-banked clay oval was alive as the Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks, Shipwreck Beads Modifieds and Outlaw Tuners put on a wild night of racing action, including the “Iron Man Challenge,” where the street stocks competed in two 20-lap feature races.
Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks Iron Man Challenge
In the first of two 20-lap feature races, Austin Kerrigan of Aberdeen took the early lead with fellow Aberdeen resident Cory Sweatman looking to chase him down while Spokane’s Ron Brewster sat in third.
Hoquiam’s Jason Tole raced past Brewster for the third spot.
Brewster then saw tough company while running fourth as Montesano’s Scott Fritts and Tom Hecker of Spanaway made it a three-car-battle for the fourth position. A long green flag run ate up laps and saw Kerrigan hold the lead to pick up the win.
The second feature began with competitors positioned at the starting line based on how they placed in the first feature, with Kerrigan taking back over the lead.
Sweatman remained in the second position, looking to seize an opportunity on any mistake by Kerrigan.
Brewster worked his way back into the third position, racing with Tole once again.
Sweatman stayed right at the back bumper of Kerrigan, drifting to the outside lane at an attempt to take over the lead.
The top four stayed right there in close formation, but the caution flag flew on lap 23 for Jeff Daniel of Ocean Shores, slowing to a stop in turn one.
On the restart, Kerrigan led Sweatman and Tole. Sweatman ran the higher side of the raceway as Kerrigan stayed low.
Sweatman then made his move for the lead on lap 27, successfully taking over the top spot.
But on lap 31 Kerrigan took the lead back, bringing Tole with him and shifting Sweatman back to third.
As lap traffic became a factor, Kerrigan maneuvered his way through the slower cars. As Kerrigan and Tole took the white flag, a slower car held up Kerrigan, allowing Tole to make a final-lap, last-corner move. Kerrigan and Tole made contact, sending both cars spinning. Sweatman avoided any danger to move up from his third-place spot to take the checkered flag.
Hecker, Brewster, Hoquiam’s Jack Parshall and Tole rounded out the top five.
Shipwreck Beads Modifieds
Casey Smith of Olympia took the early lead in the 25-lap Shipwreck Beads Modified feature race.
Mark Carrell of Redmond quickly made a move for the lead on the low side of the raceway in turn three.
The first lap saw a multi-car incident involving Kelly Fugate of Spanaway and Elma’s Tyler Walker as contact between both swallowed up numerous cars behind them. Walker did slow to a stop in turn two after the incident.
Carrell led the field to the green flag as Cosmopolis driver Tom Sweatman moved into the second spot.
Shelton’s Scott Miller and Brian Harding of Hoquiam battled Smith for third with Miller taking over the position, bringing Harding with him.
Carrell moved to the high side of the raceway, giving the bottom lane to Sweatman. Both raced side-by-side for a lap until Sweatman took the lead on lap 7. A few laps later, a heavy rain shower delayed the feature for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Track prep crews worked the race surface back into shape and the feature continued.
Sweatman looked strong out front as the battle for second saw Carrell and Scott Miller and Harding battle for position. Miller and Harding moved their way by Carrell, and sought a way to track down Sweatman for the lead.
At the end of the 25-lap feature, Sweatman took home the win with Carrell, Scott Miller, Harding and Aberdeen’s Shane Kerrigan rounding out the top five.
Outlaw Tuners
Maynard Barnum of Raymond and Tenino’s Chad Norton set the front row of the 15-lap Outlaw Tuner feature.
Norton took the early lead, bringing Aberdeen driver Tyler Sundstrom with him. Barnum then slipped back to third racing with Max Sanford of Belfair and Jeremy Jones of Wishkah.
Sanford and Jones worked their way past Barnum and made a battle of their own for third.
Norton had tough company as Sundstrom looked for the lead a handful of times, running low on the raceway. Norton continued to run the middle, having more power off the corners.
A lap 8 caution for Barnum slowing to a stop in turn two gave Jones and Sundstrom a shot at the lead.
Jones looked to the low side to take over second but couldn’t make the pass.
Later in the race, Jones made a move for second and was successful.
Another heavy rain shower appeared with just a few laps left in the race, ending the feature early as Norton picked was awarded the victory over Sundstrom, Jones, Sanford, and Danny Andrews of Belfair.
Grays Harbor Raceway will return this Friday and Saturday night.
Friday night will see the ISCS Sportsman Sprint Speedweek for the Sportsman Sprint Cars. Also on hand will be the PHRA Dwarf Cars for the first night of the Pocket Change Challenge. The Outlaw Tuners will also be on hand.
Saturday will be the ISCS Speedweek Finale, PHRA Dwarf Cars Pocket Change Challenge Finale and the first and only appearance of the Rolling Thunder Big Rigs. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on both nights.
For more information, visit graysharborraceway.com.
Don Briggs Sr. (left) races with Cory Sweatman during the Street Stocks Iron Man Challenge on Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway. Sweatman came from the third spot to earn the checkered flag. (Photo by AR Racing Videos)
Jack Parshall get his left front wheel in the air during a Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks race in Elma on Saturday. Parshall finished fourth in the Iron Man Challenge. (Photo by AR Racing Videos)
