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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2018)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9 Herald Sports Follow sports on Twitter @HHeraldSports Last lap for a ‘weekend warrior’ “He’s a great driver — a real weekend warrior like most of us.” Greg Walden, Hermiston Raceway promoter STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT KANE Vic Beard waves a checkered flag as he takes the final lap of his racing career on Friday at the Hermiston Raceway. Friday night’s race honors longtime driver Vic Beard of burnt rubber.” Hermiston Raceway’s next event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 18 at 6 p.m. Auto racing Hermiston Raceway, Week 9 By BRETT KANE STAFF WRITER Friday night’s race at the Herm- iston Raceway began by honoring a veteran of the track. Vic Beard, 70, had been work- ing on his 2007 Chevrolet Impala, painted red and white with the number 77 displayed across the doors, with the intention of con- tinuing his career as a Hermiston racer. However, he grew too tired to make it down to the course to compete. He was later diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. Beard took his final lap around the raceway during the night’s opening ceremonies. He was fol- lowed by nearly 30 of his fellow drivers. “He’d been competing here for over 20 years,” said Hermiston Raceway promoter Greg Walden (not the Congressman). “He’s a great driver — a real weekend warrior like most of us.” A packed stadium stood and applauded as Beard took his lap, and soon the evening’s races were underway. The event, titled Friday Night Showdown, pitted drivers against each other divided into six catego- Hornet Main 1st #777 Devin Taylor 2nd #77 David Knowles 3rd #7 Tracy “Snoop” Howell 4th #11 Joe Dunn 5th #12 Kris Marlow 6th #18 Karen Pitzer 7th #13 Ryan Rodabaugh 8th #1 Rob “Ricky Bobby” Cassano 9th #21 Owen Berglund 10th #24 Justus Zamudio 11th #883 Woodrow Pittman 12th #69 Cody McDonald 13th #22 Caroline Barnes 14th #17 Kedric Preston Mini Stock Main 1st #49 Angel Oseguera 2nd #29 Andy Pierce 3rd #71 Logan Blackburn Super Mini Stock Main 1st #11X Patrick Mullins 2nd #11 Chris Kohler 3rd #27 Ron Wilbur 4th #8 Bradd Arneson STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT KANE Melissa Schroder and Treina Critchfeild of Kennewick, and Tammy Vetsch of Tacoma cheer on drivers at the Hermiston Raceway. ries: Late Models, Street Stocks, Legends, Mini Stock & Super Mini, Bombers, and Hornets. Cars were categorized depending on various specifications, including car size, engine type, and material used to outfit the cars. The event began with a series of heat races, which consisted of eight cars and eight laps. The top four drivers of these races would then move on to the main event, which consisted of races lasted upwards of 30 laps. After the races finished, audi- ences were in for a special event — CrashMania’s demolition derby Point Series took over Hermiston’s course. The tourna- ment consists of six races held throughout southeast Washing- ton and northeast Oregon. The competitor who has accumulated the most points by the end of the tour is set to receive $1,000 and a CrashMania championship belt. “It’s been a great season,” Walden said. “All of our classes have been growing, and we’re providing good entertainment for the fans.” Audiences regularly jumped to their feet as cars roared by the stands, either cheering in support or jeering at a flagman’s decision. “I’ve been to more races here than I can count,” said Trenia Critchfield of Kennewick. “It’s exciting, it’s tradition, and the new promoters have done a great job of keeping it up and running. And you just can’t beat the smell Bomber Main 1st #17 Kedric Preston 2nd #123 Jeremy Erb 3rd #55 Justin Gage 4th #2 Arlen Calley 5th #N21K Carl Leggett Street Stock Main 1st #77 Jeff Stremcha 2nd #46 Terry Osborn 3rd #28 Kaylynn Jeffery 4th #18 Adam Baker 5th #75 Terry Lydell Legend Main 1st #24Z Jose Zamudio 2nd #81 Ben Matheson 3rd #54 Trace Thompson 4th #13 Donnie Rabbit 5th #43 Bill Kik 6th #2 Jeff Mueller 7th #3 Neena Kik 8th #23 Steve Owen Late Model Main with a special tribute to #77 Vic Beard 1st #12 Rick Gerrard 2nd #15 Dan Nelson 3rd #3 Ken Bonney 4th #7 Tom Abercrombie Catch a local at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo By BRETT KANE STAFF WRITER Local cowboys and cow- girls will take to the Farm- City Pro Rodeo Area to defend their home turf — or dirt — this week. Several local competitors are currently ranked within the top 20 on the 2018 Columbia River Circuit and will perform throughout the week’s rodeo events. You can catch steer wres- tlers Dalton Massey and Ryan Bothum of Hermiston on Friday at 2 p.m. during that day’s slack. Massey is currently ranked at No. 8 and Bothum at No. 13. Bothum will also compete that night at 7:45 p.m. Team ropers Andy Carl- son and Jake Stanley of Hermiston, currently hold- ing down the No. 6 and 9 spots, respectively, will compete in the slack mat- inee on Saturday at 2 p.m. and the rodeo’s fourth night at 7:45 p.m. Other local team ropers include B.J. Roberts of Hermiston and Phoenix Everano of Pendleton. Brad Goodrich and Michael Pederson of Herm- iston will compete in the rodeo’s tie-down competi- tions on Friday and Satur- day. Goodrich is ranked at No. 3 in the event, and Ped- erson is at No. 9. Seth Hopper of Stan- field stands at No. 10 and will perform for the slack on Thursday, and during the second night at 7:45 p.m. Other local athletes include barrel racers Jor- dan Minor, currently ranked at No. 4, Mary Shae Hays, and Jami Erwert of Herm- iston, and Amy Coelho and Libby Gibson of Echo, bull rider Clay Hall, and Stan- field steer wrestler Travis Taruscio. “The idea of this rodeo is to attract the best contestants for the fans to watch,” said director Jon Gill. “We have the best contestants and live- stock out there. It’s a pretty good draw. We’re honored to have them.” Go see it The Farm-City Pro Rodeo is Wednesday through Saturday at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermiston. Start: 2 p.m. slack, 7:30 p.m. main performance Cost: $17 for general admission HH FILE PHOTO Ryan Bothum turns his steer in 5.1 seconds in steer wrestling at the 2016 Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston. He will compete this Friday in Hermiston.
