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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2006)
Page 12 The INDEPENDENT, June 1, 2006 Lucky number seven works for two drivers in St. Helens events By Mike Weber Seven proved to be lucky for Sean Fox of St. Helens and Dan Smith of Scappoose, who both drove cars numbered sev- en into victory lane to capture main events on Saturday, May 20, at River City Speedway. Rian McVae of Scappoose, was runnerup in three events – the trophy dash, heat race and main in the Pacific Hardtop Racing Association with his Chapman Auto Repair spon- sored dwarf car. Fox took the lead from Port- land’s Marc Sayre on lap three and remained up front through- out the 25 lap Baxter Auto Parts Modified race to notch the first ever A main win of his three- year career in the Competitive Edge Sign & Design open- wheel style racer. Smith, 36, passed Vancouver’s John Fordyce on lap 19 and led the next six circuits with his Al- liance Automotive/STC Racing Parts Chevrolet Camaro to capture the Reser’s Fine Foods Sportsman main. Former series champion (2001) Mark Guindon of War- renton, who took second in the Run with Extra Confidence with Chevron DELO 400 ™ PLUS MOTOR OIL The name you trust for: • Gasoline • Diesel Fuel • Oils • Solvents • Additives • Greases See us for… division last year to four-time champ Joe Cherington, won the mini stock A main, the dash and was second in the heat with his Part Time Auto Wreck- ing Toyota Celica. Cherington, from Vancouver, was the fastest qualifier (16.79 sec- onds) on the quarter-mile clay oval track, he took second in the main and leads the point standings. Deer Island’s Scott McMullen celebrated his 35th birthday while driving his Mc- Mullen Water Systems Ford Mustang to victory in the B main. Fox, driving the same car that his dad, Dan, set the track qualifying record (13.95) with last year, was followed closely by 2004 series champ Ray El- wess of Portland as their two cars were bumper-to-bumper at the conclusion. Sayre (third), Gannin Thomas (fourth) of St. Helens and Stephen Kaptur of Deer Island finished in the top five. Thomas and Smith, who took 10th, are just a few of the double-duty drivers who com- pete in two classes. Thomas took second to Smith in the sportsman main. Tricia “Great” Brittain of St. Helens, took third and she also won the heat. “It’s just awesome to get my first win and I’m so glad having an opportunity to drive my dad’s car,” said Fox, 23, who also competes at Sunset Speedway in Banks. “Tony Malar (Malar Performance En- gines) built a great motor for us and Sam and Tricia Brittain have really made the car look fantastic, too. Elwess did a good job, we were side-by-side a few times when he tried pass- ing and I enjoy racing with him because he’s a good, clean driver. We’re going to try to win a division title at Banks and if I continue to have success here, then maybe we’ll have a shot at capturing two championships, which would really be nice.” “This is the first time I’ve driven the car in two years and there were lots of crashes which, luckily, were all behind me,” said Smith. “We had a good day and my pit crew with Dennis Blasier, my brother Robert, and Sam Jeffers al- ways help tremendously and it was lots of fun winning the dash in both classes (sports- man/modified).” Vancouver’s Dennis Kroh- ling won the street stock A main and Hillsboro drivers Rick Adams (PHRA) and Kari Pun- cochar (women’s division) also captured main event wins. Krohling took the lead from Gresham’s John Nusom on lap five and led the remainder of the 40-lap race, winning by one-car length over division leader Curt Nusom of Gre- sham. Longview’s Arnold Nor- ton won the B main. Vancouver’s Stacey Fordyce was a two-time winner with her victories in the dash and heat in addition to taking second to Puncochar in the women’s race. Celeste Hardesty of Scappoose, was the fastest qualifier (15.93) and was third in the main. The third Columbia County Racing Association event at the fairgrounds facility in St. Helens is June 3, followed by events on June 17 and 24. RIVER CITY SPEEDWAY May 20, 2006, Results Sportsman – Fast Time: Doug Hur- ley, Castle Rock, 15.78. Trophy Dash: Dan Smith, Scappoose. Heat 1: Ken Bryan, Toledo; Dave Pfaff, Portland; Aaron Chappell, Portland. Heat 2: Tri- cia Brittain, St. Helens; John Fordyce, Vancouver; Chris West, St. Helens. Heat 3: Jesse Freeman, Wilsonville; Smith; Rodney Cook, Rainier. Main: Smith; Gannin Thomas, St. Helens; Brittain; Cook; Tim Williams, Scap- poose; Pfaff; Freeman; West; Matt Tay- lor, Portland; Chappell. Modified – Fast Time: Ray Elwess, Portland 14.99. Trophy Dash: Dan Smith. Heat 1: Gannin Thomas; Earle Welch, Portland; Norm Miller, Portland. Heat 2: Marc Sayre, Portland; Smith; Jeremy Martin, St. Helens. Main: Sean Fox, St. Helens; Elwess; Sayre; Thomas; Stephen Kaptur, Deer Island; Todd Hardesty, St. Helens; Greg Greer, Rainier; Martin; Curt Nusom, Gresham; Smith. Street Stock – Fast Time: Chris Hallberg, Portland 15.84. Trophy Dash: Curt Nusom. Heat 1: Arnold Norton, Longview; Wes Mason, Portland; Robert Heitzman, Portland. Heat 2: John Haagenson, Portland; Aaron Pret- tyman, St. Helens; Mark Reser, Beaverton. Heat 3: John Nusom, Gre- sham; Brett Eakins, Washougal; Den- nis Krohling, Vancouver. B Main: Nor- ton; Jacki Graham, Portland; Heitzman; Jon Gladman, Portland; Justin Nusom, Gresham. A Main: Krohling; Curt Nu- som; Hallberg; Paul Liner, Olympia; John Nusom; Reser; Eakins; Pretty- man; Jereld Strawn, Portland; Jeff Lovell, Portland. Mini Stock – Fast Time: Joe Cher- ington, Vancouver 16.79. Trophy Dash: Mark Guindon, Warrenton. Heat 1: Mike Thompson, Portland; Larry Pel- letier, Portland; Michael Beaudoin, Portland. Heat 2: John Maxwell, Port- land; Tony Kanies, Portland; Ron Ben- ish, Portland. Heat 3: Ted Slape, Rainier; Justin Russell, Portland; Adam Beehler, St. Helens. Heat 4: Ben Palmer, Gladstone; Guindon; Bill Hoek- stra, Portland. B Main: Scott McMullen, Deer Island; Richard Dubois, Portland; Maxwell; Pelletier; Kanies. A Main: Guindon; Cherington; Hoekstra; Pal- mer; Brad Ruth, Washougal; Beehler; Slape; Scott Beaudoin, Portland; Rus- sell; Jared Hanson, Portland. Women’s Division – Fast Time: Celeste Hardesty, St. Helens 15.93. 503-429-0280 Basic Auto Repair Please see page 25 Rotor and drum machine on site D ECK O IL S HINGLE O IL Specializing in Brakes & Light Auto Repair CALL Oil Change Special $19.95 (503) 429-6606 WILCOX & FLEGEL 720 Rose Avenue • Vernonia most cars & trucks - up to 5 quarts Open Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday & Sunday call for appointment 62481 Nehalem Hwy 47 North, next to Spartree Restaurant