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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2009)
Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, May 21, 2009 Nusom wins Rivercity Speedway street stock main at first 2009 race by Mike Weber River City Speedway in St. Helens started its 23rd year of motorsports with the May 16 season opener during which area drivers Jeremy Martin, Linda Holland and Adam Beehler captured main event wins. Martin, of St. Helens, won the main modified main with his Reser’s Fine Foods/Alliance Automotive sponsored open- wheel style racer. Holland, of Deer Island, led all the way in winning the women’s division race. Beehler, from St. Helens, took the checkered flag in the mini stock main. Gresham’s John Nusom won the street stock main, Van- couver’s Chris West won the sportsman main and Corey Es- teban of Gaston, won the Pacif- ic Hardtop Racing Association main event. Beehler started sixth in the 14-car field and he quickly ma- neuvered up front while driving his Triple X Archery/Dan Garri- son CPA Honda Civic. Beehler’s nephew Joel Beehler, led the first six circuits of the quarter-mile clay oval track in his Dodge Neon. Adam zoomed past Joel in the outside lane on lap seven to take the lead and stayed there for the duration of the 40-lap race. Since there was no yellow flag to delay the race, Beehler gained a large advantage and won by a half a lap over his nephew, who took second. “Hollywood” Gary Meyer of Ver- nonia, took third in his Meyer’s Auto Body Neon. Joel Beehler and Jenelle Harrison won six lap heat races and Adam Beehler won the trophy dash. Meyer was the fastest qualifier at 16.38 seconds. “There’s lots of fast cars in this division, so it’s exciting to start the season with a win,” said Beehler, who was the run- nerup a year ago to the 19- year-old McMullen of St. He- lens, the defending champion. “I was expecting to see Meyer challenge for the lead and I was surprised he didn’t, because he has a fast car.” Holland led from start-to-fin- ish with her Recovery Racing 1978 Buick Regal to notch the fourth win of her four-year stock car racing career. Vancouver’s Stacey Fordyce took second, followed by Susan Nelson of Portland. Holland and Fordyce are co- drivers who will alternate their position in the driver’s seat each week. Fordyce won the women’s title in 2006 and she’ll have a good chance to win her second Columbia County Rac- ing Association championship this year. Holland’s fiancé, Jereld Strawn, drove the Buick in the sportsman division main and was runnerup to West. Nusom, a leading contender in both street stock and sportsman classes, led throughout most of the 30-lap race with his Bud’s Auto Wrecking Chevrolet Ca- maro. On the final lap Nusom, who was leading, collided with Longview’s Clyde White on the back straightaway. West overtook both front- runners to get the win with his Baxter Auto Parts/Tom’s Auto & Performance 1980 Malibu. Vancouver’s John Fordyce took third, followed by Milwaukie’s Eric Lindquist and Portland’s Rick Graham to round out the top-five. “It was getting pretty hot in the car because of all the yel- low flags,” said West, 33, who recorded his first ever CCRA main event win. “I got lucky, be- cause I think Clyde should’ve won. He deserved to win, but that’s what happens some- times.” Rian McVae of Scappoose, led the first nine laps of the PHRA main with his Competi- tion Motorsports 1934 Ford sedan two-third scale replica dwarf car. Esteban moved past McVae on the 10th lap and led the next 30 circuits of the 40- lap race with his C & E Exca- vating 1934 Ford Vicky dwarf car. McVae finished 13th out of the 16-car field. Esteban, 38, won 11-of-14 races last season on his way to winning his sec- ond PHRA title and he’s won three races this year The opening event of the 13- race series was set for May 2, but was canceled because of rain. The next race is June 6 and the NOMA Midgets and USCA Sprints will be featured, along with the regular race pro- gram. See photo on page 24 RIVERCITY SPEEDWAY MAY 16 OFFICIAL RESULTS Modified Division – Fast Time: Doug Davenport, Vernonia 15.03. Trophy Dash: Jeremy Martin, St. Helens. Heat Race: Martin; Curtis Zelmer, Portland; Dennis Blasier, Scappoose. Main: Martin; Daven- port; Blasier; Don Jenner, Vancou- ver; Zelmer; Robert Jenner, Van- couver; Scott Winebarger, Corbett. Women’s Division – Fast Time: Linda Holland, Deer Island 16.88 Trophy Dash: Stacey Fordyce, Vancouver. Heat: Fordyce; Hol- land; Kathy McMullen, St. Helens. Main: Holland; Fordyce; Susan Nelson, Portland; McMullen; Bobbi Harris, Battleground; Natalie Williams, Vernonia. Street Stock – Fast Time: John Nusom, Gresham 16.58. Trophy Dash: Brad Nusom, Gresham. Heat 1: Stephen Fenter, St. He- lens; Todd Newton, St. Helens; Ronnie Racer (Dodge), Vernonia. Heat 2: John Nusom; Zelmer; Gary Meyer, Vernonia. Main: Nusom; Mike Crase, Portland; Brad Nu- W illiams M etal F ab Custom Fabrication & Welding All Metals Including Stainless Steel & Aluminum Portable W ELDING A VAILABLE 5 0 3 - 4 2 9 - 84 3 1 17819 Noakes Rd., Vernonia, Oregon som; Zelmer; Fenter; Mike Harri- son, St. Helens; Racer; Newton; Meyer. Sportsman Division – Fast Time: Rick Rehanek, St. Helens 15.62. Trophoy Dash: John Nu- som. Heat 1: Eric Lindquist, Mil- waukie; Larry Lemmons, Toledo, WA; Tim Williams, Scappoose. Heat 2: Frank Elwess, Portland; Nathan Slape, Rainier; Brenda Hurley, Castle Rock. Heat 3: Chris West, Vancouver; John Nusom; Clyde White. Main: West; Jereld Strawn, Deer Island; John Fordyce, Vancouver; Lindquist; Rick Graham, Portland; Rehanek; Williams; John Nusom; White; Ben Crase, Portland. PHRA – Trophy Dash: Corey Esteban, Gaston. Heat 1: Rich Adams, Portland. Heat 2: Esteban. Heat 3: Richard Petty, Scappoose. A Main: Esteban; Mitch Meeuwsen, Portland; Adams; Jim Pavel, Mollala. River City Speedway 2009 Schedule June 6 – CCRA, USCA Sprints and NOMA Midgets June 20 – CCRA and Micro Sprints June 27 – CCRA, PHRA and Tracers July 11 – CCRA, PHRA and Pacific Mini Sprints July 15 – Columbia County Fair Race July 25 – CCRA and PHRA Aug. 1 – CCRA, USCA Sprints and NOMA Midgets Aug. 15 – CCRA, Micro Sprints and Tracers Aug. 29 – CCRA and PHRA Sept. 5 – CCRA, PHRA and Tracers Sept. 6 – CCRA, PHRA and Tracers Sept. 19 – CCRA Championship Sept. 26 – Run What Ya’ Brung What do you do if you see a bear? From page 10 face the bear · Consider talking to it in a firm tone of voice to let it know you are a human · Avoid direct eye contact with the bear. · If you are attacked, fight back, shout, be aggressive, use rocks, sticks and hands to fend off an attack. For more information about living with black bears, visit the ODFW Web site at: http://www. dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_w ith/black_bears.asp.