Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2009)
Page 20 The INDEPENDENT, October 1, 2009 Dodge takes 6th in Street Stock at River City Speedway for 2009 River City Speedway’s 23rd year of stock car racing con- cluded with the ‘Run What Ya Brung” season finale race Sep- tember 26, with 60 drivers en- tering events in seven different motorsport classifications. Local drivers Tricia “Great” Brittain, Bud Russell, Mike Ha- gen, Dennis Blasier and Taryn Smith each recorded top-five main event finishes. Terri Rus- sell of St. Helens, won the Women’s Division race, Dave Cantu of Columbia City, won the PHRA Dwarf Car main and Jody Turner of St. Helens, won the Mini Stock main. The traditional season-end- ing non-points race has a little different format than normal Columbia County Racing Asso- ciation events, with Sportsman and Street Stock cars compet- ing together in one class. Portland’s Mike Bennett won the Sportsman/Street Stock A Main and trophy dash with his Pontiac. Bennett’s car was a modified version of a Sports- man car with a powerful 406 cubic inch, V-8 engine and con- siderably more horsepower than the other cars. The format of this final race doesn’t include the usual technical engine in- spections or specified rules that drivers must adhere to during regular CCRA events. Vernonia’s Gary “Hollywood” Meyer led the first 12 laps with his Meyer’s Auto Body spon- sored 1969 Plymouth Roadrun- ner. Bud Russell of St. Helens, passed Meyer on lap 13 on the inside of the back straightaway. Russell held onto first place un- til Bennett moved in front on lap 21. “I actually felt like I won, be- cause Bennett probably should’ve been in a different class,” said Russell, who took 14th in the Sportsman Division standings. “It’s a little early to talk about next season, but I’ll be back and maybe try to win the championship next year.” Bennett pulled ahead to a straightaway lead over Russell by the 29th circuit around the quarter-mile clay oval track. Russell, Brittain and Long- view’s Brian Vaughn battled it out for the runnerup position for the final portion of the 40-lap event. Russell held on to get second with his Competitive Edge Sign & Design Chevrolet Monte Carlo. “Last week the track was rough because of the rainy weather, but the conditions were great tonight, so it was a lot more fun tonight,” said Brit- tain, the 2008 Sportsman champ who finished ninth this year. “We had a few DNF’s (did not finish) and I missed a cou- ple of races. I had a decent season even though I wasn’t running for points. I’ll come back next year and hopefully enter every race and then we'll see what happens.” Vaughn took third in his Chevy, followed by Brittain in her Fast Racing Monte Carlo. Portland’s Tony Hendon ma- neuvered up from a last place starting position in the 16-car field to get fifth, with Meyer in sixth. “It felt great to be out in front, which is what I wanted to do,” said Meyer, who took 11th in the Street Stock Division. “There’s a good group of peo- ple here that I really enjoy com- peting with. I’ve had some is- sues that I tried to fix on the car ever since it was damaged dur- ing the flood in Vernonia in 2007. I had to replace the mo- tor after the timing chain broke in the season opener.” Terri Russell (Bud’s mom) passed Taryn Smith on lap eight of the Women’s main and led the remainder of the 20-lap race on her way to victory lane in the same car Bud competes in. Smith, of St. Helens, took second, followed by Julie Cam- berg, Shannon Taylor and Tiffany Gee. Alley Auto Wrecking ✮ ✮ Gasoline 503-429-7581 Most parts under warranty Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Closed Sunday and Monday 54372 Nehalem Hwy South, Vernonia, OR 97064 6 miles south of town on Hwy 47 Buying unwanted vehicles with clear title “This was my first race in 17 years and it was just awe- some,” said Russell, who drove Brittain’s car. “Tricia talked me into driving and I just went out there and had a great time. Bud did a great job and my husband Mike competed, too. We’re both thinking about racing next season.” Portland’s Mike Christopher- son (Late Models), Vancouver’s Robert Jenner (Modified) and Brandon Reed (Sprints) of Tole- do, Wash., each notched main event wins. The CCRA Awards Banquet will be held at the speedway October 10 at 2:00 p.m. RIVER CITY SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 19 RESULTS Sportsman Division – Fast Time: Curt Nusom, Gresham 15.73. Trophy Dash: Rick Gra- ham, Portland. Heat 1: LeRoy White, Portland; John Fordyce, Vancouver; Larry Wetzel, Port- land. Heat 2: Matt Taylor, Port- land; Chris West, Vancouver; Stephen Kaptur, St. Helens. Heat 3: Larry Lemmons, Toledo; Jerry Strawn, Deer Island; John Nu- som, Gresham. Heat 4: Clyde White, Longview; Curt Nusom, Gresham; Eric Lindquist, Mil- waukie. B Main: LeRoy White; Fordyce; Taylor; Ben Crase, Portland; Mike Crase, Portland. A Main: Rick Graham, Portland; West; Tricia Brittain, St. Helens; Frank Elwess, Portland; Strawn; Bud Russell, St. Helens; Lindquist; James Simeroth, Port- land; John Nusom; LeRoy White. Mini Stock – Fast Time: Gary Meyer, Vernonia 17.79. Trophy Dash: Justin McMullen, Deer Is- land. Heat 1: Jason Scheibel, Longview; Rick Bevsem, Port- land; Adam Beehler, St. Helens. Heat 2: Meyer; Adam Beehler; John Krieghause, Portland. Main: Meyer; Justin McMullen; Jenelle Harrison, St. Helens; Bevsem; Brad Beehler, St. He- lens; Mike Harrison, St. Helens; Krieghause; Scott McMullen, Deer Island; Rick Gooding, Cas- tle Rock; Scheibel. Street Stock – Fast Time: Curt Nusom 16.51. Trophy Dash: Meyer. Heat 1: Mike Crase; Aaron Bozarth, Rainier; Ron Dodge, Vernonia. Heat 2: John Nusom; Curt Nusom; Meyer. Main: Curt Nusom; Aaron Pretty- man, St. Helens; Ray Elwess, Portland; John Nusom; Steven Nusom, Gresham; Mike Crase; Steve Harris, Battleground; Dodge; Mike Harrison; Bozarth. Women’s Division – Fast Time: Jacki Graham, Portland 16.33. Trophy Dash: Graham. Heat: Stacey Fordyce, Vancou- ver; Graham; Susan Nelson, Portland. Main: Fordyce; Gra- ham; Kim Lemmons, Toledo; Harris. Modified Division – Fast Time: Don Jenner, Vancouver 14.79. Trophy Dash: Shawn Dorie, Scappoose. Heat 1: Mark Hill, Scappoose; Dennis Blasier, Scappoose; Robert Jenner, Van- couver. Heat 2: Dorie; Greg Greer, Rainier; Don Jenner. Main: Don Jenner; Robert Jen- ner; Dorie; David Day, Portland; Greer; Jeff Huber, Portland; Hill; Mike Long, Portland. Mike Christopherson, Portland; Wesolowski; Westcott; Oas. Mini Stock – Trophy Dash: Ja- son Scheibel, Longview. Heat: Jody Turner, St. Helens; Scheibel; Rick Gooding, Castle Rock. Main: Turner; Jerry Win- chester, Longview; Gooding; Scheibel. Pacific Mini Sprints – Trophy Dash: Darren Pierson, Chehalis. Heat: Pierson; Jesse Shannon, Centralia; Derick Schoesler, Van- couver. Main: Brandon Reed, Toledo; Shannon; Scott Reed, Toledo; Dan Beck; Castle Rock; Tracey Titus, Manzanita; Schoesler; Travis Jarvis, Belling- ham; Pierson. RIVER CITY SPEEDWAY RUN WHAT YA BRUNG SEPTEMBER 26 RESULTS Sportsman/Street Stock – Tro- phy Dash: Mike Bennett, Port- land. Heat 1: Stephen Kaptur, St. Helens; Trent Croy, Portland; Norm Gobel, Portland. Heat 2: Tony Hendon, Portland; Curtis Zelmer, Portland; Pam Graham, Portland. Heat 3: Dennis Krohling, Vancouver; Jackie Gra- ham, Portland; Ray Elwess, Port- land. Heat 4: Gary Meyer, Ver- nonia; Jerry Strawn, Deer Island; Clyde White, Longview. C Main: Croy; Pam Graham; Corey Jo Loccero, Portland; Dave Cook, Portland; Matt Taylor, Portland. B Main: Hendon; Krohling; Todd Newton, Portland; Ben Crase, Portland; Larry Wetzel, Portland. A Main: Bennett; Bud Russell, St. Helens; Brian Vaughn, Longview; Tricia Brittain, St. Helens; Hen- don; Meyer; White; Jackie Gra- ham; Krohling; James Sim- meroth, Portland. Modifieds – Trophy Dash: Robert Jenner, Vancouver. Heat: Mark Hill, Scappoose; Mike Gra- ham, Portland; Zelmer. Main: Robert Jenner; Graham; Zelmer; Dennis Blasier, Scappoose; Jeff Huber, Portland; Dave Cantu, Columbia City; Don Jenner, Van- couver. PHRA Dwarf Cars – Trophy Dash: Mike Hagen, St. Helens. Heat: Cantu; Rian McVae, Scap- poose; Clay Goben, Oregon City. Main: Cantu; Hagen; Goben; Mc- Vae; Sam Larson, Cornelius. Women’s Division – Trophy Dash: Taryn Smith, St. Helens. Heat: Shannon Taylor, Portland; Terry Russell, St. Helens; Julie Camberg, St. Helens. Main: Rus- sell; Smith; Camberg; Taylor; Tiffany Gee, Portland. Late Models – Trophy Dash: Bob Westcott, Portland. Heat: Jason Wesolowski, Portland; Eric Oas, Portland; Westcott. Main: COLUMBIA COUNTY RACING ASSOCIATION 2009 FINAL POINT STANDINGS Sportsman – 1. Rick Graham, Portland 916. 2. Frank Elwess, Portland 915. 3. Eric Lindquist, Milwaukie 896. 4. Rick Rehanek, Vancouver 885. 5. John Nusom, Gresham 869. 6. Jerry Strawn, Deer Island 861. 7. John Fordyce, Vancouver 830. 8. Larry Lemmns, Toledo 784. 9. Tricia Brittain, St. Helens 783. 10. Matt Taylor, Portland 766. Mini Stock – 1. Justin Mc- Mullen, Deer Island 1,067. 2. Joel Beehler, St. Helens 1,018. 3. Scott McMullen, Deer island 935. 4. Jenelle Harrison, St. Helens 914. 5. Mike Harrison, St. Helens 856. 6. Rick Gooding, Castle Rock 796. 7. Devon Reed, Washougal 782. 8. Jason Scheibel, Longview 761. 9. Adam Beehler, St. Helens 684. 10. Jer- ry Winchester, Longview 620. Street Stock – 1. John Nusom, Gresham 1,040. 2. Brad Nusom, Gresham 980. 3. Mike Crase, Portland 918. 4. Curt Nusom, Gresham 888. 5. Mike Harrison 883. 6. Ron Dodge, Vernonia 782. 7. Curtis Zelmer, Portland 679. 8. Todd Newton, Portland 532. 9. Eddie Farness, Sandy 509. 10. Tom Zywicki, Portland 381. Women’s Division – 1. Stacey Fordyce, Vancouver 1,040. 2. Susan Nelson, Portland 901. 3. Kathy McMullen, Deer Island 871. 4. Kim Lemmons, Toledo 523. 5. Bobbi Harris, Battle- ground 276. 6. Jacki Graham, Portland 123. 7. Ann Carter, Scappoose 112. Modified Division – 1. Don Jenner, Vancouver 993. 2. Robert Jenner, Vancouver 957. 3. Jeremy Martin, St. Helens 749. 4. Curtis Zelmer 634. 5. Greg Greer 113.