The I-5 QMC hosted leg 5 of the Region 9 Points Series at the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway on Labor Day weekend.  Some of the best ¼ midget drivers in the country got the opportunity to try their skills for the first time at the all new facility, and they didn’t disappoint the fans.  When signins closed Saturday morning, 136 cars had entered, making it the largest event ever for the I-5 QMC. 

 

Heat race action got underway at 10:30 Saturday morning, and had everyone, including track regulars chasing setups.  The only driver that didn’t struggle was Heavy Honda driver Shelby Minor- Ball.  Making her first trip to the new track, and having no practice, Shelby proved that her dirt experience was invaluable.  She raced at Demming on Friday night, arrived in Elma at 3:00 AM, and promptly put it to the field by winning her heat race and transferring direct into the A-main.

 

On the other end, Lt 160 driver JJ Hickle, fresh off a National Championship win in Hagerstown, MD., was DQ’d from his heat race after coming across the board to wide, placing him deep in the C-main.  Jerod  Marin took the weekends wildest ride in his Lt 160 heat race.  After leading the first eleven laps, Jerod got loose, tagged by another car, and went on a spectacular mid air helicopter like spin.  After a short breather to catch his breath, he was able to resume, proving once again the safety of ¼ midget racing.

 

Lower mains were run on Saturday afternoon with several drivers earning their first ever win.  Shyan Zammito won the Jr Honda E-main.  Kailey Schlenz won her first event of the year in the Jr Novice C-main, then finished third in the B-main earning her way into the A-main on Sunday.  Cassidy Forler worked her way into the Jr Honda A-main as well by winning the D, C, and B-mains in dominant fashion.
JJ Hickle and Jerod Marin worked their way through the alphabet as well in Lt 160 coming from the C-main.

 

When Saturday’s racing finished, 21 heat races and 13 lower mains were complete.  Many families migrated over to the Grays Harbor Raceway to take in a night of sprint, midget, modified, and hobby stock racing.

 

When Sunday morning rolled around, racers found a heavy, hooked up track.  The track prep crew worked diligently to give the racers a good, smooth track.

 

Jr Novice got the day underway.  Ryan Mottner gave chase from his 4th place starting position, but a lap 6 rough driving call relegated him to the tail.  On the restart “High Side” Cale Shute took over the lead from Seth Cooper.  Ryan wasted no time getting back to the front and with 10 laps to go, had Cale in his sights and the crowd on its feet.  With 6 laps to go Ryan took the point and won his biggest race of the year.  Cale finished second with Seth Cooper rounding out the top three.

 

In Sr Novice, Brianna Walker got some good seat time and experience.  The transition into Sr Honda should come easy for her.

 

The Jr Honda A-main was a pure display of one car dominating the field.  Trey Starks started outside row 1, promptly took the lead and checked out on the field.  The race went green to checkered, and when it was over, Trey had lapped the entire field once, most of the field twice, and was closing in on second place finisher Peter Link for the second time.  Liam Ryan finished 2 laps down in third.

 

Sr Honda saw the same domination from Kyle Zimmerman.  27 laps into the 40 lap main event, Kyle lost his chain.  Restarting at the back wasn’t a problem though, as he had lapped everyone but the new leader Garret Gardner.  7 laps later, Kyle retook the lead.  Garret finished second, with Reece Goetz coming home third.

 

Nick Carey led every lap of the Heavy Honda A-main, while Shelby Minor-Ball settled for second, and Missy Geary ended up third.

 

Trey Starks won his second feature of the day over Peter Link and Justin McConville in Jr Stock.

 

Karley Hoffses showed up the boys in Sr Stock leading Dylan Westrick and Kyle Zimmerman to the checkers.

 

Dylan Westrick found a high line in Lt Mod to his advantage.  He led the final 26 laps over Thomas Stanford and Keegan Walmer.

 

When Lt 160 was over, JJ Hickle proved why he is a National Champion, completing his run of the alphabet over Thomas Stanford and TJ Hartman.

 

Heavy 160 had poll sitter Joey Ziegler leading the first 32 laps until Tyler Tanner overtook him.  Tyler won the race over Joey and third place finisher Kerstin Smutney.

 

Kerstin Smutney won Heavy B over Tim Venable.

 

JJ Hickle won his second feature of the day in Lt AA, leading all 40 laps over Brett Scott Jr and Thomas Stanford.

 

TJ Hartman led the first five laps of the Jr ½ A-main until his motor expired, handing the lead to Logan Forler.  Logan led the rest of the way, with David White coming home a jubilant second, and Tim Venable ending the day in third.

 

When the racing ended Sunday afternoon, 21 heat races, 13 lower mains, and 13 A-mains combined for 1,155 laps of green flag racing.  The snack shack was empty, tower ladies were exhausted, and handlers were either thrilled or left scratching their heads.  The kids however, were ready for more.  Ah, to be young again.