The 4^th of July weekend at the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway was action packed with 48 cars turning out for the 3^rd annual Mudslinger Shootout put on by the I-5 QMC and sponsored by Fast Track Racing For Kids Only, Inc. Drivers competed for over $1800.00 in U.S. Savings Bonds and the winner of each class received a custom embroidered leather jacket.

The I-5 Quarter Midget Club would like to extend a huge thank you to the members from Washington QMA, Little Wheels QMA, and Magic City QMA for attending the event. Having families travel all the way from Montana was a nice touch to the event. The support is much appreciated.

Heat race action took place on Saturday with drivers earning points to line up the main events for Sunday.

Close racing in the heats coupled with inverted starts made for some hard work for the tower ladies. Several drivers tied for points and then the line-ups reverted back to pill draw for position – proof of how close the action was.

Sunday morning started with the Lt 160 B-main running green to checkered on a beautifully prepared track. Brandon Peterman took the win with Garret Johnson getting the final transfer spot to the A-main. Hannah Shute and Chad Sinner finished 3^rd and 4^th respectively.

In the Jr Novice A-main, Autumn Johnson took advantage of her number 3 starting spot and looked to lead the entire event. The crowd was on their feet cheering while Jeremiah Mueller chased her down. Cale Shute had gotten hung out on the outside on the start and was using his normal high side line to make his way quietly to the front. Half way through the race Cale and Jeremiah both tried for the pass on Autumn with bad results. A charging call on Jeremiah sent him to the back, but gave Cale another opportunity for the victory. Autumn was able to hold Cale off for 8 more laps, but a rare inside pass by Cale with 2 laps to go surprised everyone, and Cale came home with the big money and a leather jacket. Autumn finished second with first time visitor Evan Higgins in third and Ryan Mottner in fourth.

The Sr Novice A-main had Bruce Olson giving pep talks to both his daughters, making his job probably the most difficult on who to root for. Jessie Olson wasted no time jumping out in front of her older sister Cassy and led every lap en route to victory, with Cassy coming home second.

In Jr Honda, Nicki Hartman got the jump on Cassidy Forler at the start, but Cassidy quickly got back around her to set the pace. While Nicki struggled to find a line, Tucker Sprague, who clearly had the fastest car of the weekend, passed Nicki and set his sights on Cassidy. Lapped traffic proved to be Tuckers demon once again though, and when the leaders tried to make their way through, Nicki took advantage. Cassidy had the field covered by then though, and won the big prize, with Nicki finishing second, Tucker third, and Janell McPeake fourth. Drive of the weekend for the Jr’s goes to Josiah Volz though, as a mid race crash broke his right front shock off, and he finished the race with the shock dangling.

Sr Honda was once again proof of how tough the class is. Natalie Sinner started on the poll and set the pace while the rest of the field looked to get to the front. Ariel Biggs was clearly the fastest car in the class and had worked her way to second place when a caution flew. The restart had a lapped car lined up in between them, and that, changed the course of the event. Ariel got tagged from behind when she checked up on the restart for the slower lapped car, and had to go to the rear. It proved to be a great lesson in life however, as she didn’t let it phase her and rallied back to finish fifth. Natalie led every lap for the win, Allison Journey finished second, Nikolas Larson made a last lap pass for third, and Zach Mauden finished fourth.

Heavy Honda had last years winner in Sr Honda, David Peppel, looking to add to his college fund, and he did just that. David led every lap, while John Hilliker from Magic City QMA chased him down. Serina McPeake finished third, with Michael Styger coming home fourth.

If you ever have the opportunity to watch a ¼ midget race, be sure to be there when the Lt 160’s run. They are fast, the action is second to none, with drivers having to work traffic and make moves well in advance of when they get there. TJ Hartman started on the poll by earning the most points in the heat races. He then proceeded to show the crowd why he dominates the class. Going into turn three on the first lap JJ Hickle made a move to the inside, but TJ drove it in deep and killed JJ’s momentum. TJ then proceeded to check out. He encountered lapped traffic on lap 7, and began to put distance between himself and the rest of the field. JJ worked traffic equally as well, but was not able to keep up with TJ’s torrid pace. The 30 lap main event lasted less than 4 minutes by going green to checkered. When the dust settled TJ was ¾’s of a lap ahead of second place JJ Hickle, and third place Samantha Taylor. Nikolas Larson finished in the money with a fourth place run.

The Jr ½ race had the drivers once again trying to balance steering and throttle control. The alcohol burning cars struggle for traction on the 1/20^th mile clay oval, and shows true driving ability once the track slicks off. TJ Hartman jumped to an early lead while Logan Forler gave chase. TJ was able to hold Logan off through several restarts and began to pull away when with 10 laps to go, Logan ran out of fuel. A restart gave DJ Mcpeake the opportunity to take a stab for the lead, but it was to no avail. TJ held him off for the win, DJ finished second, David White crossed the line third, and James Alexander ended up fourth after being taken out on the last lap.

Racing resumes July 10^th for the kids at the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway. Hot laps get underway at 9:00 AM and racing at 10:00. See you there.