47 cars braved the weather Saturday to compete in race # 8 of the Kenworth Northwest Points Series at the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway in Elma, WA. Officials worked through 2 short rain delays, but managed to complete the event despite blackened skies and thunder in the distance.

Nate Mueller, Colton Johansson, Anthony Chapin, Josiah Volz, Ariel Biggs, TJ Hartman (2 divisions), and Serina McPeake all finished on top of their respective divisions.

In Jr Novice red restrictor, Nate Mueller completed his first clean sweep of his young career by taking both heats and the main event. Bristol Biggs ran second to Nate in the heats, but was unable to make the call for the main event. Officials were unable to determine the lack of Bristol’s presence for the main event, but it is quite possible the program had gone beyond his normal nap time, and he was getting caught up on some rest after his outstanding performance in the heat races.

Several of the Jr Novice drivers got the opportunity Saturday to make a move to the larger blue restrictor in order to prepare them for next season in the Jr Honda class. Zachary Gee and Colton Johansson split the heat races, with the rest of the field doing a great job of getting used to the extra power. When the main event rolled out, Colton lined up on the pole with Zachary prepared to run the cushion via his outside front row starting position. When the green dropped, Colton and Zachary set a fast pace with the rest of the field in tow. A yellow mid way through bunched up the field. With two laps to go, Zachary’s luck ran out and a damaged tie rod ended his day. Colton crossed the line first followed by Andy Palmer in second, and Theresa Chapin in third. Chance Brogan finished in fourth and the crowd applauded all of the driver’s efforts in their first appearance on the track with more power.  

Sr Novice gave everyone a chance to see how some of the older kids are progressing. Raina Magnuson took both the heat races, but fell just short in the main event, finishing second to Anthony Chapin. Anthony took over the lead several laps into the race and never looked back. That’s a good thing because had he looked, he would have seen Raina and Sarah Chapin looking to deprive him of the win. Raina settled for second, with Sarah smiling as she crossed the stripe third ahead of Tyler Palmer in fourth.  

Jr Honda once again was large enough to warrant a B-main event. Heat race points determine who transfers directly to the A-main, and Ryan Mottner fell just short of making the transfer direct. Starting on the pole of the B-main has its rewards, however, and Ryan made the most of it by leading every lap and taking the win. Tanner Olson finished second, while Jeremiah Mueller and Autumn Johnson drove their hearts out to lock up the final transfer positions to the main event in a wild finish.  

The A-main was just as exciting as Dylan Volz led from the start. A hesitation in lapped traffic cost him the lead as Janell McPeake capitalized and took over the lead. Ultimately, her fortune was also her misfortune as she hesitated in lapped traffic with 2 laps to go and handed the lead to Josiah Volz who had been gaining ground on the leaders as the laps wound down. Josiah captured the win, with his brother Dylan in tow for second. Janell held on to her season points lead, finishing third for the day.  

Sr Honda continues to be a class that everyone has a shot at winning. The class is extremely tight, and gives all of the drivers as well as the fans some exciting racing. Jessie Olson and Delaney Brogan split the heat race wins, but experience prevailed in the main event. Ariel Biggs got the jump on the start and led every lap while the rest of the field battled it out behind her. Angie Magnuson took over second several laps into the race but could never get close enough to challenge for the lead. Jessie Olson ran out of laps and settled for third.  

Lt 160 was once again, the race to watch. With eleven cars making up the field, the tiny clay oval seemed even smaller. Add in 6 second lap times, a rookie driver - or five, and you have the ingredients for disaster. Of course, just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the kids show you why dirt track racing at the I-5 QMC rocks.  Nicki Hartman and Garret Johnson split the heat race wins, but TJ Hartman showed the crowd why he loves this class. Starting outside row 1, he wasted no time taking over the lead. Midway through the 25 lap event he encountered lapped traffic. In tow were Austin Hespe and Nicki Hartman – each of them working traffic like veterans. 2 ½ minutes later, they crossed the line in that order in a race that went caution free. The quick lap times, the speed of the class, and the make up of the field made for an exhilarating race to watch – one can only imagine what it was like to drive. Try holding your breath for 2 ½ minutes, because that's how long it was before anyone took a breath!  

Heavy 160 continues to provide some close racing, sometimes too close. Cassy Olson and Jessica Sprague split the heat races wins. Jessica Sprague started on the pole and led until midpoint when Serina McPeake ran her down. The two swapped positions for several laps until they connected and spun. Jessica was sent to the rear, and 2 laps later got her second call while making a pass for the second position – ending her day. James Alexander took second, and Cassy Olson watched it all unfold from third.  

In the Jr 1/2/ Briggs W/F division, TJ Hartman, Seth Hespe, and Allison Journey continue to show why the move to the sealed engine platform was so important for the club. Every driver finished, all on the same lap, with drivers skill and setup playing as important of a role in the finishing order as the pill draw. Each car and driver is very equally matched, and provides the crowd an opportunity to see a driving display, rather than a horsepower battle than all too often ends in oiled down tracks, vented engine blocks, and cars failing to finish a race in the Jr ½ division. Of course, they could always go back to the way it was – but why would they?  

Racing returns to the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway on October 1st, as the drivers take to the track for the final race of the season in the Kenworth Northwest Points Series. Several divisions are yet to be decided and the racing will be as close as ever.  

Hot laps get underway at 9:30 AM, with racing at 10:00. As always, admission is free and we would love to see you there.

The I-5 Quarter Midget Club @ The Grays Harbor Mini Raceway………

   Where the Legend Begins!

JR HONDA B MAIN:

1st - Ryan Mottner

2nd – Tanner Olson

3rd - Jeremiah Mueller

4th – Autumn Johnson

5th – Riley Watkins

6th – McKenzie Journey

7th - Kailey Schlenz

JR NOVICE (GROUP 1) A MAIN:

1st - Colton Johansson

2nd – Andy Palmer

3rd - Theresa Chapin

4th - Chance Brogan

5th - Zachary Gee (DNF)

JR NOVICE (GROUP 2) A MAIN:

1st - Nate Mueller

SR NOVICE A MAIN:

1st -  Anthony Chapin

2nd - Raina Magnuson

3rd - Sarah Chapin

4th – Tyler Palmer

JR HONDA A MAIN:

1st - Josiah Volz

2nd – Dylan Volz

3rd - Janell McPeake

4th -  Kaitlyn Journey

5th - Ryan Mottner

6th - Tanner Olson

7th - Autumn Johnson

8th - Jeremiah Mueller

SR HONDA A MAIN:

1st - Ariel Biggs

2nd – Angie Magnuson

3rd - Jessie Olson

4th - Garret Johnson

5th - Jason Reed

6th - Delaney Brogan

7th - McKen'a Brogan

LT 160 A MAIN:

1st - TJ Hartman

2nd – Austin Hespe

3rd - Nicki Hartman

4th - Ariel Biggs

5th - Hannah Shute

6th - Garret Johnson

7th - David White

8th - Allison Journey

9th - Tucker Sprague

10th – Janell McPeake

11th – Angie Magnuson

HVY 160:

1st - Serina McPeake

2nd - James Alexander

3rd - Cassy Olson

4th - Jessica Sprague(DQ)

JR 1/2/BRIGGS WF:

1st - TJ Hartman

2nd - Seth Hespe

3rd - Allison Journey