Hard work, dedication, a never say quit attitude, along with a little luck, continues to make the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway in Elma, WA the place to be for 1/4 midget racing in the Northwest. 46 cars ignored the weatherman to make the final race of 2005 in the Kenworth Northwest Points Series a grand finale, ending another racing season for the I-5 QMC.
The racers arrived Saturday morning to a drenched race track, but the sun was shining, and the outlook bright to finish up the season and find out who would be atop the points in each division. A couple of mid-afternoon rain showers slowed up the program, but in the end, every lap was complete, and every child got their opportunity to shine.
The hooked up track lent to some great action, and when the awards were presented, Bristol Biggs, Zachary Gee, Kyle Nations, Janell McPeake, Angie Magnuson, Austin Hespe, Jessica Sprague, and TJ Hartman were all sitting atop the podium in their respective classes. Adding to the excitement of the awards presentation, was the customary dance kids are required to do once they have captured their first main event win. For some of them, their rhythm on the track is far better than their dancing rhythm! Bristol Biggs, Jessica Sprague and Austin Hespe used the last race of the year to show the crowd who is going to be a strong contender next season - each garnering a win in their class to use for momentum into 2006.
Bristol Biggs was the only driver to compete in Jr Novice/red restrictor, but the seat time is invaluable at such a young age, and Bristol had a great time circling the 1/20 mile clay oval.
In Jr Novice/blue restrictor, Zachary Gee was not going to be denied this weekend. Zachary was hooked up and on the gas and completed a clean sweep of the day. He led every lap while the rest of the field battled it out behind him. Justin Sample and Chance Brogan took turns in the second position until Chance spun and collected another car. A quick repair to a front shock got him back out in time where he was able to make his way back towards the front, but the laps were quickly winding down. Justin cleared the finish line in second, with Chance trailing in third.
The Sr Novice drivers used the last event of the year to run without their normal restrictor plate in order to prepare for next season in the tough Sr Honda division. Each of them did a great job and put on a spectacular show for the crowd. While Kyle Nations was busy leading every lap to the win, Anthony Chapin, Sarah Chapin, and Raina Magnuson were slicing and dicing, racing three wide lap after lap, trying to decide who would finish in the hardware. In the end, Anthony and Sarah followed Kyle across the stripe to round out the top three. Raina was suffering through mechanical difficulties in fourth, but will definitely be near the front next season.
The Jr Honda class ended where it took off at the beginning of the season, by having enough cars to relegate a B-main. Kaitlyn Journey started outside row 1 and jumped out to a good start to lead every lap and complete her transfer run. Tanner Olson, Ryan Mottner, and McKenzie Journey finished up the top four to fill out the field for the A-main.
That brought out the Jr Honda A-main. While the excitement of a green to checkered run can sometimes be less than dramatic, this event was spectacular. Josiah Volz started on the pole and led the first 19 laps while the field behind him raced for positions. With 6 laps to go, Josiah encountered lapped traffic, and Janell McPeake had closed in waiting for her opportunity to pounce. While everyone was watching for the move, Jeremiah Mueller was using the high side and was flying. He used the momentum to capture the lead, but the heavy traffic left him hanging on the outside. Janell then used her experience to move inside and led the last laps to finish out her year with a win. Jeremiah settled for second, and Josiah crossed the line third.
Sr Honda was next and was a display of what hard work and dedication can provide. Angie Magnuson used the last half of the season to her advantage by gaining valuable confidence and experience running at the regional and national levels. It paid off. Angie ran a perfect race to finish out the 2005 season at the I-5 QMC winning three of the last four races. Her nearest competitor this day was Ariel Biggs, who could never get close enough to challenge and settled for second. Jessie Olson finished out the last race of the year in third.
Lt 160 is without a doubt the class to be in at the local level. It is fast. It is competitive. It mixes experience with inexperienced. To finish out front in this class is a great achievement. To do it on the last race of the year, with the perennial class champion breathing down your neck takes some strong nerves. Austin Hespe has been waiting for his opportunity to carry the checkered flag, and while the win had slipped away from him over the last few races, this day was different. He patiently waited for his chance for the lead from his third row starting position, taking that lead with eight laps to go. What he was well aware of was that TJ Hartman had been leading a charge from deep in the field waiting for Austin to make a mistake. With four laps to go, a yellow gave TJ the chance he had been waiting for. He used his experience to pass on the restart, but before a lap completed, the yellow flew for another spun car, placing him back a position to try it again. What TJ didn't know, was that Austin had been gaining valuable experience all year as well, and he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Austin denied TJ the second time and proceeded to check out for the remaining laps to relish in a very popular victory. TJ watched from second, while Ariel Biggs saw it all unfold from third.
In Hvy 160, the same scenario played out. While each driver in the class, with the exception of Jessica Sprague, had experienced a win, Jessica saw her chance in the spotlight slip away several times this season. Using her regional and national event experience she too was able to show great composure this day to win her very first race. Midway through the race she took over the lead when Andrea Lytle got tied together with the lapped car of James Alexander, sending them both to the back. Jessica never looked back and went on to carry the checkered flag while the crowd cheered. Serina McPeake ended up second, with Cassy Olson in tow for third.
The Jr 1/2 class ended the season exactly where it started off. Each car started, each car finished, all on the same lap. TJ Hartman won, Seth Hespe second, and Allison Journey third. With the success, competitiveness, and reliability of the new engine platform proving its worthiness, the division is a sure bet to expand and provide the youngsters an opportunity to experience an affordable, reliable, throttle control class - something that has lacked in years past. The future is definitely looking brighter.
With the 2005 I-5 QMC Kenworth Northwest Points Series in the books, all that is left is the banquet to reward the drivers for their accomplishments. But the preparation for next season is already well underway to prepare for the landmark occasion when the club will host the Quarter Midgets of America Dirt Grand Nationals in August, 2006. Racers from as far away as Maryland have already made plans to experience what we already know is the finest 1/4 midget dirt track facility in the country. How did we get there? Hard work, dedication, and a never say quit attitude.
Make plans to experience.............................
The I-5 Quarter Midget Club @ The Grays Harbor Mini Raceway………
Where the Legend Begins!
JR HONDA B MAIN:
1st - Kaitlyn Journey
2nd – Tanner Olson
3rd - Ryan Mottner
4th – McKenzie Journey
5th – Riley Watkins
6th – Dylan Volz
7th - Autumn Johnson
JR NOVICE (Group 1) A MAIN:
1st - Zachary Gee
2nd – Justin Sample
3rd - Chance Brogan
4th - Theresa Chapin
5th - Nate Mueller
JR NOVICE (GROUP 2) A MAIN:
1st - Bristol Biggs
SR NOVICE A MAIN:
1st - Kyle Nations
2nd - Anthony Chapin
3rd - Sarah Chapin
4th – Raina Magnuson
JR HONDA A MAIN:
1st - Janell McPeake
2nd – Jeremiah Mueller
3rd - Josiah Volz
4th - Kailey Schlenz
5th - Kaitlyn Journey
6th - McKenzie Journey
7th - Ryan Mottner
8th - Tanner Olson
SR HONDA A MAIN:
1st - Angie Magnuson
2nd – Ariel Biggs
3rd - Jessie Olson
4th - Garret Johnson
5th - Delaney Brogan
6th - McKen'a Brogan
7th - Jason Reed(DNA)
LT 160 A MAIN:
1st - Austin Hespe
2nd – TJ Hartman
3rd - Ariel Biggs
4th - Allison Journey
5th - Nicki Hartman
6th - Angie Magnuson
7th - Garret Johnson
8th - Tucker Sprague
9th - Janell McPeake
10th – Hannah Shute(DNF)
HVY 160:
1st - Jessica Sprague
2nd - Serina McPeake
3rd - Cassy Olson
4th - Andrea Lytle
5th - James Alexander
JR 1/2/BRIGGS WF:
1st - TJ Hartman
2nd – Seth Hespe
3rd - Allison Journey