The Kenworth Northwest Points Series - Race #2

The second race of the 2006 season in The Kenworth Northwest Points Series saw a record car count for a club points event. However, the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway in Elma, WA. fell victim to the weather midway through heat race action. What started out as a typical Grays Harbor morning mist quickly turned to rain just as the Sr Honda drivers pushed off. The track had been hooked up and fast, but too much water and clay don’t mix well, and the race officials made the decision, after several hours waiting, to call the race officially complete. 61 cars had signed in, including the 5 drivers who looked to complete their Jr Novice training. The Jr Novice drivers completed their training and graduation in a race that went green to checkered. Only five classes were able to complete their heat races before the weather turned sour, but everyone, including several participants from other Region 9 tracks made notes from their hot lap sessions to prepare for the upcoming Quarter Midgets of America Dirt Grand Nationals to be held in August.

In Jr Novice, Curtis Johansson started from the pole and led every lap. Bristol Biggs returned to the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway for the first time this year and gave chase for a while, but Kyle Blankenship was coming fast from his fifth place starting position. He ran out of time chasing Curtis and settled for second. Alyx Racimo watched it all unfold and rounded out the podium for third.

Sr Novice had Cory Samuelson making his first appearance of the young season, and doing it in grand fashion. He started outside row 1 and quickly got the jump on the start leading every lap for the win. Annika Johanson chased him, but finished a respectable second with Elisabeth Gee in tow for third.

In Jr Honda, Riley Watkins and Zachary Gee continued their rise to the top as each won their respective heat races. Riley coming all the way from fifth to capture the lead with eight laps to go - Zachary taking over his race lead with nine laps to go and holding on for the win. Cody Day and Justin Sample each finished in runner up spots, while Autumn Johnson and McKenzie Journey rounded out third - McKenzie making a spectacular comeback after spinning while passing for the lead - relegating her to the rear of the field with only ten laps to go.

Sr Honda heat race 1 pushed off just as the rain began to fall and never took the green flag before officials stopped the race.

Lt 160 found a familiar face taking the checkered flag as TJ Hartman won the Lt 160 class. Ariel Biggs made her 2006 debut and gave chase. Midway through she began to reel TJ in, but his experience in reading the track and gauging his own performance enabled him to find a faster line and he quickly pulled away. The performance and hard charger of the day belonged to Nicki Hartman as she started dead last in eighth place and made steady work of picking off the competition. When the checkered flag fell she found herself in third place.

Allison Journey looks to be strong in Heavy 160 this year as she won again. This was an all girl podium as Delaney Brogan and Jessica Sprague gave chase but settled for second and third respectively. It certainly can be said that any boy who looks to stay atop this class has his work cut out for him this year.

Briggs W/F completed only their hot lap session and never had the opportunity to run a heat race.

Round 3 of the Kenworth Northwest Points Series gets underway May 6^th at the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway. Hot laps get started at 9:15AM, with racing at 10:00. As always, admission is free. See you in Elma!

Race results not official
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