The Kenworth Northwest Points Series - Race #5

Round five in The Kenworth Northwest Points Series saw another record established.  75 cars showed up at The Grays Harbor Mini Raceway, making it the second time in 2006 the bar has been raised for the number of competitors competing on the 1/20th mile clay oval.  As the Dirt Grands event gets closer, many of the QMA drivers are looking for the track time, and having a full house at the Elma track is beginning to look like the rule rather than the exception.  Jr Honda required a D Main to slot the field.  Sr Honda had a C Main, and several of the other classes were very close to filling out their A Mains.

In Jr Novice, Kyle Blankenship made it two wins in a row, this time scoring a win by charging from his sixth place starting position.  He took over the lead with nine laps remaining, but several cautions used up the allotted time for the race and it ended four laps later with Curtis Johansson taking second, and Dakotah Kindle finishing third.

Ryan Racimo picked up his first A-main win in Sr Novice.  Starting outside the front row, he got a great start and led every lap for the victory.  Annika Johanson chased him from the second position for the entire twenty lap main event, but had to settle for second.  Brittany Nations improved her starting position by one spot and took home third place.

In Jr Honda, Wyatt Gardner made his first trip of the year to the I-5 track a memorable one by winning the D-main.  Brandon Cartales traveled all the way from Portland to win the C-main, and local driver Chance Brogan ran a brilliant race to win the B-main event.  The A-main was won by Seth Cooper, who normally runs on the pavement, but this day found the dirt more to his liking.  Cody Day started on the pole, but wound up settling for second when the checkered flag fell.  Riley Watkins continues his stellar season with a nice third place run.

The Sr Honda C-main winner was Garret Johnson, with Sarah Chapin winning the B-main.  Michael Millard got his first chance of the season to get on the track.  He made it pay off by starting outside the front row and led every lap for the A-main win.  Jessie Olson pulled double duty and it paid off for her with a second place finish.  Kaitlyn Journey continues her steady pace for 2006 by rounding out the top three in a very tough division.

Seth Cooper won his second feature of the day by taking the Jr Stock win.  Chase Ostman won the heat race, but had to settle for second in the main event.  Ryan Mottner got his first taste of the Deco engine class, and came home third.

A pattern has developed at the Grays Harbor Raceway facility.  In Lt 160, TJ and Nicki Hartman finished first and second for the third time this season, with Ariel Biggs chasing them and settling for third.  Nicki gave her older brother all he could handle, but voodoo is playing against her.  It seems every time the sibling duo finishes 1-2, Mitch Olson wins the sprint car event, with Jay Cole in tow for second on the big track.  Racers aren't really superstitious - are they?

Heavy 160 was filled with action.  Matt Henderson drove all the way from his last place starting position in tenth, to cross the line and take the checkered flag first.  Allison Journey couldn't hold him off and came home second.  Garret Sisk made the trip from Yakima worthwhile with a third place finish. 
 
Michael Millard used the race day to practice for the upcoming Region event, and gave the spectators a taste of what a Lt B Deco sounds like.  The gearing is extremely important in the Deco engines, and Michael will surely have a leg up on the competition.

Briggs W/F saw the highest car count of the year for the class with seven entries.  Matt Henderson stole his second win of the day, marking the first time this season that a different driver has won the division.  Karly Logan overcame her fifth place starting position and a trip to the pits on lap ten to repair some front end damage, and finished second.  Austin Hespe was the one to watch on this day, as he charged from the rear of the field three separate times to eventually finish third. 
 
The Jr ½ class returned for the first time this season, as Allison Journey and Garret Johnson finished first and second - respectively. 
Round 6 of the Kenworth Northwest Points Series takes place in two weeks, on June 17th.  Racers from around Region 9 prepare to invade the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds for two days this upcoming weekend, as race #2 in the Region 9 Points Series takes place at the Grays Harbor Mini Raceway.  Over 100 cars, from as far away as Langley, B.C., are expected to compete.  As always, admission is free, and we would love to see everyone out there cheering on their favorite drivers.  See you in Elma!

The I-5 QMC at The Grays Harbor Mini Raceway............
Where the Legend Begins!
 

Race results not official
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