Action speeding up at local tracks

June 5, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Racers are hitting top gear at Mat-Su speedways.

Most tracks in the area have hosted three weekends of racing action so far, and according to one track owner there's plenty of competition out there.

&#8220The classes are filling in pretty good,” Capitol Speedway co-owner Nancy Wallace said Monday.

Wallace said attendance at the track so far has also been good, although last weekend's races were hampered a bit by some showers - the one factor race organizers can't control.

&#8220I'd just as soon be in charge of the weather,” Wallace said.

Wallace said the best-attended weekend of racing thus far was over the Memorial Day holiday, when the track hosted its first demolition derby of the season. Wallace said there's just something about watching automobiles smash into each other that brings people out to the track.

&#8220They like to see things get destroyed,” she said.

While the next demolition derby at the Willow raceway isn't scheduled until July 1, stock and sprint car racing will be taking place each weekend all

summer.

Racing this Saturday starts at

4 p.m.

Among the racers whose cars stay in one piece, racing has been wide open this season. On Saturday, 14 different individuals saw the checkered flag at Capitol in six classes. Only one class - the 300 sprints - was swept by the same driver, as Jeff Wallace won all three races contested. Wallace currently leads the overall points standings in the class by 19 points over Charles Goodenough.

Other big winners included Tommy Potter and Ralph Gobert, who split four races in the stock class, and Micahel Kriger, who won the trophy dash and place second in two heats to maintain his overall points lead in the class.

Other overall points leaders through Saturday's races include Dale Brummer in the mini stock class, Michael Gallagher in the pick-ups, Clifford Barney in the 360 sprints and George Park in the modified lite division.

The closest points race at Capitol so far is in the stock class, where Robert Potter currently holds a one-point lead over Ralph Gobert.

Meanwhile in Wasilla, racing has also been fast and furious at the Valley's only asphalt track, North Star Speedway, home to the weekly &#8220GCI Saturday Night Thunder.”

In the overall points race at North Star, the late models have been dueling hard this year, with Jon Simmelink on top of the class with 337 points on the season - just one point better than Damian LaMountain.

Other points leaders include Mike Thomas in the legends class, Artie Niemi in the thunder stocks, Alex Schwochert in the mini stocks, Eric Wittner in the SST class, Cyrus Powers-Kyte in the bandoleros and Larry Theobald in the baby grand class.

Stock car racing at North Star takes place each Saturday and on selected Sundays through the summer.

Gates at the track open at 2 p.m. Fans of the late models are in for a treat this Saturday, as the track will play host to a &#8220Late Model Rodeo,” with late-model stock cars battling it out to see who's got the hottest ride in town.

For more information on either of the two tracks, visit www.capitolspeedway.org or www.northstarspeedway.com

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com