Garber Returns In Style To Spokane County Raceway
More Racing Action Scheduled For Friday And Saturday
Dana Michie
KC Garber returned to the Zip’s Pony Stocks on Friday, making his first start of the season. Garber, driving the car he drove last year, now driven by Greg Burke, who took the night off, timed in at 21.801 seconds on the half-mile oval, good enough for the third quickest, behind Kameron McKeehan and local racing phenom Nicole Behar. Fourteen year old Behar set a new track record for the second straight week, timing in at 21.587, narrowly besting her mark from last week of 21.594. Once racing started, it was all KC Garber, winning all three races, the four lap trophy dash, six lap heat race, and 25 lap main event.
The main event started off with Norm Harding Jr. leading the first two laps, before Brenden Tarr was able to sneak past Harding with help from his younger brother Reesen. After three laps of running behind his brother, Reesen decided it was his turn to lead. The Shadle Park High School senior led for two laps before being caught by Garber. Garber led for ten laps before the first caution of the night when defending series champion Brian McCrosky spun on the front stretch. While the field was slowing down to yellow flag speeds, rookie Robert Messner spun around between turns 1 and 2. On the restart, Reesen Tarr gave KC Garber everything he could handle and more, including contact which almost sent the two leaders for a spin through the infield, but Garber kept his cool and was able to recapture the lead. With four laps to go, Messner spun again, setting up a shootout. Garber was able to lead the rest of the way, while Kameron McKeehan was able to squeak past Reesen Tarr for second; Tarr, Nicole Behar, and Brenden Tarr rounded out the top five. It was Garber’s first win of the season for the Zip’s Pony Stocks.
In other racing action, the Spokane Produce Northwest Early Stocks took to the high-banked Super Oval for the first of two races on the half mile. These cars always put on a show, as they resemble the hot-rods from the 1930s. Throughout the night, it looked like Justin Robideaux was going to be the class of the field and take home a clean sweep, setting a fast time at 21.87, winning the trophy dash and heat race, and climbing through the field in the main event. However, it wasn’t meant to be as mechanical problems plagued Robideaux’s #78 car, and he had to pull into the pits mid-race.
The action started early as Mike Robideaux led the first five laps. Veteran driver, Duncan Behar, was able to pass for the lead in turn one, but hit the wall off of turn two, spun down the track, collecting Will Kressault and Gil Rapp Jr., and plowing into the infield barrier. No drivers were harmed in the accident. On the restart, Shawn Priest was able to get the lead and led four laps, before TJ Burke made the pass. Burke looked like he was going to be able to set sail on the field, but suddenly Gil Rapp Jr. roared through the field after the early incident and found himself in 2nd with the leader in his sights. On lap 17 of 25, he caught Burke, and began putting the pressure on, down the front stretch, where he made his move. Unbeknownst to him, they were coming up on lapped traffic. Burke made a move to avoid hitting the slower car, which caused Rapp, who had begun to pass for the lead and was alongside Burke, to spin up and hit the wall, ending his night. In the end it was Shawn Priest regaining the lead and holding off a charge-back from Burke to take home the win.
The last racing action of the night was the crowd favorite, Motion Auto Supply Bump-to-Pass. The bumpers love to put on a show, and every week it’s something different, whether it be a wrong way race, last car with a cone on wins, or even car bowling. They never fail to put on a crowd-pleasing show. Tonight started off as it does every week, with a playing of Cops and Robbers. The bumpers had to not only race each other, but also out run the track’s “special enforcer,” Officer Skidmark. Garrett Rupert was able to make it work and pull off his second Cops and Robbers victory of the season. The night’s main event was a special slalom event with the corners watered down. It looked like Robby Cartwright was going to cruise to the easy win. However, Officer Skidmark had other ideas. Skidmark caught Cartwright with two laps to go in the watered down corners, and was able to power slide into him, spinning him out, sending the crowd into a frenzy and giving Garrett Rupert the lead. Rupert was able to hold off rookie Kerry Carpenter to win the night’s final race.
This weekend the action returns to Spokane County Raceway with the Hot 96.9 Road Runners, the Zip’s Pony Stocks, and the Motion Auto Supply Bump to Pass on Friday May 25th. And then on Saturday the 26th, it’s time for the big car Demolition Derby. Cars from all over the Northwest will come to the half-mile in Airway Heights, WA, in search of the $3,000 winner’s purse. Free tickets can be picked up at all Zip’s locations in Spokane and also other locations throughout town. Tickets at the gate are just
$5. Children 12 and under are always free. Come on out this weekend for more racing action Under the Lights, in Airway Heights.