9/19/2014
ASCS Northwest Region
ASCS-Northwest Point Battle To Be Settled At Championship Weekend At CWSFR
ASCS-Northwest Point Battle To Be Settled At Championship Weekend At CWSFR
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Dirt Monkey Productions)
Yakima, Washington- Colin Baker and J.J. Hickle both have emerged out of the 2014 season as title contenders for the American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region at Central Washington State Fair Raceway on Friday September 19th and Saturday the 20th. Only seventy-nine markers separate the two in the championship standings with the advantage being held by Baker.
Both have accumulated one win each and both have visited the 3/8-mile clay oval a handful of times with Hickle posting a sixth place, last year, and Baker failing to qualify for a feature but something to note is that was in 2009. Maximum points a driver can earn is one-hundred-fifty while drivers that fail to make the feature will be given just sixty-five. We got a chance to talk to both drivers about their season so far and their take on the race track in Yakima.
Colin Baker enters championship weekend hot off of securing the championship in the 360 Sprints at Cottage Grove Speedway. In fourteen starts Baker has accumulated six top five finishes and posted his first career series win at Coos Bay Speedway during Speedweek Northwest on June 30th. Baker will be sporting a new ride at Yakima as he will be in the Tim Galloway owned #83 machine. The two have been together for a little over a month and have a Northwest Extreme Sprint win at Cottage Grove on July 26th and a Northwest Wingless Tour win at Coos Bay Speedway on August 16th to their credit.
“I’m going to show up with the same attitude I’ve had all year and let the points take care of themselves,” said Colin Baker, “I’m glad I was able to win the track championship at CG but now it’s time for the big one.”
“Yakima is a big wild card track because no of us run there on a regular basis,” continued Baker, “I’m really looking forward to midnight on Saturday after all the racing is done.”
"I also would like to thank all my sponsors and supporters that have been behind me even through all of the changes that have happened."
J.J. Hickle has so far made every single round in 2014 and has posted two top five finishes including his first career series triumph at Cottage Grove Speedway on June 13th. Hickle will enter this weekend piloting the Richie and Nubby Peterson #23N entry. Hickle would grace victory lane in the Peterson machine at Electric City Speedway on August 31st and Billings Motorsports Park on September 12th. Both of those wins would be in ASCS-Frontier Region competition.
“I think this year we’ve been very successful and it has been a lot of fun,” commented J.J. Hickle, “I’m really looking forward to running a different track.”
“I’ve raced at some big ½-mile track and Yakima is a complete different animal,” Hickle would continue, “and I got to send a big thank you to Richie and Nubby Peterson for letting me driver their car and of course all of my sponsors and supporters.”
Tickets to get into the fair are $10.00 for Adults (13-64) and Youths 6-12) are $7.00 each while Pit Passes will be offered both nights for $35.00. Your fair admission gets you into the race for FREE. For folks getting to the races early or hanging out afterwards the fair’s hours are from 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM both days. Also some great musical talent will be performing during the fair once the races are complete including George Thorogood & The Destroyers on Friday and Kansas on Saturday. For the latest stories on the ASCS-Northwest be sure and visit www.ascsnorthwest.com.
Current ASCS-Northwest Region Point Standings (Top Ten):
- 71/83-Colin Baker 1679; 2. 3-J.J. Hickle 1600; 3. 9R-Reece Goetz 1533; 4. 22-Garen Linder 1453; 5. 77-Kyle Hirst 1373; 6. 7N-Jared Peterson 1136; 7. 16-Nick Tomlinson 1127; 8. 2L-Logan Forler 1056; 9. 33V-Henry Van Dam 1049; 10. 6A-Kady Adelman 1046
Past ASCS-Northwest Region Winners At Central Washington State Fair Raceway:
2013- Roger Crockett on September 20th, Jared Peterson on September 21st
2012- Jayme Barnes on September 21st, Roger Crockett on September 22nd
2011- Jason Solwold on September 23rd, Jayme Barnes on September 24th
2010- Jason Solwold on September 24th, Roger Crockett on September 25th
2009- Jason Solwold on September 25th, Stephen Allard on September 26th
2008- Jason Solwold on September 26th, Brock Lemley on September 27th
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage