---

SSP Has Great Night Of Racing

Sunset Speedway Park Has Great Night Of Racing
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Steve Veltman)
With wonderful weather came wonderful racing at the Sunset Speedway Park on Saturday May 11th. The Banks bullring had a couple of new winners in 2013 while some familiar faces made their way back to victory lane after being triumphant earlier this season. Classifications in action were the Northwest Wingless Tour, Northwest Extreme Modifieds, Street Stocks, 4-Bees, and Womens.

The Northwest Wingless Tour made their first visit of the year to SSP Saturday night. Sterling Kane of Albany was the leader for the entire distance to pick up his first win of 2013. Driving his Fuel Injection Enterprises/BC Motorsports #89 XXX he would have to hold off a hard charging Mitch Hoffsess to hang on for the victory. It marked the second career NWWT victory for Kane and his second win at the Banks venue.

“Towards the end of the race my brakes were fading,” said Kane, “it was hard to get the car to set into the corner so I basically had to hold my line and try to be as smooth as possbile. I attend Oregon State University so I don’t normally start racing this early due to school. I have to give huge thanks out to my girlfriend Tiffany Barrett for all the time and dedication she puts in during the week and on race days on this car.”

Mitch Hoffsess of Beaverton would finish a respectable second in the Schram Brothers Excavating/BDR Racing #5 Rocket while behind him in third was defending series champion Bill Winsley from Molalla in his Wilson’s Napa Auto Parts/Japser’s Café/Pepco Designs #10 XXX. Fourth place would go to Rob Lindsey of Wilsonville piloting the Maxline Cases/Competition Suspension Inc./Speedmart Inc. #23 XXX and fifth was the Maverick Welding Supply #11X Maxim of Jake Gilman from Forest Grove.

Making their second consecutive appearance of 2013 the Northwest Extreme Modifieds were on hand at SSP. And like the first race Rick Graham of Portland in the #18X machine would earn the win. This time he had to fend off Banks native Rob Ireland. Ireland would give chase but couldn’t pass Graham during the course of the feaute.

Despite having issues in preliminary action Rob Ireland would pilot the Ireland and Ireland at Law #1 entry in the runner-up position. In third place would be fellow Banks driver Joey Tardio in his Transaction Transmissions #04 machine with the Advocare/The Sign Shop #00 Brandon Penney completing the finishing order in fourth.

Going into the night Craig Loomis had owned the Street Stock class after two racesw. Loomis was quick all night in the feature and after starting up front the Buz’s Equipment Trailers/Old Iron Classics/Ernest Racing #01 Camaro appeared to have had the race won. As Loomis ran the bottom of the track Marc Farrar of Sherwood went to the top in his AFT Racing/Aftermarket Entersprises #5 Camaro. Farrar managed to get some momentum going and would make a pass on Loomis in the final lap for the win.

“I noticed the track had slicked off on the bottom and in the middle,” commented Farrar, “I found something up high and my G-60 tires stuck on the top. If it weren’t for those cautions I don’t think I would have caught Craig.”

Craig Loomis would end the night in second while in third was the #18 of Roger Hubbard from Sandy. Rainier driver Garrett Dees in his #66 mount would finish fourth and capturing fifth was Cornelius’ Rod Lowe in the #02.

Mike Mastrangelo from Banks made it two 4-Bee features in a row. Buxton driver Jason Blythe seemed to be the car to beat in the #12 machine but he would get hung up with a lapped car and lost the lead. Mastrangelo in the #00 capitalized on the opportunity and would seize the lead and seize the win. It would be his second win in two starts.

“I kind of lucked out tonight,” said Mastrangelo, “when Jason got tangled with that lapper I saw my opportunity. Going two for two is great and it has been fun so far even though I’m still figuring out this new car.”

Jason Blythe would finish the evening second in the main event while crossing the line in third was the #68 of John Henry from Hillsboro. The #22 of Nick Henry also from Hillsboro was fourth followed by Vancouver, Washington’s Gary Jones in his #7 machine coming home fifth.

Earning her third consecutive victory Freya Smith of McMinnville has been the car to beat in the Womens division. The Sweere’s Auto Body/Sweere’s Trucking/Tire Factory of McMinnville #37 Camaro of Smith started up front and would lead every single lap of the feature despite a charging Amanda Clarke.

“All the girls have really stepped up,” stated Smith, “the track came in great for the main event. It’s exciting to see some new cars show up Saturday and have this class start to grow. Despite being a rookie Marcie Treat will be threat real soon I think.”

The Transaction Transmissions/Privateer Racing #04 Monte Carlo of Amanda Clarke from Portland was second and third went to Theresa Gartner, also from Portland, in her Ram Light Truck Salvage/Napa Auto Parts #33. The rest of the top five included Marcie Treat, driving for Rod Lowe, in the #02 machine from Cornelius in fourth while the All In Property Investments/Avenue Settlement Corportation #60 Firebird of Gabrielle Hollinger from Timber was fifth.

Sunset Speedway Park returns next Saturday May 18th for the first Fan Appreciation Night of the year. The evening will be presented by Knecht’s Auto Parts and will feature the Northwest Wingless Tour, Northwest Extreme Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, and the WMRA/USAC Midgets. For more information log on to www.sunsetspeedwaypark.com or call the new Northwest Tracks Hotline at (360)-699-RACE.

Race Summary
Saturday May 11th, 2013
Sunset Speedway Park
Banks, Oregon

Northwest Wingless Tour
10 Entries
A-Feature: 1. Sterling Kane, 2. Mitch Hoffsess, 3. Bill Winsley, 4. Rob Lindsey, 5. Jake Gilman, 6. Ryan Bothwell, 7. Tommy Moreno, 8. Joe Bosso Jr., 9. Pat Canfield, 10. Brad Rhodes

Northwest Extreme Modifieds
4 Entries
A-Feature: 1. Rick Graham, 2. Rob Ireland, 3. Joey Tardio, 4. Brandon Penney

Street Stocks
17 Entries
A-Feature: 1. Marc Farrar, 2. Craig Loomis, 3. Roger Hubbard, 4. Garrett Dees, 5. Rodney Lowe, 6. Tom Lauzon, 7. Ben Sauter, 8. Brian Rhoden, 9. John Ireland, 10. Johnny Adams, 11. Tony Catalano, 12. Robert Summerhalder, 13. Bert Pegg, 14. Andrew Johnson, 15. Danny O’Neil, 16. Tyler Cannon, 17. Jordan Robinson

4-Bees
10 Entries
A-Feature: 1. Mike Mastrangelo, 2. Jason Blythe, 3. John Henry, 4. John Gartner, 5. Nick Henry, 6. Gary Jones, 7. Chris Cannon, 8. Jacob Henry, 9. Cody Jones, 10. Travis Koch

Womens
7 Entries
A-Feature: 1. Freya Smith, 2. Amanda Clarke, 3. Theresa Gartner, 4. Marcie Treat, 5. Gabrielle Hollinger, 6. Becca Pickeril, 7. Cori Vandercoevering

---

Article Media

Back to News