Deer Island drivers Jereld Strawn and Justin McMullen overtook division leaders to move atop the standings in the Emmert Motors Race Saturday at River City Speedway in St. Helens.

The husband/wife duo of Michael and Jenelle Harrison of St. Helens, recorded top five finishes. Deer Island's Scott McMullen notched his first A main event win this year.

Portland's Rick Graham, Gresham's John Nusom, Vancouver's Robert Jenner (modified), Corey Esteban (PHRA) of Gaston and Vancouver's Stacey Fordyce (women's division) all won A main events. Corbett's Collen Winebarger won the first race of the new Tracer Division, a class for kids age 13-16.

The top eight cars from qualifying were inverted in their reverse order at the front of the 16-car sportsman main. Graham, who was eighth fastest, started on the pole position. Graham led the 20-lap main from start-to-finish with his T&T Draggin' Wagons Towing/Perfection Automotive 1978 Pontiac Firebird.

Nusom, one of many double duty drivers that compete in two Columbia County Racing Association classes, was runnerup eight car-lengths behind Graham in his 1979 Chevrolet Camaro. Strawn, a sportsman class rookie, took sixth with his Recovery Racing 1978 Buick Regal. Strawn, who also won the heat race, moved from second into first in the standings. Milwaukie's Eric Lindquist, who led Strawn by just two points prior to the race, finished 11th.

"It feels good to be the points leader as a rookie," said Strawn, a fourth year driver who competed in the street stock class the last three years. "There's a lot of fast cars that I'm trying to keep up with in this old car, but it's sure running pretty good. I thought that I might have a chance to do fairly well this year. I didn't really think that I would be where I'm at right now, so I'm pretty happy."

Scott McMullen started sixth in the 12-car mini stock main. McMullen maneuvered up to second by the third lap, behind frontrunner Adam Beehler in his Dan Garrison CPA sponsored Honda Civic. It was a two car race between McMullen and Beehler the next 12 circuits as the duo moved in front by nearly half a lap over third place driver Jenelle Harrison, in the Wayne Martin Floor Covering 1979 Datsun 210.

McMullen moved past Beehler on lap 15 and led the remainder of the 40-lap race to get the victory in his McMullen Water Systems 1981 Ford Mustang. Harrison was runnerup for her fourth straight top five finish. Justin McMullen (Scott's son), the defending series champion, took third for his fourth straight top-five in his Skinny's Texaco Mustang and moved past Vernonia's Gary Meyer for the lead in the standings.

"It was a fun race and it felt good to be out in front of all the other high caliber of competitors that we have in this class," said Scott McMullen, who also won the trophy dash. "It was exciting to get my first win this year."

Nusom passed Portland's Todd Newton on the 12th lap of the street stock main and he led the remainder of the 30-lap race to get his second win this year with his City Sprint Delivery Service Camaro. Nusom won by one car length over his brother Curt, the defending champion. Portland's Tom Zywicki was third and Michael Harrison took fourth in his Double J Tires Chevy Malibu.

"The season has been going pretty good and I'm hoping to win the street stock Rookie-of-the-Year Award," said Harrison, whose three car team also includes Tim Oyler of St. Helens. "Jenelle has been real consistent and we haven't had any breakdowns or flat tires with her car. This is an inexpensive way to have lots of fun."

"We just come out here every week, let the cards fall where they may and just take what we can get," said John Nusom, the street stock division leader. "I'll take it one race at a time and maybe I'll win the championship. If not, then maybe one of our Nusom Racing drivers will win it."