
August 29, 2009
by Mike Weber
Milwaukie's Eric Lindquist won his first ever main event, Vancouver's Don Jenner was a two time winner and Corey Esteban of Gaston, won his 11th PHRA Dwarf Car main in River City Speedway's Aug. 29 Pavelcomm.com Race.
St. Helens drivers Joel Beehler, Tricia "Great" Brittain and the husband/wife duo of Mike and Jenelle Harrison also had impressive performances. Beehler was a two-time winner with victories in the Mini Stock main event and heat race with his Johnny's Bar & Grill 1993 Subaru Impreza. Brittain notched her sixth Sportsman Division top-10 finish while taking seventh with her Fast Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
The Harrison's competed in two classifications of the Columbia County Racing Association. Mike took sixth in the Street Stock main with his Double J Tires Chevy Malibu. Jennelle took sixth in the Mini Stock main while driving her 1981 Datsun 210 and Mike finished 11th.
Jennelle was a two-time Women's Division winner as she took first in the trophy dash and heat and was second in the main. Vancouver's Stacey Fordyce won the 20-lap race while driving the Recovery Racing 1975 Nova for her third straight win.
Vancouver's Rick Rehanek led the first four laps of the Sportsman main until Lindquist moved in front on lap five with his Cedarscapes/Reliant Elevator Monte Carlo. Lindquist stayed ahead of the 16-car field for the duration of the 40-lap race. He held off Longview's Brian Vaughn, whose Chevy was bumper-to-bumper with Lindquist's car at the finish line. Rehanek took third, followed by Gresham's Curt Nusom, Portland's Frank Elwess, Toledo's Larry Lemmons and Brittain.
"It was a good race with Brian and he's a great driver," said Lindquist. Sportsman rookie in his eighth year of CCRA competition. "I knew that if I stayed down low to the inside, I would have a better chance of staying in front. I love coming out here, I like the people here and it's a great facility."
Rehanek was third, followed by Gresham's Curt Nusom, Portland's Frank Elwess, Larry Lemmons of Toledo, WA and Brittain. Rookie driver Bud Russell of St. Helens, notched his fourth top-10 finish as he took ninth with his Competitive Edge Sign & Design Monte Carlo.
"I couldn't get any traction with the slick track conditions and I couldn't get around anyone," said Russell. "Russ Voight (Flagman) told us at the pre race driver's meeting that he wasn't going to tolerate anymore banging and bumping incidents. Everyone had fun, there weren't any wrecks and it was just a real smooth race."
Joel Beehler led from start-to-finish to notch his fourth Mini Stock win and eighth top-five main event finish. Joel's uncle, Adam, was runnerup three car lengths behind in his Triple X Archery Honda Civic. Division leader Justin McMullen was third with his Skinny's Texaco Ford Mustang for his ninth straight top five.
"It was hard staying in the lead with uncle Adam nearby," said Beehler, 16. "I'm glad I had the pole position start, which was really an advantage for me."
Vancouver's Don Jenner started on the pole of the Street Stock main and he led all the way with his T&T Draggin' Wagons Towing Camaro. Curt Nusom moved up from sixth place to get second as his Bud's Auto Wrecking Camaro was bumper-to-bumper with Jenner at the conclusion of the 30-lap race. Jenner appeared to have mechanical problems when his car began spewing smoke late in the race with a transmission fluid leak. Jenner also won the Modified main, as he was rare two-time main event winner.
Corey Esteban of Gaston, moved ahead of Hillsoboro's Mitch Meeusen on lap 22 and led the remainder of the 40-lap race to post his 11th win with his C&E Excavating 1934 Ford Vicky in the Pacific Hardtop Racing Association Dwarf Car main. Ronnie Gilmore of Beaverton, was second and Meeusen took third. Ron Love of Happy Valley, won the B Main.
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