by Mike Weber
The Columbia County Racing Association's
21st season started with nearly 100 motorsport entrants
and the most impressive accomplishment was a victory
by Gannin Thomas in the modified A main in which St.
Helens competitors took the top-five positions in the
Carousel Concessions 2007 season opener Saturday at
River City Speedway.
Scappoose drivers Tim Williams (sportsman)
and Kathy Griffin (women's division), who are considered
top contenders following third place 2006 division finishes,
both notched top-five's while driving the Alliance Automotive/STC
Racing Parts Chevrolet Camaros. The Beehler brothers
of Deer Island, Brad and Adam, also continued their
recent success following a top-five ranking in the 2006
mini stock division as both recorded top-five A main
finishes.
"The Enforcer" Terry Moss
of St. Helens, posted a third place street stock A main
event finish behind runnerup Rob Williams of Vernonia
and winner John Nusom of Gresham, in the Draggin' Wagons
Towing sponsored Camaro. Two defending champions, Joe
Cherington and Stacey Fordyce resumed this season the
same way that they concluded last year, with each recording
main event wins. Cherington, of Vancouver, won the mini
stock main and Mark Guindon of Warrenton, took second,
followed by Brad Beehler, Tristan Judkins and Adam Beehler.
Brad, 27, set a new track record of 16.37 seconds in
qualifying with his DFI/Rainier Log Hauling sponsored
Datsun.
Thomas of St. Helens, led nearly all
the way in the Baxter Auto Parts main with his Generation
Transmission/Coyner's Auto Body open-wheel style modified
racer. Gresham's Skip Pillow started on the pole position
and led the opening circuit around the quarter-mile
clay oval, but Thomas passed him on lap two and led
the next 11 laps. Pillow briefly regained the edge for
a couple laps and then was slowed by lapped traffic,
which enabled Thomas to get by him on lap 16 and he
stayed up front for the remainder of the 40-lap race.
Thomas won by a car length over Shawn Dorie, who was
followed by Jeremy Martin, Scott Dorie and Dan Fox of
Warren.
"I'm not planning on attending
every race this year and I don't really enjoy being
involved in a points chase because I feel that doing
things with my family is a priority, such as camping
and skiing, which are much more fun weekend activities,"
said Thomas, 38. "This is actually the first time
in my 21-year racing career that I've ever won the first
race, so it's a nice way to start the season."
Ken Bryan of Toledo, led the first
two laps of the sportsman main until Jon "Razor"
Gillett of St. Helens, moved ahead on lap three. Portland's
Mike Graham moved in front on lap eight and led the
remainder of the 25-lap race, winning by one car length
over Gresham's Curt Nusom. Vancouver's John Fordyce
was third, followed by Portland's Bryan Collins and
Williams in fifth.
"It's nice starting with a top-five,
not quite as good as last year though when I won the
first race, but I'm glad to get fifth place," said
Williams. "I feel like I'll have a good chance
to win the title and after I changed some things, such
as the flywheel, the clutch and suspension parts, the
car is running just great."
19-year-old Amber Smith of Scappoose,
led the first five laps of the women's race in the Alliance
Automotive Camaro until Fordyce passed her on on lap
six. Fordyce stayed up front the rest of the 40-lap
race in her All Star Sports Bar Monte Carlo and won
by a straightaway length over Portland's Pam Graham.
Jacki Graham took third, followed by Griffin and Celeste
Hardesty of St. Helens, in fifth.
Richard Petty of Scappoose, won the
non-points PHRA dwarf car main and heat race. The next
race is May 19 and a new event this year consist's of
the student division, a three-race series for kids age
13-16 that will debut on June 16.
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