by Mike Weber
Ann Carter of Scappoose and St. Helens
drivers Stephen Kaptur and Brad Martin won main events
in the Les Schwab Tires stock car races Saturday at
River City Speedway in St. Helens. Columbia County Racing
Association division leaders Dan Smith, John Nusom,
Brenda Hurley, Justin McMullen and Logan Forler each
had top-five main event finishes.
Carter led all the way to take the
checkered flag in the women's main. Hurley, of Castle
Rock, took third behind runnerup Jackie Graham, of Portland.
It was Hurley's third straight top-three finish with
her 1980 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Martin, 13, won his first ever student
division main in the Reser's Fine Foods Dodge Neon.
Forler, of Portland, won the micro sprint 20-lap race.
Nusom, the defending street stock champion, manuevered
up from a sixth place start to capture the main with
his T&T Draggin' Wagons Towing Camaro. Smith, of
Scappoose, took fifth in the modified main for his third
straight top-five with the Alliance Automotive open-wheel
racer owned by Sam Jeffers.
Kaptur started up front and led throughout
the mini stock main while driving the Reliant Elevator/Mary
Jeans Flowers Ford Pinto owned by Eric Lindquist of
Milwaukie. McMullen, 18, of Deer Island, was a close
runnerup as his Skinny's Texaco Ford Mustang was bumper-to-bumper
with the Pinto at the finish line. Justin's dad Scott
took fifth place and his mom Kathy finished eighth,
with both driving Mustangs.
"There's a lot of good competitors
in this class, so it was fun to get the win and Eric
has a pretty good race car," said Kaptur. "Justin
sure has stepped up his performance and he's really
one of the most improved drivers this year."
Division title contenders Jeremy Martin,
Terry Moss and Tricia Brittain each notched top-five's
in the third event of the 12-race series at the Columbia
County Fairgrounds facility. Brittain, of St. Helens,
won the sportsman heat race and she posted a third consecutive
A main top five with the Quimby Welding/Fast Racing
Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
"I think Tricia will definitely
finish in the top five of the point standings this year,"
said Tricia's husband, Sam Brittain. "We had three
DNF's (didn't finish) last year and still took fifth
place. She's really one of the most consistent drivers
here. I try not to worry about the points too much,
because we're more concerned about just coming out here
and have some fun while competing in stock car racing."
Brian Vaughn of Longview, started on
the pole position of the 16-car field and led from start-to-finish
with his Perfection Automotive/Liner Racing Monte Carlo.
Vaughn won by half a lap over Doug Hurley of Castle
Rock. Aaron Prettyman of Warren, notched a career best
third in the Western Pacific Chevy.
"I missed the first race, but
the car is running pretty good and I'm just hoping to
finish in the top-10 of the standings this year,"
said Prettyman, whose daughter Tria and son Callen also
compete at the speedway. "I've been involved in
racing for nine years now, it's a great way to spend
time with my kids and we're sure having lots of fun
too."
Moss of St. Helens, recorded his third
straight street stock top-10 finish with his Knife River/Sticky
Signs & Graphics Chevy Malibu. Moss trailed closely
behind the Nusom brothers at the conclusion of the 40-lap
race. Curt Nusom took second behind his brother John.
Vancouver's Don Jenner was a two-time
winner in the modified class as he won the heat and
main. Rainier's Greg Greer took second, with Vancouver's
Chris Quinn getting third, followed by Jeremy Martin
and Smith.
"I'm so proud of my son Brad for
winning his first race," said Martin, the 2007
modified champion. "Brad has been racing since
age four, he's won division titles in quarter midgets
and this is his first stock car racing win."
The CCRA's fourth event is the Emmert
Motors sponsored race June 7. In addition to the regular
race program, the USCA Sprints and NOMA Midgets are
also on Saturday's schedule. There's many changes at
the track this year, including a new concessionaire,
Victory Lap Cafe. The company is owned by Mike and Laurie
Lux of Hillsboro. Their daughter Katie Lux operates
the newly opened food concession stand at the speedway.
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