by Mike Weber
On a summer-like day with mid 80 degree
temperatures, local drivers had hot performances on
the track, particularly Celeste Hardesty of St. Helens
and Rian McVae of Scappoose, who each recorded main
event victories in the Sherwin Williams sponsored race
Saturday at River City Speedway in St. Helens.
The third round of the Columbia County
Racing Association series also included outstanding
efforts by Scappoose drivers Tim Williams, Richard Petty
and Jeremy Martin of St. Helens, who each took runnerup
spots. Modified division leader Gannin Thomas of St.
Helens, posted his third straight top-five and Deer
Island's Brad Beehler notched a third straight top-three
mini stock main event finish.
A main winners Joe Cherington (mini
stock) and "Mello" Marc Sayre (modified) each
led their respective events from start-to-finish. Deer
Island's Rick Beehler (mini stock), Vancouver's Don
Jenner (sportsman) and McMinnville's Stan Cook (PHRA)
all captured B main wins. McVae won the PHRA Dwarf Car
A main and Petty took second.
Williams started on the pole position
of the Reser's Fine Foods Sportsman main and led the
first 17 circuits around the quarter-mile clay oval
with his Alliance Automotive/STC Racing Parts Chevrolet
Camaro. Gresham's Curt Nusom passed Williams on the
outside lane of the front straightaway on lap 18 and
led the remainder of the 40-lap race to notch his second
win this year in his T & T Draggin' Wagon Towing
Monte Carlo. Nusom won by 10 car lengths over Williams,
with Portland's Larry Wetzel third and Tricia "Great"
Brittain of St. Helens, in fourth, for her season-best
finish in the Competitive Edge Sign & Design Monte
Carlo.
"Although Nusom is a rookie in
the class, he's really a an experienced driver, he's
tough and he know's what he's doing, but I'll give it
my best shot in the next race (June 16th) and maybe
I'll be able to beat him then," said Williams,
who took third in the series last year and is currently
ranked second behind Nusom. "I'm happy with second
place, I won the trophy dash and the car is running
just awesome, so I'm really having another good year.
My girlfriend (Kathy Griffin) races in the women's division
and we're both having lots of fun while competing in
stock car racing. It shouldn't be like a job though
and if you're not enjoying it, then you're probably
doing something wrong."
Hardesty took the lead from Portland's
Pam Graham in the women's main after passing on the
outside of the front straightaway on lap four. Hardesty
gained a half lap advantage by the 24th circuit and
won by a straightaway length over Portland's Jacki Graham.
Pam Graham took third, followed by Amber Smith of Scappoose,
Portland's Susan Wallace, Teia Thomas of St. Helens
and Griffin. It was the second win and third straight
top-five for Hardesty, who also won the trophy dash
in her Baxter Auto Parts Chevy Monte Carlo.
"I'm having lots of fun, it's
great to win two trophies and I think I'll have a good
shot at winning the championship," said Hardesty,
whose husband Todd, is the crew chief of the Fast Lube
& Oil sponsored race team. "This was the first
race with our new motor, so the car has a lot more power
now and it was running awesome."
Sayre drove his Plainview Auto Ford
modified racer to a one-car length win over Martin,
who had a season-best second for the STC Racing team
and Thomas was third. Gannin's father, Herb Thomas of
St. Helens, finished 12th. Along with Gannin's daughter
Teia, 19, the trio is probably the only family with
three generations competing at the speedway.
Gresham's John Nusom led all the way
in the street stock main and won by six car-lengths
over Portland's Jeff Lovell. Mark Reser was third, Vernonia's
Robert Williams was fourth and Bobby Morley of Scappoose,
had a career-best fifth in the McFly Racing Camaro.
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