by Mike Weber
River City Speedway division leaders
Dan Fox, John Nusom, Randy Allen and Lisa Faulkner
each had outstanding performances in the fifth race
of the season Saturday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds
facility in St. Helens. Fox of Warren, leads the Reser's
Fine Foods modified class point standings and he's
hoping to win his first ever Columbia County Racing
Association title. Following two previous wins (May
14, June 4), Fox nearly captured a third straight victory,
before finishing second to A main event winner Dan
Smith, of Scappoose. Nusom (street stock), Allen (sportsman)
and Faulkner (women's) captured A mains to increase
their advantage in the series which continues with
the Heckman Trucking sponsored event June 25th.
Fox
set the series track record (13.85) in qualifying June
4 and he maneuvered up from an 11th starting position
in the 17-car field and moved into second on
lap 42 with his Malar Performance Engines open-wheel modified racer. Smith, who
led the 50-lap race from start-to-finish, won by three car lengths over Fox,
with Jeremy Martin of St. Helens getting third. It marked Smith's second win
this year in the STC Racing Parts modified owned by Sam and Jane Jeffers of Scappoose.
"I'm thrilled to get a second
win and it's especially a nice way to celebrate Father's
Day Sunday and also my 36th birthday too (June 20)," said
Smith, who is ranked third in the division, behind
Martin and Fox. "It was a little
disappointing because my wife (Kerry) and two daughters (Katie age 15, Amber
16) were unable to be here, since they were playing in a softball tournament,
but it was great having my eight-year old son Cody with me tonight too."
Kelso's
Bob Cram passed frontrunner Tommy Elstoen of St. Helens, on lap seven and
led until the right front wheel broke on his Chevrolet
pickup on lap 41.
Allen, of Sandy, took over first and remained up front the last nine circuits
with his John's Frame Shop/American Tire Company Monte Carlo. It was the
third win and fifth top-five finish for Allen, who
took third in the series last
season. Tricia "Great" Brittain, of St. Helens, was runnerup in
the Rivers Automotive Monte Carlo and Rainier's Rodney Cook notched a career
best
third
in his Monte Carlo.
Faulkner, a former champion (2002),
came from behind twice to record her third women's
division main win in the Mountain View Electric/Empire
Realty
Monte
Carlo owned by Marty and Lori Holmason of Scappoose. Rookie Tria Prettyman
of St. Helens,
led the opening two laps and then Castle Rock's Brenda Hurley moved ahead
on lap three. Faulkner passed Hurley's 1980 Monte Carlo on lap eight, but
Hurley
regained the advantage on lap 12, as Faulkner was slowed by lapped cars.
Faulkner moved up front again on lap 20 after passing Hurley on the outside
lane of
the front straightaway and led the final 30 laps. Vancouver's Stacey Fordyce
took
second, followed by Hurley, Puncochar and Jenelle Tolman of St. Helens.
"Marty and Lori sure have provided
me with an excellent car to drive, I'm having lots
of fun and it's just been a great year so far," said
Faulkner, 22, who set the division track record (15.04)
June 4. "I was slowed somewhat
by lapped traffic, but Brenda, Stacey and Kari Puncochar are all pretty
tough competitors. I couldn't ask for a better car
and our pit crew of my husband Eric,
my dad (Paul Liner) and Bobby Holmason (Marty's son) also does outstanding
work every week. Finishing consistently up front in
every race is what it takes to
win a championship and I think we'll have a pretty good chance to accomplish
that goal this year."
Nusom, of Gresham, led the 50-lap
street stock main all the way to get his first win
in the Tom's Auto & Performance
Machine Camaro. Vancouver's Brett Eakins was second, followed by Hillsboro
Scott Puncochar and Charlie Carpenter of St.
Helens.
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