by Mike Weber
Columbia County Racing Association
division leaders Dan Fox of Warren (modified), Lisa
Faulkner of St. Helens (women's division) and Rainier's
Corey Cook (sportsman) solidified their first place
ranking as they notched top-five A main event finishes
Saturday at River City Speedway in St. Helens. Reser's
Fine Foods modified series contenders Jeremy Martin
of St. Helens and Dan Smith of Scappoose, remain close
behind Fox though after they recorded top-three finishes.
Tim Williams of Scappoose and Tricia
"Great" Brittain of St. Helens, both had fantastic
finishes while continuing to enjoy career best seasons
in the sportsman class, as both drivers are hoping for
a top-five series finish in the point standings. Robert
Duncan of Scappoose, captured his first ever sportsman
B main win and Rick Rehanek of Portland, won his first
ever street stock A main.
Portland's "Mello" Marc Sayre,
a three-time CCRA sportsman champion (1990-91, 1995),
showed that it's going to be a four-car battle for first
in the modified class as he took the checkered flag
in the A main and trophy dash. Rainier's Greg Greer
led the first circuit, but then he was involved in a
three-car, turn four mishap with Fox and Hillsboro's
Scott Puncochar on the second lap. Smith moved up front
on the lap two restart with his STC Racing Parts/Alliance
Automotive open-wheel race car. Smith was followed midway
through the 25-lap event by teammates Martin and Stephen
Kaptur of Deer Island, as the identical cars - owned
by Sam Jeffers of Scappoose, briefly occupied the top
three positions.
Unintimidated by the trio though, Sayre
maneuvered by all three, passing on the outside lane
with his Ascend Elevator/Plainview Auto Parts racer.
Sayre, 47, took the lead on lap 22 and led the final
three circuits of the quarter-mile clay oval to notch
his first win this year. Smith took second for his third
straight top-five finish and sixth overall, followed
by Martin, defending champ Ray Elwess of Portland and
Fox.
"We were sure looking good for
awhile and a one, two, three finish is something that
would be like a dream come true for Sam," said
Martin, ranked third in the series, behind Smith and
Fox. "We're not giving up yet and with four events
remaining, we'll just see what happens. It was a fun
race, Sayre did a good job today and Fox is having an
excellent year. It's not over yet, we're going to give
it our best shot and it should be an exciting conclusion
in the season ending championship race Sept. 17."
Cook passed frontrunner Kelly Moore
of Rainier, on lap two and led the remainder of the
40-lap sportsman main to notch his third win and seventh
top-three finish with his Chevrolet Lumina. Vancouver's
Don Jenner was runnerup, followed by Williams, Corbett's
Scott Winebarger, Longview's Jacob Brooks and Brittain.
"I would be thrilled to conclude
the season ranked third in the division, which would
really be awesome since it would be my career best ever
finish in the sportsman series," said Brittain,
who drives the Warren Country Inn/Rivers Automotive
Monte Carlo and is currently third in the standings.
"Taking third behind tough competitors like Corey
Cook and Randy Allen would represent a very respectable
finish for any driver, so I can't complain and I've
also had a tremendous amount of fun this year."
Faulkner continues to dominate the
women's division as she passed Hillsboro's Kari Puncochar
on lap 24 and led the remainder of the 40-lap event
to post her sixth win out of nine events with the Emmert
Motors/Empire Realty Monte Carlo owned by Marty Holmason
of St. Helens. Puncochar took second and Rookie-of-the-Year
contender Jenelle Tolman of St. Helens, was third.
Portland's Brian Overturf captured
the Northwest Street Stock Tour race, which was the
first ever appearance of the series in St. Helens.
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