By Mike Weber
With four races left in the Columbia County Racing Association,
St. Helens drivers Jeremy Martin, Clint Petty and Aaron
Prettyman remained in contention for a division title
as they each notched top-five A main finishes Saturday
at River City Speedway. Kerry Smith of Scappoose, also
has aspirations of winning a title and after a runnerup
finish to women's division leader Paula Timmons of Kelso,
she remains a top contender for the championship.
Driving the Ace Auto Wrecking Chevrolet truck, Timmons
took the lead in the main as she passed frontrunner Kari
Puncochar of Hillsboro, who exited with a flat tire after
leading the first six circuits of the quarter-mile clay
oval track. Timmons dominated the remainder of the 40-lap
caution-free race and won by a half lap over Smith, in
the Alliance Automotive Buick Regal.
"I'm sure glad to be ranked second in the standings,
but it's going to be tough to overtake Paula, because
she's really having a great year," said Smith, who
posted a fifth top-five finish. "I'm having lots
of fun competing in stock car races and I just hope to
continue finishing up front. I would really like to win
one main and if I can hold onto second for the remainder
of the season, I think that would be a pretty good accomplishment."
Lisa Liner of St. Helens, continues a successful first
season in the Longview NAPA Sportsman series as she won
the B main and then maneuvered up from a 16th starting
position to take seventh in the A main. Tommy Elstoen
of St. Helens, took fifth in the B Main for his second
straight top-five after winning this preliminary race
Aug. 2. Longview's Troy Schreiner won a second straight
A Main in the Harren's Plumbing Oldsmobile Cutlass, followed
by "Flyin'" Brian Vaughn of Longview, Sandy's
Randy Allen and Castle Rock's Doug Hurley. Marty Holmason
of St. Helens, who was the fastest qualifier (15.61 seconds),
posted a season best fifth place in his Pontiac Grand
Prix.
Fairview's Mark Jones drove his Chevrolet Camaro to
a second straight win in the street stock A Main. Portland's
Robert Duncan was second and Vancouver's Dennis Krohling
took third, followed by Rob Bjork of St. Helens, who
notched a second consecutive top five in the Snyder Roofing
Camaro. Prettyman, who is ranked third in the division,
posted a sixth top-five finish in his West PAC Camaro.
Hillsboro's Scott Puncochar led the Reser's Fine Foods
Modified main from start-to-finish to record his first
series win in the RPM Motorsports/Oly's Painting & Drywall
open-wheel racer. A runnerup finish by Portland's "Mello" Marc
Sayre in the Ascend Elevator modified Ford enabled him
to take the lead in the point standings. Martin recorded
a fourth straight top-five (third) in the Superior Torque
Converter sponsored car owned by Sam Jeffers of Scappoose.
Petty took fourth and two-time, defending champion Matt
Sayre of Portland, was fifth. Brian Timmons of Scapppoose,
won the B Main and Clint's dad, Richard Petty, took second.
The Sayre brothers - Marc and Matt, are currently ranked
1-2 in the division, followed by Clint Petty and Martin.
"The Sayre brothers are always tough to beat and
Clint is having a good season," said Martin, who
is the CCRA President. "I want to concentrate more
on trying to win a championship, but it's certainly a
difficult combination and it will be easier next year.
We still have a shot at it, but it's unlikely that I'll
move up past fourth place. I'm hoping to get one victory
and win Rookie-of-the-Year Award, so getting these two
goals would be a good accomplishment."
Hillsboro's Rick Adams won the dash, heat and A main
in the PHRA Dwarf Cars. Adams took the lead on lap five
after passing Stan Cook and led the next 15 laps to post
a second straight win in the Modern Machinery 1934 Ford
Sedan replica owned by Beaverton's Bob Johnson.
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