by Mike Weber
Similar to NASCAR's Nextel Cup Championship
Chase that begins Sept. 18, River City Speedway held
it's version to help determine division winners with
the Reser's Fine Foods Labor Day Races Sept. 3-4. With
just one race left Sept. 17, this two-day event provided
stock car racing drivers with a good opportunity to
move up in the standings and a chance to gain over 200
points in the Columbia County Racing Association series.
Lisa Faulkner of St. Helens, all but
clinched the women's division title after notching a
win Saturday and a second Sunday while driving the Mountain
View Electric/Emmert Motors Chevrolet Monte Carlo owned
by Marty "McFly" Holmason of St. Helens. Vancouver's
Stacey Fordyce won the A main Sunday with her Discount
Race Car Parts Monte Carlo. Defending women's champ
Kerry Smith of Scappoose, posted two top-five A mains
with her Alliance Automotive Chevy Camaro.
Capitalizing on the unfortunate bad
luck experienced by Dan Fox of Warren, who had a DNF
(didn't finish) Saturday, Dan Smith took over first
place in the modified class after he notched a pair
of top-three A main event finishes as he was third Saturday
and runnerup to Portland's Ray Elwess on Sunday. Smith,
from Scappoose, drives one of the three identical looking
open-wheel style modified cars owned by Sam and Jane
Jeffers of Scappoose. Jeremy Martin of St. Helens and
Stephen Kaptur of Deer Island, who also compete in the
STC Racing Parts sponsored racers, both recorded one
top-five main event finish. Smith, Martin and Fox are
in a tight three-way points chase, with each in a good
position to claim the series title.
"I really didn't intend to get
the division lead while seeing Dan Fox sitting in the
infield with a DNF, but that's what happens sometimes
in racing," said Smith, referring to Fox, whose
car stalled with a broken fuel pump belt. "I would've
preferred to gain first place in a more competitive
and normal racing situation, but all I can say is that
I feel sorry for him. We had a good weekend, hopefully
we'll keep the points lead and maybe Jeremy or I will
win the title for Sam. It's not over yet, Fox has had
a great year and he could still win the title too."
Shawn Dorie of St. Helens, captured
Saturdays modified main in the S & T Truck Repair/Columbia
Tavern sponsored racer owned by Al Artero of St. Helens.
Holmason and Sean Fox each captured B main victories.
"I'm pretty certain that I've
wrapped up the title, but nothing is for sure until
you actually win it, so we'll have to wait until Sept.
17, but unless it's a double points race, then I've
already clinched first place," said Faulkner, whose
pit crew includes her husband Eric, Bobby Holmason and
her dad, Paul Liner. "I've had to work hard all
year while competing with tough drivers like Fordyce,
Smith and Kari Puncochar. I couldn't ask for a better
race car and crew that Marty has provided me with and
I wouldn't even be able to compete without all their
help."
The sportsman division had identical
top-two finishes both days as Randy Allen of Sandy,
took the checkered flag in the A mains with his John's
Frame Shop/American Tire Monte Carlo. Rainier's Corey
Cook was runnerup twice in his Chevy Lumina, but he
continues to lead the series standings, followed by
Allen. Tricia "Great" Brittain of St. Helens
and Longview's Jacob Brooks & "Dunn" captured
sportsman B main wins. Scappoose drivers Kirk Brissett
and Tim Williams posted top-five A main finishes Saturday
and Tommy Elstoen of St. Helens, had a career best fourth
place A main finish Sunday.
Defending street stock champion Scott
Puncochar of Hillsboro, who is seeking a third consecutive
title, won Saturday's A main and "The Enforcer"
Terry Moss of St. Helens was a close runnerup as his
Chevy Malibu was bumper-to-bumper with Puncochar's Camaro.
In Sunday's street stock events, Portland's
Chris Hallberg had a spectacular effort as he won the
B main in his Marty's Transmission Pontiac Firebird.
The top-two finishers from this event qualify for a
spot in the A main at the rear of the 16-car lineup,
with Hallberg and Kelso's Dennis Munger in the last
row positions. Hallberg expertly maneuvered past his
rivals and was side-by-side with frontrunner Jon "Razor"
Gillett of Rainier, by the 27th lap on the quarter-mile
clay oval track. After three laps of exciting door-to-door
racing, Hallberg edged ahead on lap 30 and remained
there the last 10 circuits to get the incredible last-to-first,
come-from-behind victory.
Vernonia's "Hollywood" Gary
Meyer and Warrenton's Mark Guindon captured the mini
stock A mains. Mike Harrison of St. Helens, recorded
a season best third place finish in Saturday's mini
stock main with his Pastime Tavern/Hudson Portable Toilets
sponsored Datsun. Harrison followed with a sixth place
effort Sunday. Scott McMullen of Deer Island, recorded
two top-five A main finishes, as he was fourth Saturday
and fifth on Sunday.
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