8/20/2023
Grays Harbor Raceway
Kuntz Wins Limited Sprint Showdown Finale, Thomas, Chadwick, Lampert and Hopp Victorious!
Kuntz Wins Limited Sprint Showdown Finale, Thomas, Chadwick, Lampert and Hopp Victorious!
By: Aaron Reed
Photos by Josh Bryant
The final night of the Limited Sprint Showdown was on hand with the winner taking home $1500. Also on hand were the PMSA 600cc Micro Sprints, PHRA Dwarf Cars, Northwest Focus Midgets Series and Northwest Figure 8's.
Limited Sprints
Levi Kuntz of Carnation and Olympia's Destry Miller set the front row of the 25-lap feature. Kuntz took the early lead as Miller saw Bill Rude of Mt. Vernon battle for second. Miller ran the high side and held off the hard charging Rude. Miller set his sights on Kuntz, getting to the back bumper early on. Lap 3 saw the caution flag fly for Arlington's Axel Oudman stopped in turn two. On the restart Miller went to the high side to make a run at Kuntz for the lead. Rude was close, waiting for a mistake. Kuntz and Miller put some distance on Rude, as the battle for the fourth position between Kiera Zylstra of Monroe and Mt. Vernon driver Steve Vague was the race to watch. Both drivers looked to track down Rude for third. Zylstra and Vague battled for multiple laps with Zylstra hanging on to fourth. Kuntz worked his way through lap traffic on a long green flag run. Lap 20 saw the caution flag for Oak Harbor's Dustin Gehring make contact with the infield tire, breaking the front axle ending his evening. Kuntz led Miller, Rude, Zylstra and Vague to the green flag. Vague looked to make a run getting side by side with Rude, contact between both saw Vague make contact with the wall, shuffling him back to fifth. Tacoma's Samuel Strange brought out the red flag on Lap 21, getting upside down in turn two. Strange exited the car and was ok. A four-lap shootout between Kuntz, Miller, Rude and the rest of the field saw a great restart by Kuntz. Rude looked to make a bid for second on the inside. Kuntz continued to put distance on Miller and picked up the win and $1500. Miller, Rude, Zylstra, and Vague rounded out the top five. Heat race winners were Oudman and Gehring in the first set, with Vague and Cory Swatzina of Sedro Woolley winning the second. Kuntz also picked up the dash earlier in the evening.
Northwest Focus Midgets Series
Jeff Westergard of Sedro Woolley led the field to the green flag. Westergard took the early lead with Bow's Shane Smith running in second. Smith worked his way to the low side of Westergard, taking over the top spot. Alex Peck of Federal Way ran in third as Elma's Garrett Thomas looked for a podium spot early on. The top four were right at each other's back bumper. Peck looked to the low side of Westergard, moving into second, bringing Thomas with him. Smith had some slight distance on Peck, Thomas and Westergard. Peck looked low in turn one, taking the lead. Thomas moved into second, shuffling Smith to third. Westergard battled with Smith, working his way back into the top three. Peck saw lap traffic on lap 10, with Thomas waiting for any mistake. Peck and Thomas battled side by side for a handful of laps, with Thomas taking over the lead on lap 14. A pair of Arlington drivers, Levi Harless and Ashley Thompson battled it out for the fifth position. Smith worked his way back into third late in the feature, shuffling Westergard back to fourth. In a caution free race, it was Thomas picking up the win, Peck, Smith, Westergard and Harless rounded out the top five. Three heat races earlier in the evening were Thompson, Thomas and Smith taking the checkered flag.
PHRA Dwarf Cars
Mike Chadwick of Hillsboro, Ore and Vernonia, Ore's Doug Davenport set the front row of the 25-lap feature. Chadwick took the early lead but a hard charging Corey Esteban of Gaston, Ore took the command on the opening lap. Chadwick continued in second as Davenport saw Mollala, Ore driver Henry Corbin III battle for third. Corbin III took the podium spot with Davenport looking to take it back. Both drivers raced side by side for numerous laps. Chadwick stayed close to the back bumper of Esteban, looking to strike at any time for the lead. Rob Glenney of Redmond, Ore moved into the top five, getting by Portland, Ore's Jim Fischer. Chadwick looked to the low side of Esteban in turn one to take over the lead as both drivers encountered lap traffic. Both drivers continued their battle from Friday night, with Chadwick hoping to be one position better. Davenport worked his way back into third, with Corbin III right on his back bumper and continuing their side-by-side race. Esteban saw heavy lap traffic ahead, allowing Chadwick to make his move. Both drivers split two lapped cars going down the front stretch making it four wide, as Chadwick took over the lead. Corbin III worked his way back into the top three as Davenport saw lap traffic. Chadwick and Esteban saw the white flag, one last shot for Esteban. Chadwick ran the low side of the 3/8 banked clay oval, Esteban went to the high side causing a drag race to the checkered. It was Chadwick picking up the win in a no caution feature, Esteban, Corbin III, Davenport and Glenney rounded out the top five. Esteban and Corbin III picked up the heat races earlier on.
PMSA 600cc Micro Sprints
Corbett, Ore's Doug Pirtle and Gage Ferrando of Scio, Ore brought the field to the green flag. Pirtle took the early lead. Carson's Paul Cengic moved into second, looking to take over the lead from Pirtle. A five-car battle for the lead saw Barry Lampert of Mollala, Ore and Olympia driver Ed Hernandez looking for the top spot. Pirtle continued to lead, as Cengic, Ferrando, and Lampert battled for second. All three drivers made their way to the back bumper of Pirtle. Lampert moved into the runner up position, shuffling Ferrando to third. Lap 5 saw Lampert take over the lead. Ferrando moved into second as Pirtle ran in third. Cengic and Hernandez looked to work their way into the top three as Pirtle saw tough company. Cengic looked low a few times, making a successful pass in turn four on lap 10. Lampert and Ferrando put a straight away lead on Cengic, Pirtle and Hernandez. Ferrando looked to make a charge for the lead but it was Lampert picking up the win, going back-to-back on the weekend. Ferrando, Cengic, Pirtle and Hernandez rounded out the top five. Cengic picked up the heat race.
Northwest Figure 8's
The only stop for the 2023 season saw a 15-lap feature event. Kenny Spear of Enumclaw took the early lead, as Randy Moffatt of Everett and Monroe's Peyton Hopp battled for second. A very wet racetrack made for technical conditions as Spear continued to lead. Hopp looked to make a bid for the top spot, making contact with Spear. Hopp went too high in one of the corners with Spear taking over the lead. Hopp and Spear raced down the straightaway with Hopp taking over. Moffat joined in on the battle getting by both Spear and Hopp for the lead. Hopp looked to put on a battle with Moffatt, taking command midway through the race. Hopp stayed close, waiting for any mistake by Moffatt. Both drivers had to get on the throttle at the intersection, as Zach Bristol of Snohomish was heading down the straightaway. Hopp took over the lead once again and went on to pick up the win. Moffatt, Spear and Bristol rounded out the field. Hopp also picked up the win early on, making it a clean sweep.
Racing will resume next Saturday night as the 360 Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Northwest Focus Midgets and Super Stocks will be in action. Gates open at 4:30PM with racing at 6PM. For more information go to www.graysharborraceway.com.
- 17M Shane Smith, 2. 66 Jeff Westergard, 3. 17 Kyle Hanson, 4. 12 Jason Thomas, 5. 5W Gary Wegener, 6. 58 JD Lewis
A-Main: - Garrett Thomas, 2. Peck, 3. Smith, 4. Westergard, 5. Harless, 6. Thompson, 7. Schaaf, 8. Pierce, 9. Foster, 10. Hanson, 11. Jason Thomas, 12. Wegener, 13. Christmas, 14. Milner, 15. Shawley, 16. Mills, 17. Lewis, 18. Carlson
PMSA 600cc Micro Sprints
Heat Race: 37 Paul Cengic
A-Main: - 33L Barry Lampert, 2. 1X Gage Ferrando, 3. 37 Paul Cengic, 4. 00X Doug Pirtle, 5. 33 Ed Hernendez, 6. 66D Chad Davis, 7. 4 Derek Pressley
Figure 8's
Heat Race: 16 Peyton Hopp
A-Main: - 16 Peyton Hopp, 2. 102 Randy Moffat, 3. 38 Kenny Spear, 4. 07JR Zach Bristol
Submitted By: Shaun Hulbert
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