Midget, dwarf cars make first appearance at Grays Harbor Raceway

Simpson, Margeson, Holbert and Stallsmith win feature races

By The Daily World • May 21, 2019 5:00 pm
Ray Stebbins (11t) and Nick Evans (24) race their midget cars during the Northwest Focus Midget Series on Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway. (Photo by AR Racing Videos)
Ray Stebbins (11t) and Nick Evans (24) race their midget cars during the Northwest Focus Midget Series on Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway. (Photo by AR Racing Videos)

Racing action at Grays Harbor Raceway took the checkered flag before Mother Nature on Saturday night as the Shipwreck Beads Modifieds, Northwest Focus Midgets Series, PHRA Dwarf Cars and Outlaw Tuners took to the 3/8 banked clay oval.

This was the first appearance of the 2019 season for the Northwest Focus Midgets Series, and PHRA Dwarf Cars.

Shipwreck Beads Modifieds

Casey Smith of Olympia took the early lead in the 25 lap Shipwreck Beads Modified feature event. Cosmopolis driver Tom Sweatman sat in the second position looking to track down Smith for the lead. Scott Miller of Shelton moved into third, making it a three-car battle for the lead.

Smith continued to run the middle part of the track, but the red flag quickly came out for Tacoma’s Zach Fuller after he went upside down in turn four.

On the restart, Miller looked to the outside of Smith and took over the lead, bringing Sweatman with him.

Seabeck’s Kyler Moore ran in the third spot. Sweatman and Miller jostled for the top spot midway through the race with Sweatman taking the lead.

Hoquiam’s Zack Simpson joined in on the battle, getting by Moore for third.

A late-race restart saw Simpson make a move at Miller and Sweatman.

A pass for the lead saw Simpson take over the top spot and go on to pick up the Shipwreck Beads Modifieds feature event.

Rich Holbert rounds a corner in his No. 11 dwarf car during a PHRA Dwarf Car race on Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway. (Photo by AR Racing Videos)

Rich Holbert rounds a corner in his No. 11 dwarf car during a PHRA Dwarf Car race on Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway. (Photo by AR Racing Videos)

PHRA Dwarf Cars

Erin Morgenstern of Roseburg, Ore. took to the lead in the PHRA Dwarf Car feature bringing Josh Rodgers of Longview along.

Leo Ward of Happy Valley, Ore. and Justin DeMars of Sandy, Ore. joined in on the battle. Morgenstern saw issues on the backstretch, spinning out to bring the caution flag.

Ward led the field to the green flag as DeMars and Rodgers battled for second. DeMars took over the runner-up spot and set his sights on Ward for the lead. DeMars took the lead a handful of laps later.

DeMars quickly worked his way through lap traffic as Ward and Rodgers battled for second. DeMars saw issues late into the feature, spinning in turn four to bring out another caution flag.

Rodgers took over the lead on a five-lap shootout, with Ward, and Carson’s Rich Holbert in the race for the lead.

DeMars quickly worked his way back up to fourth.

Ward and DeMars looked to try and make a last-lap pass off of turn four, but Holbert held them off to pick up the win.

DeMars, Ward, Morgenstern and Mollala, Ore. driver Henry Corbin II rounded out the top five.

Northwest Focus Midgets Series

Twenty-one Northwest Focus Midget Series cars were signed up for action on Saturday.

Kent’s Mike Stryker took the early lead on the start, but the caution flew and the start was called back.

Alger’s Shane Smith struck first on the complete restart, taking over the lead. Poulsbo’s AJ Fugitt moved into the second spot, looking to chase down Smith. A battle for third between Matt Loving of Burlington and Tacoma’s Evan Margeson saw Margeson take over the position as Fugitt stayed right close with Smith.

All three cars were within striking distance until Smith saw issues and pulled off the track, giving up the top spot to Margeson. Nik Larson of Lake Stevens and Fugitt battled for third, with Larson bringing Nick Evans of Marysville with him, shuffling Fugitt back to fifth. Margeson went on to pick up the win over Evans, Fugitt, Loving and Shoreline’s Hannah Lindquist.

Outlaw Tuners

Marlina Sheats of Olympia took to the early lead as Belfair’s Max Sanford and Zach Stallsmith of Olympia battled for second. Stallsmith looked to the outside on Lap 2 and took over the lead.

Stallsmith used the top side to pull away as Sanford and Sheats battled for second.

Sanford caught up with Stallsmith and made a pass for the lead midway through the feature event. Sanford slowly started to pull away, running the low side of the raceway, but still had no room for mistakes as Stallsmith kept him within striking distance.

Sanford bobbled in turn two on the white-flag lap, giving Stallsmith the lead.

Stallsmith took the checkered flag.

Sanford, Sheats, Lash and Chad Norton of Tenino rounded out the top five.

Racing will resume on Saturday with the Wingless Sprint Series, Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks, Outlaw Tuners and the appearance of the Vintage Modifieds.

Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.