The Summer Thunder Sprint Series, Shipwreck Beads Modifieds and the Northwest Focus Midget Series were in action on the 3/8 banked clay oval of Grays Harbor Raceway on Sunday night, Aug.31, for Labor Day Weekend, leading up to Monday’s World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event.

Northwest Focus Midget Series

The first feature event of the evening saw the Northwest Focus Midget Series in action for their 25-lap feature.

Granite Falls driver Nik Larson took the early lead with Garrett Thomas of McCleary in second.

The caution quickly flew for Michael Hodel of Arlington, who spun in turn four. On the restart it was Larson back in command, as a thre-car battle between Garrett Thomas, Tristin Thomas of Burlington and Shoreline’s Hannah Lindquist became the exciting race to watch.

Chance Crum of Snohomish joined in on the battle. Crum worked his way into second, looking to track down Larson for the lead. Larson had no room for mistakes as Crum was right there waiting for a chance to pass. Crum and Tristin Thomas both made a move for Larson, with Crum eventually making the pass into the top spot.

Tristin Thomas couldn’t make the pass for second, allowing Larson to try and take the lead back, but a late-race caution for Newberg, Oregon driver Elijah Gibbs, gave Garrett Thomas, Lindquist and Larson a shot at Crum for the lead.

Crum went on to take the checkered flag over Garrett Thomas, Lindquist, Larson and Snohomish driver Seth Hespe.

Heat race winners were Larson and Garrett Thomas.

Shipwreck Beads Modifieds

Scott Miller of Shelton picked up the early lead in the 22-car modified feature race, but it didn’t take long for Lawrence O’Connor of Port Hardy, BC to take over the top spot.

As the racing action picked up, the yellow flag flew for debris in turn four. On the restart, O’Connor took over the lead once again as Miller had tough company with Cosmopolis driver Tom Sweatman and Zack Simpson of Hoquiam.

Sweatman moved into second, running the high side of the raceway, looking to take the lead from O’Connor. Simpson battled Miller for third, just as the battle for the fifth position heated up between Tyson Blood of Olympia, Devan West of Shelton and Oakville driver Brian Harding.

Blood continued to stay in fifth as Harding and West battled behind him. Simpson moved into second midway through the feature on a restart and continued to run the high side.

Lap 7 saw Simpson take the lead from O’Connor and quickly pull away from the rest of the field.

O’Connor had Sweatman right there waiting to take over the runner-up position. A late-race restart gave Sweatman, Miller and O’Connor a shot at Simpson for the lead, it was Miller looking to the low side coming to the white flag but didn’t have the momentum.

Simpson picked up the win over Miller, Sweatman, O’Connor and Blood.

Heat race winners were Sweatman, Simpson and Miller.

Summer Thunder Sprint Series

The final Summer Thunder Sprint Series at Grays Harbor Raceway for the 2019 season saw a strong field of northwest sprint car drivers.

Marysville driver Colton Heath and Tyler Anderson of Everett set the front row. Heath struck first, taking the lead.

Justyn Cox of Sacramento, CA moved into second. Trevor Cook of Mount Vernon brought out the first caution of the 30-lap feature with a spin in turn one on the first lap.

Heath looked strong on the restart as Devon Borden of Raymond moved into third, looking to track down Cox and Heath.

The red flag came out on lap 2 for Baily Sucich of Granite Falls after a violent flip in turn three and four. Suchich was able to exit the vehicle under her own power.

Heath quickly caught lap traffic on a long green-flag run, maneuvering his way through on a fast track.

Cox looked to get close a few times, but couldn’t make a pass for the lead. Cox then saw problems late after contact with a lap car, bringing out the caution on lap 21.

Borden moved into the second spot, looking to take over the lead from Heath on the restart. But Heath went on to pick up the win over Borden, Mill Creek’s Cam Smith, Anderson and Burlington’s Jason Solwold.

Heat race winners were Borden, Smith, and Anderson, with Hollister, CA driver Tony Gualda picking up fast time.

Garrett Thomas Victorious In Front of Huge Crowd

The Northwest Focus Midget Series were back in action on Monday night as the support division during the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars Series.

Twenty-two midgets signed in for the evening and it was Sunday night’s feature winner Chance Crum of Snohomish leading the field to the green flag. Crum took the early lead from Shane Smith of Bow.

The third position saw the battle of Burlington’s Tristin Thomas and Garrett Thomas of McCleary. Both drivers looked to take second away from Smith. It was Tristin Thomas moving into the runner-up position, looking to track down Crum.

Alex Peck of Spanaway made it a three-car battle for third between Smith and Garrett Thomas, with Peck moving into fourth. Crum and Tristin Thomas pulled away from the rest of the field and it was on lap 7 where Tristin Thomas took the lead.

A mid-race restart saw Crum take the lead back from Tristin Thomas and it was Garrett Thomas that went for a 2-for-1 deal, taking over the lead from third position.

Thomas had no room for mistakes as Crum was right at his back bumper. Crum looked to the high side a handful of times but couldn’t make the pass.

Smith continued in third and saw tough company of Hannah Lindquist of Shoreline and Tristin Thomas.

Crum looked to make one last pass coming to the white flag, but it was Garrett Thomas picking up the win over Crum, Tristin Thomas, Smith and Lindquist.

Heat race winners were Tristin Thomas, Michael Hodel of Arlington and Smith, with Tristin Thomas also picking up the fastest time.

For information on the World of Outlaws race, which was won by Daryn Pittman on Monday, visit worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars.