ELMA — Midgets, modifieds, sprint cars and tuners were all in action on Saturday as Grays Harbor Raceway continued its 2018 season.
Northwest Focus Midgets Series
Dustin O’Brien took the early lead at the start but the yellow flag quickly flew for Hannah Lindquist in turn two.
On the restart, Nate Vaughn took the early lead with Shane Smith running in second. Jonathan Jorgenson and Nik Larson battled for third with Jorgenson taking the spot and setting his sights on Smith for second place. A handful of laps later, Jorgenson overtook Smith for the runner-up spot and began to track down Vaughn.
Late-race problems for Vaughn, gave Jorgenson the lead. Jorgenson stalked Vaughn and took the lead down the backstretch on lap 13.
Evan Margeson, who battled his way through the field from the 16th starting position, then passed Jorgenson on lap 23 and went on to pick up the Northwest Focus Midgets Series feature.
Shipwreck Beads Modifieds
Cosmopolis’ Sam Carlisle took the early lead on lap 25 of the Modifieds feature, but the caution flag flew several times, causing up a complete restart.
The third time around saw Carlisle take the lead over Aberdeen’s Zack Simpson, who battled with Klyer Moore for position.
Carlisle continued to pull away from Simpson and Moore, but lap traffic became a factor for Carlisle as Simpson and Moore closed in on the leader during a a long green flag run.
Contact between Carlisle and a pair of lapped cars allowed Simpson to take over the lead.
Lap 18 saw a 10-car pile-up in turn one after contact between Aberdeen’s Austin Kerrigan and Olympia’s Tyson Blood brought out the red flag.
On the restart, Simpson continued to lead over Moore and Scott Miller. Tyler Walker of Elma brought the caution out on lap 23 after spinning in turn four, setting up a green, white, checkered flag start.
On the restart, Moore and Miller made their move on Simpson, going three wide in turn two and down the backstretch with Moore taking the lead and picking up the Modified feature victory. Simpson, Miller, Carlisle, and Blood rounded out the top five.
360 Sprint Cars
Devon Borden of Raymond took the early lead in the 25 lap 360 Sprint Car feature. Everett driver Tyler Anderson sat in the second spot. Jay Cole and JJ Hickle battled for third until lap five saw the red flag come out for Borden, as he flipped his car in turn three.
Anderson took the lead on the restart from Cole and Lance Sargent. Anderson quickly pulled away from Cole to extend his lead and pull away from the pack. It was green-to-checkered after the lap five red flag, with Anderson picking up the win with a seven-second lead over Cole, Sargent, Hickle and Jeff Dunlap.
Outlaw Tuners
The 15 lap Outlaw Tuner feature saw Jeremy Jones of Wishkah jump out front early. Cory Sweatman of Aberdeen moved past Wishkah’s Don Briggs Sr. to take over second until Briggs Sr fought back racing side by side with Sweatman.
Briggs moved back into the second spot and began to track down Jones for the lead.
On a restart, Sweatman moved back into second with Briggs Sr. having tough company in Devon Harper, Max Sanford and Aberdeen’s Tyler Sundstrom — all looking to take over third place.
Jones continued to pull away from Sweatman as Briggs Sr. looked to close in for second.
A caution flag setting up a restart, where Sweatman looked to the high side and took the lead from Jones.
Jones looked to the low side in turn two and took the lead back from Sweatman on the final lap, securing his first career Outlaw Tuners feature victory. Sweatman, Briggs Sr, Sanford, and Joseph Palmer rounded out the top five.
Racing will resume next Saturday for a Memorial Day weekend event that includes a fireworks show after racing has completed. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with racing slated to begin at 7 p.m.
For more information anf full race results, visit graysharborraceway.com.
