Racing heats up in Elma

The Daily World

ELMA — Aberdeen’s Austin Kerrigan held a fast, tough field at bay to pick up his first win of the season and Don Briggs Sr. continues to rack up victories as Grays Harbor Raceway held its 14th round of racing on Saturday in Elma.

Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks

Austin Kerrigan of Aberdeen took the early lead from Belfair’s Rodger Perry in the 20-lap Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks feature. Perry raced hard for second with Aberdeen’s Cory Sweatman and Jack Parshall of Hoquiam until a lap 4 caution for Westport’s Taylor Miller.

On the restart, Parshall moved into second, looking to track down Kerrigan for the lead. Parshall made a move on lap eight, racing side-by-side with Kerrigan down the back stretch until the caution flag flew for Spanaway’s Tom Hecker.

Cory Sweatman moved into the second spot on the restart,with Parshall racing with Ocean Shore’s driver Jeff Daniel for third. The top three stayed very close with Parshall and Sweatman looking to pass on multiple occasions. But Kerrigan held off all contenders to pick up his first win of 2018.

Sweatman, Parshall, Shane Kerrigan of Aberdeen and Elma’s Ryen Haney rounded out the top five.

Shipwreck Beads Modifieds

Lane Zerbin of Campbell River, BC took the early lead from Olympia’s Gene Miller at the start of the 25-lap Shipwreck Beads Modified feature race.

Matthew Drager of Albany, Oregon joined in on the battle by moving into the second position. Drager wasn’t done as he chased after Zerbin, taking over the top spot a few laps later.

Seabeck’s Kyler Moore worked his way into the top three and eventually set his sights on Drager for the lead.

A three-car battle for third between Scott Miller of Shelton, Zerbin and Shelton’s Devan West ensued. West worked his way into third until contact with Miller saw West’s night end early.

Being aggressive was the key in the feature event as Moore and Drager raced hard and made contact a few times throughout the remainder of the race. Zerbin worked his way back into the top three, as a late race caution set up a five-lap battle for the win.

Zerbin took the lead on the restart, with Moore looking to chase him down. As the white flag flew, both Zerbin and Moore raced side-by-side in the final lap to the checkered flag, with Moore taking the win.

The rest of the top three saw Harding, Scott Miller and Graham Cook of Campbell River, BC round out the top five.

360 Sprint Cars

Vancouver’s Mike Romig led the field to the green flag in the 25-lap 360 Sprint Car feature.

Cam Smith of Granite Falls wasted no time getting by Romig to take an early lead while Elma’s Jason Reed moved into the third spot.

Shelton’s Jay Cole made a move for third, getting by Reed in turn four. Cole then overtook Romig and moved into second as Smith continued to pull away, working through lap traffic.

Cole made a late-race charge midway through the feature — racing side-by-side with Smith for the lead — but Smith had the momentum to hold off Cole and led all 25 laps of a caution-free 360 Sprint Car feature.

Cole, Romig, Reed and Burlington’s Trevor Cook rounded out the top five.

Outlaw Tuners

Trevor Dugent of Tacoma took the early lead with Aberdeen’s Tyler Sundstrom right at his back bumper. Dugent and Sundstrom were even until Sundstrom took the top spot.

The caution flag flew for Dugent as his hood came up, blocking his vision.

Sundstrom led Wishkah’s Jeremy Jones on the restart. Jones quickly caught Sundstrom for the lead and raced side-by-side for a handful of laps before taking over the top spot.

Sundstrom saw problems with a flat tire, bringing out the caution flag midway through the feature. Wishkah’s Don Briggs Sr. worked his way into the top three and took the lead from Jones.

Late in the feature, Belfair’s Mark Champine went for a wild ride in turn one, bringing out the red flag. Jones looked to take the lead back from Briggs Sr. on the restart, but ran out of laps as Briggs Sr. took the checkered flag.

Sundstrom, Jones, Dugent, and Danny Andrews of Belfair rounded out the top five.

Racing resumes next Friday and Saturday night for the 19th Annual Shipwreck Beads Northwest Modified Nationals featuring the Washington Modified Tour. Also on hand will be the PHRA Dwarf Cars. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with racing starting at 7 p.m.

Aberdeen’s Austin “AK47” Kerrigan races to victory in the Cut Rate Auto Parts Street Stocks feature at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma on Saturday. (Photo by AR Racing Videos)