JULY, 2005: BIG ROAD RACE INFO
AVAILABLE
The Pacific Raceways Road Course is an SCAA &
NASCAR-certified, 10-turn (nine with a kink in the main
straightaway), 2.25-mile course. There is a total
elevation change of 125 feet with a 100 feet occuring in a
half-mile. The course winds through natural wooded
terrain, making it one of the most unique and challenging
courses in the United States.
Fees: Three-day Entry Fee (including practice):
$310
Two-day Entry Fee: $185
Crew: $35
Transponder: $50
Practice Day: Aug.19, 2005
Races Each Day
Minimum Purse: $2,000 (breakdown to be
decided based on car count)
Host Hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn, 1801 E. Valley Rd., Renton, WA
98055, (425)430-1414, 12 Miles from Track, $59 King, $69
Double
Northwest Legends Parts Trailer will be at the track.
Camping without hookups available at the track. Pit
Party with food and drinks on Friday Night (small fee to
be announced). For Entry Form or More information,
contact track or NW Legends:
Pacific Raceways, 31001 144th Ave SE, Kent, WA,
(253)639-5927, Bill Bailey, NW Legends & Bandoleros,
(866)695-3436,
www.nwlegends.com
JUNE 27TH, 2005: MONTANA RACEWAY PARK,
KALISPELL, MONTANA
The fast and furious legends stormed into Montana from
across the USA and Canada to compete in the National
Qualifying event. The 4th annual Legend Thunder presented
by Coors Light Racing and Rainbow Bar & Casino kicked the
weekend off with an open practice on Friday for some track
time and then for the Kickoff party at the Rainbow. The
drivers and crews were ready for some track action on the
high banked oval. 70 teams had registered for this event
making it the largest Legend Thunder ever.
The teams
rolled into the Flathead Valley from South Carolina,
Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Idaho, California,
Canada and Montana. This year 3 separate divisions would
be competing for a spot at Nationals held in Pennsylvania
this October. Also the Bandoleros were out for the INEX
sanctioned weekend.
In the SemiPro division It was Ryan Bird out of Salt Lake
City, Utah coming out with the fast time with a 14:91. #89
Grant McDonald out of Didsbury, Alberta took the B trophy
Dash and #3 driven by James Landon out of Tacoma, WA took
the checkered in the A dash, and the excitement was on
even at the start as Landon celebrated with a burn out in
the winners circle. The Legends had to earn their starting
position in the main by their Qualifying and heat races,
there was no down time they were ready to race. In the
Even Heat it was #23 out of Fife, WA taking the win over
brothers #42 Rowan Carey and #33 Nick Carey out of
Snohomish, WA. Both Careys are rookies to the Legends this
year after racing quarter midgets for the past year, these
young guns ages 16 and 19 came ready for a win!! In the
odd heat it was local driver Bryce Hilliard #29 crossing
the finish line in first beating out #44 Mike Gardner from
Snohomish, WA and #88 Ryan Bird from Utah. For the 50 lap
main event it was Carey #42 sitting on the pole next to
fast time winner #88 Bird. The race was given the green
flag and it was on. With just a few laps around the track
the yellow was out with #33 Nick Carey, #58 Mel Main out
of Roy, WA and #4 Ty Hunter out of Bend, Oregon. What a
crash, #4 took a roll over 4 times, talking with him after
the race he said it was all in slow motion, here I go
once, tuck in, over again where is the break, oh I am
going again and again, calm and smiling he gave a wave to
the crowd and Carey was picking pieces of his car out of
Hunters after the race.
The race was back on with only a couple more small mishaps
to cause cautions when the checkered flag flew it was #42
Rowan Carey taking the win over #88 Bird and #2 Jeff
Mueller out of Ball, Washington. Carey was excited to have
a win like this being his first year in the Legends.
For the Pro division it was hometown racer #48 Jake
Grosswiler taking the Fast time with a 14:800. #5 driven
by Jason Stowe out of Sumner, WA and in the A dash it was
#53 Alex Lessor out of Kalispell taking the win. Lessor
who has won the last two local Legends races has been
driving hard and wanted this race for a year now. In the
Even Heat it was #8 Chad Roth out of Kalispell taking the
win after Roth blew an engine in a practice session on
Wednesday he found 1 of 2 engines in the US had it
overnighted and then flew to Great Falls, MT to pick it
up, get it back together and be out for Legend Thunder. A
racers dedication can never be questioned. Roth beat out
#5 Stowe and #45 Dave Kindopp out of Red Deer, Alberta
Canada. In the Odd heat it was defending champion of the
Pro division #66 Micah Sampson out of Kalispell, MT taking
the checkered over #1SC Tim Brockhouse from Minneapolis,
MN and #53 Lessor. When the 50 lap main was on the crown
was roaring for this these pro legend drivers have the
fans. This pro division they were out for a win and there
was no place for a second, they raced so fast and clean,
having only one minor caution, now this was some racing.
When the one to go flag came out the crowd was on their
feet for coming out of turn four to take the Victory it
was Alex Lessor driving the #53 and then #48 Local driver
Jake Grosswiler in second and #1SC Tim Brockhouse, MN
taking the third place spot. The top 6 in the pro division
were Lessor #53, Gosswiler #48, Brockhouse #1sc, Kindopp
#45, #16 Duane Swanson out of Seattle, WA and Roth #8.
Talking with Lessor after the race in the pits, he was
still all smiles and said he still could not believe it,
he wanted this win so bad, Lessor who has really shown his
driving ability this year is the local points leader and
is hoping for a 2005 championship. The celebration would
be going on all night for the #53 team.
For the Masters Division it was the largest car count with
29 registered and 27 going on to race this group was
looking impressive on the track and with the only woman
driver in the Legend Thunder #1U out of Ogden Utah, she
was going to give these men a run for their money. It was
#6 driven by Al Brown, out of Calgary Alberta Canada who
in a practice session earlier in the day kind of had a bit
of a mishap and a few missing car parts, but he was ready
to go taking the trophy in the B dash. #24 Garrett Haxby
out of Suquamish, WA set fast time for the masters with a
14:910 and in the A dash it was Haxby #24 taking the win.
When the Even heat lined up there was 13 of the masters
ready to take win to help secure a good starting position
in the main. When the checkered flag flew it was 5* driven
by Spike Schultze out of Missoula Montana crossing the
line in first, Schultze was a rookie last year to racing
and the Legends. He beat out #14 Frank Winchel out of
Sebastopol, California and #2U John Schwinn from Salt Lake
City, UT. In the Odd heat it was Tommy Jordan #1SC out of
Hartsville, South Carolina. Jordan who attends Legend
Thunder each year has a history in racing, he has lived
the dream of many racers and at 66 years old occasionally
runs in the NASCAR Busch series. He took the win over #49
George Hill out of Vashon Island, WA and #79 local driver
driven by Lonnie Barnett who is only in his second year in
the Legends. #14 Frank Winchel earned his spot on the
pole, the Masters lined up for introductions and the crow
was again ready for some fast and furious action. The race
was about half way through the 50 lap main when race
leader #1SC Jordan came out of corner 2 a bit high and got
a bit of a mess with the #15 Mark Donner out of Vashon
Island, WA and #50 Danny Hinds out of Calgary Alberta.
What a spectacular crash the 1sc hit the wall and flipped
started rolling and as the #15 driven by Donner also got
flipped up, there was many legends on their roof. All
drivers escaped without injury, talking with Jordan after
the race he said I hit the wall closed my eyes and just
started counting the rolls. After the red flag and race
delay to get all racers safely off the track and lined up
the Masters were on the hunt again for a win. When the
race was closing in for a checkered flag the #14 Winchell
could smell the victory. He crossed the finish line in
first with #24 Garrett Haxby in second, and H20 Darrell
Buckingham out of Calgary, Alberta in third.
In the Bandolero Division Trevor Delay #9 out of Hungry
Horse, Montana set fast time for the night with a 15:61.
#16 Colby Hagen took the win in the trophy Dash. In the
heat race the point leader for the 2005 season #8 John
Hillicker took the win over Delay #9 and #3 Wrango West.
The 25 lap main event was exciting for these up and coming
racers and when the checkered flag flew it was #3 Wrano
West taking the win over #15 Patrick Aldren and in third
#16 Colby Hagen. This this the first year of Bandoleros at
Montana Raceway Park, come check out the child division
racers form 8-14.
For more race results for Legend Thunder log onto
www.montanaracewaypark.com. This weekend it is the
Firecracker USA when the NW late Model Challenge series
rolls into Montana also running this weekend is the Coors
Light Flathead Legends, Bombers and Bandoleros. Call the
track office for more information 406-257-7223.
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