Metcalf wins Demo Derby

YAKIMA, Wash. — Eric Metcalf survived the Demo Derby and Josh Washington won the Hornets main leading up to a post-race fireworks display that produced a packed house at Yakima Speedway on Friday.

Metcalf outlasted Landon Shoemaker and Andrew Roberts to win the annual Demo Derby.

Washington paced a field of 14 cars to the finish line in the 20-lap Hornets finale.

Demo Derby

Fast time: Jake Breshears 18.068. B Dash: Mark Bess. A Dash: Bryan Moser. Heat 1: Donnie Stevens. Heat 2: Breshears. Powder Puff Heat: Crystal VanAmburg. Boat Race: Mark Bess. Officials Race: Ted Pollock.

Demo Final: Eric Metcalf, Landon Shoemaker, Andrew Roberts.

Hornets

Fast time: Tim Breshears 17.618. B Dash: Keith Erickson, Josh Parmentier, Anthony VanLeven, Nathan Voyles. A Dash: Josh Washington, Chris Marang, Breshears, Daniel Morfin. B Heat: Parmentier, Ryan Kallenberger, Melissa Maggard, Eric Coble, Erickson. A Heat: Jessica Tidrick, Washington, Michael Beck, Breshears, Morgan Morrison. Powder Puff Heat: Julie Melville.

Main event: Josh Washington, Greg Gargett, Parmentier, Coble, Marang, Maggard, Chris Morrison, Erickson, M. Morrison, Voyles, Kallenberger, Breshears, Morfin, VanLeven.

Hargraves wins Late Model main

YAKIMA, Wash. — Erick Hargraves won the Late Model main event Saturday to cap the evening’s racing at Yakima Speedway.

Alex Kerslake finished second after winning the B dash earlier in the night.

In the Sportsman class, Randy Marshall Jr. backed up his fast lap time of 23.127 seconds  to win the main event.

Jay Younker set a track record in the Pure Stocks class with a lap of 24.410 on his way to winning the main.

Josh Parmentier won the Hornets main, while Donnie Stevens took the Bump to Pass main.

Late Models

Fast time: Owen Riddle, 19.009 seconds. B dash: Alex Kerslake, Marcus Maggard, Lenard Barthel, Bill Mills. A dash: Dan Obrist, Mike Zamora, Owen Riddle, Scott Walker. Main: Erick Hargraves, Kerslake, Gary Longley, Jesse Brown, Barthel, Maggarg, Mills, Zamoa, Walker, Ron Frazier, Jack Mondor, Ron Bemis, Obrist, Riddle.

Sportsman

Fast time: Randy Marshall Jr., 23.127. B dash: Reese Kastl, Kevin Taylor, Jesse Vincent, Terry Taylor. A dash: Marshall, Mel Patnode, Jeff Stevenson, Thomas Bescoter Sr. B heat: K. Taylor, Vincent, Dan Wilson, Bobby Stewart, T. Taylor. A heat: Stevenson, Marshall, Patnode, Benscoter, Kastl. Main: Marshall, Patnode, Benscoter, T. Taylor, Don Klang, Wilson, Stewart, K. Taylor, Kastl, Vincent, Stevenson.

Pure stocks (unofficial)

Fast time: Jay Younker, 24.410 (track record). B dash: Terry Cook, Tyson Richter, Derek Raptcheff. A dash: Joe Estep, Younker, Ron Pepper, Jeff Liebert. Heat: Younker, Raptcheff, Cook, Estepp, Richter. Main: Younker, Liebert, Pepper, Estep, Raptcheff, Cook.

Hornets

B dash: Jessica Tidrick, Keith Erickson, Anthony VanLeven, James Nortman; A dash: Ryan Kallenberger, Greg Gargett, Josh Washington, Josh Permentier; B heat: Chris Marang, Daniel Morfin, Zach Beaman, Eric Coble, Norman; A heat: Kallenberger, Washington, Parmentier, Gargett, Tim Breshears; Main: Parmentier, Morfin, Kellenberger, Washington, Gargett, Marang, Erickson, Beaman, Norman, Michael Beck, Coble, Breshears, Corey Ogen, VanLeven, Chris Morrison.

Bump to Pass

B dash: Cody Denton, Tim Stockwell, Leo Wood; A dash: Donnie Stevens, Crystal Richter, Jake Breshears; Heat: Richter, Breshears, Stevens, Denton; Main: Stevens, Breshears, Denton, Stockwell, Wood, Richter.

Local report–Beetles third in Triple Play tourney

TACOMA — Gibby Briones threw a four-hitter with five strikeouts to lead the Yakima Pepsi Beetles to a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Krush in the third-place game in the Tacoma Triple Play Senior Legion tournament Sunday.

Briones allowed a run in the first inning before shutting out the Krush the rest of the way.

Nick Lombardi went 1-for-2 with an RBI for the Beetles (11-14), who won despite collecting just five hits themselves.

Seattle Krush    100    000    0    —    1    4    2

Yakima    011    100    x    —    3    5    3

Courtney and Sherwin; Briones and Lombardi.

Highlights: Gibby Briones (Y) 5 Ks; Robbie Alter (Y) 2-3; Tyler Berman (Y) 1-2; Nick Lombardi (Y) 1-2, RBI.

YAKIMA VALLEY 13, RENO A’S 11: At Reno, Nevada, Jake Fife and Thomas Wilcox both homered twice to lead the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak in the non-league game.

Wilcox finished with four RBI, and Fife drove in three runs, with all of their RBI coming via home runs.

Yakima Valley (17-2) plays the Reno Knights today in another non-league game before opening play in the Reno Tournament on Tuesday.

Yakima Valley    401    304    1    —    13    17    3

Reno A’s    120    206    0    —    11    12    1

Welton, Olson (5), Hinton (6) and Snider; DeWeese, Barry (4), Boman (7) and Farthing.

Highlights: Jake Fife (YV) 3-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI; Thomas Wilcox (YV) 4-5, 2 HR, 3-run HR 1st, 4 RBI; Trevor Dallmann (YV) 2-4, 2-run 1b; Cory Urquhart 2-3, RBI.

TENNIS

Carlson wins Classic title

Tyler Horn extended his streak of consecutive games won but Jeff Carlson ended up with the trophy after he rallied to top Van Horn 0-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the Men’s Open singles final in the YCTA Spring Classic at Kissel Park.

Van Horn hadn’t dropped a game in the tournament entering Sunday’s final and kept the streak going by winning the first set, before Carlson, the West Valley High standout, rallied to not only end that streak but capture the match as well.

Men’s open singles — final: Jeff Carlson d. Tyler Van Horn 0-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Men’s 3.5 singles — final: Robert Bjur d. David Paollela 6-1, 6-1.

Boys 18-under singles — final: John Olsen d. Austin Wilson 6-0, 6-2.

Men’s 3.5 doubles — final: Chris Clark-Danny Mullens d. Daniel Wenker-Dan Wenker 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Girls 18-under singles — final: Ali Sellsted d. Rosetti Celis 6-2, 6-2.

Junior doubles — final: Taylor Bobovsky-Sophia Ro d. Holly Grimm-Chris Lopaze 6-4, 6-2.

Mixed open doubles: Max Brown-Alexis Filliol d. Margaret Haines-Kathleen Goyette 6-7, 6-4, 6-4; Cory Bemis-Casie Snyder d. Margaret Haines-Kathleen Goyette 6-3, 6-4; Ann Elise Anderson-Cooper Anderson d. Max Brown-Alexis Filliol 6-3, 6-2; Ann Elise Anderson-Cooper Anderson d. Margaret Haines-Kathleen Goyette -3, 6-2; Cory Bemis-Casie Snyder d. Max Brown-Alexis Filliol 6-4, 6-3; Cory Bemis-Casie Snyder d. Ann Elise Anderson-Cooper Anderson 6-3, 6-4.

Girls 14-under singles: McKenzie Kieser d. Caroline Busey 3-6, 6-4, 10-3; Carly Schmidt d. McKenzie Kieser 6-4, 5-7, 10-3; Margaret Busey d. Caroline Busey 6-2, 6-3; Margaret Busey d. Carly Schmidt 5-7, 6-4, 10-4; Margaret Busey d. McKenzie Kieser 6-1, 6-1; Carly Schmidt d. Caroline Busey 6-2, 6-1.

Boys 14-under singles: Sean Singco d. Joseph Shieh 6-1, 6-2; Matt Maki d. Joseph Shieh 6-2, 6-2; Matt Maki d. Sean Singco 6-3, 7-5.

FASTPITCH

JRW take 2nd, Gamblers 3rd

PORTLAND — Jason Grow went 2-for-3 with an RBI, but JRW & Associates fell to the Portland Pirates 8-2 in the championship game of the Portland Rose Cup fastpitch tournament Sunday.

JRW won its previous two games Sunday, besting Cleon’s of Tacoma 3-0 as Jason Wright threw a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts, and the Southern Oregon Bandits 9-5, to advance to the title game.

Portland got to the final with a 5-2 victory over the Yakima Gamblers, who finished third.

JRW & Associates    100    110    0    —    3    6    2

Cleon’s (Tacoma)    000    000    0    —    0    4    1

Wright and Grow; Tungsvik and Sanders.

Highlights: Tim Roinestad (JRW) solo HR; Tom Majers (JRW) 1-2, RBI; Joe Ozuna (JRW) 1-3, RBI; Jason Wright (JRW) 13 Ks.

JRW & Associates    420    200    0    —    8    9    4

S. Oregon Bandits    310    001    0    —    5    9    4

Wright, Penner (1), Wright (5) and Grow; Dower, Trotter (1) and Martinez.

Highlights: Troy Grow (JRW) 3-4, 3 RBI; Tim Fischer (JRW) 2-run 2b.

Yakima Gamblers    100    000    1    —    2    9    1

Portland Pirates    011    021    x    —    5    6    0

Seward, Robinson (5) and Root; Saule and Blevens.

Highlights: Kevin Root (YG) 1-2, RBI; Jason Scheibner (YG) 2-3; Casey Fiest (YG) RBI.

Portland Pirates    300    310    1    —    8    10    1

JRW & Associates    000    101    0    —    2    7    2

Soule and Blevens; Wright, Woods (4) and Grow.

Highlights: Jason Grow (JRW) 2-3, RBI; Adam Fahsholtz (JRW) 1-3, RBI.

AUTO RACING

Thompson wins Alliance Main

Rick Thompson endured a crash-filled Main event to capture the Northwest Pro 4 Alliance class race Saturday night at Yakima Speedway.

Thompson, from Prosser, led the final 25 laps, beating Matt Melby to the finish line in a race that featured six yellow cautions and three red flags.

The Northwest Pro 4 Alliance is a traveling racing group featuring four-cylinder Late Model-styled cars from different clubs and independent racers across the country. Saturday’s 30-car field featured drivers from Florida, California, Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Washington.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Northwest Pro 4 Alliance

Fast time: Steve Thompson 20.053 (track record). B Dash: Tom Keehan, Terry Rennek, Chester Thorson, Dan Hale. A Dash: Rick Thompson, Steve Thompson, Kurt Madsen, Bud Rumsey. B Main: (top 4 move up to A Main): John Musser, Steve Shovaers, Shelby Minor-Ball, Larry Bodoux, Robert Golden, Jeff Swanson, Eddie Secord, Jerry Koepping. A Main: Rick Thompson, Matt Melby, John Grosvenor, Kameron McKeehan, Secord, Madsen, Travis Allen, Rob Powers, Keehan, Shovaers, Wayne Dillon, Bodoux, Hale, Minor-Ball, Koepping, Thorson, Swanson, Golden, S. Thompson, Johnny Rumsey, Musser, Craig Forney, Jeff Jones, Charles McDonald, B. Rumsey, John Jackson. Lap leaders: Forney 1-28, R. Thompson, Madsen 34, R. Thompson 35-60.

Sportsman

Fast time: Randy Marshall, Jr. 23.122. B Dash: Larry Norman, Kevin Taylor, Jerry Walker, Jr., Jesse Vincent. A Dash: Mel Patnode, Marshall, Jr., Reese Kastl, Thomas Benscoter, Sr. B Heat: K. Taylor, Ron Morton, Terry Taylor, Walker, Jr., Norman. A Heat: Vincent, Jason Huffines, Benscoter, Sr., Marshall, Jr., Don Klang. Main: Randy Marshall, Jr., Benscoter, Sr., Huffines, Klang, Vincent, Walker, Jr., Norman, T. Taylor, K. Taylor, Morton, Dan Wilson, Kastl, Patnode. Lap leaders: K. Taylor 1-3, Patnode 4-6, Marshall, Jr. 7-30.

Hornets

B Dash: Josh Parmentier, Chris Marang, Keith Erickson, Milo John. A Dash: Ryan Kallenberger, Jessica Tidrick, Josh Washington, Daniel Morfin. B Heat: Greg Gargett, Parmentier, Erickson, Robert Albert, Marang. A Heat: Tim Breshears, Tidrick, Washington, Chris Morrison, Morfin. Main: Greg Gargett, Parmentier, Washington, Kallenberger, Erickson, Tidrick, Morrison, Albert, Breshears, Michael Beck, Marang, John.

Youth Hornets

Dash: Joe Roberts, Kyler Conduff, Cord Jackman. Heat: Roberts, Conduff, Jackman. Main: Kyler Conduff, Roberts, Jackman. Lap leaders: Conduff 1-15.

Bump to Pass

Dash: Jake Breshears, Crystal Richter, Donnie Stevens, Joe Stevens. Heat: D. Stevens, Breshears, J. Stevens, Richter. Main: Jake Breshears, D. Stevens, Richter, J. Stevens. Lap leaders: Richter 1-6, D. Stevens 7, Richter 8-10, Breshears 11-15.

YOUTH BASEBALL

West Valley Tournament

Yakima Valley Peppers 10, West Valley Baseball Club 5 (YV: Kyle Fickes 4-4, RBI 2b, 2 runs; Kurt Lindemann 3-4, 3 RBI, run; Stephan Schmidt 2 RBI; D.J. Smith 2 RBI as the Peppers (8-5) finished third. WV: Gil Plath 2-4, 2b, HR; Ty Galloway 2-4 as WV fell to 8-7).

Snohomish Steel 5, Naches 4 (Championship game; no details reported).

Non-league

Kent Bulldogs 9, Yakima Outcasts 0 (Yakima: Kevin Duncan 1-2; Josh WhiteElk 1-2; Zach O’Hara 1-2).
Yakima Outcasts 15, Seattle Shockwave 2 (Yakima: Zach Alexander 2-3, 2 RBI; Kevin Duncan 2-3, 4 RBI; Jens Jensen 2-3, 2 RBI; Josh WhiteElk CG, 3 K’s).

Riddle earns 2nd straight win

YAKIMA, Wash. — Owen Riddle of Naches won his second straight Late Model race, setting up a shot at three-in-a-row bonus money, during Saturday night’s racing action at Yakima Speedway.

Riddle seized the lead from Darren Stordahl on the seventh lap and set the pace for the rest of the 60-lap main event. Prosser’s Scott Walker, who set fast time with 19.007-second qualifying lap, came up for second ahead of Stordahl.

Jay Younker beat Jeff Liebert to the line by a car length to win the 25-lap Pure Stock main. Daniel Morfin (Hornets), Kyler Conduff (Youth Hornets) and Joe Stevens (Bump to Pass) were Saturday’s other winners.

Late Model

Fast time: Scott Walker, 19.007. B dash: Jesse Brown, Bill Mills, Alex Kerslake, Jack Mondor. A dash: Ron Bemis, Dan Obrist, Owen Riddle, Scott Walker. Main event (60 laps): Owen Riddle, Scott Walker, Darren Stordahl, Zamora, Mondor, Kerslake, Jesse Brown, Mills, Lenard Barthel, Marcus Maggard.

Pure Stock

Fast time: Jeff Liebert, 24.855. B dash: Rob Allen, Terry Cook, Derek Raptcheff. A dash: Ron Pepper, Joe Estep, Liebert, Jay Younker. A heat: Younker, Pepper, Liebert, Allen, Cook. Main event (25 laps): Jay Younker, Liebert, Allen, Estep, Cook, Pepper, Raptcheff.

Hornets

B dash: Daniel Morfin, Anthony Van Leven, Michael Beck, Grandpa Moran. A dash: Tim Breshears, Greg Gargett, Josh Washington, Ryan Kallenberger. B heat: Morfin, Eric Appleby, Cody Denton, Van Leven, Beck. A heat: Gargett, Washington, Jessica Tidrick, Chris Morrison, Keith Erickson. Main event (20 laps): Daniel Morfin, Washington, Kallenberger, Tidrick, Morrison, Appleby, Denton, Breshears, Van Leven, Beck, Gargett, Chris Marang, Josh Parmentier, Keith Erickson, Milo John.

Youth Hornets

Dash: Kyler Conduff, Christian Hall, Joe Roberts, Abigail Martin. Heat: Roberts, Hall, Conduff, Martin. Main event (15 laps): Kyler Conduff, Roberts, Hall, Martin.

Bump to Pass

B dash: Francisco Rojas, Julie McAlpin, Crystal Richter. A dash: Donnie Stevens, Jake Breshears, Joe Stevens. Heat: Breshears, J. Stevens, D. Stevens, McAlpin, Rojas. Main event (15 laps): Joe Stevens, D. Stevens, Breshears, Richter, McAlpin, Rojas.

Longton third on NW Tour

POST FALLS, Idaho — Moxee’s Mike Longton didn’t get his third straight win but he still finished third in the ASA Northwest Tour’s iRacing 125 at Stateline Speedway on Saturday.

Despite starting last because of a mechanical problem during qualifying, Jay Sauls of Puyallup rallied for the win ahead of Portland’s Joey Tanner.

The Tour moves next to the road course at Pacific Raceways in Kent on July 27-28.

Shoemakers 1-2 in Stocks at dirt track

YAKIMA, Wash. — Daric Shoemaker beat his brother Blair to the line in the Stocks main event at State Fair Raceway over the weekend. The race drew a season-high 14 entries.

Eric Carver captured the Hornets main. The next racing is scheduled for June 20.

Stocks: 1, Daric Shoemaker; 2, Blair Shoemaker; 3, Brent Townely; 4, Vaile Thompson; 5, Bill Morgan; 6, Harold Emmons; 7, Larry Tracy; 8, John Raney; 9, Mark Spittlemeister; 10, No. 16; 11, Dylan Dow; 12, James Emmons; 13, No. 64 car; 14, Steve Latt.

Hornets: 1, Eric Carver; 2, Wayne Griffith; 3, No. 50 car; 4, Sylvia Stahl; 5, Kristi Tracey; 6, No. 9 car; 7, No. 22 car; 8, Austin Stahl; 9, Mark Brown; 10, No. 18.

Bump to Pass: 1, No. 4 car; 2, Merle Sliltner; 3, Bobby Trujluo; 4, No. 53 car; 5, No. 52 car; 6, Mark Mager; 7, Peppie Rojas.

Modifieds: 1, Duane DAmico; 2, Rick Sjogren; 3, Pat Merritt; 4, No. 7 car; 5, Zane Harris.

Longton wins wins second NW Tour race

Much to the delight of his hometown fans, Mike Longton outraced a stellar field to capture this ASA Northwest Late Model Tour’s Better-All Auto Sales 125 Saturday night at Yakima Speedway.

Longton, who set the tone for the evening by posting the fast lap of 18.887 seconds in qualifying, won his second straight tour race.

The Moxee driver sat back in the pack for most of the race, finally taking the lead on lap 88. Gary Lewis reclaimed the lead after a restart following a yellow flag on lap 104, but Longton pushed back in front for good on lap 111.

Longton held on for a half second victory over Lewis. Joey Tanner finished third, with Brent Harris fourth, and Jason Fraser rounding out the top five.

In other racing Saturday, Mike Van Amburg led all 40 laps to win the R.J.’s Tire Factory Super Streets over Mike Easley, and Randy Marshall Jr. earned a three-in-a-row bonus for winning the Burger Ranch Sportsman main.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

ASA Northwest Late Model Tour

Fast time: Mike Longton 18.887. Dash: 1, Owen Riddle; 2, Longton; 3, Jason Fraser; 4, Pete Harding. Main (125 laps): 1, Mike Longton; 2, Gary Lewis; 3, Joey Tanner; 4, Kelly Mann; 5, Brent Harris; 6, Fraser; 7, Brad Stanwood; 8, Mark Sundberg; 9, Jared Vorse; 10, Josh Roberts; 11, Jay Sauls; 12, Harold Raczynski; 13, Erick Hargraves; 14, Allen Cress; 15, Amanda MacDonald; 16, Marty Wason; 17, Harding; 18, Riddle. Lap leaders: Vorse 1-2, Mann 3-20, Lewis 21-87, Longton 88-104, Lewis 105-110, Longton 111-125.

Super Streets

Fast time: Chet Beaman 21.599. B Dash: Mike Van Amburg, Andy Beaman, Ed St. Mary, Mike Saylors. A Dash: Tony Huffines, Gary Flammang, Zach Beaman, Beaman Sr. B Heat: Van Amburg, A. Beaman, Ben St. Mary, Billy Benge, Saylors. A Heat: Flammang, Dusty John, C. Beaman, Huffines, Z. Beaman. Main (40 laps): Mike Van Amburg, Mike Easley, Z. Beaman, C. Beaman Sr., John, Benge, Huffines, Flammang, St. Mary, Saylors, A. Beaman. Lap leaders: Van Amburg 1-40.

Sportsman

Fast time: Mel Patnode 23.255. B Dash: Kevin Taylor, Larry Norman, Don Klang, Terry Taylor. A Dash: Jeff Stevenson, Buck Noel Jr., Patnode, Randy Marshall Jr. B Heat: K. Taylor, Norman, Ed St. Mary, Jerry Walker Jr., Ron Morton. A Heat: Stevenson, Marshall Jr., Patnode, Reese Kastl, Thomas Benscoter Sr. Main (30 laps): Randy Marshall Jr., Stevenson, Patnode, Jesse Vincent, Kastl, Noel Jr., Benscoter Sr., K. Taylor, Walker Jr., Don Klang, St. Mary, T. Taylor, Morton, Norman. Lap leaders: Taylor 1-8, Marshall Jr. 9-30.

Northwest Tour runs late

YAKIMA, Wash. — Saturday’s ASA Northwest Tour race at the Yakima Speedway ran past the Herald-Republic’s press time. Here are the results as provided by event organizers:

Pos         Start Pos              Laps       Name    Hometown         Nat/State
1              10           125         Mike Longton    Moxee                 WA
2              5              125         Gary Lewis          Bothell                  WA
3              6              125         Joey Tanner       Portland               OR
4              4              125         Kelly Mann         Monroe               WA
5              1              125         Brent Harris        E. Wenatchee    WA
6              9              125         Jason Fraser       Snohomish         WA
7              13           125         Brad Stanwood  Portland              OR
8              14           125         Mark Sundberg  Seattle                WA
9              2              125         Jared Vorse        Lacey                     WA
10           15           125         Josh Roberts      Ephrata                WA
11           12           125         Jay Sauls              Puyallup               WA
12           11           125         Harold Raczynski  Duvall                WA
13           3              125         Erick Hargraves  Yakima                 WA
14           16           125         Alan Cress           Albany                  OR
15           17           124         Amanda MacDonald     Ephrata  WA
16           18           121         Marty Wason     Chelan                  WA
17           8              34           Pete Harding      Surrey                   B.C.
18           7              19           Owen Riddle      Naches                 WA

Speedway set for Tour

YAKIMA, Wash. — Mike Longton and his team are hot at just the right time.

The Moxee driver shook off two sub-par efforts to start the ASA Northwest Tour season, then took home $10,000 for winning the Big Sky 150 in Montana two weeks ago.

And now Longton has an opportunity to use that momentum on his home track.

In the first of two visits this season to Yakima Speedway, the Northwest Tour will highlight Saturday’s racing slate with the Better-All Auto Sales 125. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 6.

“I think our game would have been elevated coming to our home track even without the Montana win,” Longton said. “This just makes it even more exciting to be racing at home with a chance to go for another win.”

Longton, the Speedway’s 2008 Late Model track champion and the reigning Fall Classic winner, looked sharp during the season-opening Apple Cup weekend but a broken axle cut his main event short. Then in the Tour’s first two races, he had finishes of 17th and eighth.

Too good to be kept down for long, the 28-year-old Longton broke through at Mission Valley Speedway despite less than ideal experience on the 3/8-mile oval in Polson, Mont.

“Any big race is really special with all the great competition that’s out there right now,” he said. “This win is definitely up at the top of the list that’s for sure.”

Longton sits fifth in season points and is one spot behind the other local full-time driver on the Tour, Toppenish’s Erick Hargraves. He has three top-10 finishes and the best finish was third behind Longton in Montana.

The Tour’s depth has provided three different winners — Garrett Evans and Gary Lewis are the others — and none of them has the points lead. In the top three of all three races so far, Brent Harris of East Wenatchee owns a 13-point lead over Lewis in the 11-race circuit.

Something to watch for is the Tour’s new restart procedure, the commit cone, which creates two rows for every restart.

POINTS STANDINGS

Through three events

Top 10 — 1, Brent Harris (East Wenatchee) 354; 2, Gary Lewis (Snohomish) 341; 3, Kelly Mann (Monroe) 336; 4, Erick Hargraves (Toppenish) 325; 5, Mike Longton (Moxee) 321; 6, Dan Rhodes (Yelm) 305; 7, Brad Stanwood (Portland) 300; 8, Joey Tanner (Portland) 290; 9, Allen Cress (Albany, Ore.) 284; 10, Jay Sauls (Puyallup) 276.

Bennett in NASCAR race

YAKIMA, Wash. — In his third event of the season on the NASCAR Camping World West tour, Ellensburg’s Travis Bennett will compete this weekend at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore.

Driver for the Ferrari-Carsaro racing team, Bennett is experienced on the .375-mile oval and on a roll heading into the Toyota/Bi-Mart 150.

Bennett won a 150-lap race in Roseburg two years ago, and last week he led from start to finish in a Late Model race at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.

Bennett expects to run several more NASCAR West events, competing on the ovals in the Carsaro-owned equipment and on road courses in Dick Midgley-owned cars.

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