Modifieds gear up for Miller Memorial

The Northwest Modified Series returns to Stateline Speedway Saturday night, but it won't be just another race for the open- wheel group.

The Modifieds pay tribute to the late Gary Miller at 6 p.m. with the third running of the Gary Miller Memorial.

Miller, who died of cancer in 1998, played a huge role in reviving, rebuilding and preserving the racing class.

It was through Miller's perseverance that the group has survived to become the oldest touring race group east of the Cascades. The modifieds can trace their history to 1965.

"There would be no class if Gary Miller had not stepped in," said longtime modified racer Dave Weaver of Colville. "He may not have done everything right, but he was definitely the catalyst that kept it all together."

Miller had an idea to pump life into his favorite racing class. Numbers of the open-wheel sprint coupes, or the C-Class or Early Stocks from the old Fairgrounds Speedway, had dwindled to about a half-dozen cars.

Miller invited a handful of Northport Speedway's dirt modifieds to come down to Northwest (now Stateline) Speedway for a race on the asphalt, enticed to show up by the offer of $50 tow money.

"We had five dirt cars and four regulars for that first race," recalled Weaver, who was one of those invited. "We ended up having 17 cars for the season championship."

Weaver has raced in the class ever since.

Modified officials also want to revisit history Saturday. While their numbers are not hurting, the invitation is out to any of the current Northport Modified Class drivers to come down and give their cars a spin on the asphalt.

For info, contact Dave Weaver at (509) 684-2837 (days), 684-6524 (nights) or Leroy Keele in Spokane at 325-9745.

Also on the schedule are the visiting Foreign Stocks from the coast, as well as the Street Stocks.

Kopp regains points lead

It's as if defending champ Joe Kopp and two-time champ Chris Carr are playing a 120-mph game of tag, and Kopp is `it" Saturday.

That's when the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship heads to the half-mile track at Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington for round 12 of the 20-race series.

AMA racing returns to Harrington after a year's absence. Neither Carr nor Kopp have won on the dirt oval, but that could change Saturday night.

"I'd like to get my first win at Harrington and try to open up at least a little bit of a lead on Chris," said Kopp. "I know a close championship is great for the fans, but I wouldn't mind being able to open up a good-sized lead."

Kopp, who rides a Harley-Davidson for Corbin Motorcycle Saddles, led most of this year's Grand National points race until late June when Carr, of Fleetwood, Pa., won on the half-miler at Lima, Ohio, and took over the points lead.

A month later, Kopp, of Mica, is atop the standings by two points after Carr suffered an off weekend in Charlotte, N.C. Carr crashed Saturday, and his bike caught fire. He was able to make the restart, but he had to start alone on the last row and was only able to muster a seventh-place finish.

Kopp turned in another of his consistent races in Charlotte, N.C., finishing a strong third. Kopp has just one victory to his credit this year, but has been on the podium eight times in 11 races.

Nelson wins in Seattle

Winning an NHRA divisional race is hard enough, but to accomplish the feat at a national event is even more difficult.

Hayden's Ken Nelson made it look easy last Sunday at the Northwest Nationals at Seattle International Raceway, winning the Super Comp (8.90) title.

Nelson, a 42-year-old owner of a fabrication business, beat Lynnwood's Emmett McKillop in a "breakout" finish. McKillop ran an 8.89, just under his 8.90 dial-in, while Nelson clocked a legal 8.91. Ironically, Nelson was a first-round loser in his Super Gas (9.90) car.

Along the way through the 77-car field of 8.90 index cars, Nelson had his toughest competition in the second round, when he beat full- time racer Bob Slavinski of Newark, Ohio, by just 2/1000s of a second - or as Nelson said, "under 2 inches" at the end of the quarter-mile.

Next up for Nelson, his two race cars and family pit crew, consisting of wife Michelle and daughters Sabrina, Katie and Casey, is two weeks at Boise's annual Nightfire race.

Pit stops

Spokane Raceway Park is a week away from its big race of the season, the AHRA World Finals (Aug. 10-12). . . . Drag racers will warm up Friday with another edition of high school drags (time trials 5:30) and on Saturday night with bracket racing (time trials 3:30). . . . On the oval track (time trials 5 p.m.), the Northwest Late Models return with Idaho 200 winner John Gamble vowing to make it two wins in a row. Stateline's Friday racing program (time trials 6 p.m.) includes Sportsmen, Hobby Cars, Mini-Trucks and Roadrunners. . . . For what it's worth, Monday's report of the Idaho 200 had Gamble passing Marc Groskreutz between turns three and four, when the pass actually occurred in turns one and two. . . . The NASCAR Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series returns to Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., Saturday for the running of the Parts Plus 125.

Streaks, stats

Christina LaViolette won her second straight Roadrunner main event at Stateline Speedway last Friday. . .. Jeff White won his fourth race in six tries in Hobby Stocks. . . . Randy Lasswell posted his second straight victory and fourth in his last five Sportsmen races. . . . Scott Wilhelm (Street Stocks) and Steve Morris (Mini-Trucks) each won their first races Saturday. . . . Mark DeBoodt won his first Mini-Truck race in a month and fourth overall Sunday. Scott Perry got win No. 5 this season in Street Stocks. . . . Chris Carr is the most successful active rider on the AMA circuit, with 49 career victories.

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
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