DOUGLAS COUNTY SPEEDWAY

ASA NW SprintCars ~ Montgomery-Jackson-Roduner

credit: JON AUSTRIA / N-R staff photo

STINGERS INVADE THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SPEEDWAY

By BZ ZELLER

MAY 10, 2008

Andy Nelson experienced an interactive meaning of taking his family out to the Douglas County Speedway Saturday night.

Nelson, who races in a division that was scheduled off until next weekend, watched his 14-year-old son, Andy Jr. win the inaugural Junior Stinger main event. Prior to his son’s racing debut, the senior Nelson made mechanical adjustments on his car, while his wife, Heidi, was working the front gate ticket booth. Meanwhile, Landon, his youngest son was sitting with his grandmother in the grandstand. Landon was randomly chosen to wear a Tommy Willie headset and be able to listen in on the American Speed Association/ Premier Division Late Model driver’s ‘in race’ communications.

“It turned out to be a pretty cool night for the family,” Andy Nelson said. “I really liked watching my son race and Landon definitely got a kick with wearing the headset. With Heidi working the booth and my mom going, it’s just a great way to get the whole family out there (speedway).”

The youngest Nelson, a first-grader at Fir Grove Elementary, was able to listen in on the frustrations of the ASA Oregon Duck race team. Willie led all the early laps of the Premier Division feature, but was eventually passed by Wade Koens and later drew heavy contact from a fellow racer and crashed into the front shoot wall.

“I was the first one to know that he wasn’t hurt, it was cool,” Landon said. “After the race I got an autographed picture of the car and driver. Plus, my brother was the champion in his first race. Sweet!”

Roseburg’s Koens found an open seam coming out of Turn 2 on Lap 14 of the 30-Lap ASA feature and led the final 16 circuits to the checkered flag. A caution flag late in the race drew Koens and Matt Klaas, side by side, but Koens in his No. 28 was able to stave off the No. 6 for the win.

Koens also won the trophy dash after Greg Sailey, Riddle, won the time trial with a 15.301 second lap. Kris Nace and Klaas each won heat races.

In the Super Stock division, Doug Risley recorded his second-straight main win. Fast-qualifier Bobby Wright finished second and 2007 points champion Dan Fouts was third with Bob Brumback and Donald Moore placing fourth and fifth respectively.

Bobby Edwards won the trophy dash with Moore and Risley each winning heat races.

Rob Mueller topped the largest field of the night by winning the Mini Stock main. The Roseburg racer started near the back of the 18-car field, before surging to the lead on just the third lap of the 25-Lap event. Jim Smith was second and Dave Wilson finished third.

Mueller, the class’ 2007 champion, nearly swept all his races. The No. 33 driver won the time trial and the trophy dash. Dan Jobe, a student at Oakland High won the Mini fast heat.

Gary Perry recorded his first win of the new season, by winning the Street Stock main. After finishing much of last season as a bridesmaid to Fouts, Perry turned the tables Saturday night with the victory and Fouts was close behind for second. Bobby Barnes finished third.

Don Livermore picked up the first Street Stock heat win and Perry won the fast heat. Rick Jump won the dash and Fouts was the top qualifier.

Crysta Sasser, a 14-year-old from Myrtle Creek, won her Junior Stinger heat and finished second in the main to Nelson and also second in the Lady main to Jessy Jobe. Nelson, who carries a 4.0 grade point average in the eighth grade at Jo Lane, plans to compete with his father.

“Racing is a lot of fun, Andy Jr. said. “My dad’s helped me a lot. He tells me out to drive certain grooves on the track and how to tune the car. Hopefully, I can run with him soon.”

It was also an entertaining night for the Jobe family.

Jessy Jobe raced her way to victory in the inaugural Lady Stinger event. Jobe defeated a field that included her mother, Molly Jobe. Dave Jobe drove his No. 43 Richard Petty relic mini van in the J-Car feature and nearly pulled off the win, yielding victory to Brad McMaster. Molly won the Lady Stinger heat race.

Both the Jobe sons were active on and off the track too. James Jobe, who drives in the Hornet class, which was off Saturday, was busy helping his siblings and parents with their cars. Dan Jobe followed Mini Stock heat victory by also capturing the Outhouse Grand Prix trophy.

Racing resumes Saturday at the Douglas County Speedway featuring Dutch Bros. High School Team Racing. Also on the race card will be ASA Premier Double Mains, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Oldtimers, Hornets and the Cascade Community Credit Union free racecar rides for kids.

• You can reach Douglas County Speedway announcer/writer BZ Zeller by e-mail at stock23@aol.com.

Douglas County Speedway Results

May 10, 2008

2^nd Annual Outhouse Grand Prix

1. Daniel Jobe, 2. Nick Cornilsen, 3. Dan Fouts

ASA Premier Division

Time Trials: Greg Saily, 15.301 sec

B-Heat: Kris Nace

A-Heat: Matt Klaas

Trophy Dash: Wade Koens

30 Lap Feature: W. Koens, Klass, Nace, Harlan Koens, Tom Ford, Steven Snawder, Bob Edwards, Saily, Thomas Willie, Trent Estes, Roy Harvey (dns)

Super Stocks

Time Trials: Bobby Wright, 16.517 sec

B-Heat: Don Moore

A-Heat: Doug Risley

Trophy Dash: Bob Edwards

25 Lap Feature: Risley, Wright, Dan Fouts, Bob Brumback, Moore, Edwards, Don Livermore, James Smith III, Tom Dittmer, Jim Brock

Street Stocks

Time Trials: Dan Fouts, 17.060 sec.

B-Heat: Don Livermore

A-Heat: Gary Perry

Trophy Dash: Rick Jump

25 Lap Feature: Perry, Fouts, Bob Barnes, Amos Rhodes, Jump, Kent Bower, Jim Brock, Nick Cornilsen, Ben Herbert Jr., Livermore, Scott Russell

Mini Stocks

Time Trials: Jim Smith, 18.057

C-Heat: Scott Sheraden Jr.

B-Heat: Jason Gotz

A-Heat: Daniel Jobe

Trophy Dash: Rob Mueller

25 Lap Feature: Mueller, Smith, Dave Wilson, Gotz, Dale Yarbrough, Tyson Eaton, Jobe, Rich Dickenson, Joe Miller, Bob Bartleson, Kelly Smith, Gary James, Mike Green, Steven Greene, Kyle Phillips, Gary Carnes, Sheraden Jr., Dena James

Lady Stingers

A-Heat: Molly Jobe

15 Lap Feature: Jessy Jobe, Crysta Sasser, M. Jobe, Amy Sherman, Erica Westbrook, Brenda Harjo

Jr. Stingers

B-Heat: Andy Nelson Jr.

A-Heat: Crysta Sasser

15 Lap Feature: Nelson Jr, Sasser, Kieri Smith, Shane Kopp, Levi Green, Daniel Murphy, Ross Huffman

J-Cars

A-Heat: Dan Crume

Feature: Brad McMaster, Crume, Tim Thorp, John Cornilsen

Mini Vans:

A-Heat: Ben Dynamite

Feature: Ditchard Pitty, Dynamite, Lightning McChris, Nick Danjer