Race 1 at Wilderness Hills Speedway

by Steve Stauffer

The Crisp fall day started with great promise, and by the end of the day the stage was set for an exciting Fall Series!

Sixteen racers from both the east and west side of the state showed up to compete in the second annual Washington State Fall Series. With no major races since July's G3 Championships the racers could have used this first race to knock the cobwebs loose, but apparently most of the racers came "ready"!

Marty Bauer's track was in excellent condition and the lights and signs added a nice touch of realism!

Up first was the one minute qualifiers. Two of the top three qualifiers were amateurs. Rookie Pro, Dean Tweeddale, squeaked out the top qualifying time of 3.398. Close on his heals were amateurs Mike Neeley with a 3.430 and track owner Marty Bauer with a 3.459.

Once qualifying was done it was on to the Preliminary rounds. Pros and Amateurs compete together in these races based upon their qualifying times

Up first in the D Prelim was Jim Trusty, Darin Snow, Darryl Williams and Glenn Shaw. Jim and Darin battled it out for the 1st place spot. Both racers ended up with 116 laps with Jim finishing just ahead of Darin on the track. There was another heated battle over who would finish in 3rd place. Darryl and Glenn both finished with 105 laps with Darryl edging out Glenn.

Bryan Jacobson, Mike King, Larry Norman and Chris Norman were the C Prelim. Bryan pretty much had his way on the track as he finished with 113 laps. Mike was behind by 2 laps with 111. Larry finished with 110 and Chris rounded out the race with 106 laps.

The B Prelim featured Randy Chinn (a.k.a the Champ), Gary Beedle (a.k.a The Guru), Chris Tucker, and Dave Rock. Randy and Gary both duked it out from start to finish. Both racers ended up with 122 laps, Randy just ahead of Gary. Chris did a great job and finished up with 114 laps and Dave Rock ended up with a solid 110 laps.

The A Prelim featured two Pros and two Amateurs. Marty Bauer, Mike Neeley, Steve Stauffer, and Dean Tweeddale diced back and forth through the entire race. Marty ended up winning with 121 laps. Mike and Steve both had 119, with Mike edging Steve out on the track. Dean finished with 118 hard fought laps.

Now that the Prelims were history it was time to slot the racers into their divisions and start racing for hardware and points.

The Amateur D main featured Dave Rock, Chris Norman, Larry Norman, and Glenn Shaw. Only one racer would move up to the C main. It was clear from the beginning that Dave Rock was the hungriest for victory. Dave flew off the start line and never looked back. Dave won the D main with 285 laps. Chris Norman, a new racer, did a great job of pushing Dave in the first heat, but then ran into a little trouble with the blue and yellow lanes. Chris finished with 267 laps. Larry also did a great job on trying to put the heat on Dave in the first heat, but Dave was not going to be denied. Larry finished with 246 laps. Glenn Shaw had some technical difficulties and ended up pulling out of the race.

Joining Dave Rock in the Amateur C Main were Bryan Jacobson, Mike King, and Chris Tucker. Again only one racer would advance to the B Main. This race was going to be a lot different then the D Main. After three heats only one lap separated Bryan, Mike and Dave from each other and the top spot. The fourth and final heat was the make or break heat. It came down to the wire but Bryan Jacobson ended up taking the top spot and move up with 288 laps. Mike was a close second with 286 laps. Dave ended up with 283 laps and Chris was nipping at his heels with 282 laps.

The B main consisted of Marty Bauer, Mike Neeley, Bryan Jacobson, and Jim Trusty. Three out of the four racers would move up to the A main. Marty and Mike took off fast and set a blistering pace, half way through they were looking at the potential of 300 or more laps by the end of the race. It ended up that only one of the two racers could sustain that pace. Marty took first with 303 laps. Mike was in second with 297 laps. The real race was for the last move up position. Going into the final heat Bryan and Chris were tied with 212 laps each. Just like in the C Main Bryan turned up the speed and finished with 286 laps, four more then Jim's 282.

The A main was set! Mike Neeley, Randy Chinn, Marty Bauer and Bryan Jacobson. The first heat was disastrous for track owner Marty Bauer, his body fell off losing him anywhere from 5 to 6 laps at least. Marty was 2 back from Bryan, 6 back from Randy and 8 back from Mike at the end of the first heat. By the end of the second heat and some masterful driving by Marty he had moved ahead of Bryan and was 3 back from Randy and 6 back from Mike, but that was the closest he was going to get. Mike and Randy poured on the juice and never looked back. Mike took first place with 310 laps. Randy was second with 305 laps. Marty finished 3rd with 299 laps and Bryan took home 4th place with 289 laps.

Five Pros had shown up for the day of racing which meant one racer was going to finish early. Gary Beedle was the top qualifying Pro, so he got the automatic berth into the A main. Dean Tweeddale, Steve Stauffer, Darin Snow and Darryl Williams were going to have to battle it out and see which three would make the move up. Darin and Dean started fast. Darin finished the first heat with a 74 and Dean was just one back with a 73. In the second heat Dean just punched out. There was no catching him. Steve poured it on as well and was able to catch up and pass Darin for the number 2 spot, with Darin just one lap back. Darryl was holding his own and was only few laps back after 3 heats. By the fourth heat Dean had stretched his lead to 11 over Steve and finished with 301 laps. Steve was second with 290 laps. Darin finished 3 back with 287 and Darryl rounded out the heat with 277 laps.

On to the Pro A Main. It was the clash of the Titans: The Rookie versus the Pros. If the first heat was any foreshadow of the rest of the race this was going to be tight! Dean and Steve jetted out to a 77 lap first heat. Followed closely by Gary with 76 and Darin with 74. After two heats Dean had stretched his lead to 3 over Gary and 4 over Steve. Gary and Dean both put the boosters on in the third and fourth heats. Gary wasn't able to close the gap anymore than by 2 laps. When the fourth and final heat was over the Rookie had beat the Pro. Dean finished with 308 laps to Gary's 306 laps. While the Rookie and the Guru battled for first there was an interesting drama forming for 3rd place. Darin had closed the distance between he and Steve. Going into the final heat Darin was only one lap back. The two racers diced back and forth. Darin raced a solid race in blue lane and kept the pressure on Steve, who was in yellow lane. Steve had a couple of offs in the final seconds of the fourth heat and Darin took advantage and edged past Steve to take 3rd place, as both racers finished with 293 laps.

If the first race is any indication this series maybe one of the best that has taken place on the local scene for many years. If you missed out on the first race it's not too late to join. The series is the best 3 out of 4. Come and join us for a great day of racing and hanging out! See you at the track.

Track owner Marty Bauer (L), Washington State Race Director Steve Stauffer (R)

More Images from the race are below:

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