Local racing notes: Stordahl happy to be on the track again
Also items on Jill Lang and Jeff Barkshire
By Scott Whitmore Herald Writer
MARYSVILLE, Wash. — Being off the track frustrated Darin Stordahl.
The Marysville, Wash., late-model driver made the decision to forego competing in Evergreen Speedway’s weekly series this season to try his hand racing in the ASA Northwest Tour.
“I want to be a better driver, to win wherever I go,” Stordahl said in February, while attending a drivers meeting at Evergreen Speedway. “I want the experience. … This is my learning year (in the Tour), my goal is to get two top fives.”
Unfortunately, bad weather resulted in the cancellation of the Tour’s first two races and the third race, at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls, Idaho, was called off by the track.
Not racing bothered him, but t keep busy Stordahl helped Evergreen racers Naima and Jill Lang with their cars on Saturday nights at the Monroe speedway.
Then came word the Tour’s July 4-5 races at Idaho’s Meridian Speedway may be cancelled, too.
That was nearly the final straw for Stordahl’s plan to race in the Tour.
“After our second rainout we got the news that (Stateline) and Meridian were canceled,” Stordahl said recently. “If they were going to be canceling races, I needed to make a change. I need to be on the track.”
Fortunately for Stordahl’s racing plans, the Meridian races were not canceled, and the Northwest Tour’s 2008 season finally got under started.
Stordahl finished fourth in the Yakima Grinding/Federated Auto Parts/Wix Filters 125 on May 24 at Yakima Speedway.
“I wanted a little better finish,” Stordahl said of the Yakima race. “Following (race winner) Pete (Harding) for quite a few laps I just learned a lot. … this is definitely my learning year.”
After racing under Evergreen Speedway’s crate motor rules, part of Stordahl’s Tour education has been learning to race with a more powerful motor under the hood.
“I’m a lot more relaxed in the car with the big motor now,” Stordahl said. “I’ve only had crate motor experience, and the big motor is 200 more horsepower. … I’ve figured it out a little and now I’m more comfortable.”
Making Stordahl even more at ease was checking off one of his goals for his freshman season on the Northwest Tour.
“My goal was to have two top-five finishes and now I’ve got half of my goal,” Stordahl said. “I really want a win with the big motor at another track. Top five was great, now I want a win.”
Stordahl was quick to point out that even when he was frustrated with the slow start to the season, he knew the Tour’s officials were trying to improve the situation.
“Ron Bennett has been really good to me,” Stordahl said of the Northwest Tour director. “He’s a good promoter and I’m going to go with Ron as long as I can. He’s been on my side.
“It’s exciting to finally get the season off and going.” Stordahl said in conclusion.
A Lang for every division: Last Saturday night at Evergreen Speedway there was one less Lang on the track in the super stock races.
Jill Lang, who had been doing double duty in the super stock and bomber divisions, made the decision to focus her attention on the bombers.
“We didn’t have the people for two (car crews) and you need that,” said Ron Fritzley, Lang’s father and car owner. “With the back-to-back events she was hopping from one car to the other. … it stopped being fun.”
Lang, who had been using this season to gain experience racing super stocks, did not rule out running an occasion race in the top-tier division.
Her decision means there is just one Lang per division in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Evergreen.
Naima Lang, Jill Lang’s husband, is the points leader in the top-tier super stock division. Jill Lang is No. 8 in points for the second-tier bombers, and Kim Lang — who is no relation — is No. 6 in the standings for the third-tier mini-stock division.
Barkshire tearing up Camping World West Series: NASCAR Camping World West Series rookie Jeff Barkshire of Auburn, Wash., captured the early spotlight and much of the hardware at the US Cellular 200 NASCAR Camping World Series East-West combination race at Iowa Speedway on May 18.
Barkshire was quickest in qualifying among West Series drivers, winning the Coors Light Pole Award (West). His time was second quickest overall, gaining him a starting position from the outside of the front row.
Barkshire went on to lead 39 laps to capture the Aero Exhaust Lap Leader Award (West) and was the top-finishing rookie, capturing his third straight Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award (West).
Barkshire, who drove his team hauler from Washington state to Iowa, finished 12th overall, second among NASCAR Camping World Series West competitors.
He is third overall on the West Series points list.
