Everett, Wash.
Published: Saturday, August 2, 2008

Engberg wins night one of 360 Nationals at Skagit Speedway

Herald news services

 ALGER, Wash. — When the night was done, the final main event of the first night of the 360 Nationals ended with Burlington, Wash., driver Nick Engberg in the winners circle at the end of the 30-lap main on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Skagit Speedway.

Enberg passed Willie Croft on lap 14, then stayed out front through a series of caution restarts for the victory.

Point standings have Engberg in the top six, with Travis Rutz, Seth Bergman, Cory Chamberlain, Danny Kirkpatrick and Rick Fauver. They will scramble for the first three row starting positions in Saturday night’s feature event during the final night of the Bobʼs Burgers and Brew 360 Nationals.

At the drop of the green flag, Josh DeWitt flew to a nice advantage over the field with Croft and Engberg in tow. The first caution flew on lap 2 with a few cars collected up in turn 3. On the restart DeWitt again took off this time opening a nice advantage over the field.

A bit farther back in the field, Danielle Huson and Travis Rutz battled for sixth place through laps 9-11. On the thirteenth lap the yellow flag came out for Colton Heath and Cameron Smith coming off turn 2.

At that point, DeWitt lost the lead when his header and muffler came off, causing a mechanical black flag and sending him to the work area. That handed the lead to Croft.

Croft led the 14th lap before Engberg flew under him for first place. The yellow came out again on lap 17 for Dirt Cup champion Jayme Barnes’ flat left rear tire. Another yellow flew on lap 19 when Jason Bloodgood went sour in turn four.

Once again with Engberg comfortably out front, all eyes were on another great battle between Huson and Rutz. Danny Kirkpatrick had passed Croft for second and was comfortably in front of Huson and Rutz. As Rutz finally got past Huson for third place, Huson lost a motor on the front stretch, bringing out the final caution at the 27th lap.

On the restart it was Engberg, Kirkpatrick and Rutz where they would finish the main event.

The B Main transfer cars making the A Main via their top 5 finishes were Barnes, Jeff Hodgson, Derek Holmwood, Seth Bergman and Mitch Olson.

The C Main transfer cars into the B Main were Michael Harris, Mack Brown, Steve James, Randy Pierce, and Dan Dunlap.

Heat race wins earlier in the night went to Alan Munn, Engberg, Huson, Fauver and Kirkpatrick.

Setting fast time was Hodgson with a 12.222 second lap around the three-tenths mile clay oval.

In addition to the scrambles and mains, Saturday’s program includes exhibition races with Deming Speedway’s 1200 Mini Sprints and Ford Focus Midgets. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing starting at 7 p.m.

SKAGIT SPEEDWAY RESULTS

Bob’s Burger and Brews 360 Nationals
Friday, Aug. 1 at Alger, Wash.

Fast time: v8 Jeff Hodgson 12.222

Heat 1: 42 Alan Munn, 38 Jason Bloodgood, 943 Robby Vaughn, v8 Hodgson, 69 John Tharp

Heat 2: 4e Nick Engberg, 7o Colton Heath, 18 Steve Kilcup, 23 Seth Bergman, 98m Mitch Olson

Heat 3: 73 Danielle Huson, 69p Cory Chamberlain, 77 Mike Sather, 76 Shawn Rice, 12p Randy Pierce

Heat 4: F1 Rick Fauver, 5d Josh DeWitt, 5k Brian Kirkpatrick, 9j JJ Dishneau, 33 Derek Holmwood

Heat 5: 7k Danny Kirkpatrick, 26 Travis Rutz, 29c Willie Croft, 66c Jason Cocking, 19 Greg Sandquist

C Main: 44h Michael Harris, 96x Mack Brown, 29w Steve James, 12p Randy Pierce, 15d Dan Dunlap, 33r Bill Rude, 15g Brad Groves, 07x Ted Elfving, 15p Steve Parker, 16n Nick Tomlinson, 57 Bud Ashe, 77r Mark Richmond, 51 Jon Farrell, 3c Daniel Cernich, 45 Jeffrey Rivers, 30 Matt Vandersys, 6k Kyle Oman

B Main: 9 Jayme Barnes, v8 Hodgson, 33 Derek Holmwood, 23 Bergman, 98m Olson, 66c Cocking, 16x Andy Gregg, 22 Travis Jacobson, 76 Shawn Rice, 96x Brown, 12p Pierce, 44h Harris, 25c Chad Groves, 33v Henry Van Dam, 15d Dunlap, 29w Steve James, 19 Greg Sandquist, 69 Tharp, 9j JJ Dishneau

A Main: 4e Nick Engberg, 7k D. Kirkpatrick, 26 Rutz, 29c Croft, F1 Fauver, 69p Chamberlain, 9 Barnes, 23 Bergman, 18 Kilcup, 77 Sather, 98m Olson, 5d DeWitt, v8 Hodgson, 42 Munn, 73 Huson, 38 Bloodgood, 943 Vaughn, 7o Heath, 33 Holmwood, 5k B. Kirkpatrick
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA