The meat of this sandwich will be quite flavorable.
The American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Northwest Region returns to action this weekend at its “home” track, the three-eighths-mile Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.
The ASCS Northwest Region will race in Elma Sunday night, Aug. 31 for the second of three nights of racing in Grays Harbor Raceway’s Big E weekend.
Following a social featuring live music by The Ragged Edge Friday from 7-10 p.m., racing gets going Saturday night with a visit from the Northern Provincial Pipe Line Late Model Dirt Cars, as well as the Cut Rate Auto Parts Hobby Stock Challenge Series event.
On Monday night, the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series makes its annual visit to Elma, following a weekend show at Skagit Speedway.
The WoO show will bring names such as three-time defending Knoxville Nationals champion Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, Jason Meyers, Joey Saldana and more to Elma.
Washington native and current NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, who owns the car of defending WoO runner-up Saldana, will be on hand for an on-track interview.
While the Saturday and Monday shows provide tasty bread, between the bread is the meaty ASCS Northwest Region show.
Over the years, it has not been uncommon for the 360 Sprints of the ASCS to put on the most competitive show of the weekend while tearing around the Elma speed plant.
Close racing has been the norm, including side-by-side finishes for the win off the final corner towards the checkered flag.
This year’s Night Before the Big One will feature a return appearance from The Ragged Edge, a companion Ford Focus Midget event and fireworks once action on the track is done.
Front gates open at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, with racing set for 6:30.
The series opened up the 2008 season at GHR, and wrapped up last month’s Northwest Speedweek with the two-day Evergreen State Sprint Challenge at the track. ASCS Northwest Region teams and drivers return to Elma again Sept. 19-20 for the Fred Brownfield Memorial before wrapping up the season Sept. 26-27 at the Yakima Dirt Track in Yakima, Wash.
Roger Crockett dominated Northwest Speedweek, taking the overall win by winning four of the six races held and the Evergreen State Sprint Challenge.
Crockett’s second Northwest Speedweek crown has him back in the thick of the ASCS Northwest Region title chase.
Jared Ridge heads into this weekend atop the standings with 1,078 points after tying for second in Northwest Speedweek.
Jayme Barnes and Brock Lemley find themselves tied for second in ASCS Northwest Region points with 1,046 markers apiece. Crockett, who had to overcome an early-season points deficit, is next with 1,022 points.
Former GHR track champion Jay Cole rounds out the top five with 975 points. The rest of the top 10 are Jared Peterson (959 points), Seth Bergman (947), Rob Held (918), Mike Melwicks (900) and Travis Rutz (872).
For more information on the ASCS Northwest Region, visit www.ascsnorthwest.com.
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