Evergreen Speedway notes: Pit change welcomed by drivers

MONROE — In a season with many changes, the drivers of Evergreen Speedway’s Super Stock found the latest new wrinkle to their liking.

After the Big Track Championship was rained out on Sept. 20, the speedway rescheduled the track championship race for the Super Stock division to Saturday night.

That meant speedway officials faced the task of racing five different divisions on three tracks — the five-eighths and three-eighths mile ovals and the figure-eight — for the newly renamed Big and Small Track Championship Night.

To accommodate the pit requirements for all five divisions — Super Stocks, Bombers, Mini-Stocks, Super Figure Eights and Stinger Eights — a new location was found for the late models on fairgrounds property behind turn 2.

Turns out the Super Stock teams loved the location.

“It’s easier on the knees that this,” Super Stock driver Jeff Holden said, kicking the rough surface of the three-eighths mile track that the teams are usually pitted on. “And there is a flush toilet.”

The teams are pitted in a rough square, with ample room for haulers, support equipment and canopies. The smooth blacktop was universally appreciated by crewmembers working on or under cars.

Teams liked that the location was isolated and quieter, and having the cars all in the same place seemed to promote cross-talk among crews and drivers.

And yes, there was a fairgrounds restroom facility located on one side of the square.

The makeshift pit area also had easy access to the grandstands or a bank of bleachers for family and friends who wanted to watch the races.

With new promoters Lex and Danni Johnson and changes like double-file restarts and heat races for points, Super Stock drivers had been pushed out of their comfort zone a bit this season at Evergreen Speedway.

The drivers quickly accepted and embraced the on-track changes, which were appreciated by fans who saw some of the best racing of the season in heats and on restarts.

And the Johnsons faced a daunting task, learning to be the promoters while at the same time putting on a weekly racing program. They and their team of mostly volunteers should use what they’ve learned this year to make next season even better.

One idea to file away for next April may be to make the Super Stock pit move permanent.

Perfect season for Ehoff Tasha Ehoff of Snohomish completed a perfect season singing the national anthem at Evergreen on Saturday.

By one count it was her sixth rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” and she didn’t hit a wrong note in any of them.

Welcome JJ: South Sound Speedway Limited Late Model champion JJ Hamilton made his first-ever start at Evergreen Speedway on Saturday in the 75-lap Super Stock feature.

He came to Monroe to experience the five-eighths mile track, and wasn’t disappointed after practice, saying “It’s cool” to run on the biggest track in the region.

Hamilton added that he would return next season whenever the Super Stocks were running on the five-eighths.

Weber sets fast time: Another Sound South Speedway veteran, Billy Weber, set the fastest time in qualifying for the Super Stock feature.

Weber turned a lap of 23.001 seconds at 101.109 mph.

The two drivers battling for the Super Stock track championship were next quickest, with points leader Naima Lang qualifying with a lap of 23.004 (101.095) and defending champion John Zarezke turning a lap of 23.166 (100.389).

Dino Rossi sticker-mania: Super Stock driver Mike Holden has had a Dino Rossi for Governor decal on his No. 11 car for several months.

On Saturday, which was Dino Rossi for Governor Championship Night at Evergreen, Holden used Rossi stickers to form the numbers on the side of his car.

Previously, he had a number decal that many fans had commented was very hard to read. With the Rossi stickers, there was no question.

Weather report: Just as the local racing season began with a warm, sunny day in April, so did it end near the end of September.

Last weekend the Big Track Championship was rained out, but on this Saturday Mount Rainier was visible to the south, and the sky was mostly blue and clear for the season finale at Evergreen Speedway.