YAKIMA, Wash. — Day 2 of the three-day Fall Classic at Yakima Speedway was capped off with a Limited Late Model 125 lap main event. Mike Longton of Moxee, Wash., once again dominated the race as he did in Friday’s Race of Champions. Erick Hargraves of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, matched his second on Friday, and Naima Lang of Snohomish, Wash., came on strong in the latter stages to finish third.
By lap 50 of the 125 lap main Longton proved that the previous night’s runaway win was no fluke. Winning by a full straight, he climbed from his car and said, “Like last night once I got out front the car was real good, no — make that great.”
When asked if three in a row is doable — referring to Sunday’s Fall Classic 200 — Longton said: “As long as I have no part failures. I feel very strong in this car and our setup is right on.”
Longton was alluding to Snohomish, Wash., driver Gary Lewis’ same circumstance at last year’s Classic. Lewis won the Race of Champions and Limited Late Model events, but a drive line failure cost him a chance at the three-peat.
“I need a lasso to stop Longton,” Hargraves said. “I am glad to be back on the podium. Our work is cut out for us to repeat last year’s win of the Fall Classic.”
Lang ran a crate motor and was able to move through the field over the final 50 laps. He had Hargraves in his sights but ran out of laps. “As long as I can keep the rpm’s up this car just gets stronger,” said Lang.
Twenty cars of the Hobby Stock class took part in the annual 60-lap race on the half-mile oval. Randy Marshall Jr. of Moxee, Wash., took the lead holding off many challengers, with Mel Patnode of Selah, Wash., challenging hard over the final 15 laps. Patnode did everything he could to get Marshall to make a mistake to no avail. Patnode finished a close second with John Raney of Yakima a distant third.
The second day of the three-day event included qualifying for the 200-lap Bud Clary Toyota of Yakima Fall Classic. Twenty-eight cars took times with Longton being the fastest, giving him the pole position for the start of the race. Second quick was Hargraves. Each have the option to fall to the rear of the field for the start of the 200, and if either of them wins from there a $2,000 bonus would be added to the winner’s share of the large purse.
Longton also has a chance at another $1,000 for being a first-time Fall Classic winner. Add in the Ashley Bergman Memorial $1,000 to the winner, it could be either of duo’s largest payday.
The Street Stock class also qualified for its 75-lap main on Sunday. Thirty-nine cars took times with Mike Easley of Tumwater, Wash., being the quickest.
Sunday’s schedule begins with practice at 10 a.m. Racing gets under at 1 p.m. with a 75-lap Street Stock main followed by the 200-lap Fall Classic for the late models.
Saturday October 11, 2008
at Yakima Speedway, Yakima, Wash.
(.500-mile oval)
Hobby Stock 60-Lap Main
1-Randy Marshall Jr (Moxee, Wash.); 2-Mel Patnode (Selah, Wash.); 3-John Raney (Yakima, Wash.); 4-Aaron Haley (Naches, Wash.); 5-Steve Kastl (Yakima, Wash.); 6-Paul Heuvel (Oldtown, Idaho); 7-Mike Valcich (Yakima, Wash.); 8-Brendan Tarr (Spokane, Wash.); 9-Randy Pugh (Moses Lake, Wash.); 10-Tom Wentz (East Wenatchee, Wash.); 11-Bobby Stewart Jr (Yakima, Wash.); 12-Ben St Mary (Moxee, Wash.); 13-Billy Benge (Yakima, Wash.); 14-Tyson Richter (Naches, Wash.); 15-Trevin Tarr (Spokane, Wash.); 16-Jesse Vincent (Yakima, Wash.); 17-Jeff Stevenson (Cowiche, Wash.); 18-Reese Kastl (Yakima, Wash.); 19-Terry Taylor (Yakima, Wash,); 20-Kevin Taylor (Yakima, Wash.)
Limited Late Model 125-lap main
1-Mike Longton (Moxee, Wash.); 2-Erick Hargraves (Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.); 3-Naima Lang (Snohomish, Wash.); 4-Shelby Thompson (Spokane, Wash.); 5-Jason Fraser (Snohomish, Wash.); 6-Billy Weber (Tacoma, Wash.); 7-Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, Wash.); 8-Mark Owens (Kalispell, Mont.); 9-Mike Obrist (Gresham, Ore.); 10-Chris Hart (Yakima, Wash.); 11-James Mugge (Everett, Wash.); 12-Gary Lewis (Snohomish, Wash.); 13-Dan Obrist (Portland, Ore.); 14-JJ Hamilton (Centralia, Wash.); 15-Doug Davidson (Monroe, Wash.); 16-Brad Stanwood (Portland, Ore.); 17-Andy Brown (Spokane Valley, Wash.); 18-Zach Niesner (Ellensburg, Wash.); 19-Joe Constance (Mukilteo, Wash.); 20-James Spiering (Duvall, Wash.); 21-Amanda McDonald (Ephrata, Wash.); 22-Brad Rhodes (Pasco, Wash.); 23-Dan Lowther (Boise, Idaho); 24-Agni Howell (Kalispell, Mont.); 25-Ken Olson (Naches, Wash.); 26-Chuck Dills (Ellensburg, Wash.); 27-Chris Schlaht (Happy Valley, Ore.); DNS Owen Riddle (Selah, Wash.)
After final qualifying Saturday; race Sunday
at Yakima Speedway (.500 mile oval)
1- Mike Longton; 2-Erick Hargraves; 3-Shelby Thompson; 4-BJ Tidrick; 5-Zach Niesner; 6-Jay Sauls; 7-Gary Lewis; 8-Troy Ermish; 9-Rick Suran; 10-Jason Fraser; 11-Kriss Clark; 12-Dan Obrist; 13-Kelly Mann; 14-Travis Bennett; 15-Jim Johnson; 16-Ken Olson; 17-Scott Walker; 18-Mark Owens; 19-Billy Weber; 20-Mike Obrist; 21-James Mugge; 22-Pete Harding; 23-Duke Langley; 24-James Spiering; 25-Chuck Dills; 26-Brad Stanwood; 27-Agni Howell; 28-Amanda McDonald; 29-Naima Lang; 30-Joe Constance
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