Sunshine and warmth.
Now this is what we’ve been waiting for.
Just got back in from taking Maddie the dog for a walk, and — as a longhair — she wasn’t as happy about the sun shining down and the warm temperature.
To paraphrase Paul Reiser talking to Murray the dog on the old “Mad About You” sitcom: “All that fur, that’s a bad idea.”
For the rest of us, this weekend is what we’ve been waiting for since that one hot Saturday teased us. That was April 12 and it was also the season-opener at Evergreen Speedway. Hard to believe it’s been more than a month since then.
Take advantage of the weather, set the VCR for the NASCAR All-Star race and head out to your nearest track to see the real thing up close.
Locally, Evergreen Speedway will be running the 60 Minutes of FEAR, the super stocks, bombers and hornets. Skagit Speedway will be running all four divisions — the 410, 360 and sportsman sprints and the outlaw hornets — on Saturday if you prefer your racing on dirt.
Don’t live in Snohomish County? Try Pacific Raceways, South Sound Speedway, Deming, Ephrata, or Grays Harbor.
Enough cheerleading and on to the picks.
The intersection at Evergreen Speedway’s figure-eight track will be just as warm as the weather on Saturday night as the 60 Minutes of FEAR returns.
This timed event (60 minutes) takes the top 18 qualifiers, and two cars moving up from the B main, to make the 20-car starting field. As cars drop out, the finishers (3-8) in the B main enter the event, followed by any remaining cars. Whoever finishes the most laps will be crowned the champion of 60 minutes.
Defending champion Ricky Deitz, who also won the first 60 Minutes in 1994, will repeat, although I wouldn’t be surprised if John Zaretzke and John Carlson are in the mix, too.
For the super stocks, speedway manager Terry Buell told me today he expects there to be close to 20 cars in the field. Buell also said he’s sure someone who hasn’t won yet will climb victory stage on Saturday. I agree with him and think Mike Holden will get his first win ever in the top-tier division.
The drivers in the bomber division are probably pretty happy knowing they won’t be facing another deluge of rain like last weekend. Jim Foti has the points lead, but I think Frank Cowgill comes home the winner.
NASCAR’s All-Star race is a non-points event, so even if I somehow fall into luck and pick the winner, I’m not going to count it toward the Grand Slam of Prognostication.
The warm weather has me thinking it’s time for Tony Stewart to heat up and win the all-star event. Although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Carl Edwards put a Ford in Victory Lane.
As to the burnout contest, I’m going to stick with the pros at SPEED who’ve said Kevin Harvick does a pretty good job.
For the Craftsman Trucks race, I’ll go with Mike Skinner to win.
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