In any sport, you get to a point in the season when everyone starts thinking about the end.
A couple weeks ago at Evergreen Speedway three-time defending Super Stock and Washington state NASCAR champion John Zaretzke asked me if I was getting tired of going to the track every Saturday night.
Although I said that I wasn’t, part of my mind was nodding emphatically. And I’m sure Zaretzke knew it.
Truthfully, I love going to the speedway and talking to the drivers, crews, fans, and officials. It still amazes me that I get paid to watch racing.
But even so, with each Saturday afternoon it’s become a bit harder to make that trek to Monroe. There are a million things to do at the house (Ed: they’re getting tired of hearing about your bathroom, sport), a wife — whose work schedule is almost the exact opposite of mine — to spend time with, two grandchildren to watch grow.
Maybe a vacation is in order. Someplace like California, that is warm, sunny and relaxing (wildfires, smog and endless driving to get anywhere.)
OK — The dream interlude is over. Back to reality.
The end of the local racing season, which has been pretty exciting in case you haven’t made it out to Evergreen, is in sight and there are still stories to tell.
By the way, last weekend’s Figure Eight Nationals victory by John “The Cowboy” Carlson completed by Mini-Slam of Prognostication — meaning I’ve picked a winner for each of Evergreen Speedway’s divisions. I previously completed the Grand Slam by picking a winner for all of NASCAR’s national series, IndyCar and Formula One.
In four of the five divisions there are tight battles for the championship, with the leading driver heading into this weekend’s races needing to stay on the track and near the front.
Naima Lang has an 11-point lead over Zaretzke in the Super Stock division, with James Mugge (-44), Mike Holden (-56) and Jeff Knight (-72) rounding out the top-five.
In Super Figure Eights, defending champion John Carlson holds the most comfortable margin, 55 points, of any division leader. Even so, if Carlson falters, No. 2 Nick Gunderson may be able to close that gap. Ricky Deitz (-96), Troy Simianer (-137) and Doug Delfel (-149) round out the top five.
Defending Bomber division champion Lane Sundholm is back on top for the first time since last season’s finale, but he leads Jim Foti by a razer-thin 4 points. Frank Cowgill is another 50 back, with Darrel Lutovsky (-54) and Jill Lang (-71) the rest of the top five.
The Mini-Stock division also saw a lead change last race, with defending champion Chuck Richard pulling ahead of former champion Mark Weedin by 15 points. No. 3 Andrew Schukar is 88 behind the leader, with Dale Creager (-95) and Kris Harriss (-97) rounding out the top five.
Last but not least, the Stinger Eight division also has a tight battle, with defending champion Mike Middleton holding on to a 17-point lead over Josh Young. Ben Chandler (-57), Seth Funden (-59) and Michael Durbin (-115) round out the top five.
Evergreen Speedway: The Super Stocks are running a doubleheader, so let’s say Jeff Knight and Naima Lang each win one.
Bomber division driver David Stewart Jr. has been so close to winning a race this season, and I think he’ll get that win on Saturday.
Just to keep things interesting, I’m going to say Mark Weedin and Chuck Richard finish 1-2 on Saturday in the Mini-Stock feature.
NASCAR: I’ve got defending Cup and race champion Jimmie Johnson in Sunday’s Pepsi 500 — which he’ll start on the pole — and I’m taking Kevin Harvick in the Nationwide race on Saturday.
(Ed: Don’t forget to look for Snohomish, Wash., driver Kevin Hamlin making his Nationwide season debut in the No. 81).
IndyCar: Just to tweak Chip Ganassi’s nose a bit, Dan Wheldon is going to win the Detroit Grand Prix. He can’t win the title, but maybe he can delay teammate Scott Dixon’s coronation, and help the Dancing Man in the process.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
