YAKIMA, Wash. — Mike Longton’s name was mentioned a lot over the three-day 21st Annual Fall Classic. Winning all three days with authority, Longton showed that his 2008 Yakima Speedway Late Model championship was no fluke..
Longton took home the big prize of $10,000 on Sunday with a win in the 200-lap Fall Classic following his wins on Saturday and Friday. Almost $20,000 is what Longton received for his three days of racing on the fabled half-mile oval at Yakima Speedway.
BJ Tidrick finished second ahead of Travis Bennett in Sunday’s late-model race.
A record 39 Street Stock cars took the green flag for the start of their 75-lap main held prior to the Fall Classic. The 2008 Yakima Speedway Street Stock champion Brian Pepper — last year’s winner — bested the large field with Buck Noel Jr. second and Mike Easley third.
Easley was jubilant to finally make it to the podium for the first time in 20 tries at the Fall Classic.
In the late-model race, Longton started on the pole and the only car to pass him was Erick Hargraves. That pass was undone on a restart, and the only other challenge to Longton was a move Tidrick tried on another restart on lap 101. Tidrick went outside and looked like he would make the pass but Longton was able to hold on.
Twenty Nine cars took the green for the 21st Annual Fall Classic Late Model Main. Accidents and mechanical problems plagued over half the field. Longton lapped all but the top 5. Also finishing on the lead lap was Jay Sauls and Shelby Thompson.
Sunday October 12, 2008
at Yakima Speedway
Yakima, Wash. (.500 mile oval)
75-lap Street Stock main
1-Mike Pepper; 2-Buck Noel Jr.; 3-Mike Easley; 4-Gary Homad; 5-Jill Lang; 6-Ben St Mary; 7-Andy Beaman; 8-Mitch Kleyn; 9-Ron Stewart Jr.; 10-Josh Ingram; 11-Zach Beaman; 12-Jason Ogle; 13-Mel Patnode; 14-Matt Stevenson; 15-Mike Pepper; 16-Brian Moser; 17-Bobby Micielli; 18-Donnie Krikemeyer; 19-Dusty John; 20-Duane D’Amico; 21-Tony Huffines; 22-Bill Rutherford; 23-Mike Butler; 24-Coy Rogers; 25 Jim Zorrozua; 26-Kip Elliott; 27-Joe Kneeland; 28-Brandon Haley; 29-Todd Connell; 30-Mike Saylor; 31-David Patty; 32-Ken Mullins; 33-Billy Benge; 34-Josh Wilson; 35-Rich peters; 36-Jason Huffines; 37-Vern Huson; 38-Travis McKinney; 39-Buck Noel Sr.
200-lap Late Model Fall Classic
1-Mike Longton; 2-BJ Tidrick; 3-Travis Bennett; 4-Jay Sauls; 5-Shelby Thompson; 6-Jason Fraser; 7-Kriss Clark; 8-Troy Ermish; 9-Chuck Dills; 10-Brad Stanwood; 11-Billy Weber; 12-Naima Lang; 13-Amanda McDonald; 14-Agni Howell; 15-Scott Walker; 16-Rick Suran; 17-Kelly Mann; 18-Mike Obrist; 19-Pete Harding; 20-James Spiering; 21-Ken Olson; 22-Gary Lewis; 23-Erick Hargraves; 24-Duke Langley; 25-James Mugge; 26-Mark Owens; 27-Dan Obrist; 28-Jim Johnson; 29-Zach Niesner
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