Lund wins Dennis Smitham Memorial at South Sound

Published 11:40 am Wednesday, September 16, 2009

By Cassandra Bykerk, for Northwest Outlaw Street Stocks

ROCHESTER, Wash. — It was a beautiful day to race and remember Dennis Smitham at South Sound Speedway. On Sept. 12, 2009, the 3rd Annual Dennis Smitham Memorial race was full of highs, lows and controversy.

The night started out with #15 Michael Knutson posting fast time with a 15.20. The A trophy dash was won by #70 Kim Wennerburg and the B trophy dash went to #97 Josh Ingram.

Thirty-two cars vied for a spot in the A-main event.

There was a 24-lap B main, with the top 4 finishers making it to the main event. The race was won by #21 Tom Smitham, followed by #4 Brad Morrison, #12 Mitchell Woods and #11 Steve Sawyer. The top 2 finishers in the 10-lap last chance main were #71 Casey Branch and #95 Dan Mears.

The Dennis Smitham Memorial race started with a 12-car invert. The #79 of Michael Press led the field to the green flag. The #98 of Zach Beaman led the first lap, but Press took over on lap 4. By lap 8 the #10 of Steve Lund was in the front and stayed there.

The first yellow flag came on lap 40 for the #97 of Josh Ingram, who looped it in turn 4. By lap 47, Press was in the pits with no brakes.

The next yellow came on lap 50. The #77 of Curt Adams blew a radiator hose and Sawyer spun out in the mess. The leaders at this point were Lund, Wennerburg, Knutson, #52 Buck Bourne and #75 Mike Easley.

On lap 53, the 3rd caution was for the #22 of Brian Goetz and the #41, point’s leader Kevin Carver. Goetz got loose, came down, collected Carver and they both went into the backstretch wall.

Lap 56 produced a 4th caution when #41JR Jimmy Allen was too hot in 4 and got into the back of Easley. Allen slowed down which backed up the field behind him.

The 5th yellow was for #64 Bill Rutherford for a lone spin in the apex of 3 and 4.

Lap 93 saw #65 Logan Mundy blow a tire and head straight for the turn 1 wall. This produced the 6th caution and first red flag to clean up the mess. Mundy was OK.

The controversy started on lap 98. Ingram and Bourne got together in turn 2 and went into the wall. There was no caution flag as the 2 cars sat in the middle of the racing groove. As Knutson and Allen came around they plowed right into the cluster. At that point, the yellow and white flag were thrown, then the red.

The finish was taken from the last completed green-flag lap according to South Sound Speedway officials. After review by Northwest Outlaw Street Stock officials, the finish was modified due to a transponder problem.

It was really no surprise to see Lund come across first. He was followed by Wennerburg, Kleyn, and Beaman. The finish after 3rd place becomes a little confusing and more controversial. Allen is scored in 4th; followed by Knuston, who swears he should have been 3rd, Bourne, Ingram, Morrison, and #71 Casey Branch.

Despite the confusion, the Dennis Smitham Memorial race was an awesome show of street stock racing in the Pacific Northwest. There is only one question this reporter has; “Who invited Dave Lund?!” Congrats Dave!

Have a safe and exciting finale in Wenatchee on September 26, 2009. Season Ending Race