ALGER — Skagit Speedway opens its 55th season this weekend when the 2009 Foothills Toyota Tundra Racing Series returns to the three-tenths mile high-banked clay oval.
Defending champions from all three sprint-car divisions will return and the Outlaw Hornet champion is expected back one month into the season. The 55th season at the Alger track begins this Saturday with the Haggen Food and Pharmacy Opening Night. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m.
In the Associated Asphalt Outlaw 410 Sprint division, defending champion Barry Martinez will be looking for his third title in the past five years, but his task will be made harder by young racers like Colton Heath, Nick Engberg and Eric Fisher.
Travis Rutz will split time between his family’s car and the No. 26 of Rudeen Racing. “Quick” Rick Fauver has teamed up once again with former partner Bob Reynolds for what could be a serious run at the championship, and Jason Bloodgood and his brother-in-law and 2007 season champion Brock Lemley will also be back. Forty-four drivers earned points in last year’s Outlaw 410 division.
With every one of the top five teams returning to try for the Budweiser 360 division title, returning champion Brian Kirkpatrick has his work cut out for him. Kirkpatrick and his father Danny return in the No. 5k and No. 7k cars, respectively, with veterans Alan Munn, “Mad” Mack Brown and Michael Harris all due back.
Cory Chamberlain returns to his team, and “Rocket” Rod Perkins will return to action after missing most of last season with an injury from an early season accident. Added to the mix are Martinez, last year’s Cook Road Shell Sportsman Sprint champion Kelsey Carpenter, Bloodgood and Lemley.
A good mix of drivers is expected to compete for the the Cook Road Shell Sportsman Sprint crown. Carpenter returns to defend his title against talented drivers such as Marcus Schutte, Bill Rude, Steve James, Paul Burdick, Ryan Nootenboom and Devin Barnes.
Defending Outlaw Hornet champion Ben Gunderson said he will take the first month of the season off, which opens the door for ex-U.S. Hornet Nationals winner Cory Swatzina and former class champions Mike Powers, Jr. and Greg Hibma to return to the front of the points battle. Added to the mix will be veterans Ken “Splat” Higby, Wendy Johnson, “Fast Freddy” Vela, Scott Naylor, Ashley Lewellen and Tyler Ketchum.
One of the highlights of Skagit’s 55th season will be the premiere Outlaw 410 open comp race in the Northwest, the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup from June 18-20 with the Haggen Food and Pharmacy party on Wed., June 17. The 360 Nationals return on July 31-Aug. 1 and the Midseason Championships and Les Schwab Tire Dealers Fireworks are set for July 11.
Three-time defending champion Donny Schatz and the World of Outlaws return to Skagit Speedway Sept. 4-5 preceded by the first-ever appearance of the Western All-Stars and I-5 Late Model Showdown on Sept. 3.
Season Championships and the season- ending Fireworks Extravaganza are slated for Sept. 19 presented by Coach Corral.
For more information on Skagit Speedway, visit www.skagitspeedway.com.
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