For those who prefer racing on two wheels – on and over dirt – Qwest Field is the place to be this Saturday when the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series returns to Seattle.
It will take more than 500 truckloads of dirt – that’s roughly 1.5 million pounds – and a seven-person construction crew four to five days to turn the Seahawks’ home into a dirt track. It will be complete with jumps, switchbacks and a stretch of bumps called “whoops” that recently retired rider Mike LaRocco, 35, said in a press release are “the toughest and most physical obstacles because they change and get grooved out during the race.”
Poulsbo native Ryan Villopoto, who clinched his first Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship on Feb. 17 at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium, will be looking for his first victory in Seattle.
Villopoto won the 2005 AMA Horizon Award, which honors an amateur racer for outstanding achievement and impact. He made his professional debut the next year, winning the 2006 Supercross/Motocross Rookie of the Year.
Also expected to be at Qwest Field will be James Stewart, who won his fifth straight supercross race last weekend at Detroit’s Ford Field. Stewart, who has won 11 races this season, can clinch his first Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross championship with a sixth straight win on Saturday.
Last year, rain soaked Qwest Field and the course, but a crowd of almost 47,000 watched Stewart move up from a 10th-place start to earn his ninth win of the season in the main race. He finished the season with a 10th victory in Las Vegas and as the top rider in the world rankings.
Supercross motorcycles cost as much as $80,000, with 125cc two-stroke bikes used in the AMA Supercross Lites competition and 250cc two-stroke bikes used in the AMA Supercross races. Supercross races are 20 laps and Lites race 15 laps, with riders reaching speeds of 60 mph and the height of a three-story building off jumps called “triples.”
Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m., followed by qualifying heats and the main events. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, at the Qwest Field box office or online at www.supercrossonline.com.
Evergreen super stocks return to action, bombers end with protest: After a week off due to weather, the top-tier NASCAR Whelen All American Series super stocks returned to action last Saturday at Monroe’s Evergreen Speedway.
The 50-lap race ended with John Zaretzke taking the checkered flag. Zaretzke passed Kelly Mann to take the lead on lap 29 and held off Mann and eventual second-place finisher Shane Harding for the victory. Mann was third.
The second-tier bombers needed a complete restart after a first-lap accident between Travis Blackwood and Mark Trail. James Mugge took the lead on lap 26 and took the checkered flag, but a protest was filed after the race in accordance with NASCAR and track rules.
Evergreen director of racing Tobey Butler determined the frame of Mugge’s car was not in compliance with competition rules. Mugge forfeited all points, monies and finishing position for the race and was fined $500.
Brian Cottrell won the bombers main by default, with Craig Rowalt second and Steve Ptacek third
Defending champion Mark Weedin won the third-tier mini-stocks event after a late caution led to a one-lap green/white restart. Bob Edwards was second and Clint Lang third.
Rookie Sean Peters held off the charge of John Carlson to win his first super figure eights main and Cody Koroshes won his second straight stinger eights main. Chris Williamson won the first hornet race of the season, followed by Rick Palmer and Dave Clayton.
Racing continues in all divisions this weekend and the cars of the Northwest Legends series will also compete.
NASCAR Whelen All American Series points leaders: Super stocks-1. Mann 48, 2. (tie) Zaretske and Harding 46, 4. Roger Habich 44, 5. Naima Lang 30; bombers-1. (tie) Cottrell and Ptacek 110, Rowalt 108, Steve Peters 99, Joe Kneeland 98; mini-stocks-1. Weedin 105, 2. Joe Hobbs 102, 3. Doug Hinds 96, 4. Edwards 91, 5. Dale Biddle 88.
Season off to good start at Skagit Speedway: The 2007 season opened at Skagit Speedway with the three main sprint car divisions and the hornets competing.
Brock Lemley won the 25-lap 410 sprint main and 2005 champion Bary Martinez, who had the fastest time in qualifying, was second. Lemley passed Travis Rutz for the lead on lap 20, then fell behind Rutz on the next lap. Rutz dropped out with engine problems and Lemley held off the charge of Martinez on the restart. Steve Kilcup finished third.
Rutz had the fastest 360 spirit qualifying time, and won one of the four heats, but Henry Van Dam earned a wire-to-wire win in the 25-lap A main race. Jason Bloodgood was second and Rutz third.
Defending champion Kevin Smith also had a wire-to-wire victory, leading all 20 laps of the sportsman sprint race. Eric Fisher and Todd Rork rounded out the top three.
Chris Erickson and Erik Vickery traded the lead several times before Erickson pulled away for his first hornets victory at Skagit.
Racing continues this weekend with all four divisions in action.
Kasey Kahne tickets on sale next week: Advance tickets for Skagit Speedway’s Aug. 29 Kasey Kahne Foundation charity event, which will include the Enumclaw native and fellow NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Tony Stewart, go on sale May 1st.
The Skagit Speedway ticket office is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 360-724-3567.
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