BIG E WEEKEND AT GHR
The Big One is finally here, it’s the BIG E WEEKEND presented by the Lucky Eagle Casino. This weekend will be highlighted by the World of Outlaws on Monday September 7th . There will be lots of great activities in Grays Harbor to compliment the Big E Weekend such as Quarter Midget racing Saturday and Sunday, the first Annual Elma Auto racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday at 1:00 at the Borden Seabert Exhibition Hall at the fairgrounds, admission is free. Monday will start off with breakfast with the Outlaws from 10:00 pm to noon at the Borden Seabert Exhibition Hall. The Celebrity Quarter Midget races on Monday will start at 4:00 pm with proceeds going to the World of Outlaws Benevolent Fund. The annual Outlaw Days Parade at 1:00 pm on Monday with Elma Auto Racing Hall of Fame Inductee’s Rich Leighty, Glenn Walker and Jim Sutherby acting as the Grand Marshalls. There will be a campsite decorating contest on Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds, The city of Elma will also be hosting is annual City Wide Garage Sale.
The racing action kicks off on Saturday Night as the Northwest Wingless Warriors Sprint Tour visits Grays Harbor Raceway for the first time. Making this doubly exciting is the fact that this is the first time in history that Sprint Cars without wings have raced at GHR. This up coming race has stirred up lots of interest, as lots of fans and drivers are waiting for this exciting event. Local drivers that are going to try the non wing event are Jay Cole, Shawn Rice, Jeff Bell, Otto Jorgenson and Dan Dunlap, with the large contingent of cars coming out of the Portland to Cottage Grove, Oregon area it will not be surprising to see well over 30 cars in attendance. Other local drivers that are running include WESCO”s Rich Leighty and Olympia’s Glenn Walker, both to be inducted into the Elma Auto racing Hall of Fame the next day. Father and son team of Brian and Doug McLees from Olympia. Oregon drivers include current point leader Kyle Miller from Cottage Grove, second in points Keary Morris from Brush Prairie, Washington and former USCA Sprint Car Champion Gary Davis from Albany, Oregon. Oregon Double Shot Sprint Car drivers expected to challenge, include current points leader Pat Canfield from Battle Ground, Washington and Doug Kammerzell from Arlington, Washington. Skagit regulars, include current Sportsman Sprint point leader Kelsey Carpenter and Deming’s Brock Lemley.
The NPP Late Model Series is based out of Alberta, Canada. The series will be making their second straight appearance at GHR for the Big E Weekend, the series has a year ending points fund of $100,000. Contenders include NASCAR Nationwide Series driver DJ Kennington from Ontario, current points leader Darrell Midgley from Victoria, B.C., along with 2008 champion Jason Beaulieu, Beaulieu who lives in Campbell River, B.C. is no stranger to Grays Harbor Raceway as he regularly competes in the Shipwreck Beads Modified division.
On Sunday the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) Northwest Region will run their twelfth race of the series in what is billed the Night Before The Big One. Medford’s Roger Crockett leads the point standings with 2130 followed by Jared Ridge from Snohomish with 2070 points. California’s Steven Tiner sits in third spot with 2017, followed by Henry Van Dam with 1973, Oregon’s Chad Groves rounds out the top five with 1854 points. Other local drivers looking to contend for the win include Raymond’s Glen Borden, Quilcene’s JJ Hickle, Mitch Olson from Puyallup and Tacoma’s Shawn Rice. Canadian drivers entered include Langley, B.C. driver Travis Rutz and Richmond, B.C. driver Mike Melwicks. Other drivers expected to compete include Burlington’s Jason Solowld, Logan Forler from Orting , Austen Wheatly from Snohomish and NASAR Camping World driver Tyler Malsam from Snohomish.
On Monday it’s the one everyone waits for all year long, the highlight of the year at Grays Harbor Raceway as the World of Outlaws roll into town. All the top drivers on the tour including, 2006, 2007, 2008 and current WOO points leader Donny Schatz, the “King” himself Steve Kinser, Craig Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Jason Myers fresh off a big win in Edmonton last weekend, “The Wild Child” Jac Haudinchild, Joey Saldana and Craig Dollansky in the Kasey Kahne owned car, along with” Double Down” Jason Sides, Top Washington 410 drivers hoping to pull an upset include Tyler Malsam, Jayme Barnes and Mitch Olson, the Canadian contingent looking to break into the winner’s circle include Travis Rutz and Jeff Hodgson.
Three day ticket packages are still on sale, as well as single day tickets. For more information go to www.graysharborraceway.com or call the office at (360) 482-4374.
