Grays Harbor Raceway

Tanner Wins Late Model Feature, Thomas, Howard and Miller Victorious!

6/19/2023

Grays Harbor Raceway

Tanner Wins Late Model Feature, Thomas, Howard and Miller Victorious!

Four classes of cars were on hand for the double header weekend leading into the Timber Cup on Sunday. The Coors Light I-5 Super Late Models, Wingless Sprint Series, PHRA Dwarf Cars and Limited Sprints were in action.

I-5 Super Late Models

For the first time in 10 years, the Super Late Models made their only appearance of the 2023 season. 14 cars signed in on the evening and the feature event saw Rob Mayea of Albany, Ore lead the field to the green flag. Joey Tanner of Portland, Ore took the lead going into turn one from Mayea. The battle for third saw Jerry Schram of Vancouver, Corbett, Ore driver Collen Winebarger and BJ Donofrio of Salem, Ore battle for position. Winebarger went to the high side and worked his way into a podium spot. Tanner continued to lead with Mayea on his back bumper. Mayea looked low early on to try and take the lead but couldn't make the pass. Winebarger ran the high side looking to track down Tanner and Mayea. Bricen James of Albany, Ore worked his way into the top five, getting by Donofrio and Schram. Tanner put some slight distance on Mayea as Winebarger worked to the back bumper of Mayea. Tanner worked his way into lap traffic, midway through the feature event, slicing and dicing his way, put more distance on Mayea and Winebarger. Late in the feature Winebarger worked his way into second, Mayea saw tough company by James. It was Tanner picking up the win over Winebarger, Mayea, James and Donofrio. Heat race winners were Winebarger and James with Tanner picking up fast time.

PHRA Dwarf Cars

25 Dwarf Cars signed in on the evening. Mollala, Ore's Henry Corbin III and Justin DeMars of Sandy, Ore set the front row of the feature event. DeMars took the early lead as Corbin III saw Gaston, Ore's Corey Esteban looking to make a bid for second. Esteban worked his way into the runner up position, setting his sights on DeMars. Tacoma's Tylor Howard look to work his way into the top three but the caution flag flew for Mike Shoen of Hillsboro, Ore. On the restart it was Esteban, DeMars, Corbin III and Howard. Esteban wasted no time putting slight distance on DeMars, as Corbin III looked to work his way into second. Esteban ran the low side of the 3/8's banked oval, as did DeMars. Corbin III ran a higher lane with Howard running the very low side, working his way into third. Late in the feature Howard worked his way into second, setting his sights on Esteban for the lead. A few attempts were made, but the caution flag would fly. A late race caution on lap 17 gave Howard another chance to take over the top spot. A three-car battle between Esteban, Howard and DeMars early on was the race to watch. Howard took over the lead on lap 19. Esteban looked low, but it was Howard pulling away and picking up his first win at Grays Harbor Raceway. Esteban, DeMars, Hillsboro, Ore driver Mike Chadwick and Doug Davenport of Vernonia, Ore rounded out the top five. Heat race winners were Corbin III, DeMars and Esteban.

Wingless Sprint Series

Gene Cannon of Canby, Ore led the field to the green flag. Justen McConnville of Dundee, Ore took the early lead from Cannon. McMinnville, Ore's Lance Hallmark worked his way into second, getting by Cannon. McConnville continued to lead, running the low side of the raceway, as the battle for third heated up between Cannon and Forrest Grove, Ore driver Jojo Batalgia. Hallmark made a bid for the lead on McConnville but was unsuccessful. Batalgia moved into third, looking to make a pass on the high side at Hallmark. Batalgia moved into the runner up spot and to the lead on lap 6. Elma's Garrett Thomas ran the same line Batalgia used to get to the front, working his way into second, getting by McConnville and Hallmark. Thomas raced side by side with Batalgia, battling for the lead. Multiple laps saw the battle, as Batalgia ran a higher lane than Thomas. Lap 10 saw Cannon spin in turn four, bringing out the caution. On the restart it was Batalgia leading Thomas, Hallmark, and McConnville. Thomas looked to the low side in turn one, but couldn't make the pass for the lead. Hallmark joined in on the battle, making it three cars going for the lead. Lap 15 saw Thomas take the lead, bringing Hallmark with him, shuffling Batalgia back to third. Hallmark stayed within striking distance of Thomas, allowing no room for error. Hallmark saw trouble on lap 23, spinning in turn three. On the restart it was Thomas leading Batalgia and Cannon. Thomas timed his restart and quickly put some slight distance. It was Thomas picking up the win over Batalgia, Cannon, McConnvile and Victoria Woolf of St. Helens, Ore. Batalgia won the heat race earlier in the evening with Thomas picking up fast time.

Limited Sprints

Tahuya's Nate Geister and Xan Miller of Olympia set the front row of the 25-lap feature event. Geister took the early lead. Xan Miller continued in second, with her brother Destry Miller of Olympia running third. Geister wasted no time, quickly putting some distance on Xan Miller. Samuel Strange of Tacoma joined in on the battle for second, as he stayed at the back bumper of Xan and Destry Miller. Geister looked strong out front, but lost the lead on lap 4 as he spun to a stop in turn four. On the restart it was Xan Miller, Destry Miller, Strange and Shelton's Tim Martin. Destry Miller looked to the low side in turn four, taking the lead from Xan Miller. Strange made a bid for the runner up position with a pass in turn one early on. Destry Miller continued to put some distance on Strange, Xan Miller, Martin and Geister. A late race charge by Strange saw him get to the back bumper of Destry Miller a handful of times, but couldn't make the pass. Destry Miller picked up the win over Strange, Xan miller, Martin and Geister. Destry Miller picked up the clean sweep, as he won the heat race and picked up fast time.

Racing resumes tomorrow evening as the Timber Cup weekend continues with the NARC Kings of the West 410 Sprint Cars will be in action for the finale of the Fastest Four Days event, which started in Medford, Ore earlier in the week. IMCA Modifieds and PHRA Dwarf Cars will also be in action. Gates open at 4:30PM with racing at 6PM. For more information go to www.graysharborraceway.com

Grays Harbor Raceway
June 17, 2023

Super Late Models
Fast Time:
46 Joey Tanner

Heat 1:

14 Collen Winebarger, 2. 99 BJ Donofrio, 3. 46 Joey Tanner, 4. 5 John Duty, 5. 4E Trent Elliott, 6. 44B Nick Bessette, 7. 03 Doug Mott

Heat 2:

13 Bricen James, 2. 77s Jerry Schram, 3. 37 Rob Mayea, 4. 17 McLain Beaudoin, 5. 21 Steve Moore, 6. 28J Shane Jordan

A-Main:

Tanner, 2. Winebarger, 3. Mayea, 4. James, 5. Donofrio, 6. Schram, 7. Duty, 8. Elliott, 9. Beaudoin, 10. Moore, 11. Bessette, 12. Mott, 13. Jordan

Wingless Sprint Series
Fast Time:
9 Garrett Thomas

Heat Race:

39 Jojo Batalgia, 2. 9 Garrett Thomas, 3. 33 Victoria Woolf, 4. 8H Lance Hallmark, 5. 18 Gene Cannon, 6. 8J Justen McConnville

A-Main:

Thomas, 2. Batalgia, 3. Cannon, 4. McConnvile, 5. Woolf, 6. Hallmark

Limited Sprints
Fast Time:
3X Destry Miller

Heat Race:

3X Destry Miller, 2. 99X Samuel Strange, 3. 23X Xan Miller, 4. 38 Nate Geister, 5. 51 Tim Martin, 6. 77 Alex Olsen

A-Main:

Destry Miller, 2. Strange, 3. Xan Miller, 4. Martin, 5. Geister, 6. Olsen

PHRA Dwarf Cars
Heat 1:

89Z Henry Corbin III, 2. 96 Mike Shoen, 3. 17X Crystal Flath, 4. 92 Chris Hutson, 5. 4W Brian Taylor, 6. 42 Jay Elliott, 7. 57 Jasen Simmons

Heat 2:

24 Justin DeMars, 2. 19 Mike Chadwick, 3. 23 Tylor Howard, 4. 8 Doug Davenport, 5. 7K George Fisher, 6. 00 Jim Pavel, 7. 53 Rob Glenney, 8. 1W Daryl Knutson

Heat 3: