Grays Harbor Raceway

Wheeler and Peck Victorious, Austin Kerrigan Wins Iron Man 50!

7/9/2023

Grays Harbor Raceway

Wheeler and Peck Victorious, Austin Kerrigan Wins Iron Man 50!

The sun was shining bright and temperatures were in the mid 70's as the Limited Sprints featuring the Iron Head Sprints from Oregon, Northwest Focus Midgets Series and the Super Stocks for the Cut Rate Auto Parts Iron Man 50 were on hand.

Northwest Focus Midgets Series

19 cars signed in on the evening as Brian Holmkvist of Sedro Woolley and Arlington's Ashley Thompson set the front row. Thompson took the early lead. The battle for second between Holmkvist and Alex Peck of Federal Way was the race to watch. Peck moved into second looking to track down Thompson for the lead. Kyle Hanson ran in the fourth position battling with Renton's Chris Foster. A three-car battle ensued with Hanson, Foster and Sedro Woolley driver Jeff Westergard. The battle for the lead started to brew between Thompson and Peck. Lap 6 saw Peck take the lead with a pass in turn four. The fourth position continued to see a battle between Hanson, Foster, Westergard and joining in was Shane Smith of Sedro Woolley. Lap 11 saw a violent flip from Hanson in turn four. On the restart it was Peck, Thompson, Holmkvist and Foster leading the rest of the field. Peck continued to lead as Smith worked his way by Holmkvist and Thompson, looking to track down Peck for the lead. Foster and Holmkvist battled it out for fourth, as Garrett Thomas of Elma joined in on the battle. Peck put some slight distance on Smith and Thompson. The final restart saw Smith make an attempt to take the lead, but Peck continued to take command. Lap 22 saw a numerous car crash, causing three cars to go upside down. Jason Thomas of Snohomish made contact with the backstretch wall, causing Fife's Randy Schaaf to make contact. Also involved were Blaine driver Tyler Luce, Dalton Christmas of Bonney Lake. Schaaf, Luce and Christmas went upside down. All drivers exited the car and were ok. Peck picked up the win over Smith, Westergard, Thompson and Garrett Thomas. Heat race winners were Joe Shawley of Tukwila, Thompson and Smith.

Limited Sprints - Iron Head Sprints

Tacoma's Evan Margeson led the field to the green flag. Samuel Strange of Tacoma raced side by side with Margeson for the lead but it was Margeson continuing in the top spot. Jake Wheeler of Medford, Ore ran in third. Bailey Hibbard of Central Point, Ore ran in the fourth position battling it out with Shelton's Destry Miller. Lap 4 saw Miller spin in turn four bringing out the caution. On the restart it was Margeson, Strange and Wheeler leading the rest of the field. Strange went high in turn four, allowing Wheeler and Bailey Hibbard to work their way into a podium spot. The battle for the lead started to heat up between Margeson and Wheeler as lap traffic loomed ahead. Margeson ran the high side with Wheeler running low. Wheeler made a pass in turn four to take the lead on lap 9. Bailey Hibbard worked his way to the back bumper of Margeson for second as they worked their way through lap traffic. Fourth position saw a battle between Camden Robustelli of Medford, Ore and Central Point, Ore driver Blaine Cory. Margeson saw tough company as Bailey Hibbard made a few attempts for second. Lap 18 saw the red flag for Charlie Thompson of Medford, Ore getting upside down in turn two. Thompson exited the car and was ok. Margeson looked to make a last attempt on the restart to take the lead from Wheeler but it was Wheeler picking up the win over Margeson, Bailey Hibbard, Robustelli, and Cory. Heat race winners were Thompson and Margeson with Bailey Hibbard picking up fast time.

Super Stocks

The Cut Rate Auto Parts Iron Man 50 saw Brenden White of Port Orchard lead the field to the green flag. Hoquiam's Larry Paladin took the early lead from White, as Shelton driver Mike Mann moved into second. White looked to the low side to take the position back as Aberdeen's Austin Kerrigan moved into third. White saw issues as he lost a tire in turn four bringing out the caution on lap 2. On the restart it was Paladin, Austin Kerrigan, Mann and the rest of the field going to the green flag. Paladin continued to lead with Kerrigan on his back bumper. Paladin spun in turn four, doing a complete 360 and continuing on, allowing Austin Kerrigan to take over the lead. Shane Kerrigan of Aberdeen moved into second with Mann running third. Jayson Wolcott of Gig Harbor worked his way into fourth with Paladin shuffling back to fifth. A long green flag run saw Austin Kerrigan lead with his father Shane right behind him, looking to make a few attempts at the lead. A late race spin by Paladin allowed Shane Kerrigan a shot at the lead but it was Austin Kerrigan picking up the win over Shane Kerrigan, Mann, Paladin and Wolcott. Austin Kerrigan also picked up the heat race win.

Grays Harbor Raceway will be in action next Friday and Saturday night for the 24th Annual Shipwreck Beads Northwest Modified Nationals. Friday night will see the best in the Pacific Northwest and Canada run two sets of heat races and a race of champions. Also on hand will be a full show by the IMCA Northern SportMods and Hornets. Friday night is $5 admission into the grandstands. Saturday night will see the IMCA Modfieds battle it out for $7500 to win, as the feature events are lined up by the points from Friday night's heat races. The IMCA Northern SportMods and Hornets will be back in action as well, doing a full night of racing. Gates open at 4:30 and racing begins at 6PM both nights. For more information keep an eye on the Grays Harbor Raceway Facebook or go to www.graysharborraceway.com.

Grays Harbor Raceway
July 8, 2023

Limited Sprints - Iron Head Sprints

Fast Time:
1 Bailey Hibbard

Heat 1:

101 Charlie Thompson, 2. 1 Bailey Hibbard, 3. 99X Samuel Strange, 4. 7N Jake Wheeler, 5. 3 David Hibbard, 6. 23X Xan Miller

Heat 2:

11 Evan Margeson, 2. 3X Destry Miller, 3. 5P RJ McGauhuey, 4. 9T Camden Robustelli, 5. 37 Blaine Cory, 6. 77 Alex Olsen

A-Main:

Wheeler, 2. Margeson, 3. Bailey Hibbard, 4. Robustelli, 5. Cory, 6. McGahuey, 7. David Hibbard, 8. Destry Miller, 9. Xan Miller, 10. Olsen, 11. Strange, 12. Thompson

Northwest Focus Midgets Series

Heat 1:

27 Joe Shawley, 2. 5C Chris Foster, 3. 12 Jason Thomas, 4. 17 Kyle Hanson, 5. 19C Dalton Christmas, 6. 5W Gary Wegener, 7. 76 Brad Pritchard

Heat 2:

41 Ashley Thompson, 2. 66 Jeff Westergard, 3. 13A Alex Peck, 4. 14 Garrett Thomas, 5. 18 Ayuka Carlson, 6. 62 Chuck Pierce

Heat 3:

17M Shane Smith, 2. 90 Brian Holmkvist, 3. 58 JD Lewis, 4. 3T Tyler Luce, 5. 95 Nick Evans, 6. 23 Randy Schaaf

A-Main:

Peck, 2. Smith, 3. Westergard, 4. Thompson, 5. Garrett Thomas, 6. Holmkvist, 7. Wegener, 8. Pritchard, 9. Jason Thomas, 10. Luce, 11. Schaaf, 12. Christmas, 13. Shawley, 14. Carlson, 15. Evans, 16. Foster, 17. Lewis, 18. Hanson

Super Stocks

Heat Race: