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Xan Miller, Thompson, Rognlin and Hecker Feature Winners, Peck 2023 NWFS Champion!

Xan Miller, Thompson, Rognlin and Hecker Feature Winners, Peck 2023 NWFS Champion!
By: Aaron Reed
Photos by Josh Bryant
The final race of the 2023 season saw the championship for the Northwest Focus Midgets Series. Alex Peck of Federal Way had a 1 point lead on Garrett Thomas of Elma and a 4 point lead on Bow's Shane Smith. Thomas did not compete in the championship event due to being out of town for work. Also on hand was the Limited Sprints and the IMCA Modifieds and Super Stocks did an exhibition race together.
Northwest Focus Midgets
Snoqualmie's Chuck Pierce led the field to the green flag on the 25-lap feature. The caution flag flew after a jumped start. The second attempt saw another jumped start by Pierce sending him to the second row. Tyler Luce of Lynden took over the pole position as Brian Holmkvist of Sedro Woolley took the early lead. Luce ran in the second spot with Kyle Hanson of Burlington rounding out the podium early on. Disaster struck for Hanson after hopping the right rear tire of Luce and making contact with the wall on the backstretch. Hanson went upside down and contact from Grante Fall's Jason Thomas brought out the red flag. Hanson exited the car and was ok. Another attempt at a complete restart saw Holmkvist back into the lead. Arlington's Ashley Thompson ran in second with Shane Smith of Bow rounding out the top three. Alger's Michael Hodel ran in fourth staying within striking distance of the top three. Thompson looked low at Holmkvist for the lead a handful of times but couldn't make the pass. A very fast 3/8's banked clay oval saw the top four stay close as Federal Way's Alex Peck ran fifth. Thompson looked at a shot for the lead as lap traffic became a factor. The top four drivers still right there. Holmkvist slowed by a lapped car allowing Thompson to take the lead off of turn four on lap 13. Thompson held off a hard charging Smith, as Peck worked his way into third. Thompson picked up her first ever win at Grays Harbor Raceway and second win of the 2023 Northwest Focus Midgets season. Smith, Peck, Holmkvist and Pierce rounded out the top five. $500 extra dollars were added to the winner of the feature making it a total of $1000 to win. That extra $500 came from OPC Exclusive. Thompson, Peck and Holmkvist were heat race winners. Picking up the track championship for the 2023 Northwest Focus Midgets was Peck.
LImited Sprints
Alex Olsen of Tenino and Olympia's Xan Miller set the front row of the feature event. Miller took the early lead. Nate Geister of Tahuya looked to make a bid for the lead. Carnation's Levi Kuntz worked his way into third, making it a three-car battle for the lead. Bothell's Ronnie Cox and Steve Vague of Mount Vernon put on a battle for the fourth position. Miller had tough company as Geister and Kuntz stayed right at her back bumper. The caution flag flew on lap 10 for Alex Olsen losing a right rear tire in turn three. Olsen saw heavy rear axle damage, ending his evening. Miller led Geister, Kuntz, Cox and Vague to the green flag. Kuntz worked his way into second, looking to track down Miller. Vague worked his way into the top three and gaining ground on Miller and Kuntz until lap 15 when Vague slowed on the backstretch and pulled off the track, ending his night. Kuntz made a last lap charge at Miller to take over the lead but it was Xan Miller picking up her first ever win. Kuntz, Geister, Cox and Renton's Chris Foster rounded out the top five. Kuntz picked up the heat race earlier in the evening with Vague setting quick time.
Super Stocks/IMCA Modifieds
The Super Stocks and IMCA Modifieds did an exhibition race, with both classes running together. Jeff Hunt of Olympia and Spanaway's Tom Hecker set the front row of the 20-lap feature. Hunt and Hecker raced side by side with Aberdeen's Austin Kerrigan looking to make a bid for the lead. Kerrigan took the lead as Austin Rognlin of Olympia worked his way into second. Hecker battled for third with Hunt and Chaz Wilder of Elma. Kerrigan and Rognlin battled for the lead with Rognlin taking over on lap 5. Kerrigan's night came to an end with the engine erupting in a ball of flames bringing out the red flag. Kerrigan was unharmed and walked away. On the restart it was Rognlin, Wilder, Clyde White of Longview and Hunt leading the rest of the field. Rognlin quickly jumped out front putting half a straightaway lead on Wilder. Contact by White and Wilder in turn four saw White work his way into second. Rognlin saw himself in lap traffic late in the feature but nobody challenged him for the lead. Rognlin picked up the win over White, Wilder, Hunt and Hecker. The Super Stocks portion was won by Hecker. White picked up the heat race earlier in the event.
The 2023 is officially completed, We want to thank all the drivers and teams, as well as sponsors, staff, officials/push trucks and of course the fans. Congratulations to all the winners as well as the 2023 track champions. Keep an eye out on social media as well as the Grays Harbor Raceway website for information on the 2024 season.
Grays Harbor Raceway
October 7, 2023
Limited Sprints
Fast Time:
08 Steve Vague - 14.408
Heat Race:

1. 29K Levi Kuntz, 2. 38 Nate Geister, 3. 29 Chris Foster, 4. 9 Ronnie Cox, 5. 08 Steve Vague, 6. 23X Xan Miller, 7. 77 Alex Olsen
   A-Main:
2. Miller, 2. Kuntz, 3. Geister, 4. Cox, 5. Foster, 6. Vague, 7. Olsen
   IMCA Modifieds/Super Stocks
   Heat Race:
3. 15 Clyde White, 2. 81R Austin Rognlin, 3. 16 Chaz Wilder, 4. AK47 Austin Kerrigan, 5. 5 Tom Hecker, 6. 419 Jeff Hunt, 7. H52 John Higgenbottom
   A-Main:
4. Rognlin, 2. White, 3. Wilder, 4. Hunt, 5. Hecker, 6. Higgenbottom, 7. Kerrigan
   Hecker was highest finishing Super Stock.
   Northwest Focus Midgets
   Heat 1:
5. 41 Ashley Thompson, 2. 17M Shane Smith, 3. 62 Chuck Pierce, 4. 9 Michael Hodel, 5. 12 Jason Thomas, 6. 19C Dalton Christmas
   Heat 2:
6. 13A Alex Peck, 2. 3T Tyler Luce, 3. 18 Ayuka Carlson, 4. 27 Joe Shawley, 5. 76 Brad Pritchard
   Heat 3:
7. 90 Brian Holmkvist, 2. 17 Kyle Hanson, 3. 5W Gary Wegener, 4. 58 JD Lewis, 5. 23 Randy Schaaf
   A-Main:
8. Thompson, 2. Smith, 3. Peck, 4. Holmkvist, 5. Pierce, 6. Schaaf, 7. Luce, 8. Pritchard, 9. Hodel, 10. Carlson, 11. Wegener, 12. Thomas, 13. Lewis, 14. Christmas, 15. Hanson, 16. Shawley
   2023 Northwest Focus Midgets Series Track Champion: 13A Alex Peck

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