News from the Source

Cole, Kuntz and Sundstrom Feature Winners on Coca-Cola Night!
By: Aaron Reed
Photos by Josh Bryant
360 Sprint Cars

Jay Cole of Shelton and Kent's Jeff Dunlap set the front row of the feature. Cole took the early lead as Carnation's Levi Kuntz moved into second by Dunlap. Cole quickly put some distance on the rest of the field. Dustin Gehring of Oak Harbor ran in the fourth position, looking to track down Dunlap for a podium spot. A long green flag run saw Kuntz slowly close in on Cole. Lap 8 saw Dunlap spin in turn four, doing a complete 360 spin and continuing on. Lap 14 saw Cole almost lose the lead after contact with Tim Martin of Shelton. Martin brought out the caution, as Cole continued on. Cole led Kuntz, Dunlap, Gehring and Martin to the green flag. Dunlap looked to the high side to make a pass for second, putting on a battle with Kuntz as Cole pulled away from the field. Kuntz took the second spot back, leaving Dunlap in third. Cole picked up the win over Kuntz, Dunlap, Gehring, and Martin. Cole picked up fast time as Kuntz won the heat race earlier in the evening.

Hornets

Hoquiam's Tyler Sundstrom and Scott Reed of Elma brought the field to the green flag in the 15 lap Hornet feature. The caution quickly came out for Max Sanford of Belfair after getting sideways in turn two. Reed made slight contact, as Sanford stopped against the wall. On the complete restart it was Sundstrom taking the lead. Reed ran in second with Olympia driver Zach Dalrymple in third. Dalrymple saw tough company with Don Briggs Sr of Wishkah looking to work his way into the top three. Briggs Sr set his sights on Reed for second. Lap 5 saw Briggs Sr make contact with Reed in turn three. Reed spun into the infield, bringing out the caution. On the restart it was Sundstrom, Briggs Sr, Ryan Shapansky of Elma and the rest of the field going to the green flag. Shapansky looked low in turn two, taking second from Briggs Sr. Austin Henderson of Vancouver joined in on the battle, along with Riley Shapansky of Elma. Briggs Sr worked his way back into second, with Ryan and Riley Shapansky battled for third with Henderson. Sundstrom continued to lead, having slight distance from Briggs Sr. Riley Shapansky moved into third, getting by Ryan Shapansky. Henderson looked to make a move into fourth, but couldn't make the pass. Sundstrom picked up the win as Briggs Sr, Riley Shapansky, Henderson and Ryan Shapansky rounded out the top five. Heat race winners were Henderson, Riley Shapansky and Briggs Sr.

Limited Sprints

Steve Parker of Sedro Woolley took the early lead in the 25-lap feature. Cory Swatzina of Sedro Woolley battled it out with Olympia's Xan Miller for second. A three wide pass down the backstretch saw Swatzina moved into second, bringing Tacoma driver Samuel Strange. Parker quickly put some distance on the rest of the field. Maple Ridge BC's Kai Dixon ran in fourth as Levi Kuntz ran fifth. Kuntz quickly worked his way into the top three, setting his sights on Swatzina and Parker. The first caution for the feature saw Alex Olsen spin on the backstretch. On the restart it was Parker, Swatzina and Kuntz leading the rest of the field. A three-car battle for second saw Kuntz move into the runner up spot. Dixon worked his way back into fourth. Swatzina, Dixon and Strange made it a three-car battle for third. The battle for the lead started to heat up between Parker and Kuntz. Lap 16 saw Kuntz make a pass in turn four. Parker tried the high side to get the lead back but Kuntz was too strong. The caution flag flew for Strange, spinning in turn two. Kuntz led Parker, Swatzina and Dixon to the green flag. Kuntz quickly put some distance on the rest of the field as the battle for second saw Dixon go from fourth to second. Parker ran in third and Swatzina in fourth. Destry Miller of Olympia, who saw trouble earlier in the feature worked his way back into the top five. Kuntz picked up the win over Dixon, Parker, Swatzina and Destry Miller. Heat race winners were Dixon and Strange, with Nathan Geister of Tahuya picking up fast time.

Racing will resume Friday and Saturday, August 18th and 19th for the Northwest Limited Sprint Showdown! Limited Sprint Cars, PHRA Dwarf Cars and PMSA Micro Sprints will be in action on Friday night with the Limited Sprints, PHRA Dwarf Cars, PMSA Micro Sprints, Northwest Ford Focus Midgets and Figure 8's on Saturday. Gates will open at 4:30PM with racing at 6PM!

Grays Harbor Raceway
August 12, 2023

360 Sprint Cars
Fast Time:
0J Jay Cole

Heat Race:

1. 24 Levi Kuntz, 2. 0J Jay Cole, 3. 51D Dustin Gehring, 4. 15 Jeff Dunlap, 5. 51 Tim Martin

A-Main:

1. Cole, 2. Kuntz, 3. Dunlap, 4. Gehring, 5. Martin

Limited Sprints
Fast Time:
38 Nate Geister

Heat 1:

1. 20K Kai Dixon, 2. 2 Cory Swatzina, 3. 29 Levi Kuntz, 4. 3X Destry Miller, 5. 44 Steve Parker

Heat 2:

1. 99X Samuel Strange, 2. 51 Tim Martin, 3. 38 Nate Geister, 4. 23X Xan Miller, 5. 77 Alex Olsen

A-Main:

1. Kuntz, 2. Dixon, 3. Parker, 4. Swatzina, 5. Destry Miller, 6. Xan Miller, 7. Strange, 8. Olsen, 9. Martin, 10. Geister

Hornets
Heat 1:

1. 69 Austin Henderson, 2. 88 Ryan Shapansky, 3. 41 Scott Reed, 4. 20P Landon Pruett, 5. 18 Brandon Tyler, 6. 713 Don Briggs Jr (DQ)

Heat 2:

1. 22 Riley Shapansky, 2. 0 Zach Dalrymple, 3. 23 Tyler Sundstrom, 4. 96 Nick Sheats, 5. 39 Scott Tobeck

Heat 3:

1. 13XXX Don Briggs Sr, 2. 3 Max Sanford, 3. 07 Jeff Hatton, 4. 37 Jacob Saulsbury, 5. 29 Payton Harding

A-Main:

1. Sundstrom, 2. Briggs Sr, 3. Riley Shapansky, 4. Henderson, 5. Ryan Shapansky, 6. Harding, 7. Dalrymple, 8. Sheats, 9. Hatton, 10. Pruett, 11. Reed, 12. Tobeck, 13. Saulsbury, 14. Sanford, 15. Briggs Jr (DQ)

• Shaun Hulbert on Aug 13, 2023
• Article Date: 8/13/2023