Ben Deatherage - ELMA, Wash.- Since the series began in 2008 the American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region has raced at Grays Harbor Raceway every year on Memorial Day weekend.
Every year but two (2009 and 2011) the weekend has opened up the campaign for the Northwest’s premier touring Sprint Car series. On Saturday May 25th and Sunday the 26th the Elma 3/8-mile clay oval will be the site of the Spring Challenge which will begin the 2013 campaign for ASCS-Northwest series.
“The big thing with the first weekend is whether or not you have prepared well,” commented last year’s runner-up in the 2012 points Henry Van Dam, “it’s very rewarding to know you did your homework during the offseason and back it up on the race track. Also anytime you can go away from the opening races finishing well it will help set the bar for you for the rest of the season.”
2010 series champion Jason Solwold leads Memorial Day weekend victories with four which were all consecutive from 2009-11. Roger Crockett, Brock Lemley, Shawn Rice, Jayme Barnes, and Seth Bergman all have won once.
The weekend will start a season that will last until late September and have a total of twenty-three races scheduled and take place at seven different tracks in the states of Washington and Oregon.
The American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region is the western most arm of the American Sprint Car Series sanctioning body located in the Pacific Northwest the series hosts 360 Sprint Car racing on dirt tracks throughout Oregon and Washington from May to September. For more information on the latest news and stories about the series log onto their website at www.ascsnorthwest.com or www.ascsracing.com.
Past Winners:
2012- Roger Crockett on May 26th, Brock Lemley on May 27th, Shane Stewart on July 21st*, Wayne Johnson on July 21st*
2011- Jason Solwold on May 28th, Jason Solwold on May 29th, Roger Crockett on August 26th, Roger Crockett on August 27th
2010- Jason Solwold on May 29th, Jason Johnson on July 16th*, Jason Johnson on July 17th*, Jayme Barnes on September 5th
2009- Shawn Rice on May 23rd, Jason Solwold on May 24th, Roger Crockett on July 17th*, Travis Rilat on July 18th*
2008- Jayme Barnes on May 24th, Seth Bergman on May 25th, Danny Lasoski on July 18th, Roger Crockett on July 19th, Roger Crockett on August 31st, Shane Stewart on September 19th, Shane Stewart on September 20th
*- Denotes ASCS-National Tour vs. Northwest Region events
- Bryan Hulbert on May 20, 2013
- Article Date: 5/20/2013