Evans, Steinberg Split 35 Lappers

A jam packed night of action once again descended on the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval on Saturday Night.  The nights card featured a little bit of everything, including 4 local classes of racing, the 2^nd visit of the year for the Pro Am Drift Tour, and a return for Freestyle Motocross.  The hodgepodge rundown brought another large crowd to the ¼ mile as the fans all looked forward to the eclectic night of action. 

While the Motocross and Drifters wow’d the crowd with their respective performances, the local racers dazzled, with two classes, the Rockstar Energy B-Mods, and the NAPA Bandoleros, racing double mains for the night.  The B-Mods saw two 35 lap main events spaced through the night.  Dale Wenneberg, having just become a father last weekend, climbed aboard the #4 for John Woodring for the 2^nd straight race.  After finishing on the podium in his debut, he followed it up by setting his first career quick time in the class, edging out Post Falls teenager Sydney Hamlin.  Wenneberg rolled a 6 for the invert, and the first race saw a bit of excitement as the cars struggled for grip in the first race.  In the end, it was Garrett Evans using cone strategy to take the lead, fending off a challenge from Wenneberg to pick up his 3^rd straight win.  Kaden Steinberg grabbed another podium in 3^rd.  That was important, as Evans rolled an 8 for the invert, the maximum for the night with the shorter distance races.  Chandler Holaday and Mike Knutson took turns up front early as Knutson survived a barrage of cautions through the early-mid stages of the races.  However, handling issues on the 51 opened the door for Kaden Steinberg to take the lead with less then 10 laps to go.  Evans climbed to 2^nd, but it was all Steinberg to the line for his first career main event win in the B-Mods, and his first main event win since his Bandolero days.  Wenneberg finished 3^rd to maintain a 100% podium percentage through his first 3 starts.

The Bando gang also ran twin mains, these ones just 15 laps.  Yakima’s Racyn Noel set quick time for the 2^nd straight race, putting herself 4^th for the first main event.  Problems struck early though, as Noel and both Knutson kids, Bristol and Tyson wound up in a mess in turn 3 and 4 of the opening lap, which saw Bristol catch air time that could compete with the Motocross riders.  Fortunately, all three were able to continue.  It was Nampa, ID’s Reid Gibson who powered through for the win in the first main event, his first at the track, while Hunter Maggard, the seasons only repeat winner, grabbed 2^nd, with Noel rallying for 3^rd, her 2^nd podium of the year.  In race #2, the fans were treated to a rematch from Stateline last week, as Gibson and Wenatchee track champion Matthew Anders locked horns again for the win.  It was Gibson coming out for the sweep, holding off a late challenge from Anders.  Bristol Knutson came home 3^rd, bringing a roller coaster day to a positive end.

The Mini Bombers saw 8 cars compete.  The night looked to be the Kayleb Gill show, as he won his heat race and then was out to a sizable lead in the 20 lap main event.  Everything changed with 3 laps to go as Gill suddenly slid going into turn 3, bringing Brent Richards and Raelyn Wenneberg right to his bumper, and the 3 traded positions for the final laps, with Richards crossing the line first.  However, that wasn’t the final act, as after post race tech, the win was awarded to Wenneberg, his 1^st in the Mini Bombers, with Gill 2^nd.  That moved Makenna Wenneberg-Lutz, Raelyns niece, onto the podium with a 3^rd place finish. 

The Knutson General Contracting Crown Vic Stocks also competed in a 20 lap race.  It was a clean swap for Bob Koepl, as he took his #808 police car to the win in both the heat and main event, passing 2 time champion Jamie Nyenhuis both times.  The win ties Koepl for wins with Nyenhuis, as they have split the 4 races this year 2 each.  Nyenhuis expressed excitement for the future of the class, as well as the possibility of South Sounds class coming over in September.  Mason Davis, making his debut, matched his father Chad’s performance in the car last time out with a podium on his debut.  Mason stated that he would be finishing the season out in the family owned #71

Wenatchee picks right back up next week with another busy night.  Six classes once again hit the high banks, including the Mini Stock Invitational, the first Mini Stock race at the track for 3 years.  We will also see Bump to Pass back at WVSO, as well as the 2^nd edition of Mini Van Mayhem.  Rumor has it there may also be a Mini Van taking flight, you’ll just have to come to the track and see on August 1^st.