Johnson takes feature race at Ephrata oval
EPHRATA — The Northwest Legends Series hit Ephrata Raceway Park's high-banked, quarter-mile oval on Saturday, with Nick Johnson earning the victory in a combined feature event for the pro and masters divisions.
Johnson, a resident of Bonney Lake, Wash., was the top pro to cross the finish line of the 50-lap race. Snohomish driver Mike Gardner led all masters-level competitors. The semi-pro main event went to Kyle Oman of Bellingham.
Dallas White had to work hard to earn the checkered flag in the Plummer/Janke State Farm Agents youth hornet division. Stuart Barger maintained his winning ways in the Jerry's Auto Supply hobby stocks race with another victory.
Yakima's Garret Sisk took the pole for the 50-lap semi-pro division race. Joining Sisk on the front row was Port Orchard's Matt Henderson.
After taking the green flag, Sisk took the lead through the first three laps. But on lap four, Maple Valley driver Alex Kerslake snuck under Sisk and assumed the lead. Soon after, Oman passed Kerslake for second place.
After getting stuck in the high groove at the start, Henderson began reeling his way back toward the front. Oman, Kerslake and Henderson bunched themselves together and pulled away from the rest of the field. Likewise, a battle for fourth place was under way between Sisk, A.J. Butler of Gig Harbor and Ty Hunter of Loveland, Colo.
Oman eventually took first place, with Henderson and Butler in tow for second and third, respectively.
With the pro and masters divisions combining for one 50-lap event, Scott Dalla of Kalispell, Mont. set the field's early pace with Johnson following closely on the outside. Johnson grabbed the early lead and held it until lap 10, when Dalla drove under him. The drivers played a game of cat and mouse, passing each other several times for the lead.
Dalla remained in control from lap 12 until lap 38, but on lap 39 Johnson was able to get a run down the backstretch and assume the lead once more. Even with a number of caution flags in the last 10 laps, Johnson held off Dalla's last-gasp attempts. Johnson took the victory, with Dalla settling for third place when Alex Lessor passed him on the final lap.
White held off hard-charging Evan Zema in the late stages of the 15-lap youth hornets main event. The pair worked especially hard this week to fend off Ana-Lisa Garcia of Ephrata, who ran a great race behind the hometown crowd support. White took first, with Zema and Garcia joining him on the podium.
The Jerry's Auto Supply hobby stocks race saw Barger take the win by besting Patrick Canady, who just missed a sweep after winning the trophy dash and heat race. Canady led early from the pole position, but Barger assumed the lead on lap by passing Canady on the back chute. Barger didn't trail again, with Kevin Hill taking second in front of Canady.
Northwest Legends
Semi-Pro Division
Dash: 1. Kyle Oman.
B Heat: 1. Jimmy Gross. 2. A.J. Butler. 3. Austin Hoye. 4. Natilie Sinner.
A Heat: 1. Doug Henderson. 2. Kyle Oman. 3. John Hilliker. 4. Matt Henderson.
Main Event: 1. Kyle Oman. 2. Matt Henderson. 3. A.J. Baker. 4. Alex Kerslake. 5. Austin Hoye. 6. Natilie Sinner. 7. John Hilliker. 8. Doug Anderson. 9. Brandon Sickler. 10. Joey Bisset. 11. Garret Sisk. 12. Jon Dixon. 13. Jimmy Gross. 14. Chuck Carter. 15. David Pappel.
Northwest Legends
Pro Division
Dash: 1. Randy Schaaf.
Heat: 1. Alex Lessor. 2. Nick Johnson. 3. Randy Schaaf. 4. Scott Moore.
Main Event: 1. Nick Johnson. 2. Alex Lessor. 3. Scott Dalla. 4. Scott Moore. 5. Randy Schaaf. 6. Tyler Corpron.
Northwest Legends
Masters Division
Fast Time: Mike Gardner, 15.26 seconds.
Dash: 1. Mike Gardner.
B Heat: 1. Ty Hunter. 2. Kirk Hall. 3. Keith Van Dyne. 4. Mike Gardner.
Main Event: 1. Mike Gardner. 2. Bob Kronenberg. 3. Keith Van Dyne. 4. David Fisher. 5. Ty Hunter. 6. Kirk Hall. 7. Don Sanderson. 8. Spike Schultz.
Jerry's Auto Supply Hobby Stocks
Fast Time: Stuart Barger, 16.75 seconds.
Dash: 1. Patrick Canady.
Heat: 1. Patrick Canady. 2. Billy Smith. 3. Stuart Barger. 4. Kevin Hill.
Main Event: 1. Stuart Barger. 2. Kevin Hill. 3. Patrick Canady. 4. Derrick Kapalo. 5. Billy Smith.
Plummer-Janke State Farm
Agents Youth Hornets
Dash 1: 1. Ana-Lisa Garcia.
Dash 2: 1. Dallas White.
Heat 1: 1. Dallas White. 2. Steven Beck. 3. Derek Thompson. 4. Michael Olsick.
Heat 2: 1. Evan Zema. 2. Ana-Lisa Garcia. 3. Kelly Olsick. 4. Damon Claibourn.
Main Event: 1. Dallas White. 2. Evan Zema. 3. Ana-Lisa Garcia. 4. Damon Claibourn. 5. y78. 6. Steven Beck. 7. Derek Thompson. 8. Michael Olsick. 9. Kelly Olsick. 10. Dylan Adamson. 11. Stephen Lodi.