Race series opens with Rutherford winning

EPHRATA — Bill Rutherford made a late-race charge Saturday to earn the checkered flag in the first round of the Pepsi Challenge Series between Ephrata Raceway Park's Pepsi Cola Street Stocks and the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval's Jerry's Auto Supply Grand Nationals.

Meanwhile, David Mackin walked away with a win in the Columbia Glass mini stocks. Jared Ingram was victorious in the Plummer-Janke State Farm Agents youth hornets division

High winds from the west ushering rain clouds toward Ephrata greeted a large crowd that turned out to see the first of a four-race series between Ephrata's Street Stocks and Wenatchee's Jerry's Auto Supply Grand Nationals.

John Marthini of Soap Lake paced the pack to the starting stripe, while Jeff Lodi held the outside pole position. Lodi jumped out to the early lead and began distancing himself from the rest of the field. While Lodi enjoyed a healthy lead, the rest of the pack was jockeying for positions in side-by-side action.

At the halfway point of the 40-lap main event, however, Lodi's advantage all but disappeared when he had a difficult time getting by several cars trying to stay on the lead lap. Ephrata's Dan Martin and Moses Lake's Ron Stewart patiently whittled their way through the pack and closed in on Lodi.

The first and only caution flag of the night came after Ephrata's Dustin Kagle and Soap Lake's Paul Dart made contact in turn one. Dart spun and came to a halt in the middle of the corner while Kagle called it a night and headed to the pits.

As the race resumed, Lodi led the field to the green flag. Martin, Rutherford and Peshastin's Jason Ogle were nose-to-nose behind Lodi. Martin shot to Lodi's outside and the pair raced side-by-side for several laps.

Martin took over as the race leader when Lodi got loose coming out of turn four. Rutherford wasted little time getting by Lodi as well, then closed in on Martin and took the lead with a few laps remaining.

Rutherford held on for the win with Martin, Lodi, Marthini and Ephrata's Eric Hector rounding out the top five.

The Columbia Glass Mini Stocks made their first appearance of 2007, with Fred A. Moore bringing the pack to the green flag to start their 20-lap feature.

David Mackin started from the inside of row two and was quick to get past Chad Moore and assume the lead. Mackin enjoyed a comfortable early lead while Josh Ingram and Joe Smith of Moses Lake battled for the No. 2 spot.

Mackin took the checkered flag. Ingram was second, with Smith third, Ephrata's F.E. Moore fourth and Ephrata's C. Moore fifth.

Jared Ingram enjoyed a productive night of racing at Ephrata's high-banked track. After winning a heat race, Ingram sat on the pole position for the main event. Ingram took the green and never looked back, leading the whole race.

With Ingram taking first place, Bellevue's Evan Zema settled for second. Dallas White was third, with Stephen Lodi fourth and Ephrata's Ana-Lisa Garcia fifth.

Ephrata Raceway Park hosts action again this Saturday at 7 p.m. with the AllState Electrical Inc. CROW sprint cars event, Jerry's Auto Supply hobby stocks, Pioneer Muffler II adult hornets, and the wild, wacky and tremendously popular "Bump to Pass" class.

Pepsi Challenge Series

Fast Time: Dustin Kagle, 15.63 seconds

B Dash: Eric Hector

A Dash: Ron Stewart

B Heat: 1. Jeff Lodi; 2. Paul Dart; 3. John Marthini; 4. Eric Hector.

A Heat: 1. Bill Rutherford; 2. Ron Stewart; 3. Nick Sieg; 4. Jason Ogle.

Main Event: 1. Bill Rutherford; 2. Dan Martin; 3. Jeff Lodi; 4. John Marthini; 5. Eric Hector; 6. Paul Dart; 7. Brad Morrison; 8. Nick Sieg; 9. Glen Hastings; 10. Ron Stewart; 11. Jason Ogle; 12. Dustin Kagle; 13. Terri McCart; 14. Glen Hector.

Columbia Glass Mini Stocks

Fast Time: Daniel Hector, 16.72 seconds

Dash: 1. Fred E. Moore.

Heat: 1. Daniel Hector; 2. Fred E. Moore; 3. David Mackin; 4. Chad Moore.

Main Event: 1. David Mackin; 2. Josh Ingram; 3. Joe Smith; 4. Fred E. Moore; 5. Chad Moore; 6. Fred A. Moore; 7. Daniel Hector.

Plummer-Janke State Farm Agents Youth Hornets

Dash 1: 1. Stephen Lodi.

Dash 2: 1. Dallas White.

Heat 1: 1. Ana-Lisa Garcia; 2. Dallas White; 3. Derek Thompson; 4. Kamron Brown.

Heat 2: 1. Jared Ingram; 2. Evan Zema; 3. Stephen Lodi; 4. Michael Olsick.

Main Event: 1. Jared Ingram; 2. Evan Zema; 3. Dallas White; 4. Stephen Lodi; 5. Ana-Lisa Garcia; 6. Derek Thompson; 7. Michael Olsick.