Johnson increases points lead at Ephrata

Mackin, Zema, Hector also victorious in second-to-last event of season

EPHRATA - Ephrata Raceway Park was the host of the Northwest Legends touring series on Saturday night, with series point leader Nick Johnson padding his lead with heat race and main event victories.

Moses Lake's David Mackin started in the front and stayed there to take the win in the Columbia Glass mini stock division. In a wild night of bumping and banging, both the youth and adult hornets were on hand. Evan Zema took the win in the Plummer/Janke State Farm Agents youth hornets while Josh Hector did the same in the Ephrata Pioneer Muffler II adult hornets.

Johnson came to ERP leading the Northwest Legends point standings. He also holds a much coveted guaranteed starting spot in the Asphalt Nationals A Main at Las Vegas this October after winning a national qualifying race held in Ephrata earlier this year.

The Bonney Lake driver started the 40-lap feature on the outside pole. After the green, Johnson fell to third behind pole sitter Matt Henderson of Port Orchard and Doug Anderson of Fife. While shooting down the backstretch on lap 29, Johnson powered under Henderson to take the lead. With only four laps to go, the caution flag waved after Jesse Branham of Everson spun in turn two.

Johnson's rearview mirrors were filled with Henderson and Tracy Warren of Olympia as the pack shot toward the flag stand to restart the race. The four-lap shootout had Henderson and Warren tucked in right behind Johnson, waiting for any miscue on Johnson's part. However, Johnson flawlessly coasted around the quarter-mile high banks to take the checkers. Henderson and Warren took second and third. Jim Landon of Tacoma and Mike Gardner of Snohomish crossed the stripe with fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively.

The 25-lap main event for the Columbia Glass mini stocks had David Mackin on the pole. The Moses Lake driver pulled out to a commanding lead after taking the green. Clearly, Mackin had made the right choices when making chassis adjustments prior to the main event, as no one could close the gap.

However, what other drivers could not do, the yellow flag could. A caution period on lap 10 obliterated Mackin's huge lead, allowing the field to get in line right behind the leader. Nick Gardner of Soap Lake and Joe Smith of Moses Lake linked up with Mackin for a three-car train as the pack resumed racing speeds.

Smith, the current point leader, was nervous during practice that milky oil would spell doom for his bid for a championship. While going into turn three, Smith's engine gave up the ghost. However, Smith scored enough points to retain his spot atop the point standings in the mini stocks.

Meanwhile, Ephrata drivers Doug Brown and Fred E. Moore were able to get under Gardner for the second and third spots on lap 18. The pair rallied to catch Mackin, aided in their effort by lapped traffic in the low groove that forced Mackin to the high side. After taking the white flag, Brown and Moore caught Mackin going into turn three. Mackin was able to get by a slower car unscathed to beat Brown and Moore to the finish line. The father and son duo of Gary and Robby Jackson rounded out the top five.

The adult and youth hornets were in action, making for dramatic situations for drivers who share cars, such as several fathers and sons.

The Plummer/Janke State Farm Agents youth hornets were the first to hit the track for a 20-lap main event. Stephen Lodi and Justin Dunagan were on the front row to take the green. After four-wide action in the corners, Lodi led the first two laps until Dallas White took the lead on lap 3. However, White's lead was brief, as Evan Zema shot to the outside to race White wheel to wheel for two laps before closing the deal on lap 7.

After going into turn one on the final lap, Zema pulled up behind a lapped car. Without rearview mirrors, Zema didn't know if White was close or not. So he tried to get by the backmarker. While attempting the pass, the slower car made contact with Zema's racer. The race leader fishtailed in turn two, gathered it up, and powered down the backstretch.

The checkers belonged to Zema with White trailing for second place. Entiat's Damon Claibourn took the third spot and fourth went to Stephanie Patty of Wenatchee.

After repairs and refueling, many of the race cars that saw action in the youth hornet main event were back on the track for the Ephrata Pioneer Muffler II adult hornet 20-lap feature.

Jeremy Block was joined by Evan Evans on the front row. After sailing under the green flag, the double-file start turned into a five-wide swarm hurling itself into turn one. The mayhem that resulted would bring about a complete restart. However, Block and Evans were not able to keep their front row spots on the grid.

The restart saw John Olsick and Kenny Brown on the point. The second start was similar to the first, but without a caution flag. Josh Hector managed to come out on top with Sid White on his heels. The two drivers led the field while Jeremy Lodi worked his way through traffic. White pulled off of the track, giving up second place. Lodi moved in behind Hector, dogging the leader repeatedly.

The last lap had the ERP crowd on the edge of their seats as Hector and Lodi caught Nathan Schell in turn three of the last lap. In turn four, Hector made the decision to go low to get by Schell. Lodi made his charge to the high side. Hector and Lodi dashed toward the finish line, splitting Schell and making it three wide coming to the line.

By mere feet, Hector beat Lodi to stripe for the photo finish. Derrick Kapalo, Chris McCart, and Eddie Razey finished the main event taking third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

During practice laps, youth hornet driver Ana-Lisa Garcia suffered injuries to her left hand after her racer flipped several times in turn two. Garcia was treated at a local hospital and briefly returned to the track later in the evening.

ERP will conclude stock car racing with the 2007 season championships on Saturday, Sept. 15. All six ERP racing divisions will be competing. ERP will be hosting motocross racing this fall. For more information, log on to www.ephrataracewaypark.com.

Northwest Legends Series

Fast Time: Matt Henderson, 15.587 seconds

B Dash (semi-pro): 1. Austin Hoye

A Dash (semi-pro): 1. Alex Kerslake

A Dash (masters): 1. Tracy Warren

Heat (semi-pro): 1. Matt Henderson 2. Kyle Oman 3. Doug Anderson 4. A.J. Butler

Heat (masters): 1. Nick Johnson 2. Tracy Warren 3. Jim Landon 4. Ty Hunter

Main Event: 1. Nick Johnson 2. Matt Henderson 3. Tracy Warren 4. Jim Landon 5. Mike Gardner 6. Kyle Oman 7. Alex Kerslake 8. Joey Bisset 9. Keith Van Dyne 10. Doug Anderson 11. Austin Hoye 12. Garrett Sisk 13. Ty Hunter 14. Joey Ziegler 15. David Pappel 16. Jesse Branham 17. A.J. Butler 18. Natilie Sinner

Columbia Glass Mini Stocks

Fast Time: Fred E. Moore, 16.99 seconds

B Dash: 1. David Mackin

A Dash: 1. Joseph Smith

B Heat: 1. Robby Jackson 2. David Mackin 3. Nick Gardner 4. Gary Jackson

A Heat: 1. Joseph Smith 2. Charles Larr 3. Josh Hector 4. Fred E. Moore

Main Event: 1. David Mackin 2. Doug Brown 3. Fred E. Moore 4. Gary Jackson 5. Robby Jackson 6. Josh Hector 7. Fred A. Moore 8. Chad Moore 9. Charles Larr 10. Joseph Smith 11. Nick Gardner

Ephrata Pioneer II Muffler Hornets

Fast Time: Rod Julian, 17.59 seconds

B Dash: 1. Chris McCart

A Dash: 1. Jeremy Lodi

Heat 1: 1. Levi Runnion 2. Dustin Kapalo 3. Jeremy Block 4. Evan Evans

Heat 2: Chris McCart 2. Josh Hector 3. Eddie Razey 4. Jeremy Lodi

Main Event: 1. Josh Hector 2. Jeremy Lodi 3. Derrick Kapalo 4. Chris McCart 5. Eddie Razey 6. Nathan Schell 7. John Olsick 8. Evan Evans 9. Jeremy Block 10. Rod Julian 11. Sid White 12. Dustin Kapalo 13. Kenny Brown 14. Levi Runnion

Plummer/Janke State Farm Agents Youth Hornets

Fast Time: Evan Zema, 17. 95 seconds

B Dash: 1. Kelly Olsick

A Dash: 1. Stephanie Patty

B Heat: 1. Kelly Olsick 2. Stephen Lodi 3. Justin Dunagan 4. Derek Thompson

A Heat: 1. Stephanie Patty 2. Evan Zema 3. Dallas White 4. Austin Schooler

Main Event 1: 1. Evan Zema 2. Dallas White 3. Damon Claibourn 4. Stephanie Patty 5. Derek Thompson 6. Austin Schooler 7. Stephen Lodi 8. Michelle Kennedy 9. Sean Manderville 10. Justin Dunagan 11. Kelly Olsick