Ephrata Raceway Park finale crowns season champions

EPHRATA - The 2014 racing season at Ephrata Raceway Park came to a close with all local classes racing under perfect weather conditions. The Northwest Vintage Modified Racing Association was also on hand to do battle on ERP's asphalt oval.

Joe Smith, of Moses Lake, earned another season points championship after winning the Pepsi Racing 360 Sprint Cars main event.

However, the main event victory was not a cakewalk for Smith. Richard Black, of Ephrata, had his sprinter dialed in and took the lead from Austin Weber, of Moses Lake, on lap three of the thirty lap race.

Black's car was fast and able to lengthen his lead on each lap. On lap twelve, Smith was right behind Black as the pair charged into turn one. Black drifted just high enough for Smith to get the nose of his sprinter under Black.

Smith took the lead and went on to the victory. At the finish line, Smith was trailed closely by his brother, Adam Smith. Eric Hector took the third spot.

The Jerry's Auto Supply Street Stocks have one more race on the 2014 schedule to determine who will be the season's champion. Moses Lake drivers Brad Morrison and Jim Bise are in a tight point battle that will be settled at the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval on Sept. 20.

Randy Pugh, of Moses Lake, led the twenty lap main event from the green flag to the white flag.

However, Morrison was able to pass Pugh with less than a lap remaining to take the checkered flag first. Pugh finished second, while Kyle Childress, of Moses Lake, rounded out the top three finishing positions.

John Hagood, of Ephrata, had a good night on ERP's high-banked oval with a complete sweep in The Schaeffer Oil mini stocks. Hagood set the fastest qualifying time and won both the heat race and main event in the "A" division. In the main event, Hagood took over the race lead from Kelly Olsick on lap nine.

In the late stages of the race, Sid White was gaining on Hagood, but ran out of time. Hagood captured the victory with White taking the second position. Olsick finished third.

While Hagood had a stellar night, the season championship went to White.

White had a commanding point lead going into the finale.

Dianna Schiable, of Moses Lake, was the first to cross the finish line in the "B" division. She was followed by Chad McKinney and Brian Hector. The win extended Schiable's point lead, guaranteeing her the championship in the "B" division.

In a combined main event that included the Pioneer Muffler II Adult V6 Super Cars and the Kim Janke State Farm Agent youth V6 Super Cars, Rich Childress of Moses Lake lead the first three laps of the ten-lap main event. Chuck Johnson took the lead from Rich on lap four. In an exciting finish, Rich was able to retake the lead on the last lap and take the victory. Johnson finished in the second spot and was followed by Jen Black, of Ephrata.

Ethan Smith, of Moses Lake, took top honors in the youth V6 super cars and the season championship.

The Northwest Vintage Modifieds main event saw Kyten Jones of take the initial lead of the 30-lap race. Jones maintained the race lead until Devin Eierman of was able to pass Jones on lap eleven. While Eierman was out front, he was closely followed by Robert Wheeler of for 18 circuits around the quarter-mile bullring.

Eierman was the first to take the white flag, but was not able to hold off Wheeler on the last lap. Wheeler crossed the finish line just ahead of Eierman for the race victory. Third place went to Jones.

Pepsi Racing 360 Sprint Cars

Fast Time: Adam Smith, 14.430

A Heat Race: 1) David Macken, 2) Austin Weber, 3) Eric Hector, 4) Joe Smith, 5) Adam Smith, 6) Rafael Kurek, 7) Tom Beierman, 8) Richard Black

Main Event: 1) Joe Smith, 2) Adam Smith, 3) Eric Hector, 4) Rafael Kurek, 5) Richard Black, 6) Austin Weber, 7) Tom Beierman, 8) David Macken

Jerry's Auto Supply Street Stocks

Fast Time: Brad Morrison, 15.045

A Heat Race: 1) Randy Pugh, 2) Kyle Childress, 3) Jim Bise, 4) Zack Anderson, 5) David Anderson, 6) Rick Bretches, 7) Darrel McCauley, 8) Pat Canady, 9) #82, 10) Brad Morrison

Main Event: 1) Brad Morrison, 2) Randy Pugh, 3) Kyle Childress, 4) Zach Anderson, 5) Rick Bretches, 6) Pat Canady, 7) Jim Bise, 8) David Anderson, 9) Darrel McCauley, 10) Gordie Santos

Schaeffer Oil Mini Stocks

Fast Time: "A" Division: John Hagood, 15.929

Fast Time: "B" Division: Chris Weber, 17.453

"A" Division Heat Race: 1) John Hagood, 2) Kelly Olsick, 3) Sid White, 4) Jeff Hector, 5) Colton Fisher, 6) Pat Lus, 7) Dallas White

"B" Division Heat Race: 1) Chris Weber, 2) Chad McKinney, 3) Dianna Schiable, 4) #20, 5) Brian Hector, 6) Danielle Veenstra, 7) Synthia Pruneda

Combined Main Event: 1) John Hagood, 2) Sid White, 3) Kelly Olsick, 4) Colton Fisher, 5) Dallas White, 6) Jeff Hector, 7) Dianna Schiable, 8) Chad McKinney, 9) Brian Hector, 10) Chris Weber, 11) Synthia Pruneda, 12) Danielle Veenstra

Ephrata Pioneer Muffler II Adult V6 Super Cars

A Heat Race: 1) Rich Childress, 2) Jen Black, 3) Chuck Johnson

Main Event: 1) Rich Childress, 2) Chuck Johnson, 3) Jen Black

Kim Janke State Farm Agent Youth V6 Super Cars

A Heat Race: 1) Ethan Smith

Main Event: 1) Ethan Smith

Northwest Vintage Modified Racing Association

Fast Time: Robert Wheeler, 15.275

A Trophy Dash: John Mustered

B Trophy Dash: Tom Smitham

Main Event: 1) Robert Wheeler, 2) Devin Eierman, 3) Kyten Jones, 4) John Mustered, 5) Michael Clother, 6) Tom Smitham, 7) Dwight Trapp, 8) Robby Cartwright, 9) Robert Rux